Last updated February 25, 2025
LAVA UPDATE: The latest eruptions on the Big Island
February 2025 Volcanic Activity
February 25, 2025 – The most recent summit eruption episode paused on the morning of February 20th.
The current eruption in Halema‘uma‘u Crater within Kaluapele (Kilauea’s summit caldera) began on December 23, 2024. Since then, there have been ten episodes of activity and lava fountaining, separated by short periods without activity. All eruptive activity has occurred within the park boundaries.
Current Hazards: Volcanic emissions remain elevated and Pele’s hair (windblown volcanic glass) has been spotted in the park and in nearby communities.
USGS predicts that a new eruptive episode is likely to begin within the next four days in the same areas within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
February 5, 2025: The eruption paused shortly after 7 pm HST last night. This concludes the eighth episode of the eruption that began on December 23, 2024, in the summit caldera.
Episode eight lasted for 21.5 hours, with lava fountains spotted at the north and south vents, and lava flows that covered more than half of Halemaumau Crater’s floor.
Thus far, all eruptive activity has occurred within the confines of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Pauses have lasted from 1 to 12 days, while episodes of lava activity have lasted from 13 hours to eight days.
While lava flow is not a danger to nearby communities at this time, volcanic gas emissions and windblown volcanic glass (Pele’s Hair) may pose a hazard to the local area. Eruptive activity and weather conditions can change quickly, check with the NPS website before visiting.
January 2025 Volcanic Activity
The eruption that began on December 23, 2024, shows no signs of slowing down.
- January 17, 2025: Kilauea is erupting within Kaluapele, the summit caldera. Lava flow activity increased yesterday morning and continues today. Lava fountains, some reaching 160 feet in height, were reported overnight at both the North and South Vent areas.
- Today, all activity is confined to the North Vent and a lava fountain is currently active.
- This is the fourth eruptive episode of the summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024.
- Pele’s hair (airborne strands of volcanic glass) has been spotted in surrounding areas.
December 2024 Volcanic Activity
It’s been an exciting on-again-off-again Christmas Week at Kilauea’s Halema‘uma‘u Crater at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park! Before you pack your bags to head for the Big Island, be aware that there is no guarantee how long this eruptive activity will last. 2024 has been a year of Kilauea ‘starts and stops’. This latest string of eruptions has been no different.
Here’s a link to the Live Webcam of Kilauea Volcano so you can watch for yourself.
- December 26, 2024: Kilauea started erupting again and lava continues to flow within the Crater at this writing. One thing scientists have never been able to do is to accurately predict when an eruption will start or stop.
- December 24, 2024: The volcano started up again and erupted for 24 hours, stopping once again on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2024, at 11 am.
- December 23, 2024: Guests at the Volcano House, the iconic hotel inside the National Park, were awakened by loud knocks on their doors from staff yelling “The volcano is erupting!”. It was an exciting but short-lived eruption that stopped at 4 pm that afternoon.
September 2024 Volcanic Activity
- September 23, 2024: The eruption that began on September 15th has ended. Lava is not visible at this time. Stay tuned for more eruption updates.
- September 19, 2024: The eruption glow can now be seen on Chain of Craters Road and in the park. 150-200 ft fountains. Gas emissions elevated. COC Road is still open.
- September 18, 2024: An eruption near Nāpau Crater began on Sunday, September 15 in a remote wilderness area. This area remains closed, and no eruption viewing is possible except by air.
- Book a seat now on the Circle of Fire Helicopter Tour.
- Chain of Craters Road is now open again to vehicles. Lava glow was not visible from Chain of Craters Road overnight. All visitors to Chain of Craters Road are urged to stay safe and respect the hazards since volcanic conditions can change at any time.
- Stay on marked trails and overlooks. Do not enter closed areas. Avoid cliff edges and earth cracks, they are unstable.
- Hazardous volcanic gases present a danger to everyone, especially people with heart or respiratory problems, infants, young children, and pregnant women. The park’s air monitoring system has been temporarily dismantled due to construction in the park.
- Flights to and from Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO) are not affected and are operating as scheduled.
- All visitor accommodations and activities on the Big Island are operating normally.
- For more information, please visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Website.
