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 — Halema‘uma‘u Crater
Events at the summit of Kīlauea over the past few weeks have dramatically reshaped Halema‘uma‘u, shown here in this aerial view, which looks west across the crater. The obvious flat surface (photo center) is the former Halema‘uma‘u crater floor, which has subsided at least 100 m (about 300 ft) during the past couple weeks. Ground cracks circumferential to the crater rim
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Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 11, 3:00 p.m.
Map as of 3:00 p.m. HST, June 11, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.
Kīlauea summit activity
A series of wide-angle webcam images, captured by a camera in HVO's observation tower (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_webcams.html) between June 1 and June 10, 2018, show ongoing subsidence around Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea in this animated GIF.
USGS Status Update of Kīlauea Volcano - June 11, 2018
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Status of Kīlauea Volcano, June 11, 2018, Jessica Ball, USGS Volcanologist
Kīlauea Volcano — Lava Channels (Fissure 8)
Aerial view of the fissure 8 lava channel on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone in the vicinity of the Kapoho cone, with fissure 8 fountains visible in the distance (upper left). Helicopter
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Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Lava Channel (June 11, 2018)
Three closely spaced lava fountains at fissure 8
Kīlauea Volcano — Overflight of Ocean Entry
The interaction of molten lava flowing into cool seawater causes pulsating "littoral explosions" that throw spatter (fragments of molten lava) and pieces of solidified glassy lava (black sand, Pele's hair, limu o Pele) high into the air. In this aerial view of the Kapoho ocean entry, these dark-colored lava particles are blasted skyward through billowing white clouds of
Kīlauea Volcano — Cracked Road at Summit
This 'warped-curb' crack, the largest in the parking area for the former Halema‘uma‘u overlook (closed since 2008), is one of many that have sliced the parking area into slices. Ballistics (blocks of solid rock) strewn across the area are visible in the foreground. Loose, dislodged
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Kīlauea LERZ lava flows and fissures, June 10, 12:00 p.m.
Map as of 12:00 p.m. (noon) HST, June 10, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted.
Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015.
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 from a Distance
Distant view of Kīlauea Volcano's fissure 8 lava channel from HVO's early morning overflight on June 10, looking to the southeast. Bryson's cinder quarry is the brown patch just to the north of the channel.
Kīlauea LERZ eruption
Fissure 8 continues to erupt vigorously, with lava streaming through a channel that reaches the ocean at Kapoho Bay. The width of the active part of the lava channel varies along its length, but ranges from about 100 to 300 meters (yards) wide. A clear view of the cinder-and-spatter cone that's building around the vent from ongoing lava fountains can be seen here.
Kīlauea Volcano — Fissure 8 Lava Channel
A closer view of the fissure 8 lava channel with the cinderquarry more clearly visible in the foreground (bottom of photo). During this morning's overflight, HVO geologists observed no new breakouts of lava near this quarry.
In 1888, Tavernier went one step further and created what we would now call a virtual reality depiction of Kīlauea volcano—the "Panorama of Kīlauea," an 11-foot tall canvas arranged in a circle with a 90-foot circumference.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) recorded an offshore magnitude-4.5 earthquake south the Island of Hawai‘i on Sunday, December 18, at 6:30 a.m., HST.
Have you ever wondered why Kīlauea Volcano's current lava flow is called the "61g" flow? To explain, we must go back to the beginning of the ongoing eruption.
The New Year is just around the corner, so it's time to remind everyone that January is Volcano Awareness Month on the Island of Hawai‘i.
Time-lapse sequence of lava lake activity at Halema‘uma‘u
Another rockfall triggers an explosive event in the summit lava lake
In mid-November 2016, 70 representatives of volcano observatories from 20 volcanically active nations around the world came together in Vancouver, Washington, to share techniques, lessons learned, and challenges faced in preparing effective, useful volcano hazard maps and analyses.
Views of the Kamokuna ocean entry
Ocean entry continues, with breakout near Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
Rockfall triggers an explosive event in summit lava lake
A clear evening provides stunning views of the summit lava lake
Breakout on the 61g lava flow field
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Locations
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Phone: (808) 985-6420
Fax: (808) 967-8568
Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center
Pacific Islands Water Science Center
Phone: 808-690-9600
Fax: 808-690-9599
O'ahu Field Station
Phone: 808-690-9571
Fax: 808-690-9599
National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station
Phone: (808) 792-9520
Fax: (808) 792-9596