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)

General Information

Kulani Mauka is a rain collection site at the 9 mile marker of Mauna Loa Road which is checked once a week by MLO staff on their drive to MLO. Average precipitation at Kulani Mauka is in the region of 40 inches (100 cm) per year. Kulani Mauka precipitation data is archived at the National Weather Service, Hilo.

kulani mauka

GPS Information

Latitude: 19.58° N
Longitude: 155.45° W
Elevation: 2527m (8294ft)
Time Zone: HST (-10 GMT)