U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet 144-02

December 2002 

The Puÿu ÿÖÿö-Küpaianaha Eruption of Kïlauea Volcano,

Hawaiÿi, 1983 to 2003

he Puÿu ÿÖÿö-Küpaianaha 

eruption of Kïlauea is the 

volcano’s longest rift-zone 

eruption in more than 600 

years. Lava flows have buried 

2 43 square miles (111 km ) of 

the volcano and added 544 

acres (220 ha) to the Island of 

Hawaiÿi. The eruption not only 

challenges local communities,

which must adapt to an everchanging and sometimes 

destructive environment, but 

also draws millions of visitors 

to Hawaiÿi Volcanoes National 

Park. U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) scientists closely 

monitor and evaluate hazards 

at Hawaiÿi’s volcanoes and 

also work with park rangers to 

help ensure safe lava viewing 

for visitors.

T

Volcanic gases escape from vents on the crater floor of the Puÿu ÿÖÿö cone, located 12 miles (19 km) east 

of the summit of Kïlauea Volcano. Since 1987, repeated collapses of the cone have resulted in a crater 

more than 1,300 feet (400 m) long. The crater floor is 40 feet (13 m) below the lowest part of the rim. In the 

distance (upper left), steam plumes rise where lava flows pour into the sea, about 7 miles (11 km) south of 

Puÿu ÿÖÿö. USGS photo by Richard Hoblitt, May 2002.

During the first 31⁄2 years of the eruption, fallout from lava fountains at built a cinder-and-spatter 

cone 835 feet (255 m) high, more than twice as high as any other cone on Kïlauea’s east rift zone. Cone 

growth ceased after the activity shifted to Küpaianaha in mid-1986. When the eruption returned to 

n 1993, 

collapse pits appeared on the west flank of as subsidence over the flank vents undermined the 

cone. When the crater floor dropped in January 1997, the weakened flank also failed, leaving the prominent “west gap.” Note growth of the shield (right). USGS photos by Tari Mattox and Christina Heliker.

Puÿu ÿÖÿö 

Puÿu 

ÿÖÿö in 1992, lava flows from flank vents built a shield against the west flank of the cone (left). I

Puÿu ÿÖÿö 

lava flows in the past 1,000 years. Kïlauea Eruption chronology

erupts either at its summit or along its east 

 The Puÿu ÿÖÿö-Küpaianaha eruption 

or southwest rift zones. From the early began on January 3, 1983, on a remote 

1800s through 1954, the volcano erupted On the evening of January 29, 1997, stretch of the east rift zone, 12 miles (19 

mainly in its summit caldera. Since 1955, scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano km) from the summit caldera. The early 

Observ however, most eruptions have occurred atory (HVO) hastily returned to work years of the eruption were remarkable for 

along the east rift zone. The Puÿu ÿÖÿö- as a swarm of earthquakes struck Kïlauea’s lava fountains as high as 1,500 feet (460 m) 

Küpaianaha eruption, which has produced east rift zone. Deep within the rift zone, that erupted episodically from Puÿu ÿÖÿö.

magma (molten rock) was escaping from the more than half the volume of lava erupted Puÿu ÿÖÿö, the main vent of the eruption, 

by Kïlauea in the last 160 years, is by far the conduit leading to the Puÿu ÿÖÿö vent, cut- straddles the boundary of Hawaiÿi Volcanoes 

largest of these. ting off the supply to the ongoing eruption. National Park. From mid-1983 through

The lava pond at Puÿu ÿÖÿö drained, and residents 10 miles (16 km) away heard a low, 

rumbling roar as the crater floor dropped 

500 feet (150 m) and the west wall of the 

Puÿu ÿÖÿö cone collapsed. A few hours later, 

as magma found a new path to the surface, 

the ground cracked in nearby Näpau Crater, 

and lava fountains lit up the night sky. At 

dawn, HVO scientists were impressed by the 

size of a new gap in the west flank of Puÿu 

ÿÖÿö. Even after 15 years, monitoring the 

eruption was anything but routine.

 Kïlauea is Hawaiÿi’s youngest volcano 

and one of the world’s most active. More 

than 90% of its surface has been covered by 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY and the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE—OUR VOLCANIC PUBLIC LANDS
mid-1986, Puÿu ÿÖÿö erupted every 3 to 4 

weeks, usually for less than 24 hours. The 

towering lava fountains, visible and audible 

for miles, built a high cone and fed thick, of each fountaining episode, none of these the creation of new land and stunningly 

blocky flows of ÿaÿä, the less fluid of the two flows reached the ocean. beautiful flows in the national park have 

types of Hawaiian lava flows.

 After the eruptive activity changed from drawn millions of people to experience and 

 In July 1986, the eruption shifted 2 miles episodic to continuous in 1986, pähoehoe, a enjoy volcanic activity up close.

(3 km) downrift to a new vent, Küpaianaha, type of lava more fluid than ÿaÿä, predomi- The continuous emission of more than 

initiating 51⁄2 years of continuous, quiet nated. The main lava channels exiting the 1,000 tons of irritating sulfur dioxide gas 

effusion. A lava pond formed over the vent, Küpaianaha and Puÿu ÿÖÿö vents crusted (SO ) each day from Kïlauea’s erupting 2

and frequent overflows built a broad shield over and formed tubes that eventually vents has resulted in volcanic smog, or 

185 feet (56 m) high in less than a year. extended to the ocean. Tubes insulate lava “vog,” downwind of the volcano. SO in the 2

 On November 28, 1986, flows from from heat loss, allowing it to remain fluid eruption plume reacts with oxygen, water, 

Küpaianaha reached the ocean, 7.5 miles (12 and travel far without cooling. Tube-fed and particles in the air to form the sulfurickm) away, cut a swath through the commu- pähoehoe flows have formed a barren plain acid droplets and solid sulfate particles that 

nity of Kapaÿahu, and closed the coastal as thick as 115 feet (35 m) that spans 9.5 produce vog and acid rain. Vog aggravates 

highway. Over the next 5 years, lava flows miles (15 km) at the coast. preexisting respiratory ailments and damagoverran houses on either side of the ever- es crops. Acid rain leaches lead from roofs, 

widening flow field. Building new land contaminating household water supplies.

 By 1991, lava output from Küpaianaha Since late 1986, lava has poured into the Since early 1992, lava flows have 

was in steady decline. Magma pressure in- ocean more than 70% of the time, by far the remained mostly within Hawaiÿi Volcanoes 

creased uprift of Küpaianaha, and new fis- longest such interval in at least 600 years. National Park, reducing the immediate 

sures erupted between Küpaianaha and Puÿu More than 540 acres (220 ha) of new land threat to residential areas. The geologic 

ÿÖÿö for 3 weeks in November 1991. Lava have been created as lava deltas build history of Kïlauea, however, indicates a high 

discharge from Küpaianaha continued to seaward over steep submarine slopes of lava likelihood of continued activity on the east 

wane and, on February 7, 1992, finally rubble, black sand, and pillow lava (the rift zone, even after the present eruption 

stopped. submarine form of pähoehoe). Such steep ends. To provide reliable and timely warn-

 Ten days later, the activity returned to slopes are unstable and prone to slumping, ings of eruptions, USGS scientists at HVO 

Puÿu ÿÖÿö. Low lava fountains erupted from which removes support for the active, continuously monitor Hawaiÿi’s volcanoes.

a fissure on the west flank of the massive leading edge of the lava delta, or “bench.” 

cone. This was the first in a series of flank When a bench suddenly collapses, several 

vents that built a lava shield 260 feet (80 m) acres of land can slide into the sea in less 

high, banked against the slope of Puÿu ÿÖÿö. than a minute. Large collapses are highly 

From 1992 through 2002, nearly continuous dangerous and frequently precipitate violent 

effusion from these vents sent lava flows to steam explosions and scalding waves. Four 

the ocean within the national park. people have died near Kïlauea’s active lava 

 In May 2002, lava flows from a new vent deltas (see USGS Fact Sheet 152-00, 

on the west side of the shield advanced Viewing Hawaiÿi’s Lava Safely–Common 

along the western margin of the flow field Sense is Not Enough). 

and sparked the largest forest fire in the park Impact on people in 15 years. By late July, these flows reached 

 The current eruption ranks as Kïlauea’s the sea at the end of Chain of Craters Road, 

most destructive since A.D. 1790. Between drawing as many as 4,000 visitors per day.

1983 and 1991, lava flows repeatedly invadPähoehoe flows dominate ed communities on Kïlauea’s southern coast. 

 The high lava fountains at Puÿu ÿÖÿö In 1990, the flows from Küpaianaha covered 

from 1983 to 1986 produced mainly ÿaÿä the village of Kalapana, leading to a Federal 

flows that were typically 10 to 15 feet disaster declaration for coastal communities 

(3–5 m) thick. Because of the short duration destroyed by the eruption. At the same time, 

Printed on recycled paper

Christina Heliker and Steven R. Brantley

Layout by Steven R. Brantley

COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS

Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes,

University of Hawaiÿi at Hilo

Hawaiÿi County Civil Defense

Hawaiÿi Volcanoes National Park

Puÿu ÿÖÿö-Küpaianaha Eruption Statistics,

1983 to 2003

Lava flows

3 Area covered: 42.6 square miles (110.4 km )

 New land: 544 acres (220 ha)

3 Volume: 0.6 cubic miles (2.3 km )

 Thickness along coast: 33–115 feet (10 35 m)

 Highway covered: 8 miles (13 km)

 Structures destroyed: 189

Puÿu ÿÖÿö

 Maximum height, 1987: 835 feet (255 m)

 Height (September 2002): 613 feet (187 m)

 Crater size: 820 x 1,312 feet (250 x 400 m)

 Height of west flank shield: 260 feet (80 m)

–

Most lava flows erupted from Kïlauea Volcano since A.D. 1790 (shown in red) originated from the east rift 

zone, which extends 34 miles (55 km) from the summit caldera to the eastern tip of the Island of Hawaiÿi.

Lava flows from the present eruption (shown in yellow) span more than 9 miles (15 km) along the coast.

Hawaiÿi Island consists of five volcanoes, including Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualälai, Mauna Loa, and Kïlauea.

For more information contact:

U.S. Geological Survey

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

P.O. Box 51; Hawaii National Park, HI 96718

Tel: (808) 967-7328, Fax: (808) 967-8890

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

or

USGS Volcano Hazards Program

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/

or

See other USGS Hawaiian volcano Fact Sheets

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov / Products/sproducts.html