Archive notice: This page documents Episode 45 on April 23, 2026. It does not describe current volcanic activity. For today’s alert level and eruption phase, use the USGS Kīlauea updates and Hawaii Guide’s maintained Kīlauea status guide.
What USGS Recorded
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status report says Episode 45 began at 1:34 a.m. HST and ended at 10:01 a.m. HST on April 23, 2026, after 8.5 hours of continuous lava fountaining from the north vent. The report returned Kīlauea to ADVISORY/YELLOW after the episode ended and noted minor ash in Pāhala rather than significant fallout at park visitor areas or county roads.
USGS also preserves Episode 45 in its eruption information table and photo and video chronology. Those dated records are the authority for this historical episode.
Do Not Use This Archive as a Forecast
Episode numbers, fountain heights, wind direction, ashfall, viewing conditions, and park access all change. A past pattern does not tell you when the next episode will begin or whether an overlook will be open. Check the current USGS update first, then the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park conditions page for closures, road access, and visitor guidance.
Stay on marked routes and obey closures. Volcanic gas and airborne particles can affect people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions even when lava remains inside the summit caldera. If conditions are poor, use the USGS webcams instead of forcing an in-person viewing plan.
The Useful Visitor Decision
Treat an eruption view as a possible addition to a park day, not a guaranteed show. Build the day around current park access, leave room for weather and gas conditions, and keep a non-eruption backup. Episode 45 belongs to the historical record; today’s official sources own today’s decision.
