Kīlauea's lava flows have surged in activity on the coastal plain accompanying inflation at the summit, though following by about 24 hours. This activity is farther from the ocean than before, relatively close to the base of the pali but moving quickly across cooling flows from the previous two months. Check out our new time-lapse movie showing the height of activity! [read all]

Since entering the National Park, lava flows have continued to slowly advance towards the ocean but have not made much ground. Pressure variations propagating through Kīlauea volcano have kept the flows from building momentum, but they have persisted sluggishly and lava flows are still visible by means of a 6-7mi / 9-11km round-trip hike from the Kalapana side. When the lava is flowing more slowly (like right now), it actually gives us a chance to approach and interact with it more easily, whereas more vigorous flows require additional safety considerations. For non-hikers, strong glow continues from the summit, visible from Jaggar Overlook & Museum! [read all]

Active lava flows continue to advance on Kīlauea's coastal plain and have now entered the narrow coastal strip of the National Park known as the Kalapana extension, reaching within 0.9 km /0.6 mi of the Pacific Ocean. Access to this area from the end of Chain of Craters Road within the National Park is estimated to be 8-9km / 5-6 miles EACH WAY, while only about 3 miles each way from the typically upwind Kalapana side (which requires private land access). [read all]

Lava levels in Kīlauea's newest crater, the Overlook Vent within Halema‘uma‘u, have reached their highest point of 70m / 230ft below the 1974 crater floor, matching conditions in March 2011 just prior to the 5-day Kamoamoa fissure eruption. Glow from the edge of Kīlauea caldera has been strong over the past month, except on exceptionally rainy nights! Speaking of the volcano's summit, it has been swelling significantly over the past 6 months - a total increase of 6cm / 2.4in across the caldera! This is not as fast as the previous 12 months, but still notable! ...more [read all]

During 4-10 April HVO reported that the circulating lava lake periodically rose and fell in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater. Almost daily measurements indicated that the gas plume from the vent continued to deposit variable amounts of ash, and occasionally fresh spatter, nearby. ...more [read all]

As expected, activity is increasing at the lava flow-front as renewed pressure propagates along the magmatic system, even as further (apparently smaller) pressure variations occur. Stay tuned for more pictures and detailed updates as our tour schedule and the eruption allows! [read all]

Sluggish lava flows are still filling the base of the pali, with renewed pressure and increase activity expected in the next 24 hrs. [read all]

Lava flows have advanced 0.6mi/1km from the base of the pali over the past 6 days but are still 1.4mi/2km from the ocean. Lower pressure in the volcano may cause a temporary slowdown in coming days. [read all]

After the eastern lava flow branch referred to in our previous post, first to reach the coastal plain in 2012, almost entirely stalled, the western flow branch has also reached the coastal plain this week, still about 2mi/3km away from the ocean. This western branch is feeding inflating pahoehoe lava flows at the base of the pali, which should continue for several days to fill in a low spot. However, this flow branch looks to have enough momentum to start travelling across the plain towards the ocean, though only time will tell! Check out our best pictures from this activity last night! [read all]

An eastern lava flow branch from the Peace Day Fissure has reached the plains west of Kalapana, making for spectacular views at sunset -- see our timelapse video linked below! ...more [read all]

After some underground adjustments last week between Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, pressure continues to push magma through Kīlauea's summit and east rift zone, erupting from the Peace Day Fissure on the east flank of Pu`u `O`o vent and building a lava tube system currently outletting near the top of the former Royal Gardens subdivision. ...more [read all]

An unusual seismic swarm is occurring near the summit of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai`i, and continues to increase as of today. ...more [read all]

The Halema'uma'u lava lake continued to be active during the past week, rising and falling periodically. Lava is also visible at Pu'u 'O'o, mostly from the collapsed cone on the NE edge and a cone on the SE edge. ...more [read all]

The lava lake in the deep pit within Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater circulated and periodically rose and fell. Incandescence was visible on the NE and SE edges of the Pu'u 'O'o crater floor, and strongest from a small cone on the NE edge during 8-13 February. A web camera recorded incandescence above the pali on 8 and during 12-14 February. The SE vent issued short lava flows on 14 February. ...more [read all]

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory today celebrates 100 continuous years of monitoring at Kīlauea volcano with a Public Open House -- only Vesuvius has a longer record, dating back to 1841! In fact the first scientific monitoring in Hawai'i was conducted in 1911 by Frank Perret, an Honorary Assistant to the Vesuvius Observatory, in preparation for Thomas Jaggar to establish HVO in 1912. They are hosting many activities today in celebration, if you are in the Kīlauea area! ...more [read all]

After almost a week with no accessible lava, pressure returns to Kīlauea as seen in this link's plot of ground tilt. At the same time, lava flows are again accessible via an extreme, 8-mile round-trip hike with a steep climb to private property in Royal Gardens. The hike will get easier and less dangerous once this renewed pressure pushes lava back onto the coastal flats, so stay tuned! Contact us for details on current conditions and accessibility! [read all]