Hawaii Geography

Hawaii is situated some 3,200 km (1,988 mi) southwest of the North American mainland. All of the Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanoes erupting from the sea floor from a magma source. The tectonic plate beneath the islands remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes. The volcanic activity and subsequent erosion created impressive geological features.

The Big Island is notable as the world’s fifth highest island. Hawaii’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea stands at 13,796 ft (4,205 m) but is taller than Mount Everest if followed to the base of the mountain from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, rising 33,476 feet (10,203 meters). The last volcanic eruption outside the Big Island occurred at Haleakala on Maui in the late 18th century.

Because of the islands’ volcanic formation, native life arrived by the "3 W’s": wind, waves, and wings. The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the wide range of environments to be found on high islands located in and near the tropic, has resulted in a vast array of endemic flora and fauna. Hawaii also has more endangered species per square mile and has lost a higher percentage of its endemic species than anywhere else on Earth.

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