Kīlauea
Sign in to saveKīlauea ( , ) is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island. The volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and grew above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Since the islands were settled, it has been the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island and among the most active volcanoes on Earth. The most recent eruption began in December 2024, with episodic lava fountains and flows continuing into 2026.
AI overview
Kīlauea is an active shield volcano located on the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island that has been among the most active volcanoes on Earth since the islands were settled. The volcano, which is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, has erupted most recently beginning in December 2024, with lava activity continuing into 2026.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mountain.elevation_m
- 1247
- Mountain.name
- Kīlauea
- Mountain.photo
- Episode 4 of Kilauea's December 2024 eruption 2025-01-16.jpg
- Mountain.photo_size
- 300px
- Mountain.photo_caption
- Kīlauea erupting at Halemaʻumaʻu, a pit crater within its summit caldera, on January 16, 2025. <!--
- Mountain.elevation_ft
- 4091-->
- Mountain.elevation_ref
- <!--
- Mountain.prominence_ft
- 50-->
- Mountain.prominence_m
- 15.3
- Mountain.location
- Hawaii, United States
- Mountain.map
- Hawaii
- Mountain.map_caption
- none
Article
35 sectionsContents
- Background
- Geology
- Setting
- Structure
- Kaluapele
- Rift zones
- Hilina fault system
- Eruptive history
- Prehistoric eruptions
- 1410 to 1790
- 1790 to 1934
- 1952 to 1982
- 1983–2018
- 2018 eruptive episodes
- 2019–20: Water lake appears at the summit
- December 2020 – May 2021 summit eruption
- September 2021 summit eruption
- 2023 summit eruptions
- 2024–2026 rift and summit eruptions
- Hazards
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- Oral traditions
- Ecology
- Background
- Ecosystems
- Human history
- Ancient Hawaiian
- Modern era
- Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
- Research
- Tourism
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Kīlauea ( , ) is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island. The volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and grew above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Since the islands were settled, it has been the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island and among the most active volcanoes on Earth. The most recent eruption began in December 2024, with episodic lava fountains and flows continuing into 2026.
Kīlauea is the second-youngest product of the Hawaiian hotspot and the current eruptive center of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain. Because it lacks topographic prominence and its activities historically coincided with those of Mauna Loa, Kīlauea was once thought to be a satellite of its much larger neighbor. Kīlauea has a large, fairly recently formed caldera at its summit and two active rift zones, one extending east and the other west. An active fault of unknown depth moves vertically an average of per year.