VOLCANO, Hawaii — Those of us who were born and raised in Hawaii have no doubt seen Kilauea volcano’s eruptions for over 40 years.
After its continuous eruption episode that started in 1983 ended in September 2018, off-and-on eruptions have occurred since 2020, with its latest episode taking place on Sept. 2.
But it wasn’t just the tall lava fountains from Madam Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire, that put on a show that day. A dust devil also spun up next to the cone inside the Halema’uma’u Crater, creating a rare sight which some dubbed a “volnado” (a portmanteau of “volcano” and “tornado.”)
Kilauea gave us lava AND a new word yesterday:
The ‘Volnado.’ 🌋🌪️pic.twitter.com/nQjJc3baqH
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) September 3, 2025
As a local kid who has been to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where places like Halema’uma’u Crater are located, multiple times, it’s a reminder that Madam Pele never ceases to amaze.
If you would like to see the livestream of the Kilauea eruption provided by the United States Geological Survey, just click here. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
