"The storied place is Keahiakawelo, Hawaiian for "the fire made by Kawelo," a popular visitor destination about 45 minutes from the island's main Lanai City. However, the desolate environment that has made Keahiakawelo famous in modern times is not natural. Rather, it was created by thousands of invasive animals roaming freely, stripping the earth of plant life, followed by severe wind erosion."
"At the end of the journey lies the Martian-like landscape that some describe as a rock garden, where earth and stones are all that remain. From this 1,300-foot elevation, visitors can walk among the various rocks to take in the striking scenery. They are also rewarded with a sweeping view of the ocean down below and the island of Molokai across the channel."
Keahiakawelo occupies a windswept, vegetation-free plain on Lanai's northwestern uplands, scattered with massive stones and bright-red hardpan earth. The landscape resembles Mars, featuring boulders over six feet tall and intensely colored red dirt that changes hues at sunset. The barren condition resulted from thousands of invasive animals stripping plant life, followed by severe wind erosion. Reaching the site requires dry weather and a four-wheel-drive vehicle because drivers can get stuck in thick mud. The island has about 30 miles of paved road and 300 miles of dirt roads, making the journey rough. From the 1,300-foot elevation visitors can walk among the rocks and view the ocean toward Molokai.
Read at SFGATE
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