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!

Huaka'i guide services showed me a part of Hawaii I normally wouldn't see. Going hiking is out of…read moremy element but you only live once right? I gave Kehau a call and worked out a hike with a group of friends that wouldn't be too rigorous but still challenging. With steady encouragement and the message "it will be worth it at the top" and on the way he filled me in with awesome history and an authentic hawaiian perspective which was informative. Once at the top of the ridge I was at a loss for words we were mesmerized, it was completely worth it. We ended up scheduling another hike before the trip was over. Highly recommend Huaka'i guide services for an awesome authentic Hawaiian adventure.

From the owner: We are a group of seasoned local guides, dedicated to perpetuating pono and aloha by sharing with…read moreour visitors a cultural and historical understanding on the people of Hawai'i and the place we call home. Experience the amazing and beautiful island of Hawai'i through Hawaiian culture and folklore. We provide a wide range of services guaranteed to show you the most iconic locations in the most authentic way. Whether you are looking for a easy breezy shuttle or an elaborate full day tour, our team at Huaka'i Guide Services has you covered.

Great customer service, reminds me of something right out of a movie…read more Really quiet, clean and super close to downtown Hilo with a nice walk into town over the bridge. Open and comfortable, as well the caretakers are really tentative and helpful and full of knowledge of things to do around town, they also offer a tour around parts of the island a few times a week for a reasonable rate. I think it was around $55 when I was there. Overall I give it a perfect score for the amount of aloha and overall atmosphere.

We took a Paradise Island Tour from our Ship in Hilo Harbor to Volcano National Park that also…read moreincluded a city tour and lunch. We had a wonderful day. John, our guide, was a good speaker and very knowledgeable about the area.

We found this tour on our last day in Kona. When we called there were no more appointments…read moreavailable but Monica was nice enough to accommodate us. The tour was great and Monica explained how the lava tube formed over time, and she let us take our time inside with no rush. We really enjoyed it and recommend to friends and family!

Before you read this- go book your tour! Steve and Monica were wonderful! We had a bit of a…read morescheduling issue in coming out to see them and they were more than accommodating so that we could explore the caverns! Also, they have hard hats for you which, even if you try really hard, you will need! Monica took us into the tubes and was an excellent guide, she showed us all the different kinds of lavas and was so patient when we wanted pictures and even snapped a few of us herself! This was such a cool experience, so happy we got to do this!

`My wife and I were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with our children and grand children…read morecruising with NCL Pride of America. We got off in Hilo on the Big Island with no particular plan. We ran into the staff of this company and allowed their pitch. Since there were 9 of us, we accepted their offer and John Milare loaded us into his van and off we went. The beauty of a private van was we pretty much called the shots. First stop was Starbucks for our morning "fix" what other tour would make this stop for you? After our coffee break John took us to the highlight of the Hilo side of the island. John was very engaged and excited to share his knowledge of Hawaii and its history. His being this engaged made the tour very interesting and entertaining. John and this company get two thumbs up He also gave us some snorkeling tips for Kona -- BEST snorkeling ever!!

if wanting an in depth experience at the national parks tour and the volcano, this tour is for you…read more Eric did a great job,

Kilauea Eco Guides = Top. We selected the 5 hour tour and we have absolutely no regrets. With a…read moreguided tour by Kilauea Eco Guides, you'll learn how the volcano's complex geology ties together with the flora, fauna, and culture of the Hawaiian islands. We were lucky to have the lead guide/proprietor, Erik, as our guide - Erik has tremendous credentials as a trained geologist and academic in Hawaiian language and culture. Erik is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and he made our park experience a great one. The main benefit of a private tour is that there are countless details that would be easy to overlook as an inexperienced visitor. Want to hold a real life example of "Pele's Tears"? No problem. Curious about how a traditional Hawaiian bandage is made from native plants right on the trail? Done. Think that is just a crack in the lava surface? It is likely 3,000' deep. If you are on the fence, go for it.

Kailani Tours is a first rate business. Our tour was wonderful. Our driver (Thaia I believe) was so…read morekind, informative and enthusiastic about our tour. The van is very comfortable. We enjoyed our Kona Coffee stop and of course the stop to the "southernmost bakery in the USA". Dinner was good. Not very flavorful for ordering the blackened fish, but good. Travelling into the National park at night was so cool. We enjoyed walking down into the lava tube and then back to the lodge to view the crater. The tour is a solid 11 hours. But it goes fast. I highly recommend for everyone. As long as you're up for an adventure.

Everything was amazing and way more then was described Our…read moretour guide Thia was unbelievable her knowledge and her wonderful personality just made the day I have taken tours all over including Europe and this was by far the best

Fissure 8 is really called Fissure 8 Tours. Melissa is the tour guide and does an amazing job! Very…read moreslow, easy pace and so informative. She does the tour and only takes donations but the time and energy involved would require at least $50 per person. I would not even come to volcano national park without including this tour. You get a front row seat look at all the devastation a lava eruption and flow can do to a community. You will not get this type of experience at the national park. A must see and do!

This is by far the perfect adventure for those people who are volcano nuts or those who are crazy…read moreabout rocks and or just history. This landscape is living and will be different for every visitor who comes out to look. It's eerly sad as well knowing that this area was once a flat piece of land with homes and people's lively hoods on it. If you went to Volcano National Park or are planning on going you should go here to complete that adventure or start it. The lava flows in 2018 started at Kilauea crater in VNP and spewed out here. You can see steam rising in vents atop the fissure going back the direction of Kilauea. Things to know - Cost = free, but realize this area is closed off to everyone except those who are residents and or property owners. This means your touring with a resident. The Tour is with the resident and has super good vibes and lots of knowledge on this area. You do occupy her time so I would do a donation for that time. I spent about an hour with her. She accepts venmo, cash etc. What to wear - wear some shoes if you can. The area is filled with fibrous rocks that wouldn't be to comfortable in sandles. Call ahead. This is just to make sure she is available and not occupied with other chores etc and helps her plan for bigger groups. I will not forget this experience.

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