MyWorldReviews.com

Hana Lava Tube

Hana, Hawaii, United States

After driving the long Road to Hana, this lava tube was a pleasant diversion. The lava tube is a cave - a tunnel that was formed by lava flowing under the ground. It's quite dark inside, but all visitors receive a high-powered flashlight with the cost of admission.

The cave is open 10:30a to 3:30p, and possibly a bit later (depending on the discretion of the owner). There is a parking lot in front of the entrance, and a small desk where visitors pay the admission charge. Visitors get a flashlight, and an optional hard hat before descending into the cave. When we visited, the owner (Chuck) was there to give us some information about the cave. He was a really nice person, and was quite knowledgeable about the cave.

The cave itself is quite well equipped. Some areas of the cave have railings, and there are informational signs pointing out different features about the cave. The entire cave takes approximately 35 minutes to walk through, if you spend some time admiring all the neat rock formations.

There aren't any bats in the cave, although it may be possible to see the odd tape worm or cockroach. Although a number of unique creatures have been discovered in the cave, they are all very small (microscopic), and impossible to see with the naked eye.

Dress

Inside the Lava Tube - notice the railing and small information board

The cave is a bit cooler than the rest of the island, but shorts and a t-shirt are still fine (it's not that cold!). It is important to wear running or hiking shoes. Flip flops or sandals are not recommended. There is lots of water dripping from the ceiling, making some of the rocks slippery and difficult to walk on.

Cost

The entrance of the cave (looking back from inside the cave)

Visitors pay $11.95 each to visit the lava tube. I thought the cave was neat to see, and this was a reasonable price to charge. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

Estimated Visiting Time

35-45 minutes is sufficient to walk through the cave and spend some time admiring all the neat rock formations.