What type of eruptions does mt kilauea have

Hawaiian chants and oral traditions tell in veiled form of many eruptions fomented by an angry Pele before the first European, the missionary Rev. William Ellis, saw the summit in The caldera was the site of nearly continuous activity during the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. From to eruptive activity was nearly continuous along the volcano's East Rift Zone.

Olivine crystals—the beautiful green mineral common in Hawaiian lavas—record when and where magmas move inside Hawaiian volcanoes before they erupt.

HST on September 29, Lava activity is currently confined within Halema'uma'u crater. Gas emissions and seismic activity at the summit remain elevated. Skip to main content. One of the new cracks sits uphill of Lanipuna Gardens , a subdivision of people that was evacuated last week but has so far remained unharmed.

Hawaii Civil Defense ordered the mandatory evacuation of its last remaining residents Tuesday evening. But they have different ways of talking about why that is—and different ways of seeing the substance that defines their profession or gives them a home. There are roughly two types of lava—and both types are, of course, runny and hot. When a continental plate melts, you get an eruption more like Mount St. Helens: That lava is stickier, and it often traps gas until it suddenly all escapes at once.

That fiery glow, that childlike quality—it makes sense that some journalists have fallen back on cinema to describe the eruption. Another science journalist—upon seeing the lava lake at the summit of Kilauea, which has brimmed with molten fire this month—recalled the cracks of Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings.

You can often estimate the temperature of lava by its color, she added. Yellow lava is the hottest, burning somewhere between 1, and 1, degrees Celsius about 1, to 2, degrees Fahrenheit. Orange lava smolders between and 1, degrees Celsius about 1, to 1, degrees Fahrenheit. And red lava is actually the coolest, at to degrees Fahrenheit about 1, to 1, degrees Fahrenheit.

But photographs taken at night are often color-corrected, throwing off this scale, McKinnon warned. In addition to the many colors of lava, there are several types of lava that can appear during one eruption. Scientists turn to precise instruments for their information.

Native Hawaiians have lived on the islands, and among the volcanoes, for more than years. And their history, literature, and culture all recognize the reality of living near such a powerful phenomenon. This distinction is regularly made on the islands, including in the state constitution. Many Hawaiian families trace their lineage back to Pele, meaning they count her as an ancestor. The lava is Pele, the magma is Pele, the lava flow and then when the lava hardens—each you can just replace the word with Pele.

The depth of the lake was m by 11 May. Lava continued to circulate in the W part, though the active area continued to shrink. The E half of the lake remained solidified and comprised about 93 percent of the total area, based on thermal measurements acquired on 16 April. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was tons per day during May, and tons per day on 10 May, continuing a downward trend that began in mid-April.

The depth of the lake was about m and lava continued to circulate in the W part, though the active area continued to shrink. Lava flowed at a low rate from the main vent into the lake through crusted-over channels and submerged inlets. The depth of the lake was about m and lava continued to circulate in the W part, though the active area continued to shrink; the E half of the lake remained solidified.

Lava sometimes overflowed the margins of the lake. The rates were the lowest measured during the eruption, though elevated above the levels recorded in the months before the start of the eruption 20 December The total depth of the lake measured about m and lava continued to circulate in the W part; the E half of the lake remained solidified and expanded toward the W.

HVO field crews observed weak spattering from two areas at the W vent during April. Lava flowed from the main vent into the lake through two crusted-over channels and submerged inlets, the former of which occurred during March. The total depth of the lake measured about m and lava continued to circulate in the W part; the E half of the lake remained solidified, expanding toward the W.

Lava flowed from both the main vent and a vent several meters NE into the lake through submerged inlets. Another lava flow emerged from about halfway up the cone structure starting at on 16 March, but had ended by the next day. The depth of the western part of the lake rose from about m to m and lava continued to circulate in that part.

The E half of the lake remained solidified and lower that the W half, with the crusted E half expanding towards the W. Lava flowed from both the main vent and a newer vent several meters NE into the lake through submerged inlets. Another lava flow emerged from about halfway up the cone structure starting at on 16 March. The depth of the western part of the lake rose from m to m and lava continued to circulate in that part.

The depth of the western part of the lake fluctuated around m. Rangefinder measurements and visual observations indicated that the eastern and western portions of the lake were rising at the same rate, suggesting that lava was accumulating under the crusted eastern portion.

In recent weeks a part of the cone, several meters NE of the main vent, occasionally fed short less than m lava flows that entered the lake at the crusted margins. During March flows from this vent poured lava into the lake at several shifting inlets, though lava also accumulated on the lake margin within 50 m of the vent.

By midday on 7 March the flows had built a perched lava pond on the NW lake margin, but it abruptly collapsed just after The depth of the western part of the lake deepened from to m. Lava effused from a submerged vent and rapidly developed a thin crust as it flowed E towards the main stagnant island.

The E half of the lake remained solidified; the crusted area expanded towards the W. The W end of the lava lake was perched by 3 m above the distal margin of recent overflows. A series of surficial cracks separated the W part of the lake from the stagnant E part. Lava spillovers just N of the inlet of lava sporadically flowed around the NW margin of the perched lake.

Gas jetting at two locations above the W vents and two bursts of spatter were observed during February. During February a few lava flows were visible along the N and E margins of the E part of the lake. The western half of the lake dropped from m on 3 February to m on 4 February and stayed at that level during February; the drop in lake level was likely the result of summit deflation that was detected by tiltmeters.

The lake level had risen to m by the morning of 7 February coincident with the onset of summit inflation. A small dome fountain was visible at the entry point of lava into the lake on 8 February. The stagnant E half of the lake, separated by a series of surface cracks, was about 5 m lowed than the W half. The vent was mostly crusted over during 30 January-2 February, though several incandescent areas on cone were visible and lava slowly effused from the base of the cone.

The western half of the lake deepened from m to m while the stagnant eastern half remained a few meters lower. The lake was perched m above the rim. On 13 January a small portion of the cone collapsed, causing a second vent to open adjacent to the main vent and effuse lava for less than 20 minutes. The islands remained stationary in the E part of the lake; the dimensions of the largest island remained unchanged.

Lava flowed through a crusted channel into the lake during most of the week. A dome fountain of upwelled lava at the partially submerged inlet was 5 m tall early on 6 January. Dome fountaining had weakened early on 7 January, giving way to spattering at the top of the vent and the formation of a second cone. Dome fountaining was possibly visible again on 8 January.

The lake was perched at least m above its narrow edges, though late on 10 January the stagnant, eastern part of the lake had subsided and was m shallower. Overall the lake had deepened just 2 m by 11 January, reaching m, and the lake volume was estimated at more than 27 million cubic meters. An island of cooler, solidified lava and the 11 smaller islands were relatively stationary in the E part of the lake.

A cone had formed over the remaining active vent, which was one of three that had opened at the beginning of the eruption. The lake deepened from m on 30 December to m by 4 January, and the lake volume was an estimated 26 million cubic meters by 4 January. Over the week the island was joined by less than a dozen other small islands of cooled and solidified material that also moved around, though they mostly remained in the eastern part of the lake.

Seismicity remained elevated but stable. Lava erupted from the N and W vents during December with lava fountains that were sometimes 10 m high. The lake level rose above the N vent by on 26 December; later that day, volcanologists noted that the lake was slowly draining at that location.

The W vent continued to feed the lake during December. The depth of the lava lake increased from m to m during December. It continued to rise and was m deep by on 25 December, though a new, narrow, black rim along the N edge suggested that the lake had briefly been m deeper, and then drained back. The lake remained m deep through 28 December, but by 29 December had deepened to m. The lake volume was an estimated 22 million cubic meters, and was by m in dimension by 29 December.

HVO reported that a new eruption at Kilauea began on 20 December, after almost a month of pre-eruptive activity that included a dike intrusion. An earthquake swarm on 30 November centered in the middle of the caldera was recorded followed by periods of increased seismicity in the upper East Rift Zone.

Spikes in seismicity began on 2 December; at earthquakes intensified beneath the S part of the caldera; tiltmeters simultaneously recorded accelerated deformation, resulting in about 8 cm of caldera floor uplift.

The data suggested that a small intrusion had a volume equivalent to the amount of lava erupted in just hours from Fissure 8 during the eruption. On 3 December seismcity and deformation decreased to pre-intrusion levels. On 17 December the number and duration of long-period seismic signals increased.

An earthquake swarm and deformation were detected during the evening of 20 December. Minor lava fountaining 25 m high from the fissures was visible, with the tallest fountains reaching 50 m at the N fissure. Occasional blasts originated from the ponded lava. The accumulating lava in the crater rose at a rate of several meters per hour. Sulfur dioxide plumes drifted NW. An estimated 10 million cubic meters of lava had been erupted so far.

Lava effusion stopped at the NW vent during , and, along with the W vent, was inundated by the lava lake sometime before noon. HVO reported that during the previous several months monitoring data at Kilauea showed relatively low rates of seismicity, deformation, and gas emissions at the summit and East Rift Zone ERZ including the area of the eruption. That determination was made by HVO in part by using the Global Volcanism Program guideline that an eruption should be considered over on the date of the last eruptive activity, and when there has not been renewed activity in the following three months.

HVO noted that geophysical data continued to show magma being supplied to Kilauea, including the refilling of the middle ERZ, and reminded the public that Kilauea remains an active volcano.

Seismicity was low, steady, relatively low rates of deformation across the volcano were recorded, and the summit and East Rift Zone ERZ produced only minor gas emissions. These data indicated that near-term resumption of activity at the summit or at the lower ERZ was unlikely; the Volcano Alert Level was lowered to Advisory and the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Yellow.

Seismicity and ground deformation remain low at the summit, and small aftershocks from the M 6. Sulfur dioxide emissions from the summit and the LERZ were low.

On 1 October a rockfall at Pu'u 'O'o produced a small ash plume. Seismicity and ground deformation remain low at the summit, and aftershocks from the M 6. Small collapses at Pu'u 'O'o Crater during September generated visible dust plumes. On 1 September incandescence at Fissure 8 was evident in the afternoon; spattering from a small area produced lava flows that slowly covered the 15 x 65 m crater floor by the evening.

Lava continued to fill the Fissure 8 crater on 3 September. Lava continued to ooze into the ocean and produce minimal laze plumes, but by 27 August only a small single breakout from the Kapoho Bay lobe was active. Specifically, no collapse events had occurred at the summit since 2 August, lava ceased flowing in the channel from the Fissure 8 cone on 6 August, seismicity and ground deformation at the summit were negligible, and the combined rate of sulfur dioxide emission from the summit and the LERZ were lower than any time since late The small lava pond in Fissure 8 had crusted over by 17 August, with no observed incandescence.

Lava continued to ooze into the ocean at a few areas, causing minimal laze plumes. During an overflight on 20 August gas jets ejected spatter from a small incandescent area deep within the Fissure 8 cone.

HVO reported that during August activity at Kilauea was characterized by a slowly-circulating lava pond deep within the Fissure 8 vent though the pond was crusted over by 14 August and a billowing gas plume, and a few scattered ocean entries.

The summit area was quiet except for occasional rockfalls into the crater. Fresh black sand from fragmented lava was transported SW by the ocean current, and accumulated in the Pohoiki harbor, creating a sandbar. The westernmost ocean entry was about 1 km NE of the harbor. Earthquake and deformation data indicated no magma movement or pressurization in the system. A few spillovers from the channel set vegetation on fire. By 3 August the lava-flow velocity in the channel was low and on 4 August the output at Fissure 8 had waned.

The lava channel was completely crusted over by 6 August, and a lava lake bubbled in the Fissure 8 cone. The laze plumes at the ocean entry were greatly diminished. During August the lava lake in Fissure 8 was m below the spillway into the channel. A decreasing number of small active ooze outs near the coast were visible.

A collapse event at the summit was recorded at on 2 August. Seismicity increased afterwards as has been typical since early on in the LERZ eruption, but then decreased along with the rate of deformation. By 7 August deformation had almost stopped. The quiet conditions at the summit represented a significant change from the pattern of seismicity and deformation detected over the past several months.

Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that continued to spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and entered the ocean at Ahalanui. Explosions from collapse events occurred about every other day Sulfur dioxide emissions from the summit were very low. Fountaining at Fissure 8 continued, producing Pele's hair and other volcanic glass that fell within Leilani Estates.

The fountains continued to feed the lava flow that traveled NE, and then SSE, W of Kapoho Crater; lava occasionally overflowed the channel, and on 28 July ignited nearby vegetation.

Small plumes of laze a corrosive steam plume mixed with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic glass particles were generated at several points along a broad 2-km-wide flow front at Ahalanui. Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and built out the coastline at multiple ocean entries.

Explosions from collapse events occurred almost daily, often followed by a surge in activity at Fissure 8. Channel overflows on 18 July destroyed structures in the Leilani Subdivision. It generated plumes of laze a corrosive steam plume mixed with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic glass particles at several points along a broad 6-km-wide flow front, though the main entry area was at Ahalanui, a few hundred meters E of the flow edge which was m NE of Isaac Hale Park by 24 July.

HVO noted that the lava delta was unstable as it has been built out as far as m from the original coastline on unconsolidated lava fragments and sand. Explosions from collapse events occurred almost daily, producing gas-and-ash-poor plumes. A few channel overflows occurred. Lava entered the ocean at several points along a broad 6-km-wide flow front, though the main entry area was at Ahalanui m NE of Isaac Hale Park by 17 July.

On 13 July a new island, m in diameter, formed a few meters offshore, possibly fed by a submarine tumulus. On 16 July explosions were noted at the main ocean entry, some were strong. Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency noted that an explosion early in the morning ejected tephra that injured 23 people on a nearby tour boat. Fissure 22 produced spattering m above its spatter cone and fed short lava flows that traveled NE on 4 July; weak spattering was visible form the cone the rest of the week.

Fountaining at Fissure 8 continued; lava fountains rarely rose higher than the m-high spatter cone. Pele's hair and other volcanic glass from the fountaining fell within Leilani Estates. Occasional overflows sent small flows down the sides of the channel that did not extend beyond areas previously covered in lava in the upper part of the channel; overflows further down traveled beyond the flow-field boundary.

Small brush fires were ignited from some of the overflows. A thermal map from 6 July showed that lava was not entering the ocean from the main channel and that the open channel ended about 2 km inland. Lava was flowing into the ocean at the N part of the broad flow front. Observations on 9 July indicated that a blockage had formed upstream of Kapoho Crater, and by 10 July a small lobe was moving around the W side of the crater.

Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and built out the coastline where the fast-moving flow entered the ocean in the area of the former Kapoho Bay. Fissure 22 produced a few short lava flows during 30 June-3 July. Steam plumes rose from areas in the crater as well as from circumferential cracks adjacent to the crater.

Explosions from collapse events occurred almost daily, producing gas-and-ash-poor plumes that rose less than 1. The fountains continued to feed the fast-moving lava flow that traveled NE, and then SE around Kapoho Crater, and into the ocean. Occasional overflows sent small flows down the sides of the channel.

Lava entered the ocean on the S side of the flow front mainly through an open channel, but also along a 1-km-long area marked with billowing laze plumes. A thermal map showed that on 29 June the lava channel had crusted over about 0. Fissure 22 produced weak lava fountains on 22 June, and weak spattering and small lava flows on 26 June.

Explosions from collapse events occurred daily, producing gas-and-ash-poor plumes that rose less than 1. Fountaining at Fissure 8 continued; lava fountains rose occasionally higher than the m-high spatter cone. The lava-flow front at the ocean was almost 3. Summit explosions occurred daily, producing ash plumes that rose as high as 3 km 10, ft a. On 18 June residents reported feeling a large earthquake at and hearing roaring. The event was followed by an ash plume rising to 1. Fountaining at Fissure 8 was stable; lava fountains rose as high 60 m from a m-high spatter cone.

Lava entering the ocean built a lava delta that by 16 June was just over hectares in area. A plume of laze rose from the entry points. An area of thermal upwelling in the ocean out from the visible lava-delta front was visible, suggesting lava flowing on the ocean floor. Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and built out the coastline where the fast-moving flow entered the ocean in the Kapoho Bay area.

Summit explosions occurred almost daily. Explosions at and on 6 and 8 June, respectively, each produced an ash plume that rose 3 km 10, ft a. An explosion was recorded at on 9 June. Two explosions, the second larger than the first, were recorded at and on 11 June.

An ash-poor explosion occurred at on 12 June. A pattern of an increasing number of earthquakes, an explosion, and then a drop-off of seismicity immediately afterwards had emerged during the past few weeks and continued. A total of 12 rockfalls in Pu'u 'O'o Crater were recorded between and on 8 June, following a M 3. A red dust plume was visible around but dissipated quickly. Fountaining at Fissue 8 was stable, though by 10 June three closely spaced fountains were active within the m-high spatter cone.

The heights of the fountains varied, but rose no higher than 70 m. The width of the channel varied from m along its length. Periodic overflows sometimes sent small flows down the sides of the channel. Lava entered the ocean at Kapoho Bay, building a lava delta that by 11 June was just over hectares in area.

An area of strong thermal upwelling in the ocean around m out from the visible lava-delta front was visible beginning on 7 June, suggesting lava flowing on the ocean floor. According to a news report, the Hawaii County Mayor noted that by 8 June lava flows had destroyed over homes.

Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated at Fissure 8, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and reached the ocean at Kapoho Bay. Sluggish lava flows were present around Fissure Passive degassing of SO2 from the summit decreased, but emission rates were high enough to impact air quality downwind. Ash emissions were intermittent and low, though around on 30 May an ash plume rose to 3.

A small explosion was detected at on 1 June. A preliminary M 5. A small explosion and accompanying M 5. During the beginning of the reporting period Fissure 8 generated tall lava fountains, rising 80 m, and some secondary fountains that rose 18 m.

Pele's hair and other volcanic glass from the high fountaining fell in areas W of the fissure and within Leilani Estates. A small 30 m high spatter cone formed at the downwind side of the fountain.

Volcanic gas emissions from the fissures were very high; trade winds blew vog to the S and W parts of the island. High eruption rates led to the formation of a leveed channel along the W edge of the lava flow; small overflows from the channel occurred along its length.

Lava entered Green Lake 70 m x m in dimension, and 60 m deep at , creating a large steam plume. By lava had completely filled the lake and boiled off the water. Locals reported that lava with a flow front m wide entered the ocean at Kapoho Bay around By late afternoon on 4 June lava had built a delta extending almost m into the bay.

Overnight during June lava fountaining at Fissure 8 was less vigorous, with a maximum height of 55 m. By on 5 June lava had completely filled Kapoho Bay, creating a new coastline 1. To the S lava had overtaken most of the Vacationland subdivision and was entering the tidepools. All but the northern part of Kapoho Beach Lots had been covered. Lava fountaining and spatter was concentrated in the middle portion of the fissure system, feeding lava flows that spread through Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, and also traveled to the ocean.

Earthquakes beneath the summit and ash emissions from Overlook Crater continued as the summit area subsided and adjusted to the withdrawal of magma. Ash emissions were small and frequent, punctuated by larger plumes. The Overlook crater vent continued to widen to the W, and by 25 May the vent area was about 36 hectares. At on 25 May a M 4 earthquake was located in the summit region.

Three explosions at , , and on 26 May generated ash plumes that rose A small explosion at on 29 May sent an ash plume vertically to 4. Lava fountains from Fissure 22 continued to form a channelized lava flow that entered the ocean NE of MacKenzie State Park, causing explosions and generating a plume of hazardous laze lava haze, a mixture of condensed acidic steam, hydrochloric acid gas, and tiny shards of volcanic glass.

On 23 May relatively tall lava fountains at fissures 6 and 13 fed another channelized flow that created a second ocean entry. On 24 May lava was entering the ocean at three points between Pohoiki Bay and MacKenzie State Park, though by the next day only two were active.

Overnight during May vigorous spatter was observed from a cone on Fissure 8, and multiple booming gas emissions occurred at Fissure By the morning of 26 May an estimated 9. A perched pond on the W side of Fissure 7 was breached, sending short flows W. Later that day the flows turned S, and by dusk were cascading into Pawaii crater, adjacent to the W margin of the Fissure 6 flow that fed one of the ocean entries.

During May activity at Fissure 7 increased; lava from fountains m tall built a large, m-high spatter rampart. Large cracks were observed overnight on Kupono St.

Three vents active at Fissure 8 spattered and flamed, and doubled in size in one day. On 27 May lava flows from fissures 7 and 8 advanced NE on PGV property; at about a flow broke out in this area and advanced rapidly to the N and W, through the E portion of Leilani Estates, prompting several residents to evacuate.

Three minor ocean entries were again active. Fissure 24 opened in Leilani Estates. On 28 May the vents that fed the ocean entries stopped erupting, leading to only residual lava in the channel to occasionally enter the ocean.

During May fountains, lava flows, and spattering from multiple fissures persisted. Pele's hair from vigorous fountaining 60 m high at Fissure 8 drifted downwind, with some strands falling in Pahoa. According to a news article, the LERZ eruption had destroyed at least 94 structures, including 53 homes, by 29 May.

The flows also cut off road access to PGV, which had been evacuated. The drop of the floor stressed faults around the caldera causing earthquakes as strong at M 4. HVO and National Park staff reported frequent ground shaking, and damage to roads and buildings. Ash plume heights varied, but generally rose no higher than 1. Lava from fissure 17 advanced about 90 m.

Weak spattering arose from fissure 18, and fissure 20 was again active. At about on 17 May an explosive event or a series of explosions at Overlook Crater generated an ash plume that, according to the Washington VAAC, rose as high as 9.

Subsequent gas, steam, and ash emissions rose to 3. Fissure 17 actively spattered, though its lava flow had nearly stalled. Fissures 18, 19, and 20 reactivated, and a new fissure 21 opened between fissures 7 and 3.

A m-wide depression with cracks formed parallel to the fissures between Highway and Lanipuna Gardens, into which pahoehoe lava flowed from fissures 20 and Fissure 22 opened just downrift of fissure On 18 May a robust gas-and-steam plume rose from Overlook Crater, punctuated by several minor ash emissions. At a short-lived explosion generated an ash plume that rose up to 3 km 10, ft a. Spattering continued from fissures 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22, with pahoehoe lava flows being erupted from fissures 17, 18, and Large fountains at fissure 17 ejected bits of spatter m high.

Lava flows from fissure 18 traveled almost 1 km SE, and a flow from fissure 15 crossed Pohoiki Road. A fast-moving lava flow m per hour emerged from fissure 20 and traveled SE, across Pohoiki Road. Gas emissions remained elevated in areas downwind of the fissure system; air quality was poor from gas emissions as well as smoke from burning vegetation.

Earthquake locations had not moved farther downrift in the previous few days. Small ash emissions from Overlook Crater occurred intermittently on 19 May. The eruption of lava and ground cracking in the area of Leilani Estates subdivision continued. Fissure 17 was weakly active after fountaining earlier in the day.

Two of the flows joined less than a 1. During May there were two explosive eruptions from Overlook Crater, and several smaller ash emissions. Lava flows reached the ocean overnight late on 19 May along the SE Puna coast. On 20 May spatter was ejected from fissures 6 and 17, and fissure 20 produced significant lava flows.

A ground crack opened under the E lava channel diverting lava into underground voids. Gas emissions tripled as a result of the voluminous eruptions from fissure Photos take in the afternoon showed two ocean entries along approximately 1 km of coastline. A small explosion at Overlook Crater at on 21 May produced an ash plume that rose around 2.

Several smaller emissions throughout the day ejected abundant ash. Robust steam-and-gas plumes also rose from the crater. Lava fountains from fissure 22 fed a channelized lava flow that entered the ocean N of MacKenzie State Park. Spattering occurred at fissures 6, 17, and Small ash emissions from Overlook Crater continued on 22 May. Lava continued to enter the ocean, though by the afternoon only one entry was active. Most of the LERZ activity shifted to the middle part of the fissure system.

In the northeast part of the area, fissure 15 extended across Poihiki Road, generating a pahoehoe flow about 20 m 66 ft long. On 10 and 11 May, little new extrusive activity was noted from the ERZ fissures, though there were continued earthquakes, ground deformation, and considerable gas discharge. Tiltmeters recorded ongoing deflation and the Overlook crater lava level continued to drop. Fissure 16 opened at on 12 May near the end of Hinalo Road.

It produced a lava flow that traveled about m before stalling around An area that had been actively steaming developed into fissure 17, reported at just east of fissure 16, and was actively spattering and degassing. At the summit, rockfalls from the steep walls into Overlook crater generated intermittent small steam-and-ash clouds throughout the day.

Lava eruptions continued on 13 May along the lower ERZ. Aerial observations showed that a new outbreak in the early morning about m NE of the end of Hinalo Street and m S of Highway was several hundred yards long and ejected spatter along with a slow-moving lava flow. By late in the day this activity from fissure 17 was dominated by lava fountaining, explosions that sent spatter bombs to m into the air, and several advancing lava flow lobes moving generally NE; as of one lobe was 2 m thick and advancing roughly parallel to Highway Steady, vigorous plumes of steam and occasionally minor amounts of ash rose from the Overlook vent and drifted downwind to the SW.

Later in the day, ash clouds rose up to m 2, ft above the vent. Several strong earthquakes shook the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the surrounding area overnight. Activity on the morning of 14 May in the lower ERZ was dominated by lava fountaining, explosions of spatter more than 30 m ft into the air, and an advancing flow from fissure 17 at the NE end of the fissure system.

As of , the fissure 17 flow had traveled about 1. Fissure 18 was weakly active. Volcanic gas emissions remained elevated throughout the area downwind of the vents. Deflationary tilt at the summit continued and seismicity remained elevated.

On the morning of 15 May activity remained concentrated at fissure The lava flow had advanced about m since on 14 May. At the flow was nearly 2. However, the advance of the flow had slowed significantly since that afternoon.

Also in the morning a new fissure 20 located near fissure 18 produced two small pads of lava. Ash emission from the Overlook crater increased compared to previous days. Although varying in intensity, at times the plume contained enough ash to be gray in color. Variable pulses sent the cloud to an estimated Small cracks formed on some of the roads in and adjacent to Leilani Estates.

Seismicity at Pu'u 'O'o Crater remained elevated after floor collapses which began on 30 April. Short-lived ash plumes periodically rose from the crater. The lava flows on the pali near the Royal Gardens subdivision were sluggish. Deflation at the summit accelerated around midday, accompanied by a drop in the level of the lava lake. On 3 May the intensity of the ERZ seismicity decreased slightly, and the eastward migration of hypocenters slowed or ceased; deformation continued.

The lava level in Overlook crater dropped over 30 m, though spattering in the lake continued. At ground shaking from a M 5 earthquake S of Pu'u 'O'o caused rockfalls and possibly a collapse in the crater; an ash plume rose from the crater and drifted SW. More ground cracks in the E part of Leilani Estates formed that afternoon; hot white and blue fumes rose from the cracks.

Lava spatter and gas bursts began erupting from m-long fissures just after and ended around Lava flows spread less than 10 m, and strong sulfur dioxide odors were noted. The lava lake in the Overlook Crater dropped an additional 37 m.

By the morning of 4 May three fissures were active; fissure 2 opened at and fissure 3 opened around Spatter was ejected as high as 30 m and lava flows were traveling short distances. Large, loud bubble bursts occurred at fissure 3. Ash plumes from intermittent collapses at Pu'u 'O'o continued to rise above the crater, and the 61 G lava flow was no longer being fed. Fissures 4 and 5 opened at and , respectively, and by there were six, each several hundred meters long.

The sixth fissure was on the E edge of the subdivision. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency stated that multiple agencies were assisting with the mandatory evacuation of residents about 1, in the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions.

A temporary flight restriction was declared for most of lower Puna. The report noted dangerously high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. Corresponding to this deflationary trend, the summit lava lake in Overlook crater had dropped to about m below the crater rim since 30 April. Summit seismicity increased during May coincident with the M 6.

Rockfalls from the inner crater walls produced ash plumes that rose above the Halema'uma'u crater rim on 5 May.