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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.
On July 14, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on a monitoring overflight of Kīlauea's summit region had excellent views into both eruptive vents in Halema‘uma‘u. This is a telephoto view into the north vent, where the scientists could see two incandescent pukas (holes); the one on the left in this view was actively spattering during the flight.
On July 14, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists on a monitoring overflight of Kīlauea's summit region had excellent views into both eruptive vents in Halema‘uma‘u. This is a telephoto view into the north vent, where the scientists could see two incandescent pukas (holes); the one on the left in this view was actively spattering during the flight.
During the July 14 monitoring overflight of Kīlauea's summit region, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist captured this telephoto view into the south vent in Halema‘uma‘u. Unlike the incandescent but spattering north vent, the south vent hosted an active lava pond within.
During the July 14 monitoring overflight of Kīlauea's summit region, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist captured this telephoto view into the south vent in Halema‘uma‘u. Unlike the incandescent but spattering north vent, the south vent hosted an active lava pond within.
This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. Most of the data for this map were collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on June 30, 2026, so the provided statistics are reflective of the entire eruption through episode 50 on June 27.
This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. Most of the data for this map were collected during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory helicopter overflight on June 30, 2026, so the provided statistics are reflective of the entire eruption through episode 50 on June 27.
This map shows thickness values for lava flows within Halema‘uma‘u crater from the Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024. These values were calculated by topographic differencing between a digital elevation model collected on June 30, 2026—after eruptive episode 50—and one from before the eruption began.
This map shows thickness values for lava flows within Halema‘uma‘u crater from the Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024. These values were calculated by topographic differencing between a digital elevation model collected on June 30, 2026—after eruptive episode 50—and one from before the eruption began.
This graphic depicts how the weight of volcanoes in the Hawaiian Island Chain can cause the brittle oceanic crust and upper mantle below to flex downward, which can generate deep earthquakes that can be widely felt across the State of Hawaii. USGS graphic.
This graphic depicts how the weight of volcanoes in the Hawaiian Island Chain can cause the brittle oceanic crust and upper mantle below to flex downward, which can generate deep earthquakes that can be widely felt across the State of Hawaii. USGS graphic.
This map figure shows the locations of magnitude-4.5 and greater earthquakes around the Island of Hawaiʻi in May and June 2026. A magnitude-6.0 earthquake on May 22 occurred beneath the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, southeast of Captain Cook at a depth of 14 miles (23 km) below the ocean surface.
This map figure shows the locations of magnitude-4.5 and greater earthquakes around the Island of Hawaiʻi in May and June 2026. A magnitude-6.0 earthquake on May 22 occurred beneath the west side of the Island of Hawaiʻi, southeast of Captain Cook at a depth of 14 miles (23 km) below the ocean surface.
On Tuesday, July 7, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists completed a brief monitoring helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea.
On Tuesday, July 7, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists completed a brief monitoring helicopter overflight of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea.
During the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on July 7, geologists had to look straight down into the south vent in Halema‘uma‘u to see the active lave pond within.
During the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Kīlauea summit monitoring overflight on July 7, geologists had to look straight down into the south vent in Halema‘uma‘u to see the active lave pond within.
On July 2, three USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists flew via helicopter to the northwest side of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea to sample tephra deposits in the crater wall. These deposits were exposed by the 2018 summit collapse, but lava flows from the ongoing episodic Kīlauea summit eruption are likely to bury them again in the near future.
On July 2, three USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists flew via helicopter to the northwest side of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea to sample tephra deposits in the crater wall. These deposits were exposed by the 2018 summit collapse, but lava flows from the ongoing episodic Kīlauea summit eruption are likely to bury them again in the near future.
This photo was captured during the July 2 mission to the northwest side of Halema‘uma‘u crater, which was done with permission from and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The two USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists pictured here are collecting tephra from a deposit exposed in the northwest crater wall.
This photo was captured during the July 2 mission to the northwest side of Halema‘uma‘u crater, which was done with permission from and coordination with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The two USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists pictured here are collecting tephra from a deposit exposed in the northwest crater wall.
Oblique view of the west wall of Kaluapele on July 2, 2026, during a sampling mission to study the tephra and lava flows exposed by the 2018 collapse. The dark lava flows on the left are from recent lava fountaining episodes of the current summit eruption, and the vent complex is visible in the background on the left. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Oblique view of the west wall of Kaluapele on July 2, 2026, during a sampling mission to study the tephra and lava flows exposed by the 2018 collapse. The dark lava flows on the left are from recent lava fountaining episodes of the current summit eruption, and the vent complex is visible in the background on the left. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–50 in 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.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–50 in 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.
These before-and-after images show the filling of Halemaʻumaʻu in Kaluapele (Kīlauea's summit caldera) with lava due to 50 episodes of lava fountaining. The top image was taken by the B1cam during episode 1 of the eruption on December 23, 2024. The bottom image was taken by the B1cam on June 27, 2026, during episode 50 of the eruption. USGS webcam images.
These before-and-after images show the filling of Halemaʻumaʻu in Kaluapele (Kīlauea's summit caldera) with lava due to 50 episodes of lava fountaining. The top image was taken by the B1cam during episode 1 of the eruption on December 23, 2024. The bottom image was taken by the B1cam on June 27, 2026, during episode 50 of the eruption. USGS webcam images.
Displacement field showing the horizontal (red arrows) and vertical (blue arrows) components of motion recorded by Global Positioning System (GPS) positions at each campaign benchmark site from surveys conducted between 2025-2026. The arrows point in the direction of motion and lengths represent how far positions were displaced over the past year.
Displacement field showing the horizontal (red arrows) and vertical (blue arrows) components of motion recorded by Global Positioning System (GPS) positions at each campaign benchmark site from surveys conducted between 2025-2026. The arrows point in the direction of motion and lengths represent how far positions were displaced over the past year.
Video frame grab from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Little Hercules dive in July 2026 at Ruby seamount showing striations on freshly erupted lava at the bottom of the new summit crater.
Video frame grab from remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Little Hercules dive in July 2026 at Ruby seamount showing striations on freshly erupted lava at the bottom of the new summit crater.
Geophysicist sets up a campaign Global Positioning System (GPS) unit over benchmark ELEK, on the northeastern slope of Mauna Loa volcano. USGS photo.
Geophysicist sets up a campaign Global Positioning System (GPS) unit over benchmark ELEK, on the northeastern slope of Mauna Loa volcano. USGS photo.
View looking down the north vent, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026. Glow and flames have been intermittently seen since episode 50 of lava fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u ended on June 27, 2026, but no glow was observed from the north or south vents during the overflight.
View looking down the north vent, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026. Glow and flames have been intermittently seen since episode 50 of lava fountaining in Halema‘uma‘u ended on June 27, 2026, but no glow was observed from the north or south vents during the overflight.
Aerial photograph taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026, to characterize the tephra and lava flows from Kīlauea summit fountaining episode 50 that occurred on June 27, 2026. The north and south vents have a robust plume coming from them with fresh black and gray lava flows covering much of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor.
Aerial photograph taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026, to characterize the tephra and lava flows from Kīlauea summit fountaining episode 50 that occurred on June 27, 2026. The north and south vents have a robust plume coming from them with fresh black and gray lava flows covering much of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor.
Aerial photograph taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026, looking to the east across lava flows that have accumulated in Halema‘uma‘u during the 50 lava fountaining episodes that have occurred since December 23, 2024. The black lava flows are rubbly ʻaʻā lava flows and the shiny, gray, smooth lava flows are pāhoehoe.
Aerial photograph taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on June 30, 2026, looking to the east across lava flows that have accumulated in Halema‘uma‘u during the 50 lava fountaining episodes that have occurred since December 23, 2024. The black lava flows are rubbly ʻaʻā lava flows and the shiny, gray, smooth lava flows are pāhoehoe.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–50 in 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.
Photo compilation of lava fountaining episodes 1–50 in 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.
On June 27, 2026, episode 50 of lava fountaining from the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, produced spatter-fed lava flows on the southwest side of the cone, shown in this image taken from the public viewing area at Uēkahuna Bluff around noon in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Lynn.
On June 27, 2026, episode 50 of lava fountaining from the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u, at the summit of Kīlauea, produced spatter-fed lava flows on the southwest side of the cone, shown in this image taken from the public viewing area at Uēkahuna Bluff around noon in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS photo by K. Lynn.