Active Volcanoes in Hawaii

Hawaii has the most active volcano, Kilauea, but it also has four other active volcanoes, although they are not currently erupting. Kilauea is the only volcano on Hawaii that is currently still erupting. It has been erupting since 1983 and is a popular spot to visit for those coming to Hawaii.

Kilauea

Kilauea is the most active volcano in the world and has been erupting for 24 years. It is where the Volcanoes National Park is located and you can go see it by using one of the helicopter tours discussed in many of the articles on this website. It is often called the Circle of Fire because it is always smoking. You can see smoke billowing up for many miles around. If you were to go on a helicopter tour, you would be able to get much closer to the mouth than you normally would.

Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in the world and is one of the tallest points in Hawaii. At times it is snow capped, which is strange to people that just find it out due to its geographic location out in the Pacific Ocean in the Hawaiian Islands. It is also on Big Island with Kilauea. This mountain looks extremely massive when compared to Kilauea and makes some people stand in awe of its stature. It rises above the rest of the land and is sharp relief of the surrounding area giving it more awe than it normally would receive.

Hualalai

Hualalai is the sheild volcano that lies furthest wes and stands at about 8,278 feet. The last eruption was in 1801. The Kona airport is built currently where the lava flowed. Two of the flows from the 1801 eruption reached the ocean, adding land mass to the Island.

Loihi

Loihi is the youngest volcano and is currently underwater. They predict that it will break the surface of the water in a couple tens of thousands of years. It is currently only viewable by a deep sea diving submarine.

Haleakala

Haleakala is a common incorrect name of the East Maui volcano on the island of Maui and is the third largest of the Hawaiian sheild volcanos. The reason for this is the Haleakala Crater that is at the summit of the volcano. The most recent eruption of this volcano was in 1790. Though it has not erupted since and has not shown volcanic activity, it is still considered an active volcano.