EXPERIENTIAL GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES GEOVENTURE FIELD EXPERIENCE

A field experience on the island of Hawai’i with expert geoscience guidance provides an ideal environment to learn about all aspects of Hawaiian island volcanism. Hawai’i is an interactive classroom where one can experience first-hand the various life stages of the five volcanoes on the island, including flying over an active vent and lava flow, witnessing first-hand the geologic hazards of living on an active volcano. Characteristics of Hawaiian type eruptions including magma content and evolution, lava fountains, caldera and pit crater formation, rift zones, lava tubes, and the shield volcano form are all easily understood when directly observing these features. The sharp contrast between pahoehoe and ‘A’a lava flows is seen by observing these solidified flows cascading down the slopes of Kilauea volcano. The numerous types of Hawaiian ejecta including cinders, pumice, Pele’s tears and hair, lapilli, reticulite, spatter, and volcanic bombs, are experienced in the field in close proximity to their source. Observing the active, glowing lava lake at Halema’uma’u crater and then walking on the solidified lava lake of Kilauea Iki transcends geologic time and merges the present with the past. Lava flow directional information provided by lava trees and tree molds is readily apparent in the field. Beaches, including world famous green and black sand beaches, give clues to the sediment’s formative processes and basic mineralogy is readily apparent in a hand sample. A trip to the island of Hawai’i with The Geological Society of America provides a fun, interactive learning environment that solidifies the knowledge gained through connecting the present and the past and the process and the product.