Hawaiian Volcano Update: Kīlauea Quakes Escalate & 2018 Anniversary

Earthquake rates have drastically increased over the past week, focused beneath the Upper East Rift connector and south caldera, “reflective of increasing pressurization in the magmatic system underlying the Kīlauea summit region,” according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. “Deformation levels indicate that the south caldera reservoir has regained the magma that it lost during the intrusion. Current pressurization levels are now even with pre-intrusion levels after 2 months of magmatic recharge.” Rough calculations indicate that the recharge rate of the volcano during this time is within the range of historical averages.

Statistics suggest the activity will remain underground, though the potential remains for an eruption to occur. In either case, further changes are expected in the next week as Kīlauea’s newest chapter unfolds. HVO has deployed a temporary webcam at Maunaulu looking northwest at the Upper East Rift connector for the public to view, as the National Park has closed the Chain of Craters Road as a precaution: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hv...

There is no increased hazard to people from the evolving activity, as it remains within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Volcanic gas emissions are still the main current threat to residents and visitors between eruptions, but remain relatively low around 60 tonnes of SO2 per day, still a concern for sensitive individuals nearby. Maunaloa continues to recharge following its 2022 eruption, overall remaining quiet with few earthquakes and sustained slow inflation.

This week’s volcano update is shortened due to the anniversary of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption today, for which we bring a special presentation “The Paths Past Disaster.”

Six years ago today, Kilauea erupted in Leilani Estates, initiating a three-month period of destruction that resulted in the loss of several hundred homes. Recovery has been slow and complex, with many efforts to rebuild buried roads and destroyed infrastructure still ongoing. For many residents, the journey back to normalcy remains challenging.

On this sixth anniversary of the 2018 eruption, we reflect on disaster preparedness and community resilience, revisiting the hard lessons learned and looking toward our community's progress. We have invited community members to join a roundtable discussion to share their experiences, assess progress, and identify outstanding needs. This dialogue aims to understand our journey since the eruption and the path forward.