TOURS

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Half-day Field Trips: 1:00pm – 5:00pm

 

Walking/Hiking tour of Kahuku Point

Fee: $25, includes tour and lunch

The 1946 Aleutian Tsunami inundated the Northern Coast of Oahu.  The maximum runups occurred at the two northern tips of the island.  The runup at Kahuku reached 24 ft. (7.2 m) and the inundation reached more than a 1mile (1.6 km) inland.  Based upon these measurements this area should be considered a high-risk Special Management Zone, with a broad setback. Furthermore, all permanent infrastructure, e.g., electric stations, wastewater treatment stations, and fire stations should be situated outside this zone.

The tsunami occurred within months of the end of WWII.  A large airbase was situated here with 3 run-ways, as well as numerous aircraft hangers and support buildings, barracks, and tents used for training large numbers of soldier for an air and ground war.  When the tsunami struck it inundated most of the base and knocked barracks buildings off their foundations, stacking the remains together roughly one mile inland, buildings near the coast were washed seaward.  By walking along the coastline to the east of the hotel (toward Kahuku Pt.) we can see remnants of the NE-SW runway.  The more substantial concrete buildings were part of the Headquarters (situated inland to left). The radio tower was situated between the two runways.  To the east is the South Kahuku Airfield (now used for aquaculture), and eventually the Kahuku Town Airfield.  This airbase was destroyed by the tsunami, abandoned, and reverted back to the landowners. 

Hiking Skills Level:  Beginner, flat ground with rocks. 

Total distance:  2miles

Recommended attire:  Shirt & shorts with bathing suit & tennis shoes, which can get wet.

Swimming beaches:  Kaihaululu Beach is situated between the hotel and Kahuku Point;  Hanakalio Beach is just beyond Kahuku Point.

Items to bring:  camera, sun screen, hat

Tour Length:  Two hours (you can walk back to the hotel any time)

 

Hawaii Coastal Geology, Hazards and Management- A local perspective

Fee: $100

Trip Leaders:  Dolan Eversole, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program; Bruce Jaffe, USGS Pacific Sciences Center; Bruce Richmond, USGS

This field trip will offer an overview of local coastal hazards and current management techniques being employed to address them.  Topics will include a visit to and discussion of the local North Shore, Oahu locations with discussion related to historical tsunami events and local coastal hazard mitigation techniques.  We will board a bus at the hotel and travel from Kahuku to Haleiwa for 15 miles and stop at well-known surf spots including Sunset beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay.   The trip will involve short walks along uneven terrain and sandy beach in between bus rides.  Bring comfortable clothing, shoes and sun protection.

Field trip topics include an overview of:

  • 1946 Aleutian Island Tsunami and its' local run-up.

  • Mega-boulder emplacement and transport at Shark's Cove, Waimea Bay by historic tsunamis and storms.

  • Coastal hazard mitigation strategies for North Shore, Oahu.

  • Sand Management and erosion control practices, Ehukai (Pipeline) Beach, Oahu.

  • Seasonal high surf and local impacts.

 

Thursday, April 17, 2007

Full-day Field Trip: 7:30am - 5:30pm

Tsunami, Earthquakes, Subsidence, Sea-Level Rise Hazards - Hawaii Country

Fee: $150, inlcudes admission to the Tsunami Museum, stops at Hawaii National Park, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, Kapoho, lunch and transportation (on Hilo).

Trip Leaders: George Curtis, University of Hawaii - Hilo; Dennis J. Hwang, University of Hawaii Sea Grant, Reinwald, O'Connor & Playdon, LLP

Come join this exciting tour and learn about real life structural and non-structural measures to mitigate damage from tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes, lava, subsidence, sea-level rise, hurricanes and flooding. 

The field trip will begin at the Pacific Tsunami Museum  in downtown Hilo. The Museum, in memoriam to victims of tsunamis, is dedicated to education to prevent future deaths from this hazard. There will be time for an escorted tour of the museum, filled with photos, accounts, videos, and exhibits on tsunamis in Hawaii and the Pacific.  Speakers will provide an illustrated talk and discussion on tsunamis, and remarks by a survivor of the major tsunamis, followed by a walking/driving tour of historic tsunami sites in the area.  Most interesting is how the Hilo waterfront was developed after the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis.  Only after the second event were major land use controls instituted.

The tour will then precede to the Hawaii National Park and the Hawaii Volcano Observatory , home of the worlds most active volcanoes.  Learn about the associated lava, earthquake and subsidence events and the geology of the active Kilauea Crater and East Rift Zone.  Insight will be provided on the County’s response to deal with earthquake, lava and subsidence risk.  A box lunch will be provided during the informal sessions, followed by free time to explore the facility.

The final stop will be at Kapoho, located along the southeast shore of Hawaii, and along the flank of the East Rift Zone.   Here, active subsidence is an order of magnitude greater than local sea-level rise.  This causes monthly flooding of existing houses and significantly amplifies the risk for future hurricanes and tsunamis.  Learn about the counties response to deal with potential new development projects, as well as new construction and addressing the risks of current homeowners.

Flying is the most economical way to get to the Big Island.  Participants for this tour will need to fly from Oahu to Hilo on Wednesday night.  Field trip participants will need to reserve their room under the ASCE room block.  You will receive an email notifying you when the block is open.  

The tour will begins on Thursday at 7:30 am with a bus pick up at the hotel and end at 5:30 pm with drop off at the hotel or airport. Click here for complete itinerary.  Participants will need to wear shoes for walking on uneven terrain.  Space is limited to the first 25 registrants.  This is a great way to wrap up the conference and visit one or more of the other islands, should you decide to extend your stay in Hawaii.  The flight from Oahu to Hilo is not included in the price of the tour.