Mahalo to Alicia Piette for sharing this unique waterfall shot for Aloha Friday Photos.
Alicia’s photo was taken in Waimea Canyon State Park on the west side of Kauai. I believe this little waterfall is referred to as Red Dirt Falls that flows based on the amount of recent rain. Per this website, Red Dirt Falls can be found off the west side of Highway 550 near mile marker 23.
When you visit Kauai, you’ll see quite a bit of this red dirt. Here’s a nice explanation for how this soil gets its color:
“Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands and it is thought to have formed about 122 million years ago. The island is made up of five volcanoes, four of which are now extinct. The fifth volcano, Mount Waiʻaleʻale, is still considered active and last erupted about 32,000 years ago.
“When lava cools, it forms a rock called basalt. Basalt typically has a dark color, but the type of basalt that makes up Kauai’s volcanic rocks is particularly rich in iron oxide, which gives it a reddish hue. Over time, rain and wind erosion break down the volcanic rocks into smaller pieces and the red dirt we see today.”
There are so many unique places to see at Waimea Canyon State Park as well as the adjacent Koke’e State Park, so do make plans to see them both in your Kauai vacation itinerary.
Happy Aloha Friday!
Sheila Beal
