Hawaii Caving Travelogue 2010

From the Desert of Kau and Beyond

In the early 1990s, Rose, Ric and a couple others surveyed Goat Cave which is on their property below the entrance to Kula Kai Caverns. This cave is part of the integrated Kanohina system, over the extensive Kula Kai section. The original notes were never entered into the master data set. As a part of our effort to complete a number of unsurveyed sections of cave in this region, we did a resurvey on Friday the 12th of Feb.

The cave is a little over 1000 feet long with a single side passage. There are two entrances, and wonderful formations, particularly in the upper section. We had tied to the upper entrance with surveys from other segments of cave the day before. Peter Bosted surveyed with R&R, while Mike & Emily surveyed with Don Coons.

Ric shows the first of may goats that made their last visit to this cave.

Don worked the camera and book.

A high lead did not turn up any likely passage, but did give a nice overlook.

The side passage has a large area of fractured ceiling with extruded lava.

An example of the plentiful mineral formations.

...And of the goats throughout.

After the survey, we worked with Don to document the upper cave.