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Mauna Kea

Find U.S. Volcano

Tall cinder cones atop the summit of Mauna Kea and lava flows that underlie its steep upper flanks have built the volcano a scant 35 m (115 ft) higher than nearby Mauna Loa.

Quick Facts

Location: Island of Hawai‘i

Latitude: 19.82° N

Longitude: 155.47° W

Elevation: 4,207 (m) 13,803 (f)

Volcano type: Shield

Composition: Basalt

Most recent eruption: Between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago

Threat Potential: Moderate*

*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System

Summary

Northeast flank, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prominent cone, middle center ...
Pu‘u Kanakaleonui is one of the younger cones of the Laupahoehoe Volcanics and is less than 13,000 years in age. The dark-colored deposit partly surrounding and mantling Pu‘u Kanakaleonui consists of tephra and ejecta blocks of lava mostly 10 to 50 cm in diameter but as large as 3 m long. Some of the ejecta are from underlying lava flows that were erupted more than 65,000 years ago from the Hamakua Volcanics. The light-colored surface below the cone consists of lava flows that are not mantled by the explosive tephra and blocks. Mauna Loa visible in upper left.

Mauna Kea, like Hawai‘i's other older volcanoes, Hualālai and Kohala, has evolved beyond the shield-building stage, as indicated by (1) the very low eruption rates compared to Mauna Loa and Kīlauea; (2) the absence of a summit caldera and elongated fissure vents that radiate its summit; (3) steeper and more irregular topography (for example, the upper flanks of Mauna Kea are twice as steep as those of Mauna Loa); and (4) different chemical compositions of the lava.

These changes in part reflect a low rate magma supply that causes the continuously active summit reservoir and rift zones of the shield stage to give way to small isolated batches of magma that rise episodically into the volcano, erupt briefly, and soon solidify. They also reflect greater viscosity and volatile content of the lava, which result in thick flows that steepen the edifice and explosive eruptions that build large cinder cones.

The Hawaiian name "Mauna Kea" means "White Mountain" but is also known in native traditions and prayers as "Mauna a WAKEA" or "The mountain of WAKEA." Mauna a WAKEA is the first-born mountain son of WAKEA and Papa, the progenitors of the Hawaiian race.

News

Volcano Watch — Webcam upgrades keep a sharp eye on Hawaiian volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Webcam upgrades keep a sharp eye on Hawaiian volcanoes

Volcano Watch — Introducing the Island of Hawaiʻi Interagency Operations Plan for Volcanic Eruptions

Volcano Watch — Introducing the Island of Hawaiʻi Interagency Operations Plan for Volcanic Eruptions

Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – July 19, 2022

Photo and Video Chronology – Kīlauea – July 19, 2022

Publications

2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment

When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners. This update

Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey

Science

Geology and History of Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea, the highest peak on the Island of Hawai‘i (4,207.3 m, 13,803 ft), is a shield volcano built upon the southern flank of Kohala Volcano's eastern rift zone.
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Geology and History of Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea, the highest peak on the Island of Hawai‘i (4,207.3 m, 13,803 ft), is a shield volcano built upon the southern flank of Kohala Volcano's eastern rift zone.
Learn More

Glaciers Existed on Mauna Kea During Recent Ice Ages

Geologists have long recognized deposits formed by glaciers on Mauna Kea during recent ice ages.
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Glaciers Existed on Mauna Kea During Recent Ice Ages

Geologists have long recognized deposits formed by glaciers on Mauna Kea during recent ice ages.
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Mauna Kea Will Erupt Again

Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,500 years ago and is likely to erupt again.
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Mauna Kea Will Erupt Again

Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,500 years ago and is likely to erupt again.
Learn More
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