Hawaiian Islands are volcanic

The Formation of the Hawaiian Islands The Formation of the Hawaiian Islands [ HCV Home ][Formation of the Islands][ Active Hawaiian Volcanoes ][ General Info ]    The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic in origin. Each island ismade up of at least one primary volcano, although many islandsare composites of more than one. The Big Island, for instance,is constructed of 5 major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea,Hualalai and Kohala. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano onEarth. Kilauea is presently one of the most productive volcanoeson Earth (in terms of how much lava it erupts each year). The primary volcanoes on eachof the islands are known as a shield volcanoes, which are gently sloping mountains produced from a large number of generally very fluid lava flows.    Hawaiian volcanoes primarily erupt a type of rock known as basalt. When molten, basalt produces liquids of relatively high fluidity, compared to volcanoesthat erupt more silica rich magma types such as andesite, dacite or rhyolite. The fluidity of molten basalt favors the formation of lava flows,which is why the Hawaiian volcanoes generally have gentle sloping sides. Bycontrast, lavas with higher silica content are more viscous and commonly produce either thicker, shorter lava flows, thick blocky deposits and/orthick beds of ash that fall from the sky following explosive eruptions.These other types of volcanoes (common outside of Hawaii) are typically steepersided.    The Hawaiian volcanoes were produced by the Hawaiian hot spot, which is presently under the Big Island of Hawaii.The image below shows the islands of the Hawaiian chainand the intervening shallows, banks and reefs along a line from southeastto northwest. Note that the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe are not shownbecause they would "overlap" with Molokai and Maui, respectively( see the map of the Islands on the Hawaiian Volcanoes page )In general, when you move along the island chain from southeast (Hawaii) to northwest, (Kure), the volcanoes become older and older.     The aging of the islands with distance from the current hot spotis demonstrated in the diagram below, where distance along thechain is approximated as distance away from Kilauea volcano (theyoungest above-sea-level Hawaiian volcano). In fact, even beyond Kurethe Hawaiian chain continues as a series of now-submergedformer islands known collectively as the Emperorseamounts. The two primary volcanoes that make up Oahu (where Honolulu is) have not erupted for well over a million years!    The age trend of the volcanoes is thought to be due tothe way in which the islands are built on the moving sea floor of the NorthPacific Ocean: the Pacific Ocean is mostly floored by a single tectonic plate(known as the "Pacific Plate")that is moving over the layer in the Earth known as the Asthenosphere.This movement takes it to the northwest compared to the layers below itat a rate of 5 to 10 cm/yr (the rate depends on where you are on it). As theplate moves over a fixed spot deeper in the Earth where magma (moltenlava) forms, a new volcano can punch through this plate and createan island. The Hawaiian Islands are believed to be formed from onesuch 'hot spot'. As the plate moves away, the volcano stops eruptingand a new one is formed in its place. With time, the volcanoes keepdrifting westward and getting older relative to the one active volcanothat is over the hot spot. As they age, the crust upon which they sitcools and subsides. This, combined with erosion of the islands onceactive volcanism stops, leads to a shrinking of the islands with ageand their eventual submergence below the ocean surface.    Importantly, the time over which various active volcanoes on the islandsremain active is long (hunders of thousands of years) so that significantoverlap in ages occur on neighboring islands. For instance although Haleakala volcano on Mauiis a great distance away from the presently erupting Kilauea, Haleakalalast erupted only about 200 years ago. Currently there are 3 Hawai'ian volcanoes that we can easily classify as active: Kilauea, actively erupting since 1983 Mauna Loa, which last erupted in 1984 and is building for a new eruption inthe next few years Loihi, which erupted in 1996   All three of these active Hawaiian volcanoes sharethe Hawaiian hot spot, but retain unique volcanic histories and compositions.You can view a schematic representationof the geometry of this situation HERE The most likely Dormant volcanoes are: Hualalai, which last erupted in 1801 Haleakala, which last erupted in about 1790 Mauna Kea, which last erupted about 4,000 years ago.    Here is some additional general age information from USGS Professional Paper 1350 , Chapter 1 by Clague and Dalrymple, pages 5-54 (1987). Data from that source has been augmented by data and information in Garcia et al. Lithos , vol 20, pages 323-336 (1987) and Clague (1996) in The Origin and Evolution of Pacific Island biotas, New Guniea to Eastern Polynesia, patterns and processes (Keast and Miller, editors), pages 35-50. Ages of some of the Hawaiian Islands and outer seamounts Volcano Number (see note at table bottom) Volcano Name Distance from Kilauea along trend of chain (km) Best K-Ar age (Ma) Data Source (tabulated below) 1 Kilauea 0 0-0.4 -- 3 Mauna Kea 54 0.375 + 0.05 1 5 Kohala 100 0.43 + 0.02 2 6 Haleakala 182 0.75 + 0.04 3 7 Kahoolawe 185 > 1.03 + 0.18 3 8 West Maui 221 1.32 + 0.04 4 9 Lanai 226 1.28 + 0.04 5 10 East Molokai 256 1.76 + 0.04 3 11 West Molokai 280 1.90 + 0.06 3 12 Koolau 339 2.6 + 0.1 4,6 13 Waianae 374 3.7 + 0.1 6 14 Kauai 519 5.1 + 0.20 7 15 Niihau 565 4.89 + 0.11 8 15A Kaula 600 4.0 + 0.2 21 17 Nihoa 780 7.2 + 0.3 9 20 Unnamed 913 9.2 + 0.8 20 930 9.6 + 0.8 22 23 Necker 1,058 10.3 + 0.4 9 26 La Perouse Pinnacles 1,209 12.0 + 0.4 9 27 Brooks Bank 1,256 13.0 + 0.6 20 1,330 13.0 + 0.6 22 30 Gardner Pinnacles 1,435 12.3 + 1.0 20 1,460 12.3 + 1.0 22 36 Laysan 1,818 19.9 + 0.3 10 37 Northampton Bank 1,841 26.6 + 2.7 10 50 Pearl and Hermes Reef 2,281 20.6 + 2.7 11 52 Midway 2,432 27.7 + 0.6 12 57 Unnamed 2,600 28.0 + 0.4 11 63 Unnamed 2,825 27.4 + 0.5 11 65 Colohan 3,128 38.6 + 0.3 13 65A Abbott 3,280 38.7 + 0.9 13 67 Daikakuji 3,493 42.4 + 2.3 14 69 Yuryaku 3,520 43.4 + 1.6 11 72 Kimmei 3,668 39.9 + 1.2 14 74 Koko (southern) 3,758 48.1 + 0.8 14,15 81 Ojin 4,102 55.2 + 0.7 16 83 Jingu 4,175 55.4 + 0.9 17 86 Nintoku 4,452 56.2 + 0.6 16 90 Suiko (southern) 4,794 59.6 + 0.6 18,19 91 Suiko (central) 4,860 64.7 + 1.1 16 Data Sources: 1. Porter and others (1977) 12. Dalrymple and others (1977) 2. McDougall and Swanson (1972) 13. Duncan and Clague (1984) 3. Naughton and others (1980) 14. Dalrymple and Clague (1976) 4. Mcdougall (1964) 15. Clague and Dalrymple (1973) 5. Bonhommet and others (1977) 16. Dalrymple and others (1980a) 6. Doel and Dalrymple (1973) 17. Dalrymple and Garcia (1980) 7. McDougall (1979) 18. Saito and Ozima (1975) 8. G.B. Dalrymple (unpub. Data, 1982) 19. Saito and Ozima (1977) 9. Dalrymple and others (1974) 20. Garcia and others (1986b) 10. Dalrymple and others (1981) 21.Garcia and others (1986a) 11. Clague and others (1975) 22. Garcia and Others (1987) Other Notes: "Volcano Number" refers to the number in sequence along the HawaiianChain. Loihi, the youngest expression of the Hawaiian hot spot isnumber 0, Kilauea is number 1, etc.. Note that not all volcanoesare listed in the table (e.g., number 2 = Mauna Loa and number 4 =Hualalai); also note that further up the chain, the numbering schemebecomes more subjective. HCV Home Hawaiian Volcanoes Loihi Kilauea Mauna Loa Hualalai This page created and maintained by Ken Rubin ©, krubin@soest.hawaii.edu Other credits for this web site. Last page update on 4 Apr 2005

Waikiki Beach Center, Kalakaua

Oahu : Walking Tours : Walking Tour 4 | Frommers.com Home > Destinations > North America > USA > Hawaii > Oahu > Walking Tours > Walking Tour 4 FREE Newsletters! Win a FREE Trip! This Island Entire Site Destinations Deals/News Bookstore M. Boards Oahu Introduction Planning a Trip For Foreign Visitors Hotels Restaurants Attractions Nightlife Shopping In Depth Walking Tours Walking Tour 1 Walking Tour 2 Walking Tour 3 Walking Tour 4 Active Pursuits Spectator Sports Oahu Maps Message Boards Index Email Print RSS Walking Tour 4 Walking Tour: Kapiolani Park Getting There: From Waikiki, walk toward Diamond Head on Kalakaua Avenue. If you are coming by car, the cheapest parking is metered street parking on Kalakaua Avenue adjacent to the park. TheBus: 19 or 20. Start: Waikiki Beach Center, Kalakaua Avenue, Diamond Head side of the Sheraton Moana Hotel, across the street from the Hyatt Regency and Uluniu Avenue. Finish: Kapiolani Beach Park. Time: 4 to 5 hours. Allow at least an hour each for walking around the park, wandering around the zoo, and exploring the aquarium, plus all the time you want for the beach. Best Time: Weekday mornings. On June 11, 1877, King Kamehameha Day, then-King David Kalakaua donated some 140 acres of land to the people of Hawaii for Hawaii's first park. He asked that the park be named after his beloved wife, Queen Kapiolani, and he celebrated the opening of this vast grassy area with a free concert and "high stakes" horse races (the king loved gambling) on the new horse-racing oval he had built below Diamond Head. The horse races, and the gambling that accompanied it, were eventually outlawed, but the park -- and the free concerts -- live on. Just a coconut's throw from the high-rise concrete jungle of Waikiki lies this 133-acre grassy park (the Paki playground and a fire station make up the remaining acreage) dotted with spreading banyans, huge monkeypod trees, blooming royal poincianas, and swaying ironwoods. Throughout the open spaces are jogging paths, tennis courts, soccer and cricket fields, and even an archery range. People come to the park to listen to music, watch ethnic dancing, exercise, enjoy team sports, take long meditative walks, picnic, buy art, smell the roses, and just relax. The park is the site of international kite-flying contests, the finishing line for the Honolulu marathon, and the home of yearly Scottish highland games, Hawaiian cultural festivals, and about a zillion barbecues and picnics every year. Start at the: 1. Waikiki Beach Center On the ocean side of Kalakaua Avenue, next to the Sheraton Moana Hotel, is a complex of restrooms, showers, surfboard lockers, rental concessions, and the Waikiki police substation. On the Diamond Head side of the police substation are the: 2. Wizard Stones or Healing Stones These four basalt boulders, which weigh several tons apiece and sit on a lava rock platform, are held sacred by the Hawaiian people. The story goes that sometime before the 15th century, four powerful healers from Moaulanuiakea, in the Society Islands, named Kapaemahu, Kahaloa, Kapuni, and Kihohi, lived in the Ulukoa area of Waikiki. After years of healing the people and the alii of Oahu, they wished to return home. They asked the people to erect four monuments made of bell stone, a basalt rock that was found in a Kaimuki quarry and that produced a bell-like ringing when struck. The healers spent a ceremonious month transferring their spiritual healing power, or mana, to the stones. The great mystery is how the boulders were transported from Kaimuki to the marshland near Kuhio Beach in Waikiki! Over time a bowling alley was built on the spot, and the stones got buried beneath the structure. After the bowling alley was torn down in the 1960s, tourists used the stones to eat lunch on or to drape their wet towels over. In 1997 the stones were once again given a place of prominence with the construction of a $75,000 shrine that includes the platform and a wrought-iron fence. Since then the stones have become something of a mecca for students and patients of traditional healing. Just west of the stones you'll find the: 3. Duke Kahanamoku Statue Here, cast in bronze, is Hawaii's most famous athlete, also known as the father of modern surfing. Duke (1890-1968) won Olympic swimming medals in 1912, 1920, 1924, and 1928. He was enshrined in both the Swimming Hall of Fame and the Surfing Hall of Fame. He also traveled around the world promoting surfing. Interestingly, when the city of Honolulu first erected the statue of this lifelong ocean athlete, they placed it with his back to the water. There was public outcry, because no one familiar with the ocean would ever stand with his back to it. To quell the outcry, the city moved the statue closer to the sidewalk. Continuing in the Diamond Head direction, you'll come to: 4. Kuhio Beach Park The two small swimming holes here are great, but heed the warning sign: watch out for holes. There actually are deep holes in the sandy bottom, and you may suddenly find yourself in very deep water. The best pool for swimming is the one on the Diamond Head end, but the water circulation is questionable -- there sometimes appears to be a layer of suntan lotion floating on the surface. If the waves are up, watch the Boogie boarders surf by the seawall. They ride toward the wall and at the last minute veer away with a swoosh. After watching the surfers, cross Kalakaua Avenue and walk mauka down Ohua Avenue; behind St. Augustine's Church you'll find the: 5. Father Damien Museum This small museum is a tribute to the priest who worked with the sufferers of leprosy on Molokai. A video of Father Damien and the leprosy colony is available for viewing here. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm, and Saturday from 9am to noon; admission is free. Go back to Kalakaua Avenue and walk towards Diamond Head to the entrance of Kapiolani Park, where you'll see the: 6. Kapiolani Park Kiosk On the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues, this small display stand contains brochures and actual photos of the park's history. It also carries information on upcoming events at the various sites within the park (Aquarium, Zoo, Waikiki Shell, and Kapiolani Bandstand). An informative map will help to orient you to the park grounds. Continue up Kapahulu Avenue to the entrance of the: 7. Honolulu Zoo The city's 42-acre zoo is open every day from 9am to 4:30pm, but the best time to go is as soon as the gates open -- the animals seem to be more active and it is a lot cooler than walking around at midday in the hot sun. Trace your steps back to Kapahulu and Kalakaua avenues and head mauka down Monsarrat Avenue to the: 8. Kapiolani Park Bandstand Once upon a time, from 1937 to 2002, the Kodak Hula Show presented the art of hula to visitors, with some 3,000 people fit into the bleachers around a grassy stage area every day. The Kodak Hula Show is gone now, but the Bandstand is still used for concerts and special events. Back on Monsarrat Avenue, on the fence facing the zoo, you'll find the: 9. Art Mart The Artists of Oahu Exhibit is the new official name of this display. Here, local artisans hang their artwork on a fence for the public to view and buy. Not only do you get to meet the artists, but you also have an opportunity to purchase their work at a considerable discount from the prices you'll see in galleries. Exhibits are Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, 10am to 4pm. Cross Monsarrat Avenue, and you'll see the: 10. Waikiki Shell This open-air amphitheater hosts numerous musical shows, from the Honolulu Symphony to traditional Hawaiian music. Continue walking down to the end of the block to the corner of Monsarrat and Paki avenues to the: 11. Queen Kapiolani Garden You'll see a range of hibiscus plants and dozens of varieties of roses, including the somewhat rare Hawaiian rose. The tranquil gardens are always open and are a great place to wander and relax. Across the street on a Wednesday morning, you'll find the: 12. People's Open Market Open from 10 to 11am on Wednesdays, the farmer's market with its open stalls is an excellent spot to buy fresh produce and flowers. After you make your purchases, continue in the Diamond Head direction down Paki Avenue to the: 13. Diamond Head Tennis Courts Located on the mauka side of Paki Avenue, the free City and County tennis courts are open for play during daylight hours 7 days a week. Tennis etiquette suggests that if someone is waiting for a court, limit your play to 45 minutes. After watching or playing, turn onto Kalakaua Avenue, and begin walking back toward Waikiki to: 14. Sans Souci Beach Located next to the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, this is one of the best swimming beaches in Waikiki. The shallow reef, which is close to shore, keeps the waters calm. Farther out there is good snorkeling in the coral reef by the Kapua Channel. Facilities include outdoor showers and a lifeguard. After a brief swim, keep walking toward Waikiki until you come to the: 15. Natatorium This huge concrete structure next to the beach is both a memorial to the soldiers of World War I and a 100-meter saltwater swimming pool. Opened in 1927, when Honolulu had hopes of hosting the Olympics, the ornate swimming pool fell into disuse and disrepair after World War II, and was finally closed in 1979. The City and County of Honolulu just finished the first phase of renovation, a $4.4 million restoration of the outside arches to the building, construction of modern restrooms and showers and refurbishment of the bleacher seating. The next phase is an $11.5 million renovation of the salt-water swimming pool. After a brief stop here, continue on to the: 16. Waikiki Aquarium The Aquarium is located at 2777 Kalakaua Ave. Try not to miss this stop -- the tropical aquarium is worth a peek if only to see the only living chambered nautilus born in captivity. Your final stop is: 17. Kapiolani Beach Park Relax on the stretch of grassy lawn alongside the sandy beach, one of the best-kept secrets of Waikiki. This beach park is much less crowded than the beaches of Waikiki, plus it has adjacent grassy lawns, barbecue areas, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers. The swimming is good here year-round, a surfing spot known as "Public's," is offshore, and there's always a game going at the volleyball courts. The middle section of the beach park, in front of the pavilion, is known as Queen's Beach or Queen's Surf, and is popular with the gay community. Maps Walking Tour: Kapiolani Park Email Print RSS Source Frommer's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu, 8th Edition Author: Jeanette Foster Pub Date: November 07, 2005 Price: $16.99 Related Titles: Frommer's Hawaii 2006 Frommer's Hawaii from $80 a Day, 34th Edition Frommer's Hawaii from $80 a Day, 35th Edition Sponsored Links: What's This? Save on luxury travel auctions to the U.S.! Exclusive ski offers at Destination: Snow. Home | Destinations | Hotels | Trip Ideas | Deals & News | Book a Trip | Tips & Tools | Travel Talk | Bookstore About Frommer's | FAQ | Contact Us | Help | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us Add Frommers.com RSS Feed ( What's This? ) Add Frommers.com Deals & News to Your Web Site © 2000-2006 by Wiley Publishing , Inc. All rights reserved. Home > Destinations > North America > USA > Hawaii > Oahu > Walking Tours > Walking Tour 4

Hawaii Honeymoon Specialists. WedAlert

Hawaii Honeymoon Vacation - Plan your Honeymoon in Hawaii Are you a wedding professional ? List Your Company Select State Alabama California Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Maine Illinois Indiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Washington Washington DC Wisconsin Local Services Reception Sites Bridal Shows Wedding Songs Planning Honeymoon Registry Gowns Articles Advice Forum CD's BRIDE'S LOG IN: Email: Password: Forgot Your Password? Register for special offers | Why register? WedAlert Honeymoons - Honeymoon planning, vacations and destinations, including all-inclusive honeymoons. Honeymoon Destinations Anguilla Aruba Cayman Islands Club Med Cook Islands Cruises Fiji Islands Hawaii Italy Jamaica Mexico Sandals St. Barthelemy St. Lucia St. Thomas SuperClubs Tahiti Honeymoon Giveaway Travel Information Weather Information Passport Services Currency Converter Honeymoon Giveaway Hawaii Honeymoon Specialists. WedAlert features E. Clarke Travel to provide you a romantic honeymoon in Hawaii. Hawaii Honeymoon Destinations Enter Hawaii Hawaii , the perfect romantic escape, unbelievable surroundings, clear blue waters, sunsets to rival anywhere in the world, hotels to pamper your every whim. Hawaii's beautiful islands in the Pacific are exotic enough to feel you've entered another world, but as part of the US, familiar enough to feel at home. Each of Hawaii's islands is a unique experience. Choosing the right island requires the first hand knowledge that we can offer you. With so many wonderful hotels to choose from, our specialists will be happy to guide you to the right one. Let the specialists at E. Clarke Travel - American Express help you plan an individualized, tailor-made trip. We are committed to making your vacation just what you want it to be, from the moment you make your reservation until you return home. Call us at 1-800-899-1171 Wedding Planning Need Help Special Offers Wedding Songs Wedding Music CDs Planning Tools Wedding Gowns Wedding Blog Honeymoon Travel Local Services Reception Sites Bridal Shows Wedding Websites Search Local Services States in the WedAlert Directory: Alabama , California , Connecticut , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Illinois , Indiana , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Missouri , Nevada , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Ohio , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Vermont , Virginia , Washington , Washington DC and Wisconsin | National Links Company Info About Us | Contact Us | Employment Site Info Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Link to Us Fraud Warning All content © 2000- by WedAlert, Corp. ® All Rights reserved.

Hawaii Travel Tips Sharing

Hawaii's Official Tourism Site - Travel info for your Oahu vacation Choose a Category Calendar of Events Accommodations Activities & Attractions Dining Golf Services & Information Shopping Transportation Travel Professionals Weddings & Honeymoons Free Visitors Guide Hawaii Travel Tips Sharing Aloha Choose an Island All Islands Kauai Oahu Molokai Lanai Maui Hawaii's Big Island Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 04 05 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 04 05 Help me find... Calendar of Events Accommodations Activities & Attractions Dining Golf Services & Information Shopping Transportation Travel Professionals Weddings & Honeymoons Free Visitors Guide Hawaii Travel Tips Sharing Aloha Alternate Search Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian Islands and it’s easy to understand why – there’s so much to do on Oahu! With Waikiki as a central hub, you can explore the legendary North Shore of Oahu one day, and spend the next day on the east side snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, a protected marine sanctuary with tons of colorful fish. It’s clear that Oahu offers just the right amount of diversity for the adventurous as well as the cautious visitor. Thrill seekers can skydive at Mokuleia while daydreamers can relax peacefully on the beach. Exquisite dining and exciting nightlife also entice people to Oahu again and again. > learn more about Oahu M EETINGS & C ONVENTIONS | T RAVEL T RADE R ESOURCES | M EDIA C OMMUNICATIONS Corporate Information | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | ©2005 Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii's Volcano Parks Let Visitors Go With The Flow Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search , Section Navigation , Content . TBO.com Life TBO.com WFLA The Tampa Tribune Search: Keyword Site News | Weather | Hurricane Guide | Things to Do | Sports | Jobs | Cars | Homes | Shopping | Classified Travel TBO.com Life Travel Hawaii's Volcano Parks Let Visitors Go With The Flow Skip directly to the full story . By TANYA BRICKING LEACH For The Associated Press Published: Dec 18, 2005 ADVERTISEMENT More from this channel: This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin. Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer to download this plugin. Search our archives: Type keyword(s) 30 days 6 months 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 All Past 7 days most viewed | Tribune archive from 1990 VOLCANO, HAWAII - About the time jagged edges started poking through my T-shirt as I wormed my way through a tight spot in a lava tube, I began to wonder: What am I doing here? We could have been relaxing on the famous Green Sand Beach at South Point of the Big Island of Hawaii. But in the spirit of adventure, we were instead exploring the world underground. I had convinced my husband that it would be neat to go hiking to see flowing lava at the Kilauea Volcano on the first night of our weekend getaway, and then get up early the next morning to go caving in 1,000-year-old lava tubes. He was agreeable, even after twisting his ankle on the initial hiking excursion, which lasted past midnight. Once we got back to our cabin at Volcanoes National Park, we understood why each room had a Jacuzzi. But we weren't about to let our sore muscles get the best of us. Watching the orange glow of waxy-looking lava hiss into the ocean had intoxicated us. We wanted to see tunnels formed by the molten stuff. The Dawn Patrol So we caught just enough sleep to wake at the crack of dawn and drive to South Point in search of a labyrinth of lava tubes at a place called Kula Kai Caverns. To get there, we punched in a pass code and entered a remote neighborhood built on lava rock. Then we saw our guide's landmark, a thatched hut that looked like something out of "Gilligan's Island." Our tour guide, Kathlyn Richardson, led us into the yurt and handed us spelunking helmets, lights, gloves and kneepads to gear up. We looked like coal miners without the soot, and we were about to go on a two-hour spelunking tour. So she tested us a little. Would we like to try shimmying up parts of the cave and crawling around in tunnels? We were game. Let me just say my previous experience in caves was limited to a guided tour years earlier on a heavily traveled pathway at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave. Although it is considered the granddaddy of American caves - and the longest cave in the world - I saw only the easy-access "tourist" part of it. No shimmying through narrow passageways was involved. And I had seen Thurston Lava Tube, a major attraction on the drive around Crater Rim Drive at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But that was just a peek into a cavelike shell. I had never seen much of caves or could explain the difference between stalactites and stalagmites. Somehow, the idea of exploring a pitch-black volcanic cavern still appealed to me. That's just the kind of tourist Kula Kai Cavern founder Ric Elhard wants to educate. "I started crawling around in caves when I was 12 years old," said Elhard, a California native who bought property on the Big Island because he knew there were caves underneath it. He and other cavers have since mapped out miles of lava tubes that crisscross the area. "We're not doing big numbers, but we saw huge potential," Elhard said. "We want to be more of an educational tour. We want people to learn and understand about the archaeological aspects of caves." Treks Of Your Choice He and other guides lead small groups, even children as young as 5, through parts of the caves on tours that last from easy half-hour strolls to more challenging half-day explorations. When my husband and I were there, it was just the two of us, following Richardson into a braided maze she knew by heart and getting a taste of massive chambers and small spaces formed by volcanic gases rising through cooling magma 1,000 years ago. A National Park tour, it is not. It's a fledgling operation that's loosely organized, and sometimes the battery-powered lights on the well-used equipment go out. But it's definitely an adventure tour. We broke a sweat, despite the cool 68-degree temperature inside the cave, and had to watch our footing navigating craggy rocks that seemed to grow out from above and below. One of the most interesting parts was when we turned off our head lamps and sat in the dark, listening closely to dripping water and the sound of ourselves breathing. I'll admit I liked climbing and scrambling over loose rocks much better than belly-crawling through the tight spots. The crawling part made me think about being swallowed by hot lava as I tried to untangle myself from its pointy fingers. Underground Point Of View But squirming around on my hands and knees gave me a feeling not just for overcoming claustrophobia, but also for looking at a volcanic island from a different perspective. I thought about the cave dwellers who must have used the spaces for shelter. I wondered how long the kukui nuts, which contained oil that Hawaiians used to light like candles, had been left on the rock shelves that we passed. I pictured the lava flowing through the walls I could now touch. The tour captured my imagination. Yes, I could have spent the day relaxing on the beach. What I did instead made me feel like an explorer. And to me, discovering a world I had never seen before made the vacation feel complete. FOR LOVE OF LAVA KULA KAI CAVERNS AND LAVA TUBES: www.kulakai caverns.com or (808) 929-7539. Located off Highway 11 in Ocean View, Hawaii. Tours by appointment ranging from $15 half-hour walking tours to $95 half-day tours. The two-hour spelunking tour is $65. Discounts for Hawaii residents and groups. Wear a T-shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. WHERE TO STAY: For the full Kilauea experience, stay in a B&B in Volcano Village or in a cabin at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. •Carson's Volcano Cottages: www.carsonscottage.com or 1-800-845-5282 or (808) 967-7683. B&B accommodations, from one-room spaces to family cottages with kitchens and storybook cottages nestled in the tropical rain forest. Breakfast is served in a dining room beside the fire. Rates range from $115 to $170 a night. •Volcano House: (808) 967-7321. This historical hotel sits on the edge of a crater, and the rooms are heated by volcanic steam. Rooms range from $95 to $225. Its cabins are among the few available in the park, but the rooms are a bit worn. Cabins are $50. •Kilauea Military Camp: www.kmc-volcano.com or (808) 967-8333. A joint services recreation center in Volcanoes National Park, open to military members and Department of Defense workers and retirees. Rates are based on rank, and accommodations range from dorms to cottages. WHERE TO EAT: After a spelunking tour, drive to the Kona side of the island for food. •The Coffee Shack: A casual coffeehouse with a sweeping view of the ocean. The staff is friendly, and the portions are big. •Cafe Pesto in Hilo: Whether you're in Kawaihae near the harbor on the scenic South Kohala coast or in historic Hilo on the Big Island's east side, find this restaurant. It has gourmet pizzas, an assortment of pasta and seafood. Most items are about $10. •Ken's House of Pancakes: Ken's is like a local Denny's. It's open 24 hours a day, and most items are less than $7. Write a letter to the editor | Subscribe to the Tribune | Place an Ad Online TBO.com AdLinks Site Tools Advertise with us Web site feedback Make TBO.com my homepage RSS Feeds: Feed for this channel All feeds/RSS FAQ Most Popular: This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin. Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer to download this plugin. 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