Everyone knows that volcanoes make changes to the surface of the earth, but less obvious are the dramatic things going on underneath the mountain. See some of them for yourself on a tour of the
Kazumura Lava Tube, the longest such tube in the world. You won’t explore all 42 miles of it during your visit, but you will see several scenic caverns that once conducted molten rock, and which today have the hardened remains of magma falls, magma-cicles, dribble spires, and other geologic features similar to those found in more common limestone caves. Discover these formations on one of three tours, ranging in difficulty from one where you just have to be able to handle some short ladders to one requiring rappelling skills. Note that the Kazumura Lava Tube is located just outside of
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and was in fact formed by an ancient eruption of Mount Kilauea, the same volcano that closed the park for a time in 2018. While the tube was unaffected by the 2018 eruption, it’ a good idea to check the National Park website to
make sure the mountain isn’t hiccupping again when you visit.