Dive into the geological and cultural richness of Kīlauea, where natural forces and human traditions intertwine.
Kīlauea stands as one of the world's most active and scientifically significant volcanoes, located on the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island. This shield volcano represents far more than a geological wonder—it embodies a complex tapestry of natural forces, cultural heritage, and scientific discovery. Forming underwater approximately 280,000 years ago, Kīlauea has shaped the landscape and imagination of Hawaiian culture for millennia. The volcano offers visitors and researchers alike an extraordinary window into the Earth's dynamic processes, combined with profound spiritual significance rooted in Hawaiian traditions and the accumulated knowledge of volcanology gained through careful observation of its persistent activity.
Kīlauea's geology reveals the intricate mechanics of volcanic systems at work. The volcano possesses its own distinct magma-plumbing system extending more than 60 kilometers deep into Earth's mantle, making it a separate system from the nearby Mauna Loa despite their proximity.
One of the most accessible geological features is the Thurston Lava Tube, a 450-foot tunnel east of the caldera formed when a lava stream's outer crust hardened while molten lava continued flowing through its interior. This tunnel provides visitors with a tangible experience of how ancient lava shaped the volcanic landscape, with the tunnel now passing through a lush native fern forest that has reclaimed the surrounding area.
The volcano also features distinctive geological phenomena including steam vents and sulfur banks, where geothermal heat creates visible gases and mineral deposits that showcase the ongoing thermal activity beneath the surface. These features represent the bridge between the hot interior of the volcano and the surface world visitors can safely observe.
Kīlauea Iki Crater, located directly east of the main caldera, represents a dramatic example of Kilauea's eruptive power. This crater erupted spectacularly in 1959, creating a 400-foot deep lake of molten lava and Pu'u Pua'i ("Gushing Hill"), a cinder cone near its southern rim. The crater floor has since cooled, allowing visitors to hike across its crater floor and witness the thermal features that remain active.
The summit caldera itself measures approximately 3.5 kilometers by 3 kilometers across, with a depth that has varied throughout history. The volcano's floor is paved with recent lava flows and contains Halema'uma'u ("Fern House") Crater, an inner crater that represents Kīlauea's most active vent.
At the heart of Hawaiian tradition lies Kīlauea, revered as the domain of Pele, the goddess of fire. This volcano is a cornerstone of spiritual and cultural life, its eruptions seen as manifestations of divine presence.
The landscapes of Kīlauea, including petroglyphs and volcanic formations, provide essential cultural and historical insights, offering a glimpse into the life of ancient Hawaiians.
The east rift zone extends 125 kilometers east from the summit and is almost entirely covered in lava from eruptions within the last 400 years. This dominant feature supports numerous pit craters, with Makaopuhi reaching depths of 1,000 feet, creating a landscape of dramatic depressions and geological drama visible to those exploring the Chain of Craters Road.
Kīlauea exhibits the classic shield volcano form, characterized by gently sloping sides and a broad profile built by fluid lava flows. This distinctive shape reflects the volcano's eruptive style—producing relatively gentle, effusive eruptions compared to explosive stratovolcanoes found elsewhere. The volcano's rift zones represent areas of weakness in its structure where magma can intrude and erupt from fissures, creating the distinctive linear patterns of volcanic features extending from the summit.
In Hawaiian tradition, Kīlauea holds profound sacred importance as the home of Pele, the goddess of fire, volcanoes, and lightning. Pele embodies the creative and destructive forces of the volcano, and her presence permeates Hawaiian cultural narratives and spiritual practices. The volcano's persistent activity has been understood within Hawaiian cosmology as manifestations of Pele's power and will, making Kīlauea not merely a geological feature but a living spiritual entity within the Hawaiian worldview.
The caldera itself, known as Kaluapele in Hawaiian, represents the literal and spiritual center of volcanic power in the archipelago. Traditional Hawaiian practices, beliefs, and protocols surrounding the volcano reflect centuries of coexistence with this powerful natural force.
The volcanic landscape preserves crucial evidence of Hawaiian culture prior to Western contact. Pu'u Loa, located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, contains petroglyphs—rock carvings created by ancient Hawaiians—that provide windows into pre-contact Hawaiian life, beliefs, and daily experiences. These petroglyphs represent artistic and cultural expressions carved into the volcanic rock itself, integrating human creativity with the geological canvas of Kīlauea.
The Ka'ū Desert, located southwest of the main caldera, consists of barren lava, crusted volcanic ash, and moving dunes of windblown ash and pumice 10–30 feet high, creating a landscape shaped entirely by volcanic processes. This desert represents both the power of volcanic eruptions to transform landscapes and the historical environment through which Hawaiian peoples traveled and settled.
The 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption represents one of the most significant recent volcanic events at Kīlauea and provided unprecedented scientific data. This eruption saw magma migrate into the Lower East Rift Zone during May 2018, opening 24 fissures along a 6-kilometer-long NE-trending fracture zone that produced lava flows traveling in multiple directions. As lava emerged from these fissures, the lava lake at Halema'uma'u drained completely, marking a dramatic shift in the volcano's activity patterns.
The 2018 eruption demonstrated the interconnected nature of Kīlauea's magmatic system. As magma drained from beneath Kīlauea's summit, Halema'uma'u crater experienced catastrophic collapse accompanied by over 60,000 earthquakes and more than 60 collapse events that dramatically reshaped the summit caldera. An estimated 1.5 cubic kilometers of lava erupted in just four months, making it one of the largest effusive eruptions worldwide in recent decades.
Following the dramatic 2018 collapse, Kīlauea entered a new eruptive phase. Beginning in September 2021, new eruptions refilled the summit caldera with fresh lava. By mid-2022, overflight measurements indicated that the crater floor had been infilled approximately 136-143 meters total, with 102-111 million cubic meters of lava erupted since the start of the eruption. These measurements provide precise quantification of volcanic material accumulating at the summit.
The volcano continued displaying eruptive activity into 2024. In June 2024, Kīlauea erupted briefly on Monday, June 3, southwest of Kaluapele within the closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, demonstrating the volcano's ongoing and unpredictable nature.
Scientists conducting research on Kīlauea have discovered that only about 10 percent of Kīlauea's surface consists of rock older than 1,000 years, with the other 90 percent covered by lava flows from more recent eruptions. This high rate of surface renewal makes Kīlauea a living laboratory for understanding volcanic processes and the evolution of shield volcanoes.
The volcano's extended eruption period beginning in January 1983 was characterized by open lava lakes and lava flows from both the summit caldera and the East Rift Zone, providing decades of continuous observation data. This prolonged activity has allowed volcanologists to develop sophisticated models of magma behavior, crustal deformation, and the mechanics of volcanic systems.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park provides the primary access point for experiencing Kīlauea's treasures. The park offers multiple hiking trails ranging from short walks to more challenging backcountry hikes, allowing visitors of varying abilities to engage with the volcanic landscape. The Thurston Lava Tube walk provides an accessible introduction to volcanic geology, while the Kīlauea Iki trail offers more adventurous visitors the opportunity to descend into and cross an active crater floor.
Educational programs at the national park interpret the volcanic processes, geological history, and cultural significance of the area. Ranger-led programs help visitors understand the ongoing scientific research and the forces shaping the landscape around them. The Chain of Craters Road provides scenic drive access to numerous volcanic features with interpretive stops and viewpoints.
Kīlauea's treasures require active preservation and management. The volcano's persistent activity creates both opportunities for scientific study and challenges for infrastructure and visitor safety. The national park maintains facilities and trails while adapting to volcanic changes, ensuring that future generations can experience and learn from this extraordinary natural and cultural resource.
The treasures of Kīlauea encompass far more than volcanic rock and lava flows. This active shield volcano represents a convergence of geological drama, cultural heritage, and scientific frontier. From the geological marvels of the Thurston Lava Tube and distinctive rift zones to the spiritual significance embodied in Pele and the cultural expressions preserved in petroglyphs, Kīlauea offers profound insights into natural processes and human meaning-making. The recent eruptions and ongoing scientific research have expanded our understanding of how volcanic systems operate at the most fundamental level.
Preserving and experiencing Kīlauea's treasures requires appreciation for both its raw geological power and its deep cultural roots in Hawaiian tradition. As one of the world's most active volcanoes and a site of continuous scientific discovery, Kīlauea remains essential to understanding Earth's dynamic processes while serving as a testament to the enduring human relationship with the natural world.
We are proud to partner with organizations that support the understanding and preservation of Kīlauea's natural and cultural heritage.
Discover the fascinating interiors of the Thurston Lava Tube and witness the beauty of this volcanic formation in the heart of Kīlauea.
Dive into the details of Kīlauea’s recent eruptions and learn how scientists track and predict volcanic activity.
An unexpected eruption occurred on June 3, adding new lava flows to Kīlauea’s landscape. Researchers are closely monitoring the changes.
A new exhibit on Kīlauea’s role in Hawaiian mythology opens at the local museum, showcasing artifacts and stories of Pele.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park receives funding for preservation projects aimed at protecting Kīlauea's delicate ecosystems.