Kilauea Erupts, Closing Park Areas and Highway 11

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted on March 10, sending fountains of molten lava as high as 1,000 feet into the air from its summit crater and prompting temporary closures in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and along a key highway due to falling volcanic debris.

The eruption began at 9:17 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time within the Halema'uma'u crater, marking the 43rd episode of activity since the volcano resumed erupting in December 2024. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, vigorous fountaining produced plumes of ash and gas that rose more than 30,000 feet above sea level. Livestream footage from park webcams captured two bright red lava fountains amid clouds of smoke, with the display lasting approximately nine hours before slowing significantly by evening. The event ended around 6:21 p.m., though officials noted that glowing lava on the crater floor could persist for several days as flows continued to spread slowly.

While the molten rock remained confined to the park's summit area, far from residential zones, the eruption ejected tephra, a mix of ash and glassy volcanic fragments, onto nearby communities and infrastructure. Some debris...