Sometimes when a volcano erupts and the subsequent lava flows engulf the mountain slope and the surrounding terrain, some pieces of the land, due to their elevation, are spared by destruction. These patches of land left undevastated by lava then become islands of sort for plants, animals and birds alike to take refugee in an otherwise inhospitable environment. They are called kīpuka, a word that originated from the Hawaiian language and means a “hole” or “opening”.

Photo: Andrew Richard Hara/Hana Hou!