The state of Hawaii is comprised of eight major islands. The youngest and oldest island is called Hawaii. To distinguish it from the state, it is referred to as The Big Island. There are several things that make The Big Island unique, including its history, size, volcanic activity, and residents.Due to tectonic activity, the islands of Hawaii are constantly moving. Scientists estimate that the islands move two to four inches every year. One way to determine the age of the islands is by marking their relative positions. The islands that have inched the furthest northwest are considered the oldest. The Big Island, the biggest island in Hawaii and the United States, is the southeasternmost island, and therefore the youngest.
The Big Island is located in a tectonic hotspot, which imbibes it with some special properties. For one, unlike the other islands, it is immune to movement, so over millennia, it will likely remain where it is while the rest of the islands move further away. Its location above the tectonic hotspot also means that it is prone to volcanic activity.
A Breakdown Of Hawaii's Timeline
There are five volcanoes on the island. One of them, Kohala, is considered extinct. Though it is highly debated, the volcano is estimated to have last erupted 120,000 years ago. Due to its age and oceanic isolation, the ecosystem surrounding Kohala is unique. Much of the summit and upper slopes are covered in thick Cloud Forests, which derive most of their water from cloud drip, and most of their nutrients from the nitrogen-rich volcanic soil. The mountain supports over 155 endemic and rare species of plants, fungi, and animals. The volcano is so old that it experienced the last reversal of the Earth's magnetic field.
Mount Kea is dormant, having last erupted around 4,000 years ago. Mount Hualalai is also considered dormant since it last erupted 200 years ago, however, scientists predict that it is due to erupt within the next 100 years.
The two active volcanoes on The Big Island are both a part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Mount Loa was last active in 1984 and Mount Kilauea is currently active, so much so that visitors can see fresh lava flows and smoke rising from it.
Even though some of the volcanoes are possibly older, the island as a whole is somewhere between 400,000 and 800,000 years old. By comparison, the oldest major island in Hawaii is Kauai, which is almost six million years old. The last volcanic activity on Kauai ended about four million years ago. It is also one of the most northwestern islands in the state.
Despite the fact that The Big Island is the biggest, it is one of the least populated. Only 13% of the state's population resides on the island. This portion of the population that lives on the island is also the oldest. The median age on The Big Island is 41.3, which is a lot older than the youngest areas of the island. The west side of Oahu, for example, which is the most popular island in Hawaii, where Honolulu is, has a median age of around 30.
The reason for this age disparity has to do with relative costs. Since The Big Island has so much more space, real estate is cheaper than the other, more populated islands. With a lot of privacy and space and the fact that pensions last longer, The Big Island is a popular spot among retirees. This is why the median age is higher than the rest of the state, and why The Big Island is considered the oldest island.
Few people inhabit the island due to its vulnerability to natural disasters. Earthquakes and tsunamis are a looming threat, and in 1868, the island was the site of the most destructive earthquake in Hawaii's recorded history. As a reminder of the young island's volatile nature, there was significant seismic activity on The Big Island as recently as 2018.
In addition to that, due to volcanic activity in Mount Kilauea, the island regularly experiences volcanic fog, also called vog. Vog is full of harmful chemicals from deep inside the earth, many of which are highly acidic. It is known to cause serious damage to the environment and negatively affect human health. The aerosols in vog remain in the lungs for a long time. As a result, there are widespread reports of lethargy and flu-like symptoms on the island, which are largely attributed to the presence of vog.
Due to the potential of adverse effects on pregnant women and children, younger people are naturally disinclined to stay on the island, opting to rather stay on older islands without volcanic activity.
It's clear that The Big Island of Hawaii, in the state of Hawaii, is an interesting place. It's relatively young, sparsely populated, full of unique endemic species, awesome natural phenomena, and old retirees. Due to its odd geography and circumstances on the ground, it is at once, the youngest and oldest island in Hawaii.