Damien Wallace - Lab #1

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University of Hawaii *

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211

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Geography

Date

Jul 3, 2024

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pdf

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5

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Lab #1: St. John Island Models It is critical to understand that everything in a system is connected. When we begin to approach a problem within a system, examining all aspects of a situation can pose many challenges. We are faced with our own perceptions and ‘wicked problems’ that can alter the outcomes of these situations. In most cases, creating models is a method to help examine phenomena at a level or scale that is digestible and manageable. This lab is intended to for you to get to know the islands of Hawai'i more intimately, and consider the primary driving factors that shape island evolution (actually they shape all ecosystem evolution, but the changes are more apparent and easily viewed for the Hawaiian Islands where the influences are well organized .... thus utilizing Hawai'i as a model system for understanding how forces shape our land and agricultural opportunities). To facilitate our systems thinking, we will begin with a visit to the island models in the lobby of the St. John Building. Take a few moments and examine the different models. Look at the texture and the topography of the landscape. Find some places you know and explore them. To complete this lab: ● Upload your photos into the spaces below ● Answer the questions by highlighting the text in the [Response] section and replacing the text. ○ A guide to uploading photos in google docs can be found here . ○ You may adjust, crop or resize your photos - steps for that can be found here . ** NOTE : If you are having trouble completing this lab, please notify the instructor or TA as soon as possible. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE to inform us. Any last-minute work is subject to late submission. When finished and ready to submit your assignment, return to the Lab #1 Module and click ‘turn in’. Locate, photograph, and answer the following questions: 1. Locate the Kohala Mountain peninsula on the map of Hawai'i Island. Describe the differences between one side of the mountain and the other. What is driving the differences here? How might these differences relate to agricultural opportunity? How might the difference in landscape drive social differences?
[Photo] Northward side Flat more urban friendly side [Response] The Kohala Mountain peninsula has a rough and jagged side, and the other half is smooth and relatively flat terrain. If you look closely at the pattern through Hawai’i island you'll realize each of the peaks are in a curved pattern, which is how the tectonic plates released magma from the earth's mantle. The rough and jagged side of the Kohalas was probably one of the last parts of Hawai’i island to form, this is also shown through its richer density of plant life compared to the rest of the Kohalas and Hawai’i island. This significant difference in nutrients in the soil means there's more agricultural opportunity on the northward side of the Kohalas, and the streams running through it supply the vast amount of water needed for agriculture. Whilst the flat less farmable land is used for urbanization. 2. At the map of Maui, look at the leeward slopes of Haleakala (Kaupo area) and the leeward slopes of the West Maui Mountains (Lahaina area). How do they differ? What is driving the difference between these two leeward slopes?
[Photo] Haleakala (Kaupo) Lahaina [Response] The main differences between Kaupo and Lahaina on Maui island is that Kaupo has been carved down the center by the volcanic activity that formed Maui, and Lahaina is relatively flat and has consistent valleys carved out by centuries of rainfall. This is also shown through the difference of plant growth on the mountain sides of Kaupo and Lahaina, this would also explain why Kaupo has visibly been less affected by weathering compared to Lahaina. 3. Locate Kalaupapa on Molokai. What do you think formed this lowland flat area? Now locate Polihale (Barking Sands) on Kauai. What do you think formed this lowland flat area? Finally, locate Hawai'i Kai on Oahu. How did these lowland flats get formed?
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