A walk through Thurston Lava Tube

How about I take you into Thurston Lava Tube, today? Also called the NaHuku, this lava tube lies in the Volcanic National Park in Big Island, Hawaii. We visited this national park a few years ago and I was so fascinated by the things I saw and learnt while I was there.  (You can read about the whole volcano tour here — Volcano Tour on Hawaii’s Big Island.)

Today I take you on a tour of NaHuku or the Thurston Lava Tube in the northern part of the national park. First of all, let me tell you what a Lava Tube is.

What is a Lava Tube?

When there is a lava flow happening, sometimes the outer part of the stream cools and hardens while the lava beneath it keeps flowing down,  safe and insulated from the cooler air outside. Often, when the lava below that hard surface is drained, a tunnel is left behind. This new underground cavity becomes what we call a lava tube.

An information board just outside the Thurston Lava Tube says that the air in it remains hot for a long time, sometimes even melting the inner walls once again, causing the formation of stalactites.

Thurston Lava Tube – a photo tour

The entrance to the Thurston Lava Tube.

Nahuku or Thurston Lava Tube

Inside the lava tube.

The moist wall of the lava tube.

The other end of Thurston Lava Tube — the exit.

What you might want to know before you visit Thurston Lava Tube

• This Lava tube was discovered in 1913. It is said to have been found by a local newspaper publisher, Lorrin Thurston.
• It is a short walk (less than a half-mile trail) to the mouth of the lava tube. (It’s totally worth it.)
• The actual walk inside the Lava Tube would take you less than 5 minutes (even if you were to do a slow walk, taking lots of pictures, like I did). NaHuku is around 600 ft in length.
• Thurston Lava Tube is quite well lit
• Look out for some wet roofs and walls and puddles on the path.
• Kid – Friendly? — Absolutely. The path is fairly level. There are a few steps to climb at the end of the tunnel, as you get out of the Lava Tube.

Note:

This part of Big Island has been experiencing major volcanic activity for a couple of weeks now. And with the eruptions taking place at the Kilauea Volcano, most of Volcanoes National Park is now closed to visitors. For updates on the conditions, you can visit Volcanoes National Park’s official site 

My thoughts go out to the people who have been displaced by the recent lava flows and steam vents that have opened up. 

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Volcanic sites on Tipsy from the TRIP

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