Mauna Kea | U.S. Geological Survey Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ( or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Mauna Kea Find U.S. Volcano Filters The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows. Get Help Earthquake Plots To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over. Map Layers Earthquake Colors Earthquake Depth Units Earthquake Time Units Results Filters The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows. Get Help Earthquake Plots To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over. Settings Map Layers Earthquake Colors Earthquake Depth Units Earthquake Time Units Map Legend Map Legend Results Mauna Kea Volcano Updates Science Publications Multimedia News Connect 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 Media Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details 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. Photo & Video Chronology — December 23, 2025 — Mauna Loa overflight and Kīlauea episode 39 January 5, 2026 Photo & Video Chronology — December 23, 2025 — Mauna Loa overflight and Kīlauea episode 39 Volcano Watch — The Art and Science of Geologic Mapping November 7, 2024 Volcano Watch — The Art and Science of Geologic Mapping Volcano Watch — Webcam upgrades keep a sharp eye on Hawaiian volcanoes September 5, 2024 Volcano Watch — Webcam upgrades keep a sharp eye on Hawaiian volcanoes View All October 22, 2018 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment 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... Authors John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. 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By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Mauna Kea Geology and History of Mauna Kea November 21, 2023 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. November 20, 2023 Glaciers Existed on Mauna Kea During Recent Ice Ages Geologists have long recognized deposits formed by glaciers on Mauna Kea during recent ice ages. By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Mauna Kea Glaciers Existed on Mauna Kea During Recent Ice Ages November 20, 2023 Glaciers Existed on Mauna Kea During Recent Ice Ages Geologists have long recognized deposits formed by glaciers on Mauna Kea during recent ice ages. November 18, 2023 Mauna Kea Will Erupt Again Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,500 years ago and is likely to erupt again. By Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Mauna Kea Mauna Kea Will Erupt Again November 18, 2023 Mauna Kea Will Erupt Again Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,500 years ago and is likely to erupt again. View All 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 Volcanoes Hazards Program Links Assess Prepare Forecast Activity Products Observatories About Was this page helpful?