Kilauea Volcano Erupts in Hawaii: Captivating Lava Fountains at Halemaumau Crater Delight Visitors
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted once more on Friday, propelling lava arcs up to 100 feet high from its summit crater. This marks the volcano’s 31st display of molten rock since December, reflecting its status as one of the world’s most active.
The northern vent at the summit crater began spattering continuously in the morning, with lava overflow occurring a few hours later. By afternoon, the vent was shooting lava fountains. The eruption remained confined within the summit crater, posing no threat to nearby homes.
Lucky onlookers residing near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and internet viewers worldwide can witness the spectacle. In previous instances, live streams provided by the U.S. Geological Survey have attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Janice Wei, a dedicated volunteer at the park, takes advantage of these eruptions to capture photographs and videos of Halemaumau Crater. Native Hawaiian tradition posits that this crater is the dwelling of Pele, the volcano goddess. According to Wei, when lava shoots high like a fountain, it emits a sound reminiscent of a powerful jet engine or crashing waves. She can feel its heat from over a mile away.
“Every eruption feels like I am sitting in the front row at nature’s most extraordinary show,” Wei said via email.
Located on Hawaii Island, which makes up the largest part of the Hawaiian archipelago, Kilauea is approximately 200 miles south of Honolulu, the state’s largest city on Oahu.
Ken Hon, scientist-in-charge at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, explained that a lower magma chamber under Halemaumau Crater is receiving magma directly from the earth’s interior at roughly 5 cubic yards per second. This causes the chamber to expand like a balloon and forces magma into an upper chamber, which then pushes the magma above ground through cracks.
The pathway for magma has remained consistent since December, making the recent eruptions part of the same event. Eruptions have previously seen lava soaring over 1,000 feet into the air. The fountains are generated due to magma’s release of trapped gases as it rises through narrow, pipelike vents.
The current eruption may follow the same pattern as previous ones in 1959, 1969, and notably in 1983, which featured 44 episodes of shooting fountains over a period of three years. However, unlike these earlier instances, this time many more will get to witness the spectacle.
Scientists are unsure how this eruption will ultimately conclude or whether it may alter its course. During the 1983 event, magma built sufficient pressure that Kilauea opened a vent at a lower elevation and began continuously leaking lava, marking the end of the eruption three decades later. A similar scenario could unfold now, or the current eruption may cease at the summit if its magma supply depletes.
Scientists can use sensors around the volcano to predict with some accuracy when lava will likely emerge, based on earthquake activity and minute changes in ground angle that indicate inflating or deflating magma.
“Our job is like a swarm of ants trying to decipher the inner workings of an elephant,” Hon said.
Some view lava flows as destructive, but Huihui Kanahele-Mossman, executive director of the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation, sees it differently. Lava hardens into land, forming the basis for everything on Hawaii Island. The foundation, named after her grandmother, an esteemed practitioner of Hawaiian language and culture and founder of a renowned hula school, acknowledges the significance of Pele in their cultural heritage.
Kanahele-Mossman has visited the crater several times since the eruption began. She initially watches with awe and reverence but then focuses on details to compare them with lava descriptions in centuries-old tales performed by her school. While at the crater, she delivers a prepared chant and offers gifts.
“You as the dancer, you are the storyteller and carry that history that was written in those mele forward,” she said, using the Hawaiian word for song. “To witness this eruption described in the mele is always exciting to us and drives us to maintain our tradition.”
Visitation at the park has risen during all eight months of the year so far, with April seeing a 49% increase over the same month in 2024. Park spokesperson Jessica Ferracane advised that eruptions typically last only 10-12 hours and urged visitors to sign up for U.S. Geological Survey alert notifications to stay informed about potential changes.
She cautioned visitors to stay on marked trails and overlooks, as unstable cliff edges and cracks in the earth may not be immediately apparent. Falls could result in severe injury or death. Volcanic gas, glass, and ash can also pose hazards, particularly during nighttime visits, for which a flashlight is essential.