The Ever-Persistent Kīlauea Volcano: Nature's Duality
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Chapter 1: Kīlauea's Unyielding Presence
Kīlauea stands as one of the globe’s most active volcanoes. This Hawaiian giant almost perpetually erupts, unleashing torrents of lava that obliterate everything in their wake while simultaneously expanding the land. Where exactly is Kīlauea situated? What led to its formation? Below, I will explore these questions and more.
Kīlauea volcano eruption 2020 — [Photo: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Though Hawaii appears as a Polynesian paradise, beneath this idyllic surface lies a fierce spectacle, with Kīlauea taking center stage. The volcano occasionally awakens, initiating a unique blend of devastation and creation.
Section 1.1: Locating Kīlauea
The Hawaiian archipelago comprises eight primary islands positioned to the east, along with smaller coastal isles and a series of atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The largest and most youthful of these is Hawai’i, home to Kīlauea volcano.
Subsection 1.1.1: Dimensions of Kīlauea
Kīlauea is classified as an active shield volcano primarily made up of basalt, featuring a broad, flattened cone. Known as the "Hawaiian monster," it reaches an elevation of 1,247 meters above sea level and spans an area of 1,430 square kilometers, accounting for about 14 percent of the island's total surface area. At the peak of its main crater lies the Halema’uma’u lava lake, which measures 900 meters across and descends approximately 165 meters deep.
[Photo: USGS Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Section 1.2: The Meaning Behind Kīlauea
In Hawaiian culture, the term Kīlauea refers to the main crater, but in volcanology, it encompasses the entire volcano. The name derives from the Hawaiian language, meaning “spewing” or “erupting.”
Chapter 2: Myths and Origins
Local legends tell of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, who is believed to inhabit Kīlauea. According to tradition, the volcano's eruptions are seen as expressions of her anger. A mythical figure named Kamapua attempted to win Pele's favor but was rebuffed, leading him to construct a fern house over the crater to quell her fury.
Crater in Kīlauea volcano — [Photo: Ivan Petrovich Vtorov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
How did Kīlauea come to be? Estimates suggest the volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old, having emerged from the ocean roughly 100,000 years ago. Its formation remains somewhat enigmatic, mainly due to its ongoing eruptions that continuously blanket the cone in new layers of lava.
Modern research, however, is gradually unveiling its secrets. Dr. Laura Miller from Monash University has investigated ancient volcanic materials, employing advanced techniques that involve melting rocks at temperatures exceeding 1,100 degrees Celsius under extreme pressure. She also utilized innovative methods to model the concentration of rare earth elements, concluding that the samples originated from fractional crystallization of garnet.
Previous studies have identified two shallow magma chambers beneath Kīlauea, but their limited size does not account for the vast amounts of material ejected. This indicates a larger, deeper chamber must exist.
Research led by Dr. Miller and her Australian team suggests that Kīlauea formed from a reservoir of pyroclastic material located over 90 kilometers deep, triggered by shifts in the Pacific tectonic plate. Garnet, a type of silicate, forms under specific conditions, requiring high temperature and pressure. This implies that the initial eruptions likely originated from similar depths.
[Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Kīlauea's Eruptive History
Kīlauea is not only one of the most active volcanoes globally but also the most dynamic within the Hawaiian islands. This is attributable to it being the youngest source of Hawaiian lava (volcanic activity evolves over time). Since 1823, when the English missionary William Ellis became the first European to witness the volcano, Kīlauea has experienced over 60 eruptions, with 34 of those occurring by 1952. One of the most dramatic eruptions took place in 1959, when lava fountains erupted from the Kīlauea Iki crater, reaching heights of 580 meters.
The volcano entered a phase of continuous eruption in 1983, which persisted until 2018. During this interval, it consistently emitted lava and smoke, culminating in a powerful eruption accompanied by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that devastated over 700 homes.
Kīlauea Fissure 8 cone erupting on 6–28–2018 — [Photo: United States Geological Survey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Years 2021 and 2022
A significant eruption reoccurred in early 2021, with considerable lava flows emerging from the northwest slope of the Halema’uma’u crater, quickly forming a lake reaching depths of 180 meters. The volume of lava expelled was estimated at 22 million cubic meters. This event lasted 16 months and coincided with a two-week eruption from the Mauna Loa volcano, which had been dormant for 40 years.
Year 2023
Just weeks later, Kīlauea erupted once more, making 2023 one of the most active years recently recorded. On the night of January 5 to 6, new lava flows were detected in the Halema’uma’u crater. On June 7, the volcano again showcased its might, with lava rising to 60 meters. In the days following, activity subsided, with lava levels stabilizing at around 15 meters.
The last eruption took place on September 10, marked by increased seismic activity and a rapid rise at the summit. Lava began to flow from the crater, accompanied by vast clouds of ash and gas. Experts are confident that Kīlauea will continue to erupt in the future, as this youngest volcano in Hawaii has yet to reveal its full potential.
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