Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Images

Kīlauea images of eruptive activity, field work, and more.

Filter Total Items: 3036
Park superintendent Thomas Boles after a narrow escape at Kīlauea V...
Park superintendent Thomas Boles after a narrow escape at Kīlauea, ...
Park superintendent Thomas Boles after a narrow escape at Kīlauea, ...
Park superintendent Thomas Boles after a narrow escape at Kīlauea, ...

Boles poses on the grounds of the Volcano House hotel with the Halemaumau eruption plume in the background. He fell cutting his hands and a knee while fleeing an explosion the day before. After his close call the superintendent barred all public access within two miles of Halemaumau.

Boles poses on the grounds of the Volcano House hotel with the Halemaumau eruption plume in the background. He fell cutting his hands and a knee while fleeing an explosion the day before. After his close call the superintendent barred all public access within two miles of Halemaumau.

Explosion at Halemaumau as seen from Uēkahuna Bluff, at Kīlauea Vol...
Explosion at Halema‘uma‘u as seen from Uēkahuna Bluff, at Kīlauea, ...
Explosion at Halema‘uma‘u as seen from Uēkahuna Bluff, at Kīlauea, ...
Explosion at Halema‘uma‘u as seen from Uēkahuna Bluff, at Kīlauea, ...

Eight persons, including newspaper and movie men observing the scene at Halema‘uma‘u, were caught in a rain of hot rocks from this explosion. The rocks emitted hissing sounds as hot gas, mainly steam, escaped from them. Park superintendent Thomas Boles was knocked down twice by this bombardment.

Eight persons, including newspaper and movie men observing the scene at Halema‘uma‘u, were caught in a rain of hot rocks from this explosion. The rocks emitted hissing sounds as hot gas, mainly steam, escaped from them. Park superintendent Thomas Boles was knocked down twice by this bombardment.

Observer examines boulder ejected from Halemaumau, at Kīlauea Volca...
Boulder ejected from Halemaumau, at Kīlauea, May 11, 1925
Boulder ejected from Halemaumau, at Kīlauea, May 11, 1925
Boulder ejected from Halemaumau, at Kīlauea, May 11, 1925

On May 11, Ruy Finch and W.O. Clark visited Halemaumau and found a rock fragment weighing about 180 kg (400 pounds) that had been thrown 60 meters (200 feet) from the rim of the crater.

One of the first explosion clouds from Halemaumau, at Kīlauea Volca...
First explosion clouds from Halemaumau, Kīlauea 1925
First explosion clouds from Halemaumau, Kīlauea 1925
First explosion clouds from Halemaumau, Kīlauea 1925

Later scientists at the Observatory listed May 10 as the first day of the eruptive series. Between this date and May 27, they carefully recorded all explosions, ballistic falls, electric storms, and muddy rains as well as earthquakes felt and recorded on seismographs.

Later scientists at the Observatory listed May 10 as the first day of the eruptive series. Between this date and May 27, they carefully recorded all explosions, ballistic falls, electric storms, and muddy rains as well as earthquakes felt and recorded on seismographs.

Black and white photographs of lava lakes in crater
Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake on December 11, 1919
Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake on December 11, 1919
Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake on December 11, 1919

Panorama photos taken of Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake on December 11, 1919, showing the outer ring-shaped lake, the ring-shaped island of tilted crusts along the inner edge, and the central lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. USGS photos by T.A. Jaggar. 

Panorama photos taken of Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake on December 11, 1919, showing the outer ring-shaped lake, the ring-shaped island of tilted crusts along the inner edge, and the central lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. USGS photos by T.A. Jaggar. 

Black and white annotated photograph of collapse pit
View of the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu during the crater collapse of June 5, 1916, looking northeast from the south side of the crater
View of the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu during the crater collapse of June 5, 1916, looking northeast from the south side of the crater
View of the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu during the crater collapse of June 5, 1916, looking northeast from the south side of the crater

View of the walls of Halemaʻumaʻu during the crater collapse of June 5, 1916, looking northeast from the south side of the crater. The lava lake is visible at the lower left, and the outer crater walls are at the top. The crater rim is just out of frame to the top.

Black and white photograph of building on rim of crater
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory “Technology Station”
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory “Technology Station”
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory “Technology Station”

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), founded in 1912 by Thomas A. Jaggar, was the first of five volcano observatories supported by USGS today. The “Technology Station” (circled) on the eastern rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater—at the summit of Kīlauea—was the first, though temporary, of several buildings that HVO has occupied since its founding.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), founded in 1912 by Thomas A. Jaggar, was the first of five volcano observatories supported by USGS today. The “Technology Station” (circled) on the eastern rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater—at the summit of Kīlauea—was the first, though temporary, of several buildings that HVO has occupied since its founding.

Children pose with 8 ton ballistic block at Kīlauea volcano, Hawai‘...
Children pose with 8 ton ballistic block at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i.
Children pose with 8 ton ballistic block at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i.
Children pose with 8 ton ballistic block at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i.

Some of the large ballistic blocks from the Kīlauea eruption of 1924 later became visitor attractions. Many of these blocks remain in place today as evidence of the forces unleashed at Kīlauea during the eruption of 1924.

Some of the large ballistic blocks from the Kīlauea eruption of 1924 later became visitor attractions. Many of these blocks remain in place today as evidence of the forces unleashed at Kīlauea during the eruption of 1924.

Coconut grove and campground on the southern shoreline of Kīlauea V...
Coconut grove and campground on the southern shoreline of Kīlauea a...
Coconut grove and campground on the southern shoreline of Kīlauea a...
Coconut grove and campground on the southern shoreline of Kīlauea a...

Coconut grove and campground on the southern shoreline of Kīlauea Volcano at Halapē before 1975 magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Halapē was a popular hiking destination in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

chart showing overlaid cross-sections of volcanic crater
1892 and 1894 cross-sections of Halemaʻumaʻu crater
1892 and 1894 cross-sections of Halemaʻumaʻu crater
1892 and 1894 cross-sections of Halemaʻumaʻu crater

Surveyor Frank Dodge's 1894 cross-section of Halema‘uma‘u overlaid on his 1892 cross-section. The 1892 lava lake was measured at 73 m (240 ft) below the rim of Halema‘uma‘u pit and by early-1894, the lava lake had filled the pit and frequently overflowed onto the caldera floor.

Surveyor Frank Dodge's 1894 cross-section of Halema‘uma‘u overlaid on his 1892 cross-section. The 1892 lava lake was measured at 73 m (240 ft) below the rim of Halema‘uma‘u pit and by early-1894, the lava lake had filled the pit and frequently overflowed onto the caldera floor.

black-and-white photograph of volcanic terrain
1894 view of lava flows in Kaluapele
1894 view of lava flows in Kaluapele
1894 view of lava flows in Kaluapele

Photograph taken on March 20, 1894 looking up at the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake perched atop a low dome on the floor of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera).

Photograph taken on March 20, 1894 looking up at the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake perched atop a low dome on the floor of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera).

Was this page helpful?