For the third time this year, Madame Pele is putting on a show with the Kīlauea December 2024 eruption. However, unlike those that took place earlier this year, the current eruption is occurring in a much more accessible section of the park, making viewing it much easier. But if you want to see the eruption, you need to go NOW.
You know, this current eruption had me thinking – volconology is a topic of interest for me, and Kīlauea had been in a continuous state of eruption for a good chunk of my life. However, in 2018, that all changed with a wild series of eruptions that literally altered the face of the volcano and several communities on Hawai’i Island. Since then, eruptions have been very sporadic and short-lived, making it astonishingly difficult to actually see the eruptions. This is especially for those of us who work and are of more modest financial means. That said, I’ve been traveling to Hawai’i Island more in recent years, and am always there during periods of quiet. Oh well!
At any rate, in a bit of an early Christmas present to us all, the Kīlauea December 2024 eruption quietly began in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Kīlauea December 2024 Eruption
There was very little indication that an eruption would be coming soon. Since its last eruption back in September, ground deformation has been steadily increasing at Kīlauea, but there was no seismic activity or rapid deformation that would normally signal that something is coming. That is, until around 2 am HST on Monday, December 23, 2024, with an uptick in earthquakes and rapid inflationary ground movement. Then, just 20 minutes later, the Kīlauea December 2024 eruption began.
Unlike the last two eruptions this year, the Kīlauea December 2024 eruption is occurring inside Halema’uma’u Crater. Specifically, the main vent is southwest side of the summit caldera. This means that this is an eruption you’ll actually be able to see if you choose to brave the inevitable crowds!
Viewing Tips
The National Park Service has identified three spots from which you can view the Kīlauea December 2024 eruption.
- Kūpina’i Pali (Waldron Ledge): this vantage point offers the best view, but does require some effort on yourself. A stop on the Crater Rim Trail hiking trail, the closest parking for this spot is the Kīlauea Visitors Center near the park entrance. Luckily, this is a wheelchair-accessible trail and requires a short 15-minute/0.5-mile hike to reach. Clear signage will point you in the right direction once you get onto the trail. It’s worth noting that this viewing area is the only one that provides a completely unobstructed view.
- Kīlauea Overlook: the next best spot to take in the sites is the Kīlauea Overlook, which is crater overlook before you reach Uēkahuna (the old Jagger Museum), which itself is the end of the road in this portion of the park. The view here is partially obstructed – you can see the eastern-most portion of the eruption – though parking is readily available onsite (105 stalls). Additional parking is available at Uēkahuna and at Kīlauea Military Camp. Be forewarned that the overflow parking spots require a roughly one-mile hike each way.
- Keanakākoʻi Crater: this final option is the least convenient of them all, as parking is limited and it requires a bit of effort. Moreover, this is another partially-obstructed vantage point, which offers views of only the eastern portion of the eruption. That said, it is an option, which is important given how busy the park will be. Should you choose this option, you’ll need to access Keanakāko’i Crater via Devastation Trail. That means parking in either of the trails lots and hiking in. The primary Devastation Trail lot entails a one-mile hike over the Old Crater Rim Drive Trail, while parking at Puʻupuaʻi means hiking for 1.5-miles over the aforementioned trail PLUS Devastation Trail. It’s worth noting that Devastation Trail Parking lot is the one I spotted ‘Apapane at recently, while Pu’upua’i is the parking area that overlooks Kīlauea Iki.
The view of Kīlauea Iki from Puʻupuaʻi parking 
‘Apapane at Devastation Trail parking lot
Kīlauea December 2024 Eruption, Final Thoughts
As I said earlier, there’s no telling how long this eruption will last. So, if you want to check it out, I suggest getting over to Hawai’i Island NOW. For its part, the USGS notes that this is the sixth eruption to occur in summit region in the past four years. Moreover, these eruptions last between a week and a year, though the most recent eruptions lasted one to three days. Regardless, the opening phases of the eruption are the most vigorous and fascinating. Even if the eruption lasts years, it will taper off to a more subdued phase.