It's important to note that Kilauea is a shield volcano on the island of Hawaii, which itself is formed by a hotspot within the Pacific Plate. This hotspot is a stationary source of magma that rises from deep within the Earth's mantle.

While the Pacific Plate is moving, the hotspot remains in place, creating a chain of volcanoes as the plate moves over it. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in this chain.