When there are high winds and cloud cover, tour guides employ a traditional Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain 11-inch optical telescope. Hawaii Forest & Trail uses a Stellina digital telescope to view images live on a tablet, and can email them to guests so they can download and share the photos via their phone, tablet or computer, according to Cohn. The summit area of Maunakea at twilight Credit: 2022 Andrew Richard Hara Two types of telescopes bring into focus deep-space objects as far away as the Andromeda galaxy, which is some 2.5 million light-years from Earth. Because the oxygen atop the summit is roughly 50% of the levels found on the coast, and temperatures are around freezing year-round, the stargazing segment of the tour takes place in more comfortable conditions, between the 9,000- and 12,000-foot elevations. If weather permits, the next stop is the volcano’s 13,800-foot summit, where astronomers from all over the world operate 12 observatories. There, they enjoy a warm dinner of beef stew or vegetarian chili browse the store, which sells books, apparel and souvenirs and acclimate to the thinner air and cooler temperatures. “Providing an opportunity for them to help rebuild a native ecosystem is what we hope the future of regenerative tourism looks like in Hawaii.” Stargazing Atop MaunakeaĪfter visiting the preserve, where temperatures are normally in the 80s, tour-goers ascend Maunakea to the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station, located at an elevation of 9,200 feet. “Its significance as a sanctuary for native plants makes it a unique and meaningful experience for visitors,” Cohn said. RELATED: This Unique Experience at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Helps Visitors Give Back Additionally, a large portion of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve is on a Maunakea lava flow, so it has a direct connection to the mountain. The decision to partner with WDFI was an easy one, Cohn says: Hawaii Forest & Trail believes in its mission to preserve, protect and restore a native Hawaiian forest. In addition, Hawaii Forest & Trail donates $20 of every ticket sold for this tour to the nonprofit. And clients on the Give Back tour can contribute to WDFI conservation efforts by collecting wiliwili, uhaloa, ilima and aalii seeds for planting. Established in 2011, the nonprofit organization has reintroduced about 60 native species to the preserve. The uhiuhi and wiliwili are just two plants that Hawaii Forest & Trails’ partner Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative (WDFI) is working to save. Tour participants learn about the significance of the wiliwili tree during their experience. Amazingly, they can survive on very little water. Mature trees stand 20 to 30 feet tall, with an equally wide canopy. The Waikoloa region is also known for the wiliwili, whose light wood was fashioned into surfboards, canoe outriggers and fishing net floats long ago. Now, it’s thought that fewer than 50 uhiuhi trees remain in the wild due to wildfires, development, invasive plant species and other threats. In ancient times, Hawaiians used its dense wood to make spears, daggers, tapa beaters, house posts and fishing weights. Notable among the flora is the endangered uhiuhi tree.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |