Moloaa Bay facts for kids
Moloaʻa Bay is a lovely bay located on the northeast shore of the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaii. This scenic bay stretches for about 0.44 miles (or 708 meters) along the coast. It's a place known for its natural beauty and interesting history.
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What Does Moloaʻa Mean?
The name Moloaʻa comes from the Hawaiian language. It means "matted roots." This unique name comes from a time when Paper Mulberry trees (called wauke in Hawaiian) grew so thickly in the area that their roots became completely tangled and interwoven. Imagine a dense forest where the roots formed a thick mat on the ground!
The Bay's Features
At the northern end of Moloaʻa Bay, you'll find the Moloaʻa Stream flowing into the ocean. The beach here is backed by tall, impressive cliffs, adding to the dramatic scenery. Just uphill from the bay is the Moloaʻa State Forest Reserve, a protected area of natural Hawaiian forest.
Moloaʻa Bay and the 1946 Tsunami
Moloaʻa Bay experienced a very powerful event on April 1, 1946. A huge tsunami hit the coast, caused by a major earthquake far away in the Aleutian Islands. A tsunami is a series of very large ocean waves often caused by underwater earthquakes.
How High Were the Waves?
During this tsunami, Moloaʻa Bay had one of the highest "runups" on Kauaʻi. The runup is how far inland the water goes. The waves here were incredibly tall, reaching an amazing height of about 11.5 meters (which is about 37.7 feet)! This shows just how powerful nature can be.
Moloaʻa Bay on TV
Did you know that Moloaʻa Bay has been featured on television? Some parts of the very first episode, or "pilot," of the classic TV show Gilligan's Island were filmed right here in Moloaʻa Bay! So, if you've ever watched the show, you've seen this beautiful Hawaiian location.
