What is the highest point in the Hawaiian archipelago?

The highest point in the Hawaiian archipelago is Mauna Kea, whose summit rises 4,207.3 metres above sea level.

Mauna Kea is a dormant shield volcano on Hawaiʻi Island, also called the Big Island. It is slightly higher than nearby Mauna Loa, although Mauna Loa is larger by volume. Mauna Kea’s summit is topped by volcanic cinder cones and is often dusted with snow during winter.

A common mix-up is Kīlauea, which is famous for its frequent eruptions, and Haleakalā, the high volcano on Maui. Mauna Loa is another plausible-sounding answer because it is massive and highly prominent, but its summit is lower at about 4,170 metres.

Mauna Kea is also notable for its extraordinary height from base to summit. Much of the volcano lies beneath the Pacific Ocean, so measurements from the ocean floor make it taller than Mount Everest—though “highest” conventionally means elevation above sea level.