Kilauea Volcano Erupts 31st Time Since 2024 in Hawaii Summit Crater

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has entered its 31st eruptive episode since December 2024, with lava fountains shooting molten rock up to 100 feet into the air from the north vent of the Halemaʻumaʻu summit crater. This ongoing eruption, which began on August 22, 2025, remains confined within the crater, posing no threat to nearby homes or infrastructure, while attracting thousands of tourists eager to witness the spectacular natural display at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The lava fountains have occasionally tilted sideways, likely due to the formation of an inner cone obstructing the vent, a phenomenon comparable to water spraying at an angle when a garden hose is partially blocked. Magma is supplied continuously from a lower magma chamber at an estimated rate of 3.8 cubic meters per second, sustaining frequent eruptive activity that typically lasts about a day with several days of pause between episodes. Volcanic gases and ash plumes are dispersed by northeast winds, raising concerns about health hazards from volcanic smog and volcanic glass particles carried to the south and southwest of the summit. Kilauea remains one of the world's most active volcanoes, continuing to provide dramatic eruptions reminiscent of only a few similar events in the past 200 years.