Hawaiian Shield Volcanoes
Untitled Document

 

Home Page
Browse Images
Geotripper's Blog
About Us
Feedback/Help
Links We Like!
Image Use
Page Template


Images of Hawaiian Shield Volcanoes
The Hawaiian Islands are a vast open-air laboratory for understanding the evolution of hot spot shield volcanoes. The main islands of Hawai'i (the Big Island), Maui, Oahu, and Kaua'i provide wonderful examples of volcanoes in the shield building stage (this page), and the capping stage, erosional stage, and rejuvenation stage (click link).
Images of the Shield Building Stage (Kilauea and Mauna Loa)
Much of the development of the Hawaiian Island shields takes place underwater, and volcanoes that are exposed today are already three miles high when we see them as islands. The next Hawaiian shield, Loihi, is already more than two miles high, but will not be exposed for tens of thousands of years. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the two youngest and most active shields in the Hawaiian Islands. Kilauea is hard to photograph as a distinct entity, being so flat across the summit and with gentle slopes, except where the palis (fault scarp cliffs) interrupt the smooth topography. Mauna Loa, at almost 14,000 feet, dominates views of the Big Island. Both volcanoes are highly active; Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, while Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984.
Kilauea
Summit caldera of Kilauea from Volcanoes Lab Summit region of Kilauea Summit of Kilauea from edge of Halemaumau Western edge of Kilauea summit caldera Looking towards southwest rift zone of Kilauea Kilauea Pali
Summit caldera (Halema`uma`u) of Kilauea from Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory (HVO) Summit region of Kilauea, looking east from HVO with Kilauea Iki in distance. Summit of Kilauea from Halema`uma`u parking lot (now inaccessible) Western edge of the Kilauea summit caldera. Halema`uma`u crater on left Slope of Kilauea towards the southwest rift zone (2004) South slope of Kilauea with pali (2004)
Southwest Rift of Kilauea SW rift zone of Kilauea Halemaumau and Kilauea caldera rim Halemaumau and Kilauea caldera rim Kilauea caldera rim Halemaumau erupting
Southwest Rift of Kilauea from edge of summit caldera Southwest Rift of Kilauea from edge of summit caldera, Mauna Loa in distance Halema`uma`u and rim of Kilauea caldera. This viewpoint is presently closed due to eruptive activity Halema`uma`u and rim of Kilauea caldera. Buildings of HVO at upper left Summit region of Kilauea, looking east from HVO with Kilauea Iki in distance. Halemaumau in eruption (2009) in the Kilauea caldera
Pu'u o'o on East Rift Zone Pu`u `O`o crater South flank of Kilauea's East Rift Zone East Rift Zone of Kilauea Entire Pu'u O'o flow
Pu`u `O`o crater on the East Rift zone of Kilauea. Source of most of the 1983-2010 lavas Pu`u `O`o crater on the East Rift zone of Kilauea. Source of most of the 1983-2010 lavas Aerial view of South flank and pali of Kilauea's East Rift Zone Aerial view of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, recent Pu'u O'o flows in foreground Aerial view of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, with erupting Pu'u O'o and lava tube system Entire Pu'u O'o flow from rift zone to ocean entry
Pu'u O'o vent and lava tube system Halemaumau in Kilauea Caldera Halemaumau  in Kilauea Kilaues pali with lava flow Kilauea shield from Honu'apu Kilauea shield from Honu'apu
Aerial view of East Rift Zone of Kilauea, with erupting Pu'u O'o and lava tube system Halema'uma'u erupting in 2009 inside Kilauea caldera Halema'uma'u erupting in 2009 inside Kilauea caldera Pali on flank of Kilauea (with lava flow in 2002) Kilauea shield on horizon, from Honu'apu, from the southwest Kilauea shield on horizon, from Honu'apu
 
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Mauna Loa from Saddle Road
Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in foreground Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in foreground Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Road. Cinder cones in foreground Mauna Loa from Saddle Road. A'a lava flow in foreground
Mauna Loa from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea  Aerial of Mauna Loa from north end of Big Island 
Mauna Loa from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea. Vog from Kilauea eruption Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea. Vog from Kilauea eruption Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea and numerous cinder cones Mauna Loa from Mauna Kea. Aerial view of Mauna Loa from north end of Big Island 
Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa  Three giant shields: Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala  Mauna Loa from South Point  Mauna Loa from South Point  Mauna Loa from South Point  Mauna Loa from Waimea 
Aerial of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa  Three giant shields: Haleakala on Maui, and Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the Big Island  Mauna Loa from South Point shoreline  Mauna Loa from South Point shoreline   Mauna Loa from South Point shoreline    Mauna Loa from Waimea area 
Mauna Loa from Waimea area  Mauna Loa from Saddle Road  Mauna Loa from Saddle road  Mauna Loa from Saddle Road    Mauna Loa from Hilo  Mauna Loa from Hilo on a cloudless day
Mauna Loa from Waimea area   Mauna Loa from Saddle Road  Mauna Loa from Saddle Road   Mauna Loa from Saddle Road    Mauna Loa shield from Hilo on a very uncharacteristic cloudless day (2004)  Mauna Loa shield from Hilo on a very uncharacteristic cloudless day
           
           
Images of the Capping, Erosional and Rejuvenation Stage
           

Home Page | Browse Images | Geotripper's Blog | About Us | Feedback/Help | Links We Like | Image Use |

© 2010 All rights reserved. Garry Hayes, 435 College Ave, Modesto, CA 95350.
Please send any comments or problems with this site here