Kilauea's most recent eruption drew in flocks of visitors. Here's what travelers should know about the natural spectacle.

Cameras on one of Hawaii's Big Island volcanoes have captured a stunning timelapse of the mountain's three previous eruption episodes.

The summit eruption of Kilauea continues, with 36 episodes of lava fountaining since the eruption began on Dec. 23, 2024. Let’s catch up on the events and hazards associated with the volcano’s most recent few eruptive episodes, and review the current status of Kilauea.

Volcanic gas emissions have greatly decreased. Lava flows from this episode on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu within the southern part of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) may continue to exhibit slow movement or incandescence as they cool and solidify over the coming days, according to the latest event recap.

The outcome is a spectacular vortex of dark smoke caused by the large lava fountains to create a "volnado" phenomenon.

The 2018 Kilauea eruption and summit collapse severely damaged parts of the park’s infrastructure, launching its Disaster Recovery Project, which the park is tackling in two phases. Phase One construction costs total $18.5 million, and an estimated $17.8 million will be required for Phase Two.

More damaging than the earthquake was the fatal tsunami that swept the island’s shores shortly afterwards. Campers at Halape, on the south coast in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, were awakened by the shaking and by rockfalls from the pali above that the shaking triggered.

View of the dual fountains Nov. 9, 2025, during Episode 36 at the summit of Kīlauea volcano on Hawai‘i Island. View is from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater. Peak heights of lava fountains erupted during this episode reached about 1,150 feet. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey/M. Patrick)

A magnitude 4.0 quake and at least two aftershocks shook the Bay Area Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was initially listed as magnitude 4.3 but was quickly downgraded to a 4.