Kīlauea volcanic activity in Hawaiʻi

Since December 2024, the Kīlauea volcano has experienced significant activity, characterized by lava fountaining episodes at the Halemaʻumaʻu summit crater. This activity has drawn large crowds to the area, including visitors interested in the historical landscape and geological features of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

By mid-September 2026, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported that the volcano’s eruptive patterns have become increasingly irregular. Previously, the summit followed a predictable cycle of ground inflation, brief fountaining, and deflation. However, the opening of new vents in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater between September 14 and 16 has disrupted these cycles.

As of September 18, 2026, the Volcano Alert Level remains at WATCH. The opening of a sixth vent on the crater floor has coincided with irregular patterns of summit deflation and inflation. The USGS reports that the summit area is highly pressurized, making it difficult to use traditional inflation models to predict future lava fountain episodes, as recent data shows unsteady behavior including periods of deflation during pauses between episodes.

While earthquake activity has risen slightly around the summit, there is currently no anomalous seismic activity in the East or Southwest Rift zones to suggest activity is moving away from the summit area. Scientists continue to monitor data to determine if fountaining has ended or if the new vents will remain active.