Images

Dusk view of episode 20 fountaining activity at the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea. This photograph was taken from just east of the Kīlauea Overlook within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The pali (cliff) of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) is visible in the foreground, while a plume of volcanic gas is illuminated in the dusk light.

During episode 20 of the ongoing eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea, lava fountains reached about 500 feet (152 meters). The crater wall behind the vents is 492 feet (150 meters) high, and this photo shows that the top of the fountain from the north vent is reaching slightly higher than the crater wall.

The continuous fountaining phase of episode 20 in the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption was brief, lasting just 4.5 hours. The fountaining phase began at 5:28 p.m. HST and ended at 9:58 p.m. HST the evening of May 6, 2025. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Lava fountains and flows erupted from both the north and south vents during episode 20 of the ongoing eruption at the summit of Kīlauea. However, the north vent was much more active than the south vent, with lava fountains reaching estimated heights of more than 500 feet (150 meters). Fountains from the south vent reached heights of up to about 65 feet (20 meters).

On May 5, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists visiting the western rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater watched several cycles of lava filling and draining within the north vent of Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption. Dome fountains in the vent's lava pond reached approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in height.

On May 5, 2025, the north and south vents of Kīlauea's ongoing summit eruption were alternating in vigor over the course of 10-minute cycles.

This view of the south vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea was captured through the lens of a laser rangefinder device that Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists were using to measure eruptive features.

Top panel: Map of seismic stations described in this article at Kīlauea volcano. Bottom panels: Changes in seismic velocity at (left) path between stations WRM and PUHI before the 2020 Kīlauea summit eruption, and (right) station BYL leading up to lava fountaining episode 23 on May 25, 2025.

On May 1, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a small spatter cone that had built up by intermittent spattering within the north vent over the past several days in Halemaʻumaʻu.

On May 1, 2025, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists observed a small spatter cone that has built up within the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu. Over the past day, spattering has been visible in the V1cam livestream within the north vent and this photo provides a closer view of the spattering source. USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist sets up a video camera to capture the intermittent minor spattering within the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu on May 1, 2025. The north and south vents are just out of the camera frame, below the scientist in the lower left part of the photo.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist uses a handheld laser rangefinder to determine the height of the small spatter cone within the north vent on May 1, 2025.  USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

May 1 is lei day in Hawaii, and today scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory checked on the S2cam on the rim of Kīlauea volcano. The camera had been sending images intermittently over the past 24 hours and needed new batteries.

This reference map depicts the Kīlauea summit eruption within Halema‘uma‘u crater that began on December 23, 2024. As of this posting on April 30, 2025, the eruption has had eighteen episodes, with the most recent occurring on April 22.

On April 29, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory undertook a helicopter surveillance flight over Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. At the time, the ongoing eruption was between eruptive episodes (episode 18 ended on April 22). In this photo looking down towards the east, lava is seen within north vent.

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight midday on April 29, 2025, provided views Halema‘uma‘u during a pause in eruptive activity at Kīlauea. In this view looking south, the degassing north and south vents are visible in the center right of the photo.

This overview photo of western Halema‘uma‘u crater was captured during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight on Tuesday, April 29.

On April 29, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory undertook a helicopter surveillance flight over Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. At the time, the ongoing eruption was between eruptive episodes (episode 18 ended on April 22).

On April 29, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory undertook a helicopter surveillance flight over Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. At the time, the ongoing eruption was between eruptive episodes (episode 18 ended on April 22). In this photo looking down towards the east, lava is seen within north vent.

This photograph, taken during a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring helicopter overflight midday on April 29, 2025, shows an overview of Kīlauea Iki (center) and Pu‘upua‘i (bottom center to right). Kīlauea Iki erupted in 1959 over a 5-week period with 17 fountaining episodes, similar to the ongoing eruption in Halema‘uma‘u.

View looking southwest of the southwest corner of Halema‘uma‘u and the tephra blanket from the ongoing eruption at Kīlauea. The tephra is brown and covers center and right side of the photo.