By KATIE MULLIKEN HVO geologist
Share this story

As the year 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the historic past year of volcanic activity on the Island of Hawaii. Thirty-eight episodes of lava fountaining at the summit of Kilauea remind us that we live on a volcanic landscape and should be aware of the volcanic processes and hazards that can affect us.

In January 2026, join USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory staff, and our partners at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Hawaii County Civil Defence Agency, in a series of programs being hosted around the Island of Hawaii. We’ll be doing talks, guided walks, or available to talk story about eruptions and earthquakes in Hawaii, how we monitor them, and hazards associated with these events.

ADVERTISING

Kilauea lava fountaining episodes over the past year have occurred within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and have been visible from overlooks around Kaluapele (Kilauea summit caldera). While the eruption has been fascinating for scientists and viewers alike, it also demonstrates that eruptions can have far-reaching effects.

Lava flows have been contained within the caldera, and larger particles that fall out from the lava fountains (called tephra which include Pele’s hair) have blanketed the areas immediately downwind of the eruptive vents. These areas are extremely hazardous and remain closed to the public. Smaller particles from the fountains, including ash and Pele’s hair, as well as volcanic gas emissions, are transported downwind and have affected communities in the district of Ka‘u and farther.

Each Tuesday in January, HVO staff will be in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Learn from HVO geologists, field engineers, and hazards specialists during informal talk story sessions, during which you can hear about their work and ask questions. Or, venture into the Whitney Vault near Volcano House, where you’ll learn about the original volcano monitoring devices that were housed there and how our technology has changed over time. Additional guided walks in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be offered at Ha‘akulamanu on January 16 and Devastation trail on January 19.

In the District of Ka‘u, where vog and volcanic ash from Kilauea’s recent eruptive episodes have affected communities, HVO will host talk story sessions at the Pahala and Na‘alehu Public Libraries on January 14 and 21, respectively. Come to the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on January 17 to hear a Kilauea eruption update. On January 24, learn about the impacts of the November 29, 1975, magnitude-7.7 earthquake and tsunami at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the morning, and then attend the County of Hawaii Civil Defence Agency’s disaster preparation fair at Ocean View in the afternoon.

In Volcano area, hear a Kilauea summit eruption update at the Kilauea Military Camp the evening of January 26, and learn all about volcanology and how we monitor volcanoes during an evening presentation on January 29 at the Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

Several Volcano Awareness Month events are being hosted in Hilo, at various locations throughout January. Join HVO staff at the Pacific Tsunami Museum (January 3), Hawaii Science and Technology Museum (January 10), or at UHH for Onizuka Day on January 24. At these locations, you can come see the youngest rocks on Earth — pieces of the lava fountains that fell to the ground, or slabs of pahoehoe collected from the floor of Halema‘uma‘u crater.

You’ll also have an opportunity to learn about how volcanoes and earthquakes are related in Hawaii during an evening talk at UHH on January 15, or hear an update on the summit eruption of Kilauea at the Imiloa Astronomy Center on January 28.

An update of the Kilauea summit eruption will also be offered in Waikoloa Village on January 8. And residents in Kailua-Kona, who live on Hualalai volcano, can hear a presentation on the history of Hualalai activity, as well as vog from other erupting volcanoes, on January 22.

Whether you live in Volcano Village, and can hear the roaring of Kilauea’s episodic lava fountains, or in Kona, where you may be affected by the vog (volcanic air pollution), we hope to see you at one of the Volcano Awareness Month events this coming January. If you have any questions, please let us know at askHVO@usgs.gov.

Volcano activity updates

Kilauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 38 lava fountaining happened for 12 hours on December 6. The summit is reinflating and glow has been visible intermittently overnight at both vents. Another fountaining episode is likely between December 20 and 30. No unusual activity has been noted along Kilauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.4 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) SE of Pahala at 28 km (17 mi) depth on December 11 at 4:28 a.m.

Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.