9.48 Kilauea Volcano Facts

The Kilauea volcano is the most active volcano in the world. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live near it! In this lesson you will learn more about where it is and the facts and history surrounding this amazing landform.

The What and Where of the Kilauea Volcano

Jack Thompson was a very stubborn man. He watched as many of his neighbors’ homes were destroyed by lava from the Kilauea volcano, but he refused to leave even though he was in danger. He was one of the last people in the area for many years. Finally, on March 3, 2012, while the lava ate up his house, he was rescued by a helicopter.

The Kilauea volcano is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the world, and it is the youngest of five volcanoes found on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can find it on the southeastern side of the island in Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.

Kilauea is located on the Southeastern side of the Big Island.
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Kilauea means ‘spewing’ or ‘much spreading’ in the Hawaiian language, and the volcano got this name because of the great amounts of lava that pour out of it – imagine thick, hot Jell-O running down the sides and hardening into rock. Kilauea is considered a shield volcano, which is a volcano with gentle, wide slopes that are built up by eruptions of lava. These types of volcanoes are called ‘shield volcanoes’ because they’re said to look like a warrior’s shield lying on the ground. And Kilauea is also sometimes referred to as the ‘drive-in’ volcano because it is not very steep, and it is easy to approach.

1. Main points:

The Kilauea volcano, located on the southeastern side of Hawaii’s Big Island, is one of the world’s largest and most active volcanoes. It is a shield volcano, known for its gentle slopes and extensive lava flows, earning its name from the Hawaiian language for ‘spewing’ or ‘much spreading’. Kilauea’s accessibility has led to it being nicknamed the ‘drive-in’ volcano.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What are the characteristics of the Kilauea volcano?
• Thematic Analysis: Why is Kilauea classified as a shield volcano?
• Socio-cultural Analysis: How has the Kilauea volcano impacted the lives of people living nearby?

3. Further Discussion:

• What precautions should people take when living near an active volcano like Kilauea?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "The Kilauea volcano is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the world… Located on the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii."
• Thematic Analysis: "Kilauea is considered a shield volcano, which is a volcano with gentle, wide slopes that are built up by eruptions of lava."
• Socio-cultural Analysis: The impact of Kilauea on nearby residents is significant, as seen in the story of Jack Thompson, who was one of the last to leave the area due to the destructive lava flows.

Kilauea Details

Kilauea is around 4,200 feet above sea level and eight miles around. At the very top is a caldera that is more than three miles by three miles wide. A caldera is a large crater, or pit, formed from a collapse in the volcano. Lava sits about 740 feet below the rim of the caldera. The lava is made mostly out of the rock basalt and can erupt from many different vents, or holes, in the volcano. There is so much activity from this volcano that it adds over 42 acres of land to the island every year. An acre is slightly smaller than a football field – imagine an island growing 40 football fields in size every year! Kilauea was thought to be part of another volcano, but scientists have realized that it has its own lava plumbing system.

The caldera is a pit located at the top of the volcano.
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Kilauea History

Even though Kilauea is considered a young volcano, it still has a long history. Scientists believe it formed between 300,000 and 600,000 years ago, and it has been an active volcano ever since. The first recorded explosion was in 1750, and it has erupted over 60 times since then. One of the most famous eruptions happened in 1959. During this explosion, lava shot up 1,900 feet into the sky. This is three times the height of the Washington Monument.

In 1983, lava created a large crater called Puu Oo.
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The most current eruption started on January 3, 1983 and, believe it or not, has been erupting ever since. That is over 30 years! The lava created a huge crater that’s now called Pu’uO’o. Since then, much of the lava has run into the sea, but it has also done a lot of damage. Over 200 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and highways closed down. Volcanic activity is still closely monitored each day. Today, millions of people go visit this famous volcano each year.

1. Main points:

Kilauea, a young but historically active volcano, is known for its large caldera and numerous vents. It has been adding land to Hawaii for over 30 years, with its ongoing eruption since 1983. This activity has led to significant land expansion, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and it attracts millions of visitors annually.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What are the key features of the Kilauea volcano?
• Thematic Analysis: How has Kilauea’s ongoing eruption since 1983 impacted the Big Island of Hawaii?
• Socio-cultural Analysis: What is the significance of Kilauea in the context of volcanic study and tourism?

3. Further Discussion:

• How does the continuous activity of Kilauea contribute to our understanding of volcanic behavior?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "Kilauea is around 4,200 feet above sea level and eight miles around… At the very top is a caldera that is more than three miles by three miles wide."
• Thematic Analysis: "The most current eruption started on January 3, 1983… Over 200 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and highways closed down."
• Socio-cultural Analysis: Kilauea’s long history of eruptions and its unique geological features make it a significant site for both scientific study and tourism, attracting millions of visitors each year to witness its volcanic activity.

Lesson Summary

Kilauea is a shield volcano that is located on the southeastern side of the Big Island in Hawaii. It is one of the largest, most active volcanoes on Earth, and it has a large caldera on top. It has been continually erupting from vents since 1983, and is a huge tourist attraction for the island.