The current series of eruptions occurring in Halema’uma’u at the summit of Kilauea has been ongoing since December 2024. We were able to view the 51st episode on July 15, 2026. At the moment eruptions are occurring in the same location approximately every two to three weeks. We give you a guided tour of where to go to view the next in the series of these spectacular eruptions.
View of the volcano from the highway heading toward the volcano from Kona. We recommend signing up for email alerts at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2/ and text alerts from https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-agency-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/alerts When you get an alert that an eruption has started it’s best to get to the park as quickly (and as safely!) as possible. Traffic will get busy at the park as the eruption continues.
When you arrive at the park, head through the entrance and take the first left at the roundabout and follow the road past Kilauea Iki lookout, then past Thurston’s lava tube, after which you’ll arrive at a T-intersection (see above). There is parking to the right or, if full, to the left on the side of the highway.
After parking make your way back to the T-intersection and begin walking down the road closed to traffic.
The walk itself is about a mile, so make sure you have sensible shoes and a sun hat, and perhaps even a beach chair if you think you’ll want to sit and watch the eruption for a longer period of time.
Follow the signs and cones down the path and off the highway toward the volcano. You can’t miss it!
Episode 51 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began around 8:30 a.m. on July 15 and ended abruptly at 4:46 p.m. on July 15, 2026. This is about the average length for every eruption in each episode – so your window to view is often just a matter of hours.
In this episode the maximum lava fountain height was about 950 feet (290 meters) above ground from the north vent. The south vent did not fountain during this episode, though it did emit flames and gas jets.
The maximum plume height was about 18,000 (5,500 meters) above sea level.
In this episode the tephra fall was restricted mostly to the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the southwest of the active Halema’uma’u vents. A light fall of Pele’s hair was reported at several locations in the national park outside the closed area.
Viewing the volcano when it’s currently erupting in this series of episodes is well worth the trip, just make sure you’re up-to-date on the alerts and ready to get to Volcanoes park as soon as the next episode begins!
