We Are Officially a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit!

The Hawaiian Volcano Education and Resilience Institute (HVERI) is thrilled to announce our launch as an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organization, AND the beginning of our inaugural fundraising campaign! Our journey starts today to further our mission of enhancing disaster preparedness through volcano education and community resilience. This initiative started at Hawaii Tracker has been run by dedicated volunteers and supported through limited fiscal sponsorship since the significant 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Hawaiʻi Tracker isn’t just large; it’s credible! We've received accolades like the Big Island Press Club’s “Excellence in Media Innovation” award in 2019 and recognition from Hawaiʻi County Council. Our focus on relevance, expertise, sincerity, and pace has made us the highest-scoring messenger in USGS research. During the 2022 Maunaloa eruption, Hawaiʻi Tracker worked closely with various entities, including the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the County of Hawaiʻi, to bring residents and responders frequent and in-depth eruption updates, interviews, and more! Now with HVERI we can take the next step! HVERI's mission? Improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery through volcano education and community-building. We focus on digital communications and have proven the success of harnessing the power of social media, crowdsourcing, and collaboration with our community. HVERI is inspired to build upon the incredible work started by Hawaiʻi Tracker, with an ambitious goal to create and enhance dynamic digital networks known as Digital Resilience Hubs. These networks, designed to be reliable during crises, are an essential step toward fostering a more resilient Big Island community by leveraging technology. Our newly developed Social Media Moderation Training Program looks to provide potential moderators with the knowledge necessary for digital communications in disaster situations based on the success of Hawaiʻi Tracker and supported by peer-reviewed research. As we celebrate our new nonprofit status, we're also launching our inaugural fundraising drive to support our ongoing projects. Your tax-deductible contribution will make a real difference! With your help, we can continue to educate, connect, and empower our community. Every donation, big or small, fuels our mission to enhance volcano education and build resilience in Hawaiʻi Island. Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Education and Resilience Institute website: https://hveri.org Tap the link to donate now! 🌋 https://hveri.org/donate We also have a new internship program for students of UH Hilo, in collaboration with the Big Island Press Club: https://www.hawaiitracker.com/posts/64cc0712c3b83e0002705a11