He Ahi, He ʻĀina: From Fire Comes Land
Chronicling 75 years of eruptions at Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes
Chronicling 75 years of eruptions at Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes
By Communications and Publishing
January 20, 2026
Since December 23, 2024, an eruption has been intermittently active within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on the island of Hawaiʻi. This recent eruptive event is one of many that have occurred at the volcano over the past few decades. In the timeline below, we outline how these recent eruptions have shaped the island and impacted the people who live there.
Related
The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō Eruption Lasted 35 Years
The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption began in 1983, and ranks as the longest and most voluminous known outpouring of lava from Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone in more than 500 years.
1969-1974 Maunaulu Eruption
The Maunaulu eruption, on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, started on May 24, 1969 and lasted until July 22, 1974. At the time, it was the longest-lasting and most voluminous eruption on Kīlauea's flank in at least 2200 years.
1959 Kīlauea Iki Eruption
The 1959 eruption of Kīlauea Iki Crater was a relatively short-lived event (November 14 to December 20, 1959) and produced some of Kīlauea's most spectacular lava fountains of the 20th century. Most importantly, the eruption provided some of the first measurable data about the magma reservoir system at Kīlauea.
Related
The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō Eruption Lasted 35 Years
The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption began in 1983, and ranks as the longest and most voluminous known outpouring of lava from Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone in more than 500 years.
1969-1974 Maunaulu Eruption
The Maunaulu eruption, on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, started on May 24, 1969 and lasted until July 22, 1974. At the time, it was the longest-lasting and most voluminous eruption on Kīlauea's flank in at least 2200 years.
1959 Kīlauea Iki Eruption
The 1959 eruption of Kīlauea Iki Crater was a relatively short-lived event (November 14 to December 20, 1959) and produced some of Kīlauea's most spectacular lava fountains of the 20th century. Most importantly, the eruption provided some of the first measurable data about the magma reservoir system at Kīlauea.