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The
The Valleys of Kohala Mountain
Kohala, also known as the "Kohala
Mountains," is the name of an extinct volcano on Hawaii Island in
the state of Hawaii. At its highest elevation, Kohala is 5,480 feet
(1,670 meters) above sea level.
Kohala is believed to be the
oldest volcano that makes up Hawaii Island. It is thought to have
breached sea level about 500,000 years ago. Its eruptive activity
began to wane about 300,000 years ago. At about this time, it is
thought that the volcano was about twice as wide as it is today.
However, because the island of Kohala is slowly sinking into the
Pacific Ocean's seafloor, the volcano began to sink faster than new
eruptions could replace what was being lost to subsidence. Thus, the
volcano's size began to recede as it sank below sea level. Kohala's
activity continued to wane and it is thought that the volcano last
erupted about 120,000 years ago.
As Kohala slowly waned, its southern flanks were buried by the two
younger volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Since Kohala'a southern flanks
are buried, it is difficult to determine the size and shape of the volcano
when it was at its prime.
About 250,000 to 300,000 years ago, a large landslide on the northeastern
flank of the volcano removed a massive portion of the mountain, estimated to
be as much as a section 20 kilometers wide. The part of the mountain removed
by the landslide collapsed into the ocean at a very high speed and traveled
as much as 130 kilometers across the ocean floor. The large seacliffs on the
northeast flank of the volcano mark the headwall of this landslide.
Kohala is named after the district of Kohala, which exists on the
volcano's southwest flank. From Wikipedia

Leeward side, From Kawaihae

Ocean Side of Kohala Mountain

4th Valley Kohala Mountain
Waipio Valley

The Island of Maui from Kohala
Mountain Road |
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| Kohala Mountains: Click to
enlarge |

A view of Kohala Volcano from the
slopes of Mauna Kea |
| Elevation: |
5,480 ft (1,670 m) |
| Coordinates: |
20°05′10″N,
155°43′02″W |
| Location: |
Hawaii, USA |
| Topo map: |
USGS Kamuela |
| Range: |
Hawaiian Islands |
| Type: |
Shield volcano |
| Age of rock: |
460,000-120,000 yr |

Mauna Kea from Kohala Mountain

Driving up Kohala Mountain

Waipio Valley

Pololu from Waipio
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