* Hotspot: The Hawaiian Islands sit atop a hotspot, a plume of unusually hot magma rising from deep within the Earth's mantle.
* Volcanic Eruptions: This hot magma erupts through the Earth's crust, creating volcanoes. Over time, repeated eruptions build up layers of lava, forming the islands.
* Plate Tectonics: As the Pacific Plate moves slowly over the stationary hotspot, new volcanoes form, creating a chain of islands. The oldest islands (like Kauai) are furthest away from the hotspot, while the youngest (like Hawaii) are still actively forming.
So, the Hawaiian Islands are a testament to the immense power of Earth's internal processes.