The hawaiian islands formed over a stationary hot spot. this means that hot molten magma from deep within the mantle erupted onto the surface of the ocean floor, forming an underwater volcano, or seamount. as the volcano continued to grow, it eventually emerged above sea level, forming an island arc. the first island to form over the hot spot was kauai island. the island sits at the northernmost section along the chain, is now an extinct volcano, and contains the oldest rocks of the hawaiian islands. maui is also an extinct volcano. it has much younger rocks than kauai but older than the big island. hawai'i is the southernmost island, has active volcanoes, and contains the youngest rocks of all the islands. by understanding that the hawaiian islands formed over a stationary hot spot, the youngest rocks are found on the actively-erupting hawai'i island, and that rocks become progressively older as you move northwest support what theory?