It’s a common misconception that the geology of the Hawaiian Islands, especially the “Big Island” of Hawaii, is only about volcanoes. True, the Big Island does display the Earth’s largest volcanic mountain, Mauna Loa, its tallest volcano, Mauna Kea, and the world’s most famous active volcano, Kilauea; however, many other geologic features are displayed as well. For example, glacial deposits above 10,000 feet on Mauna Kea represent several stages of glacier development during the Earth’s changing climate over the past 200,000 years. Huge submarine landslide deposits that cover major undersea portions of the volcanic mountains, and surrounding sea floor 15,000-18,000 feet below, represent the Earth’s largest mass wasting features. Above sea level fault scarps also are visible, especially along the flanks of Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Coral and stony algal growth in the island’s warm coastal waters represent incipient reef structures. Erosion, transport and deposition of sediments is evident along the shoreline where ocean currents produce both volcanic black sand and coral-rich white sand beaches. And, throughout the 450,000 year history of the Big Island, soils have been developing as a result of the interaction of the island’s volcanic rock materials with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.

The result of these many geologic processes is an island that is an ideal geo-science laboratory. Hawaii’s year around great weather makes it a perfect place to study the many aspects of geology. The Geology Program of the Waikoloa Science Project, sponsored by the International Science Network (ISN) of California State University at Northridge (CSUN), and conducted in association with TEOK Investigations, provides science teachers the opportunity to upgrade their skills in earth science instruction. In addition to observations of active volcanoes and their various molten rock products you check out geologic faults representing major structural failures along the volcano’s growing slopes. You hike through Pleistocene glacial deposits and dig in soil layers. You snorkel among the beautiful corals of the island’s growing reefs and examine its various black, green, red and white sandy beaches. During the many interactive field trips you can examine, probe, question and discuss. Geoscience comes to life here. You can be a part of that.