Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Erupts – Lava Fountain Footage

Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Sending Lava Thousands of Feet Into Air

February 16, 2026 – Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted over the weekend, sending a spectacular geyser of molten rock thousands of feet into the air. The eruption, the 38th since a series began in December 2024, was captured by cameras and monitoring equipment, including a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) live stream.

The latest eruptive episode, lasting nearly 10 hours, began on Sunday, February 15th, with lava fountains reaching up to 1,300 feet, according to the USGS. Smoke plumes rose to an altitude of 35,000 feet above sea level.

Footage from the eruption showed a bright red lava flow emerging from Kilauea, which is located within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The eruption destroyed a USGS camera situated in a closed-off area in the Halema‘uma‘u crater, the agency reported. This was not the first time monitoring equipment has been damaged; a camera was previously engulfed by lava on December 6, 2025.

Kilauea is recognized as one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and the most active on the island of Hawaiʻi, according to the National Park Service. We see estimated to have formed roughly 280,000 years ago and grew above sea level approximately 100,000 years ago, experiencing numerous eruptions since 1952.

The recent activity included a “rare” triple fountain event, where three lava fountains simultaneously spewed from vents in the north and south cones. Eruptions since December 2024 have frequently produced high fountains, some reaching up to 1,500 feet, the USGS stated.

The eruption also posed potential hazards from volcanic gas and “Pele’s hair,” strands of volcanic glass created by the fountaining activity. Most eruptions from Kilauea conclude within 12 hours, with pauses between events ranging from several days to two weeks.

The current series of eruptions began on December 23, 2024, and continues to be closely monitored by the USGS and the National Park Service.