Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve, Natural reserve on Mauna Kea volcano, Hawaii County, United States.
The Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve spans 3,894 acres of cinder and lava deserts on the southern summit flank of Mauna Kea at elevations reaching 13,000 feet.
Established in 1981, this protected area includes the Mauna Kea Adz Quarry, which ancient Hawaiians used for basalt extraction and was registered as historic in 1966.
The quarry site, known as Keanakākoʻi in Hawaiian, contains religious shrines, trails, rock shelters, and petroglyphs that reflect indigenous traditions and practices.
Access to the reserve requires careful preparation due to high altitude effects, with the entrance located 24 miles northwest of Hilo via Saddle Road.
The reserve contains the only alpine lake in Hawaii and supports rare invertebrate communities in an aeolian desert environment.
Location: Hawaii County
Inception: 1981
Website: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/nars/reserves/big-island/maunakeaiceage
GPS coordinates: 19.80030,-155.46800
Latest update: March 4, 2025 22:24
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