West Molokai Volcano facts for kids

West Molokai Volcano is an ancient, extinct volcano. It forms the western part of Molokai island in Hawaii, United States. People sometimes call it Mauna Loa because of a nearby town with the same name. This volcano is a type called a shield volcano. This means it has wide, gentle slopes, like a warrior's shield lying on the ground.

How West Molokai Volcano Formed

West Molokai Volcano was created a very long time ago. It formed in two main stages. These stages happened during the Pleistocene epoch. This was a period of Earth's history that ended about 1.89 million years ago.

First Stage of Formation

The first stage created the main, wide shape of the volcano. This happened around 1.89 million years ago. The lava that flowed then was a type called tholeiitic. This kind of lava is very runny. It spreads out easily, building up the wide, shield-like shape.

Second Stage of Formation

The second stage of volcanic activity happened later. This was about 1.76 million years ago. During this time, a different kind of lava flowed. This lava was called alkalic. It was a bit thicker than the first type. This stage added more layers to the volcano.

Neighboring Volcanoes

West Molokai Volcano sits next to another, much larger volcano. This is the East Molokai Volcano. East Molokai Volcano makes up about two-thirds of the island. West Molokai Volcano's western side slightly overlaps with the eastern volcano.