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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/04/06 |
Activity Date: | 2016/04/02 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/04/04 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/27 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/04/02 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/22 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/03/28 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/02 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/23 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/21 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/21 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/20 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/16 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/15 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/14 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/01 |
Activity Date: | 2016/02/18 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private Van (8 to 14 passengers) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/01/17 |
Activity Date: | 2015/12/23 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/01/16 |
Activity Date: | 2016/01/14 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/11/28 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/08 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 12-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/10/27 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/24 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | From Kona & Waikoloa |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/10/04 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/02 |
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
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2015/08/29 |
Activity Date: | 2015/08/05 |
Reviewed by: vcb
Amazing tour and very informative. A great way to see the whole island.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/08/25 |
Activity Date: | 2015/08/22 |
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.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/08/15 |
Activity Date: | 2015/08/12 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | From Hilo |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2015/08/02 |
Activity Date: | 2015/07/08 |
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!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2015/07/29 |
Activity Date: | 2015/07/13 |
Reviewed by: MaryKL
What a great day on the Big Island. If you travel to Kona make sure to put this tour on your itinerary.
Our guide was Nickels and he was the most knowledgeable young man and very patient and pleasant too. He took us to all of the places you should see on the island and even managed an unscheduled stop to the southern most bakery in the US. Even our teenagers we're attentive and even asked questions. It's a long day(@ 12hours)but I didn't want it to end. We truly enjoyed this tour.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2015/07/20 |
Activity Date: | 2015/06/24 |
Reviewed by: Chris Golden
Lee was an absolutely amazing tour guide. I would recommend him to anyone going to the Big Island. His insightful and knowledgeable commentary in addition to the beautiful sights are a must see for any visitor. Thank you Lee!!
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/07/12 |
Activity Date: | 2015/07/07 |
Reviewed by: Chun-chieh Wang
I enjoy the tour very much. In addition to National Volcano Park, we also visit other interesting places, such as Black Sand Beach and Rainbow Falls. Our tour guide, Walter, helps us a lot and shares much information and living experience and makes this tour so knowledgeable. But there is one thing to remind. If you don't want to have lunch at Volcano House, you should buy your lunch earlier.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2015/07/06 |
Activity Date: | 2015/06/30 |
Reviewed by: Andrea
Very knowledgable about the history and local culture. Fabulous time!
Aloha folks! Mahalo for such a wonderful time together discovering the beauty of Nature and the wonderful Hawai'i Is;and.......
Blessings, Lee
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private Van (8 to 14 passengers) |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/06/27 |
Activity Date: | 2015/06/23 |
Reviewed by: Leung
Excellent experience, learned a lot about Hawaii culture, especially pleased to taylor making to cope my cruise departure time. In addition, the guide was flexible to bring us to the local fruit market to buy papaya and see the turtles.
Thank you so much for your comments! We always thrive to make our guest's Hawaii vacation the most memorable. Our itinerary can be flexible to meet your interest and comfort.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | 6-Hour Private Van (8 to 14 passengers) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2015/06/21 |
Activity Date: | 2015/06/09 |
Reviewed by: Jo Kozlovski
We had the best time on the tour. Great places, foods and experiences - first time snorkelling! Katie was super cool and knowledgeable - she felt like a friend not a tour guide. Thankyou :)
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/06/09 |
Activity Date: | 2015/06/03 |
Reviewed by: Justine Z
It was my first vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii and I booked a full day circle tour with Wasabi Tours with my boyfriend, in order to get acquainted with the island's landscape and popular destinations. Our tour guide, Kala, was absolutely phenomenal! Not only did he show us all of the beautiful sights and landscapes that the island has to offer but he was also an encyclopedia of information! You could ask Kala almost anything about the island and he would almost certainly have the answer. Kala was a historian, a geographer, a geologist, a horticulturalist and even a sociologist all in one! He was a great story teller! Kala was also extremely hospitable, professional, warm, and inviting--right from the start to the end of the tour!Somehow he managed to keep enthusiastic for the 10+ hour long day. Kala mentioned he used to work in the high end resorts in the North Shore and you can really tell that he did, as he provides extremely professional service. He really went out of his way to make sure the guests were all getting the most out of the experience. When we learned the lava was really high in the Volcanoes National Park, Kala made a few separate attempts to return to the site, as the grounds were extremely steamy that particular day. He REALLY wanted us to see the lava, but it is so sad to say the weather did not cooperate that particular day despite Kala's greatest efforts. Despite this bad luck, we were fortunate enough to see all the other beautiful sites that Wasabi tours promises to take you! Finally, to top the day off, Kala knew how much I wanted to see some of the Hawaiian Honu (sea turtles), and he found me some of those as well! Overall, Wasabi Tours does a really great job preparing a fun and informative day for guests. Ultimately, a big thank you to Kala for keeping us entertained and showing us around the tropical paradise of Hawaii!
Mahalo!
Justine & Sam.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/05/03 |
Activity Date: | 2015/04/26 |
Reviewed by: BeachBoy
I stayed in Hilo, and I participated on this tour on the way to Waipio. It's only 20min drive from Hilo, and the place was beautiful. I loved the casual walk in the natural rain forest, and it was like being in the Jurassic Park movie. The waterfall was secluded and awesome. I'd recommend this to anyone and especially the ones with small kids.
Rating: | |
---|---|
Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2015/02/25 |
Tips and suggestions
Reply from activity provider
An unexpected error has occurred. Please go back to the previous page and try again, or wait a few minutes and try once again.
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!