Ana Te Pahu
A large lava tube you can walk through. Bananas and taro grow where the roof has collapsed, and it was an ancient 'underground garden' and dwelling.
Ana Te Pahu is a lava tube several hundred meters long. Parts of its roof have collapsed, forming several skylights. The sunken areas near the openings have moist soil, where the ancient people grew bananas, taro and sweet potatoes. They also used the cave to store water, to live in and to hide during wars. Stone hearths and other remains can still be seen inside. You can walk part of the cave and exit through another opening. The ground is slippery and littered with rubble, so bring a headlamp. The site is in the national park fee zone, and entry requires a national park ticket and a licensed guide (subject to current regulations). It is near Ahu Akivi and is often visited together with Akivi and Puna Pau.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–18:00 (per park rules)
Nearby sights
- Ahu Akivi
- Ahu Te Peu
- Ana Kakenga (Two Windows Cave)
- Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum
- Maunga Terevaka
- Puna Pau
- Ahu Tahai
- Ahu Huri a Urenga