Images

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists accessed the caldera rim on April 20 by driving on Crater Rim Drive in the hazardous closed area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This area, which is generally downwind of the eruptive vents, has now been covered by 2 meters (yards) of tephra from the recent lava fountaining.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 18, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew their aircraft directly above the south vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea for a close-up view into its depths.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 18, the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea was vigorously degassing although it did not host any obvious active lava. This high-angle aerial photo shows multiple openings in the base of the vent cone that glowed hot in simultaneously captured thermal images.

This map shows deformation at Kīlauea volcano associated with the ongoing summit eruption that started on December 23, 2024. The image covers the timespan from April 9–17, 2025, using data recorded by the Italian Space Agency's (ASI) COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite constellation.

Satellite image showing changes in the Pohoiki area on the Island of Hawaiʻi. The pre-2018 coastline is shown in white, extent of the first and second phase of growth in blue (about 1 year after the end of the 2018 eruption), and the current active phase as seen in the satellite image from March 2024. Satellite image from GoogleEarth.

On April 15, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists flew UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.

During UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) overflights on April 15, USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) staff monitor the UAS, which is visible just to the right of center in this image. HVO staff collected aerial imagery and volcanic gas concentration data during the UAS flights, which aids in volcanic hazard assessment of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption.

A view of the north and south vents within Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, on April 15, 2025, taken from the south rim of the caldera. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists measured the height of the crater wall behind the vents using a laser rangefinder.

On April 15, a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist prepares for a UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) flight into Halemaʻumaʻu to monitor the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. UAS flights are conducted with the permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and aid in hazard assessment of ongoing volcanic activity.

Helicopter overflight and a field visit by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists to the crater rim to observe the lava fountaining in episode 17 of the ongoing summit eruption of Kīlauea.

During a monitoring overflight at 7:15 a.m. HST on April 9, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews observed Pāhoehoe flows on the floor of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. These flows were fed by the south vent fountains, which ceased activity around 9:45 a.m. this morning, April 9, marking the end of episode 17. USGS photo by E.

Lava fountains during episode 17 supplied lava into a broad lava flow field covering much of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. Here, a small lobe of pāhoehoe breaks out at the far eastern end of the crater. The lava fountain and its degassing plume are visible in the distance. USGS photo by M. Patrick

A helicopter overflight the morning of April 9, 2025, at 7 a.m. HST provided views of the episode 17 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea just a few hours before it ended. The lava fountains were supplying lava into a flow that covered much of the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor. The fountains also produced a towering outgassing plume above the summit.

A USGS IT Specialist presents a visualization of volcanic hazards derived via satellite radar systems. IT systems facilitating the swift and accurate production of such solutions will be vital to the success of NVEWS. USGS image. 

During a monitoring overflight on April 9, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crews observed that the ponded lava in the north vent from April 8 had drained and/or collapsed. The south vent was still active, with fountaining sending lava flows across the floor of Halema‘uma‘u. USGS photo by K. Lynn. 

This thermal map was taken on the 7 a.m. overflight of Kīlauea summit on April 9, 2025, and shows the expansive lava flow covering the floor of Halema‘uma‘u, supplied by lava fountains at the vent. As in earlier episodes, the lava exited the vent into a short channel that fed a broad perched lava pond.

In the afternoon of April 8, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater to observe the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption during its seventeenth episode. This telephoto view of the geologists shows them taking laser rangefinder measurements of lava fountains at the active eruptive vent below them within the crater.

Following the onset of the Kīlauea summit eruption's seventeenth episode in the late evening of April 7, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists visited the southern rim of Halemaʻumʻau crater on the morning of April 8 to observe vent activity.

Episode 17 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea began last night, April 7, with lava flows erupting from the south vent at 10:15 p.m. HST. Low lava fountaining (100 feet, or 30 meters) was active overnight and continues this afternoon, feeding a lava flow on the crater floor.  USGS photo by M. Zoeller. 

As the day progressed on April 8, despite continued lava fountaining at the south vent (background right), activity declined at the north vent (foreground left). This afternoon photo captured from the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater—looking to the south—shows the north vent's lava pond fully crusted over and sitting lower within the spatter cone.

This set of thermal maps shows activity near the beginning and just after the end of episode 16 lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea. On April 1, lava fountaining was reaching over 200 meters (660 feet) and was beginning to produce a lava flow covering the western portion of the crater floor.