Candi's Corner: Wanderlust and Passions

Haleakala Crater is now a cool, cone-studded reminder of a once-active volcano. Streaks of red, yellow, gray and black trace the courses of recent and ancient lave, ash, and cinder flows. The volcanic rocks slowly break down as natural forces reduce them to minute particles which are swept away by wind, heavy rain, and intermittent streams.

Modern geology indicates that the Hawaiian Islands are situated near the middle of the "Pacific Plate," one of a dozen thin, rigid structures covering our planet like the cracked shell of an egg. Though adjoining each other, these plates are in constant motion, the Pacific Plate moving northward several centimeters per year. Scattered around the world are many weak areas in the earth's crust where magma slowly wells upward to the surface as a "plume." Here volcanoes and volcanic islands, such as Maui, are born.

This constant northwestward movement of the Pacific Plate over a local volcanic "hot spot," or plume, has produced a series of islands, one after another in assembly line fashion. The result is a chain of volcanic islands stretching from the island of Hawaii along a southeast-northwest line for 2,500 miles (4,050 kilometers) toward Japan.

Maui, one of the younger islands in this chain, began as two separate volcanoes on the ocean floor; time and again, eon after eon, they erupted, and thin new sheets of lava spread upon the old, building and building, until the volcano heads emerge from the sea. Lave, wind-blown ash, and alluvium eventually joined the two by an isthmus or valley, forming Maui, "The Valley Isle." Finally, Haleakala, the larger eastern volcano, reached its greatest height, 12,000 feet (3,600 meters) above the ocean- some 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) from its base on the ocean floor.

For a time, volcanic activity ceased, and erosion dominated. The great mountain was high enough to trap the moisture-laden northeast tradewinds. Rain fell and streams began to cut channels down its slopes. Two such streams eroding their way headward created large amphitheater-like depressions near the summit.

Ultimately these two valleys met, creating a long erosional "crater." At the same time a series of ice age submergences and emergences of the shoreline occurred; the final submergence formed the four islands of Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Maui.

When volcanic activity resumed near the summit, lava poured down the stream valleys, nearly filling them. More recently, cinders, ash, volcanic bombs, and spatter were blown from numerous young vents in the "crater" forming multicolored symmetrical cones as high as 600 feet (180 meters). Thus this ware-carved basin became partially filled with lava and cinder cones, and it came to resemble a true volcanic crater.

We were so lucky to visit Haleakala on a clear day last week. The Big Island was so visible that it felt touchable, with its two peaks: Mauna Loa to the south, and Mauna Kea to the north, covered with snow.

There are many hiking trails in Haleakala National Park. We did not have time for a long hike, but we did do a part of the sliding sand trail in the crater, and what a hike that was!

It was like walking on the moon! The air was thin,but fresh, the colors were vivid, the visibility was for miles. The only sounds we could hear were the birds chirping, and our footsteps. Walking down the sandy trail, and mesmerized by the beauty of nature, I was thankful for all the natural beauties that God has blessed us with. I was reminded by a phrase my late grandpa used to describe something so beautiful: "it converts a non-believer". Photos really don't do the mountain justice.

Haleakala is a famous visitor attraction to watch the sunrise or sunset, both of which are magnificent. However, if you can't make it that early in the morning or late in the evening, don't be discouraged to visit the park during the day. Whether you are in good shape for hiking or not, just standing in the parking lot of the visitor center, you are surrounded by beauties that that are unique to Haleakala.Don't forget to dress warm, it is cold up there, and the wind makes it even colder.For more information on visiting the park,you can check out the park's website.

What a great way to spend a day in paradise!