Hana Lava tube

Lava Tube on the Hawaiian Island of Maui

Category Fiery Wonders, Curious Caves, Subterranean Sites

Fiery Wonders http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/fiery-wonders Curious Caves http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/curious-caves Subterranean Sites http://atlasobscura.com/category/architectural-oddities/subterranean-sites

At the end of the Highway to Hana, a famous scenic drive on Maui, is the Hana Lava Tube, KA`ELEKU CAVERNS. Unlike caves which can take millenia to form, lava tubes can form very quickly, over a few weeks. As massive rivers of lava flows from a volcano the lava on the outside of the thick river of lava will cool occasionally hardening to form a tunnel. When the lava stops flowing you are left with a circular lava tube running for up to 30 miles!

Like many tubes left behind after lava flows, the Lava tube on the Hana road of Maui shows all the geologic elements of lava flows that crust over. Among the many interesting things found in a lava tube are tube slime, extreme bacteria that live on the nitrogen, lava balls, which form much like a snowball rolling down a snowy hill, and lava falls, where a flow of lava has been frozen mid fall.

One enters the tube through a hole in the tubes ceiling created by gas punching through the ceiling of the lava tube. Hana Lava Tube has self guided tour on an unlit path. Don't wander off though, the tunnels often have maze like "braided" smaller tunnels in which it is easy to get lost.

See an error? Know more? Edit this place.

Users who have been to this place: binx canuck tralfamadore mimsyborogoves

  • Website Hana Lava Tube, Maui
  • Address Hana Highway, The Hana Lava Tube at KA`ELEKU CAVERNS, Maui, Hawaii, United States
Map/Directions

Go to Google Maps

Maui highway toward Hana. Past mile marker 31, left Ulaino Rd. .4 miles to "Hana Lava tube" visitors center.

Post a Comment

to comment. Use your Facebook account to login instantly. Anonymous comments will be held in moderation.

Enter the Captcha code below to confirm you're human:
Captcha Image

Comments

  • tralfamadore& tralfamadore July 21, 2011
    This is only one of the stunningly beautiful spots in this part of Maui.
  • & Anonymous December 11, 2009
    Hana is a great place for caving. Near-by Wanapanapa has some great spots but be careful! In Hawai'i the terrain is rugged and always changing and, even un a state park, they could't possible label every dangerous spot with a warning sign or hand rail. Alway use your better judgment. While hiking and exploring the park with my wife, I found a hole in the ground just big enough to sqeeze through. I saw that it openede up further in so I geared up and climbed in, leaving my wife on the surface. The cave opened up to a small chamber with a narrow ledge along a crevice. The ledge had a slight slope and was covered in loose material and clay. I carefully climed to the ledge and looked over. My headlamp showed water about 30-40 feet down moving with the tide. The hole I climbed in was about 50-60 yards from the ocean. I looked down at the precarious ledge I was standing on and realized that if I fell down into a sea cave rescue would not be possible. When I climbed out my wife said I was as white as a ghost. I'm pretty comfortable underground but to this day I cringe when I think of that spot. With caves, mountains, the ocean, volcanoes, jungles, and rivers Hawai'i is the most beatiful place in the world, but it will kill you if you are careless.
  • hankchapot& hankchapot June 25, 2009
    need pics