Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Volcanoes & Hot Spots
The Hawaiian archipelago embraces over 50 volcanoes (and 137 islands and atolls), part
of the larger, mostly submerged Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount chain that extends 3600
miles across the ocean. Hawaii's volcanoes are created by a rising column of molten rock
- a 'hot spot' - under the Pacific Plate. As the plate moves northwest a few inches each
year, magma pierces upward through the crust, creating volcanoes.
Each new volcano slowly creeps northwest past the hot spot that created it. As each
volcanic island moves off the hot spot, it stops erupting and instead of adding more new
land, it starts eroding. Wind, rain and waves add geologic character to the newly emerged
islands, cutting deep valleys, creating sandy beaches and turning a mound of lava into a
tropical paradise.
At the far northwestern end of the chain, the Hawaiian Islands have receded back be-
low the ocean surface to become seamounts. Moving eastward from Kure Atoll, the is-
lands get progressively taller and younger until you reach the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, the
still-growing, 500,000-year-old baby of the Hawaiian group.
Straddling the hot spot today, the Big Island's Kilauea is the world's most active vol-
cano. All Hawaiian volcanoes are shield volcanoes that erupt with effusive lava to create
gently sloped, dome-shaped mountains, but they can also have a more explosive side, as
Kilauea dramatically reminded onlookers and scientists in 2008.
Under the sea about 20 miles southeast of the Big Island, a new undersea volcano is
erupting - Loʻihi Seamount. Although you can't see it today, stick around: in 10,000
years or so, it will emerge from the water to become the newest island in the Hawaiian
chain.
Kilauea's ongoing eruption, which began in 1983, is the most voluminous outpouring of
lava onto the volcano's east rift zone in 500 years. It has added 500 acres of new land to
the Big Island - so far.
Wildlife
In the Beginning
Born of barren lava flows, the Hawaiian Islands were originally populated only by plants
and animals that could traverse the Pacific - for example, seeds clinging to a bird's feath-
er or fern spores that drifted thousands of miles through the air. Most species that landed
here didn't survive. Scientists estimate that successful species were established maybe
