From The Green Mountains to Hawaii's Volcanic Mountains A Winter Term in Paradise

Author: Caroline Stauffer

While the majority of the Middlebury College student body spent Winter Term in the sub-zero Vermont temperatures, a group of students spent the month studying in a tropical paradise. These students had enrolled in a course entitled: "Geologic Evolution of the Hawaiian Islands."
"It was great to get out of the classroom for an entire month and really get a hands-on, first-hand experience with the regional geology of the area -- geology that would be rather difficult to grasp without making the trip," Joel Cubley '05 said.
Assistant Professor of Geology David West and Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology Jeff Munroe led the group in a 17-day exploration of the volcanic and geomorphic evolution of three Hawaiian Islands. The class targeted students who had taken two or more geology courses.
"Our professors Dave and Jeff were incredible, finding the perfect balance between academics, pleasure and pure sight-seeing," Cory Lowe '04 said.
The geology in Hawaii is much younger than the mainland United States, so the island provided students with the opportunity to observe the active process of geological evolution.
"The ecological changes were almost instantaneous when we crossed over the highest peaks on each of the islands," Emily Peterman '04 said.
The class began on campus with four days of background information and orientation. The students were also back at Middlebury for the final week of Winter Term in order to prepare written reports and give oral presentations on their findings.
During the trip, the group spent the greatest amount of time on the main Hawaiian island, the "Big Island." While there, the group climbed to the top of Mauna Kea, the tallest volcano on the island of Hawaii and perhaps the tallest mountain on earth. Some measurements peg its summit as more than 5.6 miles above the ocean floor. The class studied on the Big Island for more than a week and spent slightly less than a week on Maui.
In Maui, the group viewed the Hawaiian sunrise from the two-mile high summit of the Haleakala Volcano, which at 33 miles in diameter is the world's largest dormant volcano. After watching the sunrise, the group hiked 13 miles of the Volcano's expansive diameter.
The students also spent two days on Oahu investigating the volcanic origin of that island.
Because of the geological concentration of the trip, the students were able to see special places in Hawaii normal tourists never see.
Each student researched a specific topic of interest while in Hawaii and reported on his or her findings in an extensive presentation in the course's week-long conclusion back on campus. Lowe's area of concentration was the evolution of beaches. In Hawaii, the class could observe all the phases of beach evolution from hot lava to black sand to white sand.
"Learning about the formation of the islands in a classroom setting is one thing, but it has so much more meaning when you are actually there, looking at the rock layers, and coming up with possible explanations on your own," Sara Hayes '05 said.
Munroe cited highlights that ranged from watching lava form, climbing both volcanoes and visiting numerous waterfalls and beaches.
Cubley had a specific favorite moment. "The highlight of our trip was without a doubt seeing the active lava flows of Kilauea. Watching a rock form right in front of your eyes is a powerful experience," he said.
To see the lava flows, the class took a night hike to Kilauea with a guide from the United States Geological Survey. At Kilauea, the class watched the lava flow from the hillside from about a meter away for around four hours.
"The best part of the trip was definitely seeing active lava flows," Peterman agreed. "We actually got to touch the lava and get a sense for the viscosity."
Lowe had a slightly differing opinion of the most positive aspect of the course.
"The sights were beautiful, of course, but the best part of the trip was the group of people that went," Lowe said. "It was so exciting to have a group of energetic and excited students all living and traveling around Hawaii together. I certainly won't forget this trip and these people easily."