Volcanic Cinder

For years we have bought black cinder in 20# bags for our tropical propagation efforts. Our high rainfall (up to 122" a year) requires plants to have excellent drainage, lest they drown during weeks of daily rainfall. Black cinder is the ideal medium for this. Light and porous, it allows water to reach the roots but then keep moving down and away from the plant.

Recently a local soil expert offered to ship us 40 yards of black cinder from the Big Island, at a savings of 80% from our old Home Depot source. We said yes, only later discovering this container was meant for his business, and he rerouted it for the monastery and reordered for his own needs. Goodness is still alive and well in the Pacific Islands.

The slideshow explores the world of lava rock.

This is the Black cinder from the Big Island, which being the youngest island (and still volcanically active) has the largest fields of harvestable lava rock in America.

The volcano that created Kauai started erupting 10 million years ago, and built up a mountain 11,000 above the ocean floor before then adding 5,200 more feet above the waves.

Some 4 million years back, Kauai\

s volcanic source moved southeast (OK, technically the islands moved Northwest away from the hot spot), creating the younger islands in time. Being the oldest, Kauai has had the most time to breakdown the volcanic rock into soil. Thus its lushness. '

The same volcanic hotspot is now under the Big Island and lava flows still occur, covering roads, houses and entire communities.

The volcanic flows are otherworldly in their austere beauty and rawness.

This closeup of the lava shows the pumice-like structure of our cinder, with the tiny holes left from the escaping of superheated gasses as the rock cools. This makes the rock quite light and has the added advantage that some water is retained in the structure to feed the plants on dry days.

A full container arrives at the monastery, shipped from the Big Island.

When it opens, we see the roof has a hole cut in it for loading with large equipment.

Black gold. It\

s enough for a few years at a great price.'

Shaka, bra! Our local driver loves to deliver to the monastery and hangs around a little to enjoy the peacefullness.

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