More than two years after road access and electrical power to the Mauna Loa Observatory was cut off by lava flows, NOAA staff continue to make critical measurements of the atmosphere and other environmental variables at the remote site.
In 2023, observatory staff installed solar panels at the site and resumed some measurements, including the independent carbon dioxide monitoring programs run by the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as other atmospheric measurements.
Construction of a temporary road to access the observatory site is anticipated to begin in summer 2025.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov)
Mauna Loa Visiting and Tours
! The Mauna Loa observatory is closed to the public and not giving tours until further notice.
Tour Information for General Public
Tours of the Mauna Loa Observatory are performed by appointment only. To arrange for a tour please use the "General Visitors Link" below. Please note that the Mauna Loa Observatory is not an astronomical observatory and those interested in astronomy should visit https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/
Visiting Scientists
If you are visiting to work at the site, please go to the "Visiting Scientists Link" below.
Directions to MLO sites
If you need directions to the observatory or the Hilo office from around the Big Island, please use the "Get Directions and Maps Link" below.
Preparation Checklist
Everyone should look at the Preparation Checklist before heading up to the observatory.
School Visits
MLO can host school groups and field trips on selected weekdays by creating interactive displays throughout the Hilo office. The displays are designed to inform, entertain, and involve the children. Many of the displays are flexible enough to be fitted to the education level of the incoming group. The following special reports are in Adobe Reader (.pdf) format, are suitable for printing, and are excellent resources for teachers interested in finding out what a visit to the MLO office entials. For more information on scheduling a school visit to MLO, see the General Visitors page.