Nu'uanu Avalanche! EarthCache

The Nu’uanu Pali Overlook is a popular State Park. It is known for the terrific view of the Windward side, the historical battle and…the WIND!

Almost every island has a Pali or cliff, but the Nu’uanu Pali is considered one of the best! The view from The Pali is of Kaneohe Bay/Town. To the far right you can see some of Kawainui Marsh and Kailua Town. This area is the caldera of the Ko’olau Volcano!

The Ko’olau Volcano is one of two volcanoes responsible for making the island of Oahu. (Wai’anae Volcano is the second.) These volcanoes stopped their main shield flows between 2 to 3 million years ago. Some further “rejuvenated” activity occurred as recently as 30 to 50 thousand years ago.

In between the time of volcanic activity a great amount of erosion took place. Both Ko’olau and Wai’anae Volcano were as big if not bigger than Kilauea! So you can see that there was A LOT of erosion! But, could gradual erosion be solely responsible for the sheer cliff of the Nu’uanu Pali? The answer is: no.

In 1964, Jim Moore provided evidence that much of the Ko’olau volcano avalanched onto the ocean floor. In 1989, sonar scans of the ocean floor found blocks as big as 25 miles long and 1 mile high having slid as far as 62 miles into the ocean! The catastrophic avalanche associated with Ko’olau volcano (named the Nu’uanu avalanche) is considered to be one of the largest landslides on Earth.

After millions of years of erosion from rivers and streams, the Pali is what you are standing on today. The Nu’uanu Valley (formed by river/stream erosion) intersects with the parallel retreat from the avalanche and forms a wind gap. Once you are at the lookout you may experience this “wind” for yourself!

What do you need to do to log this EarthCache?

1. Print out the template for Tiki’s Wind Gauge, assemble on a piece of cardboard and cut out the shape. Tie a string long enough to reach the edge of your cardboard as noted. Before you go to The Pali, circle the mark on the wind gauge you THINK you might experience. Bring Tiki’s Wind Gauge to The Pali!

2. Once at the EarthCache coordinates, aim the front of Tiki’s Wind Gauge into the wind allowing the string to move. Have someone take a picture of you and Tiki’s Wind Gauge in action! Post it in your log with your wind reading.

3. Email the name or a photo of a geological remnant of the caldera that is visible from the lookout. Use your GPSr for names or email a photo of what you see.