Kīlauea's Latest Eruption Lasts 8.5 Hours

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The latest eruption episode at Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park lasted 8.5 hours on April 10, 2026, featuring continuous lava fountaining from the north vent that reached heights of up to 800 feet. While smaller in scale than previous episodes, the eruption still produced significant tephra fall in nearby communities.

Why it matters

Kīlauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes, with an ongoing eruption in the Halema'uma'u crater that has produced dozens of episodes since late 2024. Each new eruption event carries the potential for hazardous ash and lava flows, requiring close monitoring and preparedness efforts from local authorities and residents.

The details

During Episode 44, the north vent grew slowly at first, reaching 330 feet in height by noon, then peaked at around 800 feet by 12:45 pm. Lava fountaining continued steadily until 7:41 pm when the eruption paused. Tephra, or volcanic rock fragments, fell outside the closed national park area along the north rim of Kīlauea caldera and in adjacent communities. Pieces as large as 10 inches were reported in the Volcano Golf Course subdivision, while fine ash and Pele's hair reached as far as Hilo.

• Episode 44 began with a sharp increase in seismic tremor and deflationary tilt recorded at around 7:41 pm on April 10, 2026.
• The north vent reached a maximum height of 800 feet by 12:45 pm on April 10, 2026.
• The eruption paused at 7:41 pm on April 10, 2026 after 8.5 hours of continuous lava fountaining.

What’s next

Authorities will continue to closely monitor Kīlauea's activity and issue updates on any new eruption episodes or changes in volcanic hazards. Residents in nearby communities should remain prepared for potential ash fall and disruptions.