The posted coordinates will take you too Ahalanui Beach Park.
You may want to bring a swimsuit and towel and enjoy the water
afterwards. Even if not swimming you may get your feet wet on this
earthcache. To get there from Hilo travel south on Highway 11,
Mamalahua Hwy till the Keaau Bypass turnoff. Turn left onto Highway
130 and travel 12 miles to a left turn onto Highway 132. Head down
Highway 132 curving left after 2.8 miles staying on 132 for another
5.1 miles until you reach junction 137. Turn right onto Highway 137
for another 2.7 miles and watch for Ahalanui Park on the left.
It’s a long twisty road there but well worth it. Please note
that the Park does close for maintenance every 2nd Wednesday each
month.
The Ahalanui Park is home to a geothermal heated pond. So why is
the water heated? The rainwater that percolates into the ground
eventually hits a salt water table. The fresh water is less dense
than the salt water and will float on top and create the ground
water table. In Volcanic areas, the ground water will travel
through rocks heated by magma. The heat is transferred to the water
and will be become very hot. As the water, travels away from the
hot spot towards the shoreline it starts to cool and mix with the
costal seawater creating the warm springs. Warm springs like these
are common along the Puna coastline.
These ponds are partially man-made and natural formation. The
bottom of the pool is sand and mud and has a slight sulfur smell.
The water is brackish but very clear and fish often swim along with
the visitors. A small inlet separates the pool from the ocean and
allows the fish access to the pool. This area is a very popular
swimming area among locals and tourists. Usually there is lifeguard
present. There are warnings that if you do have an open wound that
you should not enter the pond because of the risk of infection. If
in doubt check with a lifeguard before entering the pool.
To log this Earthcache you must do the following:
- 1. Take an average tempature reading of the water from 3
different locations, the temperatures varies through out the pool.
We suggest taking readings at the stair locations for ease. Email
your answer but do not post it in your log. (You will need a
thermometer for this part. A cheap digital thermometer from a drug
store will work.)
- 2. Record the the high tempature of the day you visited the
site. Also include this in your email only.
- 3.OPTIONAL Take a picture of you in front of the pool
with your GPSr visible.
