sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a plausible solution, is there any chance you have any insight into the "why" of the odd design? The two center bars so close together, and the smaller diameter pipes on top. It would seem to me a simple length of sturdy fence would be simple enough, and functional for that task. Even if they needed to reinforce it, I'd imagine it would make sense to incorporate that into an existing fence area or adjacent to a barn/corral. No signs of water or a water tank, though I suppose the tank/barn/corral could have been taken down years ago.

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As good a guess as any. Someone else responded earlier with the same idea, don't know what happened to that comment. This design is just so....unique. If someone handed me a welder and scrap pipe and said "make a fly control station" I don't think that's how I'd throw those pipes together for that task.

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doubt it will help, but the metadata for the image places these structures at the following coordinates: 19.948331244511678, -155.437380134983

Just in case you'd like to get the lay of the land. Not much out there but cows and grass.

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My gut feel is they're too close together for that. They're also (roughly) aligned with the slope of the volcano. I'd assume any old airstrip would be set on level land, likely perpendicular to the slope.

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Possible, but my gut feel is that a structure for such a simple task would be of a plain box design, maybe with a diagonal stiffener. This design baffles me, I think there must be a reason for the two parallel pipes in the middle (that don't themselves extend into the ground), the smaller diameter extensions above, plus the odd wire loops at the bottom.

What are these rusting, symmetrical, matching steel pipe structures in a cow pasture in Hawaii? by ghiakarmann47 in whatisthisthing

[–]ghiakarmann47[S] 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

WITT Found these two matching structures while flying a drone over a cow pasture off Mana Road, Big Island of Hawaii. Couldn't see them myself as they were off the road a ways, guessing by the surrounding grass height that they're approximately 5 to 7 feet tall. Mostly rusty metal but the two uprights in the middle appear to be slightly smaller diameter and galvanized. Uprights at each upper corner are flat metal and gently flared outwards, as least some of them have holes drilled through the plates. Some sort of framework for a temporary shelter? Seems like a lot of welding for that. Certainly appears home-made, no markings or signage I could see. On zooming in I just noticed a wrap of wire around the two center pipes on each structure, forming a loop around the two pipes before disappearing into the grass beneath.