The first well-documented eruption of Kīlauea occurred in 1823 ( Western contact and written history began in 1778 ) . Since then , the volcano has erupted repeatedly . Most historical eruptions occurred at the volcano 's summit or its eastern rift zone , and were prolonged and effusive in character . The geological record shows , however , that violent explosive activity predating European contact was extremely common ; in 1790 one such eruption killed more than 400 people , making it the deadliest volcanic eruption in what is now the United States . Should explosive activity start anew , the volcano would become much more of a danger to humans . Kīlauea 's most recent eruption began on January 3 , 1983 , and ended in 2018 . This was by far its longest-duration historical period of activity , as well as one of the longest-duration eruptions in the world ; as of January 2011 , the eruption has produced of lava and resurfaced of land
one such eruption
Keanakakoi eruption
Kīlauea