Images

Kīlauea volcano's episode 21 occurred on May 11, 2025. This photo was taken a little more than an hour after lava fountaining started, and shows the north vent lava fountain with a volcanic gas plume rising above it. The height from the crater floor to the top of the cliff behind the fountain is approximately 540 feet (165 meters).

A dusk view of lava fountaining from the north vent at the summit of Kīlauea. Fountaining began during the early afternoon of May 11 and continued into the evening, providing good sunset views from the caldera rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

While visiting the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu on May 11, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists watched an ānuenue (rainbow) stretch across the crater during episode 21 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Lava fountains from the northern eruptive vent (right) were feeding extensive lava flows on the crater floor at the time. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Episode 21 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea produced a robust outgassing plume today, with the plume rising vertically and then carried downwind (towards the left side of the photo) towards the Ka‘ū district by the tradewinds. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Photo compilation of episodes 1–20 of the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea, including webcam imagery and photos taken by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on the ground and during helicopter overflights. In all photos except for episode 7, the south vent is on the left and the north vent is on the right.

A view looking down on north vent (center) of the ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea volcano, about 13 hours after the end of episode 20. The south vent is degassing (white vapor rising) on the right side of the photo.

A view of north vent of the ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea volcano, about 12 hours after the end of episode 20. The solidified lava with a smooth silvery appearance in the center of the photo was produced as lava overflowed from north vent.

Telephoto view looking into north vent (center) of the ongoing eruption within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea volcano, about 13 hours after the end of episode 20. A conduit approximately 20 meters (66 feet) across is visible inside north vent (center bottom of image), which is approximately 60 meters (197 feet) across.

On May 7, 2025, about 13 hours after the end of episode 20 of the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea volcano, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a lava ooze-out (center left in image) north of north vent (right side of image).

Dusk view of episode 20 fountaining activity at the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This photograph was taken from just east of the Kīlauea Overlook within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The pali (cliff) of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) is visible in the foreground, while a plume of volcanic gas is illuminated in the dusk light.

The continuous fountaining phase of episode 20 in the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption was brief, lasting just 4.5 hours. The fountaining phase began at 5:28 p.m. HST and ended at 9:58 p.m. HST the evening of May 6, 2025. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Lava fountains and flows erupted from both the north and south vents during episode 20 of the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea. However, the north vent was much more active than the south vent, with lava fountains reaching estimated heights of more than 500 feet (150 meters). Fountains from the south vent reached heights of up to about 65 feet (20 meters).

During episode 20 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea, lava fountains reached about 500 feet (152 meters). The crater wall behind the vents is 492 feet (150 meters) high, and this photo shows that the top of the fountain from the north vent is reaching slightly higher than the crater wall.

On May 5, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists visiting the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater watched several cycles of lava filling and draining within the north vent of Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption. Dome fountains in the vent's lava pond reached approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in height.

On May 5, 2025, the north and south vents of Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption were alternating in vigor over the course of 10-minute cycles.

This view of the south vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea was captured through the lens of a laser rangefinder device that Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were using to measure eruptive features.

On May 1, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a small spatter cone that had built up by intermittent spattering within the north vent over the past several days in Halemaʻumaʻu.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist sets up a video camera to capture the intermittent minor spattering within the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu on May 1, 2025. The north and south vents are just out of the camera frame, below the scientist in the lower left part of the photo.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist uses a handheld laser rangefinder to determine the height of the small spatter cone within the north vent on May 1, 2025.  USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

May 1 is lei day in Hawaii, and today scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory checked on the S2cam on the rim of Kīlauea volcano. The camera had been sending images intermittently over the past 24 hours and needed new batteries.

On May 1, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a small spatter cone that has built up within the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu. Over the past day, spattering has been visible in the V1cam livestream within the north vent and this photo provides a closer view of the spattering source. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.