GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF HAWAII. 147 



The Last Eruption on IMaiu. 



The date of the last summit eruption is unknown even tc Hawaiian 

 genealogical and traditional history. There is a fairly authentic statement, 

 however, that the last eruption on ]\Iaui occurred about two hundred years ago 

 as a lateral eruption. It emerged at an elevation of about four hundred feet 

 above the sea on the southwest slope of the mountain in the region marked by a 

 line of craters extending from the summit to the sea. In its course it tlowed 

 over a Hawaiian stone fence, indicating the historic relation between the ex- 

 tinction of the volcanic fires and the mountain's occupation by human inhabitants. 



When the fires finally died down they apparently were completely extin- 

 guished on the island. No steam jets or warm springs, no mineral springs nor 

 solfataras remain behind to bridge the closing period of activity with the 

 present, and there have been no signs in historic times to indicate that the island 

 of Maui will ever witness active eruptions again. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ISLAND OF HAWAII. 



Size and Position of Hawaii. 



The last island to the southeast of Oahu and the one v-hich gives the name 

 to the group, is the island of Hawaii. It is not only the largest, but is also 

 the most important island of the chain. It is approximately triangular in form 

 with its greatest length i from north to south. It has an area of 4,015 square 

 miles, which is a trifle less than the area of the state of Connecticut. Enclosed 

 within its 297 miles of coast line, is five-eighths the area of the whole group. 

 Of such an area only a few of the many important facts touching its geography, 

 topography, geology and vulcanology can be referred to in the briefest manner 

 in a single chapter. 



Its coast line is interesting and varied, but the more important points geo- 

 graphically are the capes at the chief angles and the shallow bays at intervals 

 along the coast which are volcanic in origin, being formed in each case by the 

 irregularities in the flow of lava into the sea. Its area is made up of the 

 summits of five mountains, one of which - attains the height of 13,825 feet 

 above sea level, and claims the distinction of being the highest peak in the 

 islands and the highest point in the Pacific. In general Hawaii's topography 

 is formed by the simple .joining of its five main peaks by their gentle slopes 

 in such a manner as to produce the simple outline of the i-sland. There are few 

 rivers of consequence except on the northeast or windward side. 



On all sides the slopes of its great mountains are scarred by the coi^rses 

 of the broad lava streams that, at various times, have plowed their way from 

 near the summits of the central peaks. Often, even in recent times, these streams 



