Hawaii day 5

       Our fifth day was spent in transit, from Princeville down to Poipu, a small town on the south coast.  As we share with you the photos on the way down, we realize we have been remiss in providing you the information you have been anxiously awaiting.  So, interspersed among the photos, we shall relate to you a few facts about this beautiful state.

Larsen’s Beach

       Hawaii is our newest state in more than one sense, having arisen from the ocean within the last few million years, as volcanoes from the ocean floor built up along the Tropic of Cancer.  In fact, it’s still building up, as the lava continues to flow over the easternmost island (that’s the one with the same name as the state, a weak nod to New York).

 Moloa’a Bay

       It all began about 30 million years ago with a crack in the Pacific tectonic plate, which is moving slowly northwestward at 4 inches or so per year, carrying the previously formed islands with it.  In fact, this string of 132 islands now stretches out over more than 1,500 miles to the northwest.  We did the math:  at 4 inches per year, an island will move 333,333 feet in a million years.  Figure that out in miles, and multiply by, say, 30.  Isn’t this a fascinating exercise?

 Donkey Beach

       And with only about 6,500 square miles of land area, you might guess Hawaii is our smallest state.  Those of you who live in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware will surely know better, though, unless the relative size of your state was carefully omitted from the geography classes.  You may feel much better about the relative size of your state when you realize that bigger is not necessarily better.  Ponder the size of the U.S. Congress, for example.  Or, for you liberals, Rush Limgaugh.  And for you conservatives, Michael Moore.  See what I mean?

‘Opaekea’a Falls

       Hawaii is also the most southern of the states, and would also be the westernmost if it were not for a few islands near Russia that a guy named Seward bought 150 years or so ago.  And it is one of the newest land masses from one more perspective.

Wailua Falls

   You see, until 1800 years ago, or maybe less, all these islands were devoid of humans—among the last possible places on earth to be inhabited.  The unbelievably talented Polynesian sailors were the first to arrive, at times variously estimated between 300 A.D. and 800 A.D.  The first came from the Marquesas Islands, and they were followed 500 years later by the canoes from Tahiti.  Less than 500 years after that, a fellow named James Cook sailed into Waimea Bay on this very island, and the place has never been the same.  More on that in a day or two.

 Kealia Beach

 Ho'opi'i Falls

       Upon our late afternoon arrival in Poipu, we chose a tapas place to eat our first meal on the south shore.  As we walked from our car in the small shopping center, Tricia was the first to notice, just across the driveway from our restaurant, a Lappert’s Ice Cream store.  We have discovered an ice cream chain!  Needless to say, we ended a busy day in this new discovery.  Tricia had a cup of salted caramel roasted banana, and I had a cup of chocolate macadamia nut fudge.  They were both out of this world.  Who knows what we will discover tomorrow?

Charlie and Tricia

©2013