Images

On May 21, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. This oblique aerial photo provides an overview of the two eruptive vents, north (back) and south (front).

Kīlauea summit livestream camera viewers have recently observed flames within the vents in Halemaʻumaʻu. These flames, which are often a yellowish orange color result from hydrogen gas burning in air. Hydrogen is a minor component of volcanic gas released from the hot magma below, and it can sometimes be ignited causing the flames observed recently.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on May 21, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew their aircraft directly above the south vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea.

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. As of this posting on May 21, the eruption continues episodically.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on May 21, the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea was occasionally spattering and consistently glowing with incandescence.

Late during episode 22 of the ongoing summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, lava fountains failed to even reach 160 feet (50 meters) above the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This image was captured from the northwest rim of the crater around 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

On Friday, May 16, during episode 22 of the ongoing summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to photograph the activity and collect laser rangefinder measurements of eruptive features. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

Early during episode 22 of the ongoing summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano, lava fountains reached more than 500 feet (150 meters) above the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This image was captured from the northwest rim of the crater around 8:40 a.m. on Friday, May 16. USGS photo by M. Zoeller.

During the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption, not all spatter in the lava fountain falls as solid tephra outside Halemaʻumaʻu crater; instead, some remains molten and feeds lava flows on the flanks of the eruptive vents. In this image captured on Friday, May 16, two spatter-fed flows can be seen descending the north side of the north vent.

Downwind of lava fountains from the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption, substantial tephra is being deposited on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

Photograph of a polished Kīlauea lava sample collected from an ooze out in Halemaʻumaʻu before the onset of episode 12 during episode on March 4, 2025. Each light-colored blotch (example in red circle) on the black background is a cluster of minerals that has an approximate diameter of less than 1 millimeter (0.03 inches). USGS photo. 

Visitors at the lookout on the eastern caldera rim in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, at the summit of Kīlauea, had clear views of episode 21 lava fountaining from the north vent and the rising outgassing plume. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Recent eruptive episodes at the summit of Kīlauea have unfortunately been destructive to vegetation in the tephra fallout zone downwind of the lava fountains. However, several native plant species are demonstrating remarkable resilience in the harsh conditions.

On May 11, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists visited the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to observe episode 21 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.

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.

This photo of a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist watching the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption was captured on the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the former site of the KWcam and F1cam webcams.

Passing showers resulted in variable visibility across the caldera in the afternoon of May 11, but clear views showed that the lava fountaining at the summit produced a towering outgassing plume. This photo was taken from the eastern caldera rim. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

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.

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.