Geology Field Trips
Hawaii's year-round climate is ideal for geological field trips, whether to map a watershed or to visit an active lava flow.
The sunny weather on the Kona side of the Big Island makes for pleasent field work.
In a hydrology class, students map the watershed above Kawaihae.
Dr. Ken Hon (extreme left) leads a group of UH Hilo geology students out to visit active lava flows along the coast.
The students get to see molten lava close up, and examine the formation of pahoehoe toes.
Steam plumes are created where hot lava enters the cold ocean. Joe Kaipat keeps a safe distance away.
At night, the steam plume takes on an orange glow, as it is illuminated from the molten lava.
However, geology students at UH Hilo study more than lava. To make sure students receive a well-rounded education, the geology professors regularly offer a two-week field trip to California as part of UH Hilo's Field Methods class. In 1999, the class went to the White-Inyo Mountains in East-Central California to map a large segment of the Poleta Folds.
Gail Ostrander roughs out a stratigraphic column.
Toby Hewitt reads a strike and dip to Art Taylor, who records it in his field book.