Eruption status · updated Nov 6, 2026
Can you see lava right now?
Sometimes. Kīlauea is erupting in bursts: hours of lava fountains, then days or weeks of nothing visible.
How this eruption works
Magma refills the summit, the ground swells, and then a vent in Halemaʻumaʻu crater fountains lava for a few hours. When it stops, the summit starts inflating again. USGS has counted 56 of these episodes so far.
After episode 53 in August 2026, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory noted that inflation resumed as soon as the fountaining ended, a sign another episode was likely. That cycle has kept repeating.
How to time a visit
- Watch the forecast. USGS publishes a window for the next episode. Treat it as a rough guide; the window for episode 56 slid by several days.
- Check the live cameras before you leave. Clouds can hide the crater even during an episode.
- Keep your plans flexible. If you are staying near Hilo or Volcano village, you can go on short notice. From Kona, the drive is 2.5 to 3 hours each way.
- Pick an evening if lava is active. The glow shows best after dark.
Safety
Stay in open public areas and follow ranger instructions. Roads, trails and overlooks can close with little notice. If you have breathing problems, check air quality before you go.
Does a tour help?
A guide will not make lava appear. What a tour does is handle the drive and know which overlooks are open that day. If lava is active, ask whether the tour stays into the evening. See private vs group tours.
Questions people ask
How long do Kīlauea lava episodes last?
Hours, not days. Episode 56 on November 5, 2026 lasted about six hours. Episode 53 in August 2026 lasted about 9.6 hours.
Can you predict the next lava episode?
Only roughly. USGS gives a forecast window of a few days, and that window has shifted before. Before episode 56 the forecast moved from November 2 to 9, then to November 4 to 7. It began November 5.
Is it worth visiting between episodes?
Yes, if you want the park itself: the crater, steam vents, lava tube and lava fields. But do not count on seeing lava or a night glow.