Kilauea Eruption Prompts Temporary Highway Closures

Lava fountains reach 1,000 feet, raining down volcanic debris on Hawaii's Big Island

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has been erupting for over a year, with the latest lava fountaining episode on Tuesday reaching heights of 1,000 feet. The falling volcanic tephra, or glassy fragments and ash, prompted temporary closures of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park around the summit and a partial closure of a major highway, Highway 11, due to the risk of irritation to eyes, skin, and the respiratory system.

Why it matters

Kilauea's ongoing eruption is a significant event for Hawaii's Big Island, impacting transportation, tourism, and public safety. The periodic lava fountaining episodes can disrupt daily life and require coordinated response from local authorities to manage the hazards posed by falling volcanic debris.

The details

The latest lava fountaining episode began Tuesday morning and lasted 9 hours, coming to an end at 6:21pm. During this time, the USGS reported fallout of volcanic tephra up to football-size pieces and smaller at overlooks in the national park. A quarter-inch of tephra reportedly fell in the first 90 minutes, prompting the temporary closures to allow for cleanup and to protect public safety.

  • The eruption at Kilauea began in December 2024 and has continued with periodic lava fountaining episodes.
  • The latest episode started on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 and lasted 9 hours, ending at 6:21pm.

The players

Kilauea

An active shield volcano located on the island of Hawaii, part of the Hawaiian archipelago. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, with the current eruption beginning in late 2024.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

A U.S. National Park located on the island of Hawaii, established to protect the volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

Highway 11

An important highway route around the island of Hawaii, which was partially closed due to the volcanic eruption.

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What’s next

Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and reopen the closed areas once the risk from falling volcanic debris has subsided.

The takeaway

Kilauea's ongoing eruption serves as a reminder of the dynamic and potentially disruptive nature of Hawaii's active volcanoes, requiring vigilance and preparedness from local communities and officials.