Hawai'i Volcano Blog

Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are tracking changes in Kīlauea’s magma chemistry, which could provide insights into the varying heights of lava fountains and indicate a new period of taller fountains.

Magno, who navigated the Hawaiʻi Island response to volcanic eruptions from multiple volcanoes, the COVID-19 pandemic, fires, earthquakes, tsunami warnings, hurricanes and historic kona low storms, retires effective Aug. 1.

The most recent episode of molten rock geyser activity within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater confined to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park ended following 7.5 hours of continuous fountaining.

The latest episode of molten rock geysers within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater of the Big Island volcano began shortly after 7 p.m. July 28 following precursory activity that started the night before.

If the inflation rate slows at Halema‘ma‘u crater, it may push the forecast window back again.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory relies heavily on global positioning satellite data to monitor volcanic activity in Hawaiʻi; data collected are by a combination of permanent stations and annual surveys, giving scientists a picture of Mauna Loa’s changing shape through time.

The easiest answer to the question of whether lava will flow out of the caldera is — it depends!

The Big Island volcano — perhaps the most active in the world — was a bit of a tease leading up to its most recent fountaining episode yet, which lasted 8.3 hours July 15.

The most recent lava fountaining episode within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater ended abruptly at 4:46 p.m. July 15 after 8.1 hours.

Lava fountains are currently erupting from the north vent and reaching heights of about 950 feet above ground level.

Next episode most likely to begin July 11 or 12; however, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports deflation began Saturday morning at the summit, and if that trend continues, fountaining could be pushed back.

Though most of state’s day-to-day seismic activity occurs within volcanic systems, these widely felt — often offshore — deep earthquakes are not at all directly related to magmatic processes; learn more in today’s “Volcano Watch.”

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the temblor struck just after 8:15 p.m. July 9 about 34 miles west-southwest of Captain Cook at a depth of 24 miles below sea level; no damage to buildings or infrastructure expected.

Hawai‘i, the 50th state, reached a golden anniversary June 27: Episode 50 of the ongoing episodic summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island; the north vent served up a 1,030-foot lava fountain, the tallest since Episode 43.

Tephra that was carried high into the air may still fall over Kaʻū communities despite the abrupt end to the continuous lava fountaining.

Park managers are not expecting temporary closures at this time; however, a post just before 11 a.m. Saturday by Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park reminded that could change based on wind direction, volcanic gas and tephra (volcanic material) fallout.

Professor Bruce Houghton retired in 2025 from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa after 25 years as the Gordon A. Macdonald Chairperson of Volcanology, but although he retired and returned to New Zealand, his connections to volcanology in Hawaiʻi remain strong.

Those households are now better prepared for ash and tephra fall from the ongoing Kīlauea episodic eruptive activity, protecting the water supplies on which many of them depend.

Despite having breaks in activity during this ongoing eruption at the Kīlauea summit on the Big Island, monitoring data indicates activity is still elevated and the eruption is not finished, even if we don’t always see lava at the surface.

Kīlauea’s Episode 49 eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu crater has ended, prompting the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to lower alert levels.