For the past 200 years,
Kīlauea has been the site of 61 separate eruptions since 1823, easily making it one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. During its observed history, the volume of lava erupted by Kīlauea has varied widely.
The Island of Hawai'i, with four active volcanoes, is liveliest. Between 1912 and 2012, there were nearly 50 Kīlauea eruptions, 12 Mauna Loa eruptions, and one Hualālai intrusion of magma. Mauna Kea most recently erupted only about 4,000 years ago.
Background: Hualālai is the third most active volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi and typically erupts two to three times per 1,000 years.
The eight main Hawaiian Islands are made up of 15 volcanoes, which are the youngest in a linear chain of more than 129 volcanoes (above and below sea level) that stretches for about 6,100 km (3,800 mi) across the north Pacific.
For the past 200 years, Mauna Loa and Kilauea have tended to erupt on average every two or three years, placing them among the most frequently active volcanoes of the world. Some intervals of repose between eruptions at a given volcano have been much longer than its long-term average.
The Ring of Fire is a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity, or earthquakes, around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Roughly 90 percent of all earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, and the ring is dotted with 75 percent of all active volcanoes on Earth.
And the neatest thing about Hawaii is that it's very safe, relatively speaking, because its volcanoes are well monitored. So we know how that volcano behaves for the most part — compared to Vesuvius, whose eruptions are more violent. Another thing about these volcanoes is their scale.
So you won't experience vog when you're on any of the other islands, unless there are Kona winds. So overall, it's always generally safe to travel to Hawaii, even with the volcanic eruptions. Remember now, it's been continuously erupting since 1983.
Tsunami that hit Hawaii don't always come from distant earthquakes. Although not as frequent, tsunami can also be generated by underwater volcanic eruptions. A very recent example of this is the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Haʻapai eruption in 2022.
Current Lava Flows (Updated 2022)
In 2023 there are no active surface flows outside of the crater to be seen. However, there have been eruptions that have stayed entirely contained within Halema'uma'u crater, that allow you to see an evening glow and molten lava within the crater.
Bottom line: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park began erupting on June 7, 2023. As of June 15, 2023, it is still erupting. Watch a livestream here.
Rising gradually to more than 4 km (2.5 mi) above sea level, Hawaii's Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet. Its submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km (3 mi), and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (5 mi).
Kilauea, Hawaii's second largest volcano, erupted from September 2021 until last December. For about two weeks in December, Hawaii's biggest volcano, Mauna Loa, also was erupting on Hawaii's Big Island. After a short pause, Kilauea began erupting again in January. That eruption lasted for 61 days, ending in March.
The summit of Kīlauea hosted a lava lake-style eruption for a decade before the massive summit collapse in 2018. The eruption of Kīlauea in 2018 was the largest in centuries and coincided with a dramatic summit collapse.
Since 1784, the year of the earliest recorded volcano fatality in areas that are part of the present-day United States, at least 421 of those have occurred as a direct or indirect result of volcanic activity at Kilauea in Hawaii -- the country's deadliest volcano and the source of the current lava event on the Big ...
An increase in the frequency and intensity of felt earthquakes. Noticeable steaming or fumarolic activity and new or enlarged areas of hot ground. Subtle swelling of the ground surface. Small changes in heat flow.
Safest Part of the Island of Hawaii
Due to the massive size of Mauna Kea which would stop any lava flows and the fact that it has not erupted in over 6,000 years makes north Hawaii your best bet.
It's not only illegal to take lava rocks from Hawaii, but it's also considered bad luck. Known as Pele's Curse, taking lava rocks from the islands is said to bring bad luck and misfortune upon the thief. So if you're planning on visiting the islands anytime soon, leave the rocks behind and enjoy your vacation!
As lava flows it forms a crust on the surface. Under that crust the lava is still flowing and thus still heating the crust. Once a crust forms on lava and there is no more surface movement of lava, the crust can support your weight after about 10 minutes of cooling.
The Big Island has the potential for dangerous scenarios, but all in all, nothing is any more extreme than anywhere else in the world be it weather, nature, or criminals.
Most volcanoes are found along a belt, called the “Ring of Fire” that encircles the Pacific Ocean. Some volcanoes, like those that form the Hawaiian Islands, occur in the interior of plates at areas called “hot spots.”
The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Its length is approximately 40,000 kilometers (24,900 miles).
About 95% of Earth's volcanoes and earthquakes occur at plate edges, known as plate boundaries. As an example, Mt. St. Helens in Washington is located in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is created by a convergent boundary.