Kilauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024 — 44 episodes of lava fountaining and counting. Episode 44 on April 9, 2026 sent 800-foot fountains into the sky, forced park evacuations, and dropped softball-sized tephra on Volcano Village. Here's the full story: what's happening, what's happened before, and what to expect if you're planning a visit.
Current Status
Paused
Episodes Since Dec 2024
44
Max Fountain Height
1,400 ft
Total Recorded Eruptions
20+
Episode 44 — April 9, 2026
The 44th episode of lava fountaining began at 11:10 AM HST on April 9, 2026, from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kilauea's summit. It ended at 7:41 PM — roughly 8.5 hours of continuous activity.
Precursory lava flows had been oozing from the south vent since April 3, a now-familiar pattern where small leaks precede the main event by several days. Scientists at HVO (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) had been watching summit inflation climb steadily and knew an episode was imminent.
Episode 44 Key Details
Duration
8.5 hours (11:10 AM – 7:41 PM HST)
Max Fountain Height
~800 feet (240m) from north vent
Lava Volume
~7.5 million cubic yards (5.8M m³)
Plume Height
16,000 feet (4,900m) ASL
Tephra Fallout
Softball-sized reticulite near Volcano Golf Course
Impact
Park evacuated. Hwy 11 closed. USGS raised alert to WARNING/RED.
Peak fountain heights hit ~800 feet around 1 PM, with the north vent doing most of the work. Lava covered roughly half the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. The eruption was notably smaller than Episodes 41-43 — USGS scientists said it was a "quieter" episode in the context of this cycle.
The more dramatic impact was the tephra. Chunks of lightweight reticulite (a type of volcanic glass) up to 12 inches across rained down near Kilauea Military Camp and the Volcano Golf Course subdivision. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park closed temporarily, and a stretch of Highway 11 was shut down until around 6 PM.
The park reopened the same day after the episode ended. Within 24 hours, the rapid return of inflationary tilt at the summit signaled that magma was already refilling — USGS models predict Episode 45 will likely occur between April 19-26.
The Ongoing Eruption Cycle (Dec 2024 – Present)
What started on December 23, 2024 has become one of the most remarkable volcanic events in recent history. Kilauea has been erupting in discrete fountaining episodes from two vents in Halemaʻumaʻu crater — the north vent and south vent. Each episode follows a predictable pattern:
Summit inflation builds over 1-4 weeks as magma fills the shallow reservoir
Precursory lava oozes from one or both vents, sometimes days before
Fountaining begins abruptly, typically from the north vent
6-12 hours of sustained activity with fountains ranging from 30m to 425m
Eruption pauses. Deflation begins. Cycle resets.
The cycle has been intensifying. Early episodes in January 2025 produced modest 100-160 foot fountains. By mid-2025, heights were exceeding 1,000 feet. Episode 39 on December 24, 2025 set the record at approximately 1,400 feet (425m) — visible from towns 30+ miles away.
Key Episodes
1
Episode 1
Dec 23, 2024
Fountains: ~30m
Eruption begins just after midnight. Lava fountains from two new vents in Halemaʻumaʻu crater — one on the north side, one on the south.
5
Episode 5
Jan 22, 2025
Fountains: 30-50m
Pattern establishes: fountaining episodes lasting under 12 hours, separated by pauses of 1-3+ weeks. Fountains reach 30-50m (100-160 ft).
27
Episode 27
Jun 29, 2025
Fountains: 305m+
Lava fountains exceed 1,000 feet (305m) for the first time. Episodes becoming progressively more vigorous.
38
Episode 38
Dec 6, 2025
Fountains: 365m
One-year mark approaching. Fountains reach 1,000-1,200 feet (305-365m). 12 hours of sustained activity.
39
Episode 39
Dec 24, 2025
Fountains: 425m
Record-setting fountains reach approximately 1,400 feet (425m) — the tallest of the cycle. Six hours of activity ending Christmas Eve morning.
44
Episode 44
Apr 9, 2026
Fountains: 240m
Latest episode. 800-foot (240m) fountains from the north vent for 8.5 hours. Softball-sized tephra in Volcano Village. Park temporarily closed. Highway 11 shut down.
Kilauea Eruption History
Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. It's been erupting nearly continuously since 1983, and Hawaiian oral histories record eruptions going back centuries. Here are the major eruption periods:
2024-Present: Episodic Fountaining Cycle
44 episodes (and counting) of lava fountaining from Halemaʻumaʻu. The most well-documented episodic eruption in Hawaiian volcano history. Also includes the June 2024 upper southwest rift zone eruption (8.5 hours) and September 2024 Nāpau Crater eruption (4 phases over 5 days).
2020-2023: Summit Eruptions
After the dramatic 2018 collapse, a lava lake reformed in Halemaʻumaʻu starting December 2020. Multiple eruptions through 2023 gradually refilled the crater.
2018: Lower East Rift Zone Eruption
The most destructive Kilauea eruption in modern history. Fissures opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision, destroying 716 homes and creating 875 acres of new land where lava entered the ocean. The summit crater collapsed, dropping 500m. No fatalities — a testament to monitoring and evacuation.
1983-2018: Puʻu ʻŌʻō Eruption
One of the longest-lived eruptions in recorded history — 35 continuous years of lava output from the east rift zone. It destroyed 214 structures, buried 14 km of highway, and added over 200 hectares of new land to the island. For most of this period, you could drive up and watch lava enter the ocean.
Can You Visit Kilauea During an Eruption?
Yes — and millions of people do every year. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park remains open between episodes, and the episodic nature of the current eruption means the park is accessible most of the time.
During active episodes, the park closes temporarily (Episode 44 caused a same-day closure). Between episodes, you can drive to overlooks above Halemaʻumaʻu crater and see the fresh lava flows, steam vents, and — at night — the orange glow from cooling lava.
Visitor Safety Tips
1.Check the USGS Kilauea page before your visit — eruption status changes quickly.
2.Bring a mask for vog (volcanic smog). SO₂ levels spike during and after episodes, especially downwind.
3.Night visits offer the best views — lava glow is visible from overlooks when the crater is hot.
4.Stay on marked trails. Fresh lava fields can collapse into lava tubes, and thin crust can give way underfoot.
5.If you're visiting during an active episode: stay in designated viewing areas and follow park ranger instructions.
Kilauea Volcano Tours
Seeing an active volcano is a bucket-list experience. The best way to make the most of a Kilauea visit is with a guided tour — local guides know the best viewpoints, current conditions, and can get you to spots you'd never find on your own. Helicopter tours offer aerial views of the crater and lava flows that are genuinely jaw-dropping.
Explore Kilauea With a Local Guide
Helicopter tours, hiking tours, and lava viewing experiences at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
As of April 15, 2026, the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption is paused following Episode 44 on April 9. Glow from the south vent continues. Based on summit inflation patterns, USGS estimates Episode 45 is likely between April 19-26, 2026. The eruption cycle has been ongoing since December 23, 2024.
Is it safe to visit Kilauea during an eruption?
Between episodes, yes — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is usually fully open and safe. During active episodes, the park may close temporarily (Episode 44 caused a same-day closure). Tephra, vog (volcanic smog), and road closures are the main hazards. The park reopens quickly after episodes end — typically within hours.
When was Kilauea's last eruption?
Kilauea's most recent eruptive episode was Episode 44 on April 9, 2026. The ongoing episodic eruption cycle began December 23, 2024. Before this cycle, Kilauea erupted in September 2024 (Nāpau Crater), June 2024 (upper southwest rift zone), and had summit eruptions in 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
How often does Kilauea erupt?
Kilauea is one of the most frequently active volcanoes on Earth. In the current cycle (since Dec 2024), episodes occur every 1-4 weeks. More broadly, Kilauea has erupted nearly continuously since 1983, with the 35-year Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption ending in 2018, followed by the destructive Lower East Rift Zone eruption, then frequent summit eruptions through the present.
What is the episodic eruption cycle at Kilauea?
Since December 23, 2024, Kilauea has been erupting in discrete episodes of lava fountaining from two vents in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Each episode lasts 6-12 hours, with pauses of 1-4 weeks between them. As of April 2026, there have been 44 episodes. Fountain heights have ranged from 30m in early episodes to 425m (1,400 feet) in Episode 39.