Common Questions Answered

The Big Island Highlights Day Tour will begin early in the morning and includes a visit to the Volcano Winery and Rainbow Falls. The Deluxe Volcanoes and Dinner Tour will have a later start time and includes a focus on the Volcano National Park and includes an elevated, three-course dinner.

Sturdy close-toed shoes are required! We also recommend a hat or sun protection, and a sweater if you get cold easily.

With a private tour you can enjoy the privacy and comfort of traveling with your selected group of friends or family without the presence of strangers, creating a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Our fleet of vehicles can accommodate nearly all budgets, group-sizes, and preferences. If you want to take it a step further Kailani Tours also offers opportunities for custom tours where you can work with our team to find the route that works best for you!

Let us do the planning! Kailani Tours Hawaii will provide your meals, snack baskets, beverages, hiking gear, light jacket (rain), umbrellas, flashlights, other related gear for all weather conditions, and items to help with car sickness/nausea. 

Just bring yourself, a sense of excitement, and a camera if you’d like!

Timing may fluctuate depending on a variety of different factors including: where your selected pick up/drop-off location is, traffic conditions, and which tour experience you choose. The Big Island  Highlights and Deluxe Volcano Tour typically range from 11-12 hours. The Volcano Explorer Tour takes around 8 hours. All times and final details will be clarified with you a few days before your tour by our reservations team!

If you are not staying at a Resort or Hotel on our list of 40 pick-up locations on the West side of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, then we have multiple centralized spots available with free and well-lit parking in the Kailua-Kona and Waikoloa areas. Your pick-up location will be discussed with you and confirmed by our reservations team!

We may be able to offer airport pick-up only if it aligns with the timing of the tour that you booked. Airport pick-ups are always available for private and custom tours.  Once your tour is finished  will drop you off at your accommodations- regardless of your tour decision. (For routine airport shuttle services, please contact Speedishuttle, Kona Taxicab, UBER, Lyft, or several taxi companies on the island.)

While cameras are welcome, drones are not allowed in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Though we have a compact collapsible wheelchair available for guests, our guides cannot push/assist with wheelchair mobility. Our tours are active and require some physical exertion. While on tour guests may experience some or all of the following: a large step up into the van, tight aisles, steep hills in either direction, stairs, uneven surfaces, wet surfaces, and loose sand.

 If you have any questions or would like to know more details about the physical aspects of your specific tour, please contact Kailani Tours staff at 808-938-4057 or [email protected].

Kailani Tours prefers small-group experiences, generally booking no more than 12 guests per vehicle to provide the ultimate comfort in our Mercedes Sprinter Vans. Private tours are available if you prefer a more intimate experience.

Yes, you’re more than welcome to join our shared daily tours or select a private SUV for a more intimate and personalized experience.

We primarily operate  luxury Mercedes Sprinter mini-coaches and Smartliners. We also have a line of SUVs available for small groups, private VIP services, or airport transportation.  

You will be given the opportunity to exit the vehicle to enjoy the lush and unique landscapes of all the points of interest. All walks are optional and it is up to you how far you walk at these destinations. The Thurston Lava Tube is the most strenuous part of the tour with roughly 15 steps down, a twenty-minute or 1/3 mile hike through the tube, and roughly 20 steps up.

All tours were designed to make sure that we make frequent bathroom stops. Guides will point out recommended bathroom stops and will help plan the next one. If bathroom stops are a priority, please call us directly and we will make sure your guide is aware of any special requests. We’ll do whatever is possible to ensure a comfortable and worry-free touring experience.

Our tours range between 8-12 hours- while that may seem like a long day, our guides make frequent stops to coffee farms, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and other exciting locations. Once all is said and done you will have spent more time outside of the van than in.  We’ve designed our tours to create a relaxing day of sightseeing, comfort, and entertainment to create the ultimate touring experience!

There will be opportunities to purchase items from gift shops and bakeries, however, the tour is primarily experiential. 

Kailani Tours does not receive any residual benefits from visiting any of our tour locations. Our vetted partners are trusted, and we love to share their offerings with our guests.

This tour includes a variety of refreshments and snacks in the vehicle and covers all tastings, meals, and entrance fees required. We work closely with coffee roasters, wineries, and other establishments on the island to bring you exclusive tastings and experiences.

There aren’t any facilities on board. However, we plan to make frequent restroom stops throughout the tour.

While not required, gratuity is greatly appreciated! Your guide works hard to keep you safe, entertained, and satisfied for up to 12 hours. Our guides prioritize the comfort, entertainment, education, and safety of every guest throughout the tour. Tips can show our guides appreciation for a job well done! We recommend $20-$40 per person for full-day excursions.

In short, no- Hawaiʻi laws do not permit the consumption of or an open container of alcohol in any vehicle. However, you are allowed to make purchases at the Volcano Winery for personal consumption and a glass of wine or tasting occurs within the tour so long as you are 21+. We ask that you drink responsibly while in our care and Kailani Tours reserves the right to ask a guest to disembark if necessary.