Kīlauea is not sleeping. The volcano has been erupting in short, intense bursts since December 23, 2024 — a pattern scientists call “episodic fountaining.” Each episode lasts hours to days, pauses for a few weeks, and then fires again. Episode 43 on March 10 produced lava fountains reaching 1,300 feet and dumped 4 to 12 inches of volcanic debris on nearby communities.
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory forecasts episode 44 between now and April 15, 2026. The volcano alert level remains at WATCH. For summer visitors planning a Big Island trip, this eruption cycle is both a safety consideration and — for those who plan around it — one of the most spectacular natural shows on Earth.
