It is a weird, rhythmic kind of breathing. If you’re standing on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater right now, you aren't seeing a massive, world-ending curtain of fire, but you are witnessing something arguably more fascinating. The volcano erupting Hawaii today is Kilauea, and it's currently in a state of "restless pause" that has scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) checking their tiltmeters every few minutes.
Most people think of eruptions as a single, explosive event. Boom. Lava everywhere. Done.
Kilauea doesn't work like that. Since December 23, 2024, it has been putting on a masterclass in episodic behavior. Basically, the volcano acts like a leaky faucet that occasionally bursts open for 12 hours before shutting tight again. We just saw "Episode 40" wrap up on January 12, 2026. During that window, lava fountains screamed up to 800 feet into the air.
Today, January 16, 2026, the surface is quiet, but the ground beneath is screaming.
The Current State of the Summit
As of this morning, the USGS has kept the alert level at WATCH and the aviation color code at ORANGE. Why? Because the "pause" isn't a sleep; it’s a recharge.
Since the fountains died down on Monday evening, the summit has been inflating. Think of it like a balloon being blown up. The UWD tiltmeter—one of the primary tools geologists use to measure the "slope" of the volcano—has recorded a steady rise in pressure.
Usually, when the volcano inflates this fast after an episode, it means magma is rushing back into the shallow reservoir. HVO scientists are currently forecasting the next major fountaining event—Episode 41—to likely hit between January 19 and January 25, 2026.
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What’s Happening Right Now (The Tiny Details)
If you look at the live webcams today, you’ll see "incandescence." That’s a fancy geologist word for "it’s still glowing."
The floor of the crater is littered with cooling lava from earlier this week. In the dark, you can see tiny orange cracks where the heat is escaping. Also, there's been a series of small earthquake swarms. Just two days ago, on January 14, a cluster of about 22 small quakes rattled the east side of Halemaʻumaʻu.
These aren't big "house-shaking" quakes. Most are under a magnitude-2.0. But they tell us that the rock is cracking because the magma pressure is getting too high for the crater walls to hold. Honestly, it's a bit of a waiting game.
Understanding the "Episodic" Nature of the Volcano Erupting Hawaii Today
This specific eruption cycle is different from the long-term 1983-2018 Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption. Back then, it was a steady stream. Now, it’s these violent, short bursts.
Geologists like Ken Hon and other experts at the HVO have been tracking these "pulses" for over a year. Each episode typically lasts less than 12 hours. You have to be quick if you want to see the big fountains. If you show up 24 hours late, you’re just looking at a steaming pile of black rock.
- Lava Fountains: Often reaching 500 to 1,400 feet.
- Gas Emissions: Dropping to 1,000–5,000 tonnes of $SO_2$ per day during pauses, but spiking to over 50,000 tonnes during active fountaining.
- Pele's Hair: Thin strands of volcanic glass are currently being blown toward the Volcano Golf Course subdivision and other downwind areas.
Is Mauna Loa Doing Anything?
Nope.
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Mauna Loa is Kilauea's big sister, and she’s currently quiet. While she had a brief moment of increased seismicity back in December 2025, she is currently at NORMAL status. All the action—and the traffic—is centered at Kilauea's summit.
Why Today Matters for Visitors
If you're in the park today, you’re in a "window of anticipation." January is actually Volcano Awareness Month in Hawaii, which is kind of perfect timing.
The Kilauea Visitor Center is currently closed for a massive two-year renovation, but the temporary "Welcome Center" at Kilauea Military Camp is open. Rangers are there 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to tell you exactly where the best glow is visible.
Watching the Vog and Pele's Hair
The "Vog" (volcanic smog) is a real thing today. Since the winds are light—under 10 mph—the gas tends to linger in the caldera.
If you have asthma or any respiratory issues, today is a day to stay in the car or stay upwind. Also, keep an eye out for "Pele's Hair." It looks like golden straw, but it’s actually sharp glass. Don't touch it. It’ll give you the worst splinters of your life.
The Hazard of the "Pause"
Just because there isn't a 1,000-foot fountain today doesn't mean it's safe to wander off-trail. The area around the rim is full of "earth cracks." These are deep fissures hidden by thin layers of ash or vegetation. One wrong step and you're in a bad spot.
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The USGS is very clear: stay on the marked trails like the Crater Rim Trail or Devastation Trail. The lava is currently confined to the crater, so it’s not threatening any homes, but the volcano itself is the hazard.
What to Expect in the Next 72 Hours
Since the tilt is rising, we're looking for a "tipping point."
Usually, right before a new episode starts, the earthquakes get more frequent and the ground "inflates" even faster. If you're checking the volcano erupting Hawaii today for travel plans, keep an eye on the HVO's daily updates. Once the fountaining starts, the park gets crowded. Like, "no parking spots left by 6:00 p.m." crowded.
Actionable Steps for Those on the Big Island
If you are currently on the island or arriving this weekend, here is how you handle the current situation:
- Check the Live Cams: Go to the USGS HVO website. Look for "Kilauea Summit" webcams (especially the F1 camera). If you see bright orange or a massive plume, the episode has likely started.
- Monitor Air Quality: Use the EPA AirNow app or the Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Center website. If the $SO_2$ levels are high, the park might close certain overlooks.
- Timing is Everything: If an episode starts, go at 3:00 a.m. Seriously. You’ll avoid the massive sunset crowds and the glow against the dark sky is significantly more impressive.
- Gear Up: It’s cold at 4,000 feet. Bring a jacket, even if it was 80 degrees at the beach in Kona. Also, bring a headlamp; phone flashlights don't do much when you're walking on jagged basalt in the dark.
The situation is changing by the hour. We are currently in the "quiet before the storm" phase of Kilauea’s 41st episode of this cycle. It's a great time to see the geology in action without the chaos of the fountains, but if you're looking for the big show, keep your bags packed for early next week.
Stay up to date by signing up for the Volcano Notification Service (VNS) emails. It's the same system the scientists use to alert the public the second the lava breaks the surface.
Next Steps: You should monitor the USGS HVO "Daily Update" page every morning at 9:00 a.m. HST. This is when the official status reports are released. If you plan to visit, download the NPS App and toggle on "offline use" for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as cell service is spotty once you get near the Chain of Craters Road.