Thurston Lava Tube

Joanna Wirkus

September 24, 2003

A lava tube is formed when the top of a pool of lava cools and insulates the interior. Many of these form the underground plumbing of Hawaii's volcanoes. Most are small or weak and not fit to be explored by humans. One of the tamed lava tubes that is safe to enter is the Thuston Lava Tube. This was the place that introduced me to absolute darkness.

My parents and I approached the opening to the lava tube after a short hike through lush vegetation, mostly consisting of ferns. The entrance to the lava tube was like a huge mouth opening to swallow up whoever came in. Inside the sound of water dripping and footsteps enveloped my ears while my eyes were still adjusting to the dim lighting set to the sides. When we got to the other end I asked my dad what he thought and all he could respond with was "It was cool." The limitations of the English language had posed boundaries rendering this experience difficult to put into words.

The ever-shifting ground had at one point broken the lava tube in half, exposing it in the middle. Here was the exit for those who dare not go farther. The other half of the lava tube was untamed and only lighted by what flashlight one brings. My daring nature tempted me to explore the unseen and dark mysteries of what lay before me. Then I was challenged with the dilemma that we only had one flashlight. Therefore I stubbornly refused to go in. My parents said that we were on a tight schedule and that we there was not enough time to go back. We returned to the car and I stopped talking to my parents until they let me go back with a flashlight of my own. I did every thing I could so they knew I was mad at them. I stayed angry until my manipulative actions changed their minds. This worked and we returned to the dark opening that led to the cold underground.

I almost started complaining that the flashlight was not bright enough and I would not go in unless I had a brighter one, but I knew that would not work. We proceeded on our journey. I could not see anything, not the formations hanging from the ceiling, nor the roots of the plants above us. Nothing was visible unless it was right below me where I kept my flashlight beam directly on it. I did not spend time marveling the inside of the underground chamber, and instead kept my flashlight focused on the floor so I would not trip. That did not help much because it was so dark. The darkness just engulfed the light and made it almost obsolete. The sound of water dripping saturated my ears. The whole time I was faced with the fear of tube collapsing while we were in it. Past the first turn I lost sight of everything. My eyes could not accept the state of being so useless. The nothingness washed over me like a wave and my hearing and sense of touch took over. The total darkness sw! allowed us whole. I beckoned my dad to go back "Come on dad, lets go back" I pleaded.

"No, lets just go around this turn,"

"Please dad, it is dark," Sensing the fear in my voice he agreed to go back.

This was not a once in a life time experience because I know I will be back. Next time, though, I will finish what I started. This was a feeling I never thought possible, but one that I will never forget. I have never been afraid of the dark, since I am always aspiring to see the unseen. This dark, though, was so different, almost unfamiliar. This total darkness was so separating that it is hard to comprehend and put into words.