The Na Pali Coast from the Ocean
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This cache is intended to be discovered from the sea by boat or kayak , but could also be discovered from the air by helicopter or airplane as well.
This Earthcache highlights 2 specific spots from this locale. 1. The Kalalau Valley and 2. the Sea Caves just to the right of the vista. 1. The Kalalau Valley:
"The valley is renowned for its natural beauty; it is surrounded by lush cliffs more than 2,000 feet (610 m) high. The valley bottom is broad and relatively flat, with an accessible region about 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide. The abundant sun and rain provides an ideal environment for flora and fauna. Many native Hawaiians lived in the valley into the 20th century, farming taro from a vast complex of terraced fields. Today, its designation as a state park forbids any one from residing there." If you are fortunate to view the valley after it rains, the canyons will be riddled with waterfalls. Bring a hanky, it could bring tears to your eyes.
2. Sea Caves:
A sea cave, also known as a littoral cave, is a type of cave formed primarily by the wave action of the sea. The primary process involved is erosion. Sea caves are found throughout the world, actively forming along present coastlines and as relict sea caves on former coastlines. The top of a sea cave will at times collapse and create a punch bowl appearance or smaller caves with wave action could product a "blow hole" or "spouting horn" Littoral caves may be found in a wide variety of host rocks, ranging from sedimentary to metamorphic to igneous, but caves in the latter tend to be larger due to the greater strength of the host rock. In order to form a sea cave, the host rock must first contain a weak zone. In metamorphic or igneous rock, this is typically either a fault as in the caves of the Channel Islands of California, or a dike as in the large sea caves of Kauai, Hawaii’s Na Pali Coast. In sedimentary rocks, this may be a bedding-plane parting or a contact between layers of different hardness. The latter may also occur in igneous rocks, such as in the caves on Santa Cruz Island, California, where waves have attacked the contact between the andesitic basalt and the agglomerate. The driving force in littoral cave development is wave action. Erosion is ongoing anywhere that waves batter rocky coasts, but where sea cliffs contain zones of weakness, rock is removed at a greater rate along these zones. As the sea reaches into the fissures thus formed, they begin to widen and deepen due to the tremendous force exerted within a confined space, not only by direct action of the surf and any rock particles that it bears, but also by compression of air within. Blowholes (partially submerged caves that eject large sprays of sea water as waves retreat and allow rapid re-expansion of air compressed within) attest to this process. Adding to the hydraulic power of the waves is the abrasive force of suspended sand and rock. Most sea-cave walls are irregular and chunky, reflecting an erosional process where the rock is fractured piece by piece. However, some caves have portions where the walls are rounded and smoothed, typically floored with cobbles, and result from the swirling motion of these cobbles in the surf zone.
Na Pali Coast State Park encompasses 6,175 acres (2,499 ha) of land and is located in the center of the rugged 16 miles (26 km) along the northwest side of Kaua'i, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. The Na Pali coast itself extends southwest starting at Ke'e Beach extending all the way to Polihale State Park. The pali (cliffs) rise as high as 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above the Pacific Ocean. The cliffs are lush in vegetation and during the rainy season are teaming with waterfall activity. The green cliffs extend all the way down to the rugged shoreline down to some inlets with beautiful sandy beaches. The state park was formed to protect the Kalalau Valley.
Although inaccessible to automobiles, this coast can be enjoyed by hiking, boating (in kayaks from May 15 through Labor Day) or from a helicopter. The Kalalau Trail from the end of Hawaii Route 56 (called the Kuhio Highway) provides the only land access, traversing 11 miles (18 km) and crossing five major valleys (and many smaller ones) before reaching Kalalau Beach at the base of Kalalau Valley. To the east of the state park is the Hono O Na Pali state Natural Reserve. It was established in 1983, and then extended to over 3,578 acres (14.5 km2) on March 23,2009
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
1. Describe the difference in the water erosion from the canyons in the Kalalau Valley with the water flowing down versus the water erosion from the waves in the Sea Caves.
2. The difference in the density of vegetation high on the cliffs versus down by the ocean and why the difference.
3. Give an estimation of the height of the sea cave opening (N22'09.911 W159'40.855)
4. Optional: Photo to verify location. If no photo is attached to log, I won't delete your log, but I secretly won't believe you were there.
*data from Wikipedia
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