Hawai'i Volcano Blog

Calculating the location and magnitude of an earthquake requires analyzing aspects of data from several seismic stations around the island, such as the maximum amplitudes and arrival times of different seismic waves.

Episode 9 of the Big Island volcano’s ongoing summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater began at 10:16 a.m. Tuesday. Lava flowing into the crater from the north vent covered about a quarter of the crater floor by 10:45 a.m. Slow effusion of lava also started at about 10:50 a.m. from the south vent.

Volcano scientists from around the world will gather from Feb. 9-14 in Hilo for the American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference on Caldera-forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes: Insights and Puzzles from Kīlauea 2018 and Beyond.

Big Island volcano roars back into action with lava fountains peaking at up to 330 feet at times within the first few hours after the newest eruptive activity began just before 10 p.m. the night of Feb. 3. Vigorous fountains were still erupting from both vents inside the caldera by almost 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, continuing to feed lava flows onto the crater floor.

Participants were invited to submit a poem in haiku format or art recognizing Hawaiʻi’s volcanic landscapes in the following age divisions: elementary (grades K-5), middle school (grades 6-8), high school and adult. Nearly 60 entries were received, most from kamaʻāina.

Authors of a new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study emphasize a long-term pattern of opposite eruptive behavior between the volcanoes also suggests a magmatic connection exists.

Kīlauea volcano’s Episode 7 of eruptive activity ends abrubtly 16 hours after it began, but inflation at the summit is already on the rise again, so it might not be long until an Episode 8 is underway.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said based on the durations of Episodes 5 and 6, and the short pauses that separated them, this episode of eruptive activity in the Big Island volcano’s caldera will likely last 10 to 20 hours.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says a new eruptive episode in the Big Island volcano’s summit caldera could begin sometime between Jan. 27 and Jan. 31. The north vent continued to glow strongly the night of Jan. 26 in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, indicating magma remains close to the surface.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says another eruptive event could start within the next 1 to 2 days if the inflation rate at the Big Island volcano’s summit stays similar to that during Episode 5. The tiltmeter at Uēkahuna bluff started recording the start of inflationary tilt at 1 p.m. Jan. 25.

Episode 6 of the Big Island volcano’s latest eruption, which began the week of Christmas 2024, is underway as lava flows onto the crater floor from a geiser that started at about 11:28 p.m. Jan. 24.

Wondering about that dusting of glittery threads on your property? Pele’s hair is the name for the strands of volcanic glass that are created when globs of liquid lava are stretched apart during an eruption.

The Big Island is definitely not behind on delivering another packed schedule of events, festivals and activities. All the world’s a stage, so be sure to get out and be one of the actors.

After less than a day of eruptive activity, Episode V of the Big Island volcano’s ongoing summit eruption — the shortest so far — ended early Thursday morning. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists say a sixth episode coudl start sometime during the next few days if inflationary trends continue.

Ongoing episodic eruption within summit caldera of Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano that began Dec. 23, 2024, started its fifth eruptive event at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, after about 4 days on pause.

Puna’s road to recovery doesn’t begin with just one road though. At the same time Hawaiʻi County announced restroration work was underway on Highway 137, officials also said a contract was awarded for the next road project in Lower Puna, which will be the reconstruction and realignment of 4.5 miles of Pohoiki Road also inundated by lava in 2018.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that If that relatively high rate of inflation being recorded by instruments at the summit now continues and magma remains high in the vent — as indicated by peristent strong glow at night — there is a high probability a fifth fountaining episode could begin sometime between Jan. 21 and Jan. 24.

Lava within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater continues to slowly move. Crustal overturns are expected in the hours following the pause. Both vents might continue to glow, and degassing currently remains at a high level.

When magma cools prior to eruption, crystals grow and develop chemical zones that record changes in the environment around them. Scientists study chemical differences in these zones, which can provide information about the magma, including its temperature, composition and more.

If ever there was a week when “variety” best fit the top 10 things happening around the Big Island, this would be it. From an hour of volcano stand-up comedy to the return of the KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa, there definitely is something for everyone. Check em out today!