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Hawaii Information, Pictures, and Map
by Jim Krumm
Click here to go to the Computer Science Department Home Page for Casper College at www.caspercomsci.com.
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This map of Hawaii is an interactive map. As you move across the state with your mouse, links will appear to images relating to these areas. Have fun looking around!
The Hawaiian Islands were first found by some of the greatest sea farers and explorers of all time, the Polynesians, between 100 and 300 AD. The early Hawaiians traveled across the Pacific in twin hulled catamarans perhaps capable of carrying as many as a hundred people. It is known that they sailed from the west, probably originating from Samoa and Tonga. These first Hawaiians were called the Kanaka Moali. The early Hawaiians developed a rich culture. They were said to be short and dark in complexion. These early Hawaiians were accomplished farmers who cultivated crops and raised fish in an extensive system of walled fish ponds formed in the reefs which surrounded the islands.
Around 1200 AD a second wave of Polynesians, called the Ali'i, originating from the Society Islands invaded and conquered the islands. The Ali'i were often quite tall and fairer than the Kanaka Moali. The Hawaiian Islands were separated into rigid casts, including chiefs, priests, warriors, and commoner-slaves. To maintain this way of life a system of religious and social rules were developed called kapu. For instance, a person could be put to death for violating a myriad of rules, including stepping on the shadow of a chief. Generally, the lower the cast, the more unpleasant the nature of punishment. In an extreme case this might mean being burned alive. Warfare was ritualized to a fine art as the Ali'i of rival islands fought one another in bloody clashes using knives, clubs, and swords made from the bills of marlin and local hardwoods often lined with shark teeth, as well as with spears, and slings. It is thought that the Hawaiians sailed back and forth to Tahiti until 1300 AD, to maintain contact with the people from where they came.
From the start, Hawaiians built numerous temples around the islands out of stone, where they worshipped their gods, which included Pele the goddess of the Volcanoes, who is still respected by many even to this very day. They built tall wooden statues to Gods called Ki'k. On occasion, human sacrifice was practiced. Places of refuge were created where violators of kapu could find sanctuary.
Captain Cook sailed to the Hawaiian Islands in 1778. However, earlier Spanish explorers may well have visited the Islands in the 1600's. Captain Cook was impressed at how attractive, tall and healthy the Hawaiians were. The Hawaiians thought the opposite of Cook and his sailors who were probably quite thin and half starved by the time they reached the Hawaiian Islands. However, the Hawaiians had been awaiting the fulfillment of a prophesy of a god who was to appear on a floating island. Some of the Hawaiians took this to mean the ship Cook was on. At first the relations between the Hawaiians and Cook were quite positive. However, relations deteriorated when a series of items were stolen from Cook's ship. A Hawaiian chief was killed and in the melee which followed, Cook was also killed. Wounded in the conflict was the future King of the Hawaii Islands, Kamehameha.
English ships continued to visit the islands, and brought with them venereal disease, chicken pox, and later measles, which decimated the Hawaiian population. About 20 years after the visitation of Cook, Kamehameha began the conquest of the Hawaiian Islands. Key to his success was the use of cannons obtained from westerners. By 1809 all the islands were unified under his rule. The unification of the Islands proved generally beneficial to the people of the islands in that it put an end to the fighting that had long been occurring between rival chiefs and kings.
As missionaries started to come, the kapu system fell apart and Hawaiian social structures broke down. Even the hula dance was outlawed. In the 1830's the islands officially converted to Christianity. In the years which followed, European and American businessmen, developed plantations on the islands to produce sugar. This resulted in workers being brought in to work the fields from China, the Philippines, Japan, Korea and many other places. In this process the Hawaiians began to lose control of their land. Slowly the western plantation owners, angered by tariffs placed on their crops, sought to limit the power of the Hawaiian monarchs and to have the United States assume a greater role in governing Hawaii. In 1894, American interests in Hawaii backed by American troops took the Hawaiian Queen prisoner with the intent of making Hawaii a part of the United States, even though this was opposed by President Cleveland. President McKinley later added Hawaii to the United States. The rest is history.
The Islands have a number of claims to fame. They are said to be the most remote islands in the Pacific. Among them is the rainiest place on earth. Another Hawaiian island has the highest sea cliffs in the world. And yet another is said to have the tallest mountain in the world from base to summit.
Island of Kauai
The island of Kauai is called the garden island. Kauai may have been the first of the Hawaiian Islands settled by the ancient Polynesians. One of the most unforgettable things a person can do in their lives is to cruise the Na Pali Coast and look up at the soaring cliffs as they rise 1000 feet from the sea. The experience defies words. Ancient kings had their bones put in the high cliffs by a lone warrior lowered down the cliff by rope. Once the bones were safely put in their place, the warrior would cut the rope and fall to their death, taking with them the secret of the King's final resting place. The Na Pali cliffs are also quite dramatic from the view above Kalalau Valley at the end of Highway 550. Numerous trails which lead their way down the cliffs are also accessible from Highway 550. Numerous movies have been made in Kauai and here in particular, including the making of King Kong where Jessica Lange, stood in the arch. In the distance can be seen the small island of Niihau, also known as the Forbidden Island. Niihau to this day is where mainly native Hawaiians live and few others are ever allowed to visit. Also easily seen from Na Pali is the even smaller island of Lehua, sitting off the far northern shore of Niihau. A sunset boat ride in a fast 50 foot catamaran to see Na Pali out Port Allen takes around 3 hours and cost about $200 in the summer of 2007. The seas can be very rough, and even a person well accustomed to boats can lose their footing. The crew advised holding on to the guy wires constantly or it was possible to be catapulted into the sea with the common rogue waves which smashed into the boat. Like most excursions in Hawaii (helicopter rides, boat rides, swimming with Manta Rays, etc), it pays to make reservations well in advance and to hope the weather holds.
Also on Highway 550 is Waimea Canyon, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. To understand the dramatic landscape on Kauai it must be understood that a huge volcano once covered the entire island, and since then the volcano eroded away leaving a land covered with low mountains, canyons and valleys. The cliffs at Na Pali and Waimea Canyon stand testament to this past. One of the more popular activities here is to fly over in a helicopter, or in a ultra light hang glider.
While I stayed in Lihu'e a couple of scenes from the movie Tropic Thunder were being filmed at my hotel. Ben Stiller starred and directed Tropic Thunder. Other scenes were filmed around the island of Kauai. Also starring in the film were Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Matt McConaughey and Tom Cruise. The movie is a bizarre comedy about about actors filming a Vietnam war movie who find themselves in a real war. The hotel guests were allowed to watch the filming at the hotel.
Not far from Lihu'e is Waimea Falls which drop for 80 feet. Similar water falls are common to all the major islands, because of the massive elevation shifts due to rapid erosion and volcanism. Nothing from Lihu'e is far. You can get anywhere in Kauai on a paved road in 3 hours or less. Above is Mount Wai'ale'ale the wettest spot on earth, with 440 inches of rain a year. North of Lihu'e is Anahola Mountain which is a striking landmark seen from the beaches north of Lihu'e. Further on down the road on Highway 56 is the wonderful lighthouse and bird sanctuary at Kilauea point. Next is the Hanalei Valley with its lush rice paddies.
Going west on Highway 56 from Lihu'e is Princeville which has some spectacular scenery which culminates in the Na Pali region and Hanakapiai Beach. All through here are wonderful beaches. The surf, like many places in Hawaii, is violent here and it can knock you down and throw you about as though you were nothing. The snorkeling at Hanakapiai Beach is quite good, especially where there were rocks and reefs jutting up from the floor and away from other swimmers. And the scenery is unforgettable, with Na Pali forming the backdrop. Here I saw a moray eel, sea turtles, butterfly fish, parrot fish and sea unicorns. There is also a lava tube at Hanakapiai which goes into the face of a cliff for a hundred feet.
Island of Molokai
The island of Molokai is called the friendly island. Of all the islands I was on, it was the most laid back and seemed the most authentic Hawaiian. The people I ran into were extremely friendly. Molokai like many of the islands has a dry side (the north west) and a wet side (the whole east side.) I stayed at a hotel on the dry side at the Kaluakoi Resort. Kaluakoi Resort was remote, but had beautiful grounds and the beach was as good as any I saw in Hawaii. Just to the west of here at Papohaku Beach I felt like I had the whole island to myself, with no other person to be seen as far as I could see. It was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been on my life, perhaps 100 yards wide with perfect sand.
Of course the main thing that comes to mind when thinking of Molokai is the Leper Colony at Kalaupapa. King Kamehameha established the colony to stop the spread of leprosy, now known as Hansen's Disease. The location was chosen because Kalaupapa extends like a thumb out into the sea and is cut it off from the rest of Molokai by the tallest sea cliffs in the world. Here, adults with Hansen's disease were brought from across the Pacific and thrown into the sea a couple of hundred yards from shore in rough surf with a bag of belongings. No one knows how many drowned. More than 8,000 people were brought here. Once the exiles made it to shore, they were often robbed by the locals looking for anything of value. A priest, Father Damien, was sent here from Belgium to save the souls of the people living here with strict orders to keep his distance and not to stay too long. He failed to obey either order. He helped care for the people and helped make Molokai more livable. He contracted leprosy himself even though only two people in 100 people are genetically predisposed to contract the disease. To help him with his mission, Sister Marianne Cope was sent and also dedicated her life to helping the people living there. To this day there are still a handful of people with Hansen's disease living here, who are in their 70's now. Even though Hansen's disease can be cured, the people who live here chose to do so. The number of people allowed to visit the community is strictly limited and you must have a permit to enter. There are no roads that connect Kalaupapa to the rest of Molokai. You can visit Kalaupapa by foot trail which drops 2000 feet. As it rains almost continuously here, the trail is wet, slippery and heavily eroded. It is also a very, very long way down. You must be in pretty good shape to hike up and down the trail. Kalaupapa appears in the opening scenes of Jurassic Park where the incoming helicopter rises above the sea cliffs to enter the forbidden world beyond. While hiking up out of Kalaupapa I saw a pod of dolphins that easily numbered over 50 dolphins.
On the eastern end of the island is Halawa Valley. The valley is lush and remote. To get there you must travel a winding single lane road for many miles with occasional turnouts for passing oncoming traffic. The trip is hair raising. The surf at Halawa is wild. While I was there, a good number of local surfers were having a great time riding the waves which broke on the rocky shore. They were a lot of fun to watch. Cliffs rise dramatically from the sea here. Halawa is lush and comes complete with several huge waterfalls.
Island of Oahu
 Pearl Harbor from the Air |
 Vines |
 Manoa Falls |
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 Fiddle Head |
 Open Valley |
 Honolulu From the Air |
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 Path |
 Oahu from the Air |
 Roots |
 Steps Down |
 Steps Down |
 Stump |
 Tree |
 Trees with Flowers |
 Trees |
 Honolulu from the Hill |
Oahu has the largest population of any island in the Hawaiian Islands with over 950,000 people. Oahu also has Honolulu, the largest city in the islands with a population of about 370,000 people. Here too is Pearl Harbor, the naval base which Japan attacked which plunged the United States into World War II. Oahu is know as the "Gathering Place." All the photos in this section on Oahu except for aerial shots of Pearl Harbor, Oahu and Honolulu are copyrighted and cannot be used without permission.
Island of Maui
The island of Maui is called the Valley Island. I stayed a Kihei at a Condo on the beach. Condos are convenient to stay in because they come with a kitchen, fridge, and washing machines. Washing machines are important because you need them to wash the sand out of your clothes from the beach. Kihei's location was good because it was somewhat central to the island making it a good location to do day trips to everywhere from. Kihei was one of the larger residential areas on the island and had numerous restaurants and shopping centers. This was the first place I stayed in the islands, it had a great beach. Snorkeling a few hundred yards from my room I found coral reefs loaded with beautiful tropical fish. In fact, the coral reef made the bottom so rocky and hazardous, it was not exactly smart to walk on the bottom. The coral is sharp and can cut your feet if you are not careful. One day I cut my feet and the wound festered. Eventually I pulled a small mass out of my foot. I found out later that it was a piece of coral growing under my skin. At Kihei I saw first sea turtle, maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet across. The sea turtles liked to lay on the bottom hidden in the shadows of the corals. After a while, turtles seemed to be everywhere and some weren't exactly shy. They will sometimes swim straight at you looking for handouts. However, by law you are not allowed to touch them. From Kihei you can also see the tiny crater island of Molokini which is supposed to be one of the best spots in the world to go diving.
About 20 miles to the south of Kihei is La Perouse Bay, renowned for it's snorkeling and lava rocks. La Perouse Bay is a great spot to watch the surf break on the jagged black lava rocks. It is known as a great place to snorkel. But if the surf gets too wild it can be a dangerous place to swim because of sharp rocks all around and just below the surface. Numerous signs around warn of leaving your car unattended. To the West of Kihei is the area of Ma'alaea, which has a pretty little harbor, and the Maui Ocean Center, a sea aquarium with native marine life.
On the Northwestern thumb of Maui, formed by the West Maui Mountains, also known as Kahalawa, is the pretty little city of Lahaina which is steeped in history and once was the capitol of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was here the reverend Baldwin and the princess Nahi'ena who on religious grounds was denied marriage to her brother and died from a broken heart after bearing her brother a son. The event, as well as many others, are described in James Michener's book and movie, Hawaii. Here in Lahaina is the courthouse and the old Hawaiian fort which rang a bell in the evenings proclaiming that the sailors had to go back to their ships. It is also here in Lahaina that you can sail on the America II, a 65 foot sailboat that raced in the Americas Cup race. Because of the advancements in sailing technology when this multimillion dollar boat raced, this boat was obsolete before the race. It is a thrill to ride on this boat and one of the reasons I went to Hawaii. The boat has been modified with a large cockpit for passengers and the mast lowered to handle the intense winds off the northwest shore of Maui. Sit as far forward as you if you want to be slapped back by the surf coming over the bow.
A few miles down Highway 30, going northwest from Lahaina, are Honolua and Mokule'la Bay Marine Life Conservation Districts. For me they proved to be one of the best places to snorkel in the Hawaiian Islands. If you snorkel way out, following the edge of the rocks between the sanctuaries, the view is stunning. You can see clearly to the bottom with depths sometimes maybe 65 feet deep with rocks and corals soaring up from the bottom. Here you will see a vast variety of tropical fish, eels, turtles, and maybe even octopus if you look for them. Chartered cruise groups often bring groups of snorkelers and divers here to explore the area, but you can also drive here. The hike down to the bay is very pleasant as you hike through the beautiful woods which belong to the Kingdom of Hawaii Trust. Not far from Honolua are the sea cliffs surrounding Nakalele. Here, in the panorama can be seen soaring sea cliffs and in the distance the island of Molokai. Visitors have also left odd arrangements of rocks here. Though they are of no historical significance, but are interesting.
Also in the West Maui Mountains, entering from the north, is the Io Valley and the Io Needle. It was here that Kamehameha's army finally defeated the forces of Maui and it was said that the river ran red with blood. The valley is now a state park and is spectacular. It was once a site of significant religious importance to the Hawaiians. Here are recreated traditional Hawaiian buildings and agricultural sites including poi ponds. Dominating the valley is the Io needle. While I was there, some young Hawaiians built up rocks forming a shallow pool some 30 feet below a foot bridge over the river. They then climbed up to the bridge and began repeatedly jumping into the pools below. Such feats were once made by Hawaiian divers to prove their skill and bravery. Today, the motivation is often to pass the hat.
One of the must do things to do on Maui is to take highway 360 on the road to Hana. Though maybe no more than 70 miles, it will take all day to drive traveling most of the time at often no more than 10 miles an hour. The road quickly becomes quite narrow, generally allowing only single lane travel much of the time, and is not for the feint hearted. Seen along the way are beautiful sea cliffs, dense rainforests, and numerous waterfalls. On the way to Hana is Wai Anapanapa which has an amazing combination of rough surf and jagged lava rocks, and a gorgeous black sand beach. Here you will see blow holes which funnel water spouts into the air if the waves hit the lava tubes below just right. The surf here can be very dangerous as it breaks on to the black sand beach, but it is exhilarating to swim in. Past Hana on highway 360 is the seven sacred pools at 'Oheo Gulch which is in a National Park which you must pay about 10 dollars to enter. There are actually more than 7 pools. The park recreates traditional Hawaiian living structures, and agriculture. But the main attraction is to go swimming in the fresh water pools. The water can cloud up with mud and occasionally has jagged rocks on the bottom. It is possible here to stand in a small water fall falling over your head and shoulders. At the end of highway 360 at Palapala Ho'omau is the site where Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, was buried.
Island of Hawaii
The island of Hawaii is called the big island. The Eastern and Southern legs of the somewhat triangular Island of Hawaii is wet and lush. The Western edge of the Island tends to be drier and the place tourists especially go for sun and surf. In Hilo in the east, it seems to rain constantly rain (at least in August) and because of it the vegetation in the surrounding areas is lush and green and allowed to grow naturally breaks into rainforest. They have had several tidal waves there, and the local hotel where I stayed marked the levels of how high the waves crested on a window in the restaurant shown above. Hilo is near Kilauea Volcano, which has been continuously active for many years. Hilo is one of the biggest towns in the islands, with bustling traffic, a regular airport, a mall, Wal-mart, Kmart, etc. Because of the constant rain and little sun, Hilo is not a beach town, but the best place to stay to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Near Hilo was the World Botanical Gardens with tropical plants from around the world and many native species. For the most part the gardens have gone wild here and give the feeling of being deep in a rainforest. Trails at the Gardens are paved and wander up and down through the gorgeous landscape all the way to the jagged shoreline. These Gardens are one of the most beautiful places to visit in the islands.
One hour to the southwest of Hilo is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The center piece of the park is the Kilauea Volcano which is constantly active and you can drive around. While I was there, there was no lava to be seen, though hot steam vents up all around the Caldera. The lava from Kilauea was venting in August of 2007 through subterranean tubes down the side of the mountain in a relatively inaccessible area far to the east. It is possible to drive down to the sea on the winding "Chain of Craters Road" which once connected Hilo, but is now cut off by cooled lava flows. Here at the sea where the lava flow cuts across the road, I could breathe acrid fumes of the lava at a distance and see the smoke rising in the distance of lava burning trees. The cooled black lava, can be quite jagged and you must be careful as you walk on it or climb it. Numerous smaller craters dot the Park near the road, but the Kilauea Caldera was the largest with a crater perhaps a half mile across and a couple of hundred of feet deep. Numerous trails are here, and the landscape gives the feeling you are on the moon. There are also subterranean cave called the Thurston Lava tube which winds for a couple of hundred years underground where you can actually see tree roots working their way through the ceiling of the tube. Kilauea rises 4,078 feet above. Higher yet to the northwest is volcano of Mauna Loa which rises 13,679 feet. About 14 or so miles to the north of Mauna Loa is a second mountain which is even taller, Mauna Kea which rises 13,796 feet. Some say that if you think of the whole island of Hawaii being a mountain that rises to these peaks and descends to the floor of the Sea that this mountain Loa is the tallest mountain in the world rising over 30,000 feet.
To the north of Hilo following highway 19 are the Akaka falls which fall for 420 feet. The falls are set in a park with lush gardens and rainforest which a wonderful trail winds through. The Hamakua Coast on the northeast shore of Hawaii is beautiful and green. As the road approaches the northern end of the island the vegetation changes from rainforest to green and open grasslands. Past Waimea approaching the northwestern shore, the terrain changes dramatically and becomes dry and looks like dry prairie ranch lands typified by the Parker Ranch. Vast Black Volcanic flows here are common giving the landscape a barren appearance. Many important historical Hawaiian sites exist on the western shore of the big island, including Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historical Site, and beyond Kona, the Pu'uhonoua Honaunau National Historic Park where Captain Cook was killed. Kona is a beautiful resort town, with a beautiful but jagged shoreline. Beaches on the west coast are few and far between, but since this is the sunny and dry side of the island, it is the best place for water activities. Kona is a favorite destination for many. It was a seat of power for the Hawaiian Kings. Today Kona is a tourist town with T-shirt shops, hotels, bustling traffic, and restaurants. Favorite activities here include sunset cruises, lu'au's, swimming with dolphins, and at late night swimming with manta rays. These activities are best booked well in advance as they are usually totally booked by the day they occur.
To the south of Kona on Highway 11 is Honaunau Bay where Captain Cook was killed. Today the site is an incredible place to snorkel with crystal clear water and reefs which shoot up from below, home to hosts of brilliantly colored tropical fish, dolphins, and sea turtles. There are so many sea turtles throughout the islands that it is a rarity not to see one snorkeling. The shoreline is made up of small and slippery boulders which are hard to keep your footing on especially in rough surf. Going out and coming in can be painful and more than likely, you will get banged up. I did, but the snorkeling was worth it. At Honaunau Bay is the Hawaiian Hikiau Heiau Temple. Also on this Bay is Pu'uhonoua o Honaunau, which was a royal residence and a Place of refuge for Hawaiians violating Kapu's.
Further on down Highway 11 after rounding the southern tip of Hawaii, which is also the southernmost point in the United States, is the wild southeastern shore of the Big Island. The surf at Honuapo is spectacular as it breaks on the shores and cliffs. Further up from here is the Black Sand Beach at Punaluu Beach Park.
Hawaiian Wildlife
 Butterfly |
 Mongoose |
 Mina Bird |
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 Wild Chicken |
 Rock Crab |
 Flame Angelfish |
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 Bird Wrasse |
 Picasso Tiggerfish |
 Panorama |
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 Red Spiny Lobster |
 Sting Ray |
 White Margin Unicornfish |
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 Yellow Tang Fish |
 Octopus |
 Mermaid |
There are no indigenous land mammals on Hawaii. The early Hawaiians brought pigs and dogs to the islands. The rooting of the wild pigs has been very destructive to the ecology of Hawaii. Numerous invasive species have been introduced and now live wild. On many of the islands chickens now roam wild. To combat accidentally introduced rats, mongooses were introduced on most of the islands. Fortunately for the rats, the rats only come out at night, and mongooses hunt during the day. Geckos on the islands are believed to have been accidentally introduced by the early Hawaiians. Deer native to India, which were a gift to the king of Hawaii from an Indian maharajah, now live wild on Molokai. Goats live wild on several of the islands. Strict regulations limit the animals which can be brought into Hawaii. Numerous species of birds are seen throughout the islands, with one of the more common being the Mina Bird.
The variety of sea life in Hawaii is incredible. Above is a picture of a green sea turtle. Though I saw most of the above marine animals while snorkeling, most of the pictures above were taken at the Maui Sea Aquarium. If looking for wildlife while snorkeling it seems to help to find a place which has lots of rocks and/or corals for the fish to hide with dramatic variations in depth. A little patience helps too. In Kaui'i I hung motionless examining a lone coral boulder sitting on a sandy bottom which was 12 feet in diameter. The coral was of interest because it was honeycombed with passages. After a while a small moray eel cautiously emerged from one of the tunnels, lilting in the current as though defying gravity but ever keeping its tail in the coral ready for a quick getaway. This was the only moray eel I saw in the islands.
The splendid rock crab above was found climbing a rock in Kaui'i and was as big as my hand. I was slightly nervous when snorkeling about sharks, despite all the current wisdom saying that they tend to leave people alone. I tend to snorkel in remote locations and often far from shore. It is said that sharks tend to come near shore at night and early in the morning. However, this is not a hard and fast rule.
One of the more common fish I saw in the reefs was the yellow tang. Also frequently seen is the Humuhumunukunukuapaua'a, the state fish of Hawaii, also known as the Picasso Triggerfish or the Hawaiian Triggerfish. At Mokule'ia bay in Maui the water is crystal clear to depths of over 50 feet in places and numerous rocks rising up from the bottom providing cover for fish. It was here in deep water I saw an octopus nervously moving about. It was also on Maui I had a chance encounter with a mermaid which are known to occasionally frequent the islands.
Hawaiian Plants and Flowers
Above are a series of photos I took from the islands of Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii of indigenous and invasive plant species. Many of the plants and flowers pictured above grow naturally throughout the islands. Natural to the islands or not, the flowers are beautiful. The terrain of Hawaii is widely varied giving the plants a myriad of ecosystems. Hawaii is well known for its sugar cane, pineapple, coconut, bananas, macadamia nuts, guava, papaya, and coffee. The ancient Hawaiians raised taro root (from which they made poi) and few varieties of sweet potatoes some which are sweet and have a tasty blue flesh. The climate of Hawaii ranges from tropical rainforests, to arid prairie, to high mountains which are snow covered in winter. The elevation of the tallest mountain in Hawaii is only 1 foot less than the tallest mountain in Wyoming. Many of the pictures above were taken at the World Botanical Gardens in Hilo, Hawaii, which I would highly recommend to anyone who loves flowers and plants, and likes a good walk.
Hawaiian Culture
 Baskets |
 Drum |
 Drums |
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 Drills, Mortar and Pestle |
 Canoe |
 Traditional Catamaran Sailboat |
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 Hawaiian Lodge |
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 Traditional Hawaiian Fish Hooks |
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 Daggers and Clubs |
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 Hawaiian Temple |
Hawaiian culture is very rich and sophisticated. They are among the greatest mariners of all time and sailed vast distances across the Pacific in their catamarans. Their knowledge of navigation was virtually unparalleled. They built impressive temples to their gods, built lodges, and loved life. They built fish ponds along the sea shore in the reefs where they raised and harvested fish. They practiced farming and cultivated taro root. They created beautiful baskets and pottery and fashioned delicate fish hooks from bone, sometimes even human bone. They processed the ability to drill fine holes through bone. The polynesians invented surfing and the brought surfing to Hawaii in ancient times. Some Hawaiians were masterful cliff divers. They also loved war and embraced bravery. They developed many ingenious weapons, including daggers, clubs, slings, and spears, fashioned from local hard woods, marlin bills, and sharks teeth.
©All rights reserved by James Krumm. Originally made available at www.caspercomsci.com. All Materials here, except those listed in the Oahu section, can be used, and redistributed, provided proper reference is made to the origin and author(s) of these materials. Please send any corrections or suggestions to jkrumm@caspercollege.edu. Last modified August 27, 2011.
James Krumm |
