Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes

08/04/2026

08/01/2026

08/01/2026

07/31/2026

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno will retire on August 1, 2026, after guiding the Island of Hawaiʻi through some of its most challenging natural events.

Growing up in Mountain View on the Island of Hawai‘i, Talmadge began his path toward public service with an interest in environmental hazards. His career took him from the National Park Service—working in places like Grand Teton and Lake Mead—to serving as Chief Ranger at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park during major Kīlauea eruptions.

Since becoming CD Administrator in 2017, he led responses to the historic 2018 Kīlauea eruption, the first Mauna Loa eruption in nearly 40 years, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout, he emphasized teamwork, communication, and community resilience.

HVO thanks Talmadge for his steady leadership and service. His parting advice: build strong relationships, because the next natural hazard event will come, and working together is key to resilience.

Mahalo, Talmadge.

Read more: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-a-decade-disaster-response-mahalo-talmadge-magno-hawaii-county

📷 : Talmadge Magno during his tenure as Chief Ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 2008. NPS photo.

07/29/2026

Kanalimakūmālua (Episode 52) ended at 2:36 a.m. HST after a final four minutes of spectacular gas jetting and flames from the north vent. The south vent also produced flames during this final phase. Eruptive activity lasted 7.4 hours.

USGS we**am photo of a large volcanic cone in a crater.