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M-4.1 earthquake south of Pāhala on Hawaiʻi Island
A magnitude-4.1 earthquake occurred 3 miles south of Pāhala on Hawaiʻi Island at around 8:36 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 8 miles below sea level, according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. HVO scientists say the earthquake had no apparent impact on either Maunaloa or Kīlauea volcanoes.
Magnitude-4.0 earthquake south of Pāhala, Island of Hawaiʻi
On Sunday, Sept. 13, 8 a.m. HST, a magnitude-4.0 earthquake occurred 2 miles south of Pāhala on the Island of Hawaiʻi at a depth of 8 miles below sea level. The earthquake had no apparent impact on either Maunaloa or Kīlauea volcanoes, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Precursory low-level activity occurs before episode 55 of ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea
Precursory low-level eruptive activity before episode 55 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 12:45 p.m. HST on Sept. 7, 2026, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports. This activity was marked with a sluggish overflow from the north vent.
Episode 52 of Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea ends, marked by 500 foot fountain and 19,000 foot ash plume
Lava fountaining episode 52 in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea began around 7:10 p.m. HST July 28 and ended at 2:36 a.m. HST on July 29, 2026, after 7.4 hours of continuous fountaining from the north vent.
Volcano Watch — A deep dive into Hawaiʻi’s deep earthquake
Island of Hawaiʻi residents may have felt shaking recently from large, deep earthquakes. Deep earthquakes like this have been recorded since the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) first started monitoring Hawaii’s volcanoes in 1912.
Volcano Watch: Shallow earthquakes, ground deformation at Kīlauea’s summit highlight hazards near Halemaʻumaʻu
Conditions in and around the closed area at the summit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park can evolve quickly, and elevate the risk of rockfalls, ground cracking and other potentially life‑threatening hazards.
Swarm of 28 tectonic earthquakes detected beneath Maunakea
The HVO reports that these tectonic events are not related to magma movement. “Stress gradually accumulates over time and is most likely due to the weight of the island,” according to the HVO.
HVO Volcano Watch — Pele, Lono, and Hiʻiaka remind us of Nature’s power
The summit region of Kīlauea experienced tephra fallout and a Kona low storm this past week. Cleanup, recovery, and regrowth is ongoing. These processes are natural and have been recognized and embodied in Native Hawaiian oral traditions about Pele, Lono, and Hiʻiaka.
Livestream camera restored; Forecast window for next lava fountaining is likely March 6-16
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that the V3 camera for live streaming of eruptive activity at Kīlauea, is now back online after onsite maintenance. Scientists with the HVO say preliminary models suggest the likely forecast window for the onset of episode 43 lava fountaining is March 6-16.
Volcano Watch — A sight to see: maintaining HVO’s webcams during a historic eruption
Visual observations have been a backbone in studies of volcanoes, from 2,000 years ago to now. They remain fundamental to understanding how volcanoes work, and technological advancements, such as livestreaming cameras, allow volcanic eruptions to be viewed from around the world.
Kīlauea eruption pauses; next lava fountaining possible Jan. 7-14
The ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea is paused, per an announcement from the US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at 9:06 a.m.
Volcano Watch — ‘It’s a twister! Or is it?’ unraveling Kīlauea’s volcanic whirlwinds
Often spotted by onlookers in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, or even by YouTube livestream viewers, the long, ashy gray or brown, ropy cloud-like structures tend to appear near or downwind of active lava fountains. But what is it that we’re actually seeing? Twisters? Tornadoes? Whirlwinds? Lava-nadoes? Vol-nadoes? Tephra-nadoes?
After lava and tephra bury V3cam, new monitoring camera goes live at Kīlauea
Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, in collaboration with the US Geological Survey, have installed a new livestream monitoring camera at Kīlauea on the Big Island.
Episode 38 of Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea creates rapidly growing lava fountains
Sustained lava fountains approximately 50-100 feet are currently erupting from the north vent. Fountain heights are increasing rapidly and are coming from both the left and right vents within the north cone.
Lava overflows as Episode 35 of ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at Kīlauea builds
Precursory low-level activity for episode 35 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption increased on Thursday morning, Oct. 16, 2025, with a series of lava overflows and drainbacks occurring from the south vent.
Volcano Watch — Where does Kīlauea tephra go? The answer is blowin’ in the wind
The spectacular series of Kīlauea eruption episodes over the past six months has been remarkably safe for public viewing, but a simple change in the wind or brief vent collapse could cause dramatic changes in the hazards the volcano presents.
Episode 26 of Kīlauea eruption spews lava fountains 1,000 feet high
Episode 26 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began at approximately 1:40 a.m. HST on Friday, June 20, 2025, with lava fountains and flows erupting from the north vent. Within less than a half hour, at 2:10 a.m., lava fountains had reached heights of over 1,000 feet, according to a volcanic activity summary issued by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Volcano Watch — What lurks beneath: learning from lava ooze outs
Dive beneath the solidified crust on the floor of the crater to explore the complicated mix of molten material below.
Volcano Watch — How to build a beach: Pohoiki growth over the years
The beach at Pohoiki grew rapidly in the year following the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea and it has continued to evolve since then. The boat ramp was cut off from the ocean, and local warm springs formed in several low-lying areas.
Volcano Watch — A Focus on the National Volcano Information Service
The National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System aims to provide timely warnings and protect citizens from potential hazards associated with volcanic eruptions.