Kazamura Cave
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| | Difficulty:Cave 3A V (v3a1 V) Raps:17, max ↨80ft
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19.5163, -155.0320
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Introduction[edit]
The Kazaumra Cave system is the longest lava tube in the world. It has multiple drops, some of them majestic lava falls that look like they were flowing last week. Some offer commercial or semi-commercial tours.
Approach[edit]
The system has several entrances, mostly collapsed ceiling or walls, that allows access to just short sections or to do a through trip from the top of the volcano almost all the way to the ocean.
The cave crosses a number of private properties, so make sure you have permission to access where you start and where you are going to get out. Passage below private property through the lava tube is not technically allowed without permission of each landowner with the exception, on the Big Island, of three tour companies specifically authorized by law[1]. Anecdotally, most people do not seem concerned with enforcing the in-tube travel restrictions, but land owners with entrances are often very concerned with people using them as entrances or exits.
Some information on entrance locations and access can be found here. Two of the three authorized tour companies operate in the Kazamura system:
- Kazamuracave.com offers tours of what may be more interesting sections of the tube closer to the volcano, including one where you are required to bring your own vertical gear.
- Kilauea Caverns of Fire offers tours of a section of the tube down-mountain from kazamuracave.com, including an all-day non-technical through-trip walk up-mountain in the lava tube covering 2.1 miles of straight-line distance with 320 ft of elevation gain.
Kula Kai Caverns is located far to the southwest of this area.
Descent[edit]
Kilauea Caverns of Fire[edit]
Enter the lava tube at the Cow entrance (Fern's Cave) descending a ~12ft ladder and proceed uphill with your guide. The tube has a number of short side passages, but all dead-end shortly or rejoin the main passage. There are a few brief scrambles and one or two easy crawls, but the tube is mostly a straight-forward walk all the way to an exit on private property 2.1 miles away (though the hike is longer) owned by a person with an interesting story you will likely hear on the tour.
Exit[edit]
Red tape[edit]
See here for Hawaiian law regarding caves/lava tubes. Be very respectful of private property.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
- http://thecareyadventures.com/blog/2009/exploring-kazumura-cave-on-hawaiis-big-island/
- http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60583-d1946558-r123283270-Kazumura_Cave_Tours-Hilo_Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html