2016 is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. On Monday, Jeapardy! featured the category, National Parks. The answer (paraphrase) was "two national parks on volcanoes include Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii and Haleakala this island." The answer is Maui.
Hale is "house" and "akala" is sun. Tourists waken at o-dark-hundred to ascend to the top of the national park to watch the sun rise over the Pacific. Those same tourists often ride bikes down the switchbacks. Alas, they miss the beauty on the volcano itself.
The Haleakala National Park (link) cares for this sacred mountain from its peak to the sea, ahupua'a. The two pictures above are the silversword, ʻāhinahina, literally "very gray" - a rare plant that only grows on Haleakala.
Hanau ka po
Hanau Kumulipo i ka po, he kane
Hanau Po'ele i ka po, he wahine…
O kane ia Wai'ololi, o ka wahine ia Wai'olola
Hanau ka Manauea noho i kai
Kia'i ia e ke Kalo-manauea noho i uka…
O kalina a ka wai i ho'oulu ai
O ka huli ho'okawowo honua
O paia ['a] i ke auau ka manawa
O he'e au loloa ka po
O piha, o pihapiha…
The night gave birth
Born was Po'ele in the night, a female…
Man for the narrow stream, woman for the broad stream
Born was the Manauea moss living in the sea
Guarded by the Manauea taro plant living on land…
Water that causes the withered vine to flourish
Causes the plant top to develop freely
Multiplying in the passing time
The long night slips along
Fruitful, very fruitful ...
-From the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian Creation Chant, translation by Martha Beckwith, 1951
Tourists may come for the scenery ... but they leave with an awakening.
Driving further up the mountain, we could see the Pacific Ocean beyond the rolling clouds.
Notice the elevation - 10,023 feet! Yes, it was a bit chilly for my teens!
The crest is the perfect location for satellite tracking, weather monitoring, and space exploration! Although we are an Air Force family, we could not access the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site (AMOS - link).
Driving down, we spotted the Hawaiian state bird, the nene. Brought back from near extinction, the nene seeks sanctuary on Haleakala. Have you visited a mountain or another high place? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, January 23, 10 pim in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 24, at SOS Aloha.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
I remember going there. It was quite cold and the clouds were below us.
ReplyDeleteI've visited Haleakala and think we took some of the same pictures standing in the same spots!
ReplyDeleteI've climbed a couple of mountains, but for the life of me, I can't remember their names!
ReplyDeleteThe only place I can think of is the Grand Canyon which is the opposite but it's so deep you feel like you are very high lol.
ReplyDeleteWe were able to see a little bit of lava flow out of Kilauea.
ReplyDeleteWe've been there, Kim, and Jarrod forced me to do the totally exhausting Sliding Sands hike -- but it was so worth it to visit one of the quietest places on the planet. And that landscape -- stunning!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I've got a mini suction-cup Nene Crossing sign in our Hawaii-themed bathroom! ;)
I used to live in British Columbia where the rocky mountains are otherwise I have not seen any other ones. The pictures are just beautiful, what great memories.
ReplyDeleteyes
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is the Tongess National Forest in Alaska. Simply amazing! I've never seen lichen before in an area usually so cold.
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ReplyDelete2016 is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. On Monday, Jeapardy! featured the category, National Parks. The answer (paraphrase) was "two national parks on volcanoes include Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii and Haleakala this island." The answer is Maui. limo maui
Hello mate niice post
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ReplyDeleteCelebrating National Parks Aloha was a transformative experience! After a day exploring nature, I visited a nearby Organic Store. The fresh produce and eco-friendly products perfectly complemented my outdoor adventure. It's inspiring to see how our national parks promote a sustainable lifestyle, mirrored by the thoughtful selection at the organic store.
Celebrate the beauty of National Parks with a special aloha to Haleakala on Maui. Embrace the wonders of nature and plan your visit. Meanwhile, discover holistic remedies like oil pulling and activated charcoal to naturally Remove Black Stains From Teeth Naturally, ensuring a radiant smile during your park adventures.
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