Hawaii
Watch: Lava “cascades” into crater as Hawaii volcanic eruption continues
A volcanic eruption near Nāpau Crater in Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park is continuing to dramatic effect, footage by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows.
The eruptive activity at the Kilauea volcano began on September 14, when magma intruded beneath the ground in the volcano’s East Rift Zone. The following day, magma was seen bubbling up to the surface along a 480-meter fissure in the ground.
“The eruption near Nāpau Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues,” the USGS said in its status report on Wednesday evening.
“Webcam and GOES satellite thermal imagery show that eruptive activity within Nāpau Crater, which had been waning throughout the day, has likely ceased while eruptive activity on the west edge of Nāpau Crater appears to have restarted. Lava is currently cascading into Nāpau Crater on the northwest rim.”
Sipa USA/SIPAPRE/AP
Kilauea, located on the southeastern coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with regular eruptions since 1983. The eruption temperature of the lava is about 2,140 °F; however, as soon as it is exposed to air, it begins cooling by hundreds of degrees per second.
By Tuesday, new vents at the volcano had opened, and the extent of the eruption was growing. “In total, the fissure system has stretched over 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of the East Rift Zone, with lava flows now covering 18 hectares (44 acres),” the USGS said in its timeline of events.
Newsweek contacted the USGS by email for comment on the ongoing situation at the eruption site.
Though the eruption is occurring in a remote location of the national park, with no immediate threats posed to life or infrastructure, several hazards have been identified.
Volcanic smog, or “vog,” is a mixture of water vapor and sulfur dioxide that is emitted during eruptions and can have far reaching effects downwind, according to the USGS. “Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock,” the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said.
Hawaiian lava flows generally move slowly, burning and destroying everything in their paths. As well as scorching vegetation and soil, the flows can ignite gas pockets below the surface, leading to explosions.
Temporary closures are in place in Volcanoes National Park as a result of the activity, and public viewing of the eruption is not currently permitted.
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Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
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