Out of Place

Around this island the observant hiker will become attuned to various clues that give a view into the natural history or human history of the landscape.

One such clue is the presence of seashells, these are usually a giveaway of ancient Hawaiian occupation of a site or locality. The bleached and broken bits of shell a long lasting remant of meals harvested from the shoreline and brought to places well inland. Often found around lava tubes or water sources these shells let you know that others have passed here before.

An ʻopihi shell along a power line access road near Waikoloa? This is a bit unexpected. I have to stop and pick up this shell, pausing my trek to puzzle out this anomaly.

I am a long way from anywhere important, the middle of nowhere in ancient Hawaiian terms, a place with few resources and a long way from water, many miles inland from the well occupied areas along the ocean. Records indicate the area was usually uninhabited and good only for gathering grass or birds.

Even in modern terms this is the middle of nowhere, a couple miles from the main roads or anything developed. Just ranchland with a power line crossing the grassy hillside.

So how did this shell get here? Carried by an ancient Hawaiian to snack on while traveling this land? Carried by a bird from the shoreline?

I laugh at the idea of a modern Hawaiian, perhaps a utility lineman who has a few coveted ʻopihi in his lunch, casually flicking the now empty shells out to confuse some hiker who finds it years later.