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June 23, 2023

The eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater entered a pause during the afternoon of June 19, 2023. The eruption, which was occurring inside the Kīlauea summit caldera within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, began during the morning of June 7, 2023.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists collect detailed data to assess hazards and understand how the eruption is evolving at Kīlauea's summit, all of which are shared with the National Park Service and emergency managers. Access to this hazardous area is by permission from, and in coordination with, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The eruption is occurring within Halemaʻumaʻu, a location that is significant to Native Hawaiian communities because it is the home of the deity Pele.

color photograph of volcanic crater
View looking south over Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the Kīlauea summit, captured during a helicopter overflight on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The cone built up during the most recent eruption is visible on the southwest (center-right) wall of the crater. Although the eruption paused on June 19, 2023, the helicopter crew observed a minor ooze-out of lava on the northeast (bottom-right) margin of the recently erupted lava. This indicates that while no new lava is erupting, there is still minor lava circulation in places under the solidified crust. This is expected as the recently dynamic system cools downs. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
color photograph of volcanic crater floor
View looking southwest across the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor within the Kīlauea summit caldera, captured during a helicopter overflight on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Lava erupted during the most recent eruption comprises the crater floor in the bottom half of the photo. Remnants of the main island—formed during the early stages of the December 20, 2020 eruption—protrude above the cooled lava lake in the center of the photo, and the recent eruptive vent on the southwest wall of Halemaʻumaʻu is visible behind and right of the main island. USGS photo by N. Deligne.
Kīlauea summit thermal map showing the Halema‘uma‘u crater floor in mostly blue shades indicative of cooler lava temperatures
A helicopter overflight on June 22, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruptive activity ceased on June 19, and only a small ooze-out of residual lava was active. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures. 
Thermal map of the recent eruption in Halema‘uma‘u crater with the crater floor dominantly covered in cooled lava
A helicopter overflight on June 22, 2023, allowed for aerial visual and thermal imagery to be collected of Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruptive activity ceased on June 19, and only a small ooze-out of residual lava was active. The scale of the thermal map ranges from blue to red, with blue colors indicative of cooler temperatures and red colors indicative of warmer temperatures.

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