Campus Alert Archive
UH Hilo

Kilauea Erupted 15 Miles from Campus, the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory Moved In, and UH Hilo Became the Disaster Recovery Hub for the Big Island

HIotheradvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On May 3, 2018, Kilauea volcano began erupting in the Leilani Estates subdivision in lower Puna, approximately 15 miles from the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. While UH Hilo maintained regular operations, it became an emergency response headquarters for the disaster: the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory relocated to campus from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (closed due to summit eruption hazards), and UH Hilo hosted the American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter disaster response headquarters and provided emergency housing for displaced students throughout the summer.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Public Masters · HI
~3,200 studentsUH RAVE Alert / UH Hilo Emergency Notifications
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
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UH Hilo Emergency Advisory: Kilauea volcano has erupted in the Leilani Estates area of lower Puna, approximately 15 miles from campus. UH Hilo is monitoring the situation closely. Campus operations continue as normal. Students, faculty, and staff who live in affected areas should follow all Hawaii County Civil Defense evacuation orders. Air quality may be impacted by volcanic emissions (vog and laze). Health Resources provides updates on air quality impacts. Monitor hilo.hawaii.edu/emergency for information.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The 2018 lower Puna eruption began on May 3 in Leilani Estates, approximately 15 miles east of the UH Hilo campus
UH Hilo's campus is outside the most affected lava flow zones, though volcanic emissions (vog and laze) affected air quality across the island
Hawaii County Civil Defense issued evacuation orders for Leilani Estates and neighboring subdivisions
UPDATEEmail
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UH Hilo Update: Campus operations continue as normal. The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory has temporarily relocated its operations to the UH Hilo campus as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains closed due to summit eruption hazards. Students directly affected by lava flows in Puna may be eligible for emergency housing. Please contact Housing Services for information. We remain committed to supporting our campus and community through this unprecedented event.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed its main visitor area due to the summit eruption at Halemaumau Crater, forcing the HVO to relocate to UH Hilo
The relocation brought USGS scientists and equipment to campus, making UH Hilo a de facto science and emergency operations hub
Emergency housing for students was a direct response to the destruction of homes in Leilani Estates and nearby subdivisions
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction484 chars
UH Hilo Community Update: As the lower Puna eruption enters its later phase, we continue to support affected students and community members. Emergency housing will be extended for those who need it into the fall semester. The American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter has concluded its headquarters operations on our campus. We thank everyone who provided assistance during this extraordinary event. Counseling services remain available for students impacted by the eruption and displacement.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The lava flow was most active May-August 2018, with a massive ocean entry at Kapoho Bay destroying hundreds of homes in late May-June
The Red Cross Hawaii Chapter headquarters at UH Hilo supported disaster relief coordination for the island throughout the eruption period
By August 2018, the eruption had destroyed 723 homes and covered 13.7 square miles of the lower Puna district
Context

Background

The 2018 lower Puna eruption of Kilauea began on May 3, 2018, when new eruptive fissures opened in the Leilani Estates residential subdivision in the lower Puna district of Hawaii Island -- approximately 15 miles east of the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. While the lava flows themselves did not threaten the campus, the eruption had profound effects on UH Hilo and its community. The campus became an emergency operations hub: the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory relocated from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (closed due to hazardous summit eruption conditions at Halemaumau Crater) to the UH Hilo campus, bringing scientists and monitoring equipment. The American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter established its disaster response headquarters at UH Hilo. More than a dozen UH Hilo students were directly displaced by lava flows destroying their homes, and the university provided emergency housing and other support for them through the summer and into the fall semester. The eruption ultimately destroyed 723 homes and covered 13.7 square miles in lower Puna before it concluded in August 2018, one of the most destructive volcanic events in Hawaii in modern times. Air quality across the island was affected by volcanic smog (vog) and laze (lava meeting the ocean), requiring UH Hilo to monitor conditions and communicate air quality guidance to its campus community throughout. The case is unique in the archive because it documents a campus response to a volcanic emergency in which the institution did not close but instead became the primary emergency operations base for the surrounding disaster region.
Analysis

Key Findings

UH Hilo did not close during the 2018 Kilauea eruption but served as the emergency operations hub -- hosting the relocated USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory and the Red Cross Hawaii Chapter headquarters
More than a dozen UH Hilo students were directly displaced when lava destroyed their homes in lower Puna; the university provided emergency housing through the fall semester
The 2018 lower Puna eruption destroyed 723 homes and 13.7 square miles -- the most destructive volcanic event in Hawaii in modern times
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's closure due to summit eruption hazards forced USGS scientists to operate from UH Hilo, making the campus a center for scientific monitoring as well as disaster relief
Outcome
No UH Hilo campus closures. Classes continued through the eruption. More than a dozen students directly affected by lava flows were provided emergency housing. The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory operated from UH Hilo campus for months. The 2018 lower Puna eruption ultimately covered 13.7 square miles, destroyed 723 homes, and displaced more than 2,000 residents.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Helping UH Hilo campus and local communities during Kilauea eruption - UH Hilo Chancellor's Blog
    hilo.hawaii.edu
  2. Official
    Summer 2018 Kilauea Eruption - UH Hilo Natural Hazards
    hilo.hawaii.edu
  3. Official
    Student and Parent Emergency FAQ - UH Hilo
    hilo.hawaii.edu
  4. Source
    2018 lower Puna eruption - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
volcanic-eruptionkilaueahawaiihilolava-flowemergency-housingdisaster-hubusgsred-cross2018territory-adjacent
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion