Hawaii
Kilauea: Hawaii volcano erupts again spewing toxic gases and volcanic smog
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano has entered its fifth eruptive episode since late December 2024, resuming activity at 2:57 p.m. HST (7:57 p.m. ET) on January 22, 2025.
Fountains of lava between 16 and 33 feet high have been observed, accompanied by a short lava flow from the volcano’s north vent.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported seismic tremor increasing as the eruption began, with ongoing inflation beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater indicating continued activity.
“Once sufficient pressure builds, it can push magma up to the surface to start another eruptive episode,” Katie Mulliken, a geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), told Newsweek.
“Episodes are marked by the onset of lava fountains and rapid deflation of the source magma chamber.”
USGS
Why This Matters
Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, having erupted dozens of times since 1952.
While the current eruption is by no means the largest or longest at the volcano, significant hazards persist for residents and visitors.
How Dangerous is the Hawaii Eruption?
Kīlauea’s current eruption activity remains confined within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater and Kaluapele, located in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. While the activity is contained within a closed area of the National Park, the HVO has warned of several hazards.
Volcanic gas emissions of water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are the “primary concern,” as they can be blown over large distances. Sulfur dioxide, in particular, reacts with the atmosphere to form a visible haze known as volcanic smog, or “vog”.
Anyone’s health can be impacted when inhaling vog, but sensitive groups such as people with respiratory conditions, older adults, children and pregnant women should exercise extra caution.
Current air quality data from the Hawaii State Department of Health shows conditions have not deteriorated as of yet, with all monitoring stations at “good” levels on the island.
Pele’s hair—strands of volcanic glass produced by lava fountains and carried by the wind—is another hazard associated with eruptions at Kīlauea.
“As lava is ejected through the air, lava particles can be stretched apart, and the material in between can become very thin and form the glassy strands,” Mulliken said.
“It can sometimes cluster and tangle together on the ground, giving it the appearance of a tumbleweed.”
Mulliken confirmed that during the fourth eruptive episode, which ended on January 18, Pele’s hair reached residential communities within several miles of the summit.
She added, “Hazards associated with Pele’s hair are similar to those associated with volcanic ash. Both are abrasive particles with sharp edges that can irritate eyes, respiratory systems and skin.
“Most Pele’s hair is too large to be inhaled, but people with existing respiratory diseases, like asthma, might find that their symptoms are worse when they are exposed to airborne volcanic particles.”
Anyone in the area is advised to limit exposure to volcanic gases and Pele’s hair where possible.
What Happens Next
Live webcams positioned at Kīlauea’s summit reveal the eruption was still ongoing as of 2:14 a.m. HST (7:14 a.m. ET).
HVO is continuing to monitor the situation and is expected to release another update later this morning.
Each eruptive episode at Kīlauea has lasted between 14 hours and 8 days, separated by a pause of 1 to 12 days. Its unclear how long this current episode will last.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about volcanic eruptions? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
The demolition of Aloha Stadium on Oahu took a big step forward Thursday with the first section of seating pulled down from the steel structure.
Half of the elevated deck-level seating on the stadium’s makai side was severed and toppled backward as part of demolition work that began in February.
The other half of the upper makai-side seating is slated to come down Tuesday, followed by similar sections on the mauka side and both end zones, though the concrete foundations for lower-level end-zone seating are being preserved for a new, smaller stadium to rise on the same site.
A private partnership, Aloha Halawa District Partners, led by local developer Stanford Carr, is replacing the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, which opened in 1975 and was shuttered in 2020, with a new stadium featuring up to 31,000 seats.
AHDP is using $350 million of state funding toward the cost of the new stadium, which could be $475 million or more, and will operate and maintain the facility on state land for 30 years with a land lease.
The development team also is to redevelop much of the 98-acre stadium property dominated by parking lots with a new mixed-use community that includes at least 4,100 residences, two hotels, an office tower, retail, entertainment attractions and open spaces expected to be delivered in phases over 25 years and costing close to or more than $5 billion or $6 billion.
Earlier parts of stadium demolition work led by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. included removing four covered multistory spiral walkways leading to the upper level from the ground, and concourse bridges.
Demolishing the stadium is projected to be done by August, according to Carr.
Building the new facility is expected to be finished in 2029.
Hawaii
This Airbnb Tiny Home Sits on a Lava Field in Hawaii With Unbeatable Night Sky Views—and It’s a Guest Favorite
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tal-airbnb-one-off-tout-1465b3bde0864117b43761b0d1dd346e.jpg?ssl=1 "This Airbnb Tiny Home Sits on a Lava Field in Hawaii With Unbeatable Night Sky Views—and It’s a Guest Favorite")
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The team behind a popular Hawaii-based home renovation show is now facing legal troubles after airing content that shouldn’t have been released, according to the state.
Hawaii’s Attorney General is now involved after HGTV’s ‘Renovation Aloha’ showed uncensored images of apparent ancient skeletal remains that were discovered at a Hilo property.
In a now-deleted clip on social media, Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, along with the production team, discovered a cave beneath a Hilo property where they found the remains deep inside.
Video documented their shock when it was found, with the hosts saying, “There’s bones back here. I got to get out of here. Are you fricken serious? I’m serious dude. Is that a skull?”
Tristyn was seen standing further back, saying “This is terrifying. I’m at my stopping point” before leaving.
Hawaii News Now is not showing the bones, but confirmed with HGTV the episode was filmed in December 2025.
Video didn’t show them touching or moving the remains, and HGTV said authorities were notified after the discovery, the property was not developed, and the site was later blessed.
At the time, police said no crime was committed, and the state AG obtained a TRO to prevent the broadcast of the images in accordance with state law.
However this week, uncensored video of the bones was posted online by the Kalamas and HGTV, and included in the episode, triggering a quick rebuke from the community.
“We don’t kaula’i iwi. We do not lay our bones out in the sun to expose him in this manner,” former Oahu Island Burial Council Chair Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu said.
She also said the release of the images was “extremely disappointing,” saying the damage was already done.
“It is irrelevant that bones were not moved. It is irrelevant that they were not disturbed, per se, because somebody didn’t touch them — but you went into their space and that space becomes kapu space once they have transitioned over to po. And when you do that, we honor that. We don’t disturb them,” Wong-Kalu added.
The AG said they took immediate legal action to prevent the unlawful broadcast of images, pointing to a TRO issued prior to the episode’s release. They also said, “We are aware that the segment aired notwithstanding the court’s order, and we take this matter very seriously. The Department will pursue additional action as necessary.”
Court Documents revealed the Kalamas and producers of the show are now facing four counts for allegedly breaking Iwi Kupuna protection rules.
“If that were our grandparent, would we want them, after they have physically transitioned to po, would we want to share our family in this manner? I don’t think so,” Wong-Kalu added.
HGTV said in a statement, “We take the concerns raised by the community very seriously and are committed to ensuring our programming is respectful and appropriate. We apologize to anyone who found any part of the episode offensive, that was not HGTV’s intention.”
They also confirmed the original episode was removed, and re-edited without the bones included.
Through our communication with the HGTV spokesperson, Hawaii News Now offered the Kalamas a chance to respond directly, but they did not. They did however take to Instagram to address the episode, saying they followed the protocols they knew, and never intended to build there. They stressed their respect for Hawaiian culture and practices.
The investigation remains active.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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