January 24, 2010 – Photo of the Week: “Wai’anapanapa Natural Arch”

Wainapanapa State Park is located along the infamous Hana highway on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The Hana Highway is a twisty highway that snaked along the cliffs of the Maui coast. I remember the speed limit on most of the highway being 20MPH.

The highway was a lot of fun to drive on and there were many beautiful side trips one could take along the highway.

Near the town of the Hana is the Wainapanapa State Park, which I would have to say was one of the highlights of our journey to Hana.

The park has two secret beaches known as the Wainapanapa Black Sand Beach and the Honoklani Black Sand Beach.

The sand on the beach is actually tiny, smooth lava pebbles. To walk on they are somewhat coarse, but the sand is so unique and quite beautiful.

In the Honoklani Black Sand Beach there is a really interesting sea arch that juts from the volcanic cliff into the Pacific Ocean.

I’ve often wondered how arches are made and according to Wisegeek, “Very often, arches are made by the meeting of two types of rock. The rock on at the top of the arch, which forms the bridge is made of a harder type of rock than what is on the bottom. If the bottom rock is a softer type of stone, it will erode away more quickly, thus leaving behind an arch.

Natural bridges commonly form where cliffs meet the sea. In this instance, the formations are called “sea arches.” A sea arch is created when the natural erosive forces of the water break through a slice of rock and leave behind an arch. Water, after all, is one of the most powerful forces on our planet. It has the power to destroy cities, as it tragically did with Hurricane Katrina. It also has the power to make stunning sculptures in the earth, such as the Grand Canyon and some of the more majestic sea arches.”

Until next week….

View Photo: Wai’anapanapa Natural Arch