The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the science agency of the U.S. Department of Interior. Our job is to obtain and share science-based information about the volcanoes of Hawaii and American Samoa and earthquakes across the state. What are the different types of information that HVO provides and how do we ensure its accuracy?

This is the perfect weekend with Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner along with Boxing Day.

Interferograms are images created by radar satellites that show how the ground has changed shape, or deformed, over time. Today, we’ll dive into one of the trickiest parts of interpreting interferograms: the perspective of satellites.

It is fun to receive gifts for Christmas. As we become adults, it is more about giving rather than getting. Some gifts we enjoy are ones that are satisfying for a short time. Others are with us for the long haul. But when you think about it, gifts are over rated, since Christmas really isn’t only about gift giving or getting.

Din Tai Fung Restaurant is a Taiwanese restaurant with 16 locations in the United States (but not in Hawaii). That is only a fraction of its 165 locations around the world, which include Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors the six currently active volcanoes in Hawaii, but past eruptions have shaped all of the Hawaiian Islands. Join us in January 2025 for Volcano Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about volcanic activity in Hawaii over the past year and beyond, or — new for this upcoming edition — submit art or poetry recognizing Hawaii’s volcanic history.

Christmas is less than three weeks away, but it seems like most folks are a bit slow in getting their trees up this year. Don’t delay any longer since trees that are shipped in early are best.

My son Reid had to work in Sydney, Australia, so at the end of his work week, he had planned to take a few days off so he could show me around and meet up with some of his fellow workers.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory keeps its eyes on active volcanoes in many ways. While old fashioned eyes and a notebook are used when field teams are near a volcano, modern volcano observatories also utilize rapidly collected data and computers to support monitoring.

Short cool days make conditions ideal for colorful poinsettias and its close relative Euphorbia leucocephala sometimes called Snow on the Mountain. Our holiday season usually begins with Halloween and extends to Easter, but it is also the time for colds, flu bugs, pneumonia, and even variants of Covid. This means we need to be a little careful of large crowds like wild parties around New Year’s Eve. Perhaps a safer endeavor would be to focus on enjoying the fresh air of our gardens!