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Mauna Loa Observatory

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Mauna Loa Observatory - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Mauna loa observatory.

Mauna Loa Observatory is a station that measures the elements in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change. It is located on the side of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.

Earth Science, Climatology, Geography, Physical Geography

Forests do not only fall victim to deforestation driven by property development and logging operations, but also agricultural development. In Brazil, the thick rainforests of the Iguacu National Park share a stark border with local croplands.

Photograph by Frans Lanting / National Geographic

Mauna Loa Observatory is a station that measures elements in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change on Earth. They also measure elements that may deplete the ozone layer. This data is critical because the ozone layer protects us from harmful radiation produced by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Mauna Loa Observatory’s location marks an ideal spot for sampling Earth’s air. It is located in Hawaii on the side of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano. The observatory is approximately 3,400 meters (11,141 feet) above sea level and remains a long distance away from significant pollution sources. This means the air is relatively clean, which makes it easier for scientists to study.

Scientists began studying the atmosphere at Mauna Loa in the 1950s. To detect any change in Earth’s climate, Mauna Loa measures different gases in the air. Some of the gases they measure include carbon monoxide , methane , nitrous oxide , and sulfur dioxide . Perhaps the most notable, though, is the observatory’s measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2). The measurements are displayed in a graph known as the “ Keeling Curve ,” named after the late Dr. Charles David Keeling. He was a professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He was the first researcher to report that the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere were consistently rising on Earth. The curve describes the longest continuous record of CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere .

Mauna Loa Observatory performs important work tracking Earth’s changing climate. The information gathered there helps scientists protect habitats and settlements on Earth.

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Nature Travel

Visiting Mauna Loa, the Largest Volcano in the World

Turns out, the largest active volcano on Earth is a very popular vacation spot.

Steven Casale is a New York City-based freelance writer and digital strategist. He specializes in food, travel, and lifestyle content for publications like Tasting Table , Travel + Leisure , The Lineup , and amNY.com.

Mint Images / Getty Images

If visiting the world's largest volcano sounds dangerous, think again: not all volcanoes erupt with abandon and leave towns covered in molten lava and ash.

While it's certainly true that volcanoes like Mount Tambora in Indonesia (on record as the world's deadliest) and Mount Vesuvius in Italy (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) do indeed pose threats, many volcanoes are far less dramatic. Such is the case with Hawaii's Mauna Loa, which happens to be the world's largest active volcano, by both volume as well as size.

After being dormant since 1984, Mauna Loa began to show signs of seismic activity in October 2022 and erupted for the first time in 38 years at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27. While the volcano's remote location inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park means there is no immediate danger to local residents, there have been some in-park road closures as a result of the eruption. Several hiking trails and cabins have also been closed since October 2022 as a precaution.

Nevertheless, it's still safe to visit Hawaii and its beloved Big Island, though you'll want to keep an eye on the U.S. Geological Survey's website if you wish to catch a glimpse of the new lava flows. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains open as well — remember to check for updates before you go, as conditions can change rapidly.

Head to Hawaii

Mauna Loa is located on the Big Island of Hawaii , which is the largest island in the archipelago itself. In the Hawaiian language, its name means "long mountain," and along with four other volcanoes — Mauna Kea (the tallest volcano on Earth, home to many telescopes and observatories), Kilauea (the one you've likely seen photos of, with its frequent and powerful eruptions), Hualalai and Kohala — it forms the very structure of the island.

Mauna Loa is considered to be a shield volcano, meaning it was created by the flow of lava over time. Such volcanoes are not particularly tall (at least in the world of volcanoes). Instead, they grow wide like shields (hence the name). When measured, Mauna Loa's lava tallies more than 56,000 feet, though its actual elevation is only 13,680 feet.

It's theorized that the islands of Hawaii began forming 30 million years ago, beginning when the first volcanoes erupted through the ocean floor. Geologists estimate that Mauna Loa has been erupting for over 600,000 years and peaked its head above water just 300,000 years ago. Today, Mauna Loa continues to expel lava , thus adding to the acreage of this ever-expanding island.

Don't Worry About Explosions

But what can be said of Mauna Loa's explosions? While the volcano's history of volcanic eruptions has only been recorded since 1843, geologic evidence of other explosive eruptions over the past 1,000 years had suggested another one was possible. Its most recent eruptions tend to be in the form of fluid lava flows — during the previous eruption in 1984, the lava flow emerged from the summit and headed downslope toward Hilo, the island's largest city. While it missed the city limits by roughly four miles, the lava was so bright it illuminated Hilo at night.

So far, the lava from the November 2022 eruption is located within the Northeast Rift Zone. Authorities warn that bits of volcanic glass, fine ash, and a natural phenomenon known as "Pele's hair " — thin volcanic glass fibers named for the legendary Hawaiian volcano goddess — may be carried downwind. Since it's a shield volcano, you won't be seeing dramatic movie-like explosions, but lava appearing through fissures and flowing downhill is still an impressive sight when viewed from a safe distance, like a lookout point on nearby Kilauea , also part of the national park.

Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Mauna Loa continues to be an extremely popular tourist destination, attracting over one million visitors each year to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Come to the park to walk through lava tubes, enjoy more than 150 miles of hiking trails, and watch a volcano or two erupt — Mauna Loa and its neighboring shield volcano, Kilauea, are both currently active (Kilauea since Sept. 29, 2021). Check the website for the latest updates — and information on the best eruption viewing spots within the national park.

Mauna Loa also holds the distinction of being part of a volcano club, of sorts. The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) included Mauna Loa in a group of 16 volcanoes known as "Decade Volcanoes," which earned this moniker simply because they were announced during the "International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction," part of a global project in the 1990s that was sponsored by the United Nations. (They're not called "Decade Volcanoes" because they erupt every decade.) These 16 volcanoes continue to be of particular interest because of their high levels of activity as well as their proximity to large population centers. Washington's Mount Rainier and Sicily's Mount Etna also made the list.

Perhaps most interestingly, Mauna Loa has some competition for the crown of the largest volcano — that is, on the Earth's surface. Roughly 1,000 miles east of Japan is an extinct volcano dubbed Tamu Massif, which lies underwater. Its discovery was only announced in 2013, however in 2019, researchers found that Tamu Massif may actually be a part of a volcanic chain, rather than a single volcano, which meant giving Mauna Loa its title back.

As for the tallest volcano on Earth, neighboring Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano also located on the Big Island of Hawaii, stands just a couple hundred feet higher, surpassing Everest by almost a mile if you consider how much of the volcano is submerged below sea level.

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Hiking Mauna Loa summit via Observatory Trail

18 comments, choosing the route, getting ready, hiking the observatory trail.

Actually, I usually start my day hikes from the north in the dark so as to arrive well before sunrise. Only ever attempt this if you are comfortably familiar with the mountain. Many very long day hikes well into the caldera all the way to the 1940 cone that you see in you’re sunrise image too. Again, only attempt such long day hikes if you are very comfortable hiking long distances at high altitudes on this mountain. My last sunrise visit and image was shot from where the patch of snow is down on the caldera floor looking at the summit where you are standing. That’s the 1984 fissure. The most interesting thing I ever found was petrified Hawk remains near a small cone along the 84 fissure deep into the caldera. Yes, those last 2 miles to the summit are challenging. I did once drive my old 91 Jeep Cherokee up that road to the next gate. Did that at night too :-)Your a long ways from a tow truck so, its not recommended to try this. For anyone reading QT’s post, this isn’t a fanny pack day hike. Many come here and attempt this as one and often end up in need of rescue. Most never make it to the summit.

Nice shots QT. Glad you got to experience the great solitude Mauna Loa offers.

Thanks Bryan for commenting on the caldera’s features. Did it take you more time to drive or to hike ? I am of course not claiming that those are the first sunrise shots of the caldera, only that I have not seen before those compositions from the summit cairn.

Bryan, so agree that this is not a fanny pack day hike. Amazing you drove your car up that far!

I wrote about my experience lately Mauna Loa Summit Day Hike was quite an accomplishment to climb, but I am unsure if I would ever do it again or recommend it to most people. It is demanding enough that if someone is not well prepared – in terms of fitness or ability to acclimate to the altitude – it would be quite dangerous to hike.

However, I’m glad to be joining you in having hiked and taken in all the beauty of the largest volcano on the world.

I wrote about my own experience completing the 14 mile RT hike (supposed to be 13, but we got a bit lost on the way down…)

http://nynomads.com/2017/04/day-hike-mauna-loa-hawaii-largest-volcano-in-the-world/

I wonder if it is much different from your own experience.

Jennifer, I will reply for Bryan since he is unlikely to see your comment. His experience would be very different from yours because he lives on the Big Island and his specialty is to do long, tough hikes on lava, often at night.

QT, thanks for sharing.. I just recently found out about the cabins up there, and at some point, I really want to go to the big island of Hawaii for a few nights of Milky Way photography.

The night sky is really spectacular from the summits, which is why Hawaii is home to some of the best observatories in the world, on Mauna Kea.

That sounds wonderful!

Hello! Thanks for this interesting information. After I have read this I’m doubting that thhe round trip from the observatory is doeable in one day in December (i.e. now)? We’re both quite fit and used to mountaineering as well as well equipped, but have no GPS… Thanks, Christine

It can be done if you start early and travel light, but be prepared to finish in the dark on the way back.

Yeah…I guess that’s what we would like to avoid having no GPS. Have ou one it? I previously thoughtt it’s ieable until I read this post as it’s only 700 meters of difference, which, even at that altitude is not more than 3-3.5hrs….

I carried a GPS but did not have to use it. It’s not too bad at the finish without one, since you will see the observatory from a distance. Main problem at night is that the cairns are pretty difficult to see in the dark, so you might end up on rougher terrain than necessary. If you hike fast, it is certainly possible to be back before nightfall.

Christine, did you do the hike? I hear snow starts up there in January/ February.

Mauna Loa Summit Day Hike was quite an accomplishment to climb, but I am unsure if I would ever do it again or recommend it to most people. It is demanding enough that if someone is not well prepared – in terms of fitness or ability to acclimate to the altitude – it would be quite dangerous to hike.

Jennifer, congratulations for making it, and also shepherding your husband! It’s one of the toughest hikes I’ve done (I’ve done many…) and like you said, quite unforgiving. I enjoyed reading your account, it’s well done. I guess it pays to write while you are hiking, I never even thought about doing it that way.

Recently myself and another former boy scout leader took up some of our former scouts (now grown men) on this hike. We have hiked all over the state (live on Oahu) and have spent many summers hiking the north shore of Molokai. We all agreed – Mauna Loa is the toughest hike we have ever done. We did trailhead to red hill cabin then to Mauna Loa cabin and then the reverse back in four (4) days. The last two miles you mention above are the longest most brutal 2 miles of my life. I understood why people curl up and die – this is not a hike for just anyone – BE PREPARED! We all were prepared and were very glad we did it. As mentioned earlier – it makes all other hikes I have done seem pretty easy! Kudos to all who do it!

Kudos for making it. No doubt that’s the most difficult hike in Hawaii, and maybe anywhere mile for mile.

We did the Observatory hike in August with my wife. Started too late at 9 am, reached the caldera at 2:30 pm. No acclimatization was done. I have to say it wasn’t easy for my mid 40s. Surprisingly, wife did it better than me,she goes to gym evvery week and I never did that. At the end of the ascend we had to rest every 500 yards because of me. Descend was much easier, were back to the car at 5:40pm. Total was 13 miles with 13600 ft max attitude. Have water with you, 2 liters barely did it for us. And don’t forget sunscreen everywhere, I forgot to cover the right hand and burned it pretty bad. Nice trail shoes went to trash after the hike, do not use expensive ones – lave will destroy whatever you have.

How is it surprising that your wife did better since she appears to exercise more regularly than you do 🙂 ? Usually, I hike in trail running shoes, but having done my share of lava hikes, for this one I used a pair of beaten up hiking boots.

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Mauna Loa Observatory and Summit

March 2, 2021
Shana Naugle

Mauna Loa Observatory

There’s a lot to see on this Big Island volcano. Let’s talk about what you can expect when you visit!

The Mauna Loa Observatory stands more than 11,000 feet above sea level on the north side of Mauna Loa volcano on The Big Island . This important scientific facility measures various atmospheric gasses, including carbon dioxide. The vital information collected here has provided scientists with clear data regarding Earth’s climate since the 1950s. Because this facility is located at a high elevation, collected data over time provides an accurate picture without local fluctuations. However, emissions from volcanic eruptions can interfere with this data, so scientists adjust their findings accordingly.

The observatory is closed to the public, but take a drive and a hike up the volcano to see nature in all her splendor.

Hiking Mauna Loa

There are two possible routes to take to get to the Mauna Loa summit. Hikers should be physically fit and well prepared for a challenging walk over lava fields. So have good hiking shoes !

Hikers will need to keep an eye out for stacked lava (known as ahu) piles to note trail location. This can be difficult when visibility is low due to an approaching storm. However, on bright clear days, the trail provides fantastic views despite the thin, cool air. Keep an eye out for symptoms of altitude sickness and bring extra food, water, and gear for the trip.

This hike provides a fantastic opportunity for star gazing, as many of the planets and galaxies are visible at this altitude above the light pollution. However, freezing temperatures and steep inclines may make this challenging night hike too difficult without a tour guide.

Flora and Fauna on Mauna Loa

Although portions of this volcano are covered in lava fields, some creatures still thrive here. One notable example is the palila, which is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper. This finch-billed species only lives on the slopes of Mauna Loa and resides and dines within the māmane plant.

The seeds of the māmane are poisonous, and are deadly to other animals. However, this critically endangered bird digests this plant without issue, discarding the seed casings.

Another endangered bird species found on this volcano is the Hawaiian petrel . With only 50-60 breeding pairs left of this seabird, scientists take special care when lighting up research facilities. This lower alpine and sub alpine bird takes flight to find food at sea, but is easily disoriented by well lit areas and urban spaces.

If you’re looking for company at the volcano summit, you may keep your eyes open for the Mauna Loa bug . This species does not fly, but unlike its local counterparts on Mauna Kea, this bug is carnivorous. With harsh summit environments, it’s no wonder that endemic species find a way to survive— even if it means giving up their traditionally vegetarian lifestyle.

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Visitor Information

Maunakea Visitor Information Station

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station ( VIS ) is located on the Maunakea Access Road at 19°45'33"N Latitude, 155°27′22″W Longitude, and 9,200ft (2,804m) Elevation. Take the Daniel K Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) and turn onto Maunakea Access Road (Milepost 28). For accurate GPS directions, search for Onizuka Center for International Astronomy .

Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

VIS Phone: (808) 934-4550

Google Maps link

The Visitor Information Center is located below Hale Pohaku on Maunakea

See Visiting Maunakea Safely and Responsibly for important safety information. Due to the hazards of altitude sickness, pregnant women, persons in poor health, and children under 13 should not venture above the Visitor Information Station. Drivers are required to use 4-wheel drive vehicles above the VIS because the road to the summit is unpaved, rough, and quite steep. Those traveling to the summit should always use 4WD Low Range to reduce brake failure and overheating. It is recommended to have at least 1/2 a tank of gas before proceeding to the summit. Make sure your vehicle and any items taken to Maunakea are clean to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Things to do at VIS

A shirt that is available at the Fist Light store

Star-gazing
Short hiking routes around VIS

VIS First Light Store (and the online E-Store ) has souvenirs related to Maunakea. The newly renovated parking areas provide a safe place to acclimate before going up to the summit.

Summit Access Road conditions: Maunakea weather varies widely and sometimes very quickly. The latest road and weather information are available at the upper right corner of this page.

Kamaʻāina Observatory Experience: The Kama‘āina Observatory Experience is currently suspended due to COVID 19. When it is in operation, it is a monthly community event that welcomes Hawaiʻi residents to the science reserve atop Maunakea to see world-class telescopes and learn about the cultural and environmental importance of the mountain. For more information about the event or to reserve a spot for an upcoming tour,

call ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center at (808) 969-9703.

A student looking into a telescope at the VIS

Your generous, tax deductible donations allow us to make all of these free programs possible, including all of the telescopes used in our free nightly stargazing programs!

Online donations:

www.uhfoundation.org/MaunaKeaObservatories

Give Online

Mail donations:

Please make checks payable to:

UH Foundation #12045164 Maunakea Observatories Visitor Program

and mail to:

Maunakea Shared Services 640 North Aʻohoku Place Hilo, HI 96720-5108

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Traveling to Mauna Loa via the Saddle Road

The Saddle Road is the other choice, besides near Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, for accessing Mauna Loa and its trails. The Mauna Loa Observatory Road turns south off the Saddle Road and zigs and zags up to the Mauna Loa NOAA Atmospheric Observatory at 11,140 feet, which you can see high on the hillside above as you progress along this road.

According to the signboard below this small complex, measurements are gathered here for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, CFCs, ozone, solar radiation, atmospheric dust, stratospheric aerosols, and temperatures, among other items. Even a two-wheel-drive vehicle could handle this road without problems, but driving it would abrogate your rental car contract. Use a four-wheel-drive rental vehicle that is approved for this road. Although it could be done faster, give yourself an hour to take in the surroundings, check out the distant sights, and reach the end of the road. Use your vehicle lights, particularly if there are low clouds, and straddle the reflective white line that runs down the center of this single-lane road all the way up to the observatory, pulling over only to let vehicles from the other direction get by. The atmospheric observatory is not open to the public, but you can park in a small parking lot below it at the end of the pavement.

About two miles in from the turnoff is a rock formation at the side of the road that, at a certain angle, looks remarkably like Charles deGaulle, former president of France—and you don’t have to use your imagination much at all. As you continue, you get a fine, distant look at the observatories on top of Mauna Kea across the saddle, Pu‘u Huluhulu below at the turnoff, and the military reservation beyond to the west. About four miles in, at a turn in the road, there is a gravel road that heads over the horizon to the west, an abandoned attempt at a highway shortcut to Kailua-Kona.

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About eight miles up, at a point where there are a number of telephone and television transmitter towers, the road makes a big zag and heads almost in a straight-line shot, following power poles to the observatory. Notice the different colors of lava that the road crosses and the amount of vegetation on each type. The older brown lava has some grasses and small bushes growing from it, while the newer black lava is almost totally barren. There are large areas of red lava as well, and some of that has been used as road base and paving material. You will see several collapsed lava tubes near the road as you make your way up. Still farther on, areas of ropy pahoehoe lava stick up through newer ‘a‘a lava.

Around mile 15, new pavement has been laid so your ride gets smoother even as the road goes through a series of roller coaster waves as you approach the end of the road. Beyond the end of the pavement, an extremely rough Jeep track continues—best used as a hiking trail. This track zigzags up the mountainside, eventually ending near the crater rim after about seven miles. The Mauna Loa Observatory Trail leaves the gravel Jeep track several hundred yards beyond the end of the pavement and heads almost straight up the mountainside, crossing the Jeep trail several times. The Observatory Trail climbs 1,975 feet over 3.8 miles up the volcano’s north slope until it reaches the rim of the Moku‘aweoweo Caldera summit. From this point, the Mauna Loa summit cabin is 2.1 miles. It takes about 4-6 hours all together to hike from the Observatory trailhead to the Mauna Loa summit cabin. The hike back from the Mauna Loa summit cabin to the Mauna Loa Observatory trailhead is only about three hours, since you’re going downhill.

A helpful resource for this hike can be found at KinQuest . This site provides a guide with a mile-by-mile description of what you’ll see while you hike.

The Mauna Loa summit cabin is available to stay in for free but requires a permit from the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park; you can only get them the day before your hike. The Mauna Loa summit cabin has 12 bunks. Visitors are allowed a three-night maximum stay. Pit toilets are available at the cabin as well as drinking water. Don’t forget to treat the water. There’s no water available on the trail.

Mauna Loa is at a very high altitude, so wait at least 24 hours between scuba diving and ascending Mauna Loa in order to avoid getting the bends.

Kevin Whitton

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A 17-mile (one way) scenic drive, off of Saddle Road, takes you up the side of Mauna Loa, the world's most massive mountain, to the 11,141 foot elevation where the road ends at the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory. Offering fantastic views, colorful lava and a number of interesting stops along the way, this drive can be done in any car. However, we also include in this drive a 4-wheel extension where we go from the Weather Observatory to as close as we can get to the summit, and then couple it with our Mauna Loa Summit Hike

The road we will be taking up to the Weather Station is a roughly paved narrow road. The beginning of the road has deteriorated a bit and contains potholes so be a bit careful. Also be very careful around turns as the road is only slightly bigger than a car and you may not be the only person on the road.

There are no services available along this drive, though a crude but clean bathroom (no running water) is available at the Weather Observatory. Bring water and food.

Breathing - Do not take this drive if you have respiratory problems. The summit, at 13,679 feet has about 40% less oxygen than at sea level, thus breathing is more difficult. Even if you don't take the hike, breathing at the 11,141-foot level is noticeably different.
Heart - Do not take this drive if you have any type of heart condition. High altitude causes your heart's arterial vessels to dilate. Your pulse rate will increase and movement will be more laborious at the summit.
Wear UV Protection - Always wear UV Sunglasses at the summit and if you are not a regular to our mountain summits wear a high number UV sunscreen. It is possible, on clear days, to burn within 15 to 20 minutes of exposure.
Watch Your Food - Try to avoid eating foods that cause gas or bloating at least 24 hours before you plan to go to the summit. The increased pressure at the summit can cause discomfort and pressure. You will, however want to bring snacks with you to the summit as many people get unusually hungry (especially for sweets) when at the top.
Avoid Dehydration - The summit is extremely dry. Avoid dehydration by bringing and drinking plenty of water. Drinking water can also help quicken your adaptation to the summit. Do not drink alcohol!
Acclimate 20 to 30 Minutes - We encourage you to take our Pu'u Huluhulu Hike which is where this drive starts out, to help acclimate to the altitude.
Do Not Scuba Dive - Do not attempt to drive to the summit if you have been scuba diving to 50 ft depth within the last 24 hours or 100 ft depth within the last 48 hours or you risk the bends (decompression sickness).
Wear Warm Clothes - It is both cold and windy near and at the summit. Wear warm clothes, a jacket and you may want to consider gloves and a hat. Note: a clean pair of socks worn on your hands can be used as mittens.

There are many side roads along the way. While many of the side roads do lead to interesting sights we do not recommend straying from our described drive for a variety of reasons, including getting lost.

While we offer a number of chances to get out and explore, do not wander too far from your vehicle. Mauna Loa, unlike Mauna Kea, is easy to get lost on. If weather sets in it can quickly become impossible to tell which direction your car is in or even whether you are walking up or down the mountain.

If you intend to take the trail to the summit additional warnings apply, please see the Mauna Loa Summit Hike for more information.

The best weather for this road is as clear a day as possible. Often there will be Hilo-side clouds but the middle of the saddle, where we are going up, should be clear. The clearer it is the more beautiful the scenery will be. On especially clear days it is possible to see Maui and some of the other islands from various points along this drive. Do not attempt this drive in bad weather. If fog or clouds begin to set in leave immediately! This road is very dangerous in poor visibility and it is extremely easy to get lost or hurt on Mauna Loa should you leave your car.

The start of this scenic drive can be reached in about the same amount of time regardless of whether you're on the Kona side or the Hilo side of the island.

If you are on the Kona side or up in Waimea, take Highway 190 to the turn onto Saddle Road.

If you are on the Hilo side we recommend you follow the detailed instructions in our Scenic Drive To The Summit Of Mauna Kea , and read it up to the stop at Pu'u Huluhulu, which is where this Scenic Drive begins. If you wish, you can incorporate the entire Mauna Kea Scenic Drive into your trip as both drives can be accomplished in a single day (not the 4-wheel portion of this drive however)

Regardless of which direction you came from, we start this drive at Pu'u Huluhulu, which is at the 28 mile marker on Saddle Road. On the Hilo side of Pu'u Huluhulu is a red dirt road that runs right alongside and beyond the cone.

If you are coming from Kona-side, when you get to Pu'u Huluhulu you will see a left to the summit of Mauna Kea and a right that dead ends at Pu'u Huluhulu itself. Go past these roads and immediately after the cone you will see another, rough, red road, on the right. Take this road.

If you are coming from Hilo-side, as you approach Pu'u Huluhulu and the road to the summit of Mauna Kea, just before Pu'u Huluhulu will be the rough, red road on your left. Take the road.

You will notice that as soon as you turn on the road, and drive to the cone, that there is a gate in the fence. Park near the gate as this is where we are going to start our Scenic Drive.

Reset the odometer on your car at this point - we are about to begin the scenic drive. ( Click here for a map )

What a better way to start a scenic drive than with a scenic hike. Pu'u Huluhulu, that you are now parked next to, is one of two similar cones with the same name. The other Pu'u Huluhulu is in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the other side of Mauna Loa. The word Pu'u means hill and Huluhulu means hairy, furry, and feathery, alluding to the abundance of trees that adorn the hill.

This sanctuary is part of the Na Ala Hele Hawai'i Trail and Access System and was originally constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps and is currently maintained by the Hawai'i Natural Area Reserves Program. This hike up this 200-foot cinder cone takes you from 6,560 feet to roughly 6,720.

We want you to do this hike to help you acclimate to the altitude before going up Mauna Loa. Altitude sickness can be a real problem and this hike can help you adjust more swiftly to the summit changes.

There are three trails that wind their way up to the top. You are parked at one of the more rugged, but fun trails, and an easier trail is accessible at the other entrance to the cone.

We have already reviewed the Pu'u Huluhulu hike and we invite you to read the review to find out more about this short, fun, and scenic hike.

So back into our car from that invigorating hike and we start off on our drive. Initially, as you drive past the backside of Pu'u Huluhulu there is a black, flat pahoehoe flow. As you continue the flat pahoehoe gives way to a more rocky combination of older pahoehoe and rough a'a flows. Unless someone has done some long overdue patching you will probably notice that the road is a bit potholed and rough in spots. Oddly, the road condition improves the further up the summit you go (to a point).

The road is somewhat curvy in this early section, going around mounds of a'a. The older flows on the left have quite a bit of 'Ōhelo plants with their tasty berries as well as young 'Ōhi'a Lehua trees. Look in here for families of mountain goats and wild pigs that like to graze around this area.

Around odometer 1.9, on the right you will see the famous Charles De Gaulle rock which, under the right sunlight, supposedly bears a resemblance to the French President of the same name. We googled for pictures of dear Charles but could not find any to compare to our hardened lava gentleman, so we can merely take it on faith that the rock received its name because of its uncanny resemblance to the late French President (we hear it's the nose).

The road continues to curve and continue through lava fields. Drive carefully as the narrow road and blind curves often conceal oncoming vehicles.

After a bit the road being to straighten out more and the view opens up. At around odometer 3.8 you will curve past a very wide, well bulldozed, dirt road. This is the Old Hilo To Kona Road that was going to speed up the time to get to Kona on Saddle Road. Over 10 miles of wide, boulevard-sized roadway was bulldozed before the military base further down Saddle Road nixed the entire project. Currently the road is off limits and at one point is gated at the military boundary.

Continuing on, you might see off in the distance on your right a cross on a hill. This is a monument to two Portuguese brothers who died and there is actually quite a developed memorial. A small dirt road leads to this hill where family and friends have chiseled out crude stairs to the cross and an extensive cultural monument. Not really worth a side trip if you're in a hurry, but a nice drive past some other interesting cones if you have the time.

At about odometer 5.6 you will again enter an area where there is a lot of 'Ōhelo Berry plants on the left side of the road, with nothing but rocky lava on the right side of the road, quite an unusual sight. As you ease into odometer 6.2 the lava fields begin to contrast in colors, with reds, browns, grays, and blacks. These colorful lava fields are of different ages and chemical compositions allowing them to weather differently and display different colors over time. In fact, it is this colorful lava which makes this drive so enjoyable. Unlike Mauna Kea, which is brown and red and mostly ash, Mauna Loa has little ash versus the huge quantities of pahoehoe and a'a lava flows. This is most certainly due to the age of the volcano, with Mauna Loa still active and Mauna Kea well into the dormant cycle.

At around odometer 7.1 you may see a bit of the road that is silvery in color. This 30-yard long area was painted an aluminum color for a commercial by Fiat (we imagine, to make the road look wet and shimmery). It is always fun to be watching TV and see some commercial where they obviously shot the background at some scenic location on the island. We can just see the advertising agency coming up with ideas... "and we should film it in Hawai'i"... "yes yes, Hawai'i"... "great idea, yes, Hawai'i"... though it is too bad they left the environment disturbed, at least temporarily.

As we continue we can see ahead of us, our next stop at the microwave stations. The road here is quite different than the drive to the summit of Mauna Kea . When you go up Mauna Kea it is just that... up. There is no down, only up. But this road is much different. Instead of constantly gunning the engine to make your car climb, you find that you are going up and down small hills. There are so many ups and downs you really don't feel like you are climbing at all, just going up and down these little frequent hills. This is also why it is so easy to get lost on Mauna Loa. If you are stumbling around in fog or rain there is no orientation for up and down. Each hill you climb is followed by a valley, so you don't know which way you're going and can easily end up walking in circles until you fall into a lava tube.

At Odometer 8.2 our road abruptly ends at a T-junction in the road. To our left the road continues past a row of telecommunications buildings and to our right the road disappears into the distance. Pull up off the road, towards the right and get out, we are going to take a little stroll.

Just a word of warning, while stopped at this point on one occasion a Department of National Resources vehicle pulled up and two extremely serious DNR agents got out and questioned our being there. Only after assuring them we were on a trip up to the weather observatory, and allowing them to look into the back of our jeep, did we satisfy their curiosity. Apparently they were looking for illegal, out-of-season hunters and just wanted to make sure that we were not packing shotguns.

What started out as the one small microwave station has now blossomed into a cluster of spooky buildings bristling with antennas and dishes and surrounded with barbed wire fences. This collection of receivers and transmitters is part of the island communications system. You will note that many are pointed a similar facility and a cone on Mauna Kea. And as you turned around to do that, you suddenly realized just how high up you have really driven!

The view from this point is rather stunning, especially on a clear day. You are about half way up the side of Mauna Loa with a spectacular view of Mauna Kea behind you. If it is very clear the island of Maui should be evident behind, and to the left, of Mauna Kea.

The road that passes to the left, past the communications buildings, is part of the old Stainback Highway. This road used to cut over the side of Mauna Loa past Kea'au and go into Hilo. However, the building of the Kulani State Prison facility caused a major portion of the southeastern side of Mauna Loa to be fenced in and allocated to the prison. Stainback Highway is now blocked off from the prison near the town of Kulani, and this dirt road is blocked off after a few miles, with no other exits.

Interestingly, this road used to be how the staff of the Weather Observatory would drive in and out of work. Below is a quote from a recollection of working at the Observatory by Bernard Mendonca:

It was not until 1963 that the road you just traveled was cut to allow a less painful, and more direct route to the observatory. This also allowed the honor camp to extend into a full prison and seal off the now disused Stainback Highway.

But enough of the history of the area, there is more to do at this stop than hear about eerie telecommunications buildings and sweaty prisoners. On one corner you will spot a small weather station that appears to be the remains of a rain gauge. Ignore it and instead leave your vehicle and go to the center of the intersection of the T and walk straight ahead, as if the original road continued on. You will step up and over the lava. Veering a bit to your right continue until you spot the huge open lava tube that is about 20 feet from the road. This is a very nice lava tube and you should walk around it, and continue behind it to find a continuation that you can actually get down into and examine. These tubes, once filled with 2000° flowing liquid rock, would occasionally lose their roofs allowing lava to spill out of the tubes and down the sides of the volcano, and once cooled, allowing us to climb inside and explore!

Back into the car, we continue by going right at the T-junction. A line of powerlines now extends far into the distance, terminating at the still invisible Mauna Loa Observatory. Continue to around odometer 10.7 where you will see a red cinder side road to the left with an old tattered windsock on a pole. The cinder road goes to a distant red cinder cone that was once used for mining the red cinder rock.

As you pass the windsock begin looking on the right side of the road. After a couple tenths of a mile you should see a small rise over fairly smooth pahoehoe lava and some very large, smooth, and round boulders sitting near the top of the rise. Pull off the road; we're going to explore Chocolate Bonbon Hill and the Dipping Pot.

Scamper up the small rise that is about 25 or so feet from the road to explore those smooth rocks. As you approach the rocks you will be amazed to see a hole, about 30 feet deep and 20 feet across with extremely smooth sides. It's as if this was once a fondue pot filled with chocolate that got too hot and spurted out, covering everything in a smooth even layer.

The rocks are impressively round, big, smooth, and coated and you might imagine that these were hurled hundreds of feet into the air, to be tumbled smooth as they fell. But these are not actually lava bombs. If you noticed, on your ride so far, you have passed many round looking rocks on the various flows. Most of them have been in fields of a'a. How does a round rock end up in a broken and gnarly field of a'a? Not by being thrown into the air like a true lava bomb, but instead by being dragged along the ground, tumbling as it goes. As it is tumbled it slowly becomes round until it becomes the near round shapes we see in these areas. So these round-coated rocks are actually nothing more than dragged a'a which then got coated when the pit opened and burped out the very liquid pahoehoe.

If you look down slope from this point you will see other coated rocks in the distance. And even further down, if you feel like the extra stroll, it is worthwhile exploring these other areas. Each group of coated round rocks will be clustered around a pit. Some of the pits feature spectacular colorations of yellows, whites, and vivid purples. In fact, there are many such pits on this side of Mauna Loa, including some in the original part of the road before the T-junction that you were just on. All are worth exploring as each is different in their own individual way.

How do these pits form, you may wonder? Most likely these sit directly above large lava tubes. Surges upstream and blockages downstream can cause lava to break through to the surface. In situations where the pressure was great enough, lava would be blasted skyward or burped a few yards to fall back and coat the nearby land. If the consistency of the lava was fluid enough the coating would be even and smooth, exactly like what we see here.

Enough indulging in Chocolate Bonbon Hill - back to the car and on we go. Following the powerlines we go onward through a huge a'a field around odometer 15 . In the distance the buildings of the Mauna Loa Observatory are starting to appear.

At odometer 17 we have reached the Mauna Loa Observatory and a small parking area. This is the end of the road, at least for regular vehicles. Park your car at this little parking spot.

Standing at the end of the road, you will see that it continues on as a rough dirt road. This road is the 4-wheel road to the summit, which we will learn more about in a bit.

To your left is a paved road that goes up a hill to the buildings that line the ridge. While you used to be able to drive directly up and into the Observatory complex, a recently installed electronic gate now sits about halfway between the parking area and the top of the hill.

The Mauna Loa Summit Observatory was first started in November of 1951 by the US Weather Bureau by placing a very small building at 13,450 feet, close to the true summit of Mauna Loa.

A variety of sensors dotted the volcano from 5,180 feet to the summit that was used to sample the atmosphere and gather data. Difficulties, however, in servicing the equipment in the harsh conditions and even harsher road made reliable and frequent reading nearly impossible and the stations were quickly abandoned.

Four years later, in November 1955, the Weather Bureau again began work on an observatory, this time located at the end of the road where it stands today. The building was dedicated on June 28, 1956 and many important people including the Governor of the Territory of Hawai'i attended the ceremony. In fact, over the years many important and famous people have visited the Mauna Loa Observatories. In 1965, a number of NASA astronauts who were here for lunar simulation training visited the observatory, including Buzz Aldrin and Roger Chaffee.

Over the years the observatory continued to flourish and produce cutting-edge scientific research. A major upgrade in 1977 made the area more livable and added the public parking facility. Over time more and more buildings appeared to accommodate newer equipment and projects.

The 1984 eruption of Mauna Loa, that came within 12 miles of Hilo, at first threatened to overrun the observatory. However once the lava shifted to the northeast rift zone and began to flow towards Hilo the only problems to the observatory was loss of power. However, the event did make an impact as two years later, in January 1986, a huge lava barrier was created on the slopes above the observatory. Not easily seen from the observatory itself (it is better seen from above, on the 4-wheel road), this huge earth damn is like a giant upside down V that sits directly above the observatory. The theory being that the lava will be diverted to flow around the observatory, not through it. This, however, has luckily never been tested.

Today Mauna Loa Observatory is operated jointly by NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency) and the NDSC (Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change). Research is done in a number of areas including monitoring our atmosphere for concentrations of gasses, pollution, ozone, water vaper as well as studying solar and UV radiation, meteorology, lightning, and even cosmic dust collection. Experiments are conducted, through the governing agencies, from a variety of scientific research facilities and universities around the world. The data collected in this research goes on to impact just about every element of our lives, from the weather over our head to the emissions from our vehicles and factories.

Returning to your car, the dirt road continues to the summit of Mauna Loa. If you walk a short distance down this road you will encounter a trailhead sign, which is the old trail to the summit of Mauna Loa.

Many people hike the trail to Mauna Loa summit every year. In fact, on the day we went we encountered two other groups on the trail. Most people do not begin the trail at this point, however, and prefer instead to continue about another mile along the road until the trail crosses the road, where they then switch over to the trail.

The trail itself is about 3.5 miles to North Pit, the northern edge of the caldera, and from that point it is another 3 miles to the summit itself. This is a very difficult trail not only because of the altitude but also because of the cold weather and steep uneven grade. Furthermore, the trail has been modified slightly since older maps were produced making some maps outdated.

This is not a trail to do lightly and it requires proper preparation and adequate supplies. Any hikers should plan for emergency overnight stays in case the weather turns and it is not uncommon to have freezing rain and even snow in the summer.

So here we sit at the end of the paved road at the Mauna Loa Observatory junction. It is possible to actually drive to the summit (or near the summit, more on that later) but before you go scooting up to the top of the volcano here are some special warnings about this section.

This portion of the drive REQUIRES a 4-wheel drive vehicle with HIGH CLEARANCE . We cannot stress this enough! This is NOT a trivial drive!
We do NOT recommend renting a 4-wheel drive vehicle, especially from Harpers, for this drive. Many of the car companies (especially Harpers) examine the underside of the vehicle and will note any changes and charge you. It is impossible to do this drive without bottoming your vehicle out from time to time. You WILL scratch and dent the underside.
We HIGHLY recommend taking more than one 4-wheel vehicle, or at the very least taking a normal car and leaving it parked at the Mauna Loa Observatory. There is safety in numbers and having two vehicles gives you twice the safety factor. Even if you only have one 4-wheel vehicle, taking another vehicle and leaving it at the Observatory would require much less walking if you should encounter problems.

On this particular trip we were also escorting two seasoned hikers, Martha and John Clark, up to a portion of the trail to North Pit. The Clarks have hiked all the other summit trails (on the other side of the summit) and portions of this trail, but had not hiked the small segment to North Pit and the summit. We intended to drop them off at one of the places where the trail intersects the road, and then continue to the summit to wait for them to reach us.

Also accompanying the InstantHawaii team were a group of fellow workmates from Subaru Telescope and also an InstantHawaii friend, neighbor, lava junkie, and National Park Volunteer, David Boyle and his brother Ron Boyle. So as 11 people crammed into three 4-wheel vehicles - our Jeep, a Ford, and a Toyota Pickup, we formed a caravan and began the drive.

It is not guaranteed that one can actually drive to the summit. John and I have been to the summit two other times in the last three years. As you near the summit, (I estimate about 3 miles from the end of the road) there is a Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park gate. For the last two trips this gate has been closed, but unlocked, and can be opened and closed behind you. Once beyond the gate you can actually drive to within about 500 yards of the summit, to a scientific monitoring station, and then do the trivial hike to the very edge.

If, on the other hand, the gate were locked, we would need to park at the gate. In this case we would need to make decisions on whether or not we were going to hike the rest of the way.

With this in mind, we began our drive. First, let me point out what type of road this is. A normal vehicle would make it about 200 yards on this road before they encountered the first daunting conditions. The road itself varies from easily drivable to huge blocks you have to bounce up and over. In portions the size of the rocks are such that if you don't have enough momentum you can easily dig in and get stuck, and in other portions you may need to get out and look at the road ahead to see just how your going to get over it. This is a road for a seasoned 4-wheel driver, to be sure! (and don't forget that your at altitude so your thoughts are not especially clear).

Another note here is that we will not be exiting the same way we entered. While you certainly can do this as a loop there is actually an alternative road out that exits below the Observatory saving several miles of rough road. We say road out because it would be impossible to take this road up without getting stuck, but taking it down is much easier to do.

At the end of this page you will also find complete GPS files so you can follow our path both up and down the mountain. These files are complete, from Pu'u Huluhulu all the way to the summit, with all the stops in this article marked as waypoints.

Ok, so setout we did. Just after starting on the 4-wheel road we noted a Volkswagon parked off the road. After a bit we encountered the occupants of the vehicle hiking along the road. Interestingly, these hikers actually beat us to the North Pit - an indication that driving is not necessarily faster than walking (the trail is MUCH shorter than the road, which winds up the side).

At odometer 17.9 you will encounter the trailhead intersecting the road. This is where most hikers leave the road and start the trail (as opposed to the first trailhead that was almost immediately after the 4-wheel road started).

Bumping along, you will note that you are winding above the Observatory, and at some points will be able to see the lava dam above the buildings.

At odometer 18.9 is a fork in the road, take the left road (the one that angles up).

At odometer 19.4 is another fork. Either road will take you to the same point, and we originally took the left fork but ended up backing out and going the right (straight) fork as the left fork had quite a difficult section in it. Both roads at this point are fairly difficult.

Just past this part we encountered a section with loose, sinkable, rocks that unfortunately ended up causing one of the vehicles to slide and get a larger boulder firmly wedged, preventing it from going forward. At this point we, in the lead car, were a good bit ahead of the stuck vehicle before we realized that nobody was behind us. Backing down the road and around a curve we encountered the stuck vehicle. Attempts at dislodging the rock by hitting and tugging it was futile, and time was slipping away for our hikers who wanted to begin their part of the hike in a timely manner.

Luckily, John had the brilliant idea of using the vehicle's jack to lift the vehicle up enough to enable the boulder to be removed - which worked very well enabling us to continue in a fairly timely fashion.

Back on the road again, at odometer 20.0 go left at the fork and at odometer 21.3 take the right (straight) fork.

As you approach the odometer 21.6 point you will begin to see some crooked sticks on the various intersecting roads. At the 21.6 point take a right, following the weathered brown markers with white reflectors and crooked sticks.

At odometer 21.7 take a right and then in two miles down the road, at odometer 23.8 you will reach the gate.

Whew! Kidneys still intact? (We think not). Take a breather here for a bit, have some pu'pu (snacks) and water and take in the view.

At the gate itself, facing the gate, there is a hollow lava tube on your left and a small red rock hill on the right. The lava here is very pourous and huge rocks are very lightweight. Avoid the desire to climb or explore the hollow lava tube. On a previous trip with other friends, one of them climbed the tube and fell through seriously injuring their legs. The tube is not stable and the lava is very sharp and dangerous.

The gate is the boundary of the National Park - and unfortunately today we found it locked.

Ok, sorry about that. Did I mention that the gate was locked? Grrrrr. If the gate had not been locked we would have continued through and a bit down the road where the trail crosses the road. At that point we would have dropped our hikers off, who would have taken that trail to North Pit and then onward to the summit. We would have continued on the road, for a couple more uneventful miles, to the summit scientific station (which consists of some solar arrays, transmitters, seismic and tilt equipment and weather equipment). We would have parked at the summit station and walked the 500 yards or so to the summit for a spectacular view of the summit crater from the highest point. We would have waited for our hikers to appear and then, after refreshments, turned around and drive back down.

But alas, that was not to be on today's trip, and very well might not be what you experience when you take this trip. That in mind, John mentioned that from the gate it is about a half mile walk to the edge of North Pit - so all 11 of us decided to do the hike (in reality, it is a bit more than half a mile, but not much more).

We have completely documented the hike to North Pit in our Hike To The Summit Of Mauna Loa review. Please refer to the review for details on the hike from this point on the road.

Leaving from the (grrrrr) locked gate we turned around (we are keeping our odometer going here). Remember that we are taking an alternative route down the mountain. At about odometer 25.8 take a right hand turn. You are now on a different road than you came up. Stay on this road until it intersects the paved summit road at about the 28.9 odometer mark. Then make a right and continue back down the mountain the same way you came up.

This 3-mile road is loose rock that is easy to sink into (which is why you can't take this road up, only down, without getting stuck). Much of the time we felt as if the vehicle was skating sideways, as it most certainly was. But the road out is fairly fast and not too difficult, the worst section being a rather steep and rocky area just before the end.

The following are files that contain the Track and Waypoint for the scenic drive from Pu'u Huluhulu all the way to the summit gate, as well as a separate file with the return alternative trip. This also includes the track and waypoints for the physical Hike to North Pit . We offer the files with the caution that they are only as accurate as our unit could record on that day and time. The files are in a variety of formats - select the one your software uses:

Mauna Loa Observatory Road

Hawaii Island Bikeshare
Cycling on Hawaii Island
Report Road Issues

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6,000 - 11,000 Feet Elevation, 35 Miles

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Route: This is a narrow road accessing scientific observatories on Mauna Loa and on clear days can provide spectacular views of Hualalai, Mauna Loa and other peaks.

Directions: Hilo side of the intersection with John A. Burns Way (Mauna Loa Observatory Road), 27.7 miles from Hilo.

This infrequently maintained, unpaved, four wheel drive hunters’ road circles the east, north, and west sides of Mauna Kea between the 7,000′ and 9,000′ elevations within the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve. It passes through native sub-alpine woodland and over barren lava flows.

This paved, winding, rolling, single lane, two wheel drive road proceeds roughly south for about 3 miles, then southeast for 5 miles, then west over nearly barren lava flows, rising steadily to the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory at the 11,150′ elevation on the north slope of Mauna Loa.

This observatory has been providing global carbon dioxide (and climate change) data since the 1950s. Clear weather provides a spectacular view of Mauna Kea, Kohala, Haleakala (Maui), Hualalai, and the Pohakuloa saddle. Under optimum conditions, the islands of Kaho’olawe, Lana’i, and Moloka’i can be seen. The Observatory facilities are not open to the public. Trails into the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to the Mauna Loa summit originate at the end of the road.

The route traverses critical habitat of the endangered palila (Loxioides bailleui), a Hawaiian finch found only on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea. Caution, the entire route is open year-round for hunting.

Hiking Safety Tips

STAY ON MARKED TRAILS! Vegetation or cinders may hide deep cracks in the ground. Use caution near cliffs, cracks, and steam vents. The edges of these features are unstable and can be slippery. Keep your children safe. Hiking over cracks and holes, loose rock, and thin lava crust greatly increases your risk of getting hurt. Falling on lava may result in severe wounds.
WEAR STURDY SHOES AND LONG LIGHTWEIGHT HIKING PANTS (falling on lava is like falling on broken glass).
CARRY AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. No matter how short your hike or brief your stay, bring more sunscreen and water than you think you’ll need. Recommended: 2 liters of water per person, per day. Hawaii’s strong tropical sun can cause serious dehydration.
AVOID HIKING AFTER DARK (cracks, crevasses, and cliffs look like shadows – depth is not evident in the dark).
Always hike or camp with another person.
Bring a cell phone.
Do not drink untreated stream or lake water.
Always be prepared for rain. Rainstorms can roll in with surprising speed.
Have warm clothes on hand. At elevations above 1,000 feet (and even on windy beaches), nighttime temperatures can drop by at least 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the elevation, the colder it will be.
Carry bug spray. Mosquitoes can be thick even on breezy beaches.
Abide by posted signs and stay on the trail.
Always obtain the proper permits to hike or camp.
If you are a novice hiker, consider arranging a hiking tour with an activity/attractions tour provider

Web site by Christopher Green Design - Web Development and Graphic Design

Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. The observatory remains inaccessible by vehicle and without power from the local utility company.

Observatory staff has established limited solar power in four observatory buildings and restored approximately 33 percent of the measurements onsite, including the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps critical CO 2 records and other atmospheric measurements. temporary measurement site at the nearby Mauna Kea volcano for the critical CO 2 record and other atmospheric measurements taken at the observatory. -->

Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 ([email protected]) or Karin Vergoth 303-632-6413‬ ([email protected])

Organization

The Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) is an atmospheric baseline station of the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) , of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) . The mission of ESRL is to measure atmospheric constituents that are capable of forcing change in the climate of the earth and those that may deplete the ozone layer. ESRL accomplishes this goal primarily through long-term tropospheric measurements of key atmospheric parameters such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH 4 ), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), ozone (O 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), radon, aerosols, optical depth, and a spectrum of solar radiation parameters.

MLO is located on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Due to its remote location in the Pacific Ocean, high altitude (3397 meters, or 11,135 feet above sea level), and great distance from major pollution sources, MLO is a prime spot for sampling the Earth's background air in the well mixed free troposphere. The observatory protrudes through the strong marine temperature inversion layer present in the region, which separates the more polluted lower portions of the atmosphere from the much cleaner free troposphere. More on MLO Site Location...

MLO began continuously monitoring and collecting data related to climate change, atmospheric composition, and air quality in the 1950's. Today, the observatory is best known for its measurements of rising anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations in the atmosphere. This trend is sometimes referred to as the "Keeling Curve". MLO is also known for its measurements of ozone, chemicals that destroy ozone (such as CFCs and HCFCs), solar radiation, and both tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols. Data from MLO is also used to calibrate and verify data from satellites and stations around the world. More on MLO Programs...

Affiliations

The Observatory at Mauna Loa has been a model for several recently instituted atmospheric research stations. In its 50 years of operation, MLO has supported hundreds of cooperative research programs with national and international universities, government organizations, and foreign agencies. Hundreds of papers have been published based on data collected at MLO. More on MLO Programs...

Mauna Loa Observatory is also affiliated with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) , School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) , Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) . Several MLO employees work for JIMAR ( more about MLO Staff... ).

MLO is also a primary observing site for the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) . The NDACC is a set of high-quality remote-sounding research stations for observing and understanding the physical and chemical state of the stratosphere. Ozone and key ozone-related chemical compounds and parameters are targeted for measurement. The NDACC is a major component of the international upper atmosphere research effort and has been endorsed by national and international scientific agencies, including the International Ozone Commission , the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) , and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) .

Historical Publications

Site Location Information

Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) activities occur at several locations around the Big Island of Hawaii.

The primary observation site is located at an elevation of 11,141 ft on northern slope of Mauna Loa. This facility is generally refered to as Mauna Loa Observatory, or the MLO Site .
Behind the scenes, the administration and data processing for MLO occurs at the Hilo Office .
Kulani Mauka Site is a rain collection site (see National Weather Service programs) .
The Cape Kumukahi Site is a flask sample site located on the eastern most point of Hawaii, used in several programs.
The Natiaonal Weather Service Hilo Airport Site is where weekly ozonesonde and special water vapor balloons are prepared and launched ( see ozonesonde program page ).
The Hakalau Site is a rain collection site for future programs ( see EPA Mercury Precipitation program ).
Until January 2006, the MLO main office was located in the historic Federal Building in downtown Hilo

Can You Drive To The Top Of Mauna Loa?

Distant view of Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii

Mauna Loa stretches 75 miles across the Big Island of Hawaii. This volcano bubbles up and adds new land to Hawaii each time it erupts. There are many interested in exploring the slopes and summit of this volcano, but they are unsure whether you can drive to the top of Mauna Loa or not.

While there is no road to the summit, the Mauna Loa Observatory Road gets closest to the summit of Mauna Loa. This roughly paved, single-lane road leads to the Mauna Loa Observatory at 11,135 feet. There is a 6.4-mile trail to the 13,681-foot summit of Mauna Loa from the observatory.

Driving up the side of the largest volcano on earth can be daunting. Reading on will provide explorers, volcano enthusiasts, and others interested in a trip to the summit with the knowledge about the journey up Mauna Loa.

The Way Up Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa is on the biggest island in Hawaii. Mauna Loa means “long mountain” in Hawaiian, which is a fitting name for this volcano. Mauna Loa is a shield volcano meaning it has broad, sloping sides formed over years of eruptions. Mauna Loa’s eruptions are classified by fluid lava that travels long distances—often beginning in the middle of the island and making it to the ocean.

Since experts began monitoring this volcano in the mid-1800s, it has erupted approximately 33 times . What makes it safer is that the eruptions are not as explosive compared to other eruptions. Usually, the lava begins to seep more than explode, which makes the drive up the mountain safer, but not without risk.

The Mauna Loa Observatory Road is only 17 miles long, but it takes around an hour to drive since it’s an underdeveloped road. The only way to get to Observatory Road is from Saddle Road. Saddle Road traverses the Big Island from east to west, so those driving to the Observatory Road can get there from either side of the island.

This volcano and observatory are in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This national park has dormant volcanoes, active volcanoes, ancient lava tubes, steam vents, and so much more.

The national park area that Mauna Loa is in does not have much other than the observatory and volcanic rocks. It is primarily hardened lava rock, devoid of plants and animal life.

Mauna Loa Observatory Road is remote, with amazing views of the various volcanos on the island. But the lack of plants and trees and the far drive make this road less popular than many other national park summit roads .

Observatory on the north side of Mauna Loa Hawaii

Many people use this road to get to the trailhead for the hike to the summit. The hike up Mauna Loa is a challenging trip. Going up to 13,681 feet in elevation is no small feat. In addition to the elevation gain, the hike is over six miles of loose, uneven rocks. The rock is also very sharp, so it’s critical to have durable hiking shoes or boots that won’t get torn up on the rocks.

Another aspect of this hike that makes it difficult is the hikers must follow the stacked rocks. Once you get to one pile of rocks, you must find the next stack, and so on. Much of the lava cools in piles that look like stacks, so hikers must pay close attention to the stacks. In poor visibility, it is essential to remain focused on staying on the right trail.

Additionally, before going on this hike, hikers must obtain a permit. The fee for up to 10 people is only $10. Hikers must submit payment and obtain their permit at the Backcountry office in person. When hikers get their permits, they can inquire how many other permits are active at the time to prepare for any other hikers on the trail.

There is a summit cabin for hikers to stay at. The bare-bones cabin has 12 bunks with sleeping pads. This cabin also has amenities for those that stay there. There are water collecting tanks, and hikers should check the water levels with the permit office before departing for the summit.

Additionally, there is another cabin , the Red Hill Cabin, where hikers can camp on Mauna Loa, but the summit cabin is the only one on the top of the mountain. As long as hikers have a permit, staying at either cabin is first come, first serve. Both cabins have composting toilets and water collection tanks.

Stunning view of Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii

The National Park Service asks that campers leave no trace and don’t throw garbage in the toilets. In addition, hikers should treat any water they use from the collection tanks before drinking or cooking with it.

Before and during a camping trip, backpackers should be continuously monitoring the weather . Because of the height of the summit, high-altitude storms can happen frequently. In addition, even though this mountain is in Hawaii, the temperature on the mountain’s upper slopes falls below freezing throughout the year.

There are also health hazards connected to hiking Mauna Loa. Hikers often get altitude sickness, and the only way to cure it is to descend. If any scuba divers want to attempt the hike, they need to wait at least 24 hours after they finish diving to begin ascending Mauna Loa. Pregnant women, children under 16, and those with cardiac or pulmonary health issues should avoid climbing Mauna Loa.

The National Park Service in Hawaii has compiled a helpful list of symptoms of different sicknesses while hiking at high altitudes. Some of the most common symptoms to watch out for include:

Weakness or fatigue
Out of breath (even while resting)
Altered mental state

As those making their way up Mauna Loa, in a vehicle or on foot, are aware of these symptoms, they’ll be ready to have a safe and enjoyable time exploring the largest active volcano in the world.

Road Trip Answers Fun Fact: Mauna Loa is so heavy that the seafloor beneath the island bends under its weight.

How Hard is the Drive to Mauna Loa Summit?

The Mauna Loa Observatory Road is paved, but the road is not well maintained. The weather and time have caused erosion, and the pavement is cracked and riddled with potholes. The road is accessible by car, though it is “dippy” and also very steep in some places as it winds up the mountain.

If a driver takes their time going up the mountain, this road is not dangerous. There are many places to pull out and look across to the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea . There are also interesting rock formations right next to the road.

Can You Drive to the Mauna Loa Observatory?

The Mauna Loa Observatory is where the road up Mauna Loa ends. The observatory is a large complex with multiple buildings and places to park.

One of the most popular activities when driving up Mauna Loa is to visit the observatory. The observatory’s primary purpose is to monitor and research data connected to changes in the atmosphere. This location is ideal for measuring the atmosphere because of the lack of vegetation, human inactivity, and clean/undisturbed air.

The Mauna Loa Observatory frequently works with national and international universities and government organizations.

Before scheduling a trip to the observatory, check here to see if they are open and available.

Lava tube creates a bleak landscape on the Hawaii's Big Island

Is Mauna Loa Still Active?

Mauna Loa is still very much active. Around it, there are signs of activity like increased seismic activity, including minor earthquakes. Mauna Loa is often referred to as a “sleeping giant.” Geologists have determined that Mauna Loa’s alert level is “advisory,” which is one level above “normal.”

Can You Drive Up Mauna Loa at Night?

You can drive up Mauna Loa at night. The lack of air and light pollution makes it one of the best places on earth to stargaze. In addition, driving the road before dark will make your trip easier because you only have to navigate the narrow road in the dark once instead of twice.

If you decide to drive up Mauna Loa at night, be sure to pack warm clothes as the temperature quickly drops once the sun goes down.

Does Mauna Loa Get Snow?

Mauna Loa is one of two places in Hawaii that gets snow each year, the other being the neighboring mountain of Mauna Kea.

The snowfall is most frequent from December to February annually. Typically, it is a light dusting if it snows, but occasionally, there will be a few inches or more of snow that blankets everything and sticks around for a few days.

Which is Bigger Mauna Loa or Mauna Kea?

Mauna Kea, the mountain just 35 miles away from Mauna Loa is 13,803 feet tall. Mauna Loa is only 122 feet shorter than Mauna Kea; however, Mauna Loa is the bigger volcano because it has so much more volume.

Mauna Loa’s Rocky Beauty

Even though Mauna Loa is mostly volcanic rock, there is a certain beauty to the barrenness, which reminds visitors of new life. From the road that winds up Mauna Loa, travelers can look down the slopes and to the shore of Hawaii, where black lava rock fades to lush, green vegetation, which will one day climb up the slopes of Mauna Kea and feed off the rich, volcanic soil.

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Volcano Watch — Magnetics, magma, and monitoring: new technology for old questions

Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so.

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today's article is by HVO geophysicist Ashton Flinders.

Black and white photograph of scientists in the field

On a large scale, the structure of the Earth is divided into four main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the inner and outer core. The outer core, which starts at about 1800 miles (2,900 km) beneath your feet and extends for an additional 1,400 miles (2,260 km), is composed mostly of iron and nickel. At these depths the temperature (about 9,000 Fahrenheit or 5,000 Celsius) keeps the outer core fluid and constantly moving. This movement sets up a process a bit like an electrical generator you might be familiar with— the moving metallic fluid creates electrical currents . These currents generate the Earth’s magnetic field—the same one you use to orient a compass to North.

At volcanoes, variations in the magnetic field arise primarily from four sources: long-term changes related to changes in the motion of Earth’s outer core, external electrical currents, space weather events (such as solar flares), and changes in magnetic properties of rocks due to volcanic activity. In general, the changes caused by the first three sources of variation can be considered relatively uniform over a small area, which allows us to correct for them using measurements at a remote, but still “local” and “magnetically quiet” reference site.

Rapid magnetic changes associated with volcanic processes are usually very small, between 1 and 10 nanoTesla (nT) units. For context, a refrigerator magnet has a magnetic field strength of about five million nT! The sensitivity of magnetic measuring instruments (“magnetometers”) determines whether volcanic changes can be detected within the considerable noise produced through other, non-volcanic, electromagnetic fluctuations. These volcanic fluctuations can arise from variations in the magnetization of rocks induced by stress redistribution or changes in the thermodynamic state of the volcanic edifice.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) has had a magnetic monitoring network on Mount Etna for over 20 years. The network is comprised of eight stations on the volcano and a reference station. All stations measure the total local magnetic field every 5 seconds, and the network is designed to make it possible to easily distinguish deep sources of change from superficial ones.

From their long time series of data, INGV has shown that the variations they observe in the magnetic field can often be attributed to shallow magmatic intrusions (when magma moves into a new area beneath the surface but fails to erupt). These intrusions cause permanent magnetic anomalies which, together with observed earthquake swarms and the ground deformation, generally precede and accompany magma moving towards the surface. For example, INGV has observed pre- and syn-eruptive magnetic anomalies during the eruptions of Mount Etna in 2001, 2002, and 2008.

At Kīlauea, measuring changes in the magnetic field to monitor the volcano has only been briefly explored. Initial investigations were performed by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologist Gordon Macdonald between 1950–1951. Macdonald realized that conditions weren’t ideal, but he gave it his best attempt given available time, staffing, and the state of the current technology.

Two decades later, in 1973, HVO geologist Paul Davis showed that daily averages of records from three synchronized magnetometers on Kīlauea revealed a 1.5 nT change in the local magnetic field during the ongoing Maunaulu eruption. A few years later, USGS volcano geodesist Dan Dzurisin operated a small network of magnetometers, but no results were ever published.

Similar to recent instrument advances in measuring the absolute acceleration of gravity , newly available quantum-based sensors have opened the door on previous magnetic-monitoring challenges. These new quantum magnetometers provide comparable sensitivity and data rates to traditional technology but require significantly lower power and are simpler to install. The new sensors are also dramatically smaller, about the size of your thumb!

While HVO does not currently operate any quantum-based magnetometers, the observatory is constantly testing the potential of new technology for volcano monitoring. The questions we ask about volcanoes fundamentally remain the same—where and when will a volcano erupt—and our ability to answer those questions only gets better as technology advances. Will magnetic monitoring have a future in monitoring Kīlauea volcano, as HVO scientists from 70 years ago hoped? We don’t know yet, but when we do, we’ll let you know!

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.

Rates of seismic activity increased beneath the summit over the past week but remain low relative to periods before recent intrusions or eruptions. About 365 events were detected, which is nearly double that of the week before. The tiltmeter near Sand Hill continued to record inflationary trends. Ongoing ground deformation patterns in the Southwest Rift Zone indicate that magma continues to migrate down rift in this region. No unusual activity has been noted along the East Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO 2 emission rates are at background levels.

Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.2 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) S of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on April 15 at 8:16 a.m. HST and a M2.8 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) S of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on April 15 at 6:31 a.m. HST.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to [email protected] .

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Mauna Loa Observatory
From Mauna Loa you can see the observatories twinkling in the sunshine on Mauna Kea. You can only drive up to 11,000ft on Mauna Loa and only as far as the visitor centre on Mauna Kea unless you have a 4x4. So many things to think about. Volcanic tubes and Lava fields on Mauna Loa. Try searching more on the internet to get more perspective and ...
Mauna Loa
Access and Location: Mauna Loa Summit Cabin is situated along the Mauna Loa Trail, reachable by the ʻĀinapō Trail and Kapāpala Ranch. Two permits and gate access are required for this hike: 1. The National Park Service manages the Mauna Loa Cabin at 13,250 feet (4039 m). Permits cost $10 (plus the park entrance fee) and can include up to 12 ...
How to Visit MaunaKea: Stargazing Tours and DIY Guide for 2024
Depending on your preferences there are 4 ways you can visit MaunaKea as part of a tour: Maunakea Summit + Stargazing Tours. Maunakea Stargazing Tours that don't go to the summit. Stargazing Tours at sea level from the grounds of the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Summit tours for Hawaiʻi residents.
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory - Mauna Loa Observatory. Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. The observatory remains inaccessible by vehicle and without power from the local utility company.
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory
Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) is located on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii, at an elevation of 3397 meters, or 11,135 feet above sea level. The observatory is a premier atmospheric research facility that has been continuously monitoring and collecting data related to atmospheric change since the 1950's.
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory
Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. ... Reviewing the information below is strongly recommended to ensure your visit is safe and you are well prepared. "Important Things to Remember When Visiting MLO ...
Mauna Loa Observatory
noun. greenhouse gas that can cause acid rain. ultraviolet. adjective. having to do with light of short wavelengths, invisible to the human eye. Mauna Loa Observatory is a station that measures the elements in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change. It is located on the side of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.
Mauna Loa Observatory
The Mauna Loa Observatory was founded on June 28th 1956 as part of the US Weather Bureau. It was established on the northern flank of Mauna Loa at 11,134 ft after 1951-1954 efforts were unable to maintain a summit observatory at 13,453 ft. [1] The Mauna Loa Observatory was developed specifically to monitor solar, atmospheric and meteorological ...
Visiting Mauna Loa, the Largest Volcano in the World
Such is the case with Hawaii's Mauna Loa, which happens to be the world's largest active volcano, by both volume as well as size. After being dormant since 1984, Mauna Loa began to show signs of ...
Mauna Loa Observatory Trailhead
Quick Facts. Located off of Highway 200 (Saddle Road), the Mauna Loa Observatory Trailhead provides access to the remote and rugged summit of Mauna Loa. The trailhead is approximately a two hour drive from Kīlauea Visitor Center. Mauna Loa Observatory Road is a narrow, paved, one-lane road. Drive with caution.
Hiking Mauna Loa summit via Observatory Trail
Mauna Loa is not to be confused with the other large volcano on Hawaii, Mauna Kea. Although Mauna Kea is slightly higher at 13,796 ft (4,205 m), its summit, home to a large complex of astronomical observatories, is easily accessible by a road and heavily visited. By contrast, you need to hike to the Mauna Loa summit.
Mauna Loa Observatory and Summit
Mauna Loa Observatory. There's a lot to see on this Big Island volcano. Let's talk about what you can expect when you visit! The Mauna Loa Observatory stands more than 11,000 feet above sea level on the north side of Mauna Loa volcano on The Big Island. This important scientific facility measures various atmospheric gasses, including carbon ...
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory
Mauna Loa Observatory is located on the Island of Hawaii at an elevation of 3397 m on the northern flank of Mauna Loa volcano at 200 north. Established in 1957, Mauna Loa Observatory has grown to become the premier long-term atmospheric monitoring facility on earth and is the site where the ever-increasing concentrations of global atmospheric carbon dioxide were determined.
Maunakea Visitor Information Station
Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. VIS Phone: (808) 934-4550. Google Maps link. The Visitor Information Center is at 9,000 ft elevation on the Maunakea Access Road. See Visiting Maunakea Safely and Responsibly for important safety information. Due to the hazards of altitude sickness, pregnant women, persons in poor health, and children under ...
How to See the Mauna Loa Volcano Eruption
Throughout the night, eager spectators and photographers pull their cars on the side of the road to witness Mauna Loa's breathtaking glow. Hawaiʻi County has currently set aside spots to safely view the eruption along Daniel K. Inouye State Highway. However, no parking is allowed between mile marker 16 and 31.
Traveling to Mauna Loa via the Saddle Road
The Mauna Loa Observatory Road turns south off the Saddle Road and zigs and zags up to the Mauna Loa NOAA Atmospheric Observatory at 11,140 feet, which you can see high on the hillside above as you progress along this road. Bicyclist riding near sunset on the Saddle Road, Big Island, Hawaii. ©Dmitri Kotchetov, Dreamstime.
Mauna Loa Scenic Drive
Mauna Loa, unlike Mauna Kea, is easy to get lost on. If weather sets in it can quickly become impossible to tell which direction your car is in or even whether you are walking up or down the mountain. If you intend to take the trail to the summit additional warnings apply, please see the Mauna Loa Summit Hike for more information.
Mauna Loa Observatory Road
Route: This is a narrow road accessing scientific observatories on Mauna Loa and on clear days can provide spectacular views of Hualalai, Mauna Loa and other peaks. Directions: Hilo side of the intersection with John A. Burns Way (Mauna Loa Observatory Road), 27.7 miles from Hilo.
ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory
The primary observation site is located at an elevation of 11,141 ft on northern slope of Mauna Loa. This facility is generally refered to as Mauna Loa Observatory, or the MLO Site.; Behind the scenes, the administration and data processing for MLO occurs at the Hilo Office.; Kulani Mauka Site is a rain collection site (see National Weather Service programs).
Can You Drive To The Top Of Mauna Loa?
This roughly paved, single-lane road leads to the Mauna Loa Observatory at 11,135 feet. There is a 6.4-mile trail to the 13,681-foot summit of Mauna Loa from the observatory. Driving up the side of the largest volcano on earth can be daunting. Reading on will provide explorers, volcano enthusiasts, and others interested in a trip to the summit ...
Volcano Watch
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientists at the rim of Kīlauea volcano measuring variations in magnetic field strength in 1950. Photo by Ray E. Wilcox. ... HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Please visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake ...
Mauna Loa Observatory, HI Health & Activities Weather Forecasts
See a list of your local health and activity forecasts and recommendations. ... World North America United States Hawaii Mauna Loa Observatory. Weather Near Mauna Loa Observatory: East Honolulu ...

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