The current activity along Kilauea's east rift zone is the longest-lived eruption of Kilauea in historic times. However, the historic period on Kilauea dates only to 1790, and the first well-documented eruption took place in 1823. This historic period is, geologically speaking, so short that there are eruptive styles that we have probably not yet observed. What is clear from this short record is that eruptive activity at Kilauea varies greatly in both space and time. Eruptions have lasted from less than one day to thirteen years, the lenght of the current eruption.
Most eruptions last less than a week.
More than half of all Kilauea eruptions are limited to the summit region. During most of the 19th century, activity occurred in the summit almost continuously, although from 1894 to 1907 lava was occasionally visible only during brief periods. From 1907 until 1924, activity was once again nearly continuous at the summit. Beginning in 1952, Kilauea has had 35 separate eruptions, mostly along the east rift zone. The eruption rate at Kilauea has not been constant through time.