Marine Survey Completed!

Our last day of operation was dedicated for surveying 3 crosslines (perpendicular to the Kona coastline) situated in the northern section of the survey area, inline with the offshore trajectories of the Kiholo Bay and the Hualalai volcano. These crosslines will help us to (a) validate the data acquired from 7 inlines in this area, and (b) detect any localized submarine lava tubes that extend offshore from the Hualalai volcano.

This completes our successful survey! where we collected multiple datasets from ~250 km of towlines (total of 15 survey lines) encompassed within the boundaries of the Hualalai aquifer. This data will be utilized to detect, delineate, and understand both the spatial distribution and interconnectivity of deep submarine groundwater deposits, offshore Kona, the Island of Hawai’i.

Survey Area 1: North section of the Hualalai groundwater system. Includes 7 survey inlines and 3 crosslines. The color bar represents bathymetric depth that ranges from 10 m (red) to 100 m (blue).

Survey Area 2: Middle section of the Hualalai groundwater system. Includes 2 survey inlines. The color bar represents bathymetric depth that ranges from 10 m (red) to 100 m (blue).

Survey Area 3: South section of the Hualalai groundwater system. Includes 3 survey inlines. The color bar represents bathymetric depth that ranges from 10 m (red) to 100 m (blue).

Total survey coverage along the Hualalai groundwater system. Total of 15 survey lines. The color bar represents bathymetric depth that ranges from 10 m (red) to 100 m (blue).

Porpoise array alignment along crossline 1. Our chase boat is positioned at the end of the 1 km array of Porpoise E-field receivers.

A failed attempt to take a photo of the Porpoise array through a pair of binoculars.

The team before the last recovery of the Porpoise array.

Quoting Brenden: “we’re blonde, we’re making science, nothing can stop us!”.

Quoting Max: “Well, maybe just blonde “.

Eric & Dallas in a moment of joy after the final recovery of the CSEM system.

Crew group photo, from front to back: Khaira, Jake, Dallas, Max, Jason, and Eric.

As shown above, a family of dolphins escorted us during our last transit back to the Honokohau harbor at Kona, the island of Hawai’i.

Finally, I wish to thank all the wonderful people that made this marine project possible:
Gwen Jacobs, Steve Constable, Dallas Sherman, Khaira Ismail, Kevin Kelly, Michelle Choe, Ellen Koppenheffer, Jake Perez, Chris Armerding, John Souders, Jacques Lemire, James Barry, Jason Magalen, Brendan Hunter, Patrick Anderson, Max Sudnovsky, Steve Kennedy, Jason Hasler, Emily Wilson, Keith Olsen, Jan C War, Dean Towle, Keven Rinkenbach.

Videos from the survey can be viewed on ‘IkeWai Marine CSEM YouTube channel.