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| This map depicts recent unrest at Kīlauea volcano. Yellow circles mark the locations of approximately 1,600 earthquakes that have occurred between April 27 and May 2, 2024, as the upper East Rift Zone reacts to pressurization of magma chambers beneath the summit region of Kīlauea. Most earthquakes have been smaller than magnitude-2, with locations clustering in an area known as the upper East Rift Zone or East Rift connector. The upper East Rift Zone area saw several eruptions in the 1960s and 1970s, which are labelled and shown in purple. Most recently, in November 1979, a brief one-day eruption occurred in and near Pauahi crater. In July of 1974, a three-day-long eruption began in Keanakāko'i Crater, with east-west oriented fissures subsequently opening within Kaluapele and southeast towards Luamanu Crater. A month-long eruption in November 1973 extended from Pauahi Crater east towards Pu'uhuluhulu. And, a day-long eruption in May 1973 extended from about a half a mile (1 km) west of Hi'iaka to Pauahi Crater. |
TWO MAIN MAGMA STORAGE REGIONS ARE INFLATING beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and South Caldera, suggesting possible eruptions to come, according to Volcano Watch, the weekly column by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists:
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| Volcano Village celebrates Cinco De Mayor on Friday. |
Earthquake activity in the upper East Rift Zone, directly southeast of Kaluapele (Kīlauea's summit caldera), increased around midnight of April 27. Since then, over 1,600 events have been recorded, most extending from Keanakākoʻi crater southeast towards Pauahi Crater. Most earthquakes have been smaller than magnitude 2 and taking place at depths of 1.2–1.8 miles (2–3 km) beneath the ground surface.
Patterns of ground motion are consistent with inflation of the two main magma storage regions beneath Kīlauea—Halemaʻumaʻu and South Caldera. These magma bodies, which are long-term features of Kīlauea's summit plumbing system, began to re-inflate in tandem about a month after the short-lived September 2023 eruption. They then fed the intrusion into the Southwest Rift Zone in late January–early February 2024. Thousands of earthquakes accompanied that intrusion as magma moved underground to the southwest, where ground deformation was significant enough to cause ground cracks to appear on the surface along the Maunaiki Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
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| An East Rift Zone eruption in the early 1970s at Maunaula. USGS photo |
During the long-lived Puʻuʻōʻō eruption, earthquake activity in the upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea sometimes occurred along with increased rates of tilt at Kīlauea summit; this indicated that the summit magma reservoirs were becoming increasingly pressurized. When the 2008–2018 summit lava lake was active in Halemaʻumaʻu, this increased pressurization was visible as a rise in the level of the lava lake, with its level acting like a barometer of the underlying Halemaʻumaʻu magma chamber.
The current increases in the number of earthquakes (particularly in the upper East Rift Zone) and rates of ground inflation are showing us that Kīlauea's magma storage system is becoming primed for its next event. One potential outcome could be another significant intrusion—when magma moves into a new area within the volcano but fails to erupt on the surface—such as what occurred along the Southwest Rift Zone during late January/early February of this year. Another potential outcome could be another eruption, either inside or outside the caldera.
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| USGS image showing magma chamber and lava pathways in Southwest and East Rift Zones. |
Though Kaluapele has been home to the last few years of eruptions, pit craters and lava flows in the upper East Rift Zone are evidence of a long history of magma moving along this rift zone pathway. Most recently, in November 1979, a brief one-day eruption occurred in and near Pauahi Crater; it was preceded by two months of 200–800 earthquakes occurring daily, along with inflation at the summit region.
Currently, there are no signs that an eruption is imminent; however, Kīlauea monitoring data indicate that magma is once again accumulating and pressurizing in the long-lived magma bodies beneath Kīlauea's summit. How that pressure is released remains to be seen—HVO is closely monitoring multiple datasets for clues.
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Rates of seismic activity significantly increased beneath the summit and upper East Rift Zone starting on April 27. Nearly 300 events, most magnitude-2 and smaller, have been detected per day between the southeast side of Kīlauea caldera beneath Keanakākoʻi crater and the intersection with Hilina Pali Road; depths remain concentrated between 1.2–1.9 miles (2–3 km) beneath the surface. Tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna bluff continued to record inflationary trends. Kīlauea's summit region is pressurized, and changes could occur quickly moving forward. HVO has deployed a temporary webcam to Maunaulu to monitor the upper East Rift Zone: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/kocam-live-image-upper-east-
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| USGS tiltmeter on Kilauea Volcano. USGS. photo |
rift-zone-maunaulu. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has closed several areas as a precaution: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/news/20240429-earthquake-closures.htm.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
Six earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M2.6 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on April 30 at 9:55 p.m. HST, a M2.6 earthquake 22 km (13 mi) S of Wai'ōhinu at 2 km (1 mi) depth on April 30 at 4:39 p.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 4 km (2 mi) S of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on April 30 at 3:50 p.m. HST, a M1.4 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on April 29 at 8:32 a.m. HST, a M3.3 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on April 28 at 11:14 p.m. HST, and a M2.0 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) SSW of Leilani Estates at 5 km (3 mi) depth on April 27 at 1:35 a.m. HST.
facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
THIRTY -SIX YOUTH VOLLEYBALL TEAMS COME TO MILOLI'I-KAʻŪ SPRING 
TOURNAMENT this Saturday and Sunday at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym next to Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
Sponsored by Miloli'i-Kaʻū Volleyball Club and Kaimi Kaupiko, the action of youth teams from keiki to high school is on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Free to the public.
The food concession and donations support Miloli'i-Kaʻū Volleyball Club traveling to the O'ahu Aloha Summer Classics.
On the menu are: Laulau bowl, chili bowl, shoyu chicken, smoke meat bowl, Dorito salad, Pāhala pops, musubi and drinks.
facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY KELDEN WALTJEN OBJECTED TO THE RELEASE on Thursday of 50 year-old Ian Winther of Ocean
View, who was arrested and charged in relation to a domestic incident on April 29 in Ocean View Estates.
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| Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen |
Waltjen noted that kidnapping is a class A felony offense which carries a penalty of a 20-year prison
term. Felony Abuse and Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree are both class C felony
offenses which carry a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
The case was initiated by Ka‘u Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective
Donovan Kohara, Area II Criminal Investigation Section, and assisted by Detective Scott
Dewey.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kate Perazich. "The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with
integrity and commitment," says the statement from Waltjen. "Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should
call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
#hawaiiprosecutors #hawaiipolicedepartment."
facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
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