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Blowholes in Hawaii

Nakalele Blowhole, Maui
Nakalele Blowhole, Maui./ Abhinaba Basu, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  In short

Here is presented a unique list of blowholes in Hawaii.

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WorldYellow About the blowholes in Hawaii

What is a blowhole?

Spouting Horn, Kauai
Spouting Horn, Kauai./ Tucker Hammerstrom, Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

There are diverse natural landmarks which are called blowholes, such as holes – entrances in the caves – where a strong wind blows frequently. And then there are methane blowholes – eruptions of methane gas in the northern tundra. As the climate becomes warmer, methane gas more and more frequently leaves the ground, creating impressive craters.

Wondermondo includes in the list of blowholes just the “sea geysers” – intermittent natural water fountains that are powered by wave energy. In fact, the only natural landmarks in Hawaii which resemble geysers are such blowholes.

The best-known blowholes are located in popular tourist areas or places where live many people. One or another of these popular blowholes is announced to be the largest and tallest in the world without any proper knowledge of whether this is true or not. Most likely, the world’s largest blowholes are not known to us and are located on remote islands. The maximum height of these natural fountains is seen only during severe storms. Ships try their best to be away from the cliffs in such weather.

Are there any more blowholes in Hawaii?

Here are listed 15 locations with blowholes in Hawaii Islands. Wondermondo is aware that this list should be much longer. The geology of Hawaii is suitable for these geological formations because there are lots of suitable materials – these volcanic islands have many recent lava flows that have reached the sea. There are reports about more blowholes in Hawaii Island, Molokai, and other islands.

Please, give me a message if you know of blowholes that need to be added to this list!

 

Other articles about blowholes

  • Blowholes – more than 50 world’s most impressive (known) blowholes and the mechanism of their formation.
  • Blowholes in Australia – list of 22 locations with blowholes in Australia.

WorldViolet List of blowholes in Hawaii

01

City of Arches at Honaunau Bay

4.1 out of 10 stars 40.8%

Western coast of Hawaii island

Along the sea shore here can be found impressive geological formations, including some fine blowholes.

02

Halona Blowhole

3.9 out of 10 stars 39.3%

O’ahu, south from Koko Crater

Height: Up to 9 – 10 m

Powerful, visually very impressive blowhole. At high tide and wind, it gets up to 9 – 10 m high.

Halona Blowhole
Halona Blowhole./ Scot Nelson, Flickr / public domain
03

Keahole Point blowhole

3.9 out of 10 stars 38.8%

Westernmost part of Hawaii Island

Height: Several metres

One of the rather many blowholes in this area. In rough weather, the fountain from the blowhole is several meters high. Beloved photography place.

04

Lanai lookout blowhole

3.5 out of 10 stars 34.8%

O’ahu

Small blowhole which creates a fountain at certain wind and wave directions.

05

Makena Blowhole

3.6 out of 10 stars 35.5%

Maui

Small blowhole in one of the most recent lava flows on Maui.

06

Moku Aeae Blowhole

3.7 out of 10 stars 37.3%

to the north from Kaua’i, Moku Aeae island

Height: Up to 20 m

Expressive, fine blowhole which in the right weather conditions creates a 20 m high fountain.

Blowhole on Moku Aeae
Blowhole on Moku Aeae./ Forest and Kim Starr, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
07

Nakalele Blowhole

4.2 out of 10 stars 41.8%

Northern part of Maui

Height: Up to 30 m

Impressive blowhole which beats from a shallow pool close to the sea. One of the best-known and tallest blowholes in Hawaii.

Nakalele Blowhole, Maui
Nakalele Blowhole, Maui./ Abhinaba Basu, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
08

Open Ceiling Cave (Pukalani)

4.1 out of 10 stars 41.3%

Northern coast of Kaua’i

This geological formation is not exactly a blowhole although it is possible that in the recent past it was a blowhole. Now, this is a collapsed sea cave – a circular sea basin that is connected to the sea with a large cave – a natural arch.

09

Pirate Cave

4.5 out of 10 stars 44.5%

Northern coast of Kaua’i

This enormous, 290 m long sea cave at high waves turns into a blowhole. The pressure of the air from the cave pushed back the waves, creating a fountain of mist and water.

Entrance in Waiwaipuhi Sea Cave
Entrance in Waiwaipuhi Sea Cave./ Tim Wise, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
10

Pools of Mokolea

4 out of 10 stars 39.8%

Kaua’i, Kilauea Point

This blowhole does not produce large splashes but it looks impressive due to a visual effect – in many images, it looks as if the ocean is falling into this hole.

11

South Point Blowhole

3.8 out of 10 stars 38.3%

Southern point of Hawaii Island

During the storms, this blowhole creates giant jets of water. If the weather is calm some though dare to jump in it.

South Point Blowhole
South Point Blowhole, Hawaii./ Sean Hagen, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
12

Spitting Caves in Oahu

4.1 out of 10 stars 41.3%

South-east of O’ahu

As the waves enter these caves, air pressure forces a near-horizontal fountain of mist and water out from the cave.

One of the Spitting Caves, Oahu
One of the Spitting Caves, Oahu./ Amanda, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
13

Spouting Horn in Kauai

4.3 out of 10 stars 42.8%

Southern coast of Kauai

Height: Up to 15 m and sometimes even 30 m

A hissing and roaring blowhole which creates up to 15 and even 30 m high jets of water.

Spouting Horn in Kauai
Spouting Horn in Kauai./ Nogwater, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
14

Toilet Bowl in Oahu

3.9 out of 10 stars 38.8%

Eastern coast of O’ahu

Large hole in the rocks. With each wave, the level in this hole rises and then falls again through a cave. During storms here might rise fountains of water.

15

Blowhole in Waianapanapa State Park

3.1 out of 10 stars 30.8%

Maui, Wai’anapanapa State Park

For most of the time this blowhole produces a hissing sound and fountains of mist but sometimes it produces violent, powerful fountains.

Blowholes in Waianapanapa State Park
Blowholes in Waianapanapa State Park./ Matt McGee, Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

WorldYellow Recommended books

The Hikers Guide to the Hawaiian Islands


Written in the same accessible style and format as the highly successful The Hikers Guide to O‘ahu, this updated and expanded volume includes the best day hikes and backpacks on the Big Island, Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu. Each island is represented by thirteen hikes, for a total of fifty-two in all. Together they offer residents and visitors the essential information to safely explore some of Hawai‘i’s most spectacular scenery.

Hawaii Off the Beaten Path®


A series for the individual with a unique taste in travel presents easy-to-use, state-by-state, or province-by-province handbooks that describe the unusual, offbeat, and little-known places that most tourists miss, in guidebooks that come complete with maps, illustrations, and other special features.


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