Lōihi began forming around 400,000 years ago and is expected to begin emerging above sea level about 10,000 – 100,000 years from now . At its summit , Lōʻihi Seamount stands more than above the seafloor , making it taller than Mount St. Helens was before its catastrophic 1980 eruption . A diverse microbial community resides around Lōihi 's many hydrothermal vents
1980 eruption
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Lōʻihi Seamount