Volcano

Education

Kīlauea’s 2018 Eruption

1839 structures including over 700 homes were destroyed throughout the 3-month eruption, during which residents needed to be informed about the volcanic processes that were severely affecting their lives and to have access to the information on which to base their decisions.

As a result, several community members stepped up to provide informational and educational updates. Social media ultimately proved the most effective way to connect dispersed evacuees, their families, and friends with community services and accurate and timely information.

Volcano Education Initiatives

  • We produce weekly content in various formats and on multiple social media platforms to be accessible to as many people as possible, using captions and ASL interpreters.

  • We broadcast related community events such as those hosted by the County of Hawaiʻi, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

  • We conduct outreach in-person at community gatherings, educational events, and schools, often in collaboration with other nonprofits and community groups.

  • Funded by a grant from the East Hawaiʻi Community Fund, our new toolkit is designed for youth outreach at our in-person events. The focus is hands-on demonstrations and experiments to trigger conversations and learning about volcanoes and their processes, and ultimately better preparedness for island families.

What Difference Does It Make?

In USGS research on “Hawaiʻi residents’ perceptions of Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption information”, Hawaiʻi Tracker scored highest from lava-impacted communities on relevance, expertise, sincerity and pace when compared to traditional news organizations, local government, and federal agencies.

Our success has led to collaboration with the USGS, Civil Defense & Mayor, seen most recently during the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption. Surveys suggest 50% gains in volcano hazard knowledge, preparation & confidence in response.