I can remember the first time I read Michener’s account of the creation of the Hawaiian Islands. It was interesting, but went on forever. Seeing the islands for the first time made up for all of it, and he did not use a single word too many. Let’s look at this topic a bit.
Geologically speaking, the Hawaiian Islands are mere babies. They are about 60 million years old, as compared with, say, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, which are somewhere between 200-250 million years old. So how did our little “toddlers” come into being?
The Hawaiian Islands are all volcanic in origin. There are 8 main, named islands: Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and the big island of Hawaii, and they contain 99% of the total land mass. However, there are and additional 124 minor islands and atolls that make up the entire Hawaiian chain.
The Hawaiian Islands sit atop a “hot spot” on the Pacific Ocean floor. The “hot spot” provides the magma from the earth’s core to make the lava for volcano formation. As the tectonic plates move, the islands move away from the “hot spot”. That is why the only currently erupting volcano above the ocean surface in Hawaii is Kilauea on the big island. While Maui’s volcano is young enough to be considered dormant, the thought is it will not erupt again because it has moved off the “hot spot” that Kilauea currently sits above. In the ocean about 30 miles SE of Kilauea is the newest member to the island chain. Little Loihi is forming slowly, and we won’t get to see this new island for about another 10,000-100,000years. It should then peek its head above the ocean surface. But is fun to know it is there.
Interestingly, while the mountains of Hawaii don’t seem all that tall, when measured from the Pacific Ocean floor, they are the tallest mountains on earth. Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain when measured from sea level at 29,028 feet. But when Pu’u o Kukahau’ula on Mauna Kea is measured from its base on the ocean floor it is a towering 33,476 feet! The dispute comes because only 13,796 ft are above sea level.
The Hawaiian volcanoes are called “drive-up” volcanoes because you can drive up to see them. These volcanoes are classified as shield volcanoes and generally don’t explode like Mount St. Helens, which is a lava dome type of volcano. While the Hawaiian Island volcanoes don’t explode, they are still volcanoes and as such do present dangers. When you go to visit them, listen to the park rangers, don’t roam where you are not supposed to be, and remember that the volcano not only vents lava that you can see, but also poisonous gases that you can’t see.
The two types of lava that volcanoes eject above the ocean surface have Hawaiian names: Pahoehoe which is smooth, flows, and looks ropy as it flows and then hardens; and A’a which is rough, chunky and sharp. It is very easy to distinguish between the two even at a distance. As the lava is fountaining and blown in the wind, fine strands can break off and harden and these are known as Pele’s hair. Larger bits of lava that are thrown up and then harden in a tear shape are known as Pele’s tears.
In Hawaiian legend Pele is the goddess of fire, and there are many legends about her and her fiery temper. She can and does move from place to place, so like the volcanoes of Hawaii, she started at one island, moved on, and has now settled in Kilauea on the big island of Hawaii for the time being. When you visit Kilauea, especially around Halemaumau, you can sometimes see gifts that are left for Pele.
At this time, Kilauea has been erupting for 25 years from a side vent. Halemaumau crater is showing evidence that there is lava close to the surface giving guests to Volcanoes National Park an incredible opportunity. Whether there will be an eruption there or not remains to be seen. Mother Nature and Pele can be fickle and they keep their own council as to when they will erupt.
As for the future of the Hawaiian Islands, tides, wind and rain will take their toll and the mighty peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa will begin receding as new little Loihi continues to build. Other mighty Hawaiian peaks may form as the oldest islands slowly, slowly become smaller. It is an interesting circle of life in the Hawaiian Islands. But it does make you acutely aware of the finite resources of the island. Lava will flow when lava will flow. The waves continue to beat upon the shores and the rains continue to fall upon the mountain tops. So the creation of the Hawaiian Islands is an unfinished story.
