HI Geocachers:'Ohelo Berries on the Saddle Traditional Cache
HI Geocachers:'Ohelo Berries on the Saddle
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The 'Ōhelo that grows at higher altitudes and is abundant in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and Saddle road area. The plant is usually small, from 6 inches to waste high, though it can occasionally be larger. The plant has many branches with small rounded leaves. Young leaves at the thops are redish with green mature leaves
According to legend, Kaohelo, who instructs her son Kiha to bury her, when she dies, "on the navel of your grandmother at Kilauea." Out of her flesh springs the creeping 'ohelo, out of her bones the 'ohelo bush; other parts of her body are thrown to Maui, O'ahu, Kaua'i, and become 'ohelo bushes on those islands.
A relative of blueberries and cranberries, the 'ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum) is one of the few native Hawaiian plants producing palatable fruit. The berries have been reincarnated into 'ono jams, jellies and pies, and the fruit is the primary favored food for our state bird, the nene.
This cache is located just pass the 14 mile marker on highway 200, the Saddle road. It is located on the left-hand side if you are coming up from Hilo, right before the 55 speed limit sign. there is a small area on the side of the road to park your vehicle.
Here you will find a path leading from the parking area follow it. and wonder about among the hapu, ferns and other Hawaiian Fauna. the 'Ohelo is the plant with the light-green and red leaves, look and you may find berries.
Please be aware of the terrain here, although it is not too dangerous, there are many holes and unseen water traps. also it is very easy to lose your bearings. As always practice CITO and placed the cache back as you find it or better...aloha and happy hunting.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
V uvqr va gur oehfu.
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