Kilauea Volcano

The Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been erupting steadily since January 1983. I have friends who remember lava fountaining several hundred feet in the air, lighting up their living room windows like it was daytime, even at midnight. Currently, (November, 2003), the lava is a little more sedate than that. It is flowing over an area of land in lower Puna that has been covered by lava in the past. It hasn't fountained significantly in the last few years, that I can remember, and mostly flows in underground tubes from the Pu'u O'o vent to the ocean.

Location of Kilauea Volcano

My rendition (not even close to scale) of the general area the volcano covers, and points of interest around it. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory has a much better version.

The Kilauea Volcano is mostly located within the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa (mountain and volcano) in the Puna and Kau districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It covers over 13% of the Big Island.

What Kilauea Volcano Does

On an average day, the Volcano puts out several hundred thousand cubic yards of lava - much of which makes its way into the ocean. It also causes frequent earthquakes - at least once a week or so, but many of them are small enough that only a few people feel them. The lava sometimes flows above ground (called a surface flow), and sometimes flows below ground in lava tubes. When it reaches the ocean, a steam plume is formed.

How to See the Lava

First, read about the hazards, because it is somewhat dangerous - people have died.

The flow is back at the end of Chain of Craters Road! (November 2003)
As I'm sure you've seen on CNN, the flow is again covering the end of Chain of Craters road - which makes it incredibly easy to get to. You just need to go to Hawaii Volcanoes National park and follow the signs. I went three times in late July 2002 and it was great - especially for people who have never seen it before.

Volcano Links

My July 2002 Lava Pictures

Me at the active flow

Volcano Watch
A weekly article, usually the same one that appears in the newspaper, about Kilauea Volcano's events during the past week and many other volcano-related issues. Don't miss the daily lava updates

My Hawaii Volanoes National Park and lava pictures

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Kilauea Volcano Photographic History
** Recommended

1983 - 1986
1986 - 1981
1992 - 1994
1995 - 1998
1999 - 2000

If you don't look at any of the above pictures, look at this one picture - Kalapana lava, covering intersection, heading for house.