Kīlauea Episode 44 has come and gone. After precursory overflows from the south vent starting April 3 and a National Weather Service special weather statement on April 4, full fountaining began at 11:10 a.m. HST on April 9 and ended at 7:41 p.m. — 8.5 hours of continuous north-vent fountaining with peak heights around 800 feet (240 meters) and a plume reaching 16,000 feet above sea level.

As of April 13, USGS HVO has stepped the Kīlauea alert level down from WATCH/ORANGE to ADVISORY/YELLOW — still elevated unrest, but a longer quiet interval than earlier pauses in this eruption cycle. Another episode is likely, but at this writing there is not yet a detailed forecast window for the next one. This follows Episode 43 on March 10, which set the cycle’s height record at 1,770 feet. If you are visiting the Big Island in the coming weeks, here is what you need to know.

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Episode 43 kicked off at 9:17 AM HST on March 10, 2026. It lasted about 9 hours.

The south vent fountain reached 1,770 feet (540 meters), setting a new record for this eruption cycle. The north vent peaked above 1,300 feet (400+ meters). Both vents erupted simultaneously from Halema’uma’u crater.

To put that in perspective, 1,770 feet is taller than the Empire State Building, antenna included. This was the most powerful fountaining event since the current eruption cycle began in December 2024.

Southwest winds during the eruption pushed tephra northeast across Ka’u, Puna, South Hilo, and North Hilo districts. The fallout was significant.

Heaviest accumulation hit the Uekahuna overlook and Kilauea Military Camp: 4 to 12 inches of tephra. Football-sized fragments landed at park overlooks near the summit. Ash and Pele’s hair (thin strands of volcanic glass) fell as far as Hilo, roughly 30 miles away, by 3 PM.

Highway 11 closed temporarily for cleanup. Parts of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park shut down during and immediately after the episode.

Water quality is a question residents ask after every episode. Fluoride testing following earlier episodes showed levels of 0.06 to 0.3 ppm, well below EPA limits. Catchment water users in affected areas should still run their water through filters as a precaution.

Precursory overflows from the south vent began at 6:11 AM HST on April 3. By April 4, the south vent had overflowed 14 times with small dome fountains and spattering — the same escalating pattern seen before every episode of this cycle.

Full fountaining kicked off at 11:10 AM HST on April 9. Unlike Episode 43, which erupted from both vents, Episode 44 was a north-vent-only show — the south vent displayed gas jetting and flames but never fountained. The north vent peaked around 800 feet (240 meters) about an hour in, then gradually diminished through the afternoon. The eruption ended at 7:41 PM HST, 8.5 hours after it started.

Tephra fallout. Southerly winds carried the plume north-northeast, dropping reticulite pieces up to 12 inches (30 cm) across the Volcano Golf Course subdivision and Kīlauea Military Camp. Fine ash and Pele’s hair reached Hilo, about 30 miles away. Rangers evacuating the summit area reported softball-sized chunks landing near KMC during the most intense phase. Highway 11 closed briefly for cleanup before reopening later that evening.

Current status and what’s next. Per the USGS HVO updates page, Kīlauea’s alert level was stepped down from WATCH/ORANGE to ADVISORY/YELLOW on April 13. That is still “elevated unrest above known background” — not a return to quiet. Inflationary tilt has resumed and both vents continue to glow, which HVO scientists say indicates another fountaining episode is likely. But there is not yet enough data to issue a specific forecast window. Eruption cycle pauses have been averaging a few weeks; this pause will tell us whether that pattern holds.

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since December 23, 2024. Each fountaining episode has lasted under 12 hours, followed by a pause of days to weeks while pressure rebuilds. According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, USGS scientists expect this episodic pattern to continue for the foreseeable future.

No activity on the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. There is no ocean lava entry and no lava boat tours operating.

For real-time eruption status and lava location updates, check our Hawaii Eruption Information & Lava Tracking page.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open. Between episodes, the park operates normally. You can drive Chain of Craters Road, hike to Thurston Lava Tube, and explore coastal trails without issue.

Another episode is likely but not yet scheduled — keep your itinerary flexible if you are on the Big Island in the coming weeks. During active fountaining (typically under 12 hours), summit-area overlooks close temporarily. The rest of the park generally stays accessible.

The eruption is contained within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Lava is not flowing toward populated areas or resort zones. Kona, Hilo, Waikoloa, and the Kohala Coast resorts are all unaffected.

When the next episode fires, multiple overlooks along the Crater Rim Trail can offer views: Uēkahuna, Kīlauea Overlook, Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), Kupinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge), the area behind Volcano House, and Keanakākoʻi. Uēkahuna — near the site of the former Jaggar Museum — is the classic spot. Kīlauea Overlook and the Crater Rim Trail segment to Uēkahuna reopened on April 2 after Episode 43 tephra cleanup, but these areas have re-closed and re-opened repeatedly as each new episode drops more debris. Check NPS conditions the day of your visit.

Expect delays from the ongoing two-year summit construction project. Check the National Park Service website or call (808) 985-6101 for current viewing area status before visiting.

Air quality: Vog (volcanic smog) can drift to the Kona side of the island. If you have asthma or other respiratory conditions, monitor the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard before heading outdoors.

Rental car tip: You’ll want a car to explore the park on your own schedule and react to conditions. Book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best Big Island rates.

No.

This eruption has been ongoing for over 15 months. It’s episodic and predictable. The park and surrounding communities have adapted to the rhythm.

The Big Island is massive. At 4,028 square miles, it’s larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined. The eruption affects a small area near the summit. Most of the island is completely unaffected. Your snorkeling at Two Step, your coffee farm tour in Kona, your stargazing on Mauna Kea, none of that changes.

If anything, this is a reason to go. You can watch an active volcanic eruption from a safe distance — something very few places on Earth offer. Kilauea is putting on a show right now, and it’s accessible to any visitor with a park pass and a car.