The natural and human history of Hawaii
🌿Between (almost still) wild nature and ancestral fire🌋
In this second episode of Expedition Aloha, I take you to the heart of the Big Island rainforests, where vegetation grows on frozen lava and each plant tells a story of adaptation... or invasion.
🌳 Immersion in a Native Forest
Between giant tree ferns, discreet orchids and invasive exotic species, we explore a fragile, rich and often little-known ecosystem. A land where humidity, light and geology interact constantly.
📜 The Odyssey of the First Polynesians
Who were the first to set foot on these volcanic lands? Discover the history of the Polynesian navigators who came from the Marquesas and Tahiti, the ancient social organisation, the arrival of James Cook... and the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
🌋 Walking on Lava, Observing its Shapes
We end this adventure on a fresh lava flow, where the rock itself becomes an open book. Rope lava (pāhoehoe), tunnels, tumuli... a catalogue of unique geoforms, born of the fusion between magma and time.
🌱 A young, lively and complex island
This second episode explores the incredible diversity of landscapes and stories on Big Island. An immersion in the frontier between wilderness, human memory and active volcanism.
In this video, you can find out more about:
00:00 - Aloha and the start of an adventure
00:16 - Diving into a native forest
05:29 - Giant ferns but invasive species
14:15 - Who were the first Hawaiians?
15:50 - Cook to Kamehameha Ier
17:30 - On fresh lava: soil that's still young
19:25 - Plant recolonisation and rock memory
21:05 - Conclusion and continuation of the expedition