'Ana Hulu

Hulu Cave - Anahulu

Useful Information

Location:	Near Haveluliku village on the east coast of Tongatapu. 15 km east of Nuku'alofa.
Open:	No restrictions. [2012]
Fee:	Adults TOP 5. [2012]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch/electric
Dimension:	L=400m
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	entrance low, many steps
Bibliography:
Address:	'Anahulucave Sightseeing Tours and Travel Ltd, Tel: +676-23363, Tel: +676-23690, Tel: +676-24506, Cell: +676-7772401, Fax: +676-23238. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

'Ana Hulu is a karst cave with speleothems formed inside coral limestone. It is located near the village of Haveluliku on the eastern side of Tongatapu. Anahulu Beach is just in front of the entrance of the cave and is great for snorkeling and swimming.

The name is often written Anahulu Cave, which is completely wrong. The name is actually 'Ana Hulu which means Hulu Cave, as 'ana is the Polynesian word for cave. So as a result Anahulu Cave contains the term cave twice.

The cave is 400 m long and has several freshwater pool. The biggest pool is a popular bathing spot, it seems the fresh water is clean enough to allow bathing. There are stairs and a path leading to the pool and electric light. The light is on when the caretaker is at the cave, but the cave is also open when he is not around. In this case a torch is very helpful.

The pools are up to 8 m deep and are anchialine pools, which means they are landlocked with a subterranean connection to the ocean. Some also have salt water at the bottom, the water is stratified with a halokline, which is the border between the salt water and sweet water layer. The pools contain cave-adapted atyid shrimps and amphipods.

Nearby is a second cave, named Haveluliku Cave after the village. It is a single large circular chamber bordered by a crescent-shaped pool. The pool contains underwater speleothems.