Spectacular Lava Eruptions at Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Prompt Park and Highway Closures

HONOLULU – A dramatic display from Hawaii’s erupting volcano saw lava fountains soar to an impressive 1,000 feet (300 meters) on Tuesday. This spectacular eruption led to temporary shutdowns of sections of a national park and a critical highway due to the descent of volcanic debris, including glassy fragments and ash.

Kilauea, a prominent volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, has captivated both locals and tourists with its intermittent eruptions over the past year, often sending fiery lava high into the atmosphere.

The latest eruption episode, which commenced Tuesday morning, marks the 43rd instance since the series began in December 2024. A live video feed captured two vivid fountains of red-hot lava accompanied by billowing smoke. The duration of this activity remains uncertain, as past episodes have varied from several hours to a few days.

Thankfully, the lava remains contained within Kilauea’s summit crater, located within the confines of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, posing no immediate threat to residential areas or infrastructure.

However, the volcanic activity is causing disruptions for nearby communities and a pivotal highway. Falling tephra, a mix of volcanic fragments and ash, led to temporary park closures around the summit and a partial halt of Highway 11, a crucial thoroughfare encircling the island, in the vicinity of the park.

Hawaii County officials also opened a shelter at a district gymnasium for residents and tourists impacted by the road closure or falling tephra. There were no people using the shelter soon after it opened, said Tom Callis, a county spokesperson.

The National Weather Service issued an ashfall warning.

Volcanic tephra can irritate eyes, skin and the respiratory system, according to county officials. Tephra also can clog and cause other problems with water catchment collection systems, which are common in some parts of the Big Island, officials said.

Ash fell so heavily during a previous fountaining episode that some communities needed help from county civil defense workers to clean up ash that coated their homes, Callis said.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.