Has anyone died from Kilauea?

Kilauea: Has This Volcano Ever Taken a Life? You Bet.

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, draws crowds from all over to witness its fiery lava shows. But let’s be clear: behind the stunning views lies a history etched in tragedy. Sure, Kilauea’s often called a “gentle giant” because of its lava flows, but don’t let that fool you. This volcano has claimed lives, directly and indirectly, over time.

1790: When Kilauea Unleashed Hell

The worst tragedy? Hands down, it was 1790. Picture this: November, and Kilauea explodes with a force no one saw coming. This wasn’t just a little rumble; it was the Keanakakoi eruption, a full-on blast of scorching steam, ash, and toxic gases. Right in the path? A group of Hawaiian warriors and their families. The numbers are fuzzy, but we’re talking somewhere between 80 and over 400 people wiped out. Talk about a bad day. This remains the deadliest volcanic eruption ever in the United States. These warriors, on their way to fight a battle, were ambushed by a volcanic blast they couldn’t have imagined. The scene was horrific. They found bodies, some still clinging to each other, a heartbreaking testament to the hurricane-force winds and suffocating ash that overwhelmed them.

Other Times Kilauea Showed Its Teeth

That 1790 eruption was the big one, but it’s not the whole story. Kilauea’s had other moments:

• Earthquakes and Killer Waves (1868 & 1975): Kilauea’s rumbles have triggered some nasty events. Take 1868: a massive earthquake shook the ground, the coast sank, and then came the tsunami, snatching away around 46 lives along the coast. Then, in ’75, history repeated itself. Another quake, another tsunami, and two campers at Halape were gone.
• Explosions Can Kill: Back in 1924, a photographer got a fatal dose of falling rocks blasted out of Halemaʻumaʻu. Bad luck, terrible timing.
• Lava Bench? More Like Lava Trap (1993): Someone thought it was a good idea to wander onto a seacoast bench in 1993. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The bench crumbled, and they were swept away. Never a good idea to ignore the warning signs.
• Gas Can Be a Silent Killer: From 1983 to 2003, five tourists died because of breathing in too much SO2. You can’t see it, but it’ll get you.
• Falling is Fatal: In the late ’80s, a tourist from Japan took a tumble on some rough lava rock while hiking at night. Darkness and uneven ground are a bad combo. More recently, in 2022, a 75-year-old man fell in a closed area of the park and didn’t make it.

The Ripple Effect: Indirect Dangers

Here’s the thing: volcanoes don’t just kill with lava. Earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides – they’re all part of the package, and they can all take lives. And let’s not forget the long game: breathing in volcanic gases like sulfur dioxide (SO2) can mess with your lungs, especially if you’re already vulnerable.

Kilauea Today: Respect the Volcano

Kilauea’s eruptions often give you a chance to get out of the way, thanks to those slow-moving lava flows. But its history is a stark reminder that this volcano can be unpredictable and deadly. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) keeps a close watch, trying to spot any signs of trouble brewing.

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, do yourself a favor: pay attention to the warnings, stay out of restricted areas, and know what’s going on with the volcano. Seeing Kilauea is an incredible experience, but it’s crucial to remember that this is a force of nature to be respected, not taken lightly.