#5 - Tree Mold

Stories of a more tumultuous past are hidden in the lava rock.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Northern portion of the Royal Grounds near the kiʻi

Significance:

Geological Features

Designation:

National Register of Historical Places

Amenities

3 listed

Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot

While this coconut grove here in Kauwalomālie appears tranquil today, over 1,000 years ago Mauna Loa shaped this landscape in a series of volcanic eruptions. In an impressive feat of nature, molten lava flowed down from the mauna, engulfing everything in its path. Trees standing in the way were coated in lava, forming a mold as the lava cooled against it. The intense heat and fire from the lava consumed the trees, leaving only hollow, circular impressions. If you look closely, you may notice the fine details of the surface of the tree within the mold.

Tree molds provide a unique snapshot in time, showing us what the landscape may have looked like in the past. These tree molds come from the endemic Loulu palms and show that this now endangered tree was once common along these coastal regions.