Kilauea, whose peak rises just around 30 miles from my home, resumed erupting in the summit caldera in December 2024. As 2026 begins, there have been 40 eruption “episodes,” including some very dramatic fountaining reaching heights of over 1200 feet. Of the 40, I have observed 18 and captured a very large number of photos and videos. I began to create summary videos, and have settled on producing them in three month intervals.

My great thanks to Scott Buckley, composer of “Snowfall” which I’ve used as the background music for each video, both for writing a great piece and making at available for use with a Creative Commons license.

December 2024 – March 2025

This video includes material filmed from seven visits to the caldera during eruption events.

April 2025 – May 2025

This video includes material filmed from four visits to the caldera during eruption events. It probably includes footage of the highest fountains I have observed to date.

June 2025 – August 2025

This video includes material filmed from two visits to the caldera during eruption events.

September 2025 – December 2025

I visited the Kilauea summit nine times between September and December, including four fountaining events. There was visible surface lava during a couple of the other visits, and, of course, there were always the stunning sights of the Kilauea caldera. This video does not include the dramatic fountains of episode 40, which took place January 12, 2026.