Caves in Hawaii

Hawaii's cave geography is entirely volcanic — the lava tubes of the Big Island are among the most accessible in the world. Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku) at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a 500-year-old tube fully lit and surrounded by a fern rainforest that doesn't look like any other cave approach in the US. The Big Island has additional lava tube systems on the flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, most of them undeveloped and requiring permits from the state DLNR.

Every cave listed here is on public or accessible land. Always bring three light sources, water, and let someone know your plans before entering any undeveloped cave. Temperature inside: typically 50–62°F year-round. Explore all caves on the Trek4Free map →