This volcano is situated in Hawaii, and it is the highest volcano in this state. No one knows when it might erupt next. January 2000 - Photograph copyrighted and provided by Dan Olberg, Senior Geologist, PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals. Of these five hotspot volcanoes, Mauna Kea is the fourth oldest and fourth most active. It began as a preshield volcano driven by the Hawaiʻi hotspot around one million years ago, and became exceptionally active during its shield stage until 500,000 years ago.

Mauna Kea is over 1 million years old. Mauna Kea does n… Even though the last eruption is estimated to have occurred something like 4500 years ago, it is not considered extinct. Mauna Kea's last eruption was 4500 years ago. Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano on the Island of Hawaii. From sea floor to summit it towers more than 5.6 miles (9 km). It is also the second largest volcano on the island. It is a dormant volcano, meaning there is still a possibility that it will one day awaken and erupt again.

Its quiescent periods between eruptions are long compared to those of the active volcanoes Hualālai (which erupts every few hundred years), Mauna Loa (which erupts every few years to few tens of years) and Kīlauea (which erupts every few years).

It began erupting on the sea floor about 800,000 years ago. Mauna Kea last erupted about 4,500 years ago and is likely to erupt again. Mauna Kea is one of five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaiʻi, the largest and youngest island of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain. Mauna Kea, the Big Island of Hawaii. Mauna Kea entered its quieter post-shield stage 250,000 to 200,000 years ago, and is currently dormant.