Kīlauea

Kīlauea, an active shield volcano on the southeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, is one of the five volcanoes that built the island and has been its most active volcano since human settlement. Formed by the Hawaiian hotspot, it features a broad summit caldera, Kaluapele, with Halemaʻumaʻu inside it and two rift zones that direct eruptions away from the summit. Native Hawaiian tradition links Halemaʻumaʻu with Pele, and oral histories preserve memory of early eruptions. Documented eruptions since 1823 include the deadly 1790 event remembered in tradition, the long 1983–2018 eruption, major destruction in 2018, and continuing activity since 2020 into 2026.

Mauna Loa Estates, Hawaii · United States