Lava Flow Hazard Zone Maps: Hualalai

HUALALAI

Hazard zone for lava flows on Hualalai. The entire volcano comprises Zone 4. Major flows since 1800 are shown in gray and are dated.

Hualalai is much older than Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and its eruptions occur far less frequently. In the last 3,000 years, Hualalai has erupted near its summit, along the northwest and south-southeast rift zones, and from vents on the north flank of the volcano. Twenty-five percent of the volcano is covered by flows less than 1,000 years old.

Hualalai last erupted in 1800-1801 from several vents on the northwest rift zone. Large flows spilled down both sides of the ridge formed by the rift zone and quickly reached the ocean. One of these flows lies south of Kiholo Bay, and part of the Kona Village resort is built upon it. Another flow underlies the northern end of the Keahole (Kona) Airport. Other major eruptions occurred about 300 and 700 years ago. A large flow from the 700-year-old eruption forms the north side of Keauhou Bay, south of Kailua.

All of Hualalai is included in Zone 4. The flanks of the volcano do not have a distinctly lower hazard than its rift zones because the distance from the vents to the coast is short and the slopes are steep.

The summit of Hualalai with the town of Kailua in the background.

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This page is URL: <http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/hualalai.html>
Last updated July 18, 1997
Maintained by John Watson