What is Mauna Kea? Mauna Kea is a dormant shield volcano that is located in the north central part of the big island of Hawai`i. It has a peak elevation of 13,796 feet when measured from sea level, and an astounding 32,808.4 feet when measured from the base of the ocean. By that second measurement Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano in the entire world. Mauna Kea is not only tall, but also very massive. The cubic volume of Mauna Kea is 767.7 cubic miles. Because of this massive size, Mauna Kea and its neighbor, Mauna Loa is actually depressing the ocean floor by about 4 miles (Concordia Encyclopedia Online).
Mauna Kea is an essential part of the discussion when looking at the ever-changing climatology and biodiversity of the island. Mauna Kea literally translates into “White Mountain,” a name given because of the snow that covers the summit of the mountain during the winter months. Not the entire mountain is “white,” however. That snowy area near the summit lies within an area defined as an arid alpine desert, one of about 6 different climate classification levels that are present on the mountain. From about 0-8,000 feet, the mountain is classified as some type of forest. (Juvik, 1998) These areas are able to receive enough rainfall in order to allow for the growth of a good amount of vegetation. The areas above this inversion are much drier, and the vegetation is much more sparse. The two biomes higher in elevation are the dryland scrub, and the aforementioned alpine desert. So in less than a couple hours, one could travel from the eastern base of the mountain, characterized by high rainfall and dense vegetation all the way to the summit, where at the right time of the year there will be snow present. |
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Religious Significance Not only does Mauna Kea hold significance in the realm of physical geography, but in cultural geography as well. “In ancient Polynesian oral history, the summit is considered the meeting place of Earth Mother and Sky Father, parents of the entire human race. Mauna Kea is the birthplace of humanity, where heaven and Earth meet” (Muskrat, 2008). This mountain also serves as the place of residence for the Hawaiian deity Poliahu, the goddess of snow and ice. The other peak visible from the top of Mauna Kea is that of Mauna Loa or the volcano where Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes resides. Pele and Poliahu were natural enemies and legend holds that on these summits they were constantly at battle. Whenever Pele would cause fire and lava to be emitted from the mountains, Poliahu would bring snow in an attempt to combat Pele.
This mountain also has a lot of religious significance on a more physical level. The summit itself serves as a "burial grounds for some of the highest members of the Hawaiian Pantheon" (Muskrat, 2008). Also located at the summit is a shrine in which native Hawaiians to this day visit in order to say a special prayer or pay homage to the gods. According to the same article by Juni Muskrat, many Hawaiians view this place as their “Garden of Eden.” |
History and Development Hawai`i was officially granted statehood in 1959, and shortly after that there was a large influx of development on the islands. One spot of note is the summit of Mauna Kea. The summit of the mountain is above the cloud line, there is little wind, the sky is clear, and it is very dry. These conditions create a perfect location for the observation of any and all atmospheric phenomena. That being said, the Mauna Kea Observatory was developed as a primary observation and research facility for the University of Hawai`i and the Federal Government and organizations such as NASA. “Currently, the Mauna Kea Science Reserve has 13 observation facilities, each funded by as many as 11 countries. It is the largest observatory complex in the world” (Absolute Astronomy, 2011).
While these observatories provide scientists with large quantities of exceptional data, the location of this complex has sparked great controversy between the academic community and the native Hawaiian community. Located throughout the islands of Hawai`i are areas designated as “Hawaiian Homelands,” which were lands ceded to the native Hawaiian community by the government in 1920. These lands only covered 188,000 acres, or about 2.7% of the land that constitutes Hawai`i (Juvik, 1998). One could then imagine why there was controversy when the government in conjunction with various academic institutions erected this observatory complex on native land. We should take time to appreciate the scientific, cultural, and the visually stunning qualities that Mauna Kea possesses. This is obviously one of the best places to view the atmosphere in the entire world, but also serves as an extremely important cultural and religious site, as well as an excellent place for tourists to watch a gorgeous Hawaiian sunset. This area, because of its significance to a host of different communities should be respected and appreciated accordingly, and hopefully in the long run everyone will be able to share any and all Mauna Kea has to offer. |
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Sources
Absolute Astronomy. 2011. “Mauna Kea.” AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Retrieved November 30, 2011
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Mauna_Kea
Columbia Encyclopedia Online (6th Edition). New York: Columbia University Press.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=739c1830-4656-4a3d-87f4-f79895887b14%40sessionmgr12&vid=2&hid=15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=39020911
Juvik, Sonia P. and Juvik, James O. 1998. Atlas of Hawai‘i.
Hilo, HI: University of Hawai‘i Press
Muskrat, Juni. 2008. “Mauna Kea, HI.” NativeReligion.org. Retrieved November 30, 2011
http://nativereligion.org/case_study.php?profile=74803
Banner Photo by Beth Amann
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Mauna_Kea
Columbia Encyclopedia Online (6th Edition). New York: Columbia University Press.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=739c1830-4656-4a3d-87f4-f79895887b14%40sessionmgr12&vid=2&hid=15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=39020911
Juvik, Sonia P. and Juvik, James O. 1998. Atlas of Hawai‘i.
Hilo, HI: University of Hawai‘i Press
Muskrat, Juni. 2008. “Mauna Kea, HI.” NativeReligion.org. Retrieved November 30, 2011
http://nativereligion.org/case_study.php?profile=74803
Banner Photo by Beth Amann