Halemaʻumaʻu: Four Lava Lakes Unveiled in Four Years

Kīlauea, renowned as one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, experienced significant changes at its summit between 2020 to 2023. Kīlauea continually reshapes itself, and during this period, notable transformations occurred within the summit crater.

Photograph courtesy of USGS (1-3)
NPS Photo (4)

In 2018, Kīlauea volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi underwent a series of transformative events that left a lasting impact. Over a span of four months from May to August, extensive lava flows engulfed the southeastern part of the island, devastating over 700 homes and residential areas in the Puna District. Concurrently, the summit area of the volcano experienced significant changes, including thousands of felt earthquakes, towering ash plumes and the massive collapse of the Kīlauea caldera.

December 20, 2020 Eruption

157-day eruption

In a mesmerizing display of nature's power, Kīlauea volcano awakened from its slumber on the night of December 20, 2020. Observers gazed upon the summit's Halemaʻumaʻu crater. A radiant glow emerged, signaling the volcano's resurgence. For the first time in over two years, molten lava surged forth from a newly formed fissure. An ethereal glow illuminated the surrounding landscape as the growing water lake that previously filled the crater was boiled out and met its demise. As lava surged into the crater, a floating island formed, fueled by two dominant vents. The nighttime glow of the crater slowly began to diminish towards the end of the eruption, and ended 157 days later.

Left image
Water Lake on December 20, 2020
Credit: USGS Photo

Right image
Lava Lake on December 24, 2020
Credit: USGS Photo

On December 20, as lava cascaded into Halemaʻumaʻu crater, it instantly vaporized the growing lake of water that had been rising in the crater since 2018. By December 24, the water was replaced by a lava lake more than 500 feet deep. (Photos by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory)

Note: these photos were taken by scientists studying the eruption in hazardous areas closed to the public. 

September 29, 2021 Eruption

441-day eruption

In September 2021, the volcano again roared to life. At precisely 3:30 p.m., three fissures cracked open within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. These fissures unleashed torrents of lava that flowed across the surface of the preexisting lava lake. As time went on the lava lake expanded to nearly 300 acres- equivalent to approximately 250 American football fields. Over the following 14 months, lava continued to flow, filling the crater with an astonishing 29 billion gallons of molten rock. The eruption caused the crater floor to rise nearly 500 feet higher than its previous level.

The eruption experienced 24 brief pauses throughout its course, and an active portion of the lava lake remained visible for most of 2021. During this eruption, the largest active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa, also erupted for about 12 days in late 2022, its first eruption since 1984. Separated by a distance of 21 miles, both volcanoes stopped erupting within a day of each other on December 13, 2022.

Duration:

34.535 seconds

Lava from the main lake pours into a smaller lava lake in the west portion of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea.

January 5, 2023 Eruption

61-day eruption

Pressure within Kīlauea rose during its month-long hiatus and so did anticipation at the summit. Kīlauea gave way to heightened seismic activity and ground changes on January 5, 2023. The ground shook at 3:28 p.m., as a 3.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the park. At 4:30 p.m., a spectacular 163 foot fountain of lava soared into the sky. Visitors and park rangers marveled at the rapid transformation of the crater floor, now engulfed by 277 acres of lava. Over the following weeks, lava surrounded islands of floating rock that had formed during the previous eruptions and a ring of lava encircled the hardened lava lake. Finally on March 7, after 61 days, the eruption paused, leaving everyone astonished by the recent phase of dramatic activity.

Duration:

1 minute, 3 seconds

Increased pressure beneath Halema'uma'u crater led to a 164-foot fountain during the initial phase of the 2023 eruption. In this video, lava outgases at the surface of an active lava lake producing lava fountains.

June 7, 2023 Eruption

13-day eruption

After a three-month pause, Kīlauea erupted with a breathtaking display on June 7, 2023 at 4:44 a.m. Mesmerizing fountains of molten lava burst hundreds of feet into the air within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Geologists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected the eruption through webcam images that were preceded by increased earthquake activity. The eruption unleashed a fiery deluge, and lava inundated much of the crater floor. Vibrant fountains reached nearly 200 feet during the onset of the eruption, while a striking fissure formed above the lava lake on the southwest wall of the crater. On June 15, the top of the eruptive vent collapsed, and reignited spattering, awe-inspiring fountains visible from the caldera's edge.

Duration:

29.988 seconds

Close up view (10x magnification) of the southwest eruptive vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea on Friday, June 16, 2023, as it spatters and feeds lava flows on the crater floor. The fountaining is continuous, with lava bombs being thrown at least 10 m (33 ft) upwards and at least twice that distance away from the vent. The eruption can be heard from a distance.

How much has Halema'uma'u changed in four years?

Left image
Halema'uma'u crater in 2020 from Uēkahuna overlook.
Credit: Photograph courtesy of B. Camara

Right image
Halema'uma'u crater in 2023 from Uēkahuna overlook.
Credit: Photograph courtesy of G.H.

Over the course of four years, Halemaʻumaʻu crater experienced a significant shift as the lava surged and filled the space, reducing its depth from approximately 1600 feet to 500 feet. The rapid transformation showcases the immense power and remarkable volcanic forces of Kīlauea.