Big Island Video News

Serving Hawaii County

  • Hawaiʻi Island News Regions
    • Hamakua
      • Mauna Kea
    • Hilo
    • Kau
    • Kona
    • Kohala
    • Puna



interview by Sherry Bracken / Island Issues, video edited by BIVN

VIDEO: Volcano Observatory Future Discussed With Scientist-In-Charge
Avatar photo

by Big Island Video News
on Apr 1, 2019 at 10:26 pm

Subscribe to Big Island Video News (FREE)

* indicates required

STORY SUMMARY

HAWAIʻI ISLAND - Tina Neal talks with Sherry Bracken about the possibility of USGS HVO moving to Oʻahu, as well as the new lease at the Hilo Iron Works building.

(BIVN) – A possible move to Oʻahu for the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is “part of the mix of discussion”, scientist-in-charge Tina Neal said during a recent radio interview with Sherry Bracken.

Speaking during an episode of the Island Issues program, Neal confirmed what U.S. Senator from Hawaiʻi, Mazie Hirono, revealed during a recent senate committee hearing: there have been discussions on possibly relocating the USGS HVO operations to Oʻahu. Hirono told Interior Secretary Nominee David Bernhardt during questioning that the idea “doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.”

“I would want to have your commitment that you will listen to the Congressional delegation as well as local stakeholders to put this observatory where the eruptions will likely occur,” Hirono told the nominee.

“The U.S. Geological Survey is still in the process of working with the congressional delegation and all of our stakeholders to determine the best solution for HVO going forward,” Neal told Bracken a few days later. “We will focus on what is the best facility arrangement to allow us to continue our critical monitoring, our important science, and our relationships with emergency managers and the at-risk public. So, those discussions are definitely ongoing.”

The main headquarters for USGS HVO – adjoining the Jagger Museum by the summit of Kīlauea within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – was badly damaged during the 2018 eruption. The scientists have since been scattered into temporary locations across East Hawaiʻi.

“There are federal facilities on Oʻahu that offer some potential advantages for some parts of our operation, but importantly our planning efforts and discussions are looking at multiple options,” Neal said.

“It’s part of the mix of discussion,” Neal added. “But really, no decisions have been made.”

In the meantime, Neal says “we’ve just signed a lease for the Iron Works building second floor, where we hope to move in a month or so and have almost all of the staff co-located in one place, which will be terrific.”

“Having us all together is really efficient from an operational sense,” Neal said.

Island Issues w/ Sherry Bracken is now aired at 6:30 a.m. Sunday mornings on KWXX (101.5 Kona, 94.7 Hilo) and at 7 a.m. on B93/B97 (93.1 Kona, 97.1 Hilo)


Filed Under: Kau Tagged With: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hilo Iron Works, Tina Neal

LATEST NEWS

Snow Covers Hawaiʻi Summits, Winter Storm Warning Continues

New Virus Discovered In Pacific Whales, Dolphins

Flood Watch For Hawaiʻi, Winter Storm Warning For Summits

Officer Honored For Work Tracking Down Stolen Vehicle

Flood Advisory Issued For Large Area Of Hawaiʻi Island

VOLCANO WATCH: Gravity Measurements Being Taken At Kīlauea

About Big Island Video News

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in