1790 to 1934 Kīlauea

1891 eruption picture

the earliest reliable written records of historical activity date 1820, , first well-documented eruption occurred in 1823, when volcano first put under observation; although native hawaiians thought have first settled on island around 1,500 years ago, oral records predating european arrival on island few , difficult interpret. 1 pre-contact eruption in particular, phreatomagmatic event in 1790, responsible death of party of warriors, part of army of keōua kuahuʻula, last island chief resist kamehameha s rule; death evidenced set of footprints preserved within hawai‘i volcanoes national park listed on national register of historic places. kīlauea has been site of 61 separate eruptions since 1823, making 1 of active volcanoes on earth.

during observed history, volume of lava erupted kīlauea has varied widely. in 1823 kīlauea s summit caldera far deeper today, in process of filling under continuous summit eruption, 3 km (1 cu mi) of lava erupted there alone 1840. period between 1840 , 1920 saw approximately half in eruptive volume, , in thirty years between , 1950, volcano unusually quiet , exhibited little activity; kīlauea s eruptive volume has increased steadily since then, present activity comparable of 1800s.

the length , origin these eruptions has varied. events last anywhere between days , years, , occur @ number of different sites. half of eruptions occur @ or near kīlauea s summit caldera. activity there continuous of 19th century, , after reprieve between 1894 , 1907, continued onwards until 1924. there have been 5 historical eruptions @ volcano s relatively southwestern rift zone, , 24 along more active eastern rift zone, along upper section.

the volcano s observed history has been 1 of effusive eruptions; however, relatively recent occurrence. prior arrival of first europeans on island, kīlauea site of regular explosive activity, evidenced tribal chants referencing volcano s fickle nature, , today geological records of explosively active mode of past activity. although explosive activity still occurs @ volcano, not intense once was, , volcano become more dangerous general public if returned old phase of activity once more.

kīlauea erupted in 1823 , 1832, first major eruption since 1790 event occurred in 1840, when eastern rift zone became site large, effusive hawaiian eruption on 35 km (22 mi) of length, unusually long rift eruption. eruption lasted 26 days , produced estimated 205 265 million cubic meters of lava; light created event intense 1 reportedly read newspaper in hilo @ night, 30 km (19 mi) away.

the volcano active again in 1868, 1877, 1884, 1885, 1894, , 1918, before next major eruption in 1918–1919. halemaʻumaʻu, small upwelling in caldera floor, topped lava lake drained, before refilling again, forming enormous lava lake , reaching top edge of caldera before draining once more. activity gave way construction of mauna iki, building large lava shield within caldera on period of 8 months. eruption featured concurrent rift activity , large amount of lava fountaining.

activity in 1921–1923 followed. next major eruption occurred in 1924. halemaʻumaʻu crater, formed pit crater after 1919 event , site of sizable lava lake, first drained, began sinking ground, deepening 210 m (689 ft) beneath thick cloud of volcanic ash. explosive activity began on may 10 of year, blowing rock chunks weighing as 45 kg (99 lb) 60 m (197 ft) out, , smaller fragments weighing 9 kg (20 lb) out far 270 m (886 ft), and, after brief reprieve, intensified through major blast on may 18, when enormous explosive event caused eruption s fatality. eruption continued , formed numerous eruption columns , beyond 9 km (6 mi) in height, before petering down , ending may 28. volcanic activity confined summit, , ceased after 1934.