Na Pohaku O Hauwahine Earthcache EarthCache
Na Pohaku O Hauwahine Earthcache
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Welcome to Pride Rock - known as such to locals for its resemblance to the location in The Lion King.
This is the Na Pohaku O Hauwahine drylands forest restoration project. It is an earthcache so there is no container as such. But it does offer the opportunity to enjoy a unique spot and learn a bit about our sometimes quite magical world. You will want to look around and learn and send us the answers to the questions below.
In addition, it offers a two-fer. There is a traditional cache hide right here and its owner has graciously agreed that it should have this neighbor.
There is parking for at least six or eight cars at the parking waypoint so that shouldn't be a problem. Be forewarned that you should bring along a camera. You'll really thank us later. Also remember that you shouldn't leave valuables unattended in your car.
There are several trails leading around, down and over the ridge so take time to explore and appreciate all of the hard work of the volunteers. Be respectful of the landscape and recognize that this is a place of archaeological significance as well. Just downhill from the "amphitheater" you'll find the remains of an ancient Hawaiian village.
The rock basically faces north across the Kawainui Swamp across Kailua and out to sea. The Swamp itself is an eastern remnant of the caldera of the Koolau shield volcano. The main part of the caldera is what forms the current Kaneohe Bay just to the west and north over that ridge. More than half of the north side of the volcano has broken off and slid into the sea leaving the southern wall to form today's Koolau Range of mountains.
Notice how very steep and sheer the Koolaus are and you will get a sense of the inside of a volcano.
Volcanic action is interesting because it can take so many varied forms. This is a shield volcano formed primarily by the slow oozing of molten material. It forms when the hot center of the earth melts the underlying rocks and forces it upwards through weak spots in a process known as extrusion. On its way upwards, the now liquid material "collects" other minerals as it passes including carbon, iron, manganese and so forth. Often this material which is under enormous heat and pressure will coalesce to form what we know as jewels. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds are all results of this type of action.
(One of the largest known shield volcanos is actually centered in Yellowstone National Park which is considered to be still active. But I digress.)
Sometimes the material escapes quickly, cools "on the fly", falls as ash and forms a cinder cone. Sometimes it escapes more slowly and flows outwards cooling at the edges and gradually hardens. The "ash" type of fallout is more quickly broken down into soil by weather and biological action while the more solid type takes much longer. Both will demonstrate the characteristics of the mineral content so you will often see the glint of silica on the surface of rocks or the stain of weathering iron particles on rock or in the soil.
Also notice all of the other mountains, hills and ridges around you - evidence of the continuing extrusion of lava AFTER the main part of the caldera had subsided but BEFORE the breakup of the volcano. The large mountain to the east is called Olomana. Most of the ridge/mountain tops consist of the solid rock formations that best resist the erosion of weather.
As sea levels have changed up and down through the years a reef was eventually formed closing off the seawater embayment here. Later a barrier of sand, rock and earth built up and now traps the fresh water runoff to form the Swamp along with the companion Hamakua Marsh visible to the northeast. What appears to be mostly solid ground covered with a variety of vegetation is actually a large body of water covered with a mat of floating plants. It provides habitat for several endangered species of plant and bird life.
Some 1000 years ago while this was still open water the locals created a 450 acre fish pond here which is one of the oldest known on the island.
Eventually the swamp will fill in completely and become a meadow. We don't need to worry about that in our lifetimes but we do hope that our descendants will have the foresight to keep the area as beautiful as it is today.
The park is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm year around. There are guided tours on the first Saturday of each month.
E-mail the answers to the following seven questions through our profile. Do NOT include your answers in the log. Then go ahead and log your find. Don't forget to do both since we can't log it for you and we will delete the logs of those who haven't sent us the email.
1. What are the Hawaiian and English names of the four endangered bird species sheltering in the Swamp?
2. How deep does the water get in places?
3. What three streams feed fresh water into the swamp?
4. What plant forms the circular vegetation "structures" seen in the Swamp and is that a native?
5. Describe the surface of the lava boulders here. What forces do you believe have caused the effect that you see?
6. Take the trail down to the left and look back at "the rock". Describe its appearance from below. What forces appear to be at work here?
7. Continue down this trail to N 21 23.527 and W 157 45.738 the listed waypoint. Here you will see a signature Hawaiian land formation along the right-hand side (the cut bank) as you descend. Look close to your knees/feet. What is it? How would it have been formed?
If you continue on down this trail you can actually walk on the part of the trail that crosses a section of the floating vegetation mat and have a unique experience.
We can't require one but we always appreciate a photo of either yourself or your GPSr with one of the identifiable landmarks in the background. There are several including Olomana (east), the head overlooking the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii (northwest) or even the Swamp itself with Kailua and the sea.
Enjoy.
Congratulations to (listed alphabetically) 808ladybug, dawgdoc1, GeoGerms, kalohepirate and MentalBill for the FTF!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Dhrfgvba 7 - Guvf vf (fhccbfrqyl) hfrq gb fgnva G-fuvegf.
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