August 11, 2026—Wide-angle view of Kaluapele

This wide-angle photo looks east over Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on August 11. The Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents are in the lower-right corner of the photo, with the volcanic gas plume carried southwest in the trade winds. The shiny lava flows near the center of the photo include some of those erupted in lava fountaining episode 52 on July 28 and 29. USGS photo by M. Patrick.