Highly recommend!! we had so much fun getting to understand the national park and the different…read moreways a volcano erupts, the process and stories behind all of it was worth it. The go into so many details and you can feel the passion with which they explain things. Loved it

Chris the Lava Boy gave us a tour of a lifetime and we knocked off one of our bucket list items!!…read more Chris shared stories with us about his Hawaiian heritage and the local impact of Kilauea, while walking us to the gorgeous views of the Volcanic lava entrance into the ocean. Following checking out the ocean entry a few of us in our party continued our hike into the darkness to find the active lava fields. we felt safe the whole time and chris was well prepared with snacks , water , and flashlights. It Was an amazing experience to get close enough to the lava where you can feel the heat on your skin and hair! Chris took pictures for our group and was very flexible for any requests we had while viewing the lava fields. Chris also has prime access to the national park. So his private parking access cuts about 4 miles off of your round trip so you have more time to spend watching the lava! I strongly recommend taking the hike to the fields and if im back in the Big Island i will def go back to the fields (or further) with the Lava Boy! Thanks Chris!

Super fun, thoughtful crew; Nick, Avery and Myra!! Beautiful park and a great value. We learned…read moreabout some flora and fauna as well!

Hands down one of the best experiences we had on the Big Island. We got super lucky -- it ended up…read morebeing just me and my boyfriend on the tour, and it felt like a completely personalized adventure from start to finish. The entire team was unbelievably nice. Not just polite -- genuinely warm, fun, and so welcoming. They took the time to get to know us, made us laugh, hyped us up, and really made the whole experience memorable. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in how they treat every guest. The ziplines were gorgeous, safe, and such a thrill, but the guides truly made it next level. It didn't feel rushed or routine at all. Instead, it felt like hanging out with friends who just happen to be amazing at their job. We loved it so much and would recommend this place in a heartbeat. If you're on the Big Island, this is absolutely a must-do.

The Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary has a truly special history as a multi-generational reforestation…read moreproject, and that profound energy is palpable the moment you step into its lush, misty trails. At a transitional point in my life after some major changes, I discovered their Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) experience. As a first-timer, I was blown away--it felt deeply spiritual and cleansing, with guided invitations to slow down, breathe in the cool forest air, listen to the birds and rustling leaves, and connect mindfully with the ancient trees and vibrant ecosystem. I highly recommend this for anyone seeking personal growth, healing, or simply a reset amid life's junctors. Our guide, Bri, was exceptional--knowledgeable, intuitive, and truly essential to unlocking the full magic of the experience. Request her if you can! For visitors to Hawai'i, don't miss this hidden gem on the uplands of the Big Island. It's a serene contrast to the beaches, showcasing the island's diverse, restorative natural side. As a lucky Holualoa resident, I'm excited to explore more offerings, especially the Sound Bath Meditation Journey, tree-planting volunteer opportunities, and Bri's new Exploring Within: A Music & Movement Journey in Nature. p.s. make sure you use their natural mosquito spray before heading out!

I loved everything about this tour and our tour guide Daniel was amazing. He was so knowledgeable…read moreabout the cloud forest and able to point out different species of trees and the overall history of the called forest along our tour. This place is definitely up in the clouds and gets really cold. There are a variety of tours that are offered and I ended up taking a hike and a sound bath. The hike was about a mile long and it looped around the cloud forest, so there's no way you can get lost. They are still actively working to plant trees and they have volunteer opportunities on the weekends for locals which I think it's a great option. This is such a peaceful and amazing way to learn about the history of the island along with ways to protect the trees and other plants that are being planted there. In addition to the hiking, there is also birdwatching and there's also a sound bath that is offered. I ended up doing the sound bath and it was just absolutely amazing, and it was really amazing right after the hike. I highly recommend both of these activities and to try to do them back to back. Both are such a relax and experience and it's also helping to reclaim the natural Kona world from deforestation.

Our 4:30am lava hike was one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island. We met up at their…read moreoffice close to the Kalapana Gardens at 4am, checked in, signed some papers and got snacks and coffee (included in the tour). It is recommended that you wear long pants (but some did it in shorts) and requires that you have shoes that cover your toes (no water shoes or sandals). I did it in work out legging and sneakers and my boyfriend did it in jeans and hiking boots. We were both fine and neither of our shoes melted though at one point, his feet got really hot bc I made him stand by the lava for so long for a picture. Bring a good amount of water or your camelback and a hoodie bc it was cold in the morning. They provide you with good headlamps and flashlights since you are hiking in the dark. We were in a group of 12 or so and we loaded up in their nice van and drove out to start our hike. They take you as far as you can go on the road (where people would be otherwise renting bikes or walking) so it saves you some walking. From there, it's just up the lava you go. It was nice that the tour guide told us to take a look at the lava rocks and the texture which was glass like. Basically a warning to tell you don't slip and fall bc this stuff might hurt you. As we walked, it sounded like glass shards breaking under us and we walked towards orange glows up the mountain. Eventually we made it while it was still dark and it was crazy you could feel the heat as you got close to the lava. We spent an hour or so taking pictures of and with the lava and relocating to a few other areas with lava as it eventually got light. We hiked back down the same way and ended around 8:30am. Highly recommend this company as they do a good job making everyone feel safe and we completed the hike at a nice pace. They do not allow kids under 12 and it's probably not recommended for anyone over 50. There are parts where you might have to hop down or take a big step up or down and keep your balance. Our group did a good job and most were in their 20's and 30's and maybe one brave solo hiker in her 40's. Super worth it to wake up early and experience this in Hawaii!

The best thing I've done in Hawaii! We went out on their second day with the new (bigger) boat,…read morewhich provides a pretty smooth ride. We did the sunrise tour, which I would highly recommend. You get to the flow while it's still dark and can watch the sunrise out of the ocean which is another awesome aspect. Parts of the flow were breaking away while we were out there causing new patterns of flowing lava, it's just ever changing the entire time you're watching. A bonus was while on the way back, we came upon a pod of bottle nose dolphins and they swam along with us for awhile. No sooner we left those to continue to the dock, we came up on a pod of spinner dolphins. We absolutely recommend this and it is worth every single penny. Looking forward to doing this again next time we're on the island

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Wilson and the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars excursion…read more Wilson was incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable and I learned so much! He did all of this while navigating steep roads (not all paved) and feeding us amazing chicken stew, cookies, and hot cocoa. This was a truly memorable and magical trip and the weather was just perfect! Everything was well organized and I cannot recommend them enough

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

My husband, 1yr old son, and I spent the day touring the big island with Savannah and Keola. We…read morewere greeted with leis and smiles! Really felt the "Aloha Spirit" with them. We were so grateful to find a tour that was kid friendly and they made it so easy with accommodating our son and potty/diaper changing stops. The van was very clean and comfortable with a tv screen that showed educational videos about where we were about to visit. Both Keola and Savannah would chime into the videos and tell different stories that connected with the video, felt very interactive. We had a blast and would 100% recommend!

From the owner: Exploring a new Island may lead to unneeded stress. Don't worry leave it to us your Hawaii Local…read moreConnection to take care of you like ohana (family). All of our tours are done Hawaiian local style full of ALOHA. Lots of fun and laughter will be shared during your tour. We will assure your safety is our #1 priority. Then let the fun times roll. These tours are suited for all ages and fitness levels. If weather is not ideal, we got you covered. We will provide umbrellas and alternat sites to visit if needed. We will provide snacks nonalcoholic drinks and lunches. You will also be driven around in a luxury mercerize sprinter van equipped with a large tv. We will be featuring rare Hawaii videos of Historic lava events, Hawaiian Legends of the lava/fire goddess Pele, Hula dancing and the connection to Pele, and much more options. You will be able to kick back and relax on "Hawaiian time" while we drive you around to visit some of Hawaii's most breath-taking sites. Let us take care of you and show you true Aloha. About Hawaii Local Connection Tours LLC Hawaii Local Connection tours is a 100% local, family-owned company, operating on the big island of Hawaii. Our tours specialize in a fully customizable authentic local island experience. We can take you almost anywhere you want to go on the island with a variety of epic scenic locations available to choose from, with native guides bilingual in Hawaiian-Pidgin and English. We are here to serve you as your Hawaii local connection.

Joel is a phenomenal tour guide!!! This was the best excursion of our trip! His tour is equal parts…read moreinformative and fun, and he is a great photographer to boot!!! We had a blast chatting him up and he kept cracking us up with his great sense of humor! He showed us all the best sites and even some hidden gems that I didn't even know were on my Hawaii bucket list!!! Be prepared to laugh and sit back, relax, and have the best time ever!!! 10/10 would definitely do it again!!!

From the owner: Big Island Hawaii Private Volcano Tours and Lava Tours…read more Located on the Volcanic side of the Big Island of Hawaii Private Volcano Tours These are all private, Custom tours. Your group only. Pricing is for the group, Not per person.

Seriously hands down the best tour group on the Big Island! They were super welcoming, very kind…read moreand helpful, knowledgeable, and accommodating of/to us. They made us feel extremely at ease and right at home (we were visiting from Oahu. We were able to get nearly everything on my itinerary done and it would not have been possible without them! They truly made our visit an unforgettable and meaningful experience.

We loved snorkeling in Kona. We saw so many beautiful fish, dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles!…read moreWe traveled from the east side of the island and it was so worth it. The drive through the volcanoes at sunrise was unforgettable. Also made some new friends on our boat who told us so many more low key spots to check out! Was an amazing day in Hawaii