Mauna Kea
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Mauna Kea is a dormant shield volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi. Its peak is 13,803 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in Hawaii and the island with the second highest high point, behind
Mauna Kea in December 2007, with its seasonal snow cap visible
To illustrate Mauna Kea's dry prominence, imagine raising the sea level of the Pacific Ocean to submerge the top of Mauna Kea. Then slowly lower it again. The first thing to appear is the peak of Mauna Kea. Then Mauna Loa and peaks of the surrounding Hawaiian Islands will emerge from the ocean. If the ocean drains further, the island around Mauna Kea will grow and merge with the adjacent islands. Continue draining until a land bridge forms between the Hawaiian Islands and a continent so that it is possible to walk all the way there without getting wet. Stop draining at this point, and this bridge is the
Lava flows from Mauna Loa caught by one of the International Gemini Observatory's Cloudcams, which operates 24/7 near the snow-covered summit of Maunakea (the highest point in the image).(on 27 November 2022).
Scoria and cinder cones on Mauna Kea's summit in winter
Kīlauea
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Kīlauea is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located along the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island. The volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and grew above sea level
Kīlauea erupting at Halemaʻumaʻu, a pit crater within its summit caldera, on January 16, 2025.
Simulated true-color Landsat mosaic
Kīlauea's summit caldera; volcanic gas can be seen rising out of Halemaʻumaʻu, within the caldera (January 2012)
Rainbow and volcanic ash with sulfur dioxide emissions from Halemaʻumaʻu (April 2008)