Kīlauea Volcano's Record-Breaking Lava Fountains Lasted for 9 Hours and Shot 650 Feet in the Air

Kīlauea has experienced another eruption episode — and this one is for the record books.

The Halemaʻumaʻu crater — which is at the summit of Kīlauea — has been erupting intermittently since December 23, 2024, with 47 eruptive episodes ranging from lava fountains to lava flows. However, as episode 48 began on June 1, 2026, the eruption broke records.

This ongoing eruption episode sets the record for most number of fountating episodes from any one Kīlauea eruption in recorded history, surpassing the 47 fountaining episodes from the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption that ranged from 1983 to 1986, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Kīlauea’s 48th Eruptive Episode

In the pre-dawn hours of June 1, 2026, lava fountains spewed from the Halemaʻumaʻu crater and reached heights of 650 feet, according to the USGS.

Upon arrival at the site around 5:00 a.m. (Hawaiian Standard Time), roughly 20 minutes after the eruption began, scientists noted that the lava fountain was already rising over 330 feet. The fountaining reached its peak around 6:00 a.m.

According to the experts at the site, the lava fountains only erupted from the crater’s north vent, while scientists only observed jetting and spattering from the south vent — bursts of hot gases and lava blobs. The USGS estimates that the eruption spewed about 7.3 million cubic yards of lava, covering about 40 percent of the crater’s floor.

According to the USGS, the eruption lasted over 9 hours before abruptly ending at 1:37 p.m., bringing episode 48 to a close.

Read More: Tiny Bubbles Within Magma Reveal Secrets of Volcano Eruptions

What Was the Fallout of the Kīlauea Eruption?

As dawn broke over Hawai'i, the smoke plume and lava fountain could be seen from nearly 6 miles away, within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. From this distance, according to the USGS, the fountain could also be heard.

The eruption hurled volcanic material to an estimated height of 25,000 feet into the atmosphere, where the debris was carried by the wind to nearby communities. Tephra — solid pieces of volcanic material — and pumice pieces, up to 1 inch wide, fell from the sky around Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Vehicles from about 5 miles away were covered in traces of volcanic ash and Pele’s hair — fine strands of volcanic glass that look like golden hair.

As the eruption neared its end, the USGS noted an earthquake swarm on the southwest side of the crater, and it continued for a few hours after the lava fountain had subsided. The USGS also noted that the earthquake did not seem to impact the Halemaʻumaʻu crater or the eruption.

How Often Do Eruptions Occur at Kīlauea?

Kīlauea is a highly active volcano, and science has been monitoring its activity for over 100 years, according to NASA. Over time, the volcano has experienced a plethora of activity, including the loss of part of its summit when it collapsed in 2018.

Since the beginning of the 2024 eruption, the volcano has shown consistent activity, ranging from every few weeks to once a month. With advanced monitoring equipment, scientists with the USGS keep a close eye on the volcano's activity and stay prepared for any upcoming eruption.

Now that the eruption has broken the record for the most lava fountains, there’s no telling what other records the volcano may break. Until then, the USGS will be monitoring.

Read More: Kīlauea Volcano Releases Over 300-Foot Lava Fountain as it Erupts Again

Article Sources

Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:

• This article references information from the USGS: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Status Report
• This article references information from the USGS: Photo & Video Chronology — Episode 48 at Kīlauea summit, a new record
• This article references information from the USGS: Frequently Asked Questions about Kīlauea's Summit Eruptions
• This article references information from NASA: 100 Years at Kilauea