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 CO2 records and other atmospheric measurements.

Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov) or Karin Vergoth 303-632-6413‬ (karin.vergoth@noaa.gov)

Mauna Loa Visiting and Tours

! Due to the COVID pandemic, 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.