USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-HVO-2022-05-22T03:34:44-07:00

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY INFORMATION STATEMENT
U.S. Geological Survey
Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:22 AM HST (Sunday, May 22, 2022, 11:22 UTC)

HUALALAI VOLCANO (VNUM #332040)
19°41'31" N 155°52'12" W, Summit Elevation 8278 ft (2523 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL
Current Aviation Color Code: GREEN

HUALĀLAI INFORMATION STATEMENT

The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded a magnitude-4.7 earthquake located beneath the Island of Hawai‘i on Saturday, May 21, at 11:50 p.m. HST.

The earthquake was centered about 2.0 km (1 mi) east-northeast of Kailua-Kona, at a depth of 11.0 km (7 mi) below sea level. A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo. More details are available at the National Earthquake Information Center website at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/hv73019747.

Moderate shaking, with a maximum instrumental intensity of V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, has been reported widely across the Island of Hawai‘i and as far away as Kauaʻi. At that intensity, very light damage to buildings or structures could occur. The USGS "Did you feel it?" service (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) received over 1020 felt reports within the first hour of the earthquake.

Over the past 25 years, there have only been 2 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 4.0 beneath Hualalai volcano, including today's event. This event was primarily lateral slip along a sub-vertical fault and does not appear to be directly related to magmatic activity. Aftershocks are likely, and some may be felt.

According to HVO Scientist-in-Charge Ken Hon the earthquake had no apparent effect on Mauna Loa or Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing summit eruption. HVO monitoring networks have not detected any significant changes in activity at the summit or along the rift zones of Kīlauea resulting from the earthquake.

For information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo.

Background: Hualālai is the third most active volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi and typically erupts two to three times per 1,000 years. Hualālai last erupted in 1801 and, more recently, had a damaging seismic swarm in 1929 that was probably the result of a shallow intrusion of magma. Hualālai Volcano is monitored by one continuous GPS instrument and a seismometer located southeast of the summit, as well as several instruments on nearby flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Key sites on Hualālai and western Mauna Loa are resurveyed using GPS receivers every few years to detect any changes in the volcano's shape.

More Information:
Hualālai volcano summary also available by phone: (808) 967-8877
Hualālai website: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/hualalai

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Summary of volcanic hazards from eruptions: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hazards
Recent earthquakes in Hawaiʻi (map and list): https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo
Explanation of Volcano Alert Levels and Aviation Color Codes: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/volcanic-alert-levels-characterize-conditions-us-volcanoes

CONTACT INFORMATION:

askHVO@usgs.gov

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is one of five volcano observatories within the U.S. Geological Survey and is responsible for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawaiʻi.