Photo & Video Chronology — April 30, 2026 — Satellite imagery showing changes to Kīlauea summit region

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory April 30, 2026

Satellite images collected before and during the episodic lava fountaining eruption at the summit of Kīlauea show how the deposits from this eruption have changed the local landscape.

Color satellite image of a caldera at the summit of a volcano with deposits of different ages appearing different in color

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Satellite image of Halemaʻumaʻu and Kaluapele at Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This image was taken on November 27, 2024, before the episodic lava fountaining eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu began on December 23, 2024. Different-colored lava flows on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu, Kaluapele, and around the caldera are different ages. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image of caldera at the summit of a volcano

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Satellite image of Halemaʻumaʻu and Kaluapele at Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Two eruptive vents (named the north and south vents) in Halemaʻumaʻu have been erupting lava fountains episodically since December 23, 2024. Forty-five episodes have occurred to date, depositing tephra around and in Kaluapele, and lava flows within Halemaʻumaʻu. Dark brown tephra deposits are thickest to the southwest of Halemaʻumaʻu, but have been deposited on the caldera floor to the east and beyond. On the eastern caldera floor, the tephra deposits make it hard to distinguish between the different-colored lava flows that are different ages in this area. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image of developed area near summit of volcano

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Satellite image of Kilauea Military Camp near Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and neighboring Volcano Golf Course subdivision taken on January 7, 2026, and showing green grass and vegetation surrounding infrastructure. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image of an area affected by volcanic fallout

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Satellite image of Kilauea Military Camp near Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and neighboring Volcano Golf Course subdivision taken on April 22, 2026, and showing tephra covering the ground and roofs. This area was affected by tephra deposition during lava fountaining episodes 43 (March 10, 2026) and 44 (April 9, 2026) at the summit of Kīlauea, in part due to wind conditions. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Satellite image of buildings and roads surrounded by grass and vegetation

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Satellite image of Kilauea Military Camp near Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park taken on January 7 2026, and showing green grass and vegetation surrounding infrastructure. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image showing area affected by volcanic fallout

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Satellite image of Kilauea Military Camp near Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park taken on April 22, 2026, and showing tephra covering the ground and roofs. This area was affected by tephra deposition during lava fountaining episodes 43 (March 10, 2026) and 44 (April 9, 2026) at the summit of Kīlauea, in part due to wind conditions. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image showing eruptive vents glowing red within a crater covered with dark colored lava flows

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Satellite image of the north and south vents in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea on April 22, 2026. Incandescent lava is visible in both vents, and episode 45 of lava fountaining started shortly later during the early morning hours of April 23, 2026. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Color satellite image of infrastructure near summit of volcano

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Satellite image of Volcano House Hotel (lower right in image), Kīlauea Visitor Center (middle right in image), and neighboring infrastructure near Kīlauea summit in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park taken on April 22, 2026. This area was affected by tephra deposition during lava fountaining episodes 41 (January 24, 2026) and 43 (March 10, 2026) at the summit of Kīlauea, in part due to wind conditions. Image credit: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.

Satellite images showing changes to a region of a volcano overtime as a tephra and lava flow deposits grow — This animated gif showing changes to Kīlauea summit region during the episodic lava fountaining eruption. The first satellite image was taken on November 27, 2024, before the eruption began. Subsequent images were taken as the eruption progressed, on December 23, 2024, February 10, 2025, May 3, 2025, July 25, 2025, August 21, 2025, September 23, 2025, October 31, 2025, November 24, 2025, December 11, 2025, and January 7, 2025. Imagery shows the tephra deposit growing in the predominant wind direction, to the southwest of the eruptive vents in Halemaʻumaʻu in the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Lava flows on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater visibly cover more of the crater floor over time. Image credits: WorldView ©2025 Maxar, USG Plus.