March 4th
This is Monday and we are scheduled to take a tour to the top of Mauna Kea.
We travel from the Pacific to the highest peak on the islands, to the summit of Mauna Kea.
Our driver and guide is a native and his name is IKO IKO . He is a young man with lots of tattoos and rings in his ear lobes. He is very articulate and knows a great deal about the area and its history and geography.
The ancient Hawaiians consider Mona Kea to be sacred because it was a burial ground and the home of Poli’ahu the snow goddess It was believed to be the closest spot to heaven and they could reach out to the souls of their ancestors in this place. Today the mountain is the world’s premier spot for astronomy. Currently there is a push to expand the area and to build more telescopes, however the native Hawaiians are objecting because of the sacredness of the area.
Our first stop is at the Rainbow Falls.
This is a beautiful falls but because the sun is not shining directly on the falls we are not treated to Rainbows. I am impressed with the wonderful greenery and the plants that at home are house plants. I have had some of them such as the split leaf philodendron.
We board the van again and all ten of us are regaled with the wonderful stories of the history of the area.
Because we are going to be ascending to almost 14,000 feet it is necessary to get used to the altitude and the lack of oxygen.
We made one stop where we were able to walk on a lava flow from the eruption of Mona Loa in 1984, It was still so bleak and barren. There is a special altar built by the native in this place. Offerings to the gods are made here.
Our guide told us that it sometimes takes thousands of years for the soil and plant life to develop.
We stop again at the 9000 foot level, the location of the Onizuka Centerl. We stay here for about an hour. I begin to feel unwell and IKO IKO tells us to take deep breaths in through our nose and out through our mouth to help lessen the carbon dioxide. He also advises us to drink lots of water Here we view part of an information film and we view specimens of the Silversword plant, an endangered species.
There is a small gift shop as well.
Soon we get into the van again and continue our assent. This is a gravel road and it is not especially well maintained. There are lots of bumps and humps. The idea is to discourage people from going all of the way to the top.
It is an amazing day. We are above the clouds and the sun is shining on the snowy mountain top.It is much like a moonscape.
It air is cool because we are now at 13,796. I am feeling very lightheaded and I have to be very careful when I move around. I actually feel very unsteady and am fearful that I will fall. Others are feeling the effects of the altitude as well.
We actually get to go inside of the Keck.Observatory.
There are 13 huge telescopes here on the mountain top. and the views are simply breath taking in more ways than one. I am struggling with the altitude so I sit in the van and enjoy the view from there. Ken is in his glory and he is reading everything and taking pictures of everything with his big camera.
Soon it is time to descend, and I must say I am glad to get down. We stop again at the Onizuka Center and here we have lunch . I am beginning to feel a little better.
When we get back to the pier at 2 o clock I am feeling back to normal, and happy to take deep oxygen filled breaths.
What an amazing day this was.
We travel from the Pacific to the highest peak on the islands, to the summit of Mauna Kea.
Our driver and guide is a native and his name is IKO IKO . He is a young man with lots of tattoos and rings in his ear lobes. He is very articulate and knows a great deal about the area and its history and geography.
The ancient Hawaiians consider Mona Kea to be sacred because it was a burial ground and the home of Poli’ahu the snow goddess It was believed to be the closest spot to heaven and they could reach out to the souls of their ancestors in this place. Today the mountain is the world’s premier spot for astronomy. Currently there is a push to expand the area and to build more telescopes, however the native Hawaiians are objecting because of the sacredness of the area.
Our first stop is at the Rainbow Falls.
This is a beautiful falls but because the sun is not shining directly on the falls we are not treated to Rainbows. I am impressed with the wonderful greenery and the plants that at home are house plants. I have had some of them such as the split leaf philodendron.
We board the van again and all ten of us are regaled with the wonderful stories of the history of the area.
Because we are going to be ascending to almost 14,000 feet it is necessary to get used to the altitude and the lack of oxygen.
We made one stop where we were able to walk on a lava flow from the eruption of Mona Loa in 1984, It was still so bleak and barren. There is a special altar built by the native in this place. Offerings to the gods are made here.
Our guide told us that it sometimes takes thousands of years for the soil and plant life to develop.
We stop again at the 9000 foot level, the location of the Onizuka Centerl. We stay here for about an hour. I begin to feel unwell and IKO IKO tells us to take deep breaths in through our nose and out through our mouth to help lessen the carbon dioxide. He also advises us to drink lots of water Here we view part of an information film and we view specimens of the Silversword plant, an endangered species.
There is a small gift shop as well.
Soon we get into the van again and continue our assent. This is a gravel road and it is not especially well maintained. There are lots of bumps and humps. The idea is to discourage people from going all of the way to the top.
It is an amazing day. We are above the clouds and the sun is shining on the snowy mountain top.It is much like a moonscape.
It air is cool because we are now at 13,796. I am feeling very lightheaded and I have to be very careful when I move around. I actually feel very unsteady and am fearful that I will fall. Others are feeling the effects of the altitude as well.
We actually get to go inside of the Keck.Observatory.
There are 13 huge telescopes here on the mountain top. and the views are simply breath taking in more ways than one. I am struggling with the altitude so I sit in the van and enjoy the view from there. Ken is in his glory and he is reading everything and taking pictures of everything with his big camera.
Soon it is time to descend, and I must say I am glad to get down. We stop again at the Onizuka Center and here we have lunch . I am beginning to feel a little better.
When we get back to the pier at 2 o clock I am feeling back to normal, and happy to take deep oxygen filled breaths.
What an amazing day this was.
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