Kilauea, the famous volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island whose name means “spewing,” is once again erupting with dramatic fountains of molten lava shooting as high as 1,000 feet into the air.
The latest eruption has produced spectacular displays of glowing lava that have quickly spread across social media as videos captured the towering fountains lighting up the night sky.
The eruption prompted temporary closures inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as well as on a nearby highway due to ash and falling volcanic fragments, according to reports.
Kilauea’s name is also translated as “much spreading,” a description that reflects the volcano’s long history of expansive lava flows.
The current eruption marks the 43rd episode of volcanic activity since Kilauea began erupting again in December 2024.
The volcano’s summit sits inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, far from most residential areas on the island. Still, some nearby communities have experienced falling volcanic debris known as tephra, which includes ash and glass-like fragments ejected during eruptions.
Despite the current eruption being largely contained within the park, Kilauea has caused severe damage in the past.
In 2018, a major eruption dramatically altered the island’s landscape. Large lava flows moved through parts of the Puna District from May through August, destroying more than 700 homes and devastating entire residential areas.
That same eruption also triggered tens of thousands of earthquakes near the summit and massive ash plumes that reshaped the Kilauea caldera.
According to the National Park Service, Kilauea is the youngest and most active volcano in Hawaii and one of the most active volcanoes anywhere in the world.
The volcano began forming roughly 280,000 years ago beneath the ocean before eventually rising above sea level. Over the last 1,000 years alone, lava flows have covered nearly 90 percent of the volcano’s surface.
Today, Kilauea remains one of the island’s most closely watched natural features, capable of producing both breathtaking displays and destructive eruptions.
