Halemaumau Crater - 2008-Present Eruption Episodes

2008-Present Eruption Episodes

Episodes are being listed in order of current activity for ease of reading and editing. As of late 2011, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the crater's vent is in an active state and has been "mostly active" since March, 2008.

• Other than the described events, no erupting or fountaining of lava has occurred in the crater, unlike the concurrent activity on the Eastern Rift Zone around Puʻu ʻŌʻō.
• The crater's webcams show the fume of the outgassing vent, and sometimes the nighttime glow of lava as seen from the Observatory and a lake of molten lava as seen from the crater rim, looking down into the vent .
• The Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook is closed, as are hiking trails that lead to the crater. Crater Rim Drive is closed between the Observatory and Chain of Craters Road because of sulfur dioxide gas emissions. Visitors may view the crater from the relatively safe locations of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Volcano House.
• Readers and visitors are encouraged to refer to the United States Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website as they publish frequent eruption summaries, press releases, maps, and other data, as well as provides both real- and near real-time hazard data and panoramic Internet web camera views of events.