Western Coastal & Marine Geology
Panorama created with photos taken from the Kaunakakai Wharf on the south coast of Moloka‘i.
Use the arrows at the bottom of your browser's window to scroll left and right to view the entire image.
This is a flattened representation of the full 360° panorama. The USGS logo is centered in the direction of north. To the windward east side of the wharf the water is muddy brown. To the leeward west side of the wharf the water is clear. Daily trade winds create waves which resuspend fine sediment on the Moloka‘i reef flat, some of which flows westward with the alongshore current. The impermeable Kaunakakai Wharf extends approximately 0.5 mi (0.8 km) offshore, effectively blocking the westward flow.
The island of Lāna‘i can be seen south of Moloka‘i. Just visible to the east of Moloka‘i, with its summit obscured by the clouds, is Haleakalā on the island of Maui. The ancient West Moloka‘i volcano of Mauna Loa is seen as a low mountain along the shoreline to the west. O‘ahu is not visible in this image.
Pan and zoom around the 360° panorama here. (1.4 Mb)
[ Back to Moloka‘i Studies ] [ Back to Digital Resources ]
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://coralreefs.wr.usgs.gov/kkai_pano_still.html
Page Contact Information: coralreefs@walrus.wr.usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: 10 January 2008 (lzt)
