Is Lava flowing into ocean on Big Island?

Is Lava Still Kissing the Ocean on the Big Island? Let’s Get Real.

Okay, so the Big Island of Hawaii – it’s basically a living, breathing volcano, right? Kilauea is the star of the show, always keeping us on our toes with its eruptions. The big question everyone’s asking, and I get it all the time, is: “Is lava flowing into the ocean right now?!” Because, let’s face it, that’s a sight you just can’t miss. As of right now, August 2025, the answer is a bit of a “sort of” situation.

Kilauea’s Been Acting Up… But in a Contained Way

Since late December 2024, Kilauea’s been in this on-again, off-again phase of erupting. Think of it like a moody teenager. It’ll have these bursts of energy, and then just chill out for a bit. These “episodes,” as the scientists call them, involve lava doing its thing inside the Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

The most recent show, Episode 30, happened just a few days ago, on August 6th. For about half a day, lava fountains were shooting up like crazy – some as high as 300 feet! Can you imagine seeing that? And get this, a new crack even opened up on the side of the crater for a hot minute. Pretty wild stuff.

Ocean Entry? Not Right Now, Sadly.

Here’s the thing: as awesome as all that sounds, none of that lava is actually making its way to the ocean right now. It’s all staying put inside the crater. Ever since that major eruption back in 2018, when things changed big time, the lava’s been keeping to itself, more or less.

But Hey, Things Could Change!

Now, don’t get bummed out just yet. This is a volcano we’re talking about. Things can change in a heartbeat. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (those guys are seriously on top of things) are watching Kilauea like hawks. They’re even saying we might see another eruption soon, maybe later this week or next.

That new vent that popped up? That tells us the pressure’s building. Magma might be pushing its way into new spots around the summit. But, and this is a big but, there’s no sign that it’s going to head down to the coast. The East Rift Zone, where lava used to flow for miles, is actually shrinking. So, for now, it looks like the action’s staying up top.

Catching a Glimpse of the Glow

Even without the ocean entry, you can still see some pretty amazing stuff. When Kilauea’s in an eruptive mood, the glow from the lava inside the crater is visible from different spots in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Places like Uēkahuna, Kilauea Overlook, and Wahinekapu – those are your best bets.

Just a heads up, though: check the alerts before you go. Volcanoes don’t exactly follow a schedule, you know? The park service and the USGS will have the latest info to keep you safe.

A Word of Caution from the Past

Just to give you some perspective, when lava does flow into the ocean, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. That interaction creates “laze,” which is basically a nasty mix of acid fumes and steam. Not something you want to be breathing in. Plus, you can get explosions that send chunks of molten rock flying. So, yeah, respect the lava!

The Bottom Line

So, to sum it all up: no, lava isn’t currently flowing into the ocean on the Big Island. But Kilauea is still putting on a show, and it’s always full of surprises. Keep an eye on the updates, and who knows? Maybe you’ll catch the next big event. And even if you don’t, just being on the Big Island, feeling that volcanic energy, is an experience in itself.