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Shield volcanoes · erupting

Kīlauea

One of the world's most active volcanoes – a Hawaiian shield volcano that has been pouring out lava almost continuously for decades.

Elevation
1,222 m
Last eruption
2026
Confirmed eruptions
75
Max VEI
4
Country
United States
Location
19.42° N, 155.29° W
Region (GVP)
Hawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group
GVP type
Shield
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Main rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Show on the timeline GVP entry ↗

Other volcanoes and strong earthquakes within 300 km

About the volcano

Kīlauea sits on the south-eastern flank of Hawaii's Big Island. From 1983 to 2018 it produced one of the longest eruptions known – lava flowed from the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent for 35 years, adding new coastline to the island. In 2018 magma moved to the lower rift zone: fissures opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision, more than 700 homes were destroyed, and the floor of the summit caldera collapsed by hundreds of metres. Since 2020 eruptions have recurred in Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and since December 2024 it has produced episode after episode of lava fountaining.

Eruption history

VEI – Volcanic Explosivity Index: 0 = lava outpouring, 4 = like Eyjafjallajökull 2010, 6 = like Pinatubo 1991, 7 = like Tambora 1815. The scale is logarithmic – each step is about 10 times more material.

StartEndVEIVent and dating
23 December 2024 continuing 1 Halema'uma'u Crater · Observations: Photo / Video
15 September 2024 20 September 2024 0 Napau Crater · Observations: Reported
3 June 2024 3 June 2024 0 Southwest Rift Zone · Observations: Reported
29 September 2021 16 September 2023 0 Halema`uma`u Crater · Observations: Reported
20 December 2020 23 May 2021 0 Observations: Reported
3 January 1983 5 September 2018 3 East rift zone (Puu O'o), Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
25 September 1982 26 September 1982 0 Kilauea Caldera (SSE of Halemaumau) · Observations: Reported
30 April 1982 1 May 1982 0 Kilauea Caldera (NE of Halemaumau) · Observations: Reported
11 March 1980 11 March 1980 0 East rift zone (near Mauna Ulu) · Observations: Reported
16 November 1979 17 November 1979 0 East rift zone (Pauahi Crater) · Observations: Reported
13 September 1977 1 October 1977 0 East rift zone (near Kalalua Crater) · Observations: Reported
29 November 1975 29 November 1975 0 Kilauea Caldera, Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
31 December 1974 31 December 1974 0 Southwest Rift Zone (1,095 m) · Observations: Reported
22 February 1969 19 September 1974 0 East rift zone (885-945 m), Alae Crater · Observations: Reported
5 November 1967 22 October 1968 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
24 December 1965 25 December 1965 0 East rift zone (915-960 m) · Observations: Reported
5 March 1965 15 March 1965 0 East rift zone (700-915 m) · Observations: Reported
21 August 1963 6 October 1963 0 East rift zone (825-960 m) · Observations: Reported
7 December 1962 9 December 1962 0 East rift zone (945-990 m) · Observations: Reported
10 July 1961 24 September 1961 1 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
24 February 1961 25 March 1961 1 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
14 November 1959 19 February 1960 2 Kilauea Iki · Observations: Reported
28 February 1955 26 May 1955 0 Lower east rift zone (50-400 m) · Observations: Reported
31 May 1954 3 June 1954 0 Halemaumau and Kilauea caldera · Observations: Reported
27 June 1952 10 November 1952 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
6 September 1934 8 October 1934 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
23 December 1931 5 January 1932 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
19 November 1930 7 December 1930 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
25 July 1929 28 July 1929 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
20 February 1929 21 February 1929 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
7 July 1927 20 July 1927 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
10 May 1924 29 July 1924 2 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
2 December 1906 16 February 1924 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
22 February 1905 16 April 1906 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
25 November 1903 10 January 1904 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
3 June 1902 5 March 1903 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
14 February 1902 16 February 1902 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
24 June 1897 27 June 1897 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
11 July 1896 25 September 1896 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
3 January 1896 28 January 1896 0 Halemaumau · Observations: Reported
16 February 1823 6 December 1894 1 Southwest Rift Zone (Great Crack, 75-580 m elevation) · Observations: Reported
c. 2 July 1820 — 2 Kilauea Caldera · Observations: Reported
November 1790 — 4 Kilauea Caldera (Keanakakoi ash) · Observations: Reported
c. 1790 — 0 Lower east rift zone (230-375 m) · Observations: Reported
c. 1750 — 0 East rift zone (Heiheiahulu, 520 m) · Observations: Reported
1700 ± 25 years — 0 Upper east rift zone (Kokoolau) · Correlation: Magnetism
1650 ± 50 years — 0 Kilauea summit (Observatory vent) · Correlation: Tephrochronology
1610 ± 50 years — 1 Lower east rift zone (Puu Honuaula) · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
1510 ± 50 years — 0 Lower east rift zone (near Kehena) · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 1500 — 1 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
1490 ± 16 years — 1 Kilauea caldera · Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
1460 ± 50 years — 0 Lower east rift zone (near Puu Kaliu) · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 1410 1470 0 Kilauea summit · Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
1340 ± 40 years — 0 Upper east rift zone (Kane Nui o Hamo) · Correlation: Anthropology
1140 ± 75 years — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
1050 ± 75 years — 1 Lower east rift zone (NE of Iilewa) · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
900 ± 50 years — ? Correlation: Tephrochronology
850 ± 150 years — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
680 ± 75 years — 1 East (near Kaipu) and SW rift zones · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
540 ± 200 years — ? Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
c. 450 — 0 Lower east rift zone · Correlation: Magnetism
420 ± 20 years — ? Correlation: Tephrochronology
150 ± 300 years — 0 Kilauea summit (Powers Caldera) · Correlation: Magnetism
50 BCE ± 150 years — ? Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
200 BCE ± 150 years — 0 Summit, East and SW rift zones · Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
270 BCE ± 75 years — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
410 BCE ± 100 years — 0 East rift zone · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 800 BCE — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
c. 1,550 BCE — 0 SW rift zone · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 1,650 BCE — 0 SW rift zone · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 2,080 BCE — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
2,200 BCE ± 500 years — ? Correlation: Tephrochronology
c. 2,850 BCE — 0 SW rift zone · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)
c. 3,300 BCE — 0 Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)
c. 4,650 BCE — 0 SW rift zone · Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

Data: Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution (#332010) · Wikipedia (pl) · Wikipedia (en)