Spouting Horn, Kauai

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 26 August 2009 in Landscape & Rural.

UPCOMING 2009 / 2010 WORKSHOPS:

Big Sur Photo Workshop Summer August 24-27, 2009 (4 spots available)
Arches/Canyonlands Photo Workshop November 4-8, 2009 (2 spots available)
Spring Big Sur Photo Workshop - March 29 - April 1, 2010 (9 spots available)
Northern Arizona: Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona Photo Workshop - May 3-7, 2010 (space available)
Redwoods and Mendocino Coast Photo Workshop - June 15-18, 2010 (space available)
Kauia, Hawaii Photo Workshop - July 12-16, 2010 (8 spots available)
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On the south end of Kauai, near Po'ipu, lies a natural wonder called the Spouting Horn. It is actually a lava shelf with a small hole at the surface. As oncoming waves rush underneath the shelf, water is forced up and through the opening and can shoot as high as 50 feet into the air. Thanks to the ever-constant trade winds, mist is dispersed and a resulting surfbow will appear near sunset.

This blowhole is located next to a another which blows air, making for a loud groaning sound. Island legend has it that this coast is guarded by a large lizard named mo'o, who ate everyone who came to fish or swim here. One day, a man named Liko entered the water, and when mo'o tried to attack him, he swam under the shelf and escaped through the hole. Mo'o got stuck and was not able to get out. The groaning is the cry of hunger and pain from the lizard still trapped under the rocks. I would have thought the darn lizard would have lost enough weight by now to wiggle free, but alas, he is still there!

The overlook places one at an almost perfect position to view the surfbow (with the sun over your shoulder - similar to a rainbow). A polarizer certainly comes in handy to help maximize the color and saturation of the bow.

I captured this image with my 70-200mmL lens. One can play with various compositions (I also captured some horizontals which looked nice). As with many locations on the island, when the light was getting good, the tourists magically disappeared (probably dinner time) leaving me to once again enjoy this view by myself.

I will be holding a workshop next July 12-16, 2010 and this will be one of our stops. If you would like to join in the fun, please click this link:
Kauai Photo Workshop 2010.

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www.donsmithphotography.com

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