What’s the latest on Hawaii’s volcano?

Hawaii Volcano Update: Kīlauea Puts on a Show, Mauna Loa Taking a Breather (August 6, 2025)

Aloha, volcano lovers! The Hawaiian Islands, those incredible peaks forged by fire, are at it again. As of today, Kīlauea is putting on a spectacular display, while Mauna Loa seems to be catching its breath after its big moment back in 2022. Let’s dive into what’s happening.

Kīlauea: Episode 30 – It Just Keeps Going!

Kīlauea, that overachiever of volcanoes, is currently rocking its 30th eruptive episode since this whole series of events kicked off on December 23, 2024. And what’s it doing? Well, it’s throwing a lava party inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit. Seriously, it’s like Kīlauea just can’t help but show off.

The Nitty-Gritty:

• Episode 30 Starts with a Bang: Things got interesting on August 4th, with a little “gas-piston event” that caused some lava to spill over from the north vent. A little teaser, if you will.
• Lava Fountains Galore: Then, BAM! Around 1:20 a.m. HST this morning, the real show started. We’re talking serious lava fountaining, shooting molten rock 150-300 feet into the air from that north vent. Imagine the photos!
• Lava Flows Spreading Out: All that lava has to go somewhere, right? So far, the flows from the north vent have covered about 20% of the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu. And get this – a new vent popped up south of the old south vent area, with smaller flows and a little earthquake action to go with it. Nature is so creative!
• Summit Check-Up: A helicopter took a peek yesterday and found that the lava was only 15-30 feet below the top of the north vent. Apparently, the lava is degassed and feeding a little lava tube under the older flows.
• Shaking Things Up: There’s still some low-level rumbling at the summit. Nothing too crazy, but enough to remind you who’s boss.
• Ground Games: The ground is doing its own little dance, with the tiltmeters showing some ups and downs. But overall, there hasn’t been much inflation since August 1st. The experts figured that if the slow inflation kept up, we might see sustained lava fountaining between August 5th and 7th. And they were right!
• Watch Out!: The usual suspects are still around – volcanic gas, of course, and the potential for windblown volcanic glass (Pele’s hair) and tephra from earlier eruptions. Basically, don’t lick anything.

What’s It All Mean?

This eruption is like a series of mini-shows, with lava fountaining happening roughly once a week since December. It’s all about the magma chamber recharging and building up pressure, then letting it all out in a burst of fiery glory.

Mauna Loa: Taking a Nap (For Now)

Mauna Loa, the big kahuna, is currently chilling at a “NORMAL” alert level. Everything’s “GREEN” as far as aviation goes.

The Lowdown:

• Quiet Times: Things have been pretty quiet under Mauna Loa’s summit and upper flanks this past month, with only 63 little earthquakes (below M3.0). That’s pretty normal after a big eruption like the one in 2022.
• Ground Control: The GPS data shows just a little bit of inflation under the summit, as the volcano recovers and the magma reservoir refills.
• Gas Check: The gas and temperature readings from a station on the Southwest Rift Zone are all within normal ranges. Basically, Mauna Loa is just doing its thing, quietly.

The Big Picture:

Mauna Loa might be quiet now, but it’s still an active volcano. It’ll erupt again someday, that’s for sure. It’s just taking a well-deserved break.

The Rest of the Gang

No big news from Hualālai, Mauna Kea, or Haleakalā. And Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Lōʻihi Seamount), that underwater volcano, is also keeping a low profile.

Planning a Visit?

If you’re thinking of heading to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, you can catch the Kīlauea show from various overlooks along Crater Rim Drive. But remember, things can change fast! Check the webcams and the USGS daily updates before you go.

A Word of Caution

Volcanoes are amazing, but they can also be dangerous. Watch out for volcanic gas, Pele’s hair, and tephra. Pay attention to the park rangers and the USGS – they know what they’re talking about. Stay safe, and enjoy the show!