Images

During the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory overflight on July 16, scientists flew across Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone for measurements of the gas plume drifting downwind of the Halema‘uma‘u eruptive vents.

During the 2018 summit collapse of Kīlauea, portions of Crater Rim Drive fell into Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Eruptions in Halemaʻumaʻu since 2018 have slowly filled in much of the collapsed area.

A telephoto view of the top of the north vent lava fountain during episode 51 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea on July 15, 2026. Darker-colored solidified lava is visible wafting above the lava fountain.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V2cam, located on the easter rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V1cam, located on the northwest rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

A view of the lava fountain erupting from the north vent during episode 51 on July 15, 2026. Fountain heights reached up to about 950 feet (290 meters) and effusion rates reached a peak of about 400 cubic yards per second (300 cubic meters per second) at 10:30 a.m. HST July 15. This photo was taken shortly afterward, at around 11 a.m. HST. USGS photo by K.

On July 15, Kīlauea summit eruption episode 51 lava fountains were a sight to behold from Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Large crowds gathered to watch lava fountains from the Halemaʻumaʻu north vent, along with flows on the crater floor. Light tephra fell at Uēkahuna between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the K2cam, located near Uēkahuna bluff in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and shows visitors viewing the eruption. USGS webcam image. 

Lava falling from the north vent fountain during episode 51 in Halemaʻumaʻu on July 15, 2026, feeds a lava flow in the crater. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the S4cam, located on the south rim of the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the V3cam, located on the southern rim of the crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

During episode 51 of lava fountaining on July 15, 2026, the fountain from the north vent falling on the back side of the cone accumulated into a channelized lava flow that moved eastward on the crater floor away from the vent complex. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the B1cam, located on the south rim of the summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

Halemaʻumaʻu north vent lava fountains were reaching about 150 meters (500 feet) in height when a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist snapped this photo from Uēkahuna overlook around 11:45 a.m. HST on July 15 during episode 51.

The episode 51 lava fountain as seen from Uēkahuna in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The lava fountain at this time was approximately 500 feet (150 meters) tall and feeding a lava flows across the crater floor. The U.S.

Episode 51 of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea took place for about 8 hours on July 15, 2026. This photograph of the episode was taken by the KWcam, located on the northwest rim of the caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. USGS webcam image. 

A wide view of Kaluapele and Kūpina‘i Pali (Waldron Ledge) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park infrastructure dots the landscape in the lower left and center, with Volcano House in the lower right. The historic Volcano House hotel has existed in various forms and locations at the summit of Kīlauea since 1846. USGS photo by L. Gallant.

A view of Halema‘uma‘u with Uēkahuna in the foreground. Uēkahuna is the celebrated wahi pana (legendary place) of Kaluapele, the caldera of Kīlauea. An important site for Native Hawaiian ritual and cultural practices, Uēkahuna presents visitors with spectacular vistas of Kaluapele, Mauna Loa, and surrounding areas from the highest point on the rim.

During the July 14 monitoring overflight of Kīlauea's summit region, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist captured this telephoto view into the south vent in Halema‘uma‘u. Unlike the incandescent but spattering north vent, the south vent hosted an active lava pond within.

This aerial view, looking down into the north vent in Halema‘uma‘u, was taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring overflight on the morning of July 14, 2026. Small amounts of spatter over the last 12 hours have deposited on and around the vent, giving it a more textured look in the interior part of the depression.

This map shows thickness values for lava flows within Halema‘uma‘u crater from the Kīlauea summit eruption that began on December 23, 2024. These values were calculated by topographic differencing between a digital elevation model collected on June 30, 2026—after eruptive episode 50—and one from before the eruption began.