Halona Blowhole

Halona Blowhole is a rock formation and a blowhole on the island of Oahu, Hawaii off of Hanauma Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On windy days when the tide is high, the ocean breeze sends the waves rolling on to the shore where the rock formation then shoots sea spray high into the air through the cave acting like a geyser. It is not always at its best every day though. The blowhole is most active when the tide is high and the winds are strong. This is a big tourist spot in Hawaii. People come from all over to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the beach at the cove, and in the winter it is the spot to go to see the humpback whale as they take their journey leaving the North Pacific or the Honu (The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) swimming about. Diving is possible along the coast when there are light northerly winds blowing and no surf. It is recommended diving elsewhere when waves are breaking. The erratic tidal changes that take place offshore make the waters experience a strong current called Moloka'i Express that can drag divers out to sea. A large wedged shape area right off the coast next to the cove is a reef coated with Sinularia Leather Coral, which is a coral who does not need much light to live, in which you can find many different species like echinoderms, slugs, corals, and eels. The shoreline cliff beyond the cove, ending at a point, should be the limit of any shore diving here due to the strong current and distance. There is also a narrow rift along the base of the cliff which was formed by a large section of rock that broke away from the land can be seen very well on a clear day.

How Halona was Formed

Thosands of years ago when volcanoes were still active on Oahu, lava flowed in to the ocean there at Halona Point. The molten lava tubes from volcanic eruptions that occurred thousands of years ago formed the natural occurrence known as the Halona Blowhole. The lava tubes extend in to the ocean which are very narrow at the top, and when the surf is just right, the mighty blowhole can shoot sea spray up to thirty feet high in the air

Halona Cove

Halona Cove is the small pit of sand just to the left of Halona Blowhole where tourists and locals can also enjoy a small beach while visiting the blowhole attraction and it is great for swimming when the surf is very calm. Access to the beach is very difficult and is warned not to swim while the surf is rough considering there are no lifeguards on duty here. At this particular location is where the kiss of Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster took place in the film From Here to Eternity. Not only did these two actors share a kiss in 1953, but also Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler too shared a romantic first kiss in the movie 50 First Dates.

Dangers

This is also a very dangerous landmark where there have been numerous accidents and even deaths because people did not heed warning signs and got too close to the hole. They have since put locked gates up to keep the people from going out onto the rock formation, but tourists and locals still climb the fence. In one example, Daniel, an 18-year-old was vacationing in Hawaii with his family. He was warned by witnesses to stay away and not climb on the rocks. It was said that he wanted to feel the water hit his chest. Thirty seconds later, his wish had been granted and people watched in amazement as he straddled the blowhole. Suddenly, a wave came shooting a blast of water through the hole, launching young Daniel five feet into the air. His body was found the next day. There was a lawsuit in this incident about warning signs. Not only the teen, but four others have been sucked into the blowhole. Three of these incidents have been fatal. Also, below Halona is one of the most dangerous ocean currents in the world. Its name is Ka Iwi. It is very unpredictable and people should not swim there when the ocean current is rough, as the waves crash against rocks.

External links

• Secrets of Hawaii - Blowhole