Since 2012, Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) collaborated with the French Volcano Observatory (OVPF) with Alain Gerente

Photo by Paul-Edouard BERNARD DE LAJARTRE

Volcano Watch — HVO exchanges scientists with French Volcano Observatory | U.S. Geological Survey By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

August 30, 2012 | https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-watch-hvo-exchanges-scientists-french-volcano-observatory

Extract:

... The HVO–OVPF discussions mostly focused on how we get our respective jobs done. HVO technicians offered lots of advice on field installation and maintenance methods developed for many technologies over many years. In this way, working together can significantly speed the development of state-of-the-art monitoring networks on PdF.

We also talked about the differences in the way we communicate with emergency managers. HVO issues warnings and other information directly to local emergency managers, who take action to keep people safe. OVPF issues their warnings to the local government, which must send the information to Paris before it is sent back to La Reunion for action. Understandably, "unofficial" communications directly to the local gendarmes have been necessary to get timely evacuations started.

In addition, there is increasing pressure to promote tourism on PdF, which is in conflict with OVPF's efforts to promote understanding of the volcanic hazards. This aspect reminded many HVO folks of the removal of the Hawaiian warrior signs that used to mark island lava flows with the year each flow was erupted.

The OVPF scientists were not the first Reunionites to seek relationships with Hawaiians. Last October, La Reunion President Didier Robert visited Hawai‘i Island to promote "sister park" status between Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Reunion National Park and to gather ideas on how to increase tourism to PdF and the island. President Didier also discussed the possibility of Sister City relationships with Hawai‘i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi during his visit.

Much of this inter-island cooperation is the result of efforts by part-time Volcano resident Alain Gerente. Gerente, a well-known videographer of Piton de la Fournaise eruptions, is a mathematician who was on the faculty at the University of Science on La Reunion. He has been a tireless supporter of closer relations between his two island homes—Hawai‘i and La Reunion—which have so much in common...

Read more on HVO