Hālona Blowhole

Hālona Blowhole is a rock formation and a blowhole on the island of Oahu, Hawaii off of Hanauma Bay at Hālona Point[1] overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaiian hālona means "lookout".[2]

Hālona Blowhole

Description

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. The blowhole is most active when the tide is high and the winds are strong,[3] and it can shoot sea spray up to thirty feet high in the air.[4]

Hālona Point is a tourist spot, with visitors coming for the scenery, the beach at the cove, and in the winter as a spot to go to see humpback whales or Honu turtles (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles).[5][6] The blowhole is perhaps the most popular rock formation of its kind found in Hawaii.[7]

Formation

The Hālona Blowhole was formed thousands of years ago during the period of volcanic activity in Oahu,[8] with Koko Crater's lava flowing into the ocean.[9] The lava tubes extend into the ocean which are narrow at the top.[9] 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.[10]

Hālona Cove
The cove next to the Hālona Blowhole lookout. Used in a number of films and music videos
A Helmet urchin (Colobocentrotus atratus) within a tide pool near the Hālona Blowhole.

Hālona Cove, called "Cockroach Cove" by the local population, is the small pit of sand close to Hālona Blowhole,[11][12] visited by tourists and locals for swimming when the surf is calm.[13][14]

In a large wedged shape area next to the cove is a reef coated with Sinularia Leather Coral, with different species of fauna like echinoderms, slugs, corals, and eels.

This was the site of the sex scene between Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity,[15] and also between Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in the movie 50 First Dates.[16] In 2012, the beach was featured in the music video for Nicki Minaj's "Starships". The blowhole was the location for a scene in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Dangers

Below Hālona is one of the most dangerous ocean currents in the world due to the Ka Iwi channel.[17]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hālona Point
  2. Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel Hoyt Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of hālona". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. "Secrets of Hawaii – Halona Blowhole." Secrets of Hawaii. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sep 2010. .
  4. Nicholson, Sarah. "Try Taking the Road Less Travelled." Sunday Herald Sun 2009. n.p. Web. Galileo. Retrieved at Georgia Southern University Henderson Library. http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/.
  5. French, Howard W. "Oahu, Beyond Pearl Harbor and Waikiki." The New York Times. N.p., 28 mar 1999. Web. 15 Sep 2010. .
  6. "The Halona Blowhole on Oahu". June 11, 2007.
  7. Shute, Megan (June 30, 2017). "These 7 Mesmerizing Hawaii Blowholes Will Make Your Summer Epic". OnlyInYourState. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  8. "Halonas Blowhole - Nature's Whale." Hawaii Life of Luxury. n.p., 03 Sep 2008. Web. 15 Sep 2010. http://www.hawaiilifeofluxury.com/halona-blowhole/.
  9. The Halona blowhole. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.discover-oahu.com/halona-blowhole.html
  10. "Halona Blowhole, O'ahu". www.marinelifephotography.com.
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hālona Cove
  12. French, Howard W. (March 28, 1999). "Oahu, Beyond Pearl Harbor and Waikiki". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  13. "Halona Beach Cove." Hawaiiweb.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sep 2010. "Halona Beach Cove, Oahu". Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  14. Sciolino, Elaine (April 22, 2015). "36 Hours in Honolulu". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  15. "Nexis Uni® - Sign In | LexisNexis". signin.lexisnexis.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  16. Borgerding, Alyson. "Hawaiian landscape offers love at first kiss." BostonHerald.com. n.p., 21 mar 2004. Web. 15 Sep 2010. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/584633961.html?dids=584633961:584633961&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+21%2C+2004&author=Alyson+Borgerding+(SPECIAL+TO+THE+HERALD)&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Hawaiian+landscape+offers+love+at+first+kiss&pqatl=google
  17. "Halona Blowhole - Oahu Natural Attraction | Aloha Hawaii". February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2023.

21.28221°N 157.67645°W / 21.28221; -157.67645

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