This month in Hawaiian volcano history . . . .

April 10, 1926 An eruption began at the summit of Mauna Loa, but fissures soon migrated 5 km (3 mi) down the volcano's southwest rift zone. Three days later, the eruption migrated farther down the southwest rift zone, with three main vents between 8,000 and 7,400 feet elevation sending massive 'a'ā flows downslope. The main flow rapidly advanced toward the sea, where it destroyed the small village and harbor at Ho`ōpūloa on April 18. The eruption ended on April 26. April 7, 1940 Mauna Loa's third longest summit eruption in recorded history began around 11:00 p.m. HST. Lava fountains 20-60 m (65-200 ft) high initially erupted along a line of fissures that extended from near the center of Mauna Loa's summit caldera to an area down the volcano's southwest flank. But by the next evening, the 134-day-long eruption was restricted to the southwestern part of the caldera, where active vents built a 100 m (330 ft) high cinder-and-spatter cone, which remains prominent landmark on the caldera floor. April 26, 1942 Mauna Loa's "secret" eruption began on this day. With World War II underway, nighttime blackouts were imposed on Hawai'i. American officials feared that if the eruption was publicized, Japanese military could use the bright glow of lava at night to guide warplanes to Hawai'i. The eruption began on the western rim of Mauna Loa's summit caldera but then migrated down the volcano's northeast rift zone. By the time it ended on May 9, lava had reached within 11 km (6.8 mi) of Upper Waiakea Uka. April 30, 1982 The first of two Kīlauea summit eruptions in 1982 began when a fissure about 1 km (0.6 mi) long opened on the caldera floor northeast of Halema'uma'u Crater. The fissure erupted low lava fountains for 19 hours, building a prominent spatter rampart still visible today from overlooks on the rim of Kīlauea's caldera. Lava flows spread north and south of the erupting fissure, covering 31 hectares (76 acres), including a small puddle on the floor of Halema'uma'u.