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)

Science Fair Awards

MLO Employees' Association Hawaii District Science and Engineering Fair Awards

Year Level Name School Project
2017 Senior Kalani V. Scheffler   The Effect of Vog on Plant Diversity.
2017 Senior Marybeth DeRego   Sewage Pollution in Groundwater.
2017 Junior Lela Devine   The Effects of Turbidity on the Color Spectrum at Different Depths.
2017 Junior Mara R. Hon   THE Effects of Moon Phases on Global Seismic Activity.
2016 Senior Kylan K. Sakata   Verifying special relativity over time dilation through moon decay at variable altitudes.
2016 Senior Moana Lily Pinner   Investigating the SPF, anti-oxidant and anti cancer potential of turmeric and ginger.
2016 Junior Samantha Yamamoto & Maile Birlhante   Light Dispersing.
2016 Junior Kendra Puleo   Ocean acidification effect on the food chain.
2015 Senior Keanu D. Pinner   Activation of the Hepatocyte Antioxidant Response by Kava Secondary Metabolites.
2015 Junior Halia Buchal   Purple or Green? Does Leaf Color Affect How Plants Respond to Different Colors of Light?
2014 Senior Felix Peng   The Seaweed Solution: The Effects on Increased C02 on Growth of Gracilaria.
2014 Junior Ara Uhr   The Effect on Acid Rain on Ipomoeabatatas.
2013 Senior Mikiko Takato   Particle Segregation in Horizontally Swirling Granular Materials.
2013 Junior Craig Okahara-Olsen   Comparison of Arsenic Levels in Different Regions of Wailoa River.
2012 Senior Erica Sampaga   ARSENIC IN KAUMANA SPRINGS SOIL
2012 Junior Elizabeth Jim   FEEDING PREFERENCE OF ACANTHASTER PLANCI
2011 Senior I’INI KAHAKALAU   RAINFALL IN WAIPIO VALLEY
2011 Junior NOOR SARWAR   DRINKABLE OCEAN WATER
2010 Junior I’INI KAHAKALAU   STREAM VOLUME
2010 Junior KARYL-LIN YAMAKAWA   MOUNTAIN AIR:  A STUDY OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS AND ALTITUDE
2009 Senior EDWARD F. DALTON & AMY L. ERIKSSON   HYDROGEN FUEL CELL:  SOLUTION TO OUR ENERGY CRISIS
2009 Junior Amy S. Chen   USING A DIGITAL CAMERA TO MEASURE SKYGLOW
2008 Senior Catleyn Hakoda St. Joseph's High "Determining a Solar Cell Collector's
Influence on Photovoltaic Output"
2007 Senior Mali'o Kodis Waiakea High Seedbank analysis of Morella cerifera presence along the Mohouli extension
2007 Junior Britney Ann Silva Hilo Intermediate Which salt compound will have an effect of the mass of mummified chicken?
2007 Junior Meghan M. Kurohara Hilo Intermediate Maximizing the potential of hydropower
2006 Senior Melielani Larish Waiakea High The 'Beer' Trees: Slime Flux on Acacia Koa
2005 Senior Chelsea Takahashi Waiakea High The Effects of Acid Rain
2005 Junior CyVan R. Yamamoto Hilo Intermediate Presence of fecal coliforms, Enterococci and Clostridium perfringens in our pond water
2004 Senior Kolea Zimmerman Waiakea High Evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi in Hawaii's native rainforests
2004 Junior Ken Oyadomori Hilo Intermediate Comparison of three different types of solar cells
2002 Junior Kevin Sagawa Waiakea Intermediate Water Quality in "Champagne Pond" at Kapoho Bay
2001 Senior Arielle Moire-Selvage St. Joseph High Water catchment testing: the simple H2S Fujioka method
2001 Junior Steven Y. Nozaki Waiakea Intermediate Hawaiian salt: the effect of rainfall upon the quantity of salt produced
2000 Senior Stephanie Tsang Mui Chung Waikea High Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability and the subsequent growth of maize
2000 Junior Wade Yoshida Waikea Intermediate  
1999 Senior Robin R. Ness Pahoa High How wind direction influences vog
1999 Junior Steven Inouye Waiakea Intermediate Vog and You
1998 Senior Robin R. Ness Pahoa High Vog concentrations at selected sites
1998 Junior Steven Inouye Waiakea Intermediate Vog and asthma
1997 Senior Bonnie Bolkan Hilo High Anion Contribution To Acid Rain along Volcano Highway
1997 Junior Tiana Nishimura
Elizabeth Webster 		Waiakea Intermediate Solar Flare Effect on Hawaii's UV Index
1996 Junior Michael Chan Kealakehe Intermediate Hurricanes
1996 Junior Koren Argaki Waiakea Intermediate Corrosion of Nails