A Close look at a Lava Tube

The concept of a lava tube fascinates me. I'd read the novel Kona, by Marjorie Sinclair, when we got here a month ago.  The heroine grows up on the Big Island and playing in the lava tube was as normal as playing in the back yard.  When I found out we were going to visit another lava tube on the next tour, I was excited.  It didn't matter that we were with a group of people again, and that we'd been sitting in the van for hours.  It was another adventure!

The location is near Hilo, on the tropical side of the Island, where we'd been the last time we went on a tour with the Mission Builders. The abundant rainfall, which we've managed to miss each time results in lush rainforest. Huge philodenron vines, you know, the kind that are houseplants back home, twine up the trunks of trees.  Speaking of vines, Terry fulfilled an item on his bucket list by swinging on a sturdy vine in the forest.  In my admiration, I forgot to take a picture!

We were supposed to see a wonderful waterfall called Akaka Falls, but found our access barred as we were told they were looking for a missing man.  Instead, we walked down a jungle trail to another black-sand beach with crashing waves. By the way, the only birds we saw all day were pheasants, and rock pigeons.They were not in the jungle, but on the  lava fields that were already covered in grass on the dry side of the Island.

This is Laupahoehoe Point, a scene of tragedy in 1946.  On April 1, twenty-one schoolchildren and three adults were swept away to their deaths by a tsunami travelling 500 miles per hour, and wiping them out in mere moments.  They had just gone out for break.  After that, officials finally moved the town up the hill.
This is definitely not a swimming beach, but it was fun to watch the surf crashing onto the huge lava rocks

To the right is the beach of the Tarzan vines.

Finally , the entrance to the lava tube!
In 1881 Mauna Loa erupted, and the lava ran twenty-five miles to the sea, creating a long cave, and threatening the town of Hilo.  I'm not sure it's this long any more, as it has probably collapsed in several places. 

I'm ready with my flashlight as we entered the cave, the only time I've actually used my cell phone on the Island.  Ferns and moss grew around the opening, and water dripped from the ceiling.

At first we had to duck down, but were assured the floor levels out beyond this narrow entrance.

Really, the walls were much darker than this picture shows.  Fascinating to rub your hands along the walls to feel the cool, smooth lava, looking like hardened chocolate pudding.  The floor
was rough and porous; no chance of slipping here.
After we'd walked about one hundred metres, a large rock stood in the middle of the path.
"Don't go any further," said our leader, Elijah. "There are big holes beyond this point, and Mission Builders have had to be rescued by helicopter from this site before."
I wish I could post the video Terry took.  You can't see anything; it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your  face, but our rendition of   "How Great Thou Art"  sounded good. 
Not quite the same as being in an acoustics chamber, though, as lava rock is porous.
There were actually long roots growing through the ceiling here.

Close-up of shiny lava rock

One more stop at a fruit stand.  Ten rambutans for three dollars.

 It's kind of like eating a peeled grape, with not much taste.

"I feel like a Hollywood star!" said this smiling lady who hacked off the outer shell of a coconut with her huge machete as we all cheered.  After Leslie-Anne sucked up the coconut water, more blows with the machete and the meat was scooped out and put into a small plastic bag for the eating.  

Another fun adventure on the Big Island of Hawaii.