04-07-2017, 04:14 PM
I will offer another "better in the old days" thing, though not to direct any criticism toward Puna. Better views because of fewer trees. Up until the early 1980s, stunning view heading toward Kalapana from Pahoa, just after Opihikao turnoff. Stark black lava field, in beautiful contrast to adjacent forest. Now all grown over. Views gone.
Same thing at 4 corners. Used to drive to the cinder pit heading toward Waa Waa (200 yards from 4 corners). Drove up broad cinder hill and got truck loads of cinders (only $7 for giant truck load!). View from 150 feet above 4 corners was was extraordinary. The 150-foot high wall of Waa Waa forest to the left loomed over the lava field, ocean beyond. Medley of colors: jet black, green, red (cinder), blue sky and ocean. Wish I took photos. (Guess there is still a good view top of Green mountain though when I last went there in 1981 the top was heavily forested.)
Even in the 1970s, the invasive iron woods had taken over the 4 corners, but today, they are fast covering all the lava in the area. Of course the cinder hill is gone now (that would have been a geographical feature to preserve, but I am guilty as anyone in helping mine the hill.)
We still have maybe 1.5-2 miles of open space heading toward Poihiki, but how long will that lava field remain unobscured? Will anything stop the march of the ironwood trees? I love trees greatly but flat land, e.g. meadows, lava fields, (low) farm crops, greatly accentuates the beauty of adjacent trees and forests. Diversity in nature is worth preserving. I know this sentiment resonates in Sea View but anywhere else?
Same thing at 4 corners. Used to drive to the cinder pit heading toward Waa Waa (200 yards from 4 corners). Drove up broad cinder hill and got truck loads of cinders (only $7 for giant truck load!). View from 150 feet above 4 corners was was extraordinary. The 150-foot high wall of Waa Waa forest to the left loomed over the lava field, ocean beyond. Medley of colors: jet black, green, red (cinder), blue sky and ocean. Wish I took photos. (Guess there is still a good view top of Green mountain though when I last went there in 1981 the top was heavily forested.)
Even in the 1970s, the invasive iron woods had taken over the 4 corners, but today, they are fast covering all the lava in the area. Of course the cinder hill is gone now (that would have been a geographical feature to preserve, but I am guilty as anyone in helping mine the hill.)
We still have maybe 1.5-2 miles of open space heading toward Poihiki, but how long will that lava field remain unobscured? Will anything stop the march of the ironwood trees? I love trees greatly but flat land, e.g. meadows, lava fields, (low) farm crops, greatly accentuates the beauty of adjacent trees and forests. Diversity in nature is worth preserving. I know this sentiment resonates in Sea View but anywhere else?