2018 Hawaii volcanic eruption

2018 Hawaii volcanic eruption
United States Geological Survey · Public domain · source
Name	2018 Kīlauea eruption
Caption	Fissure eruption and lava flow, lower East Rift Zone, 2018
Start	2018-05-03
End	2018-08-15
Volcano	Kīlauea
Location	Puna District, Hawaii Island, Hawaiʻi
Type	fissure eruption
Lava type	ʻAʻā and pāhoehoe
Casualties	0 direct deaths; property destroyed

2018 Hawaii volcanic eruption was a major volcanic event centered on the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea on Hawaii Island in 2018. It involved upper-rift collapse at the summit crater of Halemaʻumaʻu, widespread fissure eruption in Leilani Estates, and extensive lava flows that reshaped coastline and infrastructure across the Puna District. The episode prompted mass evacuations, substantial property loss, and coordinated responses by federal, state, and local agencies including United States Geological Survey, Hawaii County, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Background and volcanic setting

Kīlauea, located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, is one of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain shield volcanoes formed by the Hawaii hotspot beneath the Pacific Plate. The volcano’s East Rift Zone extends from the summit caldera through populated areas including Puna District, Leilani Estates, and down to the Puna coastline. Historical eruptive behavior at Kīlauea had included frequent summit lava lake activity in Halemaʻumaʻu and rift-zone eruptions such as those recorded in 1955 Hawaiian eruption and 1960 eruption of Kīlauea. Monitoring by the United States Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory tracked seismicity, ground deformation, and gas emissions that signaled inflation and magma movement prior to 2018, with input from institutions like University of Hawaii at Mānoa and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Eruption chronology

The sequence began in early May 2018 when magma withdrew from the Kīlauea summit and migrated into the lower East Rift Zone, producing a swarm of earthquakes including a significant M 6.9 earthquake on May 4, 2018 near Pāhala-region recording stations. New fissures opened in Leilani Estates on May 3–4, producing effusive lava fountains and lava flows. Over weeks, the eruption evolved with episodic summit collapse events at Mokuʻāweoweo and Halemaʻumaʻu that produced subsidence, ash plumes, and changes in lava lake level. Through June and July, additional fissures and vents appeared, activity fluctuated, and lava advanced toward the Kapoho Bay area, eventually inundating the Kapoho Beach Lots neighborhood. By mid-August, eruptive activity waned, fissures were declared inactive, and summit collapses ceased as magma supply diminished.

Lava flows, fissures, and hazards

Multiple fissures produced varied eruptive styles including lava fountains, channelized flows, and slow ʻaʻā advance; some areas exhibited pāhoehoe tube-fed flows. Fissures extended across neighborhoods in Leilani Estates and connected to the lower East Rift Zone system. Hazardous phenomena included volcanic gas emissions such as sulfur dioxide, causing localized vog and acid rain that affected Hilo, Kona, and other communities; lava entry into the ocean at the coastline created hazardous laze plumes and clinkers affecting Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and Kalapana. Ground cracking, localized subsidence, and elevated radon and volcanic aerosol concentrations posed risks to infrastructure including Highway 132 and utilities managed by Hawaiian Electric Industries. Ashfall from summit collapse events affected sites in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and cultural landmarks like Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau were monitored for impact.

Human impact and evacuations

The eruption prompted evacuations of thousands from Leilani Estates, Kapoho, and surrounding communities, with shelters established by Hawaii County and support from American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Hawaiian Humane Society for animals. Property loss included hundreds of homes destroyed in subdivisions such as Leilani Estates and Kapoho Beach Lots, affecting residents who worked in sectors linked to Hawaiʻi Community College and local businesses in Pahoa. Schools overseen by Hawaii Department of Education closed or relocated students, and cultural practitioners from Office of Hawaiian Affairs and ʻohana groups documented losses of ancestral sites. Despite the scale of destruction, recorded direct fatalities were not attributed to lava flows; secondary health impacts from vog and stress were reported and managed by Hawaii State Department of Health.

Environmental and economic consequences

Ecological impacts included burial of native forest and agricultural land, alteration of coastal ecosystems where lava entered the sea near Kapoho Bay, and long-term changes to habitat for species monitored by Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Air quality degradation from sulfur dioxide and volcanic particulates affected tourism hubs like Hilo and Kailua-Kona, reducing visitor numbers that impacted businesses including Hawaiian Airlines-served hotels and tour operators. Agriculture suffered from ash and gas damage to crops such as bananas and papaya in areas represented by Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. Property value changes, FEMA damage assessments, and insurance claims involved entities like National Flood Insurance Program and private insurers, while port closures and road damage affected shipping operations related to Hilo Harbor and local fisheries registered with National Marine Fisheries Service.

Response and recovery efforts

Response involved coordination among United States Geological Survey, FEMA, Hawaii County Civil Defense, and the State of Hawaii to provide evacuations, shelters, and emergency funds. Scientific response included mapping by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and airborne remote sensing by NASA and NOAA to assess lava flow extent and thermal anomalies. Recovery actions encompassed debris removal, infrastructure repair funded by state and federal aid, and community resilience projects supported by Community Development Block Grant programs and nonprofits such as Catholic Charities Hawaii. Long-term planning engaged institutions like University of Hawaii System for hazard mitigation research and island planners in discussions about land-use, rebuilding, and cultural site restoration under guidance from entities including Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Category:Kīlauea Category:2018 natural disasters in the United States Category:Volcanic eruptions in Hawaii