The next island over, Maui, has an eyeball on Haleakala, The tallest Point on the island. Haleakala is known to astronomers as an ideal place to host telescopes. However, Maui is also the place where the Legend of Maui, the Hawaiian Superman, takes place. For that reason he is represented as a human silouette, caped like a hero. It was Maui who is said to have taken his Magic fishing hook, and raised the Islands from the sea.
Moloka’i, the long island on top of Maui, is known for having the largest sea cliffs in the world, as well as the longest continuous fringing reef
Lanai, below that, is known globally as a peaceful retreat for executive gatherings, and Kaho’olawe, the smallest island just below that, is a mismatch of bombing practice for Military purposes, as well as a new focus on restoring its ecology after those events ceased
As far as “modern” living goes, O’ahu, 3rd from the left, is the most developed among the islands. Hosting Hawaii’s Only Major city with tall buildings, O’ahu has always been known as the “gathering place”, where fresh water exists enough to sustain over 1 million citizens. I’ve lived here, on the West side for over 25 years. The thorny vine represents Invasive Plants and animals, which have gradually transformed Oahu over the past few decades. Of all the islands, Oahu is the most overrun by alien plants, which threaten the indigenous creatures that live here. Great efforts exist to stop the loss of our native creatures, and the next time you plan a visit to us here, you can learn all about it
To the left of O’ahu is Kauai, The Garden Island. Kauai is one of the most ancient Islands in the Hawaiian chain, and The big island, on the right, is the newest. They were formed by underground volcanos, pushing lava up through a “hot spot” on the sea floor. As the lava cools, it hardens into an island. Over time, the entire Pacific tectonic plate moves along, but the hot spot stays in place. one island is formed, moves over, and a new formation begins. This process has been occurring for millions of years, and the older the island gets, the more the sea chips away at it, making it smaller and smaller until its underwater again. If you check satellite images, you’ll see ancient, underwater Hawaiian islands extending far into the northwest. At one point, it was theorized they were all mostly above water, and covered with life unique to the time period
When you visit Kauai, you’ll experience The lushest Forests, The deepest rain-carved valleys, and some of the most ancient soils in the island chain.
Finally, furthest to the left, The island of Niihau. Known as the “Forbidden Isle” because of a polio pandemic in 1952, it bears the name well for other reasons. It is privately owned by the Robinson Family, who maintain critically endangered Hawaiian species and keep the use of the Hawaiian language alive. Invitation to the island is required to travel there, and it serves as a rare beacon of the ancient Hawaiian ways still in practice.
Hawaii, and its people, its creatures and animals, mean everything to me. The Aloha Spirit isn’t just a saying, but a way of life. To be kind, and righteous, a steward to the earth, not an owner. I hope you love this piece as much as I do
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