This zoom view of the two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists during an observational visit to the southern crater rim on the morning of January 16, 2025. The geologists measured the northern (right) and southern (left) fountains to be consistently 165 feet (50 meters) and 130 feet (40 meters) tall, respectively, with both having built spatter cones that stood about 100 feet (30 meters) tall by that point. USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

This video compilation contains two high-resolution clips of the two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea on the morning of January 16, 2025. This first video looking down on the two active lava fountains within Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea was captured from the western crater rim. The second video was captured from the southern crater rim.

View from the southwest rim of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, where the temporary S2 webcam is located. This view looks down on the active north and south vents on the morning of January 17, 2025, as lava fountains reached 100-115 ft (30-35 m) high and feeding lava flows in the western part of Halemaʻumaʻu. The volcanic plume was going almost straight up from the lack of wind. USGS photo by D. Downs.

Close up view of the south vent from the southwest rim of Kaluapele, the summit caldera of Kīlauea, on the morning of January 17, 2025. The cone is almost 100 ft (30 m) high and the lava fountain is just as high to slightly high at times. The outlet at the front of the cone is feeding some of the lava flows in the western part of Halemaʻumaʻu. USGS photo by D. Downs.

Staff from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at the rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) monitoring and taking measurements of ongoing activity within the summit caldera. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

A view of the nearly vertical eruption plume at Kīlauea summit during the afternoon on January 17, 2025. Photo taken from within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and showing Crater Rim Drive. USGS photo by P. Nadeau. 

With permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) operations at the Kīlauea summit eruption site on January 17, 2025. Scientists conducted flights to assess volcanic gas emissions and take aerial imagery, which will aid in hazard assessment of the ongoing eruption. USGS photo by P. Nadeau. 

Over the past day, persistent lava fountaining at Kīlauea summit, coupled with Kona wind conditions, has resulted in Pele's hair falling on nearby communities and within parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. There have been reports of Pele's hair near Uēkahuna Overlook, the Kīlauea Visitor's Center, the Volcano Golf Course subdivision, Volcano Village, and Ohia Estates. This photo was taken near Kīlauea Visitor Center, where strands of the fine volcanic glass had accumulated into tubular tumbleweeds of Pele's Hair reaching up to 22 inches (56 cm). USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This aerial view shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera. A portion of Crater Rim Drive that collapsed into the caldera in 2018 is visible in the foreground of the photo. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Aerial view of tephra erupted from December 23, 2024, to present (with several pauses) and deposited within the closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Early in the eruption the lava fountains were ejecting bombs and lapilli across the closed portion of Crater Rim Drive. In places this tephra gets to almost a foot (30 cm) thick. USGS photo by D. Downs.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted a monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This low-angle aerial view looking westward shows the two erupting vents that are located in the southwest part of the caldera, and along with the Pāhoehoe lava flowing out of the vents. USGS photo by N. Deligne.

Compilation of videos collected at approximately 10 a.m. HST on January 17, 2025, during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight of the ongoing summit eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. Several aerial views show the two erupting vents located in the southwest part of the caldera. Other clips show the brief sampling mission on Halemaʻumaʻu floor. Halemaʻumaʻu is the sacred home of Pele, the Hawaiian elemental force associated with lava. The mission was conducted with permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Analyses of the samples collected provide information on magma storage and transportation, which informs ongoing eruption hazard assessments.