By Jeremy Setbacken
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK — Kīlauea made history Monday as Episode 48 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu summit eruption set a new record for the most lava-fountaining episodes recorded during a single episodic eruption at the volcano.
According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the current Halemaʻumaʻu eruption has now produced 48 fountaining episodes, surpassing the previous record of 47 episodes recorded during the early years of the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption.
USGS said Episode 48 began at 4:40 a.m. HST Monday, June 1, from the north vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The episode ended abruptly at 1:37 p.m. HST, after just under nine hours of continuous lava fountaining. After the activity paused, USGS lowered Kīlauea’s Volcano Alert Level to Advisory and its Aviation Color Code to Yellow.
At its peak, the north vent produced lava fountains reaching about 650 feet, or 200 meters, above the vent. The south vent did not produce sustained fountaining during this episode, though USGS reported spattering and brief jetting there.
USGS estimated that Episode 48 erupted about 7.3 million cubic yards of lava, covering roughly 40% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.
The eruption also sent volcanic material high into the atmosphere. According to USGS, radar data from the National Weather Service and the Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center showed the plume reaching a maximum height of about 25,000 feet above sea level.
Although lava activity remained confined to Halemaʻumaʻu, ash and tephra impacts were reported in and around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nearby downwind communities.
USGS said most tephra fell within closed areas of the park, but sparse reticulite and pumice were reported at Uēkahuna overlook, Nāmakanipaio campground, and along Highway 11 west to the 34-mile marker. Some pieces were reported in the 1- to 2-inch range.
Fine ash and Pele’s hair were also reported around Kīlauea Visitor Center and in nearby communities, including Mauna Loa Estates, ʻŌhiʻa Estates, Volcano Village, and Royal Hawaiian Estates. USGS said very sparse fine ash was reported as far as Mountain View.
The eruption also affected air travel into Hilo. USGS reported that a commercial pilot observed a sulfur and ash cloud off Laupāhoehoe, resulting in cancellations and diversions of several morning flights to Hilo.
The National Weather Service kept an Ashfall Advisory in effect for Big Island East and Big Island Southeast until 6 p.m. Monday. The advisory warned that fine ash, Pele’s hair, and lightweight pumice could continue to fall downwind even after the eruption paused.
Residents in affected areas were advised to limit exposure, especially those with respiratory sensitivities. The National Weather Service recommended wearing masks, gloves, eye protection, and long clothing when cleaning ash. Residents were also advised to close windows and doors and to cover or disconnect catchment systems where possible.
USGS also said Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense issued an alert advising residents to prepare for ash and tephra by closing windows and disconnecting catchment systems where possible.
The Associated Press also confirmed the historic nature of the episode, reporting that Kīlauea reached 48 fountaining episodes during the current eruption, passing the previous 47-episode mark from the 1980s Puʻuʻōʻō activity.
The current Halemaʻumaʻu eruption began on December 23, 2024, and has continued in an on-and-off pattern, with pauses between fountaining episodes.
USGS says Kīlauea remains closely monitored. While the eruption is currently paused, hazards remain around the summit, including volcanic gas, ash, Pele’s hair, unstable crater walls, rockfalls, ground cracks, and windblown volcanic particles.
Residents and visitors are urged to follow official updates from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and the National Weather Service before traveling to the summit area or cleaning ash from homes, vehicles, or catchment systems.
Sources: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, National Weather Service Honolulu, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense alert as cited by USGS/HVO, and Associated Press.
Pictures and Video: USGS, Laura Radcliffe, Chris Butcher, HVNP
