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All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours in Big Island
Overall Rating
Reviews
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Awesome experience !
Reviewed by: Donna Kappers
Had a wonderful day & night on this Volcano experience. Our guide Jim Cary lived up to the reviews I had read about. We had a party of five and all of us had a great time. Jim was a wealth of knowledge about the whole area. The food for both lunch and Dinner was delicious ! Would highly recommend to anyone this tour!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/24 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Fantastic!
Reviewed by: Eve Hamilton
Not only was everything beautiful and fascinating, Jim Carey's knowledge and presentation made it over the top. I've lived on Oahu since 1980, and have visited the Big Island many times. This was the most special tour I have ever taken, and that's thanks to our tour guide Jim. It's obvious that he loves what he's doing. What a delight! I will be recommending this tour to all my friends.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic day with Jim! His love for Hawaii is simply captivating as he shares the songs and stories of the islands. We truly appreciate you letting all your friends know how much fun you had on tour and look forward to showing them all a great time! Mahalo for the recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/24 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
The most wonderful day in Hawaii
Reviewed by: NORMA BARAJAS
This tour was astonishing, we had our best time in Hawaii. Starting, our host Jim Carey a gentleman, expert story teller of Hawaiian culture. On the road we could see lava tubes, alien landscapes, the marvelous Mauna Kea where is an astronomical observatory and we had a windy delicious pic nic lunch. Near the city of Hilo, we had our second stop for seeing the Rainbow Falls, a fantastic view of the beauty and force of nature. Not far, Hilo, a rainy city, where is the University of Hawaii and the unforgettable chocolate factory where one can find all kind of delicious chocolates, candies, cookies, macadamia nuts. No one can leave that place without a full bag while Jim Carey is calling you with the sound of ukelele. Also you can take pictures of the statue of king Kamehameha in a park. Then, we took our way to Volcanoes National Park, which welcomed us with a warm fumarole that wet us in a strange but nice sensation. Then, the first wonderful breathtaking view of the Kilauea volcano, a vision like we were in Mars. The museum shows what the nude eye can’t see in a volcano, like Pele´s hair and lava forest. After, an outstanding landscape, the lava river, an unbelievable wonder full of mystery. We took a path through the rainy forest, where the flowers and the tree of Pele’s legend grow in the middle of volcanic rocks. Then Jim took us to a cozy restaurant, with a chimney attended by his owner. Dinner was awesome, very tasty, as the special passion fruit tea. At night we had the vision of fire in the middle of the night, the Kilauea's dancing lava took our breath away, an unforgettable moment, almost mystical. Pictures can’t catch that beauty, but the telescope that Jim takes with him did.
Back in the van a great surprise waited for us. Like a love detail, a hot coco and cookies appeared to warm us. On our road back more than one fell asleep dreaming of the most wonderful day of their lives. Mahalo from Colombia.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii with our guests, helping them to connect with our island while on tour. We are delighted that you enjoyed all the stops and treats throughout the day. Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is so special and always helps our guests warm back up on those cold Volcano nights! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/27 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Wonderful experience. Must Go!
Reviewed by: Yuki
We started the morning with very warm welcome with big smile of the guide in front of our hotel lobby. His name was Jim Carey. Since we were Japanese visiting from Japan, he was concerned about the tour being conducted in English. We said we were Okay, try to keep up. He kindly told us that he would try to speak.
As we started the actual tour and as we picking up the more new guests, he explain the schedule of the day again and again. so everybody know how that day is gonna be.
As we were on the move, he had full of stories of scenic locations, Hawaiian history and cultures.
At the lunch, we had Pick-nick lunch at the base of Mauna Kea, we had the Chicken Caesar wrap at very fine environment. When it was time to go, Jim was not calling out the guest but he was playing songs with the Ukulele to let people know that it is time to go, what a kind way to notify!!
After that we went to Hiro, there we did not have much time to stop so Jim was explaining lots of stuff as he drove by. Then after that we went to the Rainbow Fall, although we could not see the rainbow, it was beautiful fall.
Then here comes the main event, the volcano. We visited the steam vent and couple of other scenic points and a little hiking it was very interesting and felt really good to hike in unusual volcanic environment. Only thing was that rain came and went repeatedly. Then we moved to the location of Lava tube. It was awesome!! Here also, Jim had a wonderful stories to tell. We learned a lot of stuff from him.
Then we moved to the lodge/Restaurant for the dinner. Surprisingly the dinner was much better quality than we expected. After the dinner, when we got out of the restaurant, it was dark but very clear sky, we went back to volcano and saw lava splash and million stars with Jim's stories. Totally different face the volcano showed us from earlier that day.
All activities were finished and on the way back to the hotel, we are so tired and fell asleep. Best tour ever!!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. His love for Hawaii shines through his songs and stories of the islands. It sounds like you folks had no problem keeping up and really enjoyed your day! Excellent! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/27 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
The Best day of our honeymoon!
Reviewed by: Guilherme Marinho
First of all, I would like to thanks hawaiian activies for appear on my google search!! As me and my wife didn't know about this activie, we search on google and find the website. We were very excited from the begening because of what the people were saying about eh tour. And we were right to be. The Tour is more than amazing, from the day before, I received a call in my hotel room to confirm the pick up time and he was there in the next day about 11:30h. He was Jim Carrey (no, not the famous one haha, but was so brilliant as the other!). Our tour guide was more than fantastic, a lot of histories about legends and culture from Hawaii than you could imagine. We had lunch in the way to Hilo, in a such nice beautiful place close to the Manua Lea. After that we took our way to Hilo, but before we went to the beautiful rainbow fall, not so beautiful, but very nature, in the midle of a forest, we loved. Hilo was a nice surprised, we went to a Candie Shop from Big Islands, huge store and my wife fall in love, she loves chocolates haha. After that we went to the volcano site at day, before dinner, was such a nice surprise, first time close to a active volcano. And every time with the histories from our brilliant guide. The dinner was one of the best parts of the tour, the best soup ever, and a very friendly restaurant, we loved every moment. After sunset, we return to the volcano to see the magic at night and we were really surprised and satisfied. I want thank Jim and everyone envolved, was one of the best days of our lives, and the best day of our honeymoon!! Guilherme Marinho and Aline Amaral.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so glad you chose to let us show you some of our favorite spots on the Big Island. Jim is truly a fantastic guide who genuinely loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii. We are so happy to hear that you and your wife enjoyed all of the stops along the way. Big Island Candies is a chocolate lover's dream with all the amazing goodies and samples they offer! Dinner at the world famous Kilauea Lodge is always so scrumptious and a great way to warm back up on those cold Volcano nights, before heading back into Volcanoes National Park. The majestic lava lake inside of Halema'uma'u Crater leaves such a lasting impression on everyone who gets the opportunity to witness the night time glow. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/25 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Fabulous Tour
Reviewed by: Kathy
My sister and I went on this tour with Jim Carey as our guide. We were picked up right from our hotel and then were gone all day. Jim was extremely knowledgeable about the Island of Hawaii as well as the folklore of the Hawaiian culture. It was fun to hear about all of the history of Hawaii and learn about the sites we were seeing, with such depth of knowledge that Jim brought. We stopped at Rainbow Falls (no rainbow, but the falls were wonderful). One aspect we both enjoyed a lot was going through one of the lava tubes near the volcano!
The lunch and dinner provided was excellent, we both enjoyed it. The whole tour was long - and by the end of the day we were tired, however we would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about Hawaii and see many different sites along the way. Before heading back to the hotel we saw the lava glow located near the Jagger Museum, which was amazing to view at night. We had a great day!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a great day with Jim. He is a wonderful guide whose Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a guest favorite! We're glad that you enjoyed all of the stops and treats along the way. That majestic glow from the lava lake after dinner is truly an amazing sight that leaves a lasting impression! Mahalo for the kind words and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/18 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
"A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN PARIDISE"
Reviewed by: Michele
We stared the day with a happy welcome from our guide and driver Jim. He had been a truck driver for most of his life so I felt very comfortable with his driving. From the very start to the end of the day Jim regaled us with his knowledge of the history, biology, geology, stories, songs and politics of this beautiful island. Our first stop was lunch at a pretty park. Lunch was delicious and healthy. We saw waterfalls, volcanos, steam vents and many different types of wild animals. We took an afternoon coffee break at the Big Island Candies shop where we enjoyed a free cup of Kona coffee and tasted many samples of the best cookies. Of course I had to buy at least one box. That evening we ate dinner and had drinks at a nice old lodge by the volcano. We enjoyed the company of the other guests. We all agreed dinner was great. The clouds had cleared and we were able to see the errie red glow of the lava and did some star gazing with Jim's high powered binoculars. The air was chilly up on the mountain and Jim made us hot chocolate and coffee to warm us up. On the way back to our hotels we watched a very interesting video of the history of the volcano with many amazing close up shots of inside and lava flows. It turned out to be a wonderful day and my husband and I agreed we were glad we went and it was worth every penny.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose love for Hawaii shines through his songs and stories of the island. So glad to hear you enjoyed all of the sights and meals along the way. It's pretty hard to walk out of Big Island Candies without buying something with all of the amazing goodies they have there! Even with some cloud coverage, the lava lake is such a majestic sight to see, but when those clouds move, WOW! Mahalo for your kind words and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/14 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Amazing Experience
Reviewed by: Daniel Ruymann
We just returned from Kona, Hawaii and had the opportunity to participate in 3 excursions from different operators. Our tour, specifically our tour guide, Jim Carey, was life changing. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm made for a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget. From Jim's storytelling, songs, narratives of the Hawaiian culture and history, throughout our 12 hour adventure that included stops at Rainbow Falls, Big Island Candies, Mauna Loa, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (with afternoon and evening viewings), hikes through lava tunnels, a fine dining experience, topped by an amazing stargazing experience, I was inspired by Jim Carey, which serves as a testament to the caliber of talent that Kailani Tour employees. I would highly recommend this tour and in particular, any tour with Jim Carey. I am blessed to have gone on this journey with him as our tour guide. Bravo to Jim and Kailani Tours.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim Carey! He is a wonderful guide whose Aloha shines through his stories, songs, and genuine love for Hawai'i. Jim's top-notch hospitality allows our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are glad that you enjoyed all of our stops along the way and were able to get in some incredible stargazing! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/02 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
THIS TOUR COVERS IT ALL!!!! SUPERB!!!!
Reviewed by: nwc
The booking process so easy – one simple phone call. The tour provides lunch, dinner, snacks, EVERYTHING you’ll need.
Jim Carey was our guide, and was EXCELLENT in EVERY WAY. “Uncle Jim” was very accommodating and went out of his way to ensure guests were comfortable. We were amazed at Jim’s knowledge of island history & Hawaiian culture. As we traveled, Jim educated us on island facts, myths, and legend. He recounted many great tales of Hawaiian lore,with enthusiasm and energy. Jim loves his job and entertaining his guests.
The tour began with a trip to Mauna Kea and picnic lunch. After, we headed to Hilo and stopped at a lava field. Next stops were Rainbow Falls, Kamehameha Statue and Big Island Candies for a snack. After Hilo, we went to Volcanoes National Park while Jim told us history of the island’s volcanoes. Jim is as much a geologist as tour guide. We pulled over to see “steam vents”, and then to the viewing area and the Volcano Museum and gift shop.
On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube. The tube was well lit, but Jim made sure we were armed with flashlights. We exited through a “skylight” and made our way back.
We ate at the Kilauea Lodge, a quaint restaurant. Meal was top-notch. Back to Volcanoes Park at dark. Jim had high-powered binoculars and we viewed spewing lava. The temp dropped, and Jim was ready w/hot chocolate.
We made one last stop to do some stargazing. For someone who had never viewed the stars in the blackened sky of Hawaii, I was astounded. The sky was FULL of stars – thousands of them that I’ve never seen before. It was like visiting a planetarium, in real life.
In conclusion, we highly recommend this excursion for anyone interested in a comprehensive tour that covers everything you would want to see on the Big Island, in one feature-packed day. If Jim is available, as for him by name. He was the best tour guide we’ve ever had – on any tour, on any island, country or continent.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an excellent day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a favorite among our guests. His top-notch hospitality allows everyone to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are so glad that you enjoyed all of the stops along the way and were able to get some stargazing in, as well. It truly is breathtaking to see such an abundance of stars and we totally agree that it's like standing in a real-life planetarium! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/02 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Thumbs up! Magnificent sceneries & Wildlife!
Reviewed by: Rach
I just took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano recently. It was a very enjoyable and breathtaking experience with Chris, who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the tour!
From the beginning to the end of the tour, it was on schedule and pleasant to be part of. Chris was very informative and well prepared for everything (water, hot chocolate, umbrellas, heavy jackets, hot towels, etc).
From driving along Saddle Road to picture taking at Rainbow Falls to walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, and much more, It was one of the best tours I have ever taken.
I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone who wants a rewarding trip with magnificent sceneries and wildlife!
WOW!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a magnificent day with Chris. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who genuinely loves what he does! Mahalo for your thumbs up recommendation! We hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island for some more fun with the Kailani Tours 'Ohana!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/27 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Fantastic trip to the Wet Side!
Reviewed by: JenNMikeY
My husband and I enjoyed this trip immensely! Since we were staying on the opposite side of the island from the Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, this was a great way to see it all without having to spend half the day driving. The hotel pick-up was a nice added convenience. Taking the tour allowed us to just sit back in comfort and enjoy the sights and the company of some really nice people who took the tour with us.
The van was comfy and spacious, and the group is limited to 14 guests, so we were never lost in a crowd. Our tour guide, Chris, was a joy to spend time with. He knew the island quite well, from the top of the mountain to the waterfalls, the lava tube and all of the interesting sights that were covered on the tour. He showed a genuine interest ad knowledge of all of the places we visited, and delivered commentary with a great sense of humor thrown in - he was never boring! He was familiar enough with the tour and our expectations that he was able to adapt the schedule just enough to accommodate the changes in island weather - namely rain - on the wet side of the island. He even provided umbrellas and flashlights for exploring after the sun went down.
The trip included a Fantastic dinner at a lodge near the Park. This alone was almost worth the time and cost of the tour! We were lucky enough to be seated with Chris during dinner and found him to be very personable. I could have spent hours just enjoying our conversations. Chris is perfectly suited to run this type of tourism business, and has created a tour that is just different enough from other tours to make it stand out!
I would absolutely recommend this tour to others. Thanks for a great time on the Big Island!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a fantastic day with Chris. He is an amazing guide, whose love for the Big Island really shines though his stories and fun facts along the way. His witty personality and attention to detail really allow our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy! The dinner at Kilauea Lodge is always a very welcomed treat to help refuel and warm up before checking out that majestic glow from the lava lake inside of Halema'uma'u Crater and we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much! Mahalo for the wonderful review and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/22 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Volcano Tour
Reviewed by: James Harmon
The tour was great. We started by being picked up a local shopping center and then driving north. On our way, our tour guild spotted whales jumping off the coast and pulled over so we could watch. An extra bonus. We then picked up the rest of the guest and went over the mountain. Chris, our tour guild was a wealth of information and gave a great discussion of Hawaii and the different things that we saw. After stopping for lunch, which was basic but good, we went to Hilo for a tour and then on to the National park. Chris took us to a couple of sites not normally seen by tourist which was great. He also took us to the volcano tubes which was really interesting. He timed the tour so we had the whole tube to ourselves, which was really neat. We then went to dinner at a very nice place. The food was great, especially the fish. After dinner we went to the volcano and since it was night we got to see the lava light up the back ground. Chris helped us take pictures which are already posted on Facebook. After that we headed back. I would recommend this tour, especially Chris, for anyone who wanted to see the volcanoes and learn about the Island of Hawaii.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a great day with Chris. He is a wonderful guide with an abundance of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. Whale season usually runs October-March and we are so excited to hear that you folks had an opportunity to see some humpback whales on your way up the coast. Very cool treat! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/02 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Worth Every Cent Spent! A Definite MUST DO!
Reviewed by: Alan L
Our tour guide Mike was fantastic. After a bit of confusion on picking up passengers, we started heading east across the Big Island on Saddle Road in a very comfortable Mercedes van. Mike has a wealth of knowledge, both cultural and local, so he made the tour feel almost personalized for everyone. We stopped at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area for a tasty, fresh lunch. Weather was perfect to see both volcanoes. We stopped along the highway to walk on the lava and see and he explained the different types. We continued to Hilo and watched a video about the volcanes, and then we stopped at Rainbow Falls. Mike knew the best places for nice pictures. After taking the scenic route and getting downtown Hilo, we learned more history about various buildings and the Kamehameha statues around the islands and stopped at Big Island Candies for some tasty samples and quick shopping. Time for the main event!
We went into the Volcanoes National Park. We stopped by some active steam vents and then the Jaggar Museum to see the active crater. Mike tooks us to see other craters and lava flows and stopped to let us walk around and see various formations created by the flow. We went deeper and deeper into the park, making our way almost to the ocean, and then stopped at the Thurston lava tube. Very unique!
From there, we headed for dinner at the Kilauea Lodge. Great atmosphere, great food, great service! Definitely try the soups! After dinner and after dark, Mike took us back to the Jaggar Museum to view the lava glow. Mike must have called on Pele to part the fog, because we were able to see and take pictures of the glow. He provide binoculars and jackets to those who needed it.
Now, heading back to the Kona side at night, we finished the volcano video and watched an "update" video that showed all the eruptions since 1983. We stopped across from the Mauna Kea Rec Area for stargazing. Mike point out constellations, planets, galaxies, stars. BEAUTIFUL!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear you had such a fantastic day with Mike! Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is such a special treat, and we agree that their soups are a must try to help warm up on those cold Volcano nights. We love when the fog parts and our guests get to enjoy that magnificent glow so clearly. Those clear skies also make for some amazing stargazing as well and we're glad to hear you enjoyed it! Mahalo for the wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
What an adventure!
Reviewed by: Chris
As someone who grew up in new york and then relocated to seattle, I'm used to big city living and never learned how to drive. This was my first trip out to ANY Hawaiian Island so you can imagine my dismay when I realized how limited I was in terms of car service so this tour was a god send when it came to actually being able to see a lot of the big island which I never would have managed on my own. The coach itself was spacious and comfortable and even thought the tour itself was carefully constructed to have a lot of walking breaks I don't think I would have gotten stir crazy even once if we'd done just a complete driving circuit of the island.
Our driver, Jim, was just a fountain of knowledge of not just the sites we visited but also the history/mythos behind a lot of them them and their importance to the indigenous peoples, but also of local attractions that I've totally added to my "to do" list whenever I make it back to the island. Jim was warm and accommodating and the embodiment of 'aloha' . The more in depth stargazing portion of our tour ended up getting rained out which was a disappointment (it was the part I was looking forward to most!) but I did manage to get in a little constellation viewing with Jim while waiting for the rest of the tour group to complete their night viewing of Halemaumau.
It's definitely a tour I would recommend to all of my family and friends, mahalo!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. It's always nice to just sit back, relax, and let our guides show you some of our favorite spots. Our Mercedes Sprinter Vans are the best way to do just that! We can also customize private tours for guests who would like to see more of our beautiful island with our amazing guides! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/21 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Awesome volcano tour on the Big Island!
Reviewed by: jdgriffin23
This is one of the best tours to take while on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were picked up from our hotel in Waikoloa Beach in a very nice and comfortable van. The first stop was at Mauna Kea park where we had a delicious lunch. Our tour guide (Mike - awesome!) even brought placemats for us to use at the picnic tables! We then went along saddle road while he told us very interesting information about Hawaii and the volcanoes. We saw a beautiful waterfall at Rainbow Falls. We stopped at several locations to see the various types of lava produced by the volcanoes. We went to the Jagger museum and saw Kilauea crater, the Thurston lava tube, steam vents, and enjoyed samples of Kona coffee, cookies, and candy at the Big Island Candy factory. Delicious! We had a wonderful dinner at Kilauea Lodge and then went back to the Jagger museum to see the lava flow at night. It was amazing! Mike had binocular, warm coats, hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snack for us. After that, we went stargazing. It was cold at night, so having the coats was great. We had plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the tour and the 12 hours went by quickly. We also watched some incredible videos about the volcanoes on the trip on a large screen in the van. I would definitely recommend this tour! The tour guide was great, food was great, and we met some new friends along the way!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Mike. It's incredible how fast 12 hours can go by when you're having so much fun! Most people don't realize how cold parts of our island can get, especially in the evening, and we are glad that our parkas helped keep you comfortable while watching the glow from the lava lake in Halema'uma'u and also while stargazing. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
WOW! What a wonderful way to start your vacation!
Reviewed by: Randy C.
WOW! We totally enjoyed our 11 am to 11 pm volcano trip on the Big Island, learning about the island's history, Hawaiian stories and the beautiful and amazing sights! Our passionate, energetic tour guide Jim Carey was extremely knowledgeable and prepared for everything (umbrellas, warm jackets, water, hot chocolate and so much more). Jim prioritized in our safety, comfort and having great fun! He hit many of the items on our Hawaii "bucket list" from lava tubes, volcano sights both day and night stargazing, waterfalls, stream vents and so many more stops. I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the whole trip without worrying about directions or driving. As we drove home in the dark in the comfortable Mercedes van, Jim played a wonderful video with the history footage of volcanos eruptions on the island.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose hospitality really helps our guests connect with our island while on tour. It's always great to hear that we are helping people check off items from their "bucket list"! That's why we love what we do. Mahalo for your glowing review and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
This was a totally awesome tour! I would absolutely recommend it to anyone!
Reviewed by: L. Estrada
From the pick-up to the drop off 11 hours later, this was an absolutely fantastic tour! Our guide and driver, Jim Carey was so considerate of everyone from kids to seniors, he was totally accommodating and made excellent use of every minute. The van was clean and comfortable and he had anticipated every scenario. He was prepared with umbrellas, binoculars, flashlights, warm coats, hot chocolate and cookies and warm towels to freshen up after a day of adventures and beautiful sights. Jim was so knowledgeable about all things Kona, plants, birds, stars and he even played the Ukuele for us. Volcano National Park was truly awesome and especially at night. I really can't say enough about this tour from reservation to follow up - I could not ask for more. The lunch and dinner were great! So much thought and effort has obviously gone into this tour and Jim's enthusiasm was the icing on the cake. The concierge at the hotel said she could not even touch this tour and highly recommended Kailani Tours. This is a 10 star for sure!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Jim. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable guide with so much Aloha to share! His Hawaiiana stories and ukulele playing have quickly become a favorite amongst our guests. We love hearing that you enjoyed all of our stops and treats along the way! Mahalo for the fantastic recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Top-Notch Kilauea Volcano Experience
Reviewed by: Kate
What a wonderful tour experience to Kilauea Volcano with Kailani Tours and Chris. My husband and I greatly enjoyed the entire day and would recommend the tour to anyone seeking a rewarding day with Volcano viewing! From start to finish, the tour was very well-planned and enjoyable. Chris was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about sites, plants and the best times and places to enjoy Kilauea. The food, both at lunch and dinner, was first-rate and could accommodate any dietary preference. All the little touches -- like hot cocoa and cookies and an evening tour of the Thurston’s Lava Tube – made the day even more special. Our group was lucky enough to see a great view of the glow at the Volcano on a misty night and stars on the trip home. The van is quite comfortable and we were never more than 45 minutes between bathroom opportunities. Count on Chris and Kailani for a tour to exceed your expectations on the Big Island.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Chris. We'd agree that he is a wealth of knowledge whose attention to detail and hospitality are truly Top-Notch! To hear our tour even exceeded your expectations is so incredible to us. Mahalo for your excellent review and recommendation! We hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/16 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
Amazing tour! A cultural, historical and geological journey from sea to sky and back!
Reviewed by: Barry Zeve
Our tour started at 11:00 AM and ended at 11:00 PM. Our guide, Jim, gathered us together into what felt like a family outing, not a tour with strangers. He sang to us, played the ukulele, chanted and prayed in Hawaiian. He told stories he learned directly from “kahunas,” the gurus of the Hawaiian culture. And his stories had messages beneath the messages that elucidated the world the ancient Hawaiians inhabited when they reached the Hawaiian Islands in 1200 AD that mysteriously still affected me this day. When we arrived at Rainbow Falls, which is more than 75 feet high, I didn’t expect to react that way I did. The falls and turquoise pools beneath them were so majestic that they didn’t seem quite real. I kept looking for the frame around the picture.
“Pele,” the goddess of the volcano, has shimmering black hair that sometimes looks like smooth volcanic rock that oozes out of the craters. Her fiery eyes smoke by day, but they become visible at night. When we returned to the craters to meet her on her terms, at night, suddenly, modern science merged with ancient magic and mysticism, and Jim’s stories took on a haunting inference I hadn’t heard in the light. After several short excursions to the perimeter of Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park that even included a walk through a lava tube, Nahuku, we stopped for a scrumptious dinner in an inn reminiscent of a European, mountain lodge. As the sun set on a day filled with new information that caressed my mind and opened my imagination, I was ready to return to the smoking, lava flows to see Pele’s fiery eyes shooting glances back at me at night, asking me to question the beauty and truth of this world we live in – asking me to quietly contemplate the meaning of my life and whether paradise could actually be something real – whether promises do get fulfilled for those who learn to make a difference.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is such a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who truly exudes the Aloha spirit and helps our guests connect with our beautiful island home! His Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a guest favorite and it is so humbling to hear how deeply it all resonated with you. That's exactly why we LOVE what we are able to do! Mahalo for the incredible recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/14 |
Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, Volcanoes National Park & Dinner at Kilauea Lodge
The Most Relaxing Informative Tour on the Island
Reviewed by: Casey
My husband and I recently took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano. It was a very pleasant experience and probably one of the best tours we’ve ever done.
After driving about 90 minutes, we stopped to have a very nice box lunch at a rest stop near the military base. The lunches were prepared by a nice restaurant in Kona. Place mats were even provided to put on the picnic tables!
This was a tour in itself, as we were able to sample many different treats. We were even able to watch the employees preparing the cookies through a large glass wall. Everything we tasted was delicious except for the chocolate dipped squid that we thought was coconut!! I think one needs to develop a taste for the combination of chocolate and squid.
As we got closer to the volcano, the weather got progressively worse. Chris, our driver, was very adept at adjusting our schedule so that we took best advantage of the time we had. We stopped at the Rainbow falls lookout and took a short walk along the falls til we got to the huge banyan tree.
We went to the Kilauea Lodge for dinner. This looked to me to be a five star hotel and restaurant just outside the park. We were allowed to choose between a New York steak, fresh catch of the day, or a vegetarian dish.
After dinner we went back to the volcano to see it after dark. Thankfully, Kailani Tours provided very comfortable and warm Lands End parkas. Even though we were told to bring jackets, the ones we took were not warm enough as the winds were blustery, making the 45 degree weather seem much colder. We went to the lip of the Calderra where the view of the glowing lava was awe-inspiring.
As a final treat, we were given a short stargazing opportunity when we were about halfway home. The entire experience lasted from approximately 10:00 am to midnight. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about everything on the island, the volcano, and constellations and was very good at passing that knowledge along to us.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful time with Chris. He is an awesome guide whose attention to detail really allows our guests to just indulge in the experience! He always makes sure that everyone has the best time possible. What an experience the chocolate squid must have been! I don't believe I've quite developed a taste for that either, but what a story to tell! Hopefully, the amazing dinner at Kilauea Lodge made your taste buds happier. Mahalo for the excellent review and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/02/18 |
Private Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour from Hilo
Private Tour the Best Way
Reviewed by: Steve
For a group of six, this is the best way to do the Volcano tour. Our guide was awesome! Gave us an excellent, most informative and comfortable trip.
Mahalo for a wonderful time together!
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| Packages: | 6-Hour Private Van (8 to 14 passengers) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/01/17 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/12/23 |
Volcano & Kona Coffee Farm Tour with Night Lava Viewing (from Kona / Waikoloa)
Great Guide
Reviewed by: Mike
Dominik was a great ambassador for his tour company and Hawaii. He was very knowledgable and his local knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history was amazing. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Dominik!
Mike & Cheryl S.
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| Packages: | Test Package |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/01/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/01/14 |
Private VIP Tour & Volcanoes National Park After Dark (from Hilo)
Natural High
Reviewed by: Fi & Guy, Nov 2015
We booked a Private Volcano Tour in Oct 2015 and experienced so much more than just 'a tour'. Our guide, Lee, was friendly, knowledgeable, listened to our interests and tailored our afternoon/evening accordingly. We'll never forget the beautiful scenery, sights and our volcano experience - particularly the added pleasures of owls above steam vents and the Milky Way above glowing Kilauea. Truly outstanding visit to Hawaii.
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| Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/11/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/10/08 |
Private Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour from Hilo
Private VIP volcano tour
Reviewed by: Renee H.
We had an amazing time! There is no way we could have seen or learned as much as we did without this private tour! Our guide Lee was fantastic. He was a wealth of knowledge from history to current events and even local legends. Our group consisted of 4 adults who wanted to go and see it all and we did. I highly recommend this tour.
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| Packages: | 12-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/10/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/10/24 |
Kilauea After Dark - Volcanoes National Park & Night Lava Viewing Tour
Valuable information learned
Reviewed by: Samantha
Amanda was our tour guide and she was full of information about the island. She told us stories such as, Captain Cook's story and many facts about the land that we would have never learned on our own. Before we entered the park, we had lunch at the Punalu'u bakery. They have the BEST bread we have ever had!! My husband exclaimed that it was the best tuna sandwich he's ever had and it takes a lot for him to say something like that. We also tried the malasadas (we purchased..fairly cheap around ~3 for 2) and they were very good. When we entered the park, Amanda talked about the different kinds of lava flow and gave us many other facts. She was extremely knowledgeable which is what makes it worth booking this trip. Yes, we could have driven to the park on our own. But, I am thankful we had a guide that was so knowledgeable in such a small group (group of 8 total). She also talked about different trees and plants that we may have never even noticed! The only thing that was a pain was everyone in our group got picked up and dropped off individually, which made for a late night especially when the different driver taking us back did not seem to know the area at all. Our dinner was a buffet but there were not a lot of choices. However, they did have ice cream!
We are so glad you enjoyed the day with us! Amanda is certainly a gem! We do apologize that our evening driver was not as familiar with the entire island as we would like her to be. She is a new member of our team and is doing her best to learn about the various drop offs on this Big Island of ours, but we trust her safe driving and courteous manner. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review.
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| Packages: | From Kona & Waikoloa |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/10/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/10/02 |
Volcano & Kona Coffee Farm Tour with Night Lava Viewing (from Kona / Waikoloa)
Volcano, Coffee, and Turtles
Reviewed by: Sheryl
This tour was excellent! I was picked up from the hotel promptly at the time given. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We visited a coffee farm, then went to a black beach to view turtles before heading to Volcano National Park. Lunch and dinner was included and both were good. I had wondered whether doing a tour to the Volcano Park would allow adequate time there, and it was just the right amount of time, staying until after dark to view the lava.
Aloha Sheryl,
Thank you for your kind review! I had a great day with you and appreciate having you on the tour. You also had some great information that you shared with me so thank you! If you get tired of visiting new places and come back to the island please see us again.
Warmest Aloha,
Katie
Hawaii Outdoor Guides
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| Packages: | Test Package |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2015/08/29 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/05 |
Grand Circle Island Tour - Volcano, Black Sand Beach, Waipio Valley & Waterfalls
Amazing!
Reviewed by: vcb
Amazing tour and very informative. A great way to see the whole island.
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/08/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/22 |
Kilauea Volcano Overnight Camping Adventure
Amazing!
Reviewed by: Travis
Our guide, Katie was incredible! We had a ton of fun and made the most of our Hawaii Island stay. The entire tour had us learning lots, laughing tons, and in very capable hands. Couldn't recommend enough, sincerely!
Thank you so much! I had a wonderful time with you too! I hope you enjoy many more adventures around the world.
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Test Package |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/08/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/12 |
Kilauea After Dark - Volcanoes National Park & Night Lava Viewing Tour
Absolutely fantastic
Reviewed by: Kimberley
We went on this tour in July 2015 and absolutely loved it. We were picked up in Hilo by the first of our two tour guides, Neho, who was absolutely brilliant and gave us a detailed, fascinating view on everything we asked about. The black sand beach was gorgeous and inspiring, the history behind the volcanic eruptions was interesting, and the wild chickens were hilarious. Neho was warm, funny, and full of great anecdotes. Then we went to Volcano Park and met the second guide, Amanda, who was calm and knowledgeable. Pele's hair, lava tubes, the different colour of the lava - she had a story for everything.
The tour was small enough that everyone in the van got to know each other and didn't feel like we were on an assembly line. The scenery was gorgeous, and when we finally saw the lit up volcano is was utterly worth it We'd travelled to the Big Island to undertake this tour and weren't disappointed. One point - we were given jackets when we viewed the volcano at night and needed them as it was quite chilly by then, so anyone wearing shorts might want to rethink them after dinner. There were quite a few other tours at the viewing spot and we saw a lot of people wrapped in towels to keep warm. The post-volcano snack was also very welcome.
Overall, we loved it and would recommend it. The volcano needs to be seen at night in order to appreciate the colour - it was fabulous.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review! We are so happy that you enjoyed your day!! Mahalo!
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| Packages: | From Hilo |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/08/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/07/08 |
Private VIP Tour & Volcanoes National Park After Dark (from Hilo)
FANTASTIC DAY IN HAWAII!!
Reviewed by: The Labbe Family
We had the most amazing day ever! Lee (our tour guide) was so informative and engaging with all of us. My 16 and 18 year old loved our day! He asked us what we wanted to do and we did it! For us it was a complete day of learning about the volcanos, lava flow and national forest! Mahalo! We will be back!
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| Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/07/29 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/07/13 |
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Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge who genuinely loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii! We are delighted to hear that you also enjoyed both lunch and dinner. Kilauea Lodge is such a welcoming treat after touring all over Volcanoes National Park! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!