Paleontology in Hawaii facts for kids

Where the state of Hawaii is located in the United States.

Paleontology in Hawaii is all about studying fossils found in the beautiful U.S. state of Hawaii. It also includes research done by people from Hawaii. The Hawaiian islands started forming about 5 million years ago. This happened because of volcanoes erupting during a time called the Pliocene epoch.

Because the islands are quite young and made mostly of volcanic rock, they don't have many fossils. Most of the fossils found are from creatures like corals and molluscs (like snails or clams). These animals lived in the ocean when sea levels were higher than they are now. Not much fossil research has happened in Hawaii. If you want to hunt for fossils there, it's best to ask a local museum for help. Fossils are rare, and information about them can be hard to find.

Hawaii's Ancient Past and Fossils

The oldest Hawaiian island is Kauai. It's in the northwest part of the island chain. Kauai has lava flows that formed over five million years ago.

Why No Dinosaurs in Hawaii?

You won't find any dinosaur fossils in Hawaii. This is because the volcanoes that created the islands started erupting long after dinosaurs died out. Dinosaurs disappeared about 66 million years ago. So, Hawaii's rocks are both too young and the wrong type to hold dinosaur fossils.

Marine Life Fossils

Most of the animal fossils in Hawaii are from ocean creatures. During a time called the Quaternary period, sea levels were higher. This means that places that are dry land now were once covered by the ocean. Organisms that lived on these ancient seafloors are now found as fossils on islands like Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui.

The few fossils found in Hawaii are mostly corals and molluscs. For example, along the Waianae coast of Oahu, you can find Pleistocene reef communities. These include fossils of algae, coral, tiny single-celled organisms called foraminiferans, and molluscs.

Land Animal and Plant Fossils

Hawaii also has some land animal fossils. These include bird remains from the Quaternary period. They are found in places like sand dunes and sinkholes. You can also find small pieces of plant fossils in some of Oahu's volcanic deposits.

Important People in Hawaii's Paleontology

Annie Montague Alexander was a notable person born in Honolulu. She was born on December 29, 1867.

Natural History Museums to Visit

If you're interested in learning more about Hawaii's natural history and fossils, you can visit these museums:

• Bernice P. Bishop Museum, located in Honolulu
• Dinosaurs in Hawaii, at Honolulu Community College, in Honolulu
• Koke'e Natural History Museum, on Kauai