Taken by Kris Nelson on April 15th, 2008
Location: Waianapanapa State Park in East Maui
If I close my eyes and drown out all the noise around me, I can still hear the roaring sounds the waves at Waianapanapa State Park made as they violently crashed into the shore. Then, as the last wave recedes, the sizzle of the water filtering back through the below my feet fills the entire lava tube, as if I was surrounded by hundreds of rattlesnakes. Before long, the next wave crashes into the rocks just as hard as the last, and the cycle repeats again.
Rewind a few hundred years, and these very same lava tubes were used by women and children to provide shelter during times of war. And then, there are legends like that of Princess Popoalaea, who had been said to have used this cave to hide from her cruel husband, Chief Kakae. The story is captured in a nearby sign.
Further Back in Time
Rewind back millions of years, when the islands were still being formed. There was no one around to witness it, but rivers of lava were flowing freely around open cracks in the still hardening earth. Processes similar to those conditions constructed these tubes over time, leaving not just scars in the beautiful Hawaii landscapes, but direct connections to an ancient period. A time machine if you will.
Back to the near future, closer to the next time you get to walk through one of these geological gems. When you hear those waves crashing near the shore, and the rocks sizzling beneath your feet. Close your eyes, and drown out the sounds of the kids playing tag and climbing the rocks nearby. Picture what it would have been like to have seen your surroundings just a few hundred years ago. Wouldn’t look too much differently, would it?
If you like this photo, you can see more in our Sunday Photos series here at the blog. Our website also features daily photos on the Today’s Photos page, and you can also get a new photo from Maui everyday on your Google home page. Check out our Maui Photo Day Calendar for more details.
Tags: photos
Hi Kris
I love how you have all your photos labeled from your trips to Maui. I am going back to O'ahu in August and I must do that moving forward, as I have so many photos that I can't keep track of when they occurred! Keep the great pics coming, every time I read your blog I dream away! Aloha~Natalie
Mahalo Natalie.
I remember when we came back from our first trip to Hana and I had all these photos, but didn't know what they were of. From that point on, I've been pretty diligent about make sure I keep track of things.
I look forward to seeing some of your photos from Oahu in August.