Hawaii hotspot
Hawaiian volcanoes are characterized by frequent rift eruptions, their large size (thousands of cubic kilometers in volume), and their rough, decentralized shape. Rift zones are a prominent feature on these volcanoes, and account for their seemingly random volcanic structure. The tallest mountain in the Hawaii chain, Mauna Kea, rises above mean sea level. Measured from its base on the seafloor, it is the world's tallest mountain, at ; Mount Everest rises above sea level. Hawaii is surrounded by a myriad of seamounts; however, they were found to be unconnected to the hotspot and its volcanism. Kīlauea has erupted continuously since 1983 through Puʻu ʻŌʻō, a minor volcanic cone, which has become an attraction for volcanologists and tourists alike.
Kīlauea
Together with the outbreak of lava in lower Puna, a lava lake at Halemaumau Crater at Kilauea's summit began to drop on May 2, 2018. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory warned that the lowering of the lava lake increased the potential for phreatic (steam) explosions at the summit caused by interaction of magma with the underground water table, similar to the explosions that occurred at Halemaumau in 1924. These concerns prompted the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On May 17, at approximately 4:15 a.m., an explosive eruption occurred at Halemaumau, creating a plume of ash 30,000 feet into the air. This marked the beginning of a series of vigorous explosions that have produced significant ash plumes from Halemaumau. These explosions, accompanied by large earthquakes and inward slumping and collapse within and around Halemaumau Crater, continued until early August.