The islands of Hawai'i begin here

In the primordial darkness of Pō, as told in the Kumulipo, fiery beginnings brought forth the earth as magma pushes through the ocean floor and new volcanoes come to life offshore. Fueled by a hot spot, colossal volcanoes gradually build from the ocean's dark depths. About 28 miles (45 km) away lies the submerged summit of the newest volcano, Lō'ihi, also known as Kama'ehu in Hawaiian chants. At 3,180 feet (969 m) below sea level, its summit never receives the sun's rays. These young volcanoes emerge to form new islands, and given time some grow into the world's largest mountains. As the oceanic plate carries them northwest, the great volcanoes drift away from the hot spot, become extinct, and erode back into the ocean from which they were born.

Kalapana, Hawaii · United States