Kula Kai Caverns

Useful Information

Location:	Near South Point, Big Island, Hawai'i. 65 km south of Kona, 125 km south west of Hilo. Hwy 11 Kona-Hilo, turn south 2 km, turn right again.
Open:	Tours only by reservation. [2006]
Fee:	Walking Tour: Adults USD 15, Children (0-12) USD 8. Cave Trekking Tour: Per Person USD 65. Maelstrom Cave Tour: Per Person USD 95. [2006]
Classification:	lava tube
Light:	Walking Tour: electric. Other tours: none, gear provided.
Dimension:	T=20°.
Guided tours:	Walking Tour: L=200 m, D=30 min. Cave Trekking Tour: L=1,600 m, D=2 h. Maelstrom Cave Tour: L=3,200 m, D=3. Goat Cave Tour: D=2 h. [2006]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Kula Kai Caverns, P.O. Box 6313, Ocean View, Hawaii 96737, Tel: +1-808-929-7539 or +1-808-929-9725, E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Kula Kai Caverns is one of many lava tubes on Big Island. Most of this tubes are not accessible, as they are sacred places, Polynesian burial places or located on private ground. This one is open to the public.

Kula Kai Caverns offers tours for any kind of visitor. There is a short tour, which is a true show cave, with paths and electric light. The cave has no light or paths. This is less problematic than in karst caves, as lava tubes normally are rather horizontal. But the lava is very dark and its hard to see much, only with electric torches. The tours into this cave are wild tours or cave trekking tours and only suitable for physically fit people.

The owner Ric Elhard is a California native who bought property on Big Island because he knew there were caves. He is a caver and explored and surveyed much of the caves himself. The tours are intended as a possibility for visitors to learn about caving, geology and archaeology.

• See also
• Kula Kai Caverns, official website.