Unified Interior Regions
Hawaii
The Pacific Region has nine USGS Science Centers in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The Regional Office, headquartered in Sacramento, provides Center oversight and support, facilitates internal and external collaborations, and works to further USGS strategic science directions.
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Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Entering Ocean
Lava entering the ocean as seen through steam and rain early this morning.
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates
Fissure 8 and Leilani Estates viewed from the south. Houses in the foreground are located in the southern portion of Leilani Estates. Fissure 8 and surrounding
...Kīlauea Volcano — Lower Section of Fissure 8 Flow
The lower section of the fissure 8 lava channel appears to be almost completely crusted over, and the lava level in the channel was lower during this morning's
...Kīlauea Volcano — Rain at Leilani Estates
This photograph taken during this morning's overflight shows heavy, localized rain at
...Kīlauea Volcano — Multiple Laze Plumes
Multiple ocean entries were active this early morning, each contributing to the prominent "laze"
...Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Near Cape Kumukahi
Lava still oozes from the northern edge of the ‘a‘ā flow near the lighthouse at Cape Kumukahi (upper right). Smoke from burning vegetation marks location of lava oozeouts. View is toward the northeast.
Kīlauea Volcano — Braided Lava Channel
Braided section of the lava channel located "downstream" between about 3.5 to 6 km (2.2 to 3.7 mi) from fissure 8 (upper right). The width of the two channels in the middle center is about 325 m (1,065 ft). View is toward the southwest.
Kīlauea Volcano — Kapoho Crater
View of the partially filled Kapoho Crater (center) and the open lava channel where it makes a 90-degree turn around the crater. The open channel no longer directly enters the ocean. Lava flows freely through the channel only to the southern edge of Kapoho Crater (left side of image). Clearly, lava moves into and through the molten core of the thick ‘a‘ā flow across a
...Kīlauea Volcano — Open-Ended Lava Channel
Close view of the "end" of the open lava channel where lava moves beneath the crusted ‘a‘ā flow.
Kīlauea Volcano — Animated GIF of Crater Subsidence
This animated GIF shows a sequence of radar amplitude images that were acquired by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana CosmoSkyMed satellite system. The images illustrate changes to the
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Activity continues at the Kamokuna ocean entry and along the 61g flow field

The caldera was a dynamic place during the 300-plus years just before written history began at Kīlauea (in 1823), and the newly defined subdivisions of the Keanakāko‘i Tephra help us understand this energetic and dangerous time better than did the previous terminology.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has a long tradition of innovation when it comes to the tools that we use to monitor the status and activity of volcanoes.

Short-lived lava falls at Kamokuna ocean entry

The longest-lived and most voluminous rift-zone eruption of Kīlauea Volcano in more than 500 years—the ongoing Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption—began in January 1983, and is fast approaching its 35th anniversary.

Flow front stalled on coastal plain

Thermal cameras have been used by volcanologists around the world for many years to study volcanic processes and search for signs of impending eruptions.

Activity continues on the 61g flow field and at the ocean entry

Time-lapse sequence shows Halema‘uma‘u gas plume

Kīlauea has now passed the one-year anniversary of the episode 61g lava flow reaching the Pacific Ocean. But what was this busy volcano up to a decade ago?

Kamokuna lava delta subsidence continues

Summit lava lake level continues dropping