Hawai'i Volcano Blog

The 1975 Kalapana earthquake has ultimately changed the understanding of Kīlauea’s south flank, and the hazards associated with its movement.

Episode 37 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., and 9.2 hours it abruptly ended.

The largest Hawaiʻi earthquake of the 20th century and so far in the 21st century happened 50 years ago this month; shaking as well as ground subsidence and a local tsunami contributed to a catastrophic sequence of events Nov. 29, 1975.

Fountaining episodes during the past month and a half broke several records for this eruption, including the highest lava fountains, the most volume of lava erupted and the highest rate of lava effusion for this event, which has now lasted more than 10 months.

Steady overflows from its north and south vents, signaling the potential onset of episode 36 between November 6 and 11, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Kīlauea’s south vent is exhibiting increased activity, with prolonged lava overflows signaling the likely start of new lava flows by Nov. 8, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Models forecast an eruption window for Nov. 4–8, with Nov. 5-7 most probable.

The quake struck 11 miles northwest of Kalaʻoa at a depth of 27 miles, offshore and near Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, and was felt as far away as Waimea, Kauaʻi.

“These would be the highest single fountain and highest pair of fountains seen during this eruption,” said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in a status update for the Big Island volcano at 10:05 p.m. Friday.

Latest eruptive activity of the ongoing episodic eruption of the Big Island volcano began at just after 8 p.m. with sustained molten rock geysers already at 500 feet high from the north vent and rapidly increasing in height.

As of this morning, Halemaʻumaʻu continues to be quiet with passive outgassing plumes rising from the north and south vents.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the shaker struck at 8:28 p.m. Thursday 1 mile south-southwest of the Kaʻū community at a depth of 18 miles.

The latest eruptive activity kicked off at 12:53 a.m. Oct. 1 from the north vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, with molten rock fountaining from the south vent as well within the next several hours.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory technicians navigate rugged volcanic terrains and formidable challenges to ensure accurate volcanic activity data.

Lava fountains reached up to 700–800 feet during the early hours of the eruption, making these the highest fountains since episode 28 in July.

American Samoa is comprised of the easternmost islands of a volcanic island chain formed by the Samoan hot spot in the South Pacific Ocean, with its small islands the tops of volcanoes and an active volcanic seamount nearby.

Overnight, the magma column within Halema‘uma‘u has been rising and falling in the vent in cycles (gas pistoning), which has been common in the lead-up to lava fountaining episodes.

Thomas Lee, a newly appointed University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo geology professor, returns home to the Big Island and is eager to collaborate with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory amidst the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruptions.

Dick Fiske, who died on June 18 as he neared his 93rd birthday, was one of the most original thinkers ever at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The short-lived fountain episode produced over 12.5 million cubic yards of lava in just 13.4 hours.