The Sights and Sounds of Mt. Kilauea Erupting

I wasn’t prepared for the sound that Mt. Kilauea erupting makes. It’s not deafening or overpowering. It’s a soft rumble that you’re not quite sure you hear at first. It’s like when, as a child, you get in trouble with your parents, and they spend the day quietly shaking their heads in defeat and sighing with disappointment. That quiet disappointment is so much worse than when they scream and rage at you about what you did. The volcano’s constant rumble gives the impression of power. This steady white noise reminds you that there is unlimited power brewing below your feet. . .and, at least during an eruption, it never stops.

NOTE: If you normally read my articles and view the pictures on your phone, this might be one time to consider doing so on your computer. The photos & video that follow are worth seeing larger, so you can appreciate the details.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has an excellent website with regular explanations of the mountain’s phases and predictions for when residents and visitors can expect the next eruption or episode. In my case, on September 2, 2025, I was lucky enough to observe episode 32 in person.

When we woke up that morning and discovered that a new episode had begun overnight, we were beyond excited. For months, we kept reading about each episode. As each one began and then ended, we bemoaned my husband’s work schedule and the fact that we kept missing the eruptions. Finally, an episode of Mt. Kilauea erupting and his day-off coincided! Immediately, whatever plans we had for the day went out the window as we ran through the house shoving camera equipment and water bottles into backpacks.

We were prepared to pay $30 for a day-pass into Volcanoes National Park, but when we arrived at 9:15am, the rangers just waved us through. They did so with everyone. I have no idea if this is standard eruption day procedure, but it was a nice surprise. We spoke to some hikers and were told the closest parking lot to the viewing area was already full. So, we parked our car in another lot farther away and walked about a mile and a half (on paved trails) to the viewing area.

“We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experiences as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains.”

Ursula K. Le Guin

There is no predicting Mother Nature, so Mt. Kilauea erupting looks a little different each time. On this day, lava shot 500 feet in the air. Though I have read that on other days it went higher, this was thrilling enough for me. I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

Across an open expanse, I could see wisps of steam like little reminders that the large fountain wasn’t the only hot spot. The entire area looked like black pie crust with steam vents cut for cooling. In one area, I could see a crack softly glowing red. It was just a hint that more lava that I couldn’t see probably flowed beneath the black pie crust.

We stood for at least an hour watching Mt. Kilauea erupting, unable to turn away. It is beautiful, intimidating, mesmerizing, primal, and so much more.

One thing I am learning is that living in Hawaii means constant reminders of Mother Nature’s powerful forces. Five weeks earlier, the tsunami warning sirens punctuated my day at least four times. Danger was imminent. This was not a drill. Fountaining lava. Tsunami sirens. Here, nature’s messages aren’t subtle. I have learned to heed them quickly, both when they bring fear and when they bring joy because either way, there is always awe.

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