Kupaianaha vent forms perched lava pond 3 km east of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

The Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption shifted to a new vent, Kupaianaha, in July 1986, and the style of eruption changed from intermittent episodes of high lava fountains to continuous extrusion of lava. Within weeks, a lava pond formed atop the vent and a low shield grew as lava repeatedly spilled over the rim of the pond. After weeks of continuous eruption, the main lava channel leading from the Kupaianaha pond gradually roofed over to form a tube. Lava flowing through the tube system reached the sea in November 1986.