Lapahoehoe Point

Laupahoehoe  Point is now a beach park, but before the 1946 tsunami it was a settlement with many residents.  When the tsunami hit it pretty well wiped out the settlement with the most devastating occurrence being the destruction of the school.  Many children and faculty were killed.   

   

The tsunami of 1946 originated in the Aleutian Islands, struck Hawaii without warning, and killed over 170 people, mainly at Laupahoehoe and Hilo  where the wave heights averaged 30 feet. The maximum wave height was 55 feet at Pololu Valley on the northern tip of the island.
	This pavilion had a sign inside that read: IN ORDER TO OCCUPY THIS PAVILION YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED Sounds right to me.
The lava in the ocean is called a'a lava.  A'a lava is rough and ragged, where as the smooth lava is called pahoehoe lava.
	I could take an endless number of photos of the waves crashing into the lava.  It is mesmerizing.       On the road to the park this tremendous view shows how an earthquake many eons ago caused the land to fall into the sea:
In the area there is the Laupahoehoe Train Museum.  Yes they have a train museum. The museum purpose is to honor the colorful history of the Hilo Railroad, which began in 1899 and lasted to 1946, when railroad tracks and facilities were irreparably damaged by the devastating tsunami.
	If you decide to take in the sights of this beautiful place, bring a picnic lunch.  It is a great place for a picnic.

Posted by Richard Binckley at 3/25/2006 8:36 PM | View Comments | Add Comment |