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Kilauea -- Perhaps the World's
Most Active Volcano

View north-northeast across
Kilauea's summit
caldera and Halema`uma`u crater (left of
center)

Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern most volcano on the Big Island
of Hawai`i. Topographically Kilauea appears as only a bulge on the
southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, and so for many years Kilauea was thought
to be a mere satellite of its giant neighbor, not a separate volcano.
However, research over the past few decades shows clearly that Kilauea has
its own magma-plumbing system, extending to the surface from more than 60
km deep in the earth.

In fact, the summit of Kilauea lies on a curving line of volcanoes that
includes Mauna Kea and Kohala and excludes Mauna Loa. In other words,
Kilauea is to Mauna Kea as Lo`ihi is to Mauna Loa. Hawaiians used the word
Kilauea only for the summit caldera, but earth scientists and, over time,
popular usage have extended the name to include the entire volcano.

11 October 2002

The eruption of Kilauea Volcano that began in 1983
continues at the cinder-and-spatter cone of Pu`u `O`o (high point on
skyline). Lava erupting from the cone flows through a tube system
down Pulama pali about 11 km to the sea (lower left).

Map
of Kilauea, including location of Pu`u `O`o

Sketch
showing magma reservoir & active lava-tube system

Kilauea is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Hawaiian
chants and oral traditions tell in veiled form of many eruptions fomented
by an angry Pele before the first European, the missionary Rev. William
Ellis, saw the summit in 1823. The caldera was the site of nearly
continuous activity during the 19th century and the early part of this
century. Since 1952 there have been 34 eruptions, and since January 1983
eruptive activity has been continuous along the east rift zone. All told,
Kilauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and may even top the
list.

| Eruption Update | Eruption Summary | Hazards | History |

Kilauea Facts

Map of the Island of Hawai`i

Location
19.425 N 155.292 W

Elev. Above Sea Level
1,277 m
4,190 ft

Area
1,430 km2
552
mi2
(13.7% of Hawai`i)

Volume
25,000-35,000 km3
6,000-8,500
mi3

Hawaiian Meaning
The Hawaiian name "Kilauea" means "spewing"
or "much spreading," apparently in reference to the lava flows that it
erupts.

Most Recent Eruption
Continuous since January 3, 1983

Number of Historical Eruptions
61, not counting the
continuous lava-lake activity in Halema`uma`u crater

Summit Caldera
The caldera itself has no Hawaiian name other
than Kilauea but houses the famous crater, Halema`uma`u; "hale" is a
house, "ma`uma`u" a type of fern. Kamapua`a, a jilted suitor of Pele, is
said to have built a house of ferns over Halema`uma`u to keep Pele from
escaping her home and causing eruptions. The ploy failed.

Dimension: 6 x 6 km (outermost faults), 3 x 5 km (main depression)

Depth: 165 m deep

Age: probably several incremental collapses 500-210 years ago

Oldest Dated Rocks
23,000 years old

Estimated Age of Earliest Subaerial Eruptions
50,000-100,000
years

Estimated Age of First Eruption of Kilauea
300,000-600,000
years before present

Hawaiian Volcano Stage
Shield-forming stage

The URL of this page is http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/

Contact: [email-masked]
Updated:
13 March 2007 (pnf)