Explore the Mystic Caves of Hawaii

For many tourists, a vacation in Hawaii would mean endless days lounging in its numerous beaches. But then, one should know that there are still other adventures waiting for guests of this tropical state. One exciting activity that visitors could do in the Hawaiian Islands is to do some cave explorations. Most of the caves located in Hawaii are underground lava tubes. Some of these caves could be explored even if guests do not have a guide with them. But of course, for safety purposes, it would be best if tourists would join a cave exploration tour or at least go with someone who knows their way around.

The Big Island is home to some wonderful underground caves such as the Kaumana Cave. This cave is a lava tube that measures around 25 miles and it is located close to both Rainbow Falls as well as to the district of Hilo on the eastern section of the island. The Kaumana Cave is filled with lush flora, but its entrance is well-marked and one would also find a flight of stairs leading into the cave. Visitors would be happy to know that there is no entrance fee here.

The Kazumura Cave is another lava tube situated in the Big Island, particularly in the Puna area. This cave was discovered during the middle of the year 1990 and it is among the world’s longest and deepest lava tubes, measuring over 60 kilometers in length. Travelers would be able to take part in a Kazamura Cave tour but they should arrange it no less than 24 hours beforehand, or if they want the 6 hour tour for advanced climbers, they have to book it at least a week ahead. The available tours in this cave consist of a tour that would take two hours covering a half mile, a tour that lasts for four hours covering two miles, plus the tour lasting 6 hours that is only open for skilled climbers.

The Kula Kai Caverns is also located in the Big Island. One would be able to find this lava tube on Mauna Loa’s lower slants. The tours available here consist of a half hour simple walking tour and another tour that lasts for two hours. There is also a challenging three hour tour that contains a brief drive to the other section of the caverns called the Maelstrom Cave. Only a small part of the main cavern is lighted, and that is why the tour providers give out lights and helmets to guests.

Thurston Lava Tube is another long underground lava tube that measures 400 feet in length with a ceiling that reaches up to 12 feet. This cave is to be found within the Big Island’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Thurston Lava Tube is well-lit and its ground is smooth, however, it could also be a little slippery.

On Maui, it boasts of the Ka’eleku Caverns, which is the lone public cave expedition in the whole island. This underground lava tube is the 18^th biggest cavern system on earth and it is situated on the eastern coast of the island. The tours available in these caverns consist of a self-guided exploration, a walking tour for an hour, in addition to an adventure tour that lasts for two hours, exclusively available 15 years old and up. There are no lights in this cave but the tour operators provide both helmets and lights.

Hawaii’s caves are enchantingly beautiful and it presents an alternative to beach escapades. There is no need to bring anything if one is joining a tour group since they would provide the gear and all that they want is for their guests to have fun exploring the exquisite caves of Hawaii.

Discover the World of Whales in Hawaii

Hawaii, being famous for its beaches, is also a seasonal home for whales. In fact, whale watching is a favorite activity of tourists and locals alike once the winter season rolls by in the state. There exist roughly 10,000 up to 15,000 humpback whales throughout the world and more than a thousand of these adorable animals stay at the warm waters of the Hawaiian Islands each year, during the latter part of November. The whales remain in the state until April and there are even some who are spotted until May before making their way back to their other home, which is Alaska.  Hawaii photographers

Tourists would be able to see whales in the tropical waters of each of the Hawaiian Islands. There are plenty of tour providers that arrange either day or sunset whale watching cruises on both small and huge boats. Majority of these tours assure guests of some whale sightings, and if some visitors were not able to view any whales, they would be given a complimentary whale watching tour. Normally, the charge for the tour also incorporates a snack, a drink, some comprehensive narration, and there are also those who offer hydrophones on board the ship. These hydrophones would allow the passengers to listen to the sounds that whales make to communicate with each other.

Immersing one’s self into the world of whales with the help of a submarine is a fascinating way to observe and discover more facts about the humpback whales. In the Aloha State, Atlantis Submarines is the only submarine provider throughout Hawaii and it operates on Maui, Oahu, as well as the Big Island. Not only would the guests be able to see the whales in their natural environment, but since humpback whales are naturally curious about their surroundings, there are some of them who would even approach the water vessel.

Even if whale watching in the state could be done in any Hawaiian Island, the protected Auau Channel as well as the shallow tropical waters farther down Maui’s west coast are among the greatest places to observe whales. There are also boat tours available here from November until April and it departs from the Lahaina Harbor plenty of times each day during the season for watching whales. On the island of Kauai and on the Big Island, there are also abundant whale-watching opportunities and the boat tours are offered by experienced and expert guides.

If one is not comfortable on board a boat, humpback whales could also be seen from dry land. On Kauai, some great sites to start looking for whales are the Kealia Lookout, the Kilauea Lighthouse, and other elevated points of land, particularly in the coastal regions.

In the state of Hawaii, watching whales is a preferred pursuit, and similar with other outdoor activities, there are also rules in whale watching. Observers of these animals should not approach them either by swimming or via a boat within a hundred yards of a whale. But then, since whales are innately inquisitive, they could approach people and there is no law against that. Come to Hawaii to listen to the sounds of the whales as they “sing” and have an amazing experience like no other.  Hawaii beach weddings

Eco Tour Oahu

Eco-tourism on O‘ahu

Adventures with the Gecko
877-THEGECKO (843-4325)
Multi-day trips are available for exploring volcanos, beaches and jungles. Activities include hiking, camping, snorkeling, swimming and sight seeing.

Hawaiian Islands Eco-Tours
(808) 236-7766 (local)
Naturalist guides lead day hikes and full day land and beach adventures on Oahu. Backpacking (trekking), camping, and kayaking trips are available on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

Hawaiian Outdoor Adventures
44-321 Kaneohe Bay Drive
Kaneohe, Oahu, HI 96744
808-254-3393 (local)
Hike in rainforests. Kayak in rivers or the ocean. learn about the plants and legends of the early Hawaiians. Learn Hawaiian arts and crafts. Work on an ancient taro farm. And much more.

Hike Hawaii
Honolulu, HI
808-683-3967 (local)
Hike parts of Oahu not usually seen by tourists. Personal guides lead small groups and share information about the history of the islands, plants, wildlife, and legends.

Mauka Makai Excursions
877-ECO-OAHU (326-6248) (toll free)
The speciality here is cultural, archaeological and ecotour field trips and hikes.

Oahu Nature Tours
P.O. Box 8059
Honolulu, Hawaii 96830
800-861-6018 (toll free)
Learn about Oahu’s geology, archaeology, mythology and history. They specialize in small, guided excursions to see Hawaii�s native bird and plant species.

therealhawaii Hawaiian Eco-Cultural Excursions
1-877-597-7325 or islandstyle@worldnet.att.net
Dedicated to bringing you exciting, educational, and culturally minded eco-excursions throughout the Hawaiian islands.

Wild Side Eco-Adventures
808-255-5812 (local)
Whale/dolphin encounters, meteor showers, coral spawning and snorkeling the state’s most extensive coral reefs await you with experienced crews to guide you. Sailing and kayak charters are available too.

Hawaii’s Eco

Take a Peek at Hawaii’s Endearing Animals

 

 

Each country has diverse species of animals to boast of. Hawaii also offers a wide selection of rare and extinct animals native only to its beautiful islands.

 

Tourists could be startled to see a number of different animals in the wild, particularly when riding on a safari helicopter tour. It is not unusual to catch a glimpse of Hawaiian boars and boats running and living freely in the flourishing forests. Since majority of the Hawaiian Islands is inaccessible by foot, a helicopter ride would be the best way to observe these wonderful creatures.

 

These animals are also favorite targets of local hunters in the island, in particular the Hawaiian pigs that could grow to an enormous size. The pigs are the main dish featured in the famous Hawaiian luau celebrations where a lot of tourists participate in.

 

Another enormous animal that could be seen from the helicopter, lookouts, or by cruises is the humpback whale. Originally coming from the cold waters of Alaska, these whales go to Hawaii every year not just to experience a warmer climate but primarily to mate, frolic, and give birth to their young. They do not eat anything while in Hawaii. Instead, even before they begin their journey in Hawaii, they fill up their stomachs with small fish, and they depend solely on their fat reserves to survive.

 

The humpback whales travel in groups, making it easier for tourists to spot them. However, not all travelers are lucky enough to catch sight of these whales. The winter season, which covers December to May are the best months to witness these amazing mammoths. Just seeing these giants swim together could be wonderful enough for any traveler. But watching them jump out of the water and do some tricks would be an even more incredible sight.

 

When tourists visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, they would surely be thrilled to look at colorful peacocks, pheasants, and wild turkeys. Tourists would also be able to gaze at Hawaii’s official bird, which is the endangered Hawaiian Nene Goose.

 

A Hawaiian monk seal taking a nap on the shore is a common scene for tourists to see on Kauai Beach. Some of these seals also loiter around a few of Oahu’s, Big Island’s, and Waikiki’s beaches. Most of them are already extinct and exist only in Hawaii.

 

There are also a number of sea turtles scattered along the shore, especially at Punaluu Beach on the Big Island. Honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtle, usually brings himself up on the beaches to bathe under the sun.

 

But no matter how adorable and beautiful these creatures may seem, tourists should still take some safety measures. It is advised that travelers should not dare touch, feed, or swim with any animals for their own safety. Tourists should carefully read guidelines that might warn them about what they can and cannot do in a certain place in Hawaii.

 

Many animal species could only be found in Hawaii. Being able to take a glimpse of some of these wonderful animals is such an awesome experience for travelers to bring home with them.