There is a entire world that you most likely have yet to experience, just beneath your feet, under the earth’s surface. These seven caves, tunnels, and even attractions that lie just beneath the surface of Hawaii will have you wishing you could pack your bags and head underground.
- Sea Caves
Samuel Yu/Flickr Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, you will find beautiful caves carved on the seaside. Though it’s obviously not very practical – and probably pretty dangerous – I can’t imagine a better view than the one from this Kauai sea cave to wake up to every morning.
- Moiliili Caves
Ferdinand Buquing/Facebook These cavernous limestone caves, which sit below the Oahu neighborhood of Moilili, are dark, cramped, full of water, and unbelievably cool, especially in this light. The caves’ limestone base was formed from an old coral reef, and rainwater caused erosion, creating the caves.
- Kaumana Cave
John Loo/Flickr Kaumana Cave is actually a skylight in a 25-mile long lava tube created by an 1881 flow from Mauna Loa. Unfortunately, exploration within the lava tube is forbidden due to it being on private property. You can, however, drop into the tunnel through a skylight via metal ladder.
- Red Hill
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr Located deep underground, Red Hill is a fuel-storage facility, one of Hawaii’s most audacious engineering feats. Twenty reinforced concrete fuel tanks – holding approximately 252 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel – were built here as a fuel reserve for the military during World War II. The existence of Red Hill was a state secret from 1943 until the early 1990s when it was declassified.
- The Vintage Cave
Vintage Cave/Facebook Perhaps the most luxurious cave you could ever find, The Vintage Cave’s brick walls are covered with artwork by Pablo Picasso, Anton Molnar, and others, valued at more than $1 billion. 29-year-old chef Chris Kajioka sources the most unusual ingredients found on the island, and the wine cellar is what dreams are made of. I can’t determine if the Vintage Cave actually sits underground, but it definitely looks like it does – and I would live here in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it is the most expensive and exclusive club on Oahu – with $295 meals, and membership fees starting at $5,000.
- Waianapanapa Caves
Steve Isaacs/Flickr Located on Maui’s Road to Hana within Waianapanapa State Park, are these magnificent sea caves with a sinister past – it is the site of the ancient murder of Popu’alaea by her husband, King Ka’akea. I don’t know about you, but I might not want to live in this particular underground location.
- “The Open Ocean” at Maui Ocean Center
James Darpinian/Flickr What if, instead of living underground, you were able to live under the water? Well, you can get a taste of underwater living at the Maui Ocean Center’s “Open Ocean,” a 54-foot acrylic tunnel that offers 360-degree views of marine life, including manta rays, sharks, sting rays, and tropical fish.
Aren’t these caves and tunnels absolutely magnificent? Would you ever consider living in an underground home?
Samuel Yu/Flickr
Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, you will find beautiful caves carved on the seaside. Though it’s obviously not very practical – and probably pretty dangerous – I can’t imagine a better view than the one from this Kauai sea cave to wake up to every morning.
Ferdinand Buquing/Facebook
These cavernous limestone caves, which sit below the Oahu neighborhood of Moilili, are dark, cramped, full of water, and unbelievably cool, especially in this light. The caves’ limestone base was formed from an old coral reef, and rainwater caused erosion, creating the caves.
John Loo/Flickr
Kaumana Cave is actually a skylight in a 25-mile long lava tube created by an 1881 flow from Mauna Loa. Unfortunately, exploration within the lava tube is forbidden due to it being on private property. You can, however, drop into the tunnel through a skylight via metal ladder.
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr
Located deep underground, Red Hill is a fuel-storage facility, one of Hawaii’s most audacious engineering feats. Twenty reinforced concrete fuel tanks – holding approximately 252 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel – were built here as a fuel reserve for the military during World War II. The existence of Red Hill was a state secret from 1943 until the early 1990s when it was declassified.
Vintage Cave/Facebook
Perhaps the most luxurious cave you could ever find, The Vintage Cave’s brick walls are covered with artwork by Pablo Picasso, Anton Molnar, and others, valued at more than $1 billion. 29-year-old chef Chris Kajioka sources the most unusual ingredients found on the island, and the wine cellar is what dreams are made of. I can’t determine if the Vintage Cave actually sits underground, but it definitely looks like it does – and I would live here in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it is the most expensive and exclusive club on Oahu – with $295 meals, and membership fees starting at $5,000.
Steve Isaacs/Flickr
Located on Maui’s Road to Hana within Waianapanapa State Park, are these magnificent sea caves with a sinister past – it is the site of the ancient murder of Popu’alaea by her husband, King Ka’akea. I don’t know about you, but I might not want to live in this particular underground location.
James Darpinian/Flickr
What if, instead of living underground, you were able to live under the water? Well, you can get a taste of underwater living at the Maui Ocean Center’s “Open Ocean,” a 54-foot acrylic tunnel that offers 360-degree views of marine life, including manta rays, sharks, sting rays, and tropical fish.
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