The rise of sea level in contemporary times at Honaunau, Kona, Hawaii
Apple RA and MacDonald GA. 1966. The rise of sea level in contemporary times at Honaunau, Kona, Hawaii. Pacific Science. 20(1):125-136
Bait cups, net-tanning tubs, and playing boards for the checker-like game of konani, hollowed out by the ancient Hawaiians a short distance above sea level at Honaunau, Hawaii, are now submerged. Increased depth of water over the traditional land route used in approaching the place of refuge, comparisons of old and new photographs, and increasing storm damage to structures, indicate a relative sinking of the shore, at a rate of about one foot per century. The rate of change of relative level of land and sea at Honaunau is much greater than that of worldwide change and must be the result of actual sinking of the island. The logical explanation lies in isostatic adjustment resulting from loading of the crust by the great mass of the volcanoes. Southern Hawaii appears to be sinking isostatically at a rate of about 8 or 9 inches a century. [NPSPP-notreviewed-jkl-20040730]
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Apple, Russell; MacDonald, Gordon
- Units
- HAVO , PUHO
- Keywords
- Archeology, causes and rates, Changes of Level, City of Refuge, Compensation, Geology, Hawaii (Big Island), Isostasy, Isostatic adjustments, Kona, Mechanism, Quaternary, Sea Level, Structural Geology, Subsidence