A brief story of the formation of Lehua Island off Niihau

A successful charter trip to Lehua Island and Ni'ihau is not guranteed. If the wind is too strong or the waves are too high, crossing from Kaua'i isn't permitted. 

On a sunny and peaceful day in Hawai'i, I was lucky enough to cruise along the Nā Pali coast towards the Forbidden Isle and its northern, tiny islet: Lehua. 

Today you'll learn why Lehua Island exists at all - it's an explosive story! 🌋

Scroll down if you want to see an image of the dolphins that accompanied us for a short while!

Would you like to learn more about Hawaiian volcanoes?

The small islet was born during a violent submarine explosion, when rising hot magma from the Hawaiian hotspot encountered the cool ocean water. The ocean water evaporated in an instant, expanded and rose into the atmosphere. The fancy term for this phenomenon is phreatomagmatic eruption.

It carried with it ashes and bits and pieces of the fragmented ocean floor. These particles are then deposited in a cone-shaped form around the erupting volcanic vent. Layer after layer they build up the cone.

The ash solidifies and turns into tuff, which is a sedimentary rock. After years and years of being battered by wind and water, the tuff strata (layers) look like this:

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Here are a few other noteworthy facts about Lehua Island:

• it's accessible via boat from Kaua'i (if weather conditions allow)
• it's an outstanding snorkeling and diving location
• it was declared rat-free in April 2021 (huge success for the Lehua Island ecosystem restoration project!)
• it's a seabird sanctuary

Another highlight during a charter cruise to Lehua and Ni'ihau: the dolphins which circle the boat in a dancing manner, spinning and jumping, guiding it, playing with it, leaving behind mesmerized, enchanted hoomans on board. 🐬

Be kind and love nature, 
Daniela

PS: There's a lot more to learn about Hawai'i, e.g the geology, wildlife and plants! Book the free Hawai'i courses at EarthyUniversity.

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References

1. Images of Lehua Island and the dolphins: Daniela Dägele

2. Google Earth image: Google Earth

3. Geology and ground-water resources of the island of Niihau, Hawaii

4. Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Wildlife Program | Lehua Island Ecosystem Restoration Project (hawaii.gov)