Great selection of bikes and really genuine people. We rented two bikes at 5am and they happily were waiting for us in the wee hours of the morning. Lost our GoPro after the exhausting morning. Kaimu found it and safely returned it. They provided flashlights and locks! Kaimu also has snacks and Wet Naps available for post ride. Efficiency, Loyalty and Snacks. What more could a girl want? read more

If you plan to see the lava beyond the viewing point (which wasn't all that exciting), rent a bike, ride down until you reach the final barricades, and hike toward the mountain. Two miles in and you'll be just a few feet from surface lava. It was surreal! There are many bike rental shops in this area, but Kaimu Rentals seems like the most legit. You can reserve online, and they provide everything you need (flashlight, lock, first aid kit). The ladies working the counter we're extremely friendly (shout out to the gal from Walla Walla!) and the guys who sized us for our bikes were helpful. Overall, awesome service and experience. read more

See all

Very friendly and helpful staff. We rented four bikes plus one tandem ride along setup to ride out to see the lava flow. Bikes were in good working order but maybe a little older/used than other vendors, but we liked the service and attention and friendliness at Kaimu. Upon return the lady behind the counter heard our son had a couple minor scrapes (from climbing and jumping around on the lava flow rocks) and she insisted on helping us cleaning his scrapes with with peroxide, and apply ointment and a bandaid! These are kind people that care about their customers and they were very patient and helpful to everyone I saw them interact with. Their bikes also included locks, first aid kit, and lots of LED flashlights for the ride back. Would definitely recommend and rent from again! read more

I feel bad giving 1 star because the people were very nice, but here's what happened: we booked 2 bikes to go see the lava for $60 total. Our reservation was for the next day. When we showed up at the rental tent, no one was there. Another bike rental company told us no one from Kaimu Rentals came that day. They thought it might have to do with a flash flood warning in Hilo earlier in the day. No one from Kaimu Rentals contacted us to tell us that they were closed. Luckily we were able to rent at another location. All this would have been fine if we had received a refund, but that never happened. Even after I called several times and they told me they would refund my money, no refund ever came. This seemed like an isolated incident and it probably wouldn't happen again, but that was our experience. You might be better off going with a different company or just driving down there and renting from whoever is open and has bikes. read more

My wife and I were excitedly looking forward to renting a bike to take to the volcano viewing platform area, and we prepaid for a rental and transport at Kaimu Rental. When we arrived, we were turned away from going to the launch point by a uniformed parks person. They told us that the fumes from the volcano were too strong so they weren't permitting people to go the volcano route. Disappointed, we turned around and left Kaimu a message with the news. They never called us back, and so we wrote asking for a refund of the money that we prepaid, and they haven't gotten back to us for 3 days now. I have filed a dispute with the credit card company. I would think twice before using this company for your bike rental. EDIT: after my posting 3 separate reviews stating my experience here, Kaimu did refund my money so I am changing my review to 3 stars. Wish it didn't have to come to this point. read more

Nice bike made for an awesome experience!! I rented the chainless 3-speed and it worked perfectly. I rode with a 15 lb backpack loaded with my camera equipment and water/Gatorade. I tracked both rides with MapMyRide as well: 15 min out and 20 min back in, at 3.65 miles each direction; with a min elevation of 59.5 ft and max elevation of 104 ft. I'm an occasional bike commuter and I found the ride to be easy. If you're not accustomed to off-road riding, make sure you stay well off of the shoulders since the rocks are loose and you could lose control quite easily. I paid for my bike online at 5:30pm and picked it up at 6:15pm. Pick up was easy, just sign in and give them your cell number. They give you a fanny pack with a bike lock and first aid kit, and their on-site cell number if you have an emergency. On the route there is a set of porta-potties about halfway. My only issue is that my bike came with two cheapie flashlights (think those dollar store ones), and the brackets kept sliding around so I had to hold one flashlight still with one hand on the return ride. Not a huge deal but definitely slowed me down. Nicer, sturdier brackets (not that expensive of an upgrade to their bikes) would've made for a much safer night ride, so minus 1/2 star. I saw quite a few families riding back and forth. While I thought the ride was easy, I would think twice about throwing the kiddos in the mix. My wife and kids opted out, so I was able to go at my pace. While the lava viewing is amazing, it might be less so if your kids are overheated/frustrated after riding out to it. You can decide what the right balance is for your family. I would definitely recommend renting a bike vs walking. There are many rental tents out there, but this is one of the largest and most reputable ones. Their online payment system made the whole thing quick and easy. read more

They made it so easy to bike to the lava flow. We reserved three adult bikes on line and they were ready when we got there. Bikes worked great and included lights. Water and hand washing available. We opted out of helmets. Some reviewers complain about the bike condition... Ignore them. Are you renting for the tour de France? Expect a sushi buffet and white gloved waiters? This is a short ride and the bikes are fine. Try renting at the national park... You can't. And please don't come if you need an electric bike or shuttle van... Stick to the resort tours. Heck I saw 4 year olds as happy as can be with no trouble ... So that is the level of biking here. Don't listen to all the whiners complaining about it being dark or a rough road or fumes. This is a lava flow people not Disney Land. A few out of shape people out there struggled with what we found to be a fun easy ride. If conditions get bad it's not the bike rentals fault. Rain happens. If the authorities say fumes are too bad ... That's for your safety. We had no problems. Expect a smooth gravel road with some gentle hills. There were a lot of people walking and biking along with us. Get there early if you want a good seat for sunset. You'll be sitting on rough lava so bring something to sit on. read more

The only rental place that'll be open around 4-5am so that you can bike out and see the volcanic glow. Bike quality is a little low, but the shop owners have great customer service and ensure you have a working bike. They even provide flashlights for your journey! read more

Kaimu Rentals - Bike Rentals Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

We rented bikes for a party of 10 to visit the volcano national park and see the lava pouring into the ocean. It was about a 4-5 mile bike each way, and they have a decent selection of bikes (meaning mountain bikes, not beach cruisers). They had a limited number of helmets though so I got stuck with a hot pink little kid helmet which fit my head somewhat awkwardly. The bikes come equipped with two flashlights, one that is removable so you can walk around with it, and the other which is tied to the bike. Tip: If you're riding at night, make sure to check your flashlights before you leave, because both of my flashlight batteries were at the end of their lives so my flashlights were super dim. The bike rental place has great customer service and it a great option for getting to see the volcano national park. The bike ride itself was pretty easy on the way out (for someone that is moderately in shape) but the way back was a pretty hard ride, mainly because the wind picked up a lot. It's good exercise but if you have young kids or really out-of-shape people in your group, I'd reconsider. They also have bike trailers for the really little ones and tandem bikes if you want to do 1 parent + 1 kid on the bike. Overall, I'd highly recommend this place. read more

Kaimu Rentals - Bike riding through Hawaii National Volcanic Park - Bike Rentals Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Affordable, bikes sufficient for casual riders, and great service. The online booking process was extremely easy and the staff checking us in and helping us with the bikes were super friendly. After having done the ride with the mid afternoon sun overhead I would HIGHLY recommend doing the ride early in the morning or around sunset. If not, take LOTS of water (more than you think you'll need), wear a hat, and lather on that sunscreen. Also, I wouldn't recommend wearing flip-flops for the ride- the ride itself isn't difficult but walking over the old lava flows in them can be challenging. Take a few pictures but don't waste all of your time trying to find the perfect shot for your Instagram feed- this one of the few places on earth where you can witness the creation of new land so enjoy it! read more

Great quality bikes to choose from! Great staff, too, especially Shelly! Gave us bottles of water, plus had cold water available for refills of hydroflasks and bottles when returning. Gave us a basket for our "treasures", a 1st aid kit w/ their phone number on it (JIC), as well as a lock to make sure we didn't have to walk back:P I will say that they ask you to choose a bike, but do not tell you right off the bat that they may have different costs ($15+). My 11yo chose a bike that was $25. May want to ask first. I would also recommend going through ALL gears while in the pkg lot to ensure they are good. Found out my 3 & 4th gears were off once we came back. I wasn't imagining it, which was good. But did make my trip a bit more work than it needed to be by skipping 2 gears and not being overly familiar with biking. Would totally recommend making a reservation 1st!!! read more

This place is the best place to rent bikes for your Lava flow experience. I called ahead of time to make sure they had an electric bike for me and other bikes for our group. We got to the location and they had everything reserved for us. The only thing to know is some of their bikes are beaten up and heavily used. My electric bike was awesome in every way. A couple of my friends wished they would have chosen their bikes a little more carefully. They had a guy repairing bikes in their booth. One of my friends rode a blue, beat up, rusty old Schwinn bike. 4 employees told him how awesome it was beforehand. They were right. It looked old and crappy but he said it was the best bike experience. He said the gears worked like magic. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend a bike as opposed to walking to and from the Lava flow. read more

Fun and somewhat challenging ride and short walk to see where the lava flow hit the ocean. read more

Kaimu Rentals - View after a short hike - Bike Rentals Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

See all

Very nice bikes and people! Front suspension was nice for the 9 mile round trip. The bikes have just enough gears for the slight incline. The lave "fire hose" was really cool, not sure if the show is normally this spectacular. Next time I will get up early and do the sunrise. read more

Did everything right. Our lights were a bit dim towards the end but they were great! They were very helpful and efficient as well as convenient! So thankful considering the trek itself was a bit grueling. We didn't have to go far to return the bikes. Don't miss the hotdog guy, we got the elk and after that bike ride, I swear I had died and gone to heaven! read more

Friendly people but old and poorly maintained bikes. I booked for my family before arriving and upon arrival wished I had booked elsewhere as there were several other places located right next door with better bikes. Not only were the bikes in poor condition but the flashlights were too. More specifically, for my too short bike the front brakes did not work, the pedals were stiff, the tires were in the flat side and the seat hard. One of my children's bike's chain kept slipping on the crank, on the other, the seat was hard plastic and the gears did not shift. That boy was crying by the end of the trip. Yay. read more

I had several issues with this experience. The helmet would not stay on my head, no matter how tightly I adjusted the strap and the wheel. By the time I made it back, my bike seat had wiggled all the way down, forcing me to ride at a maladjusted height. The flashlights on the bike are puny. The biggest issue they don't emphasize is that if you stay until dark to get the best view of the lava, you are riding your bike 4 miles back IN THE DARK. The road on the first mile back is large soft gravel, difficult to negotiate in daylight, much less in the dark. The flashlights on the bike do not provide enough light. It is a long stressful ride back - its hard to keep the bike straight, you don't know you're on a downhill until to pick up speed, you don't see the bumps and dips and cannot see to maneuver around hazards. The cars coming back in to pick up people blind you. I recommend finding a company that provides a head lamp on the helmet or take your own he Its ridiculous to pay for them to come and get you. You still have to ride two miles to get to the point where they can pick you up. If you're in good shape the best option is to walk with your own quality high powered flashlight. read more

Horrible and dangerous experience with this incredibly shady business. They gave us a bike and carriage (which had our two young children in it) and the handlebar broke on the way back. It was incredibly dangerous and I'm so thankful my husband didn't get into an accident. Upon finally returning (after a 4 mile walk back pulling the bike, the carriage and two kids) to their little booth there was zero sign of remorse and no apology given. They tell you to call them if anything happens but they know full well that there is no cell service out there. The two older people a man and woman looked at the bike and said "that's the fourth time that happened". If it's the fourth time handlebars have fallen off a bike STOP RENTING THE BIKE OUT. These people should be sued! There are several bike and transportation options available once you get close. Save your life - don't rent from these morons! read more

Place was open super early even though the signs says otherwise. In fact they were the only ones open at the time of our arrival. He was very pleasant and was very helpful. He provided us along with the bike rentals a bag that has first aid kit and a lock for the bike once we reach the area that you shouldn't ride a Bike on. He also made recommendations which was very helpful. He also provided us ponchos because it rained every now and then. Easy checking in and out with no hassle. They also provided coolers of water once you come back from that long bike ride. read more

Do not make my mistake! Do not book (and pay for) their bikes in advance! (A) your booking doesn't mean anything, (B) there are many bike rental places on this 300 foot stretch of the road - most of them don't show up in online searches, and most of them actually have working bikes. For example, the place right across from Kaimu had much newer bikes. It is definitely worth it to have bikes when going to see the lava flow, and the road is not difficult at all (gravel is annoying though). Just rent working bikes from a different place. Now the full story. I called upfront to ask if they had two 20" bikes with gears, for my kids. They assured me that they did and asked to make an online reservation, which I did. Once we got there, turned out that they had three 20" bikes total, two of them with gears, only one of them actually moving. The gear switch on that one was so tight that there was no way my 9 year old could switch them. But since they had no other options we got that one, and I was switching my kid's gears before/after larger uphills. My 10 year old got a 24" bike, even though it was a little big for him, we had no other option. He tried all three 24" they had and found one that was mostly functional, except the gear shifter would stick occasionally. Kaimu guy adjusted it in front of us and it worked fine on the way there. However, as soon as we started on the way back, it got stuck permanently in high gear, so my son had to walk it up the steeper uphills. My wife tried three bikes. First had no working gears, second had an obviously bent frame, in the rear, behind the seat, so the rear wheel was catching the frame. She settled on the third one, even though it had no rear brakes, but at that point we were not very picky. What we didn't notice was a sharp bolt sticking out on the left side of the frame for no apparent reason. Half way though the trip she caught on it and tore a chunk out of her pant leg. Speaking of rear brakes. Between the 4 of us we tried 11 bikes and the rear breaks did not work on 10 of them. To the point that with the break fully engaged, I could easily keep pedaling. After some discussion we were assured that there were no steep downhills on the road and we'll be fine with only front breaks (and we were). The only bike with working rear break was the second bike I tried. Unfortunately, as soon as we started the trip and I switched into high gear its chain came off. Good thing I was only a 1000 ft from the shop. We were not the only people who had issues with Kaimu bikes. When we came back there was a couple getting their money back. A pregnant lady rented an electric bike, which failed half-way through. Her husband was able to pull her bike with his by tying their belts together. To recap, after reserving two 20" bikes with gears we got one 20" and one 24", and neither had fully working gears. I wanted to get my money back before we started, and rent the bikes across the street, but by that time we wasted an hour trying out bikes and getting them adjusted, so we were running out of time to get to the lava flow by sunset. Disclaimer: I mountain bike almost every weekend. Both of my kids have mountain bikes and go on easier trails with me. They definitely know how to use gears. read more

5 for the bikes and the experience! Rented in early December. Kaimu Rentals was under/paired with another company name that day, but they had our reservation, info, bikes and equipment. All went smoothly. The adventure is not to be missed! It was exhilirating, surreal and if I'm being honest, a little unnerving too. It's surprising how close you can get to the lava flows and how quickly it cools/turns black. Note: Be prepared to hike for more than 45 min. if returning in the dark. The terrain is rough, there are no real trails (helps to follow the crushed lava "paths"...I call them that very loosely...when and where you can) and you will frequently have to change routes due to fissures/"chasms" that you can't see until you're very close to them due to the darkness. read more

The view of the volcano and the night sky was really cool, but the trip to and from there was horrible with their bikes. We decided to go with their electric bikes because we were going to attach trollies. But DO NOT make the mistake of getting electric bikes from here, they DIE half way through. When we told them about the problem, they didn't care and even told us that it was very heavy for the electric motor with a trolley. They even told us we should have called them but they never gave us "a bag" with lights and information to call them. Absolute joke, don't even go with regular bikes because the gears are broke, you will probably be going uphill on the highest gear all day. Just get it from somewhere else. read more

$20 for each is a bit too steep especially when the Bikes are in terrible condition, badly in need of a tune up. The shifters don't work. The bike lights are terrible. Even with 4 lights (2 on mine and 2 on my husband') we could barely see anything on our way back from the volcano viewing area. The bikes don't come with bottle holders either. Nor did we get any helmets. We saw some right as we parked that were renting out bikes with helmet, lights, and water bottle for $15. Couldn't get that because they'd almost run out. read more

Kaimu Rentals - Bike Rentals Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

If you're doing the lava flows you need to rent a bike. Easily cuts the trip in half and makes your vacation actually be a vacation. We rented the bikes and it was some of the best money we spent on our vacation. read more

Loved visiting the lava flow by bike! We ordered online around 10pm for pickup at 430am the next morning. We were running about a half hour late but were greeted early morning by the friendliest 2 guys. They outfitted us with perfectly-sized bikes, gave us instructions on how to get to the viewing area, and sent us on our way. The ride there was pretty easy and mostly downhill. It was dark and the lights on the bike didn't help much but enough to avoid potholes. Plus since we were a little late, the sun was already starting to light our way. I definitely recommend going as early as possible to see the lava better and enjoy the sunrise. I'm not gonna lie. Going back was much harder since it was mostly inclines and hotter with the sun up. What kept me motivated was meeting a 70+ year old couple who also rented bikes! Once we got back, the lady who greeted us talked about how a lot of the lava land used to be homes and thriving businesses. Sad to think about all that was lost but one has to respect the magnificent power of Nature. If you choose to go by bike, I definitely recommend going with Kaimu. Friendly people and convenient service. read more

Kaimu Rentals - Around 5:25am - Bike Rentals Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Not helpful at all. Tried to call the day before for info, left a message, no return call. Price quoted on website was $20 for ride 1/2 way. They said $30 if you didn't reserve on line. This was not clear on their site. Asked to honor that rate since no call back, declined. Guess they didn't want the business. Across from them was free ride out and only $10 back. Soooo worth it and MUCH more friendlier. Too bad they are not customer focused. read more

These guys were lifesavers! We were tired from touring the island most of the day and were somewhat frantic to fit in a viewing of the lava flow. When we heard it was a 9mi hike to the lava we were somewhat disheartened, but then we found Kaimu Rentals offering bikes! We're so glad we chose them. They were extremely friendly and helpful. They provided not only excellent bikes but flashlights/headlights (a must), bike locks and a first aid kit. It made all the difference in a great tour! Ride, don't walk! read more

I booked online with Kaimu Rentals a few days before our visit to the volcano. There are MANY different bike rental companies down at this location, the others just don't have as good websites (not that Kaimu's is great). I know it was slow season when we visited (late September), but everyone had bikes to rent. There was no need for us to book the reservation online. Anyway, the bikes were okay - my seat kept getting messed up on the ride and falling down, but we eventually fixed it. Please note, this is a fairly strenuous activity - you are bicycling approx. 3.75 miles each way to the lava flow. From there, it is a short walk to see the lava flow going into the ocean. The Volcano National Park only lets you get to about a half mile away, so bring some binoculars and a camera with a good zoom. If you want, you also have the option to hike up to the lava flow and get much closer. This hike is uphill, and takes about an hour to an hour and a half and is extremely strenuous. Bring at least a liter of water per person, two if you are doing the longer hike. If I were to do it again, I would rent the bikes at 3:30pm, bike out to the designated spot, do the hike up to the lava, take pictures and come back, then stay until sunset at the ocean to see the lava flow, then return back. That should still give you enough time to return the bike rental in 4 hours. Again, please train for this or be in fairly good physical condition. This is not just a lazy bike ride. Well worth the effort though to see actual lava flowing into the ocean! read more

So glad we read another review about riding out to the lava at 4 am. - what an experience. It could probably be equally good or possibly better watching the sunset also by riding out at 4 p.m. Anyway, I read the other reviews and I can understand the possibility of a negative experience also. Some of the bikes were good, and some were not so good. Luckily the "uncle" who took care of us was awesome. He was very helpful, smiled the whole time even though it was 5 a.m., gave us great bikes - because we were the first and only people there - outfitted us with helmets, flashlights and a first aid kit and just generally exhibited true Aloha. If you're somewhat adventurous, you have to do this. After many great experiences on the Big Island, our entire family (11 girl, 13 boy, 46 woman, 46 man) agreed that this was the best of all. read more

These guys are great! Professional and truly genuine people offering a service at a fair cost. Would definitely recommend to friends and will definitely use in my future travels. The lava flow was also spectacular. A must see for anyone traveling to the Big Island. read more

We traveled from California with 2 other families and a handful of elementary-aged children between us. We had booked an early morning ride with a competing bike rental company, and even confirmed the reservation the day before. But when we arrived at the site, there was no one at the tent! Thankfully, Dax at Kaimu Rentals saved the day! He averted a band of very angry people from rioting. He patiently and diligently geared all eleven of us for what turned out to be a beautiful morning view of the lava flow into the ocean. We were bummed that we had missed the sunrise due to the delay, but we were ever grateful to Dax. Among the long stretch of rental tents, Kaimu was the only one operating that morning. I would be wary of booking a morning ride with any other rental shop. read more

With younger kiddos I knew we needed bikes to get to the viewing area. Kaimu was gracious to resize what I reserved so the kids were comfortable for their ride. Seeing the volcano at night is not to be missed. When making sure we were back according to our rental agreement, the staff assured us it was more important we take our time. There are plenty of bike rentals and I'm sure they are all terrific, but I was most impressed with these folks! read more

Great bike, great experience and great service. I would HIGHLY recommend taking the hike versus walking it. Honestly It's just a waste of time to walk it and when you're visiting Big Island the last thing you want to do is waste time. Get the bike! read more

Terrible Experience! Really third class bikes, made it so hard to ride particularly in the night. Awful people to deal with. Sorry nothing good to say about them and more importantly their bikes. We saw several other bike places with much better quality bikes. My wife and I walked back 3 miles because bikes brakes got stuck on the wheel. When I screamed and complained, they said they will refund half of our bike rental (we had pre-paid for our bikes by calling in before arriving there) but they never did. It is still in dispute with credit card company. Please save the hassle and don't ruin experience, rent from somebody else. read more

What a blast!!! The bikes functioned perfectly, they gave great information and safety tips and were very professional. The price was fair and it was well worth it. read more

The front desk staff was very friendly and it was a great experience of getting close to the lava. It was the van driver who turned it into a not so good experience. We prepaid and arranged to be picked up in a van while returning from the lava viewing trip. The van driver was not there on time and kept us waiting for 45 minutes in the hot sun. We would have appreciated knowing that the pick up will be delayed. To make it worse, this driver turned out to be a nosy, argumentative, and an obnoxious person. If I were to go there again, I would stay away from this rental or, at least, their van. read more

Look over and choose your bike carefully! I rented an electric bike in poor condition and ended up in a serious accident. A cable had come loose and drooped into the way of the pedals, locking them up. Battery was also loose. After flipping the entire bike, which landed squarely on top of me, we fixed the bike with shoelaces and bandaids and got it back to Kaimu. I was lucky not to get hurt worse, but am still aching from internal injuries weeks later. For this I was rewarded a $20 (of the $60 cost) refund. Too bad, as they seemed like nice people. But they were clearly too tempted by the money and did not care much about safety. I think some of the other vendors offered better bikes. read more

Kaimu Rentals is phenomenal. The family was actually willing to sacrifice to get up early to get us our bikes to ride to the sunrise. Nothing like sleep deprivation to express dedication to your clients. There were tons of bikes. They had first aid kits, flashlights, & bike locks. Biking to the lava was an experience I will never forget. Thank you Kaimu Rentals for making it possible! read more

These guys were great! Although their bikes were a bit beat up, they made sure we had bikes we were happy with re: gearing and braking, AND they didn't charge extra for helmets. They also had lights on the bikes already, and gave us a lock and first aid kit, "for other people" ;-) A nice plus was that everyone was cheerful and helpful, and seemed to be as excited as we were about seeing the lava flowing!! read more