Photo & Video Chronology — Kīlauea summit episode 53

By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory August 12, 2026

Lava fountaining episode 53 at the summit of Kīlauea started on August 12 at 3:45 p.m. HST and ended on August 13 at 1:23 a.m. HST.

Visitors watch lava fountain at national park viewing area — Episode 53 of the ongoing episodic Kīlauea summit eruption started on August 12 at 3:45 p.m. HST. The episode 53 lava fountain erupting from the north vent reached heights of approximately 500 ft (150 m) with the gas plume reaching 18,000 ft (5600 m) above sea level. Visitors gathered at the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to watch the eruption. USGS photo taken on August 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. HST by M. Cappos.

Orange and incandescent lava fountain erupting from a crater

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Lava fountaining episode 53 of the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began at 3:45 p.m. HST on August 12, 2026. This photo of the fan shaped lava fountain was taken from the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, around 5:00 p.m. HST when the lava fountains were approximately 500 ft (150 m) high. USGS photo taken by M. Cappos.

Color photograph of crowds watching lava fountain

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Crowds of visitors gather at Uēkahuna bluff in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to watch Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lava fountaining on August 12, 2026. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Volcano monitoring instrument pointed at a small lava fountain in crater

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A photo of an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) instrument that a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist uses to measure the chemical composition of volcanic gas during the start of eruptive episode 53 at the summit of Kīlauea. The ongoing episodic summit eruption, within Halema‘uma‘u, began on December 23, 2024. USGS photo taken by M. Cappos on August 12, 2026, around 3:45 p.m. HST.

Wide view of lava fountain, rising gas plume, and viewing area

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A wide view of the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, during episode 53 lava fountains of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. The volcanic gas plume rises from the lava fountains as visitors watch the eruption. The ground surface is blanketed in tephra (volcanic rock particles) that were deposited during earlier episodes of this eruption. USGS photo taken by M. Zoeller on August 12, 2026 around 6:00 p.m. HST.

Color photograph of geologists on volcanic crater rim watching lava fountain

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USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists on the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu capture video and make observations of the fountain behavior during Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 on August 12, 2026. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color panoramic photo of volcanic crater with lava fountain and flows — This panoramic photo from the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu on August 12 shows Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lava fountaining and the spatter-fed flow running along the northern perimeter of the crater floor (bottom of photo). The V1cam and KWcam site is visible at the left edge of the photo. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of lava fountain and volcanic plume at sunset — This wide-angle, panoramic photo from the northwest rim of Halemaʻumaʻu shows the outgassing plume from Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lofting vertically and then drifting west—towards the summit of Mauna Loa—on August 12, 2026. The sun was setting behind the plume, creating an orange tint in the early evening. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of lava fountain in the evening — As the sun set on August 12, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists had excellent views of Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lava fountaining in the clear weather. The fountain shape changed rapidly, often shutting off the spatter-fed flow on the north side of the vent (right side of photo). USGS photo by M. Patrick.

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The spatter-fed flow on the north side of the vent was intermittent during Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lava fountaining on August 12, 2026. Changes in the shape of the fountain and spatter fallout zone often restarted the flow down the steep slopes of the vent cone. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Color photograph of molten volcanic spatter landing in a lava flow

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A closer look at the spatter fallout zone during Kīlauea summit eruption episode 53 lava fountaining on August 12, 2026. This was the source of the spatter-fed flow directed towards the northern portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. USGS photo by M. Patrick.