by Donald B. MacGowan
The lava tree molds on Mauna Loa Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan
There are many wondrous, enigmatic and fascinating attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, some better known than others, many out of the way and generally off the beaten track. Tour Guide Hawaii has produced an encyclopedic collection of the most up-to-date information, presented as short GPS-cued videos, in an app downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers the entire Big Island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and the relaxing.
The lava tree molds on Mauna Loa Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan
Lava Tree Molds
Down into the Lava Tree Molds, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan
A small fork road heading east just after the start of Mauna Loa Road leads to a series of tree molds that formed when lava poured through the deep tropical forest. The trees were too wet to burn and the lava simply cooled around the trunks. Later, as the trees rotted, these unusual, deep pit molds were left behind. Definitely worth a visit, there are even pit toilets available at the Tree Molds.
Mauna Loa Road Tree Molds, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan
To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here. For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.
All media copyright 2010 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.
Mauna Loa dryland forest at Lava Tree Molds, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan
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[…] Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Mauna Loa Lava Tree Molds « Lovingthebigisland’… on 16 Mar 2010 at 4:22 […]
[…] Mauna Loa Road is closed at various elevations at various times due to fire hazard. If one has the time and an adventurous heart, it is well worth the trip to drive to the end of the road and perhaps even hike a ways up it. The start of the Mauna Loa summit trail is here, but for even hardy hikers, that goal is at least two days hard hiking distant. The world’s largest active volcano is a LOT bigger than it looks! More about the Mauna Loa Scenic Road can be found here. […]