Saturday, December 27, 2014

Ewa Plain Karst: A Precise Cut Into The Karst For An Amazing View Back In Time

Ewa Plain Karst: A Precise Cut Into The Karst For An Amazing View Back In Time

by John Bond,  Kanehili Hui



A precise long cut into the karst near Barbers Point light house reveals pre-history

A drainage canal on the Ewa Plain tells an interesting story about pre-history 
and early native Hawaiian karst culture. This area is all ancient limestone reef.
It was at one time many thousands of years ago an ocean reef teeming with
fish and many types of coral. When the sea level dropped, acidic rain water
began dissolving the calcium carbonate forming sinkholes and caves.


When this cutting work was done is not known at this time, but possibly 1960's. 


A quarry cutting saw was likely used - an amazing slice into the ancient Ewa reef


A smooth water "pipe" feature like this indicates a long period of acidic rain water flow


Several types of karst sinkhole and cave features can be seen in one place


More variations in how rain water and time eroded through the reef after sea level fell


The tunnels and channels through the ancient reef vary greatly based on coral species 


This actually looks like it could have been a native habitation and possible burial site


This was likely formed over centuries by an upland stream of water passing through


Who knows - this could have contained ancient bird bones and plant seeds long extinct


A channel like this is just a microcosm of larger channels much further down in the karst 


A great cross section of a sinkhole which could lead down to a sea water cave chamber


A quarry saw was likely used to cut this drainage canal like a piece of cake.

Photos By John Bond,  Kanehili Cultural Hui

Honolulu Cave Adventure: Punynari Explores Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst 

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration 













Friday, December 26, 2014

Opae Ula - The Native Hawaiian Fresh Water Karst Shrimp That Lives (Still Barely) Under The Ewa Plain

Opae Ula - The Native Hawaiian Fresh Water Karst Shrimp That Lives (Still Barely) Under The Ewa Plain

by John Bond  Kanehili Cultural Hui

Opae`ula live under the Ewa Plain but their habitats are under great threat from developers filling karst reef sinkholes and caves with dirt and concrete.




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Manoa School studied the opae`ula 

Opae`ula are tiny shrimp that are usually red but can sometimes be pink or white. They are only found on the islands of Hawaii. Their scientific name is Halocaridina Rubra. That's a mouth full so we call them by their Hawaiian name, opae`ula. In the Hawaiian language opae means shrimp and ula means red. While these red shrimp are not endangered, their habitats are impacted by people. These animals can die from many things people do. The 4th and 5th grade classes of Manoa School studied the opae`ula and made mini habitats during the summer of 2012. Our mini habitats are now with us at home and we will be keeping logs of how they are doing. Please check out our site to learn more! 

http://opaeula.weebly.com/

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Coastal restoration and water quality monitoring at Kalaeloa

On the second day of the session, we traveled to Kalaeloa, which is very close to Kapolei High School. There, we met with Lorena Wada (Aunty Tap) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  She is a wildlife biologist who does a lot of different type of work to save rare and endangered species.

This area is a wildlife refuge and from first glance, is not much to look at, but upon closer inspection, you can see why this is a special area. Once covered with tall, invasive trees, this area now is being restored with native Hawaiian coastal plants. And the anchialine ponds are now visible, which gives us a glimpse into the mysterious world underground.

http://hawaiigreencollarinstitute.blogspot.com/2011/12/coastal-restoration-and-water-quality.html

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A Visit To An Oahu Coral Habitat

Although the "pond" opening is small compared to the Big Island anchialine ponds,  it is clear that several feet below the surface, that there is an interconnected labyrinth of passageways that allow the opae'ula to travel long distances through Oahu coral in much the same way as the lava tubes and cracks allow travel through porous Big Island lava.

The opae'ula of Oahu are distinctive and have bands.  Some are pale throughout. A few are pale with red heads, others have various amounts of reddish and pale combinations.  The photo is of the Waianae strain being maintained as part of the Fuku-Bonsai Micro-Lobster exhibit.

http://www.fukubonsai.com/M-L2b4.html

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Oahu's Ewa Plain Karst Sinkholes And Caves Yield Extinct Bird Fossils

US Fish Wildlife Demonstrates How 

Ewa Plain Karst Can Be Restored

Honolulu Cave Adventure: Punynari Explores Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst 

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration 






Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Ewa Plain Karst is the largest of several karsts on the island of Oahu

The Ewa Plain Karst is the largest of several karsts on the island of Oahu

Yet one of the least known! (The reason: Ewa developers oppose studies)



Anne Wiley, Michigan State University doctoral student, left, and Andreanna Welch, doctoral student at the University of Maryland, look around in an Ewa sinkhole 

Despite its impressive extent and archaeological and palaeontological values, the Ewa Karst is almost entirely unknown to karstographers and speleologists. 

(Pre-printed from The Cave Conservationist - February 1998)


The Ewa Karst is the largest of several karsts on the well-populated island of Oahu, yet one of the least known (Halliday, 1994). Its exact dimensions are uncertain because geological maps show considerable upslope areas as alluvium and some shore areas as sand. 

However it clearly covers at least 50 km2 in the southwest corner of the island of Oahu (Figure 1). It is a semitropical littoral karst formed on porous, permeable algal and coralline reef deposits formed during at least three high stands of sea level (Figure 2), perhaps with a higher content of sand-sized clasts of foraminifera than contemporaneous Caribbean deposits (Chester Lao, written communication, 1997). 

Some artesian flow is said to be present, confined by clay layers (Chester Lao, oral communication, 1997). The U.S. Geological Survey Ewa Quadrangle shows numerous sinking streams and closed depressions within the Karst. Some of the former are artificial: the result of past water diversion for farming, ranching and domestic use. Some of the depressions are man made also. Most of the land surface of the karst has been subjected to more than a century of extensive reworking by man.

In 1955, the late Harold S. Palmer (Professor of Geology at the University of Hawaii) told me he had seen a meter-long stalactite said to have come from a cave in the Ewa Karst (Halliday, 1955, 1958). Extensive bibliographic and some field investigations have yielded no information about this cave and it is not known if it still exists. In 1970, Macdonald and Ahhott mentioned the presence of small caves in calcarenite and aeolianite in this and several other karstic localities (Macdonald and Abbott, 1970) but did not amplify. 

Sinkholes of Kalaeloa

by | Mar 29, 2009
http://hawaiianforest.com/wp/sinkholes-of-kalaeloa/

I explored the kiawe forests of Kalaeloa — the former Barber’s Point Naval Air Station — to investigate the innumerable sinkholes in the limestone that were once home to rare native land snails.

Limestone, the remnants of coral reefs when the sea level was higher, underlies the greater part of Kalaeloa and the Ewa Plain.   Located in the rain shadow of the Koolau and Waianae Mountains, Kalaeloa is located in the driest corner of Oahu, receiving less than 20 inches of rain per year.  While the surface of the land is dry and hot for most of the year, just below the surface lies ground water which seeps from the mountains under the Ewa Plain.

Beacons from the Ewa Plains

September 22, 2012

http://studiamirabilium.com/2012/09/22/beacons-from-the-ewa-plains/

Not too many people think of the natural wonders of Hawai’i when they see the Ewa Plains. The present is dominant by such thoughts as commute times, median home prices, proximity to good schools. People do think of its rich past: many extinct native birds have been found fossilized in the uplifted limestone plains. But it’s these wonderful plants, an akoko here, a rare naio there, that offer beacons of hope for a great future.

Honolulu Cave Adventure: Punynari Explores Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst 

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration 






Wednesday, December 24, 2014

US Fish & Wildlife Demonstrates How Ewa Plain Karst Can Be Restored

US Fish Wildlife Demonstrates How Ewa Plain Karst Can Be Restored


U.S. Fish Wildlife Preserve Manager Explains Karst Sinkhole Restoration To
Kanehili Cultural Hui Members Mike Lee And John Bond 

 Rare Fossil Discovery On Oahu's Ewa Plain 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdq1BQmYbh0








Coastal restoration and water quality monitoring at Kalaeloa

On the second day of the session, we traveled to Kalaeloa, which is very close to Kapolei High School. There, we met with Lorena Wada (Aunty Tap) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  She is a wildlife biologist who does a lot of different type of work to save rare and endangered species.

This area is a wildlife refuge and from first glance, is not much to look at, but upon closer inspection, you can see why this is a special area. Once covered with tall, invasive trees, this area now is being restored with native Hawaiian coastal plants. And the anchialine ponds are now visible, which gives us a glimpse into the mysterious world underground.



Lorena Wada (Aunty Tap) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service










Honolulu Cave Adventure: Punynari Explores Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst 

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration 



Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Ewa Haseko Corp Digs Big Giant Hole In The Ewa Karst And Then Fills It Back Up!

Ewa Haseko Corp Digs Big Giant Hole In The Ewa Karst And Then Fills It Back Up!

No, we aren't talking about the Marina-Lagoon-Large Mossy Swimming Hole, this is a completely separate giant hole large enough to hold a WW-II battleship. 


At left the Hoakalei Foundation Preserve and center is the past Marina now Lagoon.


Above and top left of the Ewa Haseko Project Area as seen in their Phase II EIS is a very large excavation where massive amounts of karst (ancient coral) was removed and used to fill areas in the Phase I Project Area, as seen to the right of the Phase II Project Area.








Here it is, a giant hole. Then Haseko pump's in water from the Marina-Lagoon!



Then they fill the big hole back up with dirt brought in from other locations!
Asked about the big giant hole at an Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting Haseko
denies that any such hole ever existed!

Honolulu Cave Adventure: Punynari Explores Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst 

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration 









Monday, December 22, 2014

Evidence Of Large Karst Sinkholes In Ewa Gentry Community Properties

Evidence Of Large Karst Sinkholes In Ewa Gentry Community Properties - Updated to 2021

Ewa Cultural History Historian  John M. Bond

A fascinating look at some of the major sinkholes in the Ewa area.
The entire Ewa Plain is approximately 25 square miles of sinkholes and caves,
some very big and some very small. 

The Ewa Gentry area was built 
over numerous huge karst sinkhole caves as early cultural oral history 
will tell you, and also visible on old USGS maps. One of the really big ones still 
exists and has never been filled in.


Holomua Elementary School which is directly north of this big
sinkhole is known for being haunted with mysterious sounds and
noises. This is likely due to the large underground karst cave
channels that carry rainwater from the mountains and dumps into
the shoreline. 

This area has one of the largest subsurface waterways
that emptied into the Puuloa reef area. Puuloa was known for
large caves, including royal burial caves, and the massive rain
water discharge feed the copious amounts of limu that once
existed there. 

Limu feeds the ecosystem of the fisheries however
much of this has since been destroyed by developments.

Image Below: Holomua Elementary School seen mauka (north) of this 
huge Ewa Plain sinkhole cave site.


It has been used as a flood drainage basin- with the water traveling out through 
the porous karst to the Ewa Puuloa shoreline near the entrance to Pearl Harbor.



This particular development in the Honolulu Star Advertiser story of October 2021
 is directly south of a huge Karst sinkhole cave site as was documented in
this Kanehili Ewa Karst blog in 2014 and now updated.

One of the largest still existing huge deep sinkhole caves is directly adjacent 
(north) to this Gentry development project. I was told many years ago that 
this was left undeveloped because it drains water from the nearby developments. 

However many others like it were filled in and over time rains cause the coral fill to 
subside and wash away exposing pipes underground to corrosion and breaking 
under stress which causes water leaks and eventually breaks. 

This happens all over Oahu's south shore because it is all ancient
coral reef and the subsurface water erosion is continuous 
causing water and sewer pipes to corrode and break, usually flooding streets.


The karst in this area is especially dense with lots of evidence of ancient sea creatures



This site along Kapolei Parkway was later filled up and turned into Geiger 
park as they probably didn't want to put homes over it.



This site exhibits classic groundwater near the surface as it is near the 
Kalo'i waterway that empties by Hau Bush Ewa shoreline park.


Ewa Haseko Corp Digs Big Giant Hole In The Ewa Karst 

And Then Fills It Back Up!


Barbers Point - Kalaeloa - Ewa Beach, The Major Karst Sinkhole Ponds And Reef Blue Holes

https://ewa-hawaii-karst.blogspot.com/2015/08/barbers-point-kalaeloa-sinkholes.html

Fantastic Must See Oahu Karst Cave Videos And Photos 

Bio Diversity: The Moiliili Karst Formation

Mōʻiliʻili Karst Water Cave


Hiking Hawaii: Moiliili (Honolulu, Hawaii) Karst Cave


Video and Links: Mo'ili'ili Underground Caverns Video 


Karst Cave Hiking Adventure: Moili'ili Karst Exploration