"Hello!" From Hidden Hawai'i

Last time we went exploring together, we traveled halfway across the world to Kangaroo Island, Australia.  This time, though, we are traveling somewhere closer to my hometown... Sort of.  We're staying in my country, but we're actually venturing out from the mainland over to the Island of Hawai'i and exploring the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.  Let me warn you, this isn't going to be the "beachy," sunny, or sandy Hawaii you expect!

Photo courtesy of GoHawaii.com

Hawai'i is the largest island of the Hawaiian Islands, but, strangely, is not the island of choice for most tourists.  As we've learned through my other posts, this means that there's bound to be a hidden cove to uncover.  

Not far within the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park lies Nahuku, also known as "Thurston Lava Tube".  The path to Nahuku is a 30 minute descent to "prehistoric times," explains Instant Hawaii.  On the hike down, tall plants will tower over you and your friends; you will quickly begin to smell that "nature in the rain" smell, for the trail becomes dark and moist.  Finally, you arrive at the entrance of Thurston Lava Tube, Nahuku: a 500-year-old lava tube.

Photo courtesy of InstantHawaii.com

These lava tubes, what we mainland Americans would call "caves", were formed hundreds of years ago as volcano magma squeezed through the rocks, leaving caves as their tracks. The dried magma left beautiful, warm colors, which literally surround the tubes.  The ceiling heights vary from 10-feet to as tall as 50-feet.  

There are many tubes breaking off from the main path, but those typically have a dead-end.  Confused?  Picture your veins; there are your main, large veins, which branch off to smaller veins, and then again branch off to smaller veins, and eventually those tiny veins come to a dead-end.  That is exactly how Nahuku is structured.  

 

Photos courtesy of bigislandguru.com

The main path of the cave is already lit, but for you adventurous tourists, there is a completely dark, natural tube right after the lit path ends.  If you plan on venturing on, make sure to bring your own flashlight.  For those who are content with seeing the lit tubes and moving on to other sights of the park, there is an exit right before the unlit tube begins.  

Once you are done hiking through the Nahuku's lava tubes, you will arrive about 100 feet away from where the trail started.  This is definitely an added perk.  Personally, I am always exhausted after I have seen the main attraction, so it's nice that you are only a short walk away from your car.

That's all I have for you this week!  If you would like any additional information on Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, I would recommend visiting GoHawaii.com.  Be sure to return next week as we return to Europe and visit the home of the White Eagle.

Have you visited anywhere unique lately?  Contact me to feature your story!  HannahTadey@gmail.com