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Hello! I'm David Cohn III. As the winner of the 2006 Dream Science Trip Award, my fantasy science adventure came true last May. Come with me as I show you the vast, diverse land of my dream destination, the Big Island of Hawaii.
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On this day, we drove to see the Big Island's amazing volcanoes at the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Then, we proceeded to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. There, I learned the purpose of the observatory, which is to study volcanic behavior with the hopes of preventing future infrastructure damage.
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From the Volcano House, I was able to see the Kilauea caldera—it was formed after the catastrophic eruption of Kilauea in 1790. This phreatic eruption was caused by a sudden decrease in lava and its subsequent contact with groundwater. The picture shows the Kilauea Iki Crater.
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From the Volcano House, we stopped to see the sulfur banks and steam vents. A sulfur bank is an outlet or exit for gases leaving a caldera, while steam vents are caused by an "intrusion of magma." Underground water becomes trapped and only water vapor can reach the surface.
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Our next stop was the beautiful rain forest—what a sharp contrast to the high desert surrounding the craters! Amazingly, the rain forest receives over 70 inches of rain annually, as compared to the 2–10 inches received in the high desert, which is only a mile away!
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Our final adventure in the national park was a two-hour, twenty-four-mile drive to the top of Mauna Loa. From the seafloor, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are two of the tallest peaks in the world, measuring approximately 30,080 feet and 33,470 feet, respectively.
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The next day, I visited a fellow finalist and the grand prizewinner of the 2006 DCYSC, Nolan Kamitaki, at his former middle school. Judge Jake was also there performing his science show.
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After the show, Masafumi Honda, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Japanese Studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo escorted us through the administrative offices of the Subaru telescope.
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Saeko Hayashi, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, told us that the Subaru telescope is one of the newest and most powerful telescopes on Mauna Kea.
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The next morning, it took us two hours to drive through the desolate deserts to the 13,796-foot summit of Mauna Kea, where I was overwhelmed by the massive size of the Subaru telescope.
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I was also able to see the Submillimeter Array, a series of seven observation centers around the Subaru telescope, and the Haleakala, the highest point on Maui, a nearby island.
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It was cold outside, around 40°F, and the air was very thin. Earlier, we had stopped at the Hale Pohaku visitor center, which is 9,000 feet, to help our bodies acclimate to the lack of oxygen at the summit.
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The sights inside the observatory were unbelievable! Gazing at the monstrous telescope, I felt like a tiny ant! The mirror on the telescope is almost 27 feet in diameter.
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Professor Hayashi showed us the gigantic computer lab, where images taken by the telescope are first processed and transmitted using optical fiber technology. Because of Mauna Kea's extreme altitude and lack of pollution, it has become one of the world's premier locations for astronomical studies.
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After our six-hour excursion to Mauna Kea, we visited the Akaka Falls State Park. This park is known for its two eleven-hundred-foot waterfalls and its lush, tropical rain forests. Later that night, we arrived on the western side of the island and the town of Kona.
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This was a day of relaxation on Waikoloa Beach. My brother, father, and I snorkeled in the beautiful turquoise blue waters of the Pacific.
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We swam with sea turtles and over 15 different species of fishes including the ornate butterfly, rectangular triggerfish, the blue crevalle, and the orange-spined tang.
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On Monday, I went to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) with Judge Jake. The mission of NELHA is to develop alternative renewable energy technologies, as well as conduct the Ocean Thermal Energy Conservation Project (OTEC).
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Mr. William Rolston of NELHA explained that in the late 1800s, scientists recognized the potential of combining warm, surface ocean water with cold, deep-sea water to produce energy. To do this, the temperature gradient must be at least 36°F.
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On that same day, we visited a fascinating school—the West Hawaii Explorations Academy—which promotes science exploration. Here, students raise fishes such as sharks, and even stingrays.
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Incredibly, I was able to feed a stingray!
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In the afternoon, we took a helicopter flight. After exploring the island by ground, it was even more spectacular to see it from the air!
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Tim Perry, our pilot, is extremely knowledgeable of the history of the sites and the importance of protecting Hawaii's native ecosystems.
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Among the many breathtaking sites, we saw an active hot spot on the East Rift Zone.
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Then, Tim took us in for a closer look. I could not believe my eyes! What an amazing view into the wonders of the earth—the Puu Oo vent 2!
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As if that was not enough, next came the beautiful Waipio Valley!
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I remember Judge Jake telling me that this would be an opportunity of a lifetime. Judge Jake, you were right on!
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Mahalo, everyone!
Who
David Cohn III
How
He was the winner of the Travel Channel's Dream Science Trip Award of the 2006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC).
Where
The Big Island of Hawaii
When
May 2007
Mission
To explore exploding molten volcanoes, mountain peaks, tropical rain forests teeming with thousands of exotic plants, and vibrantly colored fishes in warm blue waters