June
2006
On
a family vacation to the islands, we were fortunate enough
to track down the right people and find a ranger-guide
to take us into the portion of Kahuku that is now owned
by the National Park Service, but not regularly open to
the general public. The following images were taken during
that visit.
Kauaha'ao
Church in Waiohinu
It is this churchyard where the Browns laid to rest a some of their own:
13-year-old Amanda Brown was moved here from her grave at
Kahuku ranch after the erruption of 1868. Amy Haley, the
two-year-old daughter of Nelson and Charlotte (Brown) Haley was also buried
here. Neither grave is marked, and their precise locations are unknown. However,
according to the caretaker, the two girls are likely next to each other in
two of the three known, but unmarked graves.
Just
inside the current entrance to Kahuku Ranch
On
the surface, it’s not difficult to see why the
Browns thought this would be a good location for a ranch.
Grass
still grows very tall on some of these southern slopes...
it’s what lies underneath that’s creates a problem.
The
distinction between the “before” and “after” appearance
of the landscape is striking.
Click
the above image for a pan-video of the ranch area
Now,
140 years after the earthquake awakened the volcano,
the devastation is still absolute. Relatively little in
the way of plant life has come back to reclaim the land.
The
crevice from whence the lava flowed is deep, indeed!
Some plant life has returned. Red lehua, unique to the region,
flowers in relative abundance.
The
lava coating was relatively thin, only a few inches. Broken
pieces of lava are popular landscaping material in the
area, and
the park
service has a difficult time in discouraging people from
carrying the stone away.
Some
old family stories have said that Captain Brown defied the
island gods and lost his home because of it. If, by some
foolish chance, you may be tempted to bring home a tiny
bit of lava as a souvenir, remember the island gods are
still watching.
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