Lava is not actively flowing in Hawaii right now. Kīlauea’s summit eruption, which began on December 23, 2024, is currently in a paused state. The volcano remains at a WATCH/ORANGE alert level, meaning it’s still considered active and could resume fountaining with little warning, but both vents in Halemaʻumaʻu crater are quiet and only emitting gas plumes and steam.
What “Paused” Actually Means
Kīlauea’s current eruption pattern is episodic. Rather than producing a continuous river of lava, the volcano has been erupting in short bursts of fountaining followed by quiet periods. Since the eruption started in late December 2024, there have been 36 separate fountaining episodes. The three most recent occurred on October 1, October 17-18, and November 9, 2025.
Between episodes, the vents go quiet. That’s where things stand now. The recently erupted lava inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater is still extremely hot, sending abundant steam into the air, but no new lava is breaking the surface. Seismic activity and ground deformation along both the East Rift Zone and Southwest Rift Zone are very low, which suggests magma isn’t actively pushing toward the surface at the moment.
This pattern can change quickly. Previous episodes have started with little advance notice, so the pause doesn’t mean the eruption is over.
Mauna Loa’s Status
Mauna Loa, Hawaii’s other giant volcano, is not erupting. It sits at an ADVISORY/YELLOW alert level, indicating elevated unrest above its normal background activity. Its last eruption was in late 2022. The remaining six monitored Hawaiian volcanoes are all at NORMAL/GREEN status.
Air Quality on the Big Island
With the eruption paused, sulfur dioxide emissions have dropped to negligible levels. Monitoring stations across the Big Island, from Hilo to Kona to the communities closest to the volcano like Pāhala and Leilani Estates, all show “Good” air quality readings near zero parts per million. During active fountaining episodes, SO₂ levels can spike and create vog (volcanic smog) that drifts across the island, but that’s not a concern during the current pause.
Can You See Anything at the Park?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open, and even during this quiet period there’s something to see. Steam rises from the hot lava pooled inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and when a fountaining episode is underway, the eruption is visible from several overlooks along Crater Rim Drive. The best viewing spots include the Kīlauea Overlook at Kūkamāhuākea (near the steam vents), the Uēkahuna overlook, and the Welcome Center area, all accessed from Crater Rim Drive West.
The crater rim immediately surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu has been closed to the public since 2007 due to ongoing hazards. The eruption is happening within this closed zone, so all viewing is from a safe distance at designated overlooks. If a new episode begins while you’re visiting, the glow is often spectacular at night from these vantage points.
How to Track Activity in Real Time
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory runs webcams around the clock pointed at both the summit crater and the East Rift Zone. During quiet periods, the nighttime feeds simply show darkness. When fountaining resumes, incandescent lava is clearly visible on the cameras. You can check these at the USGS Kīlauea webcams page. The observatory also publishes daily updates with current alert levels, seismic data, and any changes in activity.
If you’re planning a trip specifically to see lava, timing is unpredictable. The gaps between recent episodes have ranged from a couple of weeks to several weeks. Visiting the park is worthwhile regardless, since the volcanic landscape, steam vents, and lava fields from previous eruptions are all accessible year-round.