Thurston Lava Tube <\/p>\n First there is a short walk through giant ferns. We expected to see a dinosaur. It was raining, but not too bad and we were out of the wind.<\/p>\n Thurston Lava Tube<\/strong> Trail Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n This loop trail passes through a section of Thurston Lava Tube and returns to the parking area. Walking time is about twenty minutes. Some portions are moderately steep, but the trail is short. Exiting the tube, you will walk through part of a Special Ecological Area. This 25-acre unit of montane rain forest is a sample of native Hawaiian forest, free of destructive feral pigs and most non-native plants.<\/p>\n The fern-shrouded entrance leads into a well-lighted section of a prehistoric lava tube. As you walk this short segment you will follow the path of the molten river which formed the tube centuries ago. Ledges or benches such as these can be seen in Thurston Lava Tube. They form as the lava supply diminishes and mark different levels of lava supply through the tube.<\/p>\n Nahuku extends 334 meters beyond this point. You are invited to explore this undeveloped section of the lava tube where natural features have not been disturbed.<\/p>\n The lava tube was much larger than I expected!<\/p>\n I had no idea it was so huge. It did not rain on us underground.<\/p>\n Part of the lava tubes is out of bounds without permission.<\/p>\n Thurston Lava Tube Trail The Thurston Lava Tube was discovered in 1913 by Lorrin Thurston, the grandson of Asa and Lucy Goodale Thurston, two of the first Christian missionaries to Hawaii.<\/p>\n Lorrin Thurston was also a volcano enthusiast. In 1891, he bought the Volcano House hotel at the rim of K\u012blauea. He expanded it before he sold to George Lycurgus in 1902.<\/p>\n Thurston was friends with Dr. Thomas Jaggar, an early volcanologist. He raised the money to fund the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912.<\/p>\n Thurston owned a newspaper and heavily promoted creating a Volcano National Park. Thurston was at Columbia with President Theodore Roosevelt. He was able to get support from Roosevelt, John Muir, and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. Hawai\u02bbi Volcanoes National Park was formed in 1916.<\/p>\n When the Thurston Lava Tube was found, the roof was covered with lava stalactites, but souvenir collectors \u201cpicked\u201d them. People used to believe stalactites grew back.<\/p>\n Interested in Volcanos?
\n<\/strong>This huge tunnel was left behind when a subterranean river of lava drained away. An easy trail runs through the tube and a grove of giant ferns.
\nDK Eyewitness Travel Hawaii<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Trail](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-n.jpg?resize=375%2C500&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Trail](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-b.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
![\"Thurston](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-q.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
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Formation of a Lava Tube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nFormation of a Lava Tube<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Stairs](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-m.jpg?resize=375%2C500&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Entrance](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-c.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Entrance](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-d.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Roots](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-i.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-e.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Locked](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-l.jpg?resize=500%2C420&ssl=1\")
![\"Locked](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-j.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Stairs](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-k.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-f.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Tour](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-g.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Stairs](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/caving\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thurston_lava_tube-h.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1\")
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\n<\/strong>Thurston Lava Tube can be accessed via an easy 15-minute loop trail. The paved trail begins with a steep descent into the rainforest, dense with towering green ferns. The trail then leads visitors to a pit crater where it is possible to enter the lava tube. Formed when the exterior of a lava flow cooled to a crust while the still-molten interior magma flowed out, the tube resembles a giant tunnel. Walk through the 600-ft winding passage takes about ten minutes. Signs posted along the trail provide information about plants and animals that can be seen in the area.
\nDK Eyewitness Travel Hawaii<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWho was Thurston?<\/h2>\n
\nFind out more: Curiosity Trek – Hawaii ><\/a><\/p>\n