How high are the volcanoes?
All of the Hawaiian Islands are made from several volcanoes ranging from a few feet above sea level to the tallest volcano in the islands, Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii which stands 13,796 ft above sea level (plus another 18,000 feet below sea level!). Another tall volcano located on the Big Island is Mauna Loa which stands 13,680 ft. Because of erosion (after a million years of rain, wind and waves) some volcano craters are only a hundred feet above sea level. (That s about as tall as a coconut tree) Hanauma Bay had 1/3 of its’ volcanic crater fall into the ocean during an earthquake and filled with sea water. Now it is a popular snorkeling spot on Oahu, a marine preserve teeming with sea life. The lowest crater has to be Molokini. A small island south of nearby Maui, Molokini rises a mere 45 ft at its’ highest and forms a thin crescent shaped island excellent for snorkeling and diving.
