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!

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!

I lava you. This was…read morereally great to see real life lava. It has always been a life long dream of mine to urinate inside a volcano. Lol I can tell you this lava flow is miles away from the volcano it self and once you get with 10ft of the lava. The heat is so intense! I was able to watch the lava break and flow like a hot lava watefall. It just like watching National Geographic expect with 1000 degrees in heat right in your face! My pictures don't even begin to outline of details the acutally site, heat or awe of amazement. Right now it is a 4.2 mile hike out to the lava. I opted to rent a bike. The bikes are $10 an hour and pretty good bikes. Full suspension. But I can tell you this it is not an easy ride. The road is made of loose gravel. I was in the lowest gear 99% of the time. It took about 40min to paddle out there. I was going faster than most. As I was passing people so keep that in mind. I can regularly ride my bike 8.4 miles or more. But this ride is really tuff. I consumed 1.5liters of water on this ride. So bring lost of water and stop and chug it often. I did this trek at night hoping to see more glow and less flow. What I got was both and it was a spectacular show. If you look to the right off in the distance you can see what looks like two red eyes glowing. That is pele smiling at you as she oozes gifts of new land. YES! new land. You can actually watch the earth be made and how it's made. Totally worth the trip! Add this to your bucket list!

Excellent adventure to the lava flows at Kalapana! This couple respects the land and culture and…read moreis knowledgeable on both as well. They guided us carefully through the Kalapana lava flows, seeking out the most comfortable path available through the lava yet doing so as not to tread on anything fragile or dangerous. Hank was supremely prepared - binoculars, snacks (fruit, nuts, energy bars), flashlights, medical and boot repair equipment, etc. and spares of everything. As a former hiking guide myself, I can tell you that Hank and Malia are doing this absolutely right! For anyone looking to hike to the active lava flow from Kilauea, we highly recommend this terrific couple!

This was a very fun experience. Be prepared to walk on uneven, rocky terrain and very dark caverns…read more It is recommended to wear good shoes, specifically hiking shoes, that will give you good ankle support and good traction. It is also recommended to wear long sleeves and pants to protect your arms and legs from accidental scratches and bruising. But most importantly, bring a headlamp so your hands are free to hold walls in order to maintain good balance. Do not bring a camera other than your phone and any extra things because that can hinder you when you're walking. If you complete the cave to the left after the stairs, it will spit you out near where the the parking lot, but you have to walk through the forest and brush which is very cumbersome and you can receive the most scratches compared to walking in the caverns. It also gets very muggy in the caverns despite water dripping from the ceiling. Is an incredible experience and it was super fun. There is no parking fees or no park fees. It is a feee experience with bathrooms at the top.

Very cool experience to walk through 2 caves…read more Bring a flashlight / headlamp. Your phone flashlight won't be as strong but can work if you have no options. Ideal shoes would be hiking boots but gym shoes will work. There are steep steps going down and then uneven rocks until the cave. The cave is uneven as well. Parking: maybe room for 10 cars, so parking could be difficult. When we went around 1pm on a Saturday, we didn't have a problem. Park and walk across the street to enter. Bathrooms: I did see some. Didn't use them though.

I'm so grateful to Yvette for being our private tour guide. If you're going to spend the whole…read moreweekend with someone, you'd want them to be fun, friendly, and have amazing ideas for places to go. We laughed the whole time and Yvette is really funny and quirky. I included pictures of where we went bc I forgot the names to everything lol. We didn't have to worry about a thing, Yvette took care of everything for us. She brings life, fun, magic, and adventure into everything she does! She's so sweet and caring as well. You'll be well taken care of and laugh your butt off with Yvette! She's so nice and flexible, I never felt uncomfortable with her. Next time we go to Hawaii, we will for sure reach out and try the other things we never got to try with Yvette!

My review is for my tour in Florida, but I really wanted to leave a review on how awesome Yvette…read moreis!It was my first time coming to Florida and I absolutely loved it, thanks to Yvette! The private tour guide, took me everywhere I wanted and showed me many historical places, like the southernmost point in Keywest! Also, of course we went to Miami & visited the Versace Mansion, and walked around Ocean Drive. I had never tried Cuban food, and Yvette ( the private tour guide) took my mom and I to the best Cuban restaurants, like Versailles on Calle Ocho, and La Carreta! She also took us to a very beautiful mall called Aventura Mall. Thank you Yvette for making my first time in Florida a memorable experience.

Don't do it. You can't do the tour and for some reason their website is still accepting payments…read moreeven though the tours aren't happening. In April of 2022, I sent friends who were on their honeymoon on the Big Island here because my husband and I did the tour in Feb of 2021 and I really liked it. Well, the tours are closed and the website does not specify that at all so the payment was taken via website and my friends showed up only to be told that the tours are All cancelled. They did mail her a refund several weeks later. If I notice that their website indicates there are no tours and stops accepting payments, I'll take this review down because I really like the people who ran this business, so I'm not sure why they have to leave their website up but this is just a warning to anyone looking for more info.

Love the waipio lookout. Wish we have more time to explore the whole valley. It's hard to find…read moreparking. Have to park on the side street and u need four wheeler to go down steep road. Anyways can't wait to go back already

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.

This company did not disappoint! Mac was a phenomenal guide--extremely knowledgeable, professional,…read morecourteous, and accommodating. He didn't just share information about the places we visited; he brought them to life and made the entire experience memorable. I highly recommend this company, and if you can, be sure to ask for Mac.

What an amazing experience. We booked a tour to see the lava fields and enjoy a snorkeling…read moreadventure and it was a full day of adventure. Keep in mind there is no snorkeling on this excursion and the area around the Hilton is not safe or appropriate for snorkeling. I am writing the review solely on the lava field excursion part. My wife was very dissapointed that there was no snorkeling as we purchased new snorkeling equipment. Roxy was our tour guide and was probably the most knowledgeable and professional tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Roxy was knowledgeable in the history of volcanoes on Hilo and elsewhere, horticulture, bird species, animals, Hawaiian culture, tourist attractions, history of the Hawaiian Islands, tribes and Capt. Cook, beaches, teachings, burial practices and so much more. Roxy told stories of the early days in Hawaii and how it evolved. Also as a noted her driving and safety practices were impeccable. If you are planning to come to Hilo you must make it a point to reach out to Roxy. We spent approximately 8 hours on the tour and it was so enriching although the lack of snorkeling was a dissapointment . Highly recommended Mahalo

This review is for the Twilight Volcanoes and Stargazing Tour, with tour guide Drew…read more My partner and I had never been to the Big Island before, so we chose a tour that would essentially bring us around the island and visit some of the major "must-see" locations. We also happen to love astronomy, which made the stargazing tour an easy choice for us. It was also extremely important that we selected an experience that offered *small* tour groups and was locally owned and operated. Drew was an absolutely fantastic and entertaining host. His enthusiasm and knowledge shines through the way he spoke non-stop from the moment he picks you up. On this tour, we visited Bay View Coffee Farm, Punalu'u Bake Shop, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and stargazed near Mauna Kea. This was a LONG tour, but was filled with so much fun that time flew by. Although we missed Kīlauea's most recent fountaining episode (51) by a few days, Drew still made time for us to catch the lava glow which was super cool and a highlight of the tour. Our weather was not super favorable with thick, overcast skies; and my partner and I actually gave up on our hopes of stargazing. But Drew is so observant of the weather that when a window to view the night sky opened up, he did so. He provided thick coats to those that needed them and spent some time pointing out different stars and constellations. By this time in the evening, it was really cold and we didn't mind our limited stargazing time. We truly enjoyed our experience, as well as Drew's expertise and respect in regards to Hawai'i's culture and history. We highly recommend that you take a Wasabi Tour early in your trip (like first day if you can), and then you can tailor the rest of your Big Island afterward.

Our family of 6 decided to tour the big island in Hawai'i also called Hawai'i. After checking out…read moresome touring companies we decided on Wasabi Tours. We did a 2 day package encompassing the islands most beautiful waterfalls, nature reserves, botanical gardens, volcanoes, beaches coffee farms on old town Hilo. On our first day with Jason our driver and guide picked us up on time and with a smile. He shared his knowledge along the way wearing a microphone in the van so everyone could hear comfortably. At the attractions he was with us giving us history of all the waterfalls. Whiles driving he told us about the sites inbetween. At lunch time he provided us a delicious meal from a local restaurant. Day 2 with our driver Derek was in another new van that was also comfortable and roomy. Derek took us to a working coffee plantation to see, smell and walk through the farm. At Kīlauea volcano national park where we got to see upclose and personal the caldera in all its majesty. All the time telling the history and recent activity of the volcano. We saw and walked on a beautiful black sand beach with segregated sea turtle nesting area where we saw a turtle swimming ashore and resting at waters edge before digging a hole in the black sand to lay her eggs in preparation for the next generation of turtle, we walked down and into a 30 meter lava tube and got to visualize the path of a whole lotta molten rock traveling through centuries before. Culminating the day's trip by stopping on a mountain top in almost complete darkness, the moon was in a waxing crescent and producing very little nighttime light. We bundled up to stay warm in the 50 degree Fahrenheit temperature to stargaze. It was refreshing in the cold air, outside the van huddled in a group while Derek pointed out, planets, stars, constellations and galaxies as we stood in awe of the majesty above us. Wasabi Tours, Jason and Derek were on-time, safe, informative and most of all fun to spend our time with. I highly recommend taking a Wasabi tour to REALLY see the big island. Thank you all!

I can't recommend Aloha 'Āina Tours Hawaii enough! From start to finish, the entire experience was…read moreheartfelt, educational, and full of aloha spirit. The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and truly passionate about Hawaiian culture, history, and the land. This isn't your average tourist tour it's a deep, personal journey through the beauty and meaning of Hawaii We got to see breathtaking landscapes, learn about native plants and traditions, and experience Hawaii in a respectful and meaningful way. It felt like we were exploring the island with family, not just tour guides. If you're looking for a more authentic, cultural, and sustainable way to experience Hawaii this is the tour to book. Mahalo nui loa to the whole team. I'll be recommending you to everyone I know!

Had so much fun on this tour! Steve is truly the best tour guide we've ever had. we were thrilled…read moreto hear about all the culture and history. He treated us like family. He also plays the ukulele. A true Hawaiian experience. Mahalo and can't wait to bring our friends next time we come to big island. Highly recommended

This place is super exciting! The downfall is that it's far from Kona, so my family and I were…read morereally tired when we got back to our hotel room. It's best to come here at night to really see the lava flow, but be up for the long drive back to Kona if that's where you're staying.

A difficulty arises in writing a review for a natural phenomenon - these things can be so…read moresubjective and even temperamental based on the time of year, weather, personal opinion, et cetera - but Kalapana Lava Flow is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders I've ever experienced. And it's definitely something you experience rather than just see - you see the juicy yellow and orange glow of the molten lava, you feel the heat radiating on your face from several yards away, and you hear the cracks and pops as it slowly settles and oozes onto the land beneath it. You feel as though you are witnessing the last remnants of Creation, the sixth day has yet to finish, and the primordial energy of eons past is still in the throes of its final breaths. You and your fellow observers will likely feel the need to whisper and speak in hushed tones, as if it is holy ground or the embodiment of some celestial force. Anyway, if you can see the flow at night, this'll undoubtedly be one of the most profoundly majestic experiences you can imagine. The lava ebbs and flows even within the spans of minutes and hours, so don't be discouraged if you see only a bit of oozing rather than a true flow once you arrive. It's dynamic and moves slowly but stealthily, and a new eruption site can arise on the periphery that wasn't there just ten minutes prior. As a reference, we arrived at the bike rental area (from Hilo, drive the 130 through Pahoa and completely to the south end of the 130, at which point it will force you onto a smaller road in a southwestern direction that will eventually dead end in a parking area), around 5pm, paid $20 a person for a high quality mountain bike, biked the first mile or two in, and then started our journey north over the rocks around 5:20. This leg took at least an hour or so, and we loitered around the different lava sites for at least an hour before making the trek back in the dark. All in all, allow for at least four hours of time from start to finish - we were driving away back to our condo at nearly 9pm exactly. Tips: - bring STRONG flashlights or headlamps for the trek back over the lava. The cheaper and dimmer the light, the more difficult. Also bring the basics such as cash, snacks, water, your [charged] camera and phone, and sunscreen for the trek in. - wear hiking boots; any sturdy tennis shoe will do but the igneous ground, often simultaneously rough, grainy, and hot, will do a number on any flimsy sneakers. Don't wear any stylish or fancy tennis shoes either, or even hardy sandals - I guarantee you will regret it. - if you wear contacts, bring back up glasses. - don't park at the first parking area or get your bike from the vendors; shop around smart. Many vendors are obnoxiously hawkish. - on a similar note, do indeed get a bike to go the first mile or so! The first leg of the walk is pretty but dry and dusty and pales in comparison to the actual destination. All the bike companies look like they throw in extra lights, water, and snack bars. You'll really appreciate the bike for the last leg back as well - best $20 spent so far. My husband and I both finished up the trip in complete agreement that seeing the lava up close in person was one of the most spectacular moments of our lives thus far!