Hawaii Volcanoes

Seeing the Hawaii volcanoes is one of the most exciting and memorable experiences you will have while you are visiting Hawaii. There are four main volcanoes to visit on the Hawaiian islands: Hualalai, Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Kohala. Each of these volcanoes offers unique and different attractions. Whether you are looking to watch the sun set over the ocean, relax in the sun on a beach, or hike through the mountains, there are several activities you can choose from. You will also find many accommodation options.

Kilauea

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Kilauea volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This volcano has been in active eruption for a number of years and has destroyed dozens of homes and hundreds of businesses.

During the last eruption, lava from the volcano engulfed dozens of homes and destroyed hundreds of businesses. It has overtaken two roads near the village and is threatening a cemetery nearby.

This eruption lasted for more than four months. A river of lava reached the ocean 10 miles south of the volcano.

Another explosion is expected within the next twelve hours. Tom Birchard, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service, said the plume is expected to be carried by the wind northeast. He said the ash could reach as far as Hilo.

Kilauea is a shield volcano, meaning it does not erupt as dramatically as other volcanoes. The volcano has two active rift zones. The lower east rift zone is where the surface of the volcano is gradually splitting apart.

The summit crater of Kilauea is a large caldera. It contains a crater lake filled with lava. During the last eruption, the water in the lake was replaced by lava.

In the past, Kilauea has had two periods of large eruptions. In 1983, the volcano sent a plume of volcanic ash 30,000 feet into the air. The volcano has also erupted continuously from vents on its eastern rift zone, which cut across residential neighborhoods.

Mauna Loa

Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, Mauna Loa volcano is a shield volcano. It is the world’s largest active volcano. The volcano is 56,000 feet tall and covers approximately 2,035 square miles. It last erupted in 1984.

Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. It typically produces fast-moving lava flows and volcanic gas downwind of its communities. The last eruption lasted three weeks.

Mauna Loa is the tallest of the four volcanoes that make up the Big Island. It extends 74 miles from its caldera to the coastline near Hilo.

Mauna Loa’s last eruption occurred in the Spring of 1984. That time, lava flows were sent within Hilo. Since that time, the volcano has erupted in two cycles, one every six years and the other every one to two years.

In the last two weeks, officials have warned of possible eruptions after a series of earthquakes on the island. The most recent earthquakes were 5.0 and 4.6 magnitude. Scientists cannot determine whether heightened seismic activity is an indication of a major eruption or just an indicator of ongoing unrest.

As of Friday, the Mauna Loa eruption has not triggered any lava flows. However, the USGS warned residents at risk from the eruption to review their preparations. The agency also said lava flows are not threatening communities nearby.

The eruption began late Sunday night, local time. Mauna Loa has been showing signs of an eruption for years, but it is believed to be contained. However, scientists cannot predict when the next eruption will occur.

Mahukona

Located on the northwest coast of Hawaii, the Mahukona volcano is the oldest and youngest volcano on the island. It was discovered in 1987. The volcano’s crater is roughly circular, but there is a large rift zone extending to the west. This rift zone is probably the remnant of a second rift zone that extended to the east.

The main shield-building stage of Hawaiian volcanoes ended 470,000 years ago. This is when the mantle plume began its descent into the Earth’s surface. In addition to the plume’s contribution to the volcanism, the mantle plume has also lowered the solidus temperature of peridotite in the mantle. This effect has implications for the global carbon cycle and global carbon budget.

The volcanic field on the Big Island consists of five volcanoes: Mahukona, Kilauea, Hualalai, Kohala, and Mauna Loa. The five volcanoes have differing physical features. Haleakala, the volcano on Maui, is very distant from Kilauea.

Kohala is fluted ridge-like and Mauna Loa has lower-angled slopes. The difference in physical aspect is due to relative ages. The volcanoes on the neighboring islands also have significant overlap in ages.

The youngest Hawaiian volcano, Lo’ihi Seamount, is about 400,000 years old. It is a subaqueous volcano that rises about 10,000 feet above the ocean’s surface. It is thought that this volcano will begin to rise above sea level in the next 10,000 to 100,000 years.

Kohala

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Kohala Volcano is a shield volcano. It is one of five volcanoes on the Big Island. It is one of the oldest volcanoes on the island and has been active for more than one million years. It is located northwest of the Mauna Kea Volcano.

Kohala Volcano is one of the largest volcanoes on the Big Island. Its volume is estimated at around 14,000 km3. Kohala has a summit covered with trees. It is also known for its rugged natural scenery. It is home to many ancient Hawaiian settlements.

The Kohala ecosystem is home to many invasive species, which have destroyed native plants. There are several initiatives to preserve this ecosystem. Kohala is also home to migrating Humpback whales. These whales have loved this coast for thousands of years.

Kohala is known for its dramatic orographic precipitation gradient. There are several deep gorges. One of them is Waimanu Valley. Another one is Waipio Valley.

The Kohala volcano has had many eruptions. The last erupted 120,000 years ago. It is the oldest of the five volcanoes on the Big Island. There are two geologic substrates on Kohala, alkalic basalt and tholeiitic basalt. The tholeiitic volcanoes are enriched in incompatible elements. They are overlain by alkalic lavas.

In the past, Kohala wore down much faster than volcanic activity. It is now cut by thousands of years of erosion.

Hualalai

Located on the western end of Hawai’i Island, Hualalai Volcano is the third most active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is less active than the neighboring Mauna Loa and Kilauea, but is still considered an active volcano. The volcano is located on the west coast of the Big Island, looming over the town of Kailua-Kona. The volcano is a popular hiking spot.

The volcano is located in a volcanic arc northwest of Mauna Kea. Three rift zones trend northwest, northeast and then continue into a depth of about 3000 m. The northwest rift zone continues for a distance of 40 km.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismic station records harmonic tremors and microearthquake swarms. These harmonic tremors are indicative of magma movements beneath the surface. In 1929, a seismic swarm occurred under Hualalai. It is believed that the swarm was caused by magma intrusion beneath the volcano.

Hualalai is a major source of mantle xenoliths. Most of the xenoliths occur as layers of semi-rounded nodules. These nodule beds are analogous to the cobble deposits of fluvial sedimentary systems. The xenoliths have a wide range of composition, from dunite to anorthosite.

Hualalai’s eruptions are relatively short-lived. In the past, the volcano has erupted two to three times every thousand years. These eruptions have covered a small part of the volcano. However, future eruptions may threaten life on the island.

Accommodation options

Whether you want to explore the Hawaii volcanoes or simply want to see them from the comfort of a hotel, there are several places to stay. Choosing the right accommodation will help you experience Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to the fullest.

Volcanoes National Park encircles the southern half of the Big Island. The park spans 335,000 acres of land. You should expect to spend at least two days exploring the park.

Hilo, on the north side, is the best place to start a tour of Mauna Kea. There are several hostels that offer free breakfast. However, the most recommended hostel is Hilo Bay Hostel.

Volcano Village is located near the entrance of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There are several lodging options here, from basic bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels. It’s best to book in advance for the best prices. You can also stay in a cabin at the Namakanipaio Campground.

For more upscale accommodations, consider the Chalet Kilauea Hotel. The hotel has six rooms and a common kitchen. This option is ideal for families. You can also stay at the Volcano House, which is a historic hotel on the edge of the crater. The park’s rangers can give you more information about the area.

Kona on the leeward side of the island has more to offer, including more beaches and day trips to the Pololu Valley and Waipio Valley. The south shore is also home to the tropical town of Kahului, which is perfect for setting up camp while exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.