Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes

10/09/2026

Who else is checking the we**ams throughout the night? 😴 You’re in good company, even though views were fleeting through the gas and clouds that seemed to block the cameras much of the night.

🌋What is Kīlauea up to? USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports today, Friday, October 9, that the north and south vent spattered overnight with strong glow visible at times. The summit remains highly pressurized and we could get more lava fountains, magma intrusions or an eruption in a different location at the summit in the coming days or weeks.

Most of the park and summit viewing areas are currently open but some closures are in place, including the Keanakākoʻi overlooks.

Seven shallow earthquakes were recorded at the summit in the last 24 hours and due to the potential for rockfall, Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and a short leg of Byron Ledge Trail are closed.

🌬️The wind direction shifted (at least for now) back to a more east/northeast direction so we expect less volcanic gas over summit viewing areas today compared to the last two days. Keep an eye on air quality: https://www.nps.gov/havo/air-quality-alert.htm.

📸NPS Photo/J.Wei of lava spattering from the cone in the north vent, taken October 7, 2026

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

🌋Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and a part of Byron Ledge Trail are temporarily closed due to continued inflation and increased seismicity at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. The trail closure is a total of 1.3 miles.

📝From the park news release:

According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, more than 200 shallow earthquakes occurred below Kīlauea summit in the last week, and six more occurred within the last 24 hours. A magnitude 3.4 earthquake at 9:52 p.m. on September 30 caused small rockfalls along the north wall of the caldera. The increased seismicity could trigger additional rock falls and presents a serious safety risk. Both trails descend from the caldera rim to the floor and have been the site of dangerous rock falls in the past.

Kīlauea volcano is highly pressurized and while forecasting is not possible due to the irregularity in inflation and deflation, changes could occur quickly at the summit. HVO scientists report that additional cracks have opened on the caldera floor between Uēkahuna and Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), likely due to a short-lived magma intrusion to the area September 30 to October 1.

HVO suggests lava fountains could resume within Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the north-south-west vent complex. The last eruption was August 25 and the 43 days since then represent the longest period of time without fountains since the eruptive cycle began on December 23, 2024. It is also possible that another magma intrusion could occur and cause an eruption along the weak crack system at the summit.

Viewing areas on the Keanakākoʻi side of the caldera closed for safety last week. With the closest parking about a mile from the overlooks, the area is difficult to evacuate quickly.

Visitors are required to stay out of closed areas and away from cliff edges which are unstable and can collapse without warning.

📸NPS Photo of keiki (children) hiking across Kīlauea caldera floor on Halemaʻumaʻu Trail towards Byron Ledge Trail before the closure.

10/06/2026

🌋Kīlauea volcano remains active and highly pressurized as the summit continues to inflate.

According to today’s update from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, eruptive activity may continue at the north–south–west vent complex. Overnight, visitors and scientists observed strong glow from the north and south vents and light spattering from the south vent, but no overflows. Could this lead to another episode of sustained lava fountains? Possibly, but it’s too early to know.

Another scenario is that a new summit eruption could occur along one of the volcano's weak crack systems. Where exactly might that happen? We don’t know yet, and that uncertainty matters for visitor safety.

For this reason, the Keanakākoʻi side of the caldera remains temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution. This area, roughly a mile from the nearest parking lot, has been the site of hazardous volcanic activity during past eruptions. If an eruption occurs and it is safe to reopen Keanakākoʻi for viewing, we will.

Mahalo for your patience and understanding as we await what Pele will do next!

USGS we**am v3 image of the summit not far from the Keanakākoʻi area, the summit vents emit gas in the upper left of this image.

10/02/2026

10/01/2026

Let's try this again with the park map and closure better marked. (It has been a busy Thursday!)

⛔Due to a flurry of earthquakes below the summit of Kīlauea and increased volcanic unrest, the Keanakākoʻi area is temporarily closed for safety. This includes old Crater Rim Drive, the overlooks near Keanakākoʻi crater and Crater Rim Trail to Keanakākoʻi. Devastation parking lot remains open.

🌋The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that a shallow intrusion of magma occurred overnight within the summit region near the existing eruption location. The north and south vents continue to have intermittent overflows, spatter, and strong glow.

Nearly 100 earthquakes were recorded in the summit area, the largest being magnitude 3.4 at 9:52 p.m. last night. Intrusive activity was strongest between 8 p.m. September 30 (last night) and this morning around 3 a.m.

Since 3 a.m. today, October 1, summit inflation has flattened out and earthquake activity has decreased. A comparison of we**am imagery before and after the intrusion does not show any new ground cracking or eruption of lava in a new location.

🗺️📸 NPS map showing the park closure of the Keanakākoʻi area circled in a red oval shape.

Visit the park website for eruption viewing tips and more information: www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

10/01/2026