Volcano Mauna Kea
Rising 4,205 m above sea level on the Island of Hawaii, Mauna Kea is a dormant shield volcano in the post-shield stage. When measured from its oceanic base on the Pacific seafloor (approx. 6,000 m deep), it stands over 10,210 m tall, making it the tallest mountain on Earth from base to peak.
Last eruption
2460 BCE
Historical eruption
Summit
4.2 km
Shield volcano · Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Activity
Normal Baseline
0 events (0.0x rate)
Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map
Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.
Recent seismicity within 50 km
0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.
| Time | Magnitude | Epicenter / Place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d ago | M1.7 | 26 km N of Pāhala, Hawaii | 42 km |
| 1d ago | M1.9 | 28 km SSE of Waimea, Hawaii | 7.5 km |
| 1d ago | M1.9 | 18 km SE of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 19 km |
| 2d ago | M2.6 | 24 km WNW of Volcano, Hawaii | 36 km |
| 2d ago | M1.7 | 7 km E of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 29 km |
| 2d ago | M2.4 | 25 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 43 km |
| 3d ago | M1.8 | 7 km WNW of Mountain View, Hawaii | 41 km |
| 4d ago | M2.8 | 29 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 40 km |
| 5d ago | M2.2 | 25 km W of Volcano, Hawaii | 38 km |
| 6d ago | M1.8 | 22 km WNW of Volcano, Hawaii | 37 km |
| 7d ago | M2.7 | 27 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 7d ago | M1.5 | 26 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 7d ago | M1.7 | 31 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 40 km |
| 8d ago | M2.2 | 27 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 40 km |
| 9d ago | M2.3 | 24 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 9d ago | M2.1 | 7 km E of Honomu, Hawaii | 45 km |
| 10d ago | M2.1 | 27 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 11d ago | M2.9 | 13 km SSW of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 38 km |
| 11d ago | M2.3 | 28 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 44 km |
| 11d ago | M2.3 | 11 km SSW of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 36 km |
| 11d ago | M2.1 | 15 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 11d ago | M1.7 | 22 km WNW of Volcano, Hawaii | 37 km |
| 12d ago | M1.3 | 7 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 12d ago | M1.8 | 7 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 12d ago | M2.2 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 12d ago | M2.1 | 0 km NW of Honoka‘a, Hawaii | 29 km |
| 13d ago | M2.5 | 19 km N of Pāhala, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 13d ago | M2.0 | 7 km W of Laupāhoehoe, Hawaii | 26 km |
| 13d ago | M1.9 | 19 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 13d ago | M2.1 | 22 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 15d ago | M2.1 | 23 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 44 km |
| 15d ago | M2.1 | 0 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 15d ago | M1.8 | 17 km W of Volcano, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 15d ago | M2.2 | 3 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 16d ago | M1.5 | 27 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 42 km |
| 16d ago | M1.9 | 12 km WNW of Mountain View, Hawaii | 35 km |
| 16d ago | M2.1 | 26 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 17d ago | M2.1 | 27 km ENE of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 38 km |
| 18d ago | M1.8 | 8 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 18d ago | M1.7 | 20 km W of Paukaa, Hawaii | 20 km |
| 18d ago | M1.7 | 26 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 19d ago | M2.2 | 27 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 45 km |
| 19d ago | M1.8 | 21 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 44 km |
| 19d ago | M2.0 | 14 km S of Kapaau, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 20d ago | M1.8 | 15 km ENE of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 43 km |
| 20d ago | M2.4 | 22 km NE of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 36 km |
| 21d ago | M2.1 | 26 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 21d ago | M2.0 | 8 km NNE of Honomu, Hawaii | 42 km |
| 22d ago | M1.8 | 25 km W of Volcano, Hawaii | 42 km |
| 22d ago | M2.4 | 26 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 23d ago | M2.5 | 8 km SSE of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 30 km |
| 23d ago | M2.0 | 28 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 45 km |
| 23d ago | M3.0 | 10 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 17 km |
| 23d ago | M2.5 | 8 km S of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 20 km |
| 23d ago | M2.8 | 10 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 16 km |
| 23d ago | M2.3 | 10 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 16 km |
| 23d ago | M2.0 | 26 km W of Wainaku, Hawaii | 17 km |
| 23d ago | M2.6 | 10 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 16 km |
| 23d ago | M1.3 | 10 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 17 km |
| 23d ago | M2.6 | 8 km S of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 18 km |
| 23d ago | M1.9 | 22 km W of Volcano, Hawaii | 39 km |
| 24d ago | M2.2 | 27 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 45 km |
| 24d ago | M2.1 | 26 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 44 km |
| 24d ago | M1.8 | 19 km SSW of Pa‘auilo, Hawaii | 7.8 km |
| 24d ago | M1.7 | 27 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 24d ago | M2.4 | 26 km E of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 43 km |
| 24d ago | M2.6 | 27 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 43 km |
| 25d ago | M2.5 | 27 km NNW of Pāhala, Hawaii | 45 km |
| 25d ago | M2.4 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 25d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 25d ago | M2.0 | 3 km ENE of Pāpa‘ikou, Hawaii | 43 km |
| 25d ago | M1.9 | 20 km NNE of Pāhala, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 26d ago | M2.0 | 6 km W of Volcano, Hawaii | 46 km |
| 26d ago | M1.5 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 26d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 26d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 26d ago | M1.3 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 26d ago | M2.1 | 7 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 27d ago | M2.2 | 30 km SE of Waikoloa, Hawaii | 12 km |
| 27d ago | M2.0 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 27d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M3.7 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 27d ago | M1.7 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M1.8 | 17 km NNW of Volcano, Hawaii | 31 km |
| 27d ago | M2.2 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M2.3 | 4 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 27d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.7 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.4 | ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII (HV) | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 9 km NE of Honaunau-Napoopoo, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 4 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 4 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M1.9 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.2 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 4 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 47 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.5 | 4 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.2 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.2 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.2 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.0 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M1.0 | 6 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M2.2 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.1 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 28d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M1.9 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 28d ago | M2.3 | 6 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 48 km |
| 28d ago | M3.8 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 28d ago | M2.6 | 5 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 28d ago | M1.8 | 5 km WSW of Volcano, Hawaii | 49 km |
| 29d ago | M1.6 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M2.0 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M1.8 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M2.1 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M1.7 | 6 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M2.0 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M0.8 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M1.3 | 6 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
| 29d ago | M1.8 | 7 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii | 50 km |
Geological & Tectonic Profile
Shield volcanoMauna Kea is an active Shield volcano formed in an active Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Basalt / Picro-Basalt.
Edifice TypeShield volcano
Major rockBasalt / Picro-Basalt
TectonicsIntraplate
Volcanic ArcHawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group
Volcano Dossier
VN #332030Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.
CountryUnited States
Crater Coordinates19.820°, -155.470°
Summit4.2 km
SubregionHawaiian-Emperor Hotspot Volcano Group
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#332030)
Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile
Hawaii Volcanic Belt
Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Hawaii Volcanic Belt.
Open Regional HubFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols
The most recent eruption of Mauna Kea recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2460 BCE.
Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile