Hawaii Caving Travelogue 2010
From the Desert of Kau and
Beyond
A last science day. Diana Northup and Fred wanted to spend one more day taking samples and photographing an unusual cave on the wet side.
The land owners are very interested in hydroponics and unusual plant life. They have transplanted orchids around the property. They also have a bench and memorial at the entrance of the cave. They understand they own an exceptional cave and are good caretakers.
The cave is full of unusual life. The slime is covered with white microbial mats. This photo shows a substance that looks indentical to "snottites" found in sulphur rich caves. These will not have the same chemistry and have not been seen before in this sort of evironment. Yet another mystery.
The formations are spectacular as well. This set announced the terminus of a long crawl.
One of the points of study was transistion zones between types of mats or areas of ample life and areas with little life. Clues in the localized environment should help tell a wider story.
Transects were studied in order to start the long process of not only identifying life in the caves but explaining how it is all interrelated and comes to be.
