Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes and is also adjacent to the Kilauea Volcano which together make up the Hawaiian island chain in the US state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. This volcano is the largest subaerial type in terms of mass and volume. This mountain is also considered the Largest Volcano on Earth which forms a shield with a relatively gentle slope. Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor and highly liquid, and tend to be non-explosive. Although there was no recent eruption, historically when the eruption occurred, although there were not many casualties, the surrounding villages were still destroyed by the flood of molten lava. Because of the potential danger it poses to population centers, Mauna Loa is part of the Decade Volcanoes program, which encourages the study of the world's most dangerous volcanoes.