Where is the Lava?
Hawaii Eruption Tracker & Updates
Kilauea volcano was intermittently erupting
Last Updated: January 15, 2025
If you're heading to Hawaii's Big Island, then one of the first questions you may have is, 'Where is the lava? I want to see lava! Wait, or is it magma?' First, yes, typically, it's lava you're looking for - lava is anything that's erupted from the volcano (to the surface), and it comes in two flavors, Pahoehoe and A`a. You can read more about the two lava types on our Hawaii Geology page. If it's still within the volcano, it's known as magma.
The top photo above is a USGS photo of the previous Kilauea Eruption.
Kilauea Eruption Updates
Last Eruption Activity: December 2024 - January 2025
Lava has returned to Halemaumau Crater at the summit
- Watch a GIF of the initial eruption as it started on the USGS camera on the morning of December 23, 2024 (wait for it, it occurs at 2am)
- See our 'What's Happening on Kilauea Now' section for information on the current Kilauea eruption.
Locating the Lava Flows
Now, to answer the question of 'where.' Well, the answer to that question depends on the mood of Pele (the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess). And Madame Pele is very unpredictable.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, so your chance to see glowing lava (from near or far) is pretty good when the volcano is actively erupting (it's periodically erupting only at the summit in Halemaumau currently), especially when it's dark. Just look for the red glow. As always, the Park Rangers at the entry station are your best guide to current conditions - we advise all visitors to check in with them before exploring the park.
Ultimately, in our opinion, even if you don't get to see any flowing lava in person, which you might not at times, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Big Island are well worth the time.
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Kilauea & Volcanoes National Park Lava Viewing Guide
- Timeline of Events:
- Hike to the lava yourself
- Or check our recommendations for Guided Kilauea Tours
- Helicopter tours over the volcano
- Mauna Loa Eruption Updates - after 38 years, Mauna Loa erupted in late 2022
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Maps
Separately, don't forget to review our Hawaii Safety Guide for the Volcano Area (and other important Hawaii safety tips).
What's Happening Now at Kilauea?
Periodic Kilauea Eruption: Volcano is erupting off and on again
Kilauea volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is periodically erupting.
Current conditions are additionally included below.
Current Kilauea Conditions Summary*
Below, we'll post additional updates on eruption activity where you can additionally read about all of Kilauea's recent eruption events.
Activity Summary: Current conditions, updated daily, can be found on the USGS site.
HVNP Status & Closures: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park site
*Activity Summary, Summit Observations, and Lava Lake Observations courtesy of the USGS and/or NPS
December 2024 - January 2025 Kilauea Eruption Timeline
Episode IV
Around 9:15 a.m. HST on January 15, 2025, the eruption of Kīlauea within Kaluapele (summit caldera) resumed with a small lava flow exiting the north vent, following low-level continuous lava spattering that started around 5:40 a.m. HST. from the same vent. Around 9:55 a.m., low-level lava fountaining started with more rigorous lava flow activity.
The small sluggish lava flow from the north vent at around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday January 15, 2025, marks the beginning of the fourth episode of the ongoing summit eruption.
Episode III
The eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater paused at approximately 8:40 p.m. on January 3, 2025, with both fountaining and lava flow effusion ceasing at the same time. Currently there is no lava draining back into the southern vent, which was the only vent actively erupting at the time.
The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began on Monday, December 23, 2024, continues the morning of January 3, 2025. Over the past several days, vents in the southwest portion of the caldera have continued producing a fan of lava flows covering the southwest portion of the crater floor, with sustained lava fountaining. Eruptive activity has been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu and the downdropped block within the caldera. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.
Around 6 p.m. on December 27, 2024, the eruption transitioned from low level lava flows to the onset of more vigorous fountaining.
Lava began erupting from vents around 8 a.m. yesterday morning (December 26) marking the beginning of the third phase of the ongoing summit eruption. Sluggish lava flows continued to erupt from the northern vents for the next day and a half. This was much longer than the 3-4 hours of sluggish eruption that preceded the fountaining of the second episode. Current fountain is occurring bursts up to 30-45 ft (10-15 m) high from the two most northern vents. If fountaining continues, it is possible that the fountain heights will increase as more gas-rich lava erupted. It is not possible to estimate how high the fountains may get or how long the fountaining will last, but prior episodes have produced fountains over 200 feet high (70 m) that last up to 24 hours.
More information and a timeline of Kilauea's historical events (including the current eruption, when applicable) are included below.
Follow HVNP for additional updates
This situation is rapidly evolving and the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory will continue to issue statements when more information is available to the public. For now, you can receive ongoing eruption updates by following the social media accounts of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
- View the live cameras located at the Kilauea summit.
- Additional updates can be found on the Hawaii Volcanoes National park website.
- Animated GIF of the latest webcam footage from the current eruption
Additional video footage and imagery, of the current eruption at Halemaumau Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, can be found below.
Big Island Volcano Tour Suggestions
Recent Events at Kilauea Volcano
Click any link below to learn more...
- December 2024 - January 2025 Eruption - lava returns to Halemaumau crater at the summit
- September 2024 Eruption - brief after dark eruption in remote HVNP area.
This section will be updated accordingly. More Kilauea & Mauna Loa eruption history events can be found on our Big Island Historical Eruptions page.
Eruption returns in Halemaumau Crater
December 2024 - January 2025 Eruption
Episode I
The eruption within Halemaumau Crater (view USGS Eruption GIF here) began at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024, and vents erupted on the floor of the southwest part of the summit caldera.
At 4:30 a.m., lava fountains were observeEd with heights up to 80 meters (262 feet). Molten material, including lava bombs, was being ejected from the vents on the caldera floor up onto the west caldera rim, within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The volcanic gas and ejecta hazards west of the erupting vents stress the hazardous nature of this closed area of Kīlauea's summit. By 5:30 a.m., lava covered an estimated area of 400 acres of the caldera floor.
Eruptive activity is currently confined to the summit region. No significant changes have been observed in the rift zones.
Around 3 p.m. on the eruption day, the summit's tilt stopped showing deflation, and seismic tremors began decreasing. By 3:30 p.m., lava fountains were barely visible. By 4 p.m., the fountaining had stopped, and seismic tremor was close to background levels. Visible volcanic gas emissions have also decreased significantly. These observations indicate that the eruption has slowed considerably and appears to be entering a pause.
Episode II
The eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began on Monday, December 23, continued the morning of December 25, 2024. The eruption had been relatively stable over the past day, following the resumption of activity that occurred yesterday morning. Vigorous lava fountains remain active in the western portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater, sending lava flows across the crater floor. Eruptive activity remains confined to Halemaʻumaʻu and the downdropped block within the caldera and may fluctuate in vigor over the coming days.
Episode 2 of the December 2024 summit eruption of Kīlauea paused just before 11:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.
The vigorous fountaining from vents in the southwest corner of Halemaʻmaʻu crater rapidly died down over a few minutes just before 11:00 a.m. Lava began draining back into the vent at 11:00 a.m. at nearly the same time summit tiltmeters began recording a change from deflation to inflation. Seismic tremors also decreased markedly at the same time. The pattern was similar but more abrupt than the pause onset on Monday, December 23, between 3 and 4 p.m.
Episode 2 lasted a little over 24 hours, about twice the duration of the first eruptive episode. Prior summit eruptions have lasted days to weeks, and there is a high probability that this eruption will resume if the summit repressurizes in the coming days.
Episode III
Around 6 p.m. on December 27, 2024, the eruption transitioned from low level lava flows to the onset of more vigorous fountaining.
Lava began erupting from vents around 8 a.m. yesterday morning (December 26) marking the beginning of the third phase of the ongoing summit eruption. Sluggish lava flows continued to erupt from the northern vents for the next day and a half. This was much longer than the 3-4 hours of sluggish eruption that preceded the fountaining of the second episode. Current fountain is occurring bursts up to 30-45 ft (10-15 m) high from the two most northern vents. If fountaining continues, it is possible that the fountain heights will increase as more gas-rich lava erupted. It is not possible to estimate how high the fountains may get or how long the fountaining will last, but prior episodes have produced fountains over 200 feet high (70 m) that last up to 24 hours.
The eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater paused at approximately 8:40 p.m. on January 3, 2025, with both fountaining and lava flow effusion ceasing at the same time. Currently there is no lava draining back into the southern vent, which was the only vent actively erupting at the time.
Episode IV
Around 9:15 a.m. HST on January 15, 2025, the eruption of Kīlauea within Kaluapele (summit caldera) resumed with a small lava flow exiting the north vent, following low-level continuous lava spattering that started around 5:40 a.m. HST. from the same vent. Around 9:55 a.m., low-level lava fountaining started with more rigorous lava flow activity.
The small sluggish lava flow from the north vent at around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday January 15, 2025, marks the beginning of the fourth episode of the ongoing summit eruption.
Eruption in remote part of HVNP
September 2024 Eruption
Kilauea volcano erupted briefly just west of Napau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone. This eruption likely occurred between approximately 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. HST on Sunday 15, 2024, in a remote and closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters Road, which is closed, is located downslope and downwind of the new fissures.
On September 16, 2024 the eruption resumed in the middle East Rift Zone at about 6 p.m. HST. Activity continued overnight, but generally decreased.
On September 17, 2024, approximately 4 a.m. HST, activity increased and during a morning overflight at approximately 8 a.m. HST, HVO geologists observed that new vents had opened in Nāpau Crater. In total, the fissure system has stretched over 1.6 kilometers (1.0 miles) of the East Rift Zone, with lava flows now covering 18 hectares (44 acres).
On September 18, 2024, during the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory morning monitoring overflight, geologists observed that the activity had greatly decreased. Only weak low fountaining within a tiny lava pond was observed at one vent.
At 3:15 p.m. HST, on September 18, 2024, new eruptive fissures opened west of Napau Crater. A monitoring camera deployed by HVO field crews with permission from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park recorded “lava falls” cascading down the northwest walls of Napau Crater. Vigorous activity continued and by the morning of September 19, about 2/3 of Napau Crater floor had been covered with new lava.
As of 10 a.m. HST on September 20, 2024, eruptive activity had paused.
As noted previously, additional Kilauea & Mauna Loa eruption history events can now be found on our Big Island Historical Eruptions page.
Lava Viewing Guide
Hiking to Lava
Check THIS SITE for updates on lava flows and Kilauea activity. We've also included some maps below to generally help provide you an overview of the park and where the lava might be located during your visit. Just remember, this is an active living and breathing volcano and things regularly change, the maps are always out of date for that reason to some extent.
If the flows have recently been near the surface within the Park and IF it's safe to access (check with the Rangers), it's pretty easy to locate the lava yourself - so don't feel like you HAVE to join a tour to experience a lava flow. Before heading out, be sure you've prepared accordingly - dress appropriately with the right footwear for your adventure; be sure to keep water with you at all times, it can be easy to get dehydrated on the lava fields. Sunscreen is also your best friend on this part of the island.
As always, remember that lava flows outside the Park's boundary are on private property and you should not explore these locations without a guide who has permission to properly access the property.
Kilauea Volcano Tours
Our recommendation for Kilauea & lava tours is to contact Scott and Becky at The Volcano Van. They offer amazing tours of Kilauea, including several tours that depart from Kona.
Helicopter Volcano Tours
Another great option is to take a helicopter tour over Pu`u O`o for a look into the bowels of the earth. While that too could change tomorrow, as lava has a mind of its own - a helicopter tour is your BEST opportunity to see lava.
Our recommendation for helicopters tours is to fly with Safari Helicopters. They have some amazing tours over the volcano that are perfect for experiecing Kilauea from above.
Mauna Loa Eruption
Mauna Loa Eruption Updates
Last Activity: November 2022 - December 2022
After 38 years, Mauna Loa briefly erupted
- More Mauna Loa eruption history events can be found on our Big Island Historical Eruptions page.
Latest Mauna Loa Developments
Updates provided by the USGS
Current daily updates on the status of the Mauna Loa Eruption can be found on the USGS website.
See the USGS eruption map to visualize the current eruption location, or view these incredible USGS photos of the recent Mauna Loa eruption.