Final answer:
The distance between volcanoes in the Hawaiian island chain and Kilauea increases over time as the Pacific Plate moves over the stationary hot spot, carrying older volcanoes further away.
Step-by-step explanation:
As the age of volcanoes in the Hawaiian island chain progresses, the distance between them and Kilauea increases. This occurs because the Hawaiian Islands have been formed by a hot spot beneath the Pacific Plate. Over time, as the Pacific Plate moves northwestward over the stationary hot spot, new volcanoes form and older ones move away with the plate's motion.
The older a volcano is, the farther it has traveled from the hot spot, hence increasing the distance from Kilauea, which is currently one of the active volcanoes located directly above the hot spot. The Hawaiian Volcanoes are evidence of this geological process, as they form a chain that extends over 3,500 kilometers with varying ages and distances from Kilauea.