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In the case of the Hawaiian Islands, the Pacific Plate is continually moving to the northwest over the Hawaiian hot spot. This movement caused the Hawaiian chain of islands to form.

The active hot spot lies near the center of the Pacific plate, under the southeastern end of the Island chain. The rising magma plumes and subsequent eruptions have created the Island chain. As noted in the previous section, the Pacific plate is moving toward the northwest in the Hawaiian Islands region.

The Formation of the Hawaiian Islands Ages of some of the Hawaiian Islands and outer seamountsVolcano Number (see note at table bottom)Volcano NameDistance from Kilauea along trend of chain (km)69Yuryaku3,52072Kimmei3,66874Koko (southern)3,75841 more rows • May 13, 2018

The Pacific Plate is being moved north west due to sea floor spreading from the East Pacific Rise (divergent margin) in the Gulf of California. The North American Plate is being pushed west and north west due to sea floor spreading from the Mid Atlantic Ridge (divergent margin).

The molten magma rises up and breaks through the crust to form a volcano. While the hot spot stays in one place, rooted to its deep source of heat, the tectonic plate is slowly moving above it. As the plate moves, so does the volcano, and another one forms in its place. The volcano that moved is no longer active.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed by such a hot spot occurring in the middle of the Pacific Plate. While the hot spot itself is fixed, the plate is moving. So, as the plate moved over the hot spot, the string of islands that make up the Hawaiian Island chain were formed.

The Hawaiian Islands and the chain of seamounts that continue their trend for about 6,000 kilometers (3,750 miles) into the northwest Pacific Ocean are an example of a hotspot track. The Island of Hawaii is the youngest, and most active, volcano in the chain.

List of modern island arcs Island arcCountryOverriding PlateJapanese ArchipelagoJapanNorth American Plate, Eurasian PlateRyukyu IslandsJapanEurasian PlatePhilippine IslandsPhilippinesEurasian PlateSunda ArcIndonesiaEurasian Plate12 more rows