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A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist surveys the elevation at a point along a transect across the new Pu‘u, formed from tephra fallout from the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea's summit. At each repeat measurement site, data is collected for at least 4 minutes. The geologist is on the south side of the Pu‘u and is looking north towards its summit.

This view is of the cone (pu‘u) that has formed in the predominant downwind direction (southwest) of the north and south vents during the ongoing eruption at Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea. This photo is south of the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u and is looking to the north-northwest.

For over a year, after each fountaining episode at Kīlauea's summit, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists have surveyed the elevation along a transect across the new pu‘u on the western margin of Halema‘uma‘u. These repeat measurements across the same set of points, spaced about 330 feet (100 meters) apart, track the growth and changes of the pu‘u.

Before and after photos of vegetation defoliation outside the new USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Field Station building located near the Kilauea Military Camp inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Left photo was taken on February 11, 2026. Right photo was taken on April 21, 2026. USGS photos by K. Mulliken.

Signs of renewed growth on vegetation in areas hit hard by recent storm and volcanic impacts in the Kīlauea Summit region. Photos courtesy of Pete Lockhart and Jill Briggs. 

This map shows lava flow and tephra accumulation at the summit of Kīlauea volcano associated with episode 48 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu that started on December 23, 2024, using data recorded by the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite constellation.