HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Royal Mausoleum, Honolulu, Oahu
All twenty student participants and the directors/instructors of the Geology and Natural History of Hawaii 2009 program are pictured at the Royal Mausoleum State Monument. This most sacred burial site acts as the final resting place for all Hawaiian monarchs after Kamehameha the Great. Our guide for this location was Mr. Maka'alakaleimanukonalohiole Gabriel, a Honolulu local and informal instructor of native Hawaiian land use. Mr. Gabriel also invited us to his house, where he brings school groups to demonstrate native methods of aquaculture.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Hanauma Bay Park, Honolulu, Oahu
A Green Sea Turtle grazes on algae along the margin of the fringing reef in Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay began as the crater floor of a wave-breached volcanic cone. Once a healthy reef and excellent snorkel site, the park management works to reverse years of damage by throngs of uniformed visitors. The students examine the effects human impact on this reef during a morning snorkel. They also examine the pyroclastic debris that makes this cone and nearby Diamondhead.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Poipu Beach, Kauai
A Hawaiian Monk Seal rests on Poipu Beach. Our visit to ancient lava flows on the southeast coast of Kauai led to a close encounter with this endangered species. As the seal slowly moved upslope to rest on the upper beach face, volunteers kept on-lookers a safe distance away and ensured that well-meaning tourists didn't inadvertently stress the animal.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Hanakapai'ai Beach, NaPali Coast, Kauai
After a short hike along the picturesque NaPali Coast cliffs, student participant Steve Laff explained the formation of the massive cliffs or "pali" to the rest of the class. Each student presents a topic as part of the course requirements. Whenever possible, these presentations take place in the field, while the group is actually observing the phenomemon.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Kalalau Overlook, NaPali Coast, Kauai
After a cloudy/foggy start to the hike into Waimea Canyon, the atmosphere cleared and suddenly revealed the depth of the canyon and its features. Although in past visits the nearby Kalalau Overlook of the NaPali Coast has been obscured by clouds, the dramatic erosional features were plainly visible this day.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Smith Family Luau, Wailua, Kauai
A new feature of the course trip is a traditional luau for the group. The Smith family has been conducting luaus on the banks of the Wailua River for over 50 years. Family members are seen unearthing one of the roast pigs from a pit oven known as an "imu." The variety of food choices will satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Smith Family Luau, Wailua, Kauai
After the luau dinner, the an elaborate dance extravaganza highlights the influences of the original Polynesian settlers and later immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands. Here, a dancer performs a traditional Polynesian fire dance to drum accompaniment.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Mahaulepu Beach, Kauai
Another new activity is the examination of ancient dune deposits along the southeast coast of Kauai. Here, Dr. Johnson instructs the group how to use a Brunton compass. The students then measured dune migration directions from cross-bed orientations to determine if prevailing wind directs have changed over time.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Pi'ilani Highway, Maui
Students stop to examine the erosional exposures along the south flank of Haleakala volcano on their way to Oheo Gulch. Gorges expose older volcanic rocks in this relatively young volcano.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Haleakala National Park, Maui
The group hiked down into Haleakala to visit the late stage cinder cones that formed along the valley floor, like Kalu'u o Ka'oo Cone (background). Here, Becky Nemchick '10 pauses to photograph the central valley from Sliding Sands Trail.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Haleakala National Park, Maui
Tim "Mookie" Young '09 tests the strength of intense winds across the crater rim of Kalu'u o Ka'oo Cinder Cone in Haleakala. Although tropical conditions are experienced just a few miles away at sea-level, the high altitude of the summit (10,023 ft above sea-level) results in cold temperatures and common wind storms like this one.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Ma'alaea Bay, Maui
A whale watch on Maui is a standard part of the course trip, since the Hawaiian Islands are a primary breeding area for the Humpback Whale during the winter months. Here, a Humpback Whale presents a fluke display for happy viewers.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Honaunau, Hawai'i
Although Jimmy Buffett wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" about Key West (Florida), the title seems just as appropriate here. Students cook many of their own meals during the course trip, and picnic dinners like this one are popular simply because of the setting.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Mauna Kea, Hawai'i
Skylar Haas '11 and Kim Negrich '10 share the snowy view near the summit of Mauna Kea. As the highest volcanic mountain in Hawaii (13,796 ft above sea-level), the clear high-mountain atmosphere is perfect for astronomical observations. The Cal Tech 10.4 m Telescope (foreground - right), the Subaru Telescope (background - silver structure on left) and the W.M. Keck Observatories (background - white structures on right) are just a few of the observatories located at this important site of land-based astronomy.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Pu'u Wa'awa'a Ranch, Hawai'i
With the help of ahupua'a coordinator Mike Donoho, the students learn about traditional Hawaiian land management, endangered Hualalai ecosystems, and the unusual volcanics of this location.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i
Kilauea is currently the most active volcano in the world; it has been erupting constantly since 1983. The crater of Halemaumau (center) is clearly seen venting gas from within Kilauea's summit caldera (the massive crater that covers much of the summit area). In 2008, Halemaumau began actively erupting ash and gas for the first time in over 25 years. This view was as close to the vent as park officials allowed the public in January 2009.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i
During a tour of the USGS Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory office, seismologist Mike Poland gave the group a briefing on the current activity of Kilauea and possible future activity of Mauna Loa.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Waikupanaha Ocean Entry, Royal Gardens, Hawai'i
The Pu'u O'o vent of Kilauea began erupting in 1983 and continues today. Lava flows from Pu'u O'o currently exit the park and cross private land, in an area once known as Royal Gardens. The lush vegetation and residences in this area were destroyed by earlier (1989-1992) flows. Hawai'i County Civil Defense limits public access to this view of the flow as it enters the ocean.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Off the Coast of Royal Gardens, Hawai'i
On the last day of the course trip, the group boarded a specially-designed catamaran and braved open ocean swells to view the Waikupanaha Ocean Entry at close range. The red glow and the steam cloud mark where lava exits a lava tube and flows into the ocean.

HAWAII J-TERM 2009 - Off the Coast of Royal Gardens, Hawai'i
Lava viewing from the boat was a total sensory experience (the sight of glowing orange and red lava streams, the hissing sound of steam generated by superheated ocean water, the feel of sauna-like heat from the nearshore waters, and the smell of acrid gases generated from the lava and steam). The foreground of the photo reveals a few small rocky lumps of partially solid, floating lava masses. These "floaters" sink upon complete cooling, but not before knocking loudly into the hull of the boat.