VIDEO: Large Overflow Onto Halema‘uma‘u Crater Floor

The United States Geological Survey reported that at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2018, a new overflow began on Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. The lava lake overflow continued until about 10:30 a.m. and covered about 90 acres of the crater floor with lava. This is the largest overflow since the summit eruption began in 2008.

This photo is looking south, and the gas plume is being produced by the lava lake in the southeast crater floor (upper left). PC: USGS

This thermal image (looking south) shows the active overflows from the lava lake (upper left) onto the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. View is toward the south. PC: USGS

Vigorous overflows from Kīlauea’s summit lava lake covered a large portion of the floor of Halema‘uma‘u this morning. In the video below, the view starts from the north and heads south, showing the north and east sides of Halema‘uma‘u crater. During the overflight, a large overflow was active on the north margin of the lava lake, sending a cascade of lava down the elevated lake rim.