This footage was filmed and produced 12 and 13 September 2023.

On September 12 and 13, 2023, during HVO (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory) eruption monitoring overflights, HVO geologists landed on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. They were on a mission to search for a safe location to collect a lava sample. This endeavor involved closely observing and assessing the ongoing volcanic activity at Kilauea.

The video footage from these monitoring flights captures the continuous flow of lava from several vents located on the western side of the downdropped block within Kilauea's summit caldera. These vents, oriented in an approximately east-west direction, spanned about 0.5 miles and exhibited lava fountain heights reaching up to approximately 32 feet.

As a result of this eruptive activity, pahoehoe lava flows extended north and westward onto the Halema'uma'u crater floor, creating a mesmerizing natural spectacle. Additionally, an interesting geological phenomenon was observed in the area north of the eruptive vents, where the ground surface had become elevated by approximately 15 feet compared to the surrounding terrain, as visible in the foreground of the video.