Kaūmana Caves County Park, County park and tourist attraction in Hilo, Hawaii
Kaūmana Caves County Park is a county park in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, built around a set of natural lava tube caves. The park has a small parking area, picnic facilities, and a stairway leading down to the cave entrances.
The caves were formed by a large lava flow from Mauna Loa in 1881. As the surface cooled and hardened, the molten rock inside kept moving, eventually draining away and leaving behind hollow tubes.
The people of Hilo know the caves well and sometimes visit to connect with the island's volcanic past. The name Kaūmana is tied to this part of the Big Island and lives on as part of the local identity.
A flashlight is essential, as the interior of the tubes becomes completely dark just past the entrance. The ground is uneven and rocky throughout, so sturdy shoes are strongly recommended.
The lava tube system runs for many miles beneath the ground, but only a short section near the park entrance is open and safe for the public to walk through. Much of the rest passes under private land and is off limits.
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