The Islands of Hawai'i, considered the most remote archipelago in the world, sit in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean and over a hotspot in the Pacific Tectonic Plate (dozens of these tectonic plates make up the Earth's surface).  Magma from the Earth's mantle pushed out through this hotspot and eventually formed a volcanic island. This hotspot remained stationary while the tectonic plate slowly slid northwest, creating a chain of islands along its path. The Big Island of Hawai'i (also known as Hawai'i Island) is the youngest in this island chain and is currently over the hotspot, which is why it has erupting volcanoes.

 

Hawaiʻi Island is the largest of the Hawai'ian Islands and is composed of five distinct volcanoes. Kohala is located on the north end of the island and is extinct.  Mauna Kea is centrally located on the northern half of the island and is considered dormant.  Hualalai is situated on the west side of the island, above Kailua-Kona, and is considered active, although it has not erupted since 1801.  Mauna Loa is roughly in the center of the southern half of the island and is the largest volcano in the world.  It is still active but doesn't consistently erupt; its last eruption occurred in November and December 2022.  Kilauea, on the east side of the island, is the most active volcano in the world and is currently erupting (though not always with visible lava flows).

 

The best place to learn more about the island's volcanoes and potentially see an eruption is Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, located about a 45-minute drive from our two vacation rental homes.  The video you see here is from the USGS's live video feed of Kilauea Volcano.  Also provided is the USGS link to sign up for official volcano status alerts.