Caves/Lava Tubes

[Cindy Blankenship]

Thank you all! Yes, Hanalei that's the one I was looking at! I know my son could handle two ladders and a rope, but I'm not so sure about me...been sitting at a desk for too long :-( We were talking about doing the 2 hour first. That would be step up from the one next to Thurston as far as challenge and sights?

It looks like they supply gloves and hard hats too. We just need to wear closed toe shoes.

Thanks Carey for the group's contact info. I'll check that out too. Jordan's really interested in this, so I'll do what I can to make it happen and get him out of the house :-)

Pslamont - I'm much more of a chicken now since my last child was born. Your caving party does sound fun. I just have to learn a bit more about this first. You mentioned boots are required. Jordan won't wear them. He can't stand anything constraining his ankles. Gave up free paragliding lessons over that issue...he feels that out of control in ankle high boots. I know it's a fine line between the extra support and the lesser
ease of mobility and he does have a unique gait so I have to respect that.

Thanks again for all your help!

Cindy

http://www.CoconutRoads.com
"Taking you to the Hearof Hawaii"

Edited by - Cindy Blankenship on 09/22/2007 12:50:20

[Kelena]

Where in HPP does Kazumura run?

[Cindy Blankenship]

I don't know Glen. If you Google for Kazumura Cave you will find a ton of photos and information, and plus there are the links here that HADave provided, but after sifting through it, I didn't find anything specific regarding a main HPP entrance. There are many
entrances to Kazumura but not all explored yet (which means hopefully there are still artifacts left untouched...from what we've heard much of the our caves have been desecrated.)

Just wanted to post real quick that my 15 y.o. son went on the Kazumura tour with Harry Schick out of Glenwood area (the one Hanaelei mentioned http://www.fortunecity.com/oasis/angkor/176/, and he absolutely loved it. My son, Jordan, said Harry "answered my questions faster than I could think up more." Jordan's like an information sponge and a super fast learner, so that's saying a lot.

They did the 2 hour one and Jordan can't wait to go back for the 4 hour. I was there for the introduction, and I was very impressed. The guide is quite protective of the cave (doesn't allow food in there, discourages touching the walls, etc.), very knowledgeable about this cave and lava tube caves in general and quite on the lookout for our safety.

I made it down the entrance ladder, but my agorophobia kicked in about three feet from the first lava fall and I just froze, couldn't walk up to the edge to the ladder.
Should have crawled but the lava's sharp and I didn't have on knee pads. I'm going to work on this though because from what Jordan described and what I learned from Harry's mother (who helped build the ladders and gave me a virtual tour during the two hour wait) and what I've seen in the photos, I reeealy want to go. I did it for the Na Pali. The agoraphobia comes and goes, and I think once I get back into reasonable shape I'll be able to handle.

Anyway I'm thrilled for my son to have had this adventure and an interest now in something on this island.

Cindy

http://www.CoconutRoads.com
"Taking you to the Heart of Hawaii"

Edited by - Cindy Blankenship on 09/24/2007 11:41:57

Edited by - Cindy Blankenship on 09/24/2007 11:44:29