10-02-2006, 11:10 AM
Thanks for the links, Dave!
Experiencing the lesser known (truly amazing) lava tubes on the island, is indeed a treat.
You can walk perfectly upright for long long stretches and never even stub your toe on a rock. Smoother than my living room floor.
(...and then all of sudden of course, just as you're getting overly-confident, there'll be the huge pile-up of rocks, presumably shaken loose from the ceiling during an earthquake. Looking straight up toward the ceiling at that point will often reveal an "intersection" of sorts: another whole lava tube heading off at a completely different angle. And then, half a mile or so farther along you may very well run into a "skylight." Where the movin' and the shakin' caused the ceiling to collapse completely. Blue sky, vegetation, and an opportunity to either scramble out...or continue on your way. Cool cool cool in the extreme!)
One thing folks need to keep in mind though (in addition to the potential dangers) is the fact that the more time one spends underground, the greater the chance of encountering ancient artifacts and/or burials, yah? Under no circumstances should they ever be disturbed.
If you discover a burial site: stop activity in the immediate area; leave remains in place; contact the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division and your County Police Department. Reporting a burial site disturbance is required by law (Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Chapter 6E) and severe penalties could result when SHPD is not notified of such disturbance.
Here's a link to the State Historic Preservation Division (complete with phone numbers):
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/hpcontact.htm
And here's a just-plain-lovely site. I get all misty-eyed just reading the text...the video's gotta be killer.
Na Iwi Kupuna: The Bones of our Ancestors
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/naiwikupuna.htm
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Edited by - malolo on 10/02/2006 15:13:59
Experiencing the lesser known (truly amazing) lava tubes on the island, is indeed a treat.
You can walk perfectly upright for long long stretches and never even stub your toe on a rock. Smoother than my living room floor.
(...and then all of sudden of course, just as you're getting overly-confident, there'll be the huge pile-up of rocks, presumably shaken loose from the ceiling during an earthquake. Looking straight up toward the ceiling at that point will often reveal an "intersection" of sorts: another whole lava tube heading off at a completely different angle. And then, half a mile or so farther along you may very well run into a "skylight." Where the movin' and the shakin' caused the ceiling to collapse completely. Blue sky, vegetation, and an opportunity to either scramble out...or continue on your way. Cool cool cool in the extreme!)
One thing folks need to keep in mind though (in addition to the potential dangers) is the fact that the more time one spends underground, the greater the chance of encountering ancient artifacts and/or burials, yah? Under no circumstances should they ever be disturbed.
If you discover a burial site: stop activity in the immediate area; leave remains in place; contact the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division and your County Police Department. Reporting a burial site disturbance is required by law (Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Chapter 6E) and severe penalties could result when SHPD is not notified of such disturbance.
Here's a link to the State Historic Preservation Division (complete with phone numbers):
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/hpcontact.htm
And here's a just-plain-lovely site. I get all misty-eyed just reading the text...the video's gotta be killer.
Na Iwi Kupuna: The Bones of our Ancestors
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/naiwikupuna.htm
~~~~~~~~
Edited by - malolo on 10/02/2006 15:13:59