Halemaumau

Halemaumau is a volcanic vent located at the summit of Kilauea, one of the volcanoes on the island of Hawaii. The vent sits within the Kilauea Caldera, inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The name Halemaumau is Hawaiian for “house of perpetual fire,” a reference to the long-standing volcanic activity associated with the vent.

Geologically, Halemaumau is a central component of Kilauea’s summit magma system. Over the years it has hosted lava lakes that rise and fall with the volcano’s activity. The lava lake at Halemaumau has been one of the most studied and publicly visible expressions of Kilauea’s eruption cycle, and its level and presence have changed repeatedly in response to internal plumbing and pressure changes within the volcano.

Historically, Halemaumau has a long record of eruptions and vigorous activity. In the modern era, a persistent lava lake occupied Halemaumau for extended periods, notably beginning in the late 2000s, with dramatic changes and eventual draining during later explosive activity at the summit. After periods of quiescence, activity at or near Halemaumau has periodically resumed, producing surface lava, spatter, and continuing degassing. The vent continues to be a focus of observation and study as part of the ongoing activity at Kilauea’s summit.

Access to Halemaumau is restricted during eruptive periods due to hazardous conditions, including lava, ash, and toxic gases. Monitoring is conducted by the United States Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which provides updates on eruption status, crater conditions, and related hazards.