Nahuku Thurston Lava Tube

You will take a short trail through lush vegetation replete with tropical ferns and singing honeycreeper birds called Apapane. Cross a short bridge, and you enter the dark world of a lava tube. Lit for safety, the tube is a fascinating experience that ends too quickly. When you reach daylight, you have the opportunity to continue through a gated area into the un-lit portion of the cave if you so choose. Make sure to bring a strong flashlight! Restrooms are available near the entrance to the trail. 1 1/2 miles east of the junction of Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

If you want to experience a lava tube that is even more spectacular and much less visited than Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube), sign up for a Volcano Tour offered by the Volcano Van.  They operate tours daily from the major resort destinations of Hilo, Kona, and Kohala.