Looking for Rocks in all the Right Places

 So geocaching is one of the coolest hobbies.  Here on Moloka’i, there are a bunch of things called Earth Caches which brings you to places where there is an interesting geological feature going on, and helping you take notice.  No little thingy to find, just make observations about the area.   Of course, having my own personal geologist to help me parse the details is helpful.  

(Side note, you want to see Jim’s ears steam?  Ask him about earth cache details that are created by a person whose first language isn’t English and their understanding of geology is….less solid.  This happened in New Zealand when the question was about finding a specific feature which Jim point blank said was not a geology term….).  He has….opinions, let us say.  But I still bow to the chief on this topic.  

Moving on.  Quick history here.  Moloka’i is created from 2 distinct shield volcanoes —broad gently sloping volcanoes  that have repeated non explosive eruptions.  Another one formed the Kalaupapa peninsula where the folks with Hansen’s disease lived).  Part of the volcano on the north collapsed into the ocean and there are now a series of super high cliffs on the north shore. Where the overlook was is 1700ft tall.  

And on the west side is, in addition to a 2 mile long beach are what I am calling the hanging beaches.  This is a mix of coastal erosion where what erodes leaves a steep sandy beach hanging on over some scary rocks below.  The pitch, I swear, is steeper than the 23% grade of Mom’s driveway.  I only got so far and chickened out.  

You can also see the effects of erosion as the iron rich layers of the island wash to the shore, causing a pretty mix of fine mafic igneous and felsic igneous rocks.  (See? I am speaking geology!).  

And today, it was honey comb weathering. Jim says this rock occurs when there is eruption in the water, all I know is that the lava rock is rounded to nifty balls and is pocked with honeycombing, so very cool. 

 

And along the way to see the honeycombing we saw the fishponds.  Created 700-800 years ago, they are rock walled ponds along the southern coast, The remains of some 60 fishponds are found along this area, the largest of which is over 400 acres.