The Fissure by Kurt Lawson Via Flickr: With this morning’s news that Kilauea has resumed erupting at the summit crater, it seems a great time for a throwback to July 31st, 2018, when Kilauea was just about to wrap up, or I guess pause, it’s 35 year continuous eruption that began in 1983. On my first ever helicopter flight and only chance to see it, we found Fissure Eight still fueling the lava river in the Lower East Rift Zone at 5:54 AM. Though not at its peak of 100 cubic meters per second, the sight was still incredible and the lava river at over 1000 feet wide on the left of frame was completely mind blowing. The smoke and fumes made it impossible for us to get directly over it, so this was as close as we could get. I’m excited that the summit crater is filling with lava again right now, and I truly wish it was safe to travel there right this minute as I would be on a plane today if I could.