Images

During the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight on July 16, scientists flew across Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone for measurements of the gas plume drifting downwind of the Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists completed a helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u on July 16, following Kīlauea summit eruption episode 51 the day before.

During the 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea, portions of Crater Rim Drive fell into Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Eruptions in Halemaʻumaʻu since 2018 have slowly filled in much of the collapsed area.

A telephoto view of the top of the north vent lava fountain during episode 51 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea on July 15, 2026. Darker-colored solidified lava is visible wafting above the lava fountain.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V2cam, located on the easter rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V1cam, located on the northwest rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

A view of the lava fountain erupting from the north vent during episode 51 on July 15, 2026. Fountain heights reached up to about 950 feet (290 meters) and effusion rates reached a peak of about 400 cubic yards per second (300 cubic meters per second) at 10:30 a.m. HST July 15. This photo was taken shortly afterward, at around 11 a.m. HST. USGS photo by K.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began at about 8:30 a.m. HST on July 15, 2026. This photograph, taken around 11 a.m. from the caldera rim near Kilauea Military Camp, shows the fan-shape of the fountain that developed as the episode progressed. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

On July 15, Kīlauea summit eruption episode 51 lava fountains were a sight to behold from Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Large crowds gathered to watch lava fountains from the Halemaʻumaʻu north vent, along with flows on the crater floor. Light tephra fell at Uēkahuna between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the K2cam, located near Uēkahuna bluff in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and shows visitors viewing the eruption. USGS webcam image. 

During episode 51 of lava fountaining on July 15, 2026, the fountain from the north vent falling on the back side of the cone accumulated into a channelized lava flow that moved eastward on the crater floor away from the vent complex. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the B1cam, located on the south rim of the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Halemaʻumaʻu north vent lava fountains were reaching about 150 meters (500 feet) in height when a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist snapped this photo from Uēkahuna overlook around 11:45 a.m. HST on July 15 during episode 51.

The episode 51 lava fountain as seen from Uēkahuna in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The lava fountain at this time was approximately 500 feet (150 meters) tall and feeding a lava flows across the crater floor. The U.S.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the KWcam, located on the northwest rim of the caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Lava falling from the north vent fountain during episode 51 in Halemaʻumaʻu on July 15, 2026, feeds a lava flow in the crater. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

Halemaʻumaʻu north vent lava fountains were reaching about 150 meters (500 feet) in height when a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist snapped this photo from Uēkahuna overlook around 11:45 a.m. HST on July 15 during episode 51.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the S4cam, located on the south rim of the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V3cam, located on the southern rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

A wide view of Kaluapele and Kūpina‘i Pali (Waldron Ledge) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park infrastructure dots the landscape in the lower left and center, with Volcano House in the lower right. The historic Volcano House hotel has existed in various forms and locations at the summit of Kīlauea since 1846. USGS photo by L. Gallant.

Aerial view looking down into the south vent, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on the morning of July 14, 2026. The glowing edges of cooled plates can be seen, similar to the lava lake that persisted in Halema‘uma‘u from 2008 through 2018.