Hawaii County

The County of Hawaii encompasses the Island of Hawai, also known as the Big Island. To learn how to reduce your risk to various natural hazards click on the specific hazard above to learn more.

The Island of Hawaii is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain. The island was formed from five different volcanoes: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea, of which the last two are still active. As more of Hawaii's land is developed, the likelihood of volcanic eruptions interfering with human activity increases. The direct hazards produced from volcanoes includes lava flows, airborne lava fragments, and volcanic gas. Indirect hazards, such as earthquakes and tsunami, can damage even greater areas.