The Hawaiian Islands were born of fire and sculptured by wind, rain and the endless pounding of ocean waves. Pele, the fire goddess, is given credit for the oceans of lava spilled over time. Scientifically speaking, the landforms in Hawaii are the result of a “hot spot” beneath the ocean bed combined with the ever shifting plates of the Earth’s crust. The result is a chain of islands offering everything from lush tropical forests to active volcanoes still adding acreage to Pele’s latest home.

Tropically Verdant Kauai The oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is home to the Waimea Canyon. Formed by impressive amounts of rainfall, impromptu waterfalls and wind, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” is one of the biggest tourist attractions on the island. It is accessible by car via Waimea Canyon Drive, and visitors can pull off at lookout points to get a bird’s-eye view of the canyon and Kokee State Park (hawaiistateparks.org). Wind and rain also carved the jagged cliffs of Kauai’s Napali Coast. This part of Kauai may only be accessed by boat or via the 11-mile Kalalau Trail. This challenging hike hugs the coast in some areas and takes you through rain forests in others. Along the way you’ll find hidden pocket beaches, freshwater ponds and countless waterfalls. Hanakapi’ai Falls is a 4-mile hike from Ke’e Beach, the trailhead. One way to take in these impressive Kauai landforms is by helitour. Two companies that specialize in finding hidden valleys and waterfalls are Safari Helicopters Hawaii (sarfarihelicopters.com) and Jack Harter Helicopters (helicopters-kauai.com)

Oahu – Diamond Head The iconic symbol of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Crater (hawaiistateparks.org) is the remains of a volcano that erupted roughly 300,000 years ago. Unlike the constant flow of lava now happening on the Big Island, Diamond Head was an explosive eruption. Like Mount St. Helens in Washington State, a cup-like crater was left behind. Today this crater attracts tourists wanting to hike the 0.8-mile trail to the rim. The reward is a panoramic view of Waikiki, Honolulu and beyond. The knife-edged cliffs of the Koolau Mountains separate the drier south side of Oahu from the wetter northern, or windward, side. Nuuanu Pali Lookout, sitting at 1,186 feet above the Honolulu basin, offers panoramic views of that city and the Windward Coast. Hold onto your hat though, as the Pali is very windy. One local trick is to toss a penny over the guardrail and watch the wind blow it back to you.

Maui – Haleakala Haleakala Crater last erupted about 1790 and is considered dormant. Now the centerpiece of Haleakala National Park (nps.gov) on the eastern end of Maui, the crater and surrounding lands are a nesting ground for the near-flightless, endangered Hawaiian nene goose. The rare Haleakala greensword plant grows only on bogs at the higher elevations. One of the most popular tours on Maui is a sunrise bike-ride from the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakala down to the town of Paia on the island’s north coast. It does mean getting up at 3 a.m. to get to the top before the sun comes up. Tour operators include Haleakala Bike Company (bikemaui.com) and Mountain Riders (mountainriders.com). The center of Maui is one big valley. Its centerpiece is Iao Valley State Monument (nps.gov) and the 1,200-foot-high Iao Needle, a conical spire that was carved by wind and rain. Iao Valley is also a culturally important site, as this is where King Kamehameha I conquered the king of Maui in his bid to unite the Hawaiian

The Big Island – Still Active Volcanoes Pele is still very busy on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kilauea has been actively producing lava and adding to the Big Island’s real estate since 1983. In 1990, that led to the destruction of Kalapana, a coastal village just east of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Before that, the Chain of Craters Road near an archaeological dig and a visitor’s center on the ocean side of the park were buried. Now instead of driving around the entire park, you must turn around at the blocked roadway. The famed black sand beach at Kalapana was also covered, but a new Kaimu Black Sand Beach is already forming. Mauna Kea, which means “white mountain,” is the only place in Hawaii that sees measurable snowfall each year -- enough to ski on. It rises 13,796 feet above sea level and is home to a number of observatories. Astronomers flock to the top of Mauna Kea, where usually clear skies and a thin atmosphere make it perfect for studying the stars.

Loihi – Island in Waiting Loihi sits off the southeast coast of the Big Island. Scientists discovered and named the seamount in 1970. At nearly 10,000 feet tall, Loihi has yet to break the surface of the Pacific. In 1996, the eruptions increased and Loihi has been active ever since. Scientists from the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory use remote-controlled submarines to study the flow and capture pictures of an underwater volcanic eruption in progress.

About the Author Monica Wachman is a former editor and writer for FishersTravelSOS, EasyRez.com and Bonsai Ireland. She has an AA degree in travel from Career Com Technical and is an avid RV buff and gardener. In 2014, she published "Mouschie and the Big White Box" about an RV trip across North America.