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Peak · Hawaiʻi

Kīlauea

Kīlauea, seen from above at true elevation

Kīlauea rises to 1,222 m in Hawaiʻi. Pohakuʻohanalei stands 3,788 m to the west-northwest, 19 miles off. The nearest named place is Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, a cliff 0.6 miles away.

Hawaii's most active volcano during historical time. A long-term eruption from the East rift zone that began in 1983 has produced lava flows covering more than 100 sq km, destroying nearly 200 houses and adding new coastline to the island.

The record

What the record says

Elevation
1222 m
Visiting

What to expect

Official site

Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates19.41386, -155.27581
Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
  • Keanakākoʻi Crater: 1.2 mi
  • Puʻu Puaʻi: 1.5 mi
  • Luamanu Crater: 1.8 mi
  • Kīlauea Iki: 1.9 mi
  • Puhimau Crater: 2.3 mi
Cliffs: 31
  • Halemaʻumaʻu Crater: 0.6 mi
  • Kilauea Caldera: 1.0 mi
  • Kilauea Caldera: 1.0 mi
  • Kilauea Caldera: 1.0 mi
  • Kilauea Caldera: 1.1 mi
Parks: 23
  • Kurtistown Park: 18.7 mi
  • Kaimū Black Sand Beach: 20.4 mi
  • Waiakea Uka Park: 20.5 mi
  • Shipman Park: 21.0 mi
  • Pana‘ewa Recreational Complex: 21.3 mi
Attractions: 21
Springs: 13
  • Middle Flume Spring: 16.4 mi
  • Waiākea-Uka Springs: 18.0 mi
  • Waterhole Spring: 20.1 mi
  • ʻAlili Spring: 20.4 mi
  • ʻŌlaʻa Flume Spring: 20.5 mi
Waterfalls: 10
  • Poakana Falls: 20.9 mi
  • Wailoa Falls: 21.5 mi
  • Kauwehu Falls: 22.0 mi
  • Waiʻale Falls: 22.6 mi
  • Lower Waiʻale Falls: 22.7 mi
Museums: 7
Historic sites: 5
  • Naha Stone: 24.6 mi
  • King Kamehameha Statue: 24.6 mi
  • Vietnam War Memorial: 24.8 mi
  • Tsunami Memorial: 24.8 mi
  • Kamehameha: 24.8 mi
Beaches: 4
Gardens: 3
Ghost towns: 2
Picnic sites: 1
  • Kipukapuaulu picnic area: 2.3 mi
Nature reserves: 1
  • Keaoi State Seabird Sanctuary: 10.2 mi
On the horizon

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 19.2 miles of Kīlauea. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
PohakuʻohanaleiWNW 289°3,787.5 m19.2 mi
PohakuʻohanaleiWNW 289°3,770 m19.2 mi
2022 active eruption fissureWNW 292°3,593.6 m18.1 mi
Dewey ConeWNW 295°3,477.1 m17.2 mi
PukauahiWNW 297°3,368 m16.6 mi
PuʻuʻeleʻeleW 278°3,208 m15.9 mi
Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill)WNW 303°3,072 m14.7 mi
PuʻuwahiNW 305°3,026 m14.5 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:2618:0418:33
June solstice05:4518:3119:03
September equinox06:1117:4918:18
December solstice06:5117:1717:49

Local time (Pacific/Honolulu).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: year-round.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F595959606263646564646260
Precip in8.88.210.39.26.55.16.35.96.08.210.611.4

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Hawaii VOL NP HQ 54, 2 mi away.

In the park

Inside the official boundary of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Apr and May; busiest: Dec.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element node/2734299214

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