Through My Eyes, In My Words:

The Geologic Evolution of the Hawaiian Islands

Taught by Lawrence L. Malinconico, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences, and Dru Germanoski, professor and head of geology and environmental geosciences

Liz Cassidy of Fairfield, Conn., is double majoring in government & law and geology. She rows for the women's lightweight crew, studies piano, and is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She is a tour guide for the Office of Admissions.

When offered the opportunity of studying geologic evolution in Hawaii for three weeks, I did not need to be asked twice. After outfitting myself with hiking boots and SPF 48 sunscreen, I was on my way.

Hawaii is an excellent area to study because most of the geologic processes of creating land and eroding land take place in Hawaii. Land is being created through volcanic activity on the big island, while erosion carries the land to sea on Oahu. The island of Hawaii is a younger sibling of Maui, which is a younger sibling of Oahu, and so on.

One of the most exciting parts of the trip was seeing land being created through volcanic activity right before our eyes. The class hiked out to an overlook on Kilauea Volcano at night to see the glow of the lava as it spewed from a vent eight miles away. In previous years, the lava traveled closer to public access via lava tubes. Lava tubes insulate the lava, allowing it to remain liquid longer and thus travel farther. Unfortunately, two months prior to our arrival, the lava tube became blocked so the lava did not travel nearly as far. Though we were eight miles away, we were still able to see the lava creating new land. During the day, we were able to see the resulting land platforms. As we journeyed away from the active volcanoes, we could see where erosion had carved beautiful, deep valleys that are photographed for calendars.

Hawaii provided me with so many new experiences, but I was most in awe of the lava flows. I always accepted what my professors say in lecture, that lava creates new land. Now I saw it, and I could truly believe it. The day before we flew back to Easton, we learned that a new vent had opened up near the older one. Though we did not have an opportunity to see the new vent, it certainly gives me an excuse to return to Hawaii to see the new land formed from this flow and future flows.

This course provides an excellent insight into the understanding of how land evolves over time. We cannot see land development and change over our life spans, but Hawaii provides us with an opportunity to see it over space. I personally believe that it is critical that everyone understand basic geologic processes, because they affect us and our home.