|
|
Conus marmereous
It was on the fourth of these stations that the first Philippine Strombus were found October 23. My partner for the dive was
Betsy Harrison, well known to many of the local members of the Society and a very competent diver. We were working an area of
hard coral bottom, covered with coarse white sand. The depth gauge read 80 feet. The sand was about 2 to 4 inches deep and
contained some rubble. Betsy was industriously fanning near the anchor and I had been up off the bottom scouting around for
possible Philippine Strombus "signs". About two-thirds the way through the dive I heard a scream and turned to see Betsy
swimming toward me as if she had seen Moby Dick himself! Her long hair was streaming out behind her. She showed me an
unbelievable sight; in her hand she held a live Strombus hawaiensis! The shell was not fully adult, but was beautiful. A bit
shocked, I moved off about 30 feet or so and dropped to the bottom to do some fanning. Within two minutes I uncovered a
second specimen, a magnificent shell a bit larger than the first.
The area of fossil shells easiest to reach is that at Waipio Peninsula. To find this area consult your Standard Oil Company
service station road map of Oahu. Fill your car with fine Chevron gasoline and drive Ewa on Farrington Highway (State Highway
90) through Pearl City toward Waipahu. About half a mile before entering Waipahu, highway 742 joins 90. Look for the State
Highway sign 742 on the right of Farrington but pointing left. Make this left turn onto Waipio Peninsula. Three-tenths of a
mile after turning left the road passes over an overpass. About 100 feet past the overpass you will see a cane-haul road.
Make a sharp left turn, almost 180 degrees, down the road to the bottom of the slope. There you will see what is now a dirt
road. This was once the railroad right-of-way. Turn left on this and proceed (in fine weather only) until under the overpass.
Then stop and look around. Ostrea retusa will be found on both sides of the cut and along the cut in both directions from the
overpass. Note in case you haven't guessed, I work for Standard Oil Company!
Sort through the shells carefully. They are mostly soft and easily broken. Complete sets of shells (both valves) can be found
with a little searching. Shells other than the Ostrea retusa that may be found along the road are not necessarily fossil
shells since the coral fill to make the road was hauled to the area.
Once you have all the Ostrea retusa you want for your collection, get back on Highway 90 (Farrington Highway) and proceed
through Waipahu. Nine and one half miles from Depot Street (in Waipahu) Farrington Highway joins the coast and runs parallel
toward Waianae. About a quarter of a mile toward Waianae after you can see the tracks of the railroad on your left, there is
a small dirt road that crosses the tracks out to the low bluffs overlooking the sea. These are the Nanakuli Sea Cliffs. As
you face the sea, Kahi Point is to your left, Waianae to your right. On the seaward side of the tracks a rough dirt and rock
road parallels the railroad in either direction for a short ways. This is strictly a fair weather road. Proceed carefully and
don't try it during wet weather.
[Two photos of fossil areas omitted]
There are several places in this area where it is safe to climb down the sea cliffs to the rocky sea shore. Then you will be
able to clamber over the rocks and broken coral that has tumbled down from the cliffs and locate fossil shells. There are
fossils all along the sea cliff but my favorite place is almost to Kahi Point. I have found Conus tulipa, Lambis species,
Strombus mutabilis, and many others in two days (one hour each day) of fossil collecting.
I have seen many children playing along the shore line beneath the sea cliffs and it is safe for children provided they have
supervision and receive help in getting down the rather steep trails. However, stay away from the area when big surf is
running and during Kona storms.
conus marmereous,white clam,exporter,troca,cyprea moneta,distrosioanus,lamps,shells bracelet,hammershell,conus marmereous
Conus marmereous mop shell raw embonium shell pinkrode painted chama lazarus brown lip sigay oliva conus aulicus lambis troncata natural body jewelry white rose hammer shells harda - harda toribellum leis puka cyprea mauretiana hair.
conus marmereous
Shell
Bracelets
|
