Volcano Watch: Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou; roundup of fireworks from Kīlauea’s fountains

“Volcano Watch” is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

Kīlauea has provided “fireworks” all year long on Hawaiʻi island, and today we present a summary in commemoration of the New Year.

Since Dec. 23, 2024, the north and south vents within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, inside Kaluapele, the summit caldera, have erupted in 39 lava fountaining episodes — Episodes 13, 24, 28, 34 and 38 are highlighted in the photos accompanying this article.

Though it didn’t seem like it at the time, lava fountaining episodes began modestly, with heights below 650 feet through January and February 2025.

Episode 15 on March 25-26 marked a transition, with a maximum fountain height from the south vent that jumped up to 1,050 feet. Since then, fountain heights have often been in the range of 1,050 TO 1,250 feet, except for Episodes 29-32 from July 20 to Sept. 2, when fountains occurred at a steep angle that limited their height.

New record fountain heights occurred steadily through the year, with the current record dating from Episode 35 on Oct. 17, when the fountain from the south vent reached a height of 1,574 feet.

While fountaining slowly reached higher heights during the year, the crater floor was also incrementally being raised by lava flows.

Nearly 300 million cubic yards of lava has erupted since the eruption began just more than 1 year ago. This is more than twice the amount that erupted from Puʻuʻōʻō in an average year from 1983 to 2018.

Lava flows have raised the floor of the crater by an average of 225 feet, while the bases of the vents themselves have risen nearly 450 feet.

With the rise in the vent elevations, even if the fountains stay the same height, their peaks are now reaching higher elevations in the air. In fact, the elevations of the two vents are now higher than the tops of the fountains were in January-February 2025!

This has contributed to the increase in the amount of tephra — lava particles from the fountains — reaching over the caldera rim and becoming entrained in winds.

Most larger pieces fall in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, adding to the growing puʻu (hill) on the caldera rim, but the smallest pieces (ash and Pele’s hair) can be blown farther distances across the island.

Much like the fountain height records, the volcano continued to set new lava volume records through 2025.

Episode 3 (Dec. 26, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025) is still currently the record holder for most lava erupted during an episode at a volume of 17 million cubic yards. However, Episode 3 occurred throughout 8 days, giving it an advantage against shorter episodes.

Close behind this is Episode 38 on Dec. 6, 2025, which erupted 15.8 million cubic yards in 12 hours.

It has been an amazing year to be present at Kīlauea and observe these events.

The episodic nature of the fountaining events allowed their onsets to be forecast, providing some sense of what the future will see. However, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is mindful that changes can occur to the eruption pattern, style or location.

So far, there are no signs of an imminent change, but these signs could arise quickly.

The ongoing eruption is occurring entirely within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and our wish for the new year is that we can all continue to safely enjoy the show that Kīlauea is performing.

Volcano Activity Updates

KĪLAUEA

Volcano Alert Level: Watch

Kīlauea has erupted episodically within the summit caldera since Dec. 23, 2024.

Episode 39 lava fountaining happened for 6 hours Dec. 23-24, 2025. Lava fountains erupted from the north and south vents, with maximum heights of about 1,400 feet.

No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

WHAT’S NEXT? The summit is reinflating and another fountaining episode is likely between Jan. 8 and 14.

MAUNA LOA

Volcano Alert Level: Normal

Mauna Loa is not erupting.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

EARTHQUAKES

No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.

Visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website for past “Volcano Watch” articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.