Hilo - Volcano National Park (3)

Thurston Lava Tube was our next stop. Not only is the tube itself spectacular but the surrounding rainforest is an outstanding experience. I will be dedicating my next post just to the foliage surrounding the lava tube, it is that great.

I found the following description at http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/kau/nahuku-thurston-lava-tube and they said it better than I could so here are their words.

Take a walk in the dark through Nahuku, known as the Thurston Lava Tube, a 500-year old lava cave located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lava caves like this are formed when a river of lava gradually builds solid walls and a ceiling. When the lava flow stops and the last of it passes downhill, a cave is formed. These caves can be a few feet high and only yards long, or they can stretch for miles with high ceilings. The Thurston Lava Tube is a fantastic example of a massive lava cave.

Lit by electric lights, with a flat rock floor and a ceiling high enough in the center to keep you from scraping your head, this is a great introduction to lava tube geology. The solidified drips and waves of once-liquid lava rock clearly show the molten forces that created this cave. Your flashlight reveals beautiful shapes and colors of minerals leeching from the rock. After strolling the short, lighted section of Nahuku, there’s another segment past the steps leading back up the trail that’s completely dark with an uneven floor, so don’t venture there unless you are sure-footed and have a strong flashlight. But for the able-bodied adventurer, a walk of 50 yards or so into this part of the lava tube will give you an intense experience, especially if you turn off your flashlight. A tropical rainforest awaits at the end of Nahuku.

As stated earlier, next post will be the lush forest surrounding the lava tube.  A true Rainforest worthy of it's own post.

Questions and comments always welcome.