Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 6, 1 Iune 2010 — personal with Kīlauea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

personal with Kīlauea

a master of science degree in geophysics at the University of Hawai'i, while beginning his career with the U.S. Geological Survey as a minority intern. He worked parttime for the USGS, while earning his doctorate at UH studying the

electrical structure of Kīlauea. In 1988, the geophysicist joined the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory but moved to Hilo instead of the obvious Volcano town nearer to Volcanoes National Park. It's "too cold up there," he quips.

When he heeame the Scientist-in-Charge in October 2004, he was the first staff member picked to head the observatory since the mid- 1970s. But he never offers this bit of information - you have to eheek his bio; being humhle and

with a signature quiet sense of humor, he also doesn't menhon the time he devotes to student groups or even his involvement in curriculum development for elementary students. His work over the years has involved studies on the formation and evolution of the Hawaiian Islands, studies on gravity that help locate hidden rift zones, studies on groundwater systems on Hawai'i, mapping of lava flows and lava tubes, and applying the watershed concept to help predict where lava will flow. As a scholar he has also heeome more interested in historical accounts of Kīlauea's activities while understanding it as a Native Hawaiian. But, he says, the early literature was largely written by westerners, from their perspective. He is interested in the historical Hawaiian perspective, whieh is limited. His connection to Kīlauea has deepened over the years but, he says, as a scientist, he has to be sure to "keep an unemotional, logical eye on things." Still, Kīlauea is not

just another volcano and "I view with contempt those who don't respect the location," he says. Kāauea has now been erupting for more than 10,000 days straight and Mauna Loa, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet - 33 eiuptions since 1843 - last erupted in 1984, when the lava eame within six miles of Hilo. Could another Mauna Loa eruption be on the horizon? Kauahikaua says "almost certainly" in our lifetime. "What's uncertain is where the lava will go." As for Kauahikaua, he says managers usually rotate in and out so he will eventually be leaving his Scientist-in-Charge position, but he plans to remain at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Still, at 58, he's of retirement age and eontemplates what he would do when he does retire, admitting though, that's "as predictable as what's going to happen at Kīlauea." ■ Kathy Muneno is a contributing writer for Ka Wai. Ola. She is a weekend weather anchor at KHON2.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua addresses a group of reporters on the occasion of the 1 0,000th day of the Kilauea eruption on May 21 . Visible in the background are the gas plume from the 2008 Halema'uma'u vent, the slope of Mauna Loa climbing to the left and the peak of Mauna Kea poking its head over Uwēkahuna bluff with the HV0 buildings in the gap. - Photo: Courtesy of USGS