September 15, 2026—New fissures and lava flows in Halema‘uma‘u, Kīlauea

This low-angle aerial view of the new fissures and lava flows in Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea was captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight this morning, September 15. The new fissures have exclusively effused pāhoehoe lava flows, with their silver sheen contrasting dramatically the gray/brown of spatter-fed ‘a‘ā flows in this area from recent lava fountaining episodes. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.