Kīlauea
Mountain One of Earth's most active volcanoes on Hawaiʻi Island
On Hawai’i’s Big Island, Kīlauea is an active shield volcano inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; visitors hike volcanic trails, observe lava features when accessible, and study steam vents, lava tubes and native forest recovery.
Kīlauea is an active shield volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi and a central feature of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It is one of the most continuously active volcanoes on Earth and a focus of geological study and volcanic monitoring.
When eruptions are occurring, visitors may observe lava flows, glowing vents, summit collapses and extensive gas plumes from safe, monitored vantage points in the national park. The park provides marked trails, scenic drives such as the Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road, and interpretive information about volcanic hazards and geology.
Kīlauea’s modern eruptive history includes a long-lived eruption from the Pu’u ʻŌʻō vent that lasted from 1983 to 2018, and major summit changes during the 2018 lower Puna eruptions. Its activity is driven by the Hawai’i hotspot and the volcano continues to evolve through lava effusion, collapse events and changes in summit activity.
The volcano and its facilities lie on the southeastern part of the Island of Hawaiʻi within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, with park access from the town of Volcano and visitor services in the park providing the primary safe viewpoints and trailheads.
- Activity and monitoring: One of the most active volcanoes on Earth, located within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and monitored closely for eruptions and gas emissions.
- Recent eruptive behaviour: The Pu'u ʻŌʻō vent produced a long-lived eruption from 1983 to 2018; the summit area including Halemaʻumaʻu has shown repeated eruptive episodes and collapses in recent decades.
What to See #
- Halemaʻumaʻu: Halemaʻumaʻu crater - a prominent crater within Kīlauea's summit caldera that has hosted lava lakes and frequent eruptive activity and gas emissions.
- Pu'u ʻŌʻō: Pu'u ʻŌʻō - a flank vent that erupted continuously from 1983 until 2018 and produced extensive lava flows across the volcano's east rift zone.
- Kīlauea caldera and Kīlauea Iki: Kīlauea Caldera and Kīlauea Iki - the summit caldera contains several craters and the Kīlauea Iki crater is a popular hiking destination with a well-known 1959 eruption surface.
How to Get to Kīlauea #
Kīlauea is located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island). The park and trailheads are reached by car from Hilo via Highway 11 - the drive from Hilo to the park entrance is roughly 45 minutes. From Kona the drive along Highway 11 takes longer (about 2-2.5 hours). Once at the park, parking areas and visitor centers put you within walking distance of the main crater viewing areas and trailheads.
Tips for Visiting Kīlauea #
- Check current park alerts and the National Park Service website before you go - Kīlauea's access, lookout points and trail sections change frequently with volcanic activity and road closures.
- Visit the Kīlauea Visitor Center as your first stop for up‑to‑date conditions and ranger advice, then plan crater‑edge viewpoints around dawn or dusk for the best light and, when available, nighttime glow views if the park reports safe viewing opportunities.
- To avoid the busiest areas, go early or late in the day and continue beyond the main pullouts onto longer trails (for example Kīlauea Iki) where hikers spread out and see different volcanic features most day visitors miss.
Best Time to Visit Kīlauea #
Dry months (spring through early fall) typically give clearer conditions for viewing and hiking, but volcanic activity is variable-always check official advisories before visiting.
Weather & Climate near Kīlauea #
Kīlauea's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 10°C to 25°C. Heavy rainfall (2010 mm/year), wettest in March.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (167 mm).
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Heavy rain (212 mm).
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March
March is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (268 mm) and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (145 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and breezy conditions.
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July
July is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and breezy conditions.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (137 mm) and breezy conditions.
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September
September is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (181 mm).
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October
October is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Heavy rain (205 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Heavy rain (248 mm).
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December
December is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (177 mm).
