Campus Alert Archive
UH Manoa

Mauna Loa Erupts for the First Time Since 1984: UH Manoa Issues Vog and Air Quality Advisory as Sulfur Dioxide Blankets the State

HIotheradvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

When Mauna Loa began erupting on November 27, 2022 -- for the first time since 1984 -- the Hawaii Department of Health warned that volcanic smog (vog) could produce dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide across all Hawaiian Islands depending on wind conditions. UH Manoa issued precautionary air quality advisories advising campus community members with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure, as vog is known to cause breathing difficulties, headaches, sore throats, and watery eyes. The eruption ended December 10, 2022, after lava flows threatened the Daniel K. Inouye Highway but did not reach populated areas.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Public R1 · HI
~20,000 studentsUH Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction626 chars
UH Manoa Air Quality Advisory: Mauna Loa began erupting on November 27, 2022, and volcanic smog (vog) is expected to affect air quality across the Hawaiian Islands depending on wind direction. Vog contains sulfur dioxide and can cause breathing difficulties, headaches, and eye irritation. Individuals with respiratory conditions, asthma, heart disease, or other health vulnerabilities should limit outdoor exposure and monitor the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard at vog.ivhhn.org. Campus operations continue normally. If outdoor activity is necessary, limit duration. Contact Student Health if you have concerns.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Mauna Loa began erupting at approximately 11:30 PM HST on November 27, 2022 -- its first eruption since 1984, making this the most significant volcanic event in Hawaii in nearly 40 years
Wind direction determined whether vog would affect Oahu (where UH Manoa is located) or remain concentrated on the Big Island; advisory messaging had to account for uncertainty in wind-driven dispersion
UH Manoa's Department of Atmospheric Sciences operates the Vog Measurement and Prediction Program -- the university itself contributes significantly to the vog monitoring infrastructure being referenced in advisories
UPDATEEmail
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UH Manoa Vog Update: Sulfur dioxide levels remain elevated across portions of the state due to the ongoing Mauna Loa eruption. The Hawaii Department of Health continues to advise individuals with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure. Campus outdoor events should consider rescheduling if air quality in your area is affected. Monitor conditions at the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard. Campus health services are available for community members experiencing symptoms. Normal campus operations continue.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Vog from Mauna Loa was forecast to blanket the entire state, affecting all campuses of the UH system simultaneously -- an island-chain-wide hazard rather than a localized campus event
The eruption generated approximately 200,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per day at peak intensity -- far exceeding background volcanic emissions from Kilauea's ongoing lower East Rift Zone activity
UH researchers from the Department of Economics and UHERO later published findings that vog exposure statistically depresses student test scores -- the institution was simultaneously monitoring a hazard and studying its educational impacts
ALL CLEAREmail
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UH Manoa Update: USGS reports that the Mauna Loa eruption has ended as of December 10, 2022. Sulfur dioxide emissions and vog conditions are expected to decrease significantly in the coming days. The Hawaii Department of Health has lifted its most urgent air quality advisories. Monitor the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard for current conditions. Thank you for your attention to air quality safety during this eruption.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The Mauna Loa eruption lasted from November 27 to December 10, 2022 -- 13 days, relatively brief for a Mauna Loa eruption
Lava flows during the eruption threatened the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) between Hilo and Kona, prompting concern about Big Island transportation links, but flows stopped before reaching the road
NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory, which runs the world's longest continuous atmospheric CO2 record, had its instrumentation temporarily disrupted by the eruption -- a significant research impact on the UH-connected scientific community
Context

Background

On November 27, 2022, Mauna Loa -- Earth's largest active volcano and a dominant feature of Hawaii's Big Island -- began erupting for the first time since 1984. The 38-year gap made this a generational event. Fountaining began in the summit caldera (Moku'aweoweo) before shifting to the Northeast Rift Zone, producing lava flows that at one point threatened to cut the Daniel K. Inouye Highway connecting Hilo and Kona. The eruption produced approximately 200,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide per day at peak, generating vog -- volcanic smog -- that the Hawaii Department of Health warned could cause breathing difficulties, headaches, sore throats, and eye irritation, particularly for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Wind patterns determined which islands bore the heaviest vog load on any given day, creating an island-chain-wide air quality hazard. UH Manoa, located on Oahu, issued precautionary advisories and advised vulnerable community members to limit outdoor exposure and monitor the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard. Notably, UH Manoa's own atmospheric sciences department operates the Vog Measurement and Prediction Program, meaning the university simultaneously served as a research institution studying the hazard and as an institution advising its own community on that hazard. The eruption ended December 10, 2022. UH-affiliated researchers later found that vog exposure statistically depresses student test scores, giving the 2022 eruption academic significance beyond the immediate emergency period.
Analysis

Key Findings

The 2022 Mauna Loa eruption was Hawaii's first in 38 years, making it a generational event for campus communities with no institutional memory of previous eruptions
UH Manoa's atmospheric sciences department operates the Vog Measurement and Prediction Program -- the university simultaneously monitored the hazard it was advising its own community about
Wind-driven vog created an island-chain-wide air quality threat, not a geographically bounded campus emergency -- requiring advisories calibrated to changing daily conditions rather than a single all-clear
UH-affiliated researchers subsequently found that vog exposure statistically depresses student test scores, giving the eruption lasting academic and policy significance
Outcome
No injuries or fatalities at UH Manoa. Air quality advisories issued for sensitive populations. Campus remained open but outdoor activity advisories were in effect during periods of elevated vog. The eruption ended December 10, 2022. The Mauna Loa Observatory's CO2 monitoring equipment was temporarily disrupted.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Source
    2022 eruption of Mauna Loa (Wikipedia)
    en.wikipedia.org
  2. Official
    Mauna Loa eruption raises potential for air quality hazards (Hawaii Department of Health)
    health.hawaii.gov
  3. News
    Mauna Loa eruption raises concern about air quality as vog looms (Hawaii News Now)
    hawaiinewsnow.com
  4. Official
    Vog and air pollution predicted to hurt Hawaii student test scores (UH Manoa News)
    manoa.hawaii.edu
  5. Official
    Volcano Watch -- Response to Mauna Loa's 2022 Eruption (USGS HVO)
    usgs.gov
Tags
volcanicmauna-loahawaiivogair-quality2022sulfur-dioxidepublic-healtheruptionthin-state-hiuh-system
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion