It’s Hawaii’s crown jewel but hiker, 33, plunges to his death in horror accident at active volcano
A 33-year-old man died after entering a dangerous and off-limits area at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, according to the National Park Service.
The man, identified as a Hawaii resident, hiked into an area on the east side of Kīlauea caldera on February 26, officials said.
‘Kīlauea caldera contains hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features. Visitors are reminded to remain in designated open areas and comply with all closures,’ the park service said in a statement.
After the man entered, search and rescue teams conducted operations overnight to try to locate him. The park service said the volcano was not erupting at any point during this incident.
On February 27, he was found amid steep terrain and was airlifted to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, about 22 miles away from the Kīlauea Crater. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Kīlauea volcano last erupted at 11.38pm Hawaii Standard Time on February 15, 2026. The volcano has been erupting on and off since December 23, 2024.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) currently has the Kīlauea Crater at an ‘orange’ alert level, meaning visitors should avoid the immediate area of the volcano and adhere to all posted closure signs.
‘Eruptive episodes, which generally last for less than 12 hours, are separated by pauses that can be as long as over two weeks,’ the USGS said in a statement.
A 33-year-old man died after entering a dangerous and off-limits area near the Kīlauea caldera (Pictured: The Kīlauea volcano erupting on June 11, 2025)
An active vent at the Kīlauea volcano on March 7, 2026. The volcano is expected to erupt again between March 10 and March 15, according to the United States Geological Survey
‘[The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory] continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and is in contact with Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency about eruptive hazards.’
The Kīlauea volcano is expected to erupt again between March 10 and March 15.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a 523-square-mile area located in the center of the Big Island, has had other incidents recently.
Last December, two trespassers were caught on a USGS live camera getting too close to Kīlauea during an active eruption.
In June, a 30-year-old Boston man nearly died after falling 30 feet from a steep cliff near the Byron Ledge Trail. He did not have a flashlight or headlamp. The man was rescued and only had minor facial injuries.
The park service urges visitors to any US national park to stay on marked trails and overlooks.
