Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Stuns with Spectacular Lava Fountains Reaching Heights of Hundreds of Feet

HONOLULU—On Thursday, lava from Hawaii’s most active volcano produced spectacular fountains that soared to 700 feet during the latest phase of an ongoing eruption.

Kilauea resumed its continuous lava discharge from the summit caldera within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday morning after a week-long hiatus, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The lava flow remained contained within the park and posed no threat to nearby residential areas.

This 14th eruptive episode concluded Thursday afternoon after a duration of 28 hours. The last seven hours saw lava fountains reaching heights of up to 600 feet, as reported by the USGS’ Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

In the early afternoon, a webcam feed displayed vibrant, red lava fountains, though it later transitioned to show thick, billowing smoke.

Kilauea’s current eruption began on December 23 and has experienced multiple stoppages and restarts since, with the shortest episode lasting just 13 hours and the longest spanning eight days.

With each eruptive phase, the volcano has propelled lava high into the air from its caldera vents, providing a striking spectacle for visitors to the park.

Families taking a spring break were among the spectators at various overlooks in the national park, noted park spokesperson Jessica Ferracane.

“The energy is palpable, with visitors reacting in awe, smiling widely, and hurrying from parking lots to viewpoints, eager to witness” the lava activity before it diminishes, she shared in an email just before the fountains came to a halt.

This eruption marks the sixth recorded at Kilauea’s summit since 2020.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park features the summits of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, two of the world’s most active volcanoes. Kilauea also had eruptions in June and September of 2024.

Situated about 200 miles south of Honolulu, the park is located on Hawaii’s Big Island.