December 27, 2024 — Remnants of "the island" in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea

Since the December 2020 eruption began, an "island" of low-density tephra and lava has been submerged and floated on the surface of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake through each successive eruption. The "island" was buried on December 23, 2024, with only these two lighter-colored peaks visible, photographed by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews during a helicopter overflight at 10 a.m. on December 27, 2024. USGS photo by H. Winslow.