Kilauea’s recent eruption, which started on Dec. 23, 2024, has been marked by episodic fountaining, not seen in any of the other Halemaumau eruptions since 2020.
Each episode in the eruption has continued for 13 hours to 8 days. Episodes have been separated by pauses in eruptive activity lasting less than 24 hours to 12 days.
Lava fountains on the floor of the summit caldera reached heights up to 300 feet.
Below are photos that show the beauty of this eruption:
The Kilauea eruption on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo courtesy of USGS/K. Lynn)
This photo of Kilauea summit eruption's fifth episode was captured by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists around sunset on Jan. 22. (Photo courtesy USGS/M. Zoeller)
In the early evening of Jan. 22, just a few hours into the fifth episode of Kilauea's summit eruption, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists captured this view of lava fountains at the northern eruptive vent (right) within Halemaumau crater. The southern eruptive vent (left) was degassing but not actively erupting at the time. (Photo courtesy of USGS/M. Zoeller)
This zoom view of two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kilauea was captured by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during an observational visit to the southern crater rim on the morning of January 16, 2025. (Photo courtesy of USGS/M. Zoeller)
A telephoto view of lava fountains erupting within Kilauea’s summit caldera on Dec. 24, 2024 during Episode 2. (Photo courtesy of USGS/H. Winslow)
The lake of active lava in the summit caldera of Kilauea glows as the sun rises on Dec. 23, 2024. (Photo courtesy of USGS/N. Deligne)
Telephoto view of both eruptive vents in the Kīlauea Halema‘uma‘u eruption during episode 7 on Jan. 28, 2025. Both vents reactivated during this episode. The north vent (upper left vent) fountain produced lava channels outpouring from its base but also out the sides of the vent as seen in this photo. A small channel flows from the north vent towards the south vent. (Photo courtesy of USGS/H. Winslow)
An early morning view of visitors gathered at Keanakākoʻi Overlook in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Jan. 16, 2025, to view the Kilauea eruption within Halema'uma'u. The Keanakākoʻi Overlook is about 1.5 miles away from the erupting vents. (Photo courtesy of USGS photo/K. Mulliken)
A close-up view of an active lobe of pāhoehoe lava flowing in the summit caldera of Kilauea volcano on Jan. 3, 2025. (Photo courtesy of USGS/M. Patrick)
Several koa‘e kea birds (white-tailed tropicbirds) were flying circles above the Kilauea summit eruptive vent on Dec. 29, 2024, riding thermal updrafts from the lava pond. (Photo courtesy of USGS/M. Patrick)
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.
