Calendar of the USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Volcano Awareness Month events happening in January 2025. (USGS/graphic)
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors the six currently active volcanoes in Hawaii, but past eruptions have shaped all of the Hawaiian Islands. Join us in January 2025 for Volcano Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about volcanic activity in Hawaii over the past year and beyond, or -- new for this upcoming edition -- submit art or poetry recognizing Hawaii's volcanic history.
From Le'ahi (Diamond Head) on O'ahu to the changing caldera at the summit of Kilauea volcano on the Island of Hawai'i, our landscape is shaped by volcanic processes and events. 2024 has been another year of dynamic volcanic activity on the Island of Hawai'i, with Kilauea eruptions occurring outside of Kaluapele (the summit caldera) for the first time since 2018. Multiple intrusions into the upper portions of the Southwest Rift Zone and East Rift Zone culminated in a one-day eruption southwest of the caldera on June 3, and an eruption in and near Napau Crater on the middle East Rift Zone from September 15-20.
Volcano Awareness Month is organized each January by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), along with close partners at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency, and other organizations. During January 2025, HVO will host talks and guided walks around the Island of Hawai'i to share information on a range of volcano-related topics. Come learn about volcanic activity and earthquakes over the past year, discover the island's extensive history of past eruptions and earthquakes, or hear how we monitor, map, and study volcanoes in Hawaii.
The Kilauea Visitor Center auditorium will be closed this coming January, so instead of weekly After Dark in the Park presentations as in years past, HVO scientists will be doing talks and walks on Tuesdays in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Join HVO staff as they discuss the network of instruments monitoring Hawaii's volcanoes on January 7, describe Kilauea's ever-evolving summit caldera on January 14, walk into the Whitney Vault (built in 1912 to host volcano monitoring equipment) on January 21, or explain Kilauea's explosive past during a guided walk on January 28.
Additional guided hikes will take place on Saturdays in January. Learn about the 1868 eruption while walking the Pu'u o Lokuana trail in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on January 4. Hike to Maunaiki in the Ka'u Desert of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park -- which erupted in 1919-1920 -- on January 18. On January 25, trek the slopes of Hualalai to learn about unique trachyte deposits in Pu'uwa'awa'a Forest Reserve.
Talks summarizing eruptive activity and earthquakes over the past year will take place at Cooper Center in Volcano village on January 9, Pahoa Public Library on January 13, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo on January 15, and Kailua-Kona Public Library on January 22.
Learn the art and science of geologic mapping in Hawaii during a talk at the Volcano Art Center in Volcano village on January 16. This program will be repeated at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo campus on January 29.
Other programs include a talk story opportunity with HVO staff at the Naalehu Public Library on January 8, a talk in Pahala on January 27 about earthquakes happening deep beneath that region since 2019, and a Geology Department open house at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo on January 24.
Whether you can join us at an in-person Volcano Awareness Month event in January 2025 or not, we invite you to enter a new art and poetry contest, open January 1-20. Submit a haiku, poem, or art in any medium (but no larger than 16×24 inches in size) that is related to volcanic landscapes or eruptions in Hawaii. Winners in several categories will be announced in a "Volcano Watch" article at the end of January, and a selection of entries will be on display at a scientific conference on caldera-forming eruptions (such as Kilauea's in 2018) being hosted in Hilo in February 2025.
We hope to see you at a Volcano Awareness Month event in January 2025 and look forward to the art and poetry submissions! Learn more about January 2025 Volcano Awareness Month events and the art/poetry contest on HVO's website, or email [email protected].
Volcano activity updates
Kilauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Over the past week, elevated earthquake rates beneath Kilauea summit and upper East Rift Zone continued. About 130 earthquakes were located beneath the summit, and about 270 were located in the upper East Rift Zone. Earthquake rates beneath the middle East Rift Zone were more than double that of the previous week, with about 100 located events. Ground deformation rates in the summit region showed steady inflation over the past week, while ground deformation rates near the September 15-20 middle East Rift Zone eruption site have slowed. Future intrusive episodes and eruptions could occur with continued magma supply.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Six earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.5 earthquake 23 km (14 mi) WNW of Maunaloa at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Dec. 3 at 1:53 p.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 16 km (9 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on Dec. 3 at 1:17 a.m. HST, a M2.5 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSW of Honaunau-Napoopoo at 20 km (12 mi) depth on Dec. 2 at 7:04 a.m. HST, a M4.0 earthquake 17 km (10 mi) WNW of Volcano at 20 km (12 mi) depth on Nov. 30 at 8:40 a.m. HST, a M3.3 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) E of Pahala at 28 km (17 mi) depth on Nov. 29 at 6:38 p.m. HST, and a M2.8 earthquake 19 km (11 mi) SE of Waimea at 22 km (14 mi) depth on Nov. 28 at 8:29 a.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Please visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kilauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to [email protected].