May 12, 2026 — Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents from the southwest

On May 12, 2026, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight around Halema‘uma‘u crater flew past the Kīlauea summit eruptive vents to the southwest, offering a rarely seen view of the vents from the crater wall side. Large patches of sulfur minerals (yellow and brown) have formed in the tephra deposits on this side of the vents. Incandescence can be seen in the south vent from this angle, but the helicopter crew reported seeing lava ponds at shallow levels in both the north and south vents during the flight. The silvery lava flows stretching into the crater from the eruptive vents are remnants of recent eruptive episodes, as there have not yet been any overflows in advance of lava fountaining episode 47. USGS photo by P. Dotray.