Hawai'i Volcano Blog

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!

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the newest eruptive activity in the Big Island volcano’s summit caldera began at about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, with a small lava flow exiting the north vent following low-level continuous lava spattering that started at about 5:40 a.m. from the same vent.

This spattering follows an eruptive event at Kīlauea volcano that began on Dec. 23 but paused on the evening of Jan. 3.

Assuming the vent in the southwest portion of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater remains open, indicated by continued glow and degassing, and inflation rate remains constant, a new eruptive episode could potentially begin sometime by Jan. 13, when ground tilt at Uēkahuna is expected to reach 12 microradians, about double prior post-fountain tilt increases.

The lack of trade winds is keeping the vog lingering over Hawai‘i Island, but that is expected to change by the weekend.

Summit tiltmeters on the Big Island volcano reversed from deflationary tilt to inflationary tilt at about the same time the lava fountain shut down Friday. Rapid change from deflation to inflation at the onset of each of the eruptive episodes suggests another episode could erupt in the coming days to weeks if summit magma chambers repressurize sufficiently.

People around the world greet the New Year with fireworks and other celebrations. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitors got to greet 2025 with displays of lava fountaining from the southwest part of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea volcano.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that lava fountaining and flow activity within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater ceased at about 8:40 p.m. Friday. Lava continues to slowly move, with crustal overturns expected in the hours following the pause in eruptive activity.

Visitors coming to view the 10-day-old eruption inside the volcano’s caldera at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park should expect a daytime traffic change and be aware that air quality could be bad this weekend.

Behind us are the holidays and ahead is a whole new year, full of exciting experiences and opportunities to reinvent ourselves. Let’s make a resolution to try something new during 2025.