The Hawaiian Islands were formed by hot spot volcanic activities under the Pacific Plate. Mantle plumes rise from the Earth's mantle, forming hot spots on the surface. As the plate moves over the hot spot, a chain of volcanoes is created. The newest volcanoes are above the hot spot and are the most active. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the most active volcanoes in Hawaii today, having last erupted in 1984 and 2018 respectively. The Hawaiian Islands demonstrate how hot spots can form new land in the middle of tectonic plates.