Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawai'i is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The island is built from seven separate shield volcanoes that errupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. At least two of these have been buried by more recent volcanoes. These are (from oldest to youngest): Kohala (extinct), Ninole (extinct, mostly buried), Mauna Kea (extinct or dormant?), Hualalai (dormant), Mauna Loa (active), Kulani (extinct, mostly buried), and Kilauea (very active).
Also known as the Big Island (although this term is starting to fall into disfavor), its area is 4,038 sq. miles. In greatest dimension, the island is 93 miles across. The island represents more than half (~62%) of the total land area of the State of Hawaii and is administered under the County of Hawaii.
View north from upslope Kohala
showing Haleakala, Maui in the distance (Click to enlarge)
Hawai'i is the southernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The nearest landfall to the south would be in the Line Islands. The submerged active volcano, Loihi, represents the next emergence of a new island in the chain. To the north is the island of Maui, whose Haleakala is visible across the Alenuihaha Channel (see photo at right).
References
- MacDonald, G. A., and A. T. Abbott. 1970. Volcanoes in the Sea. Univ. of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 441 pages.