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3w ago

Hawaiʻi Man Dies After Entering Closed Area Near Kīlauea Caldera, NPS Says

Officials warn visitors to obey closures due to unstable volcanic terrain.

A panorama of the Kilauea volcano’s caldera from the Kilauea Overlook in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
An old "no trespassing" sign remains partially swallowed by a lava flow, now hardened, from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island on May 15, 2018, in Pahoa, Hawaii.
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Overview

  • The 33-year-old Hawaiʻi resident was located on Feb. 27 after an overnight search in steep terrain and was airlifted to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
  • National Park Service responders were called to the east side of the Kīlauea caldera on Feb. 26, and officials said the volcano was not erupting at the time.
  • Park officials notified the family, are withholding the name for privacy, and have opened an investigation into the fatal incident.
  • Closures cover areas with unstable cliff edges, hidden cracks and other sudden hazards, and officials cite repeated trespassing incidents encouraged by social media attention.
  • Kīlauea has produced dozens of short eruption episodes since late 2024, with the most recent ending Feb. 15, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory forecasts a possible next episode between March 10 and 16.