Kīlauea is a shield volcano located on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. The video and photos below show the eruption of Kīlauea on Dec 6, 2025, when a rare triple-vent fountain of over 1,000 ft (300 m) erupted in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The volcano has been erupting continuously from 1983 to 2018 and sporadically since then.
Visiting Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for an eruption? Here are some tips:
- The three optimal viewing points for the caldera are located at Kīlauea Overlook (where the currently closed Jagger Museum is located), Uēkahuna, and Keanakākoʻi which offers closer views but requires a short hike along the Devastation Trail. There are also other viewpoints accessible via hike, but these are the main ones. You can refer to this detailed official map.
- Parking can be difficult during eruptions so arrive as early as possible. I got here around 10 am and there was already a line of cars trying to get in. By the time I left shortly before noon, much of Crater Rim Drive was packed with cars.
- Bring layers as it can be cold with plenty of UV exposure.
- Bring masks in case vog (volcanic smog) is an issue. There can also be debris in the air (notably Pele’s tears) which can cause lung and skin irritation.
- Restrooms and water fountains are available at the Kīlauea Outlook and possibly others, but you may want to bring water just in case, especially if you’re going hiking.
- Check the National Park Service website for current entrance fees (as of now, it’s $30 for private vehicles). Fees can only be paid by credit card.
- For eruption info, visit the USGS website for Kīlauea where you can also find live webcams from several viewpoints.
- The Kīlauea Visitors Center has been closed for renovations since March 2025, so don’t bother going there before heading to an overlook.
- As this is a shield volcano and not a stratovolcano, there won’t be huge cataclysmic explosions. Danger and damage occur only when getting too close or when slow-moving lava flows toward communities.
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