Kaumana Caves - Big Island, Hawaii
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 19° 41.225 W 155° 07.835
5Q E 276652 N 2178253
Bring your spelunking shoes and a good flashlight, this old lava tube is almost 25 miles long!
Waymark Code: WM38WJ
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 02/27/2008
Views: 112
The Mauna Loa lava flow of 1881 flowed towards Hilo in this lava tube. It is said that Princess Ruth slept the night in front of the lava flow and asked Pele to spare Hilo, and upon wakening found the lava had stopped. The lava tube that was left is about 25 miles long, and about the 4 mile marker on Kaumana Drive (just off Waianuenue Avenue) there is a small opening, where a hole in the lava tube, exposed to the rainforest Hilo weather, created a micro rainforest opening.
Signs at the entrance warn that the cave extnds miles and does lead into private properties. We descended the stairs, and at the bottom are openings to two different caves. The one on the right is a larger opening, and was easier (and safer)to walk into. The cave on the left has a low overhang, but caverns out on the other side.
Take Waianuenue Avenue from Hilo to Kaumana Drive. About the 4 mile marker, the cave entrance is just a little spot. We parked across the street and walked over. Don't blink near the mile marker, it's on a corner, you may miss it.
Type of Land: State Park
Managed By: County of Hawaii - Parks and Recreation
Contact Info: (808) 961-8311
Website: [Web Link]
Type of Cave: Lava Cave
Contains Stalactites: no
Contains Stalagmites: no
Contains Bats: no
Price of Admission: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a digital photograph of the cave which documents your visit and any information that may be helpful for future visitors.