La Réunion and Hawai‘i Connect through Sister Park Agreement

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando (right) and Daniel Gonthier, President of La Reunion National Park, signing the sister park agreement at the Kīlauea Visitor Center headquarters, May 20, 2015

NPS Photo

News Release Date: May 21, 2015

Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs Specialist , 808-985-6018

Hawaii National Park, HI – Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and La Réunion National Park, a French volcanic island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, signed a sister park agreement yesterday to fortify the mutual collaboration and cooperation between both parks.

Both Hawai'i Volcanoes and La Réunion national parks feature active volcanoes and are celebrated throughout the world for their geological, biological, and cultural attributes. Both islands are located in the middle of vast oceans, and are situated over volcanic hot spots. La Réunion's Piton de la Fournaise ("Peak of the Furnace"), is listed among earth's most active volcanoes and stands 8,632 feet above sea level. Like Kīlauea, it is a shield volcano and is currently erupting.

Both parks are designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

"La Réunion is a wonderful ambassador on behalf of the precious world heritage of France. Our resources join us together –shield volcanoes and endemic and endangered species. We are proud to share with the community the joining of two of the wonders of the world," said Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.

The sister park relationship enables both parks to enrich their personnel through projects of international cooperation, accomplished primarily through the exchange of managerial, technical and professional knowledge, information, and data technology.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park also has sister park agreements with Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes in South Korea and with Wudalianchi National Park in China. Like Hawai'i Volcanoes, Jeju is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Representatives from all three sister parks participated in the BioBlitz and Biodiversity & Cultural Festival, held May 15-16 at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

-NPS-  

 

Photo of erupting Piton de la Fournaise volcano of La Reunion Island - An eruption consisting of several lava fountains started on February 4, 2015 at Piton de la Fournaise on La Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist was on hand to observe the eruptive activity and assist with monitoring duties—part of a new collaboration and exchange program between the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise.

USGS Photo