Field trip to Kapa’a Quarry
We had a wonderful adventure at Kapa’a Quarry today! I rented a 15 passenger van and took 5 parents and 8 kids on a field trip to Ameron Hawaii. The quarry has been in operation for 40 years. The berms (terraces) as you look up from the pit are each 25′ wide and 50-100 feet high! (See photo below.)
The peaks above the pit are 700-800 ft above sea level, and this photo was taken from about 200′ elevation. I’ve hiked above the pit and I remember how deep it really looks from above. The berms are to prevent rocks from falling down into the pit and damaging vehicles. The rock they drill is basalt, volcanic rock. Drillers drill a hole into which explosives are dropped (ANFO or ammonium nitrate/fuel oil). The big rocks are loaded onto 50-ton haulers and brought up to the crushers. The haulers are immense, and extremely advanced. Computerized electronics govern the speed based on what the driver has experienced during the course of the day. The crushers crunch up the rock into a variety of sizes, from gravel to fine sand. Then the sand is used to make concrete which is hauled away in the cement trucks we see all over the island.
The pit sometimes fills with water during the winter rains. When you look down at the water it is a briliant blue-green. The quarry reclaims the water for use in making cement. They pump it out of the pit and store the water in large tanks. Our tour guide, Linda, was so well-versed in all the quarry operations – we couldn’t stump her! The day concluded with a trip to McDonald’s for a romp in the playground and a cheeseburger, compliments of Ameron Hawaii. The day was a huge hit! You rock, moms and dads! (ha ha!)
Very cool. I never realized that they offered tours. That’s great. I’ve driven by that place for almost 40 years.
I find it hard to believe that you couldn’t stump Linda though! You should have asked her about the impacts from the global shortage of mining equipment tires and what they are doing with their used tires. That’s a big issue now in the mining business.
You might also want to “explore” through research, not physically, the neighboring swamp at some point. I’ve heard that there is an interesting magnetic anomaly there which can even impact compasses in the local area.
Only you, Alden, could be so conversant on ANY topic, at the drop of a hat. We love you!
Alli — what a great trip. I had no idea you had marshalled all those people for this trip and even rented a van for it. What a great education for those who went, and all of us who watch what you do — it never ends! I love you and admire you!