Rising Lava Lake at Halemaumau crater
In the Farthest Reaches of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The only realistic way to access the remote northwest corner of Kahuku is by helicopter.
In July, a group of NPS staff flew to the remote northwest corner of Hawai’i Volcanoes NP – Kahuku (6,900 ft) via helicopter. During this trip, an endangered parsley (Spermolepis hawaiiensis), rare endemic fern (Polystichum haleakalense), rare seasonal endemic stinging nettle (Hesperocnide sandwicensis), and seven non-native species new to Kahuku were documented. Like most of Kahuku, this area continues to be significantly impacted by grazing, ground disturbance, and soil compaction from ungulates such as cattle, mouflon, sheep, and pigs. The extent of this impact is evident by the remnant vegetation composition. Before these mammals were present, this area was a native woodland dominated by naio (Myoporum sandwicense) and māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) trees with diverse native shrubs and grasses in the understory. Although some of the older trees are still present, there are few young trees to take their place. Furthermore, a groundcover of mostly non-native herbs now blankets large sections of the landscape.
Monitoring data from rarely visited areas of the park such as the northwest corner of Kahuku provide park managers with an important glimpse at the condition of these remote vegetation communities. These data provide a basic understanding of the amount and types of plant species in each part of the forest as well as identify new and rare species. -A. Ainsworth & C. Yanger, NPS Biologists
A large patch of pōpolo kū mai (Phytolacca sandwicensis) was found just outside of a monitoring plot within the former pasture section of Kahuku. Pōpolo kū mai is rare to the park and this patch is particularly important because it will serve as a critical seed source for resource management’s ongoing wet forest reforestation efforts.
A lone mamane tree symbolizes the havoc that grazing animals have on native ecosystems. Saplings have been quickly eaten for generations, leaving only the older, gnarled trees. Once these trees die, will there be any more mamane?
- This rare native Hawaiian fern, Polysitichum haleakalense, was found in Kahuku.
For the full article click here
Register Now to Count Whales at Hawai‘i Volcanoes NP
Humpback whales in Hawai'i
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park encourages volunteers to help count humpback whales during the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count held the last Saturday of January, February and March (Jan. 28, Feb. 25, and Mar. 31) from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Hawaii Volcanoes’ Ka‘ena Point, at the end of Chain of Craters Road, is one of 22 Sanctuary Ocean Count sites island-wide where volunteers onshore monitor humpbacks in nearshore waters for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Residents and visitors enjoy this yearly event which provides important population and distribution information about humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands.
“This is an ideal opportunity for the community and for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park to work together as stewards of our ocean,” said Park Ranger Adrian Boone, site leader for the Sanctuary Ocean Count. “These magnificent creatures swim more than 2,000 miles to Hawai‘i from Arctic waters every winter, and the annual count is one way we can help observe and record their behavior, and ensure their future,” he said.
Volunteers can sign up on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary website: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/involved/ocvolunteer.html or call 1-888-55-WHALE ext. 253.
-NPS-
National Park Moves into New Headquarters!
The National Park of American Samoa has relocated to their new headquarters and visitor center in the Pago Pago Harbor area. The facility now welcomes visitors at the MHJ Building (across from the Pago Way Gas Station) on the second floor. After the earthquake and tsunami event of September 29, 2009 completely destroyed the old facility, the national park staff moved to temporary quarters in the Haleck Building in Ottoville. Following United States National Park Service emergency funding, a lease agreement, and major renovations the national park staff just moved to their new facility.
“The new location returns us to the harbor area, closer to the park, and enables us to better perform our duties of working with the villages to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources within the national park” said Mike Reynolds, Superintendent. “We are also closer to the cruise ship dock and can once again welcome cruise ship visitors to our facility” Reynolds added.
The new headquarters will soon be home to new exhibits as well. These exhibits will help locals and visitors alike learn about the cultural and natural world of American Samoa. They will be installed this summer. The park added a classroom facility to better accommodate the environmental education needs of the students of American Samoa and a science laboratory to make available to the many scientists who study natural and cultural resources in the territory and national park. This lab was designed to complement the scientific lab the park already operates in Ofu, Manu’a by allowing scientists to work on both islands.
Access to the building is available through the stairs from the front of the building on the first floor and via a ramp from the second floor access on the back of the building. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will be closed during weekends and Federal holidays.
NPSA Superintedent Mike Reynolds and staff in front of New Headquarters!
A Place for Birds
Ae'o, The Hawaiian Black-Necked Stilt foraging in Kaloko fishpond
Step Into Our History
For more information on the National Parks of Hawaii Island, visit
Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
One Tent and a Million Stars
The night sky of Kahuku in Hawai'i Volcanoes NP. Photo by M. Wasser
A botanical field crew tent glows with the stars in NW Kahuku at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Photo by M. Wasser
Competitive Group
The following video was taken earlier this morning at the weekly whale watch at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island of Hawaii. The video shows a competitive group of humpback whales passing the park. Enjoy!
Visitors stand beneath "the Temple on the Hill of the Whale" and watch for humpback whales this morning (1/20/2012).
A Burst of Gas
A burst of gas from a small vent in Pu`u `Ō `ō crater throws spatter about 15 m (50 ft) into the air. Over the past week, occasional spattering and short lava flows have been observed within the crater. (USGS)
A single area of breakouts, visible as the silvery patch in the center of the photograph, was active on today’s overflight. These surface flows are high above the pali, about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) southeast of Pu`u `Ō `ō cone. Pu`u `Ō `ō is visible in the upper left portion of the image. The flows on the coastal plain, as well as the ocean entry, have been inactive for the last two weeks. (USGS)
A Mysterious Moloka’i Lake that Changes Color !
After the overturning event, Lake Kauhako underwent a series of color changes. November 1: the surface of the lake had a milky white layer, most likely caused by a bloom of sulfide oxidizing bacteria.
Lake Kauhakō at the bottom of Kauhakō Crater on the Kalaupapa peninsula, is one of the most unique lakes entrusted to the National Park Service. With a depth estimated at 832 feet, Lake Kauhakō has the greatest ratio of depth to surface area of any lake in the world. The lake has brackish water at the surface, with salty, anaerobic (no oxygen) water at depths greater than 6 feet. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Lake Kauhakō has an open connection to the sea, even though it sits at sea level and is in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
The plants and animals in Lake Kauhakō are normally restricted to the shallow, oxygen-rich surface layer. Nutrients in this upper layer support a dense and highly productive phytoplankton community, which in turn sustains invertebrates such as the native palaemonid shrimp. Below this layer, special bacteria survive by extracting energy from sulfate in the water. As a by-product, the bacteria produce a gas called hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which smells of rotten eggs. Based on reports from local community members, it appears that sometime after a routine August water quality survey and before September 27, 2011 the lake began emitting hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere, possibly the result of an “overturning” event in the lake.
The deep, hydrogen-sulfide rich water may have come to the surface by one of two means: 1) a landslide which disrupted the boundary layer between the surface and deeper water layers, or 2) prolonged drought which resulted in evaporation of the brackish, oxygen-rich surface layer. Whatever the cause, the lake began to undergo a series of dramatic transformations on a daily basis, sometimes shifting water color several times within a day.
-E. Brown and K. Tice, NPS Scientists
September 27: This is the first known photo after the overturning event.
Baby Turtles: look but don’t touch!
Baby sea turtles. They’re so neat — perfectly formed miniatures, all racing down the beach together to get into the water. Kids think they’re cute and they want to keep them as pets, and plenty of parents think baby turtles make great pets. After all, they don’t bark or fight, and they’re so tiny so they don’t take up much space. They don’t eat much, either. Also, some people in American Samoa believe that when a nest of turtles hatches and all the babies run to the sea, their mothers are waiting out on the reef to eat them! Because of this misguided belief, some people collect baby turtles and keep them at home or release them on a different beach. But the very best thing we can do for baby turtles is: LEAVE THEM ALONE!
A critical reason to leave baby turtles on the beach is that THAT EXACT BEACH is very important tothem. Baby turtles remember or “imprint on” the beach where they hatched. Like many animals, turtles have little natural magnets in their brains that allow them to home-in on their native beach. Years later when it’s time for them to reproduce, adult turtles, with their internal “homing devices”, will seek that same beach. If hatchling turtles are removed from their home beaches and kept in someone’s bathtub or bucket, chances are they will become confused and have little chances of surviving, let alone finding their home beach later (that is, if they don’t just die in the bucket).
A Visitor’s Perspective
A rainbow arches over a finger of lava cascading into the ocean. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
We were recently contacted by Steve Clark, a recent visitor to the Big Island of Hawaii. He and his family came to the island in late December and took some great photos of the lava at that time. He wanted to share some of his family photos with you…so here they are!
Lava cascades into the ocean. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
The newest land on earth. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
An other-worldly view of new land being created. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
Which will win: the ocean or the lava? Only time will tell... (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
This lava ocean entry has since ceased. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
No Hollywood effects here...the dynamic earth in action. (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
Did you know Hawaiian lava is around 2,200F? (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
Steve and his family. Aloha to you Steve for sharing your photos with us!!! (Copyright Steve Clark, used by permission)
Click here to visit Steve’s Flickr site. (Note: no endorsement is implied)
An Endangered Garnish ?
Last July, while in the field with the Inventory & Monitoring vegetation monitoring team conducting surveys in the remote northwest region of Kahuku, we found a single Spermolepis hawaiiensis. This plant is a federally listed endangered species in the parsley family (although not the kind sprinkled on pasta) that had not been seen in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NationalPark since 1944. Known only from a single collection (Fagerlund & Mitchell 557) within the historical section of HAVO, this species was presumed to have been eliminated from the park.
In September, two HAVO resource managers and myself flew back to northwest Kahuku and erected a small exclosure around the plant to protect it from non-native grazing animals. While the plant has since died (Spermolepis are annual), park managers were able to collect seeds for propagation. We are hopeful that with the protection from the exclosure, a new population will establish and this rare species will once again be found within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. –M. Wasser, NPS-HAVO Botanical Field Technician
29 Years & Still Flowing
Today marks the 29th anniversary of the current Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption of the Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island. This was the view just a short time ago from the more recent summit eruption which began early in 2008. Click the image to go to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcam page.
Celebrating the Birth of a Beloved Queen of Hawaii
Queen Emma, born January 2, 1836.
On January 2, 1836, a girl was born who would leave a lasting legacy to Hawai’i, and later,to the National Park Service. This girl, Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonalani Naea Rooke, was the granddaughter of John Young, a stranded British sailor who became a trusted advisor to King Kamehameha the Great and to the king’s sons. Although part British, she was also an ali’i (chief) and she later married King Kamehameha IV in 1856. She and her husband founded the Queen’s Hospital (now the Queen’s Medical Center), the first hospital in Hawai’i. Traveling throughout the world visiting various heads of state, Queen Emma became the first queen to visit the White House and she eventually developed a close friendship with Queen Victoria of England, who served as the god-mother of Queen Emma’s son, Prince Albert Kamehameha.
Her husband, Hawaii’s king, died about a year after the death of their only child. In 1874, now widowed and without children, Queen Emma tried to become queen in her own right as a candidate in a “Royal Election”, in which she was defeated by David Kalakaua, the last king of Hawai’i. In 1885, at age 49, Queen Emma died, yet her legacy continues to live on.
In 1972, the Queen Emma Foundation and the Queen’s Medical Center (which Emma had founded) donated 34 acres to the United States Government for the creation of “Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site”. Through an act of Congress on August 17, 1972, the lands surrounding Pu’ukohola Heiau, including the John Young Homestead, officially came under the protection of the National Park Service. Later, in the 1990′s, the Queen Emma Foundation donated an additional 26.5 acres to the Park. The influence of Queen Emma continues through the lifesaving work of the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu and through the preservation of Hawaii’s unique culture and history at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
Fire and Safety Training at the National Park of American Samoa
NPSA staff posing for a photo after officially completing Fire and Safety Training conducted by ASG Fire Department and our very own Safety Officer Jim Nimz.
The National Park of American Samoa held its first safety stand-down day. Training included lifting and moving, basic fire knowledge and fire extinguisher use and it was an all-day training event. Presenters included: Tama Sagapolutele, Pua Tuaua, Charles Veavea, ASG fire department, and safety training organizer Jim Nimz. Everyone was learning and having fun at the same time!
NPSA staff prepared to get hands-on training after fire and safety sessions at headquarters.
Acting Superintendent Dr. Tim Clark fighting a Class A fire
Terrestrial Safety Officer Tama Sagapolutele fighting a Class A fire with a dry chemical fire extinguisher
Great New Images of Kilauea Eruption
This skylight provided a clear view of the lava stream inside the lava tube on a recent overflight, and a swiftly moving current could easily be seen. (USGS)
This thermal image shows the western portion of the West Ka`ili`ili ocean entry, which hosts numerous small entry points. Active breakouts can be seen on the coastal plain along the west margin of the flow field. (USGS)
View of scattered pahoehoe lobes and toes on the coastal plain, just inland from the ocean entry. (USGS)
One of the individual streams of lava cascading over the sea cliff, producing a thick steam plume at the water’s edge. (USGS)
Lava has continued to enter the ocean at West Ka`ili`ili, with numerous entry points scattered along a broad section of the coast. The small boat in the center of the image provides a rough sense of scale. (USGS)
This near-vertical view from the helicopter shows the surface of the lava lake at Halema`uma`u. (USGS)
Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kīlauea’s ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active. (USGS)
Endangered Nēnē Killed On Park Road
An adult nēnē, part of a breeding pair, was killed on the road at Haleakalā National Park on December 22, 2011. Motorists traveling to the park are asked to please drive slowly and cautiously. In addition to permanent signs along the park’s road to inform motorists of nēnē crossings, signs have been placed in areas where nēnē have been seen recently.
Unlike other birds, nēnē do not flee when approached by cars. Some visitors feed the nēnē from their cars creating a dangerous association between food and automobiles. The National Park Service reminds people not to feed nēnē.
Motorists traveling to Haleakalā are asked to be aware of nēnē on the road, especially during bad weather when road visibility is compromised. Motorists are advised to follow posted speed limits when driving the long, winding road to the summit.
Happy Holidays from Our Ohana to Yours!
Happy Holidays from America's Pacific Island National Parks!
Do you fish?
No Partridge or Pear Tree Here…
An `I`iwi takes a moments rest from hopping around the ohia trees on the side of Mauna Loa this week. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season! (Photo used by permission)
Samoan Princess and Dolphins
On Tutuila Island, there’s a legend about the atule (bigeye scad) that appear in Fagasa Bay. Years ago, the Polynesian navigator Liava’a sailed to Tutuila in search of the pure waters of Fagasa. The boat accidently departed while his daughter, Sina, was still ashore collecting fresh water.
When Liava’a realized this later, he became enraged and threw his entire crew into the sea with orders for them to return to Fagasa, find Sina and protect her forever. To expedite their return to Fagasa, the men were transformed into dolphins that then herded a school of atule to shore to make certain all who cared for Sina would be well fed. Sina was adopted by the family of High Chief Lilio in Fagasa Village. Liava’a, however, never gave up his search for Sina and years later they were briefly reunited.
Tradition holds that, upon the death of Liava’a and Sina, their memories were forever preserved in special stones that are protected to this day by HC Lilio who is responsible for all events related to the atule harvest, thereby preserving the village’s continuing appreciation for the generous gift of these fish. The tradition continues. When atule arrive in Fagasa, an ava ceremony is held in appreciation for this bounty. The stones are cleaned and when the time is right, the villagers carry coconut fronds into the water to herd the fish into the shallows where they are collected in enu baskets which are emptied into the ola basket.
Lava flowing into the sea!
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Lava is currently entering the ocean near the east boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at West Kaili’ili. Lateral surface flows can be observed. Access is from the end of the Chain of Craters Road and is a difficult 5 to 51/2 mile (one-way) Hike. Bring sturdy shoes, long pants, sunscreen, two flashlights and at least 2 liters of water for the hike.These photos were taken on Saturday December 17th at 9am.
Access the following sites for current information:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park :
http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm
USGS KilaueaVolcano Status Page:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php
Map of Area:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/upload/ERZ_Episode61_13Dec2011_far_L.pdf
Artists in the Park
An artist enjoys a warm December Saturday at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Island of Hawaii. (12/17/2011)
An artist has a great view down the Kohala Coast along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail in Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
National Parks are great places to explore YOUR artistic side!
Pacific National Parks’ Holiday Schedules
Who says you need snow during the holiday season?
The following is a list of holiday schedules for America’s National Parks in the Pacific Islands (as posted on the individual parks’ official websites). If you have any questions, please contact the individual parks. We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season. Aloha, Talofa & Hafa Adai!
Hawai`i Island (the Big Island)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park- Open 24 hours a day year-round
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park- Normal Hours
Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park- Normal Hours
Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site- 7:45am-5:00pm Daily except New Years Eve (7:45-4:00pm)
Maui
Haleakala National Park- Open 24 hours a day year-round.
Moloka`i
Kalaupapa National Historical Park- Open 365 days each year. Commercial tours operate Monday through Saturday, except Christmas Day and New Years Day.
O`ahu
World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument- Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Closed December 25 and January 1
American Samoa
National Park of American Samoa- Visitor Center in Ottoville closed December 25 and January 1.
Guam
War in the Pacific National Historical Park- T. Stell Newman Visitor Center closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Saipan
American Memorial Park- Normal Hours
A Beautiful & Haunting Song
The following is the sounds of an endemic `I`iwi (Hawaiian Honeycreeper) that paid a very rare visit to Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site this week. At one time, the Hawaiian Islands were full of these beautiful birds, but now they mostly inhabit areas in the high mountains of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Haleakala, as well as a handful of other places.
FREE Friday Humpback Whale Watches!
Splash into the 2012 Humpback Whale Season with the National Park Service and NOAA! (NOAA)
The public is invited to attend humpback whale watches every Friday from December 16, 2011 to March 30, 2012 (9:00am-11:00am) at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Join park staff and volunteers from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for these events. Don’t miss these great opportunities to observe and learn about these wonderful Giants of the Sea! If you would like additional information about the whale watches or other upcoming events please contact park staff at 882-7218 Ext. 1011 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/puhe.
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
A young visitor looks for humpback whales below Pu`ukohola Heiau, "The Temple on the Hill of the Whale"
A Rare Visit from a Mountain Resident
An `I`iwi (Hawaiian Honeycreeper) sits in a tree at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. `I`iwi are normally found above 5,000ft, but this one could have been blown down to sea-level by the high winds the area experienced this past Saturday. (NPS Photo by Kahau Agustin)
Can you find the `i`iwi in this papaya tree? (NPS Photo by Treasure Subiono-Morikawa)
(NPS Photo by Kahau Agustin)
(NPS Photo by Kahau Agustin)
(NPS Photo by Kahau Agustin)
USGS Map Shows Lava’s New Ocean Entry
Map showing the extent of lava flows erupted during Kīlauea’s ongoing east rift zone eruption and labeled with the years in which they were active. Episodes 1–48b (1983–1986) is shown in dark gray; Episodes 48c–49 (1986–1992) is pale yellow; Episodes 50–53 and 55 (1992–2007) is tan; Episode 54 (1997) is yellow; Episode 58 (2007–2011) is pale orange; the episode 59 Kamoamoa eruption (March 2011) is at left in light reddish orange; and the episode 60 Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō overflows and flank breakout (Mar–August 2011) is orange. The currently active flow (episode 61) is shown as the two shades of red—pink is the extent of the flow from September 21 to November 21, and bright red marks approximate flow expansion from November 21 to December 13. The contour interval on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is 5 m. (Map & information courtesy USGS)
Splashing Into Whale Season
This morning Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on Hawaii Island hosted their annual “Splash Into Whale Season” event along with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
A young visitor looks for humpback whales below Pu`ukohola Heiau, the "Temple on the Hill of the Whale".
Visitors look for humpback whales in the turquoise waters off the Kohala Coast.
Justin Viezbicke from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary gave a great presentation on Hawaii's humpback whales and what the Sanctuary does to protect them.
Mahalo to Hawaii Pacific Parks Association for providing refreshments for this year's "Kick-off" event!
The National Park Service and the National Marine Sanctuary are offering FREE whale watches every Friday through the end of March at Pu`ukohola Heiau National Historic Site.
