The beginning of the Hanauma Bay grandeur started more than 25 million years ago, Mother Earths "pimple" started forming upward on the Pacific Earth's floor. Beneath the tons of sea water, molten lava slithered and crept out of that same opening. This liquid - volcanic, dense, rock material -- started to ooze out from the opening. Known as a hot spot in the earth's crust. It created a new volcano along the ocean's bottom. As the tectonic plate that comprises the ocean floor drifted over the earth's hot spot, numerous other volcanoes were formed. Slowly, in the seemingly endless procession of the geologic time, a chain of volcanic islands, stretching almost 2000 miles, emerged from the sea floor. Volcano islands are known today as the Hawaiian--Emperor seamount chain.

Hanauma Bay is a flooded volcanic creator on the shore of the Island of Oahu. Hanauma Bay, a delightful sea cove, is located at Kuhio Head Park. The rugged grandeur was created by volcanic action over ten's of thousands of years ago when Pele made her last attempt to find home on Oahu, as legend tells. During the eruptions, seawater mixed with lava, building a glassy ash ring around the vent. Over time chemical changes turned the ash to rock. Over the last 30,000 years, waves, wind and rain have sculpted Hanauma's crater walls into the sea cliffs that line the bay today. Hanauma Bay is located on the southeast shore of Oahu. The nature reserve was established in 1969, only after the area was nearly barren from over fishing in 1967. The bay has taken abuse from many natural and un-natural occurrences over the years of its existence. While walking along the coastline on the sides of Hanauma Bay one will see a geological occurrence called "wave-cut platform" or "wave-cut terrace". This is the flat layer of rock that is known as the trail around the bowl of the bay. Wide and full of pools which have been created by waves splashing onto the ledges during high surf and high tides.

Hanauma Bay was a favorite retreat for Hawaiian Royalty. The largest sand-bottom holes in the coral are the works of American GI's stationed here on beach defense during World War II. To create a place to swim, the soldiers tossed grenades into the water and blew up sections of the coral reef. Information on the coral holes came from, O'ahu Travel Log, by Curt Sanburn

The next pages are pictures I took during the summer of 1998.I hope you enjoy your virtual reality trip to Hanauma Bay.

Picture Page of Hanauma Bay
All pictures on the picture page was taken on a trip to
Hanauma Bay by Ann or Mary Jo Fuellenbach, summer 1998

Any questions regarding this page please contact me, Ann Fuellenbach at alfullen@flash.net