June 18, 2025 — Kīlauea eruptive pause before episode 26

Tephra deposits from the recent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit have blanketed the western caldera rim, killing much of the vegetation in this area. Nevertheless, some plants are starting to sprout up again through the cinder. The resilient ‘ama‘u fern is pictured here; the ‘ama‘u is an endemic plant and is often one of the first plants in Hawaii to colonize new volcanic landscapes. USGS photo by M. Patrick.