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Go Exploring and Enter a New World of Discovery on a Hawai’i Hidden Craters Hike

HFT hidden craters hike tour

 

It’s hard to hide the fact that Hawai’i’s origins are volcanic. Everywhere you look there’s a volcano. And that’s the problem. You tend to be looking up at the results of volcanic activity, not at it. This is not helped by the fact the island is covered in rich, tropical vegetation and an abundance of cloud forests, creating a beautiful canopy of green, but also covering up what lies beneath.

 

Exploring volcanoes in Hawai’i

tour guide with guestsIt would be a shame to come to Hawai’i and not learn more about its volcanic past and present, but unlike boring classroom learning, here you get to learn ‘on the hoof’ so to speak. What better way to discover some of Hawai’i’s hidden craters than to go on a four-mile hike with an experienced guide to both show you the way, and also give you a fascinating account of the geology of Hawai’i?

 

Hualalai may be an active volcano, but don’t worry

If you decide to go on a hidden crater hike, you will be taken to an area of private land which will give you access to private land surrounding the Hualalai volcano, leaving you to explore unhindered in unspoilt, lush surroundings with breath-taking views all around you. And here’s the good news. While Hualalai is classed as an active volcano, ‘active’ is a ‘relative’ term. In other words, if a volcano has been active within the last 200 years, it is classed as active. Hualalai hasn’t erupted since the early 1800s!

 

Enjoy a unique view of the Kona Coast of Hawai’i

One of the other problems with Hawai’i is that when at sea level, it is a little difficult to appreciate the true beauty of the islands’ dramatic coastline. That will all change as you scale Hualalai and the island below and especially the Kona region open up to you. The ‘trek’ is not akin to climbing to base camp on Mount Everest, so there is certainly no need to be hesitant, as long as you are fit enough to be able to walk over uneven and unstable ground and manage an incline of 60 feet with each stage of the trek.

 

Enter into the amazing world of lava tubes!

Lava tubes are utterly fascinating. They are formed by individual currents of molten lava that flow underneath the hardening surface crust of a major lava flow. When the molten lava stops flowing underneath the crust, it leaves a tube behind, a bit like an empty blood artery. This then presents the perfect opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with the mechanics of a volcano and to see the minerals involved in molten lava. Remember to bring your camera as none of your social media followers will believe you have really been inside a volcano without the photos!

lava tube diagram

Illustration credit: Bruce Rogers, USGS via lovebigisland.com

Here at Lea Lea Tours we are always keen to ‘cherry pick’ the very best of tours available on the beautiful Hawaiian island. To find out more about the Hidden Craters Hike, to book a place (always advisable in advance as there are only so many people you can get on a boat, or to discuss about a private charter!), or to learn more about any of our other recommended tours, please feel free to get in touch with us at any time.