1790 Footprints
Encyclopedia
The 1790 Footprints refer to a set of footprints found near the Kīlauea
volcano in present-day Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
on the island of Hawaii
. Resulting from an unusually explosive eruption, they are associated with a series of battles in the area in 1790.
gave Kamehameha I
control of the West and North sides of the island of Hawaii, but Keōua Kuahuula
and his uncle Keawemauhili
were able to escape. For a few years, Kamehameha was occupied with Maui and the arrival of Europeans to Kona
, Keōua ruled Kaū
and Keawemauhili ruled Hilo.
Keawemauhili finally recognized Kamehameha as his help. This angered Keōua who raided some of the lands of Kamehameha while he was in Maui
at the Battle of Kepaniwai
.
Keōua then attacked and killed his uncle at Hilo. Kamehameha returned from Maui to the Big Island, and Keōua ambushed them in a thick forest of Paauhau
, but the battle was inconclusive (near coordinates 20°3′45"N 155°26′59"W). Kamehameha counterattacked and drove Keōua back, in what is known as the Battle of Koapapa. Kamehameha had brought a cannon salvaged from the ship Fair American captured at Kaūpūlehu
. Keōua captured the piece, but did not have gunpowder nor expertise to use it effectively. After heavy losses on both sides, the commanders each decided to retreat to their secure territory.
The footprints were thought to have been left by Keōua's forces in their retreat. While passing Kīlauea, they made offerings to the goddess Pele and made camp. As the volcano started to erupt, they thought they might have made some offense, so he split his group into three and stayed to make more offerings.
Two parties of warriors were overwhelmed by a pyroclastic
eruption while crossing the desert. Only one party of three survived the eruption. The footprints were attributed by early geologist Thomas Jaggar
to those warriors who were killed in this event.
Keōua would be killed later in 1791 at Kawaihae.
The Ancient Hawaii
ans kept elaborate oral histories, but did not accurately count years from the Christian era.
One important event in the oral history was Ke one helelei which means "the falling sand" in the Hawaiian Language
.
This corresponded to an eruption witnessed in 1790 by British sailor John Young
.
It probably was given the specific name because it was an unusual kind of eruption for Hawaiian volcanoes.
Surveyor Frederick S. Lyman
used the 1790 date to estimate people's birthdates during his 1857 tax assessment.
Extensive surveys were done in 1998 and 2000 including radiocarbon dating the few samples of charcoal that could be found. A large number of habitation sites and trails were counted, indicating the area was in use for hundreds of years during the eruption cycle of 1500 to 1790.
Modern forensic techniques applied in 2008 determined that many of the footprints were made by women and children, not warriors.
They were probably already in the area chipping off sharp chunks of glass to use as tools, and left the footprints while escaping during a lull in the eruption.
Keōua's groups, however, were at the summit, and some were killed instantly by the following blast of poison gas, not by the actual falling of the ash.
Although sometimes called "fossilized", the imprints are not old enough to be true fossil
s. The fine ash was probably made into thick mud by a rain triggered in the eruption, which then quickly solidified in the tropical sun and was preserved in the arid desert.
He was trying to investigate a 1919 eruption that produced Mauna Iki (small mountain).
Although the National Park had been formed by then, these lands were owned by the Territory of Hawaii
.
In 1938 the area was proposed as a bombing practice range, resulting in protest from conservation groups.
On June 20, 1938 the Federal Government bought the land to add to the park, with the bombing range limited to four and a half square miles. The Army never used the land, but the Navy caused some injuries to fishermen in 1945. In June 1950 the bombing range was returned to the park after being cleared of unexploded ordnance.
In 1941 the Civilian Conservation Corps
built a trail and shelter.
It is Hawaii state archaeological site number 10-61-5505,
and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
on August 7, 1974 as site number 74000351.
To access the area, park 9.1 miles (14.6 km) southwest of the park headquarters on the Hawaii Belt Road, State Highway 11. From this trailhead (coordinates 19°22′5 "N 155°22′1"W) the Footprints Trail leads about a mile southeast to the area. For a longer hike, start at the Kaū Desert trailhead on Crater Rim Drive at coordinates 19°24′31"N 155°17′48"W. and hike for about five miles (8 km) through the area. These trails or roads might be closed during high levels of volcanic activity; check conditions in advance.
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
volcano in present-day Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive volcano...
on the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. Resulting from an unusually explosive eruption, they are associated with a series of battles in the area in 1790.
The time of unification
The 1782 Battle of MokuōhaiBattle of Moku'ohai
The Battle of Mokuōhai, fought in 1782 on the island of Hawaii, was a key battle in the early days of Kamehameha I's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands...
gave Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
control of the West and North sides of the island of Hawaii, but Keōua Kuahuula
Keoua Kuahuula
Keōua Kuahuula was an Alii during the time of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii.His name means Keōua of the "red altar"....
and his uncle Keawemauhili
Keawemauhili
Keawemauhili, spelled in old texts as Keawe-mau-hili, was an important member of the Hawaiian nobility at the time of the founding of the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
were able to escape. For a few years, Kamehameha was occupied with Maui and the arrival of Europeans to Kona
Kona District, Hawaii
Kona is the name of a moku or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District and South Kona District . The term "Kona" is sometimes used to refer to its largest town,...
, Keōua ruled Kaū
Kau, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], [[Hamakua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], Kau , [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
and Keawemauhili ruled Hilo.
Keawemauhili finally recognized Kamehameha as his help. This angered Keōua who raided some of the lands of Kamehameha while he was in Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
at the Battle of Kepaniwai
Battle of Kepaniwai
The Battle of Kepaniwai was fought in 1790 between Hawaii Island and Maui. The forces of Hawaii were led by Kamehameha I, while the forces of Maui were led by Kalanikūpule...
.
Keōua then attacked and killed his uncle at Hilo. Kamehameha returned from Maui to the Big Island, and Keōua ambushed them in a thick forest of Paauhau
Paauhau, Hawaii
Paauhau is an unincorporated community on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. Paauhau is located near the north coast of the island, east-northeast of Honokaa.-History:...
, but the battle was inconclusive (near coordinates 20°3′45"N 155°26′59"W). Kamehameha counterattacked and drove Keōua back, in what is known as the Battle of Koapapa. Kamehameha had brought a cannon salvaged from the ship Fair American captured at Kaūpūlehu
Kaupulehu, Hawaii
Kaūpūlehu is the site of a historic settlement on the west coast of Hawaii island, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands.Devastated by a lava flow, the area is now the home of luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.-Geography:...
. Keōua captured the piece, but did not have gunpowder nor expertise to use it effectively. After heavy losses on both sides, the commanders each decided to retreat to their secure territory.
The footprints were thought to have been left by Keōua's forces in their retreat. While passing Kīlauea, they made offerings to the goddess Pele and made camp. As the volcano started to erupt, they thought they might have made some offense, so he split his group into three and stayed to make more offerings.
Two parties of warriors were overwhelmed by a pyroclastic
Pyroclastic flow
A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of superheated gas and rock , which reaches speeds moving away from a volcano of up to 700 km/h . The flows normally hug the ground and travel downhill, or spread laterally under gravity...
eruption while crossing the desert. Only one party of three survived the eruption. The footprints were attributed by early geologist Thomas Jaggar
Thomas Jaggar
Thomas Augustus Jaggar, Jr. was an American volcanologist. He founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and directed it from 1912 to 1940.-Biography:...
to those warriors who were killed in this event.
Keōua would be killed later in 1791 at Kawaihae.
The Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
ans kept elaborate oral histories, but did not accurately count years from the Christian era.
One important event in the oral history was Ke one helelei which means "the falling sand" in the Hawaiian Language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
This corresponded to an eruption witnessed in 1790 by British sailor John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
.
It probably was given the specific name because it was an unusual kind of eruption for Hawaiian volcanoes.
Surveyor Frederick S. Lyman
Frederick S. Lyman
Frederick Schwartz Lyman was a surveyor, rancher, judge, and politician on Hawaii Island.-Life:Frederick Schwartz Lyman was born July 25, 1837, in Hilo, Hawaii. His middle name is sometimes spelled "Swartz"....
used the 1790 date to estimate people's birthdates during his 1857 tax assessment.
New research
More recent research indicates that some or all of the footprints may in fact be attributable to everyday activities, and not to the war parties.Extensive surveys were done in 1998 and 2000 including radiocarbon dating the few samples of charcoal that could be found. A large number of habitation sites and trails were counted, indicating the area was in use for hundreds of years during the eruption cycle of 1500 to 1790.
Modern forensic techniques applied in 2008 determined that many of the footprints were made by women and children, not warriors.
They were probably already in the area chipping off sharp chunks of glass to use as tools, and left the footprints while escaping during a lull in the eruption.
Keōua's groups, however, were at the summit, and some were killed instantly by the following blast of poison gas, not by the actual falling of the ash.
Although sometimes called "fossilized", the imprints are not old enough to be true fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s. The fine ash was probably made into thick mud by a rain triggered in the eruption, which then quickly solidified in the tropical sun and was preserved in the arid desert.
Recognition
The footprints were found accidentally by geologist Ruy H. Finch in the hardened ash of the Kaū Desert.He was trying to investigate a 1919 eruption that produced Mauna Iki (small mountain).
Although the National Park had been formed by then, these lands were owned by the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
In 1938 the area was proposed as a bombing practice range, resulting in protest from conservation groups.
On June 20, 1938 the Federal Government bought the land to add to the park, with the bombing range limited to four and a half square miles. The Army never used the land, but the Navy caused some injuries to fishermen in 1945. In June 1950 the bombing range was returned to the park after being cleared of unexploded ordnance.
In 1941 the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
built a trail and shelter.
It is Hawaii state archaeological site number 10-61-5505,
and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 7, 1974 as site number 74000351.
To access the area, park 9.1 miles (14.6 km) southwest of the park headquarters on the Hawaii Belt Road, State Highway 11. From this trailhead (coordinates 19°22′5 "N 155°22′1"W) the Footprints Trail leads about a mile southeast to the area. For a longer hike, start at the Kaū Desert trailhead on Crater Rim Drive at coordinates 19°24′31"N 155°17′48"W. and hike for about five miles (8 km) through the area. These trails or roads might be closed during high levels of volcanic activity; check conditions in advance.