Geology and ground-water resources of the Island of Hawaii

Author:

Stearns, Harold T., Macdonald, G.A.

Title:

Geology and ground-water resources of the Island of Hawaii

Periodical:

Bulletin 9

Year:

1946

Subject:

Geology Mauna Kea Lake Waiau Ground water Hawaii Island

Summary:

Hawaii, the largest island in the Hawaiian group, is 93 miles long, 76 miles wide, and covers 4,040 square miles. Hawaii was built by volcanoes which are believed to have started their activity in the Tertiary period. The rocks of the island are highly permeable. Most of the rainfall sinks quickly into the ground to the basal water table, where it floats on salt water according to the Ghyben-Herzberg principle. Along the wendward slope of Mauna Kea, samll amounts of water are perched by ash beds and dense lava flows in the Hamakua volcanic series. On the southern slope of Mauna Kea small springs are perched by beds of hill wash. "Perched Ponds" on page 245 described Lake Waiau.

URL:

https://pubs.usgs.gov/misc/stearns/Hawaii.pdf

Date:

1946

Collection:

Monographs