Which Hawaiian island has lava flow?

The long-term lava-flow threat is greatest on Kilauea and Mauna Loa, the two most active volcanoes, followed by Hualalai.



As of February 2026, the Big Island (Hawaiʻi Island) is the only Hawaiian island with active lava flow, specifically at Kīlauea. On February 15, 2026, Kīlauea resumed its summit eruption with high lava fountains reaching up to 1,300 feet within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This recent activity, designated as "episode 42," has covered over 70% of the crater floor with fresh molten rock. While the lava is currently contained within the summit caldera of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, it produces significant volcanic smog (vog) that can affect air quality in downwind communities like Pahala and Nāʻālehu. Maunaloa, the world's largest active volcano, is also on the Big Island but is currently in a "post-eruption filling" phase without active flows. For 2026 visitors, the park remains open for viewing, but it is essential to check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory for the latest daily safety updates.

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Nine lava-flow hazard zones for the volcanoes on Hawai'i Island (Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and Kohala) are shown on the map. The zones, ranked from 1 through 9, represent a scale of decreasing hazard as the numbers increase, based on the probability of coverage by lava flows.

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Kilauea volcano is not erupting The eruption that began on September 10, 2023 has ended. No lava fountains, flows, or glow are visible at this time. Read the activity summary of Kilauea, courtesy of USGS.

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The park is open 24 hours a day. Hiking to the lava from the park is allowed, but it's not for everyone.

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View from the ground of one of the vents erupting in Kilauea caldera on September 14, 2023. The lava fountain heights at the vents reached up to about 10-15 meters (32-50 feet) and the horseshoe-shaped spatter ramparts that have accumulated on the south/downwind side of the vents are 20 meters (66 feet) high.

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Lava zone 2: Black Sand Beach, Nanawale Estates, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Shores, Hawaiian Parks, Kehena, Puna Beach Palisades, Kalapana Seaview Estates, Kaimu-Makena Houselots. Pahoa is of course also in this lava zone.

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Zone 3 includes areas gradationally less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas.

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Kailua-Kona is located in Lava Zone 4, which includes all of Hualalai. Although Hualalai is not extinct, the frequency of eruptions is lower, much lower, than that for Kilauea or Mauna Loa.

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