Mauna Loa - Red Hill Cabin - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station - Altitude Sickness - Swimming with Turtles at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Mauna Loa - Red Hill Cabin - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station - Altitude Sickness - Swimming with Turtles at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Personal Minutiae - June 9, 2025

1. Hiker at Red Hill Cabin, 10,035 feet elevation, Mauna Loa Volcano (National Park Service [*]). 2-4. Sign for Red Hill Cabin, 10,035 feet; above the clouds view nearby; and interior view of cabin (Adventure Tours Hawaii [*]. Kilauea lava fountain, April 1, 2025.

2025.6.9.

My uncle emailed me this morning: KCT, Have you ever visited your highest point? Mauna Kea's summit reaches an elevation of 13,796 feet above sea level and is renowned for its astronomical observatories, due to its high altitude, clear skies, and minimal light pollution. The mountain is sacred to Native Hawaiians, who regard it as a place of worship and connection to their ancestors. The unique ecosystem of Mauna Kea hosts several rare species and is characterized by diverse climatic zones, ranging from tropical to arctic conditions. Understanding Mauna Kea's stature involves not just its physical dimensions but also its cultural. Aloha, X

I responded: X, Greetings! I hope you and Y are well! Yesterday I picked up my father at the airport for a five day stay. He is 83 years old and snoring right now at 5:54am. :) The air is known to be thin at higher elevations out here in Hawaii. I did spend the night on Mauna Kea's neighbor, Mauna Loa, at Red Hill Cabin many years ago, at an elevation of 10,035 feet. I will say that I slept poorly and did not feel well till we had hiked back down to 8,000 feet or so, at which point my sense of wellness experienced an immediate uptick. The highest I have been on Mauna Kea was when driving over Saddle Road, a public thoroughfare that crosses the saddle between the two volcanoes at 6632 feet. At this time, I would rather take in views from the summit via remote webcams. :) But perhaps someday I'll jump into a tourist van and drive up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station [*] maintained by UH-Hilo at 9,200 feet elevation. I doubt I would wish to press upward from there. Reports are that the above-the-clouds view at the Visitor Center are spectacular enough. Visitors are instructed to acclimate at least 30 minutes before heading to the summit at 13,803 feet. You need a 4WD vehicle, or be ready for a 12 hour roundtrip hike to make it up the next 4,500 feet in elevation and back again. When I was at X School, my 4th grade co-teaching partner went with a group for a late night star gazing opportunity. I think it was at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. In 1996 I lived for a few months at the 4,010 elevation Volcano Golf Course subdivision and was actually rather miserable. It was frequently in the 40s at night, and I had no heat. It was damp and my clothes that were hanging to dry remained damp even after 5 days of being up on the line. Leather goods quickly grew mold. I am much happier a bit lower down and dryer. Today I am taking my father to Punalu'u Black Sand beach [*] to swim with turtles and then on to Volcanoes National Park to check up on the lava fountain (*) that has been erupting up to1000 feet up out of the Kilauea cadera off and on the past few months for the first time since 40 years. There is a nice Hawaii and volcano themed studio / gallery [*] at the park headquarters that he likes to check out, then we'll have lunch at Hawaii Volcano House that overlooks the caldera and from which you can enjoy the lava activity while eating steak or hamburgers from local ranches. :) My educational assistant at X school left her position with me to take a job in hospitality at this hotel. I hope to be able to say "Hi" to her while we are there. Wishing you and Y a blessed day! Love, KCT

Comments

I haven't posted much the past several months, so I thought it would be good to upload something today, even if it was somewhat trivial. Most cultures recommend honoring one's parents, even if they are not perfect. It is an art to find something that is beautiful and redemptive about the people you interact with. Look long enough and you will discover something good about them. Healing the body -- exposing yourself to the sun's healing rays, and to the vital force coursing through the ocean's currents -- helps to integrate your mind, body, and spirit. After two days of this -- and suspending my constant imbibing of politcal and financial newsfeeds -- I feel calm and relaxed. May you do the same. Godspeed!

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