March 2023 Newsmaker Luncheon: Before/During/After '22 Mauna Loa Eruption

The Big Island Press Club hosted a special Newsmaker Luncheon on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Restaurant Kenichi in Hilo, focused on the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption. The panel discussed the "flow of information" regarding the eruption, analyzing the successes, surprises, and lessons learned from the emergency communication efforts.

Panel Members

The event featured key experts, media, and community figures, including Dr. Ken Hon (HVO), Talmadge Magno (Civil Defense), Jessica Ferracane (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park), Chris Leonard (New West Broadcasting), and Dane DuPont & Phil Ong (Hawaii Tracker).

The panel analyzed information flow during the Nov. 27–Dec. 13, 2022 eruption, particularly regarding lava threats to the Daniel K. Inouye State Highway.

Discussions covered lessons for future volcanic events.

As of March 2023, the volcano was quiet but experiencing inflation, and the session highlighted the critical, complementary roles of official channels and social media sources like Hawaii Tracker.

This luncheon served as a retrospective to improve future crisis communication.