Kohala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kohala |
|
|---|---|
Kohala as seen from Mauna Kea
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,670 m (5,480 ft) |
| Prominence | 790 m (2,590 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Kohala
Location in Hawaii
|
|
| Location | Hawaii, United States |
| Geology | |
| Volcanic arc | Hawaiian Islands |
| Last eruption | 120,000 years ago |
Imagine a giant, old volcano on the beautiful island of Hawaii! That's Kohala, a huge, extinct shield volcano. It's the oldest of the five volcanoes that make up the Big Island, sitting in its northwest corner.
The Story of Kohala
Kohala began its fiery journey about a million years ago, spewing lava and growing bigger with each eruption. Its last eruption was a very long time ago – about 120,000 years ago! Because it hasn't erupted since then, scientists believe Kohala is now an extinct volcano. This means it's not expected to erupt again. The other volcanoes on the Big Island are still active (erupting) or dormant (sleeping, but could wake up).
But Kohala faced a huge challenge. Between 250,000 and 300,000 years ago, a giant landslide crashed down, taking away a big part of the mountain.
A Royal Birthplace
Near Kohala, a very important person was born in 1758: Kamehameha I. He became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii, uniting all the islands.
More to Explore
