Ken Hon William Tollett Thomas-Jon Kekoa Hiroaki Hoomanawanui Katie Mulliken Tim R. Orr Michael P. Poland Kevan Kamibayashi S. Miki Warren Seth Swaney Edward F. Younger Albert Kamakeʻeaina Steven Fuke R. Lopaka Lee Michael H. Zoeller Scott R Horvath Matthew R. Patrick 2026 <p><span>Livestream video has become a crucial tool for volcano monitoring in recent years, building upon the use of webcam snapshots that have been common for the past two decades. In Hawaii, livestream video was first tested in 2018, and today, livestream video is a vital tool for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and partner agencies (National Park Service and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense) as well as the public. Its role in volcano monitoring has been highlighted by the 2024–present summit eruption of Kīlauea—where three livestream video feeds provide a continuous and easily accessible view of the activity for the public. Here, we describe the methodology and equipment used for the livestream cameras in Hawaii and discuss the benefits and challenges of livestream video monitoring. We show how the nature of livestream video has fundamentally changed volcano monitoring, providing an “up-close” view to the world that was previously limited to observatory field staff. The livestream video feeds, coupled with the historical summit lava fountains, have provided an unprecedented level of engagement with the public, both local and worldwide.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1186/s13617-026-00170-x en Springer Seeing is believing: Livestream video monitoring of Hawaiian eruptions article