Hawaii’s restless Kilauea volcano is once again alive with fire. On Wednesday morning, a curtain of molten lava arced nearly 100 feet into the sky, spilling across the floor of its summit crater in a dazzling display of nature’s volatility.
This latest eruption marks Kilauea’s 31st since December — a frequency befitting one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the activity began with a spattering vent on the north side of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which quickly gave way to overflowing lava. By afternoon, the vent had become a fiery fountain.
For now, the eruption is contained within the crater walls. No homes or communities are under threat, though the spectacle is drawing residents and tourists alike to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The USGS has trained livestream cameras on the site, giving viewers around the world a chance to watch the fiery drama unfold.
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For those on the ground, the experience is visceral. Janice Wei, a longtime volunteer with the National Park Service, keeps her camera ready whenever Kilauea stirs. “Every eruption feels like I am sitting in the front row at nature’s most extraordinary show,” she said. When the fountains roar to life, she added, the sound is a mix between a jet engine and crashing surf.
Halemaʻumaʻu, the crater at the summit of Kilauea, is steeped in Native Hawaiian tradition as the dwelling place of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. That cultural layer gives the eruptions a resonance beyond geology — they are seen not just as natural events but as spiritual moments, woven into the islands’ identity.
Kilauea rises on Hawaii Island, the largest of the archipelago, about 200 miles south of Honolulu on Oahu. For generations, its eruptions have shaped the land, destroyed homes, and created new ground — a reminder that in Hawaii, the line between danger and awe is often drawn in molten rock.
