Reviews For Our Future Guests To Enjoy
Love Shared From Past Island Visitors
Each tour differs a bit to allow a variety of experiences that best suit your group’s desired locations or meal options. Please take
a moment to read what our past guests have to say about their experiences and learn more about what to expect on a Kailani Tours excursion.
- Worth it! The tour was great, we had little time on the island and made the most of it with this tour. Dave C was a great guide and strived to tell us as much information as possible everywhere we went. It was definitely worth it to take a tour with such a small group; made the whole day much more fun and enjoyable for us and for our child. Food/drink/stops were good and well timed, also important with kids! Very comfortable van.read moreread lessMaria V11/19/2024Around the BI in one day. Our guide, Dave C. is extremely knowledgeable and very personable. The transportation is very comfortable and was able to accommodate a person using a scooter. The trip included stops at a coffee farm, bakery, black sand beach (saw sea turtles), national park (several stops including the rim of a volcano), a delicious bento lunch at the Volcano House, rainbow falls and HI candy store in Hilo. Pick up and drop off at resort was included along with snacks, beverages, lavender scented hand towels and ample restroom stops. I've been in Hawaii for two weeks and Dave C. was by far the best guide! I highly recommend this tour.read moreread lessLeighAnn070511/13/2024Great way to spend a day on the Big Island I am not generally a fan a bus tours. I prefer to go at my own pace and stay as long as I feel like anywhere. This was an exception.
Our driver Joshua did a great job for us. All stops were of an appropriate length and it was nice to be able to look around as opposed to driving.read moreread lessVenture58974110/30/2024Wonderful way to see the Big Island The Big Island Highlights Tour was wonderful. Our guide Kawika was very knowledgeable and thoughtful and supportive of everyone on the tour.read moreread lessViviane K10/28/2024Best Tour on the Island This tour included all the best places to see in 1 trip. The guide was very down to Earth. He kept the group on track and on time. The guide had alot of local history to share. He engaged with the group. Snacks, drinks, and a hot towel were offered. This was the best tour I was on during my vacation.read moreread lessJulie P10/28/2024 - Best tour of Big Island By far, one of the absolutely best tours weâve ever done! Timing at each stop was great, delicious lunch, and our guide (Kawiki) made it perfect with his in depth local knowledge and the information he shared in some storytelling.
The communication from tour company was timely, informative and helpful! We would highly recommend this tour!read moreread lessNancy C10/17/2024What an Unforgettable Experience! We took the all day tour guide going through Coffee Farm, Farmers Market, PunaLuu Bakery, Black Sand Beach, Volcano National Park, Thornton Lava Tube & Visitors Center.
Every one of those places was just so awesome to see. The tour guide was quite informative with all the historical information of the island.
He was even nice enough to recommend all these local favorite spots â including stopping real quick at a local farmers market!
Highly recommend this tour!read moreread lessCosmopolitan6508510/13/2024Big Island Volcanos, Malasadas, Coffee & Stars This was a great tour/day trip. Grant was very knowledgeable about the Island history, volcanos, hawaiian folklore, and just funny and personable. Stops to the coffee company, bakery, black sand beach (turtles greated us, too), then to volcano was just amazing! The walk thru lava tube was really cool! Learned a lot. Cuz it was Sunday, we stopped at a local street market. Loved it but no room in my suitcase to purchase all the good stuff. Thought the trip might be a little long but Grant kept our interest the entire time. He interacted well with all of us on the trip and tended to those with special needs. There were plenty of stops along the way incluting linch and dinner. The final treat was a stop to view the stars and constellations as it was a really clear night. Breathtaking. Grant took some pictures of our group, I look forward to getting them, as well as volcano videos. Or let me know how I can access online. Highlight of our trip!!read moreread lessHappyWailea4410/09/2024BRETT serves chocolate on his tours! The seats in the bus were comfortable, the traveling companions were personable and our guide, Brett, was very informative and a joy to have him as our driver. He serenaded us at lunch with his ukulele and even serves chocolate on the trip! đread moreread lessNancy M10/06/2024Big Island highlights and beyond Excellent tour of Big Island. Tour guide Thia made the experience exceptional! Knowledgeable, went above and beyond, safe. Total experience was wonderful start to our trip to the Big Island.read moreread lessbcn40310/02/2024Big Island Highlights Great tour for our second day on the island. Touched on all the big topics to see. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and some great stories from growing up on the island. This is a must do tour if its your first time coming to the Big Island.read moreread lessBrent N10/01/2024 - Exceptional excursion The guide, David, was wonderful. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. I use a walker, and he was very considerate of my mobility limitations. The tour was well paced, van comfortable. Would highly recommend and I look forward to booking another tour with them when I return in a few months. Thank youread moreread lessCynthiaM8389/30/2024Insanely unexpected good tour - the tour really was all day and all night! If you go on this tour ask for Dave, hands down best guided tour I've ever been on thanks to him. He was really knowledgeable and gave some nice insights into Hawaiian culture, meaning of words, and great depth into facts about the formation of the island, and types of lava flows.
I did the massive day tour and it was 10-12 hours, but it was beyond worth it. The night time star gazing, and night tour of the lava tubes were arguably the best thing I've seen my whole trip to Kona.
If you are looking at this thing and questioning the value, don't, just book it. Only tour I've been on where I felt it was underpriced for the value.
I will say the dinner food at the restaurant we stopped at was pretty sad, but nothing to do really with the tour, and that's a tiny minus. The lunch sandwiches were nice though!
If you are seeing this review, look no further and book this!read moreread lessRobWorld9/30/2024Volcanoes, Coffee and Fun! Dave C was an amazing guide! The tour was a long one that covered a lot of history and fun facts about Hawaii big island, the culture, coffee and of course volcanoes. We were lucky to have an upbeat fun group on the tour. Lunch at Volcano House provided beautiful views of the caldera. Dave kept us all entertained. I would definitely request him as our guide on any future trips.read moreread lessrosemaryl4589/30/2024Celebrity Edge Shore excursion: Volcanoes National Park and Tastes of Hawaii We took the your Volcanoes National Park and Tastes of Hawaii while anchored with Celebrity Edge. Our tour guide, Dave C, was absolutely phenomenal and made the tour very enjoyable!read moreread lessMarieG33039/27/2024Daveâs the man! Dave was incredibly knowledgeable attentive, and personable. My wife and I would recommend the experience to anyone!read moreread lessExplorer115711013699/26/2024One Of The Best Tours Ever! My husband and I had the pleasure of taking the Deluxe Big Island Tour on Sept. 14, 2024. And we had a fabulous time. Your driver/tour guide, Kerry, was awesome and amazing. He was knowledgeable about all the spots we were visiting and provided just the right amount of information about each site we visited.He made our once-in-a-life-time visit a most memorable one.A special shout-out to him and you because you were kind enough to return to where we were staying to give me some items that were left on the van by us the next day. Thank you.This was one of the most flawless tours we have ever experienced!read moreread lessPeter B9/25/2024 - Big Island, Big Fun They call it the big island for a reason. This tour is a great way to see the highlights. Kawika and Makayla were great tour guides. They were so very knowledgeable and told such interesting stories. Everything was top notch from the tour bus to the food and stops.read moreread lessExpedition7978269/22/2024Why you need to go on this tour Evan Pillay Our driver Dave was extremely helpful. He always asked if we wanted snacks and drinks. They were free as well! The actual tour is so cool plus it includes lunch! You even get to see the most active volcano in the world. We also got to see a wild green hawaiian turtle! Evan Pillayread moreread lessAvi S9/16/2024Easy fun way to see the Big Island. Great and easy way to see the Big Island. 11 hours sounds long, but the many stops break up the trip nicely with many opportunities to use rest rooms, the day was fun, interesting and goes by fast. Keri, our tour guide, was friendly and very informative. Wine tasting was fun and right before a nice sit down lunch at Volcano National park. Expensive tour but worth it.read moreread lessThomas R9/13/2024
- Day out on Big Island An excellent day out made even more special by the care and attention given to us by our wonderful guide Thia we saw so much and learnt a lot but never felt âon the clockâ We had delicious donuts coffee wine a very tasty lunch at the volcano House and some wonderful chocolates and shortbread biscuits en route to keep us going on our tour it was a long day but really enjoyable! Thank you Thia!read moreread lessKarengbe9/11/2024The best tour, tour company and guide We wanted to see a number of things on the island but didn't want to do the driving. This tour covered everything in a little over 11 hours. We started with pickup from the condo we were staying at (even though it isn't in the resort hotel area). The Mercedes sprinter van was very comfortable and luxurious. There were 12 of us, plus the driver/guide) and we had lots of room. Big items for me were:
-Volcano National Park (steam vents, the caldera. exploring a lava tube and lunch at Volcano house)
-black sand beach, including a couple of sea turtles
-coffee plantation (lots of fresh brew to sample) - we picked up some beans to bring home
-winery (lots of samples)
-saddle road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
Our tour guide (Grant - see if you can get him) was very well informed. His easy patter, a mix of info, entertainment and keeping the group engaged, made the time fly by.
My only regret was that no lava was present, but if we come again and there is lava, we're going to sign up for a night tour with Grant.read moreread lessknowetop9/10/2024Big Island-Circle Island Tour. Dave the tour guide was the best! He was very knowledgeable and took photos of me and my husband together. He provided snacks and drinks. We didnât have to worry about anything. One highlight was having lunch at the Volcano House Restaurant.read moreread lessTourist2901989/09/2024Big Island Experience! We did this tour our second day on Big Island. Our tour guide Doug was great! He was extremely knowledge and provided us with an awesome day giving us an amazing view of the whole island.read moreread lessbrenda L9/08/2024Fantastic Day Chasing Volcanoes Fantastic day chasing the other-worldly beauty of the Hawaiian volcanoes. Grant was a wealth of knowledge and really made the islandâs history and geography come to life for us! Highly recommend this tour!read moreread lessmmabercrombie059/05/2024Amazing! Ask for tour guide Dave!!! Our guide Dave was absolutely amazing!!! Hands down the best tour guide ever. He was experienced, attentive, patient, and had a lot of knowledge you could never learn from textbooks. The Hawaiian hospitality is real, and I felt like every dollar I spent was worth it. I learned so much from this tour as Dave shared a lot of his personal experiences from living in the island for so many years. And they were all interesting too. Some tour guides in other places share a lot of trivial facts that are uninteresting or too personal, but everything Dave shared was actually interesting, and he did not force/push anything onto us. From star constellations to the formations of lava tubes, Dave candidly shared his extensive knowledge and experiences with us. It felt like he actually knows every corner of the big island. I wish we had more time with him to learn more about it. Just keep in mind that thereâs a lot of traveling in this tour (as expected since the volcano is inside a national park).read moreread lessaxy218/30/2024 - Best small group land tour ever! This tour company was very customer oriented. Everything about the booking and continuous communication prior to the trip was perfect. The driver/tour guide was professional, knowledgeable and fun. The tour itself packed in a lot amazing views .good stops along ,the way to volcano national park and on return from Hilo. I highly recommend this company!read moreread lessPatricia D8/16/2024Great Experience! This was a terrific tour. Our tour guide was Kawika and he was excellent! So knowledgeable and shared wonderful stories and history through the entire day. We were lucky and had great weather so the views were spectacular. We even got to star gaze because the sky was clear. It is a long day, and we were tired when we were done, but definitely worth the time and money. Highly recommend.read moreread lessdebinwi8/13/2024Fabulous Tour My children and I took this tour yesterday and had an absolutely wonderful time. I was a bit worried that my 8 and 10 year old boys would get bored on an 11hr tour, but they did not. I was also worried I would regret spending what I thought at first was an insane amount of money on the tour but I do not. We had a magical experience thinks to our wonderful guide. He was so very knowledgeable and entertaining. He also put up with my youngest sonâs endless round of questions with grace. We visited a coffee farm, got to see a chameleon and have him climb on my kids and learn how they make coffee. Next we visited this great bakery and then we got to enjoy the pastries on a black sand beach where two sea turtles were sun bathing. Next we spent a lot of time in the volcano national park where our guide took us off the beaten path to allow my kids to explore and get their energy out, we also visited the three largest craters, the steam vents and a lava tube. After that we headed to a candy factory and my kids loved their chocolate rocky road. We ended the trip with a visit to rainbow falls and theyâve also got some spectacular trees there. It was just a lovely experience. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get in a lot of the island in one day.read moreread lessTrvl81768/12/2024The best tour experience The tour was amazing, Kawika, our tour guide was the best that we have ever had. The view was incredibly beautiful, the black sand beach experience was great and seeing the black sand and Turtles. Then the Volcano and waterfall was something that we had never seen before. Kawika provided us with a lot of information about the history on the island and kept us entertained the whole time. We highly recommend this tour.read moreread lessHector M8/10/2024Great way to see the island in a day We had a wonderful tour with Kavika as our guide. He was full of information. This tour is a great way to see the highlights of Big Island in a day. Our family of 4 loved learning about the history of Hawaii and the volcanoes. We also had fun at wine tasting (they had alcohol free drinks for my son who is under age), seeing the turtles at Black Beach, eating malasadas, having lunch at the Volcano House, and seeing the beautiful views of the island.read moreread lessJojie S8/01/2024BEST ISLAND TOUR Amazing trip around the island. David G was an amazing tour guide - he was very accommodating, friendly, understanding yet stuck to the schedule and ensured we got to see everything ! He was super informative and spoke to us about his own personal Hawaiâi journeys and knew everything about the island!! He had drinks, food , hot towels, flashlights etc
We had an awesome group and visited coffee, a bakery, volcano park, rainbow falls, wine tasting, and big island candies
I had such an amazing breathtaking stunning time and I was able to enjoy so many different thingsread moreread lessConnector327488935147/24/2024 - Magical big island tour Magical tour of the big island with a fantastic guide! Kawika was patient, informative and entertaining during the full day tour with many original and unique insights to the island life! We savoured many experiences in the different parts of the island. The day flew by despite the length of the tour!
We will remember it for life:)read moreread lessSusuNY7/22/2024NCL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK & BLACK SAND BEACH I went on this tour as a shore excursion with Norwegian Cruise Line. Our tour guide, Ryan, was amazing! He shared a lot of information about the island in a fun and engaging way and entertained us with stories about each site. He was very knowledgeable and eager to answer any questions we had. He went above and beyond to ensure each of his guests had an amazing experience. I also appreciated that this tour was conducted in a small 15-passenger van instead of a large tour bus, allowing us to have a more personalized experience.read moreread lessMeli M7/22/2024Wonderful Splendid tour! Doug did a great job!!! A great day - comfortable ride! Highly recommend- great sights! Drinks and snacks a plus! Pickup from
hotelread moreread lessshannonlL6422CF7/14/2024Fabulous day out An amazing trip and well worth the money..a great overview narrated by our tour guide..who shared so. Much information with us. Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a wonderful informative day out stopping and seeing amazing sights along the way. Travelled in comfort and were very well looked after on this tripread moreread lessjandpfalconer7/14/2024THIS TOUR WILL NOT DISAPPOINT! I highly recommend this tour! Wish I would have gone on the first full day we were here - so much to see and do! Our tour guide Jim Carey was amazing - we heard lots of stories about Hawaiian history - not a dull moment at all! I was the only single person on the tour and was made to feel part of the group. Be sure to ask for Uncle Jim when you book! He will not disappoint!!!read moreread lessmichandty7/12/2024 - A fantastic tour! I would 100% recommend!!! One of the best tours I have been on! Our tour guide Kerry was fantastic and he did an amazing job and was so kind and considerate to everyone on the tour! I would 10/10 recommend this tour because of how fun it was and how much my family and I enjoyed getting to know the Big Island and our amazing tour guide!read moreread lessLaura F7/09/2024Great tour with Chris, a terrific tour guide Took a shore excursion from NCL Pride of America with Chris. Van #22. He was an outstanding guide who seemed to have an answer to every question our group had. Very accommodating and attentive to everyoneâs needs. Always offering something cold to drink, a damp towel, or even a flashlight or jacket for the tour. Best tour guide we can remember from any trip.read moreread lessGoPlaces070355392447/03/2024Great Experience! Great tour with a small group. Our guide/driver David was very helpful in explaining local culture and traditions and helped us exploring things which we could not have done by ourselves. His knowledge of native plants, wild life and culture kept us engaged throwout the tour. Thanks for a great experience !read moreread lessVirender T6/28/2024A great way to see the whole island in a day in a comfortable ride with a great tour guide. When your teens tell you their favorite tour in Hawaii was an 11 hour tour with a lot of riding in a van you know itâs good. Well, if you can call a Mercedes a van. The transportation was very nice and they offered snacks and drinks along the way. Our tour guide called in that day so the owner of the company actually gave us the tour. He was very nice and did a great job. The stops along the way were very interesting. I enjoyed getting to taste all of the coffee at the coffee farm. I wish we could have seen more of the farm operations though. The black sand beach was very pretty. The bakery and cookie store we stopped at were both great. We bought some of the cookies and wish we had bought more. The winery was a nice stop. I really enjoyed their teas more than their wines. Eating at the Volcanoes national park was beautiful and the short hike we did along the caldera and through the lava tube was very informative with great views. Rainbow falls and the huge canyon trees there were as impressive as the volcano to me. The guide was nice enough to take a great family photo of us there. The guides knowledge of the island and his stories were really what made the trip great. He kept us entertained all day. Thank you Chris!read moreread lessROYSTER P6/28/2024Excellent tour and tour guide Doug, our tour guide was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and provided good insights into the history and layout of the big island. The driving distances were long, but he kept us entertained with history and culture. The highlight of the tour was the Volcanoes National Park. Although it was misting and cloudy, Doug took us to the Crater rim observation point to get a closer look. We would highly recommend this tour.read moreread lessShubha S6/17/2024
- Exceptional tour of Big Island! Thanks Debra! Debra was an exceptional guide! Itâs a full long day! But you see the entire island with lots of cool spots and her knowledge about the history of Hawaii and all the stories as you travel through the different sections of the island! Just exceptional!read moreread lessTom D6/07/2024Hawaii your with Debra not to be missed Debra is an amazing tour guide!! We had two couples take a private Hawaii tour today. She provided us with excellent commentary while steering us through all the stops without feeling rushed and staying on schedule. We particularly enjoyed Volcanos National Park. It was a great day in the Big Island! Not to be missed!!!read moreread lesslkhi5/31/2024Awesome custom tour We did a custom tour for two of us. We went from Kailua-Kona (off the NCL cruise ship) to South Point with stops along the way there and back. We were in a regular SUV and our driver/guide âPJâ was wonderful for our seven hour tour. Besides South Point we stopped at captain cook monument, the bakery, a farm, and gelato.read moreread lesswilliamnU4704ZU5/26/2024Great Rum, Great Tasting tour We thought we knew all about rum, but our guide gave us the best experience learning about Kuleana rum, how it's made, and how to taste the differences in the four types of rum they distill. These rums were amazing. We had already eaten at their restaurant adjacent to the tasting room and the food and cocktails were some of the best we've had on the island. We are food and alcohol snobs, so when we say something is good, it's really good.read moreread lessHikenFishGirl5/25/2024Great Volcano Tour and much more! Our driver was Thia, and she was 5-star perfect all the way. Very caring, calm, a great driver, knowledgeable, and a sweet all questions. We got to see huge sea turtles on black sand beach ate Portuguese donuts ( followed by wet washcloths to wipe our sticky hands!) toured the edge of a volcano and had lunch at the lodge in the Volcano National Park..drove expertly thru a howling rainstorm. What a great day! Highly recommendedread moreread lessGerirx5/24/2024Great way to see the Big Island What a great day. Alex, our driver was fantastic with all kinds of information on the various stops and sights on the tour.
Nice small group and everyone stayed on schedule so we were able to hit all of the spots and have a nice leisurely dayread moreread lessCraig S5/23/2024 - Big Island Highlights..... It was a very nice trip. Our driver, Dave, was very knowledgable and personable. He grew up on the island and was able to personalize things. For me, the coffee stop was not really that special. There wasn't a tour or anything, but could sample their coffee (which I don't drink hahah). The stop at the bakery was a nice treat. They also have a gift shop and we found our "thing" that we bring back from each trip. A carved wooden owl. The donuts were quite tasty! The trip up to the rim of the volcano was nice, but the lunch was awful! The fish was so dry that I had to cut it with a knife. My husband had the chicken as he could hardly eat it. We had a fair amount of time at the rim at different spots. Then we went to the lava tubes, which were very interesting. Even walking through the path to get to them was a treat! Giant fiddle heads, so neat! From there we went into Hilo to Rainbow Falls. Hilo has just had a torrential storm go through and by the time we made it to the falls (we skirted all of the rain) the falls were a muddy brown from the storm. Still nice, but . brown From there we headed back on Saddle Road. It was a lovely drive and Dave pulled over (safely) to take pictures of Mauna Kea with the sunsetting. It was a 12 hour day, but for the most part, it was a good day. Was it worth it? Depends on whether you want to driver or be a passenger.read moreread lessrlute5/21/2024Fantastic day out. Recommended What a fantastic day out we had on this tour. A remarkable driver and guide who kept us entertained. Pick up and return was so well organised.
We saw so much of the Island in the limited time we had. Well worth going on.read moreread lessJ0lly_J0hn5/20/2024Big Island Highlights Tour - AMAZING! We had a wonderful day full of history and camaraderie yesterday with Grant Mitchell on this highlights tour. Altho PACKED with multiple stops we never felt rushed. Grant is humorous and knowledgeable. This is a great way to see some great sights without the hassle of driving yourself.read moreread lessnicollewilks5/04/2024Great View of the Island On Saturday, April 27, 2024, we took the Big Island Tour with Kona Chris as our tour guide. The tour was packed full of information. We stopped at a winery, a bakery, Black Sand Beach, Volcano National Park, and Rainbow Falls. The tour included lunch and snacks. The 11-hour tour was well worth the time and money. Kona Chris was great.read moreread lessTom M5/01/2024 - Well planned trip with interesting stops and interesting well-informed tour guide This was a tour from the Kona area to Volcanoes National Park. Highlights on the way there were a coffee farm, a bake shop where we stopped for lunch (sandwiches very good bread, included) and a striking black sand beach where green sea turtles were lounging about on the beach!
Our tour guide was well versed and enthusiastic about the science and history of local volcanoes, many of which have been active recently. After viewing the smoking volcano site and walking through a huge lava tube we rode back on our very comfortable bus (seating about 12 ) and watched on a mounted screen the video footage of a Kilauea eruption that our guide had been on the scene for. And an added bonus, a very good dinner ( soup or salad, entree beverage and desert, included) on the way home at a local innread moreread lessJourney505685997984/27/2024A great trip A wonderful tour for first-time Big Island visitors. Stefan was a great guide with tons of information about the history, the culture, the land formations, and the flora, and the fauna. Each stop was interesting from learning how coffee is processed to wine tasting and candy making. Volcano National Park was awesome, and the lunch was delicious and presented beautifully. All in all, it was a well planned trip and very well done.read moreread lessRuth and Ted T4/25/2024Volcanoes National Park with Amazing Guides We just returned from our shipâs tour of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a Taste of the Big Island led by Kailani Tours. We were so, so very fortunate to have native Hawaiian Luke Kahekili Wong and Tara as our guides today. Luke shared his extensive local knowledge, history, folklore, and language with us. The itinerary and stops were well planned and organized. Both Luke and Tara are eloquent and entertaining educators and they enjoyed sharing their love for the islands and cultural heritage with visitors. We now have an expanded view of avocados, mangoes, condiments (Best Foods mayonnaise), paralysis, rites of passage, and, most importantly, the hospice tree. It was one of the most satisfying, entertaining and amazing excursions we have enjoyed. Mahalo Luke and Tara!read moreread lessmoonface594/20/2024Grant Mitchell is awesome! The tour guide, Grant was amazing. Our two kids had a blast! We saw so many cool things, toured great places and had a nice dinner. The movie on the way back at night was a nice touch! Would highly recommend.read moreread lessBecky R4/20/2024Great tour in Kona! We had a wonderful experience. Chris and David were terrific!!! They kept us engaged and taught us so much about the volcanos, Kona, plants and Hawaiian legends. The visit to Volcano Winery capped it off with lunch and a glass of their wine.read moreread lessBlossomH1254/20/2024 - Big Island Deluxe Day Tour-Volcanoes and Dinner We were pleasantly surprised with this tour. We have four kids ages 8-18 and I thought it might be a long day for them. It FLEW by! We had Grant as our Tour Guide and that was a treat!! He is so passionate about the Big Island and we could never have learned so much about the island and saw everything we did in the time we did without him. He was funny, upbeat and so kind! The facts we learned we will take with us. The accommodations to the comfort of the ride, the smoothness of the driving, the really good picnic lunch (those Hawaiian bbq chips are soooo good) to the amazing things (lava tube, steam vents, sleeping grass) to name just a few we were shown in the Volcano National Park. At the Black Sand beach we saw multiple sea turtles and there is nothing cooler than seeing black sand beach! Grant was more than happy to take pics of us all together. My kids saw three islands on this trip and they said this tour with Grant was their fave tour and Big Island was their favorite! Hats off to Grant for treating us so kindly and Kailani Tours for putting together such a nice tour. The meal at the lodge was really good too. I would highly recommend doing this tour and just sitting back and enjoying what the Big Island has to offer:) I called to set up this tour and the gal on the phone was a pleasure to speak with as well. This is a tour company that cares:)read moreread lessAllison C4/04/2024The best way to see the whole island This tour was amazing! There were so many stops and things that were included. We went yo places that we never would have found on our own. Our tour guide, Chance, was a great story teller and had tons of local knowledge.read moreread lessCyndi S4/03/2024Terrific, interesting and a must do! Our day was perfect. We did it early in our trip so we had a great overview of the island. Grant, our guide was most excellent, interesting and all around fun to be with. Couldnât have had a better experience unless the volcano erupted!read moreread lessMargaret B4/03/2024Hawaii at its Finest! Our tour guide, Debra, was exceptional! A warm , friendly person with a vast amount of knowledge about the island-its history, culture , its language, the diversity of the people as well as the geological and scientific facts about the rain forest and of course, the volcanoes. She explained it all with such clarity and enthusiasm. Her pace was perfect. She kept us all engaged and excited. We were also well nourished by our lunch and our snacks. Our age range was from 5 to 49 to 73. We all enjoyed a stellar day. Thank you again!read moreread lessBarbara I4/03/2024Great tour! Grant was awesome! Fantastic tour! Our guide, Grant, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate. We got to see some amazing stuff and learned a lot about the volcanoes and the eruptions throughout recent history.read moreread lessumzta3/25/2024A Great Day on the Volcanoes Tour First of all the person that booked our tour was great she took her time and I felt well cared for not some 800 # that you felt like a number.
Second- our tour Guide Chris was amazing so knowledgeable and great humor we can't believe all that he knew and he had great command of the Hawaiian language it is a long day but well worth it the van was comfortable and food/drinks always available. We would recommend this tour to allread moreread lessRoad5204113/24/2024 - Fantastic Hawaiian tour We had an awesome tour. Our guide was fantastic, well informed, and made the tour an adventure with all the facts and stories. I felt like I learned so much about Hawaii and its people on this tour. We took many pictures. I would recommend this tour to all who visit Hawaii.read moreread lessElaine K3/15/2024This is THE DELUXE VOLCANO FULL DAY TOUR This specific tour operator (kailanitourshawaii dot com) was recommended by a Hilton Concierge in Honolulu. This Deluxe Volcano Tour is on KONA ISLAND. Itâs a Full Day Tour, appx 11 hours. Guests are picked up at major resorts, ours being the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. The tour vehicle was a brand new Mercedes Sprinter van decked out with leather captain chairs, large tinted windows with great A/C. Tour includes a ton of interesting history about HI, the volcanos, and a full day of amazing scenery. Our driver was Grant Mitchell, who grew up in Hawaii. Grant is an immensely interesting & entertaining âambassadorâ for this tour. We visited a local craft fair where I bought local honey, our next stop was Greenwell Farms, a local coffee roasting enterprise where we sampled different Kona blends, had lunch in the shade of a sprawling monkey paw tree, complete with tablecloths, a selection of local n/a beverages, delicious deli sandwiches made with Hawaiian bread, chips, cookies and various snack treats. Ee continued along the coast to visit a Kona Black Sand beach to stretch our legs for a bit, next we traveled to the Punaluâu Bake Shop and were treated to Malasada pastries. We enjoyed clean covered seating locations around the property along with clean bathrooms. We made our way to Hawaiâi Volcanoes National Park. Standing on the edge of the Kilauea Volcano caldera was pretty cool. Grant also stopped at the Thurston Lava tube where we took a brief hike in the tropical woodland, down some trail stairs and literally walked a distance inside the Lava Tube cavity from a long past eruption. After all this visual wonder, we were happy to stop at the Kilauea Lodge to enjoy a 3 course meal. This intimate lodge has tons of character with a beautiful rock fireplace. For my meal, I chose Potato Leek Soup, salad, blackened Yellow Fin Tuna, and a vegetable which I have forgotten, and letâs not forget a special dessert. Spirited beverages are available but not included in the tour. This was a very nice tour with just the right amount of interesting stops and opportunities to buy local goods or not. Grant, our guide, was a key part of making this a day we wonât soon forget!! The tour is pricey, but what you get to experience makes it worth it. I like that we werenât on a huge tour bus. I think this is limited to 13 people, which allows you to make some friends, but not get lost in the crowd. I recommend this tour.read moreread lessPamela G3/12/2024A must do tour! First off, the main reason for giving a 5 star review is our tour guide, Chris. From the moment he picked us up at the cruise line pier, he was a blast. Chris filled the entire afternoon with extremely interesting and humorous facts and stories. The stops began with delicious pastries and coffee, then onto black sand beaches, the Volcano National Park, walking through a lava tube and finishing at the beautiful Rainbow Falls.
Highly recommended tour, and cross your fingers you get Chris as your guide!read moreread lesssteve s3/09/2024Great experience Great tour. Grant was our guide. Felt like we were traveling with an old friend. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. He pointed out a LOT of cool stuff on the trip, and had great stories to tell. The van was very comfortable. Stopping points were well timed/spaced. Had a nice boxed lunch at the coffee plantation (along with a ton of coffee sampling), fruit at the farmers market (which also had other cool booths like t-shirts, artists, etc), malasadas at the bakery, dinner at the lodge was also good. Unfortunately, no lava was flowing, and it was raining/foggy at the caldera. No worries though; could still see the caldera, crater and steam vents. Amazing view. Overall, a great tour. Highly recommend this trip.read moreread lessMichael Z3/02/2024Big Island Bigger Adventure Our guide was amazing. A local who really knew the history and had a genuine love for the island. He really made the trip worthwhile and it was a pleasure to spend the day with him. The trip runs a loop around the southernmost end of the island stopping at the well known locations along the way with a couple of hidden gems thrown in (Portuguese donuts). Great value for the price and I would do it again.read moreread lesserikakajohan2/29/2024 - This is a great way to see the highlights of Hawaii. With someone else driving! We took the Big Island Highlights tour yesterday with Debra. This tour was really great. The van was comfy. The snacks and water were appreciated. And we were very thankful that Debra had extra jackets when it started to drizzle. Best of all was Debra's extensive knowledge. She knew so many things along the way and at each destination. We never would have seen all these things and learned all the history and trivia if we hadn't taken this tour. Plus it was sooo nice to let someone else do the driving!read moreread lessDiane T2/26/2024Wonderful Experience on the Island. We were very fortunate to have Dereck as our driver/tour guide for the 11 hour trip. He included everyone on the tour and made every stop informative and fun. We had a lot of mist and rain but it never impacted any of our sight seeing. They jackets, umbrellas and flashlights for all. The refreshments were good and just the right amount of rest stops. Fun dinner with a Hawaiian trio playing music at the restaurant. Would recommend to get a wonderful overview of the island and the volcanic history. Excellent memories.read moreread lessScott C2/25/2024Grant was an amazing guide This was a highlight of our trip to Big Island. I was a little concerned about an all-day excursion, but our guide, Grant, was incredibly knowledgeable about everything, including volcanology, island history, and island lore. He even knew about constellations in the sky. The tour stopped at a number of interesting attractions that I can't imagine we would have been able to find on our own. They also provided just the right number of rest room breaks, and dinner was really lovely.read moreread lessNancy T2/24/2024Kona experience with the almighty Kona Chris We were picked up on time by the jovial Kona Chris in a wonderfully clean spacious Mercedes van. We were entertained and given an amazing overview of Kona, the lands, people and history. We were able to enjoy the coffee stop, sweet breads(OMG delicious) and nibbles. The only disappointment was the lunch at the Volcano Hotel. Dry, overcooked and no flavour. Kona Chris was always making sure we were entertained with his (Dad) jokes along with ensuring we were safe and on time. Highly recommend.read moreread lessTanya C2/21/2024Fantastic tour A well organised and great day out from start to finish.
Pick up time was bang on time which set the tone for this amazing day.
First stop was the coffee farm where you could try various samples of the various coffees produced there. No upselling, just a nice relaxed place to visit and was also the setting for out picnic lunch.
Next was the trip to the bakery where fresh donuts were given out. Again no upselling.
A black sands beach wa the next stop. Plenty of time to wonder around. Turtles galore to see on the beach and whales in the ocean.
The trip from there went into the volcano. Word canât describe the scale or what you actually see but it was stunning.
From there we went for a 3 course restaurant meal, followed with a night time visit to a lava tube walk through.
Finally howeward bound but not before stopping off 2000m up to do a little star gazing.
Overall the trip was fantastic. Small groups of 10. Stefan was constantly giving us information about the volcanos and surrrounding areas history. Snacks and soft drinks were readily available and always being offered every time we stopped.
I would recommend this trip to everyone.read moreread lessHawks_Eyes2/16/2024 - Honeymoon Hawaii Trip The Kailani Tours made our honeymoon that much more fun!! My husband and I had a blast and Iâll be honest all of the tour people who picked us up whether it be the airport or to a fun adventure destination were ALL awesome! So friendly it was like you knew them your whole life. I couldnât suggest booking through Kailani Tours Hawaii more!!!read moreread lessmisstomrshodge2/15/2024Worth the cost Our tour guide Thia was amazing. She was both knowledgeable and entertaining. Always willing to answer any questions we had.read moreread lessInspiration7979132/13/2024Amazing and informative in a fun relaxing format. Grant was awesome. Very knowledgeable and passionate for the Island and the Volcano. Very informative in an easy and fun format. Very fun and enjoyable. He went above and beyond to make our day. Crystal from the front office was very accommodating and patient. We played âphone tagâ due to me not being responsive but was very pleasant and accommodating once we made a connection. Dinner at the lodge was great and we were able to enjoy a nice relaxing meal. Definitely would recommend this tour and the tour company.read moreread lesskres p2/11/2024Hawaii Big Island Tour! Sam was excellent, knew the area and able to tell about all of the island. Great lunch stop. Had jackets for wind and rain. Comfortable van. Snacks and drinks on way back. Lunch and bakery items included. A must do! Rainbow falls, black sand beach, oldest coffee farm, oldest bakery, crater, lunch at the crater, excellentread moreread lessCynthia P2/06/2024Amazing guide and Tour Our guide Chance was amazing! His knowledge of the Island and it's culture was presented in a way that it captivated a 13 year olds attention away from her phone for a goodly portion of the 11 hour trip. He was witty,a fabulous story teller, giving a refreshing view of history from a true Hawaiian view. We learned so much.. Thoroughly enjoyed the day and the tour. From the coffee farm tour, to the delicious Masaladas at the bakery , then turtles at black sand beach, lunch at the Volcano as well as the waterfall at the end..it was a great way to see and learn about the island. Highly recommend!read moreread lessKrista P2/03/2024Great Tour worth the time The tour was great. Our tour guide Grant was very knowledgeable and energetic. He kept our group interested and involved. That is a hard thing to do for the length of the tour. The dinner was also great. It was at a very nice restaurant just outside the park. Grant made the tour remember able. Would recommend to my friends and family.read moreread less204sh1/30/2024
- Deluxe Volcanoes and Dinner Tour We were a group of 8 on the tour. Grant was our driver/guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and was a great storyteller. The tour was pretty much as advertised. The dinner and the picnic lunch were not fancy, but they were very good.read moreread lessRobert G1/27/2024Best tour ever! We wanted to see and learn as much as possible about the Big Island in a day. We looked at many tour options and decided on the âPrivate Big Island Highlights Day Tourâ from Kailani Tours.
It was a terrific choice. Our guide, Derek, was FANTASTIC! His knowledge of the island, the volcanoes, the trees, the birds, the history is terrific. Being just the 4 of us, he was able to answer our myriad of questions with his in-depth knowledge. He has a great personality and is a perfect guide to the Island.
We were able to spend extra time at places we wanted and to modify the schedule within the boundaries of the day. The time at the volcano caldera was just amazing.
Derek picked us up at our AirBnB at the exact time arranged. We had breakfast, lunch and snacks included. He dropped us off at the airport at exactly the arranged time as well.
We could not have asked for a better tour, better company (great communication before and during) and superb guide. Professionally done. It was a great day.read moreread lessRich B1/27/2024Very informative and loads of fun!! Highly recommend this tour! It was so fun to go to the volcano and actually see the inside of the volcano plateau. We walked through a lava tube (tunnel). I did not know that a volcano eruption could create a tunnel. There was so much to learn and Grant the tour guide, was very knowledgeable of the volcano and of all Hawaii history. Lunch and dinner was served and it was very good food. I highly recommend this tour and suggest Grant be your tour guide!read moreread less166brendaj1/25/2024Volcano tour Great experiance, knowledgeable guide, small group sizes, nice quality tour bus. They provide lunch and dinner at a local restaurant which was very good. Highly recommend!read moreread lessFish57411/23/2024Beautiful Hawaii Awesome tour guide Grady was very informative on everything we seen. Highly recommend him to anyone, he even made sure we all was on board went back to pick up Gomez and carried on. Got to stop at a farmers market then onto a coffee farm had a great time, lunch and an awesome dinner. Thank you so much for the great hospitalityread moreread lessdebbiegoad591/17/2024 - Great tour Great tour. Got to see a lot of cool things and the tour guide was great. He was full of information, extremely friendly and helpful.read moreread lessL4154KAterryg1/14/2024Take this tour! This was a fantastic choice for us! As first time visitors to Hawaii, this tour gave us a full variety of sights and places to visit. Derek was an absolutely wonderful tour guide! He was educated, informative, personable, attentive and very friendly! We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him! I think my one and only item that could be feedback was regarding dinner. Pretty much all spicy options except for grilled fish. Not the best for those of us sensitive to spicy food. But, either way, highly recommend!!!read moreread lessGina L1/07/2024Absolutely fabulous tour Our guide - Jim Carey - was the most EXCELLENT guide one could hope for. He was an absolute fund of knowledge about Hawaiian culture and the island itself. My husband and I highly recommend this tour.read moreread lessP9669EVkathleenw1/07/2024Great tour, great experience! If you are unsure what to do or what to see while in the Kona area, go with Kailani tours! It was an awesome day to see a good amount of the island with a private tour. Our tour guide was Debra and she was amazing! The amount of knowledge she knows was amazing! It was also amazing to see the many different areas of the island, the people, the places, the history, all while not having to drive it yourself! I would highly recommend using this tour as a way to see a lot in a day.read moreread lessChristopher R1/06/2024
- Kailani Volcanoes and Dinner Tour If you are on Vacation and want to get a good, Educational lay of the land you should take this tour, sit back and relax and let someone else do the driving.
This tour took us in a Mercedes Sprinter equipped with luxury seating for 12, If you know Sprinters then you know đ. All you can drink non alcoholic beverages and snacks till dinner time with ample time to enjoy locally grown coffee and sundries, great pastries ( malasadas ) yum đ
Our driver for this trip was named Grant, a local of 40+ years, full of great stories and knowledge of Hawaii, its Volcanoes, its history, and Geology. He exhibited exceptional service, sharing his vast knowledge and experiences with us. A man filled with Aloha spirit.
In my opinion set it up this way. Skip the car rental for one day and take this trip. Stay 3 days in Kona then three days in Hilo. Either drive or Fly, But definitely Book this trip with Kailani tours, hopefully you will be lucky enough to get Grant as your driver.read moreread lessdukeca011/04/2024Best Tour Ever! We had the best time, this was a perfect tour for our family. Grant was friendly and knowledgeable about the island and the volcano, you can feel his passion as he spoke about every aspect of the tour. He took time to get to know each of us and made sure to answer any questions that we had. There were so many things packed into this one tour, if you want to see as much as possible in one day, this is the perfect tour for you! We loved seeing the sea turtles and were in awe of the volcano! The food was delicious, having that all taken care of made the trip that much for relaxing! We would highly recommend this tour!read moreread lessShari K1/01/2024Kona Chris Rocks! We took a trip with Kona, Chris and had the best day. Chris picked us up right on time at our hotel and off we went for a great day of history, food experiences and just a well-rounded view of the island. Chris blew us away with his knowledge and storytelling. He did a great job, reading the group and knowing when we needed a snack or water bottles. Surpassed our expectations. Thanks for making our Hawaii Christmas vacation a dream come true.read moreread lessShauna W12/25/2023I Lava'd the Tour A great tour depends on the tour guide. We were lucky. We had Grant Mitchell. Luck of the draw. He gets to pick his tour locations as senior man. It's a LOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGG day, but Grant has a measured tone and timing. Vulcanologist and Geologist tour guide. Sheesh. You aren't overwhelmed because you can pass his after-tour quiz on the ride home. Pace is great. Day goes by super fast. You're fed and watered along the way. Picnic lunch with soft drinks and water available all day. Coffee Plantation had great coffee, but make sure you rob a bank before buying any to take home with you. Southernmost bakery was good. Touristy too. Lodge dinner was ok. Better for kids with young families than older complainers like me. Service couldn't keep up with volume. We saw a lot though. Caldera, lava tunnel, etc We were hopeful for an eruption, but no joy. Lot of different tours and lot of different backgrounds so I hope other families have shared their experiences on the other tours offered. I suggest asking for anything Grant is doing that day and you'll have a wonderful, varied, interesting trip and tour.read moreread lessMarc P12/25/2023Recommend this tour to ALL! THE BEST TOUR of the Big Island! Ridge was our guide. He seems young, but oh so knowledgeable! Having grown up in the island, he shared so much of the history and some personal stories as well. He was a consummate professional and answered my many questions. We learned and saw sooo much! The scenery along the way and every stop was exactly what you would expect in paradise! And we even had an overcast and rainy day. Can only imagine how beautiful it would be when sunny. They have a breakfast snack and sandwiches for lunch. Snacks, drinks, flashlights, raincoats and umbrellas all available for our use. Would recommend this tour to EVERYONE! My 81 yr old mobility challenged mother was able to join us also, with her foldable scooter. The times she decided to stay in the van Ridge stayed and kept her company, although she did not need it. Take this tour- you wonât regret it!!read moreread lesskmccarthyg12/22/2023Big Island Full Experience Tour with Grant We joined Kailani Toursâ Big Island Full Experience Tour on December 13. It really was a full experience covering everything we wanted to see plus a few extras like the Kamehameha statue and Big Island Candies. The driver and guide, Grant, was awesome: very funny and friendly, made us comfortable, full of knowledge and, most of all, so passionate about Hawaiian history and volcanoes. We learnt quite a few things during the tour. The van was really comfortable too. We all loved the tour. Totally recommend it.read moreread lessAya H12/19/2023 - Excellent tour and guide Tour was excellent we did the volcano and dinner tour with Alex and both he and the tour were great. I even left my phone on the bus after we got back to the hotel and he brought it right back to me! Will definitely do another tour when we come
back!read moreread lessjelemo337412/18/2023Definitely a good tour. Very interesting and enjoyable tour. The guide provided much information about Hawaii and volcanos. There was enough time at each stop to enjoy it, but not too much time. There ere regular bathroom breaks. Overall a very good tour. . Eleven hours seems to be a long tour, but it was time well spentread moreread lessVoyage5492941564212/16/2023Amazing tour My daughter and I went on a tour with Uncle Jim Carey, our tour guide who provided an Ohana spirit. We really enjoyed spending time with only a group of 5 people which gave us personal attention. We enjoyed hearing the culture and history of Hawaii. What bonus was he played his Ukulele and sang us songs. It was such a nice way to start our time on the Big Island. Highly recommend Uncle Jim Carey as a tour guide.read moreread lesssharonz52711/28/2023Awesome 12 Hour Tour This 12 hour tour was awesome! So many cool stops around the Big Island. Stefan, our tour guide was great! He's very knowledgeable. The coffee farm, black sand beach and Rainbow Falls were my favoritesread moreread lessmusiclover337711/22/2023Deluxe Big Island Day Tour: Volcanoes and Dinner I booked this tour based on the reviews and I was not disappointed. The communication prior was on point. We even recieved a link to track our van prior to pick up. Our tour guide grant was fantastic! Not only was he super personable but he was very knowledgable about every on the tour and the island. Dinner at Kilauea Lodge was very good. We had the opportunity to take lots of pictures, visit the National Park store, drink Kona coffee at Greenwell Farms, taste delicious malasadas at Punaluâu Bake Shop and even saw green sea turtles on the black sand beach. We would recommend this tour to all our friends. (The only thing missing was a volcanic eruption, but maybe youâll be lucky and see one!)read moreread lessDSMorehouse11/22/2023 - Very pleased Very pleased with chef service & carvery at Winterstream Restaurant. 16/11/23
Mark was on shop floor and was very accommodating with his Customer Service, I would like these two staff members recognised pleaseread moreread lessmo d11/18/2023Historical Tour from Kona While on the Hawaiian Island cruise by NCL, we enjoyed an excellent tour by Jim Carey. Our tour was from Kona and headed up to the historical site along the north west shore of the big Island of Hawaii.
Jim regaled us with stories and songs to bring the history of the island to life.
We highly recommend Jim.read moreread lessWGCOLVIN4911/18/2023Historical Tour with "Uncle" Jim Carey I took the king Kamehameha historical tour with Jim Carey. The tour was great and uncle Jim was incredible with his stories and absolute love and knowledge of the Hawaiian people and culture. He even sang the chant of Pele. Great experience. Well worth it.read moreread lessroberteI7692WU11/15/2023Highly recommend and worth the price My husband and I took this tour at the tail end of our vacation and we both wished we would have done it straight away to get a better feel for the island to better plan our days. Our tour guide, Christopher, was knowledgeable and friendly and we highly recommend him. We loved the coffee farm tasting and learning, and seeing the volcanoes park the best. The winery was a great place for lunch but not a huge fan of the wines. Great experience though. It was a long day but didnât really feel like it. Would highly recommend Christopher if you do this tour. Great experience and worth it.read moreread lessKim G11/14/2023 - Amazing Tour - Just Book It! Booked the Deluxe Big Island Day Tour, that included dinner. This was a surprise for my husband. We were in HI for his 50th birthday. I worked with Crystal to book the tour. She was amazing, she answered all my questions, and made sure dietary restrictions were taken care of.
On the day of the tour Grant was our tour guide. He was amazing. Had great energy, was knowledgeable and passionate about his job. The van/bus was in great shape and the A/C was amazing. The lunch we had at the Coffee Tasting was good. Deli sandwich with chips and soda or water. From there we went south. Grant made sure we had plenty of time at each destination, and provided us with great information.
So glad we booked this tour, and did it the day after we arrived. It gave us great information about the island, and then we could go back and visit places we were interested in. This is a top notch tour company. Just book it!read moreread less285tkb11/12/2023Great guide great experience The views were great, the experiences were very interesting. What really enhanced the experience was a terrific guide. Derek was very knowledgeable articulate and fun to listen to. We had a great time.read moreread lessPeter O11/12/2023Stop thinking about it, just do it! This tour in its entirety was hands-down the highlight of our entire trip to the Big Island. Our guide, PJ, is quite a gem and made our experience one for the books. His knowledge on the island and her history mixed with his humor ensured we not only learned all we could about the beauties and rich history of the island and her people, but we also felt like we were traveling around with an old friend. The food was incredible as well!
Donât hesitate to book this, just do it-you wonât regret it!read moreread lessKaleigh G11/10/2023Awesome start to our Big Island hawaiian adventure Great tour. An excellent way to see the island if you donât want to rent a car. Brett, our guide, made the 12 hour trip that much enjoyable.read moreread lessHernando T11/09/2023Fantastic Island Tour We had a fantastic day with our tour guide Chance. He was informative, helpful and a lot of fun. We were 5 days into our vacation when we went on the tour. It would have been better to go on the tour within the first few days so that we could go to some of the restaurants and sights Chance recommended.read moreread lessHelen L11/05/2023Excellent tour, well informed guide. We planned for a long day, and it was well worth it. Stefan was an amazing guide - well informed about the history of the people, places, animals, plants, and volcanoes. If you are staying in Kona or a resort on the west side of the island, you really need to take this full island tour to experience the sights to see on the island. The prepared foods (continental breakfast, chicken/rice lunch) were delicious. The level of activity depends on how much you want to explore. As expected with an all day tour with many stops, there will always be things that you will want to come back and see more of on a future visit.read moreread lessParadise37422411/04/2023 - Genuine Hospitality Great trip. Guide was professional, polite and very informative. Gram seemed very enthusiastic to share his knowledge of volcanoes and really genuine in making sure we had a great dayread moreread lessGerry B11/03/2023Experience of a Lifetime! This was an amazing 12 hour tour which provided a complete Big Island overview. Our tour guide, Uncle Jim, made this day an experience of a lifetime. His vast knowledge of the island and Hawaiian culture and history is unsurpassed. He even serenaded us on ukelele! There were no wasted moments along the way, from the Black Sand Beach to the Volcano to the Lava Tube to the Waterfall and more. Breakfast and lunch were excellent, as well as the several snack and wine tasting stops in between. A very comfortable drive in a Mercedes van made this a day we will never forget. Donât miss this fabulous experience. Thanks again, Uncle Jim, for this unforgettable day!read moreread lessxxxxqqq10/29/2023A Really Interesting Trip, Containing a Lot! We really enjoyed our day with our guide, Sam, and the other 9 guests on our very comfy van. Sam gave us history and island geology info we didn't know and were glad to hear it!
Pickup from our hotel was about 10:00 and we got back around 9:30 pm. We had a good time at the Coffee farm that included all types of coffee and a good boxed lunch. We had freshly baked donuts picked up at the island bakery and ate them on the black sand beach looking for the turtles. Only one cooperated. We tromped thru the Thurston Lava Tube, a must experience and viewed the crater and steam vents.
A great dinner at the Volcamo House finished off our activities but the long ride back with Sam at the helm went quickly while watching the movie "Moana"
A very pricy trip but you received a lot with it. Pat and Len Nagel. Cleveland, Ohioread moreread lessPatty_in_Cleveland10/26/2023A nicer than average experience Unless you really enjoy driving on roads that are windy or in thick fog, this is the way to go. Kona Chris, our driver and narrator was knowledgeable and held our attention. He explained much of the history and put it in perspective. The stops were well timed and of interest. There were extra touches like cold towels and hot ones at appropriate times. Overall a nicer than average experience.read moreread lessStay4685518193010/26/2023Great excursion. We had a great time. Our tour guide Kevin was excellent. He was very knowledgeable, knows his subject matter very well. Very passionate about the volcanoes.read moreread lessKaren H10/23/2023Terrific day, terrific tour guide! What a fantastic day! We were picked up at our hotel at 8 and there was a total of 12 wonderful, friendly people in our group. Chris was an amazing guide, very knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humor. We covered a lot of territory going to a coffee farm, having coffee samples, and ate a breakfast of mango bread, yogurt and granola and fruit. We had a brief tour there. We then stopped at a bakery, and went to the Black Sand Beach where we saw a turtle on the beach and ate the malasada we had chosen. We then went to the winery where we tasted several types of wine and two types of tea. We ate a cold lunch of sliced chicken, rice, a roll, and vegetables with a piece of pecan tart that was provided there and it was very good. After lunch, we went to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and saw the Kilauea caldera and Thurston lava tube, which were awesome and beautiful to look at. We stopped at a hotel to have an expansive view of the caldera and visit the gift shop. We then went to see steam vents which were very interesting and surprised me. The next stop was the Big Island Candies store, which had wonderful samples and a windowed room where we could see cookies being dipped in chocolate. They had a great selection of cookies and chocolate. Our final stop was Rainbow Falls where we had a beautiful view of the falls and saw a beautiful Banyan tree. We were provided with cold drinks throughout the day and snacks. The seatbelt was a little challenging to use. The strap on the seatbelt was too tight in the shoulder for me and hard to adjust, but I finally realized if I pulled slowly and pulled the strap down so it was like a sling for my arm, it was more comfortable. We got back at 7:15. We saw so much today that made it a fantastic trip that we would recommend this tour to everyone! Thanks for the awesome day Chris!read moreread lessMJE12312310/21/2023 - Great Tour of Hawaii's big island There were 12 in the our group, and they were all great to tour with. The tour was 11 hours long which in the beginning we thought maybe too long but the program was extensive, and the time passed very quickly. Richard our tour driver/guide kept us entertained the entire time. He was very knowledgeable about the volcanos and the countryside we travelled through. The meals were great and we did not go Hungary, The wine tasting was not to our liking but the rest of our group enjoyed it.
We would highly recommend this company and the tour they provided. We have no hesitation recommending Richard to be your tour guide.read moreread lessStephen S10/19/2023Prepare to fall in love with Hawaiâi for more than the waterfalls, sunrises, and rainbows Outstanding experience. This all-day tour really delivered an immersive experience into the islandâs history and culture. We were in great hands with our new âUncle Jimâ who engaged the entire group and really educated us and we all fell in love with Hawaiâi! This tour is very unique - connecting to local businesses, the history, and culture - you will feel like you have actually experienced the destination.read moreread lessNancy R10/18/2023Great tour of the Island I highly recommend this tour. Uncle Chris was our tour guide. He was phenomenal. He gave us insight on the history and culture of Hawaii along our trip. The stops we made were amazing. The volcano was spectacular. Uncle Chris gave us information on the volcano and itâs history. He was very professional and accommodating to everyone.read moreread lessGina S10/16/2023Great tour & tour guide was amazing! Hands down an amazing day!! Our tour guide Chris was the best!! He was so knowledgeable & friendly! He came prepared w/anything we would need & made sure we knew the ins & outs of each spot. His passion for this was palpable! Best money spent for sure! Highly recommend it!!read moreread lessmichellewV1869LG10/11/2023 - Sam was great! This tour was such an amazing way to see and learn about beautiful Hawaii. Our guide Sam was extremely knowledgeable and fun, he made sure we had an amazing experience!read moreread lessnvnwaigwe10/09/20235 Star tour guide! Jim was the best guide. Unbelievably knowledgeable and personable! Meals were great and definitely did not feel rushed. My husband and I had a great time, highly recommend!read moreread less885gretal10/07/2023Extraordinary experience Uncle Chris was such an amazing guide. I now have a deeper understanding of the Hawaiian culture. And a little bit more knowledgeable regarding volcanos. And what a beautiful island indeed!! Emwhat a great experience! But I am sorry I missed the test. I took notes ????. Live Pono Uncle Chris. Thank you!read moreread lessJoymalan10/06/2023You wonât be disappointed with this tour!!! The Big Circle tour definitely lives up to its description. We were picked up exactly when we were told we would be and Sam, our tour guide, driver, and overall jack of all trades made the tour so much more than we expected. From the coffee farm (with breakfast) to the black sand beach with sea turtles, the winery (with lunch), the volcano and lava tube, Rainbow Falls, and the Saddle Road, we learned about Hawaii, its history, terrain, climate, and so much more that we got back to our temporary home feeling that we hit the jackpot with this tour. We could never had done everything we did in 11 hours on our own and this tour is worth every penny. The Sprinter van was luxury in itself and we would highly recommend this tour. Make sure you ask for Sam as your tour guide. You wonât be disappointed!read moreread lessdavidtsneed10/05/2023Absolutely Amazing!!! Amazing time. Jim was an awesome tour guide. You can really tell he loves his job and he made us laugh, and made the whole trip enjoyable. He is very knowledgeable about Hawaii and its culture. I learned quite a bit. He was also very sensitive and helpful when it came to my mom (who is in a wheelchair). I would recommend this trip to anyone.read moreread lessKatherine D10/05/2023Outstanding compact tour of the Big Island! The tour was well planned and included so many sites and points of interest on the Big Island. Thia our tour guide was outstanding and provided so many details and additional information along our way. She was also well prepared and met our every need, including lots of food! This was a customer-focused tour highly recommend it.read moreread lessJennifer B10/03/2023
- Must do! Today was one of my best days on the big island! Alex was our tour guide and he was so knowledgeable about all aspects of the tour! From the coffee tour to his history stories then to the mini lesson on plate tectonics. Amazing!!! He was a polite, courteous, accommodating and an experienced driver which made the tour customized to me. I will be back and will book this tour with friends again!read moreread lessKimberly F10/01/2023The full experience Great tour, trip around the whole island in one day! So much to see, volcanoes, lava tubes, rainbow falls and so much more. Uncle Jim our driver was full of information, from the different types of trees, uses, history and full information on the best restaurants etc along the whole trip. Definitely recommend Kailani Tours, thanks so much ????????read moreread lessPrescilla B9/30/2023Amazing tour Wonderful tour. Jim was very informative of the islands culture and history. I highly recommend this tour to learn more about the Big Islandread moreread lessTonya N9/30/2023The perfect big island tour â€ïž Jim Carey (Uncle Jim) was an absolute delight. He made a twelve hour tour of Hawaiâi so amazingly interesting, it seemed like a short drive that ended too soon.
I learned so much, I feel empowered to tackle more sightseeing with a greater knowledge of this beautiful island â€ïžread moreread lesschriskotheimer9/28/2023Best Big Island experiences/sights/culture & storytelling WOW! Aloha my friends, when visiting the Big Island, I highly recommend doing the day tour- itâs 12 hours full of fun and all the amazing sights and experiences! We had breakfast at the Kona coffee farm (Farmwell Coffee Farm), visited Punaluâu black sand beach (green sea turtles!!) , Volcano Winery, Hawaiâi Volcanoes National Park (OMG the crater and lava tube!!) Ask for âUncleâ Jim Carey for a guaranteed 5 star experience- uniting passion for the land with the people and culture with his talent of storytelling and general love of sharing the sights and experiences with newcomers. SO KNOWLEDGEABLE! Mahalo to Jim and our wonderful tour friends we met!read moreread lessjoyous13k9/28/2023 - Big Island Circle Tour - Coffee Farm, Black Sand Beach, National Volcano Park & Lava Tube Our trip was amazing from top to bottom!! Grant, our adventure guide, was knowledgeable, funny and always accommodating. I highly recommend this experience on the Big Island. Almost worth coming back just to do it again. Wonder if he offers private/custom tours?read moreread lessErin A9/28/2023Excellent and fun day Just outstanding tour!!!!! Well-organized and a wonderful way to get an overview of this paradise on earth. Debra Woodward, our guide could not be more kind, fun and informative. She is outstanding!!!read moreread lesswriosmd9/28/2023Do Not miss this experience! Our guide,Alex, was the best from start to finish. Excellent historical and cultural information throughout. So May things to see and do- each wonderful! We were able to just lean into the many sights and just saturate in the beauty of the island. Black sand beaches with sea turtles lounging in the sand, a tour by Alex(he knows his way around coffee) of the coffee plantation with samples of course, wine tasting at a local vineyard paired with an delicious lunch catered by Alex who added the extra touch of tablecloths. Rainbow falls and a special stop for homemade Malasadas. Canât say enough about this experience but Do It!read moreread lessjudysO7644IJ9/28/2023Meet the driver Mr. Steve then makes your unforgettable memories It was an amazing fun tour â€ïž noon to night's little group spen time lunch like picnic, fancy dinner ????
Of course, Hawaii Island fun day time volcano thrilling night volcano adventure back to hotel eat popcorn watched movie was Unforgettable memories and especially driver Mr. Steve, his so funny, cool knowledge, safety, you should meet him ????read moreread lesschiyako H9/26/2023MUST DO! All the best of the Big Island! We went on the Big Island Highlights tour on Monday 09/25 with Thia and it was spectacular! Itâs an 11hr journey that is well worth the time. Itâs a great overview of the big island and what it has to offer.
Thia was amazing. She was extremely accommodating, knowledgeable, and enjoyable. We were extremely satisfied from the booking with Crystal, our friend Dave Frazier who took great care of us, and Thia for the fantastic day! ïžïžïžïžïžread moreread lessXTLH9/26/2023Good Way to See the Island My wife and I enjoyed the Big Island Volcanoes and Dinner Tour. If you're staying in the Kona area like we did, this tour is a wonderful way to see the island without wearing yourself out with a long day behind the wheel of a rental car or arguing over the itinerary. Just relax and enjoy the ride! Our guide, Derek, was friendly and knowledgeable, the van was very comfortable, and the stops left us satisfied that we'd seen enough of the island to go back to hanging out on the beach for the rest of our vacation.read moreread lessL9355SIjohns9/25/2023 - Great Big Island Overview Great overview of the Big Island. Our driver Debra was friendly and knowledgeable about the area and gave us many great tips for the rest of our trip.read moreread lessEd H9/24/2023Incredible Comprehensive Big Island Experience! What a tour! This is such a great way to experience several must-see areas on the big island in a single day. Highlights included Greenwell coffee farm, seeing the Kiluea caldera and steam vents, and the drive up and over the saddle road between the two highest points on the island at sunset. Our tour guide, Alex, was exceptional. Great sense of humor and incredible depth of knowledge on all topics during the tour (especially coffee!). Be aware that the tour is very long, 11-12 hours, and includes quite a lot of driving. Still would 100% recommend for Big Island newcomers.read moreread lessDan C9/24/2023Extraordinary Experience! A perfectly timed eruption (9/10/2023) during my vacation meant I needed to make immediate plans to get there with a professional guide and driver. I called Kailani Tours and got Crystal. She was caring, excited (with me), patient, and responsive to my every last-minute need.
The tour was well organized, impeccably paced, and infused with discovery and delights â more than just the eruption. It was an aloha spirited tour and Grant is an exceptional guide who truly has a heart for customer service. He created a friendly group dynamic that added to the fun of our shared experiences (e.g., coffee farm visit and lunch, chameleon picture posing, bakery visit, black sand beach walk, day and night volcano viewing, steam vent magic, video in van, etc.). Our lovely 3 course dinner together at the up-scale authentic Kilauea Lodge was the perfect touch of luxury.
The company clearly is very intentional in the planning of its tours and also able to adjust to take advantage of the changing conditions, like an eruption. They had a high-powered telescope to view the eruption up close and film through the lens (we were envied). Grant had us wear a glow stick (fashionable style) to identify us in the dark, crowded viewing area.
There were so many little things that make this a great tour and company and the people make it exceptional. Crystal, Grant, and Kailani tours will always be part of an extraordinary lifetime experience for me. I could not recommend them more!read moreread less415terriep9/23/2023Excellent tour of the Big Island Highlights The tour was excellent in all aspects: first and foremost our guide and driver Anson was absolutely wonderful - great explanations, backgrounds, most impressive breadth and depth of knowledge! From folklore stories and legends to geological history and present of this amazing island. The vehicle was very comfortable. Many breaks and points of interest on this pretty lengthy tour of 12 hours - the time went by without noticing - I learned a lot in a most enjoyable way!read moreread lessRina S9/18/2023 - Tour Guide and Volcano made the trip! Our tour guide Jim H was incredibly knowledgeable about all things big island. Great service and the volcano was amazing!read moreread lesslisajS721JN9/15/2023A fantastic tour/guide for our first Hawaiian vacation! Our tour was a fantastic experience!!! Our tour guide Anson is the best tour guide by far of all the tours weâve ever done! He was an immediate friend, creating an atmosphere of âweâre all friends on this tour!â His stories were great- very interesting, included some audience participation, just the right length, very informative re the sights/stops along the way! He was super considerate about keeping us informed about how long our stops would be, when the next restroom break would be and the condition of restroom facilities, making certain we all had plenty to drink and eat! The tour meals and snacks were fantastic, reflecting locally available foods. A tropical tablecloth at lunch added a nice touch! Anson provided great tips like âthe best place to view this sight/get a pic is . . . â. It was quite evident that he loved/enjoyed what he was doing!!!
Todayâs island tour gave us especially great memories of our trip to Hawaii! We would definitely recommend this tour (and Anson!) to everyone!read moreread lessRandy D9/14/2023The most memorable experience ever!!! This was the best tour EVER!!! Sam, our guide, was so knowledgeable and fun. His knowledge of history and science was incomparable to anything we have experienced before. If you can pick your guide, pick Sam!! Every stop was enjoyable and relaxing. Sam took care to provide delicious breakfast, lunch and snacks making sure that we had everything we needed. The coffee farm, winery, bakery, black sand beach with the huge turtles, and, of course, the volcano was every bit a memorable and delightful experience. This was a premium tour and I would highly recommend it! It was worth every penny!!!The absolute highlight of the trip was when we were at the Kilauea Volcano. While we were there the volcano erupted right before our eyes!!! It was amazing!!!!!read moreread lessJaneD4family9/14/2023Unforgettable Eyes, mind and stomach FULL. Anson was an amazing guide! The day was full of amazing views and an abundance of information! Breakfast, lunch and snacks kept us full all day. I would highly recommend this tour âïžâïžâïžâïžâïžread moreread lessJennifer G9/14/2023What you didnât know you needed You have certain blips in time where things seem to slow down, and nature fascinates you in her raw form(s); that was this tour. First time Hawaii visitors, definitely not the last time. Have navigated the hotspots on Oahu, and just knew there was something special a short flight away. Highly recommend you ask for Uncle Chrisâa native and localâas your tour guide: a veteran who served his country. By coming back to his roots, he now serves his culture by sharing the rich history and traditions with you in a way that makes you feel, truly, a part of the Ohana of Hawaii.
From the courtesy, kindness and informative take: this tour takes you all over the islandâcovering 300 miles in the day; pack wisely! There are times of the trip where itâll be windy, times where it will be so hot and sunnyâbring a jacket and a light umbrella, if you can manage.
Your shoes will get dirty, but itâs more of a dusty sidingâa good wash will fix you right up. Wear comfy sneakersâdonât be cute nor wear all white, sorry ladies.
Mahalo y Aloha to you allâlive Pono!read moreread lessKristen H9/13/2023Amazing Adventure!!! The day was packed with one adventure after another. My sister and I were particularly fond of the sea turtles at Punaluâu Black Sand Beach and the Kilauea Volcano. The volcano erupted on our way there. Our guide jumped through hoops to get us to the crater and to rearrange our dinner plans to buy us as much time as possible viewing the eruption. After dinner he took us back up to view the eruption after dark. What a tremendous surprise and treat. Dinner at the lodge was delicious. Iâve been on numerous tours around the world and this tour guide was the best. He shared a wealth of fascinating information about the people, island and their history throughout the trip, was incredibly friendly, enthusiastic, kind, accommodating and flexible to ensure we had a great time. Thank you Kailani Tours ????????????
Shelley Matthewsread moreread lessshelleymatthews20239/13/2023 - Volcanoe and tastes of Hawaii - amazing!!! With Tour Guide Anson at the wheel, we started out at Rainbow ???? Falls (Amazing). Anson was full of knowledge about the city and area and kept us well informed throughout the day. Then we were off to Volcanoes National Park. Quick stop at the Parks visitor center. We then headed to the best viewing spot to see the current eruption. It was amazing. See photos. Next was a stop at the steam vents. The next stop was a lava tube! Anson was able to tell us all about the flora and fauna we were seeing. A quick stop at the Volcano Inn. Next stop was a really cool art gallery where we dined outside in a cool gazebo while Anson told us a story about the jealous Pele. Then after lunch a stop at the Dole Macadamia Nut plantation. Anson did an awesome job guiding us through their garden. He knew every plant there. Final stop was at a chocolate factory - no Willy Wonka there. Amazing chocolate though! Thank you Anson and Kailani tours for an amazing day!!!!read moreread lessBrad M9/12/2023Wonderful Tour Experience The tour was an amazing experience. I would like to especially thank our guide, Alex. He went above and beyond to ensure we had the most amazing experience. Thank you so much Alex.read moreread less394stephend9/11/2023Must do tour! Our driver Grant was incredible! Answered every question, kept us engaged throughout the driving, great personality. Even had a 1-5 ranking system of all the bathrooms on the tour. This tour is an awesome way to see the highlights of the island. We would not have enjoyed these sites nearly as much if we drove them on our own. A must do tour!read moreread lessPassenger551916471349/04/2023Amazing Experience! #BryceIsBest This all-day tour was nothing short of amazing! Itâs one of the best weâve been on in Hawaii - and weâve been on quite a few. This is due in no small part to our tour guide, Bryce. His energy, genuine passion, and wide-ranging knowledge was second to none. He is VERY, very knowledgeable about anything island-related, and then some.
Due to the recent fires in Maui, tourism was light during our visit and our group consisted of just one other party. Bryce took the time to get to know each one of us and tailored the day to our preferences. From pickup until drop off over 10 hours later, Bryceâs enthusiasm and energy never waned.
Aside from Bryce, the tour itself is very well done. From spare jackets and flashlights to plenty of water and snacks, youâll feel well cared for. We were always updated and never in the dark. We knew when the next bathroom break was, how long our next drive would be, what to expect food-wise, and so on. While we didnât get to see any lava on our trip, the volcano was nonetheless impressive and there was plenty to marvel at. The duration of each stop felt appropriate given the amount of things we needed to see.
A few tips:
- Bring a portable phone charger.
- If you get car sick, take Dramamine. There is a 35 minute stretch of the drive thatâs a bit windy. Nothing too crazy, but better safe than sorry.
- Bring a jacket for the nighttime stargazing. The tour provides windbreakers, but having your own could be nice.
- Bring your questions and ask for recommendations! Donât miss this opportunity to learn from a local.read moreread lessryanmdlc9/03/2023Great way to see & experience sights on the Big Island! Our tour guide & driver (Bryce) was very knowledgeable and entertaining (there may have been some dad jokes shared ). We got to know the other families on the tour as we shared stories. Our experience included coffee, malasadas, a black beach (with turtles present!), volcanos, a fantastic dinner with live music ( we sang Happy Birthday to the three in our celebrating ) and star gazing! Thankful that our Mercedes bus was a smooth ride and it came with warm rain gear which we needed. Highly recommend this tour!read moreread lessim12rock8/28/2023 - Great albeit long tour experience overall with a hint of minor drawbacks. Charismatic and informative tour guide (PJ). Luxurious small-group van ride (Mercedes), deli lunch was meh (sorry) but lodge dinner was good albeit boring ice cream dessert. Audio lagged with onboard video playback. Plan for a very long day and road trip (which was great to not have so the driving)!read moreread lessVincent M8/26/2023Great tour! We got the opportunity to have Chance as our guide. He was a great guide and easy to chat with. He grew up on the big island, which was nice to get his take on spots to check out during our stay on the Big Island.
The tour is well planned where we were able to spend enough time at each destination (did not feel rushed). My wife and I ended up going back to the coffee plantation the following day since we loved their coffee. Provided lunch was good too. The van was super comfortable and enjoyed the background video about the 2018 eruption.
Overall, we recommend folks taking this tour early in their trip. We ended up checking out a ton of spots that were recommended by Chance, and have yet to be disappointed. Looking forward to our next visit to the big island next year.
Only one suggestion for consideration. It would of been cool to have a âlocalâ lunch plate style option to pick from for our lunches. Otherwise, this was a great way to introduce us to the Big Island considering this was our first time visiting. Thanks again!read moreread lessDeeezoB8/24/2023Uncle Chris is the Best Uncle Chris is an amazing person, so thoughtful and kind. The best tour guide. Extremely knowledgeable. I will come again and recommend to my friends and family to get uncle Chris as their tour guide for this trip. Best person we met during our vacation ïžread moreread lessGloriaJohns8/24/2023Such a great experience! Great tour! well worth the time and money to do this one, especially if itâs your first visit to the Big Island (like us). Our guide, Sam, was fantastic and made the experience a memorable one. He was knowledgeable, kind, funny, and very entertaining as our host-for-a-day while visiting some of the must-see places in Hawaii. We had a wonderful time!read moreread lesstimmycoster8/23/2023So glad we did this! Amazing tour of the Big Island! Was a wonderful experience and well worth the money. I highly recommend Chris H. (one of the locals born and raised). He really embodies the "Aloha Spirit" of the Island and has ALL the information you could ever need. We were very blessed to meet him and be on his tour.read moreread lessJessiJeans8/23/2023 - Donât Miss This Tour! This was a fantastic and informative day, spent at many locations and with a very knowledgeable tour guide, Grant!
My family all agreed we learned sooo much about volcanoes from Grant and thought he was a great host!
From the picnic lunch at the coffee farm, to the black sand beach, the southern most bakery to Volcano National Park, it was all terrific! We loved the dinner, the drinks, and the snacks. Walking through the jungle to the lava tube ( at night with flashlights) was fun! Grant pointed out the singing frogs and Hawaiian spiders. He told many jokes and stories to keep us entertained.
We even got to go to a farmerâs market in Kona!
Take this tour, you wonât regret it!!!read moreread lessBarbericson8/22/2023Best tour of the whole island!! Great tour! Well worth the money. We circled the entire island and saw things we never would have found on our own. Our tour guide, Chance, was amazing. Funny and super knowledgeable! 10/10read moreread lessJana C8/19/2023All day excitement Our volcano tour was an entire day of entertainment. Kona to Volcanoâs National Park is a long drive, but all the stops we took along the way were great! Grant was an excellent tour guide and provided us with plenty of history and volcanology, and he kept everyone smiling and having a good time. This tour was probably my favorite activity of the whole trip.read moreread lesskatstemler8/19/2023An absolute delight We had an absolutely wonderful day. Christopher, or tour guide, told us a lot about the history of the island(s), the explorers who landed here, the hawaiian kings and also legends. I felt like I learned a lot. I especially loved how he recounted their stories.
He also explained the things about the volcanoes in a way that was easy to understand.
A big bonus was, that he also always made sure we feel comfortable.
I'd recommend this tour to anyone who'd want to visit the volcanoes and get an overview over this extraordinary island.read moreread lessi_need_vacation2478/17/2023Amazing island experience with Sam We had a fun-filled and educational day around the island with our wonderful guide Sam. The day was well-paced with a great variety of stops that gave us a great taste of all the island has to offer. Sam was super knowledgeable and accommodating, and we could not have asked for a better guide to show us around. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to see all the Big Island highlights!read moreread lesschinghochu918/16/2023Excellent guided tour! This was a perfect way for us to see the Kiluea volcano as well as a coffee farm, Black sand beach, lava tube and a tour around the island. Our guide and driver, Derek was very knowledgeable and friendly and answered all our questions. Comfortable ride in the Mercedes Sprinter van.
Highly recommend Kailani Tours!read moreread lessMerpeople8/16/2023 - A Taste of Real Hawaii Life Chris (lifetime local) was our tour guide. He was excellent! He gave us a nice understanding of the life of the citizens on the island and their traditions and outlooks. He had a lot of great stories to share. The ride was comfortable. He had PLENTY of snacks and drinks for us, as well as rain gear and flashlights! Breakfast and Lunch was provided. Toured Greenwell coffee plantation and had coffee tasting. We visited a Black Sands beach. We had a wine tasting. We visited Volcano Nat'l Park and walked through a lava tube as well as spending time at the visitor's center and visiting a waterfall. Chris took us by many other "off the beaten path" beach and waterfall areas. We made a couple extra stops for things not on the itinerary which was a fun surprise. I agree with the comment of others that it would be a good idea to go on this tour at the BEGINNING of your trip for excellent recommendations of places on the island to visit.read moreread lessAmy B8/15/2023Great experience and very informative guide ANSON! We took the Big Island Hawaii Highlights Day Tour and it was fabulous. Our driver and guide Anson was extremely friendly, patient and VERY knowledgeable. It was an ENTIRE day tour beginning at 7:00am, when we were picked up from our hotel. We visited many places including, volcanoes, waterfalls, national parks, canyons, black sand beach, coffee and chocolate factories.
The tour included breakfast, lunch, snacks, and cold beverages (water and soft drinks) throughout the day.
The tour is in a deluxe Mercedes van that holds about 12 people, so that the tour is small enough so that you get great attention and information. On the tour you will get a lot of historical information about the island and all the places you will visit. For example, did you know that the Nene Goose is the state bird and it is endangered?
The reason our tour was so special was because of Anson. It is obvious that he loves his island and he takes pride in making all his guests feel welcome and at home.
Every little detail was an added touch, such as the tablecloths he laid out at breakfast and lunch, placemats, etc. Anson is a great asset to your team!
Thanks for a great day!read moreread lessluckyteacher8/12/2023The best big island in a day tour! The big island tour in a day was amazing!!! Chris did an amazing job detailing every part of the tour. Me and my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved going to the volcano winery and to the lava tube and rainbow falls and black sand beach and bakery. Book kailani tours!!! You wonât regret it.read moreread lessnaturallytiana8/10/2023 - Fantastic! Bryce was an amazing guide! He took us to some beautiful, fun places and entertained and informed us every step of the way. It was our first day on the Big Island and it couldn't have been more perfect!read moreread less849harperb8/07/2023Fantastic Big Island Circle Tour! We had a fantastic day on the Big Island Tour with Anason as our guide/driver. We had a long but fantastic day! He taught us a lot about the island and Hawaiian customs. Each stop was fascinating: Kona coffee farm, winery, donut bakery, volcano national park, lava tube, waterfall and chocolate shop. We had a marvelous day with wonderful memories. And Anason laughed at our jokes! He was a great guide!read moreread lessedwardcI7099HV8/06/2023Best Tour The tour was amazing and worth EVERY penny! The guide Chris was friendly remembering everyoneâs name personalized experience! We visited all of the key points of interest! I enjoyed the entire experience no complaints! 2 wordsâ-BOOK IT!read moreread lessAdrienne W8/02/2023Great day out and a good taster of what The Big Island has to offer. My Husband and I had a great day out with Kona Chris. It was as we had expected in terms of lots of on and off the bus and a few stops to sample products that you were kind of expected to buy, but hey, don't mind putting money into the community when we're away. Highlight was the volcano and watching the turtles in the water at the Black Sand Beach. What I really loved was the attention to our comfort on the tour. Chris was awesome, checking that we didn't feel rushed, had plenty to drink and was a wealth of information. The bus was very comfortable.read moreread lessJankiwi8/01/2023Awesome Way to See the Big Island! Our family of four (2 adults and 2 teens) thoroughly enjoyed our Deluxe Volcano Tour. The van was very nice and comfortable, and although it was full (13 people), we didn't feel crowded or bothered by the group size. Our guide, Derek, was terrific. Derek was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and geology and provided excellent information throughout the tour. We will definitely take another tour from Kailani next time we visit the Big Island.read moreread lessSafari4829548/01/2023
- Epic views and history from our guide Christopher We stopped at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, learned how Kona Coffee is made and tasted samples, stopped at the Punalu'u Bakery, walked through the Thurston Lave Tube (used in the first scene of the Indiana Jones movie), and walked along the summit of Kilauea crater. The volcano was steaming but not erupting like it did a month earlier. We stopped at an area to see steam vents up close. We ate dinner at the historic Kilauea Lodge and then stopped to stargaze on the way back. The stars were visible and we heard military helicopters practicing bombing and shooting at targets in the distance.
Our guide Christopher narrated the entire early history of the island while driving. That was epic! We had a group of 12 on this tour.read moreread lessJoni M F8/01/2023Awesome Big Island highlights tour Went on this tour yesterday with Debra, and she was awesome! She is very knowledgeable so we learned a lot, both history/facts and helpful tips for what else to do on the Big Island. She certainly made it a fun and informative day. We appreciated the nice meals and snacks not just your typical sandwiches and pastries.
The tour itself is a long day, about 11 hours, but definitely worth it since you don't have to worry about driving and finding the best way to see all these sites yourself. Our favorite part was stopping at the black sands beach and seeing the sea turtles! And of course, the Volcano National Park is a must. Rainbow Falls was also a beautiful spot to end the day.
Thanks again for a wonderful day, Debra! đread moreread lessstephc629907/31/2023Wonderful Experience Simply put - Jim Carey was incredible and our day was filled of beautiful sites and fascinating information. Kailani Tours is an easy choice for exploring the Big Island!read moreread lesstim s7/28/2023Best day tour experience on the Big Island We did the Deluxe Big Island Day Tour: Volcanoes and Dinner on July 16. Our guide, Derek, picked us up on time and was very personable from the start. We went on to pick up the rest of our group, but since we were early Derek took us to an additional spot not on the itinerary instead of just having us wait in the van in the hotel parking lot for 20 minutes. This was greatly appreciated and we had an excellent photo opportunity that was not expected. The rest of the day as we went to all of the tour locations we got anecdotal stories about the locations and history we were driving to and through. We were slightly disappointed in the malasadas at the bakery, but only because we have had better at the various trucks around the islands, like Manuela's and Leonard's. The picnic lunch was okay, but the dinner at the Kilauea Lodge was great and exceeded our expectations. This tour was a great way to see much of the Big Island and I would recommend it to anyone.read moreread lesswtding8307/28/2023BEST Tour to Take on Island!! Chris H. was a wonderful tour guide!! Extremely knowledgeable, very friendly and made the day tour so much fun. After taking this day tour, we went back to some of the places suggested by Chris H., and had an even MORE amazing vacation than what we thought we'd have. I would recommend taking a Kailani Tour to anyone wanting to get a very full experience of the island and inside info on some special places to go to that you would never hear about otherwise.read moreread lessHolly R7/27/2023 - Great experiences! This tour was amazing! Itâs a long day (11 hours), but worth it. The van was comfortable and snacks, drinks, and restroom breaks were provided frequently. Debra was an amazing tour guide! She was friendly, funny, and knowledgeable about all of the stops on the tour. She also encouraged questions. Highly recommend.read moreread lesslisamY6869TR7/25/2023THE BEST Stefan was the best hot tour guide server full of information always attentive shared his experiences snowed us so much food was absolutely ???? ???? perfect snacks where yum drinks flowed all through the day it was a great tour from start to end we all got picked up and dropped off at our resort I recommend Kailani tours and of course STEFAN to anyone who wants a great experience CHEERSread moreread lessTeena A7/25/2023Perfect big island tour We didn't rent a car for the first few days on the Big Island, and wanted to make sure we hit all the big stops and this was a great option.
Our guide (Chris) was knowledgeable and very nice, the stops were interesting and fun, and perfectly timed (not too long in places we didn't need to stay for long, etc. etc.). Would definitely recommend.read moreread lessHCMC137/25/2023Tour on the Big Island It was a very full day of so much information! Stephan was so good. We were not disappointed and treated so well. Until next time!read moreread lessmc_parris7/23/2023 - Tour was fun and educational! Anson our tour guide was awesome! We took the Big Island Highlights Day Tour with Kailani Tours Hawaii and our tour guide was Anson.
The day was full of education, fun and comfort. We were well cared for by Anson and he was knowledgeable, funny and very kind.
This is a great trip if you want to kick back and relax while you see a large part of the island.
Anson was the highlight of our tour and did his best to make sure everyone had a great time.read moreread lessY4642WYsamanthag7/22/2023A unique and fun Hawaiian experience This tour was very pleasant. Our tour guide, Anson, was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and went out of his way to make the trip comfortable for everyone. The sights were a nice variety and helped capture the uniqueness of the island.read moreread lessX8132DAryanb7/21/2023Great way to see the Big Island My husband and I took the Big Island Highlights Tour with Kailani Tours. Chris was our guide / driver and he was fantastic. Had lots of interesting stories / information about the Big Island. If you are thinking about just renting a car and doing yourself - DON'T! You'll miss a lot of interesting stuff. We hit some great places that we may have never found on our own. This tour is great and ask for Chris!read moreread less391rebeccar7/18/2023Great tour Seen so much volcanos, dinner, waterfalls, beautiful night sky at the end. Great tour and we'll worth the cost. Bryce was the best tour guy!read moreread lesssylviay7020237/17/2023Experience of a lifetime This was SO amazing! Kona Chris did a great job. We visited a volcano caldera, lava tube, waterfall, beach, winery, bakery, coffee farm, candy store, Food was yummy, service was excellent, tour guide was friendly and informative. If you are going to choose between a lua and this CHOOSE THIS. And I don't know why the concierge kept pushing the other tour company because I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job.read moreread lessjendunne20157/17/2023 - Money well spent! A must do on the Big Island! Bryce was so knowledgeable about everything volcano and any other topic! He made the tour informative and fun! Our whole family (adults and teens) was entertained the whole day and agreed that this tour was a MUST for anyone coming to the big island. Lunch and dinner was tasty and the van was spacious and kept at a comfortable temp. You wonât regret the investment. It was a 5-star experience!read moreread lessFantabulous_997/17/2023Beautiful! Beautiful!! Ready to travel there again! Something new and beautiful to see every day! Wish we could have seen the glow from the volcano, maybe next time!read moreread lesskaheel107/12/2023Lovely Tour! Our guide, Derek, was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. Although the tour was quite long, the time flew by. We learned so much about the geology of the big island. Our family loved seeing Kilauea, and we had a lot of fun checking out the Thurston lava tube in the dark. The stop for Hawaiian doughnuts at the Punaluâu Bakery was a delightful afternoon treat, and dinner at the Kilauea Lodge was very good. We would definitely recommend this tour.read moreread lessAlice_Civismundi7/11/2023We LOVE this tour! We absolutely had the BEST time on this tour. The tour is extremely well organized, our time was budgeted well, we hit all the tour highlights at the optimal time, taking advantage of the crowds dynamics at the Volcano National Park and other tourist attractions. The 11-12 hours just flew by. Many thanks to our charming, upbeat, energetic tour guide, "Uncle Jim" Carey, who took such good care of us. He embodied the Aloha spirit, kept us informed and entertained throughout the entire tour. He was an awesome historical and cultural source of information about the Big Island. Even though Pele did not grace us with an evening show, it was magical to walk Devastation Trail at dusk, and visit the Thurston Lava Tube after sundown, as we listened to the sounds of the forest at night without the crowds. I highly recommend the Evening Circle Island Tour to anyone who wants to have a comprehensive tour of the island with the added bonus of a really good three-course sit-down dinner at the Kilauea Lodge, included in the tour. My daughter had pork chops and I had grilled ono, we both cleaned our plates. đread moreread lessBayareagal277/10/2023What a day! This tour is top notch. So informative. We saw so much in the course of a day that I donât think I couldâve on my own. Worth every penny!read moreread lessRosie4097/10/2023One of the best tours Iâve taken! What an incredible day touring the island with Grant! From local history along the way, to jokes, thoughtfully planned stops, great food, and even a cool group of passengers - this day was phenomenal! Highly recommended the 11 hour volcano tour! If you are considering the volcano express, spend the extra time with Grant and go for the full day! This guy is so passionate about helping you understand and respect the volcano, lava flow, and Pele. You won't be disappointed!!! We are already planning for our next trip to meet up again for the island tour and another day with our favorite tour guide. Thanks again for the best tour!
After reading some of the other reviews where there is disappointment for not seeing seeing lava flow . Pele the Hawaiian Volcano deity is in complete control of the lava flow, not Kailani Tours. If it exists on the day of your tour, I guarantee you will see it. If it isnât running Kailani canât âmake it happenâ.read moreread lessAvis B7/10/2023 - Wonderful tour of The Big Island We had an incredible time on our tour of the Big Island. We canât believe how much of the island we were able to see and explore. Debra was a wonderful guide who provided many interesting stories, facts and history of the island. Thank you so much!read moreread lessExperience7586947/10/2023Immaculate day! Alex, Alex and Alex! Tye driving wikipedia, entertaining, polite, good sense of humor, amazing amount on knowledge, that he could share with great narrative. Epic!
Tye whole trip was just perfect, we learned so much about history, flora, fauna, geography among others.
Thank you Alex!
Tip: Take a rain coat and some warm clothes with you, it might get a bit chilly!read moreread lessPioneer590858754097/09/2023Great Tour experience in Big Island Our tour guide Gary was excellent. Very informative and friendly thorough the entire tour. Visited the coffee farm and winery. Amazing black sand beach, and as expected an incredible experience at the volcano National park. Thank you so much!read moreread lessLeoiraheta7/09/2023Ask for Uncle Jim! This tour was a great experience and one of the most high end tours we have done. The van was brand new and super clean. Snacks and food were good and there was even a hot towel service after dinner. Our guide (Uncle Jim) was excellent! He knew an incredible amount about Hawaiian history and told it in a very engaging way. If you take this tour, request to be on his bus.read moreread lesscoryt3097/06/2023 - Great tour! We generally tend to visit sites on our own, but SO glad we chose this tour! Grant was EXCELLENT! He was incredibly knowledgeable and kept us engaged. We also loved the variety of places we visited. First class, all the way!read moreread lesseherring457/04/2023Volcanoes-Lava-Waterfalls-Jungles-Black Sand -Cliffs Chris was the best guide because he added personal stories and he is a native of the island. We visited the volcano, lava tube, waterfalls, jungles,black sand beaches and more! The scenery is breath-taking and the hospitality was A+.
It's a long day so be prepared for a full Kona/Hilo experience. Our weather was perfect-sunny and invitingread moreread lessJcdub087/04/2023Great way to see a lot without driving yourself Kona Chris was amazing!! We loved the tour and the newest stop at Big Island Candies. Kona Chris was so knowledgeable and personable and patient when our 16 year old wouldnât stop asking questions. The van was comfortable. You wonât go wrong with this tour. Ask for Kona Chris.read moreread lessAmy E7/03/2023Wow!! Wow! What an extraordinary adventure! Bryce picked up the group of ten and was fun and informative. He answered every question thrown out- no matter how technical or outrageous! Volcano National Park was extraordinary, and the stops were marvelous! Even our teenagers were impressed!!read moreread lessM5469SEjanetc7/02/2023 - Best way to explore big island ! Excellent all day tour. A solo traveler enjoys all the sights while not driving . Our guide Chris was most affable, and informative highlighting points of interest with fun stories and trivia. The Mercedes van is most comfortable. Highly recommended. Enjoy and safe travels. ????????????read moreread lessEd n7/01/2023Big Island in One Day! Fantastic! Really informative and fun tour! If you are in Hawaii on a short trip this is the way to see all of the big island in one day! Best experience I have had on a tour. Guides name is Stefan and he was amazing!read moreread lessWander115228419627/01/2023Fantastic tour guide! Our tour guide/driver Jim absolutely made this tour! He is extremely knowledgeable about Hawaii, its history, legends and geography. Incredible to hear about the lava flows and how it has impacted the island as well as the history the Spanish cowboys, so interesting! Jim brought history alive in his talks. Breakfast and lunch were great and I feel like we were given just the right amount of time at stops to explore and take photos. We even had a little extra time to visit the Big Island Candy company. Thank you Jim for a wonderful day!read moreread lessRussandKathryn F6/30/2023Great way to see the island! Our guides, Christopher and Bennett, were great. Very knowledgeable, I feel like I learned a lot about the history and culture as well as seeing some amazing sites. We had great coffee, amazing sweets at the bakery, the Black Sand Beach was quite a site, and seeing the volcano was amazing. Very impressed with the breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and an added special touch was the hospitality of warm lavender towels to freshen up at the end of a long day. Awesome experience!read moreread lessHRQueen776/30/2023- so much more than âa tour.â We would highly recommend this tour. You get your moneyâs worth and so much more! We learned so much history and local culture as well as saw amazing sights. It was a day full of adventure, experience and shared knowledge. This company goes above and beyond, and our tour guide, Chris was exceptional. We were not ready for the day to end. We will cherish the photos taken and the memories.read moreread lessF6415SBwarrenm6/29/2023
- Big Island Tour has something for entire family All of the stops were great, food was much better than expected and Jim (tour guide) was AWESOME! He had so much knowledge and taught us so much history about the island. Great tour for the entire family!read moreread lessjanamO4319TD6/28/2023Fantastic Experience Our day tour was over-the-top wonderful. Bryce was the greatest tour guide we have ever experienced. There were 13 of us on the day-long tour--8 adults and 5 teenagers. From start to finish, Bryce engaged all age levels and interests. His knowledge of the island and the volcanos was vast and entertaining. The coffee farm and lunch provided a great start. The black sand beach and seeing a sea turtle was unique and well worth the time. The volcano was erupting! What a once in a lifetime experience. We saw it in the afternoon and after dark. Two dramatically different experiences. After dark was especially spectacular. Bryce knew all the right viewing places. The dinner was wonderful. The whole tour was the perfect way to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with all our family! Thank you to all the tour personnel who contributed to the day.read moreread lessM1143UVchristopher6/28/2023Amazing! Highly recommend! This tour is awesome! Our tour guide, Jim, was so helpful, kind and knowledgeable. We got picked up and dropped off at the hotel on time. We visited: The famous Kona Coffee Farm, where we had a delicious breakfast. The following stop was the Punalu'u southernmost Bakery in the USA to get the Malasadas for later eat at the black sand beach, where we saw Turtles. After that, we went to the winery. We has a wide selection of wine tasting, and a delicious lunch.
The volcano was erupting. It was simply spectacular! Mind boggling! At the steam vents we felt a little bit of the heat from the volcano. We walked inside an inactive lava tube, then we visited the Hilo's farmer's market, and the last stop was Rainbow Falls.
If you want to get a little bit of all the Island, and you don't want to drive, this is the best tour you can do. I love it!read moreread lessSanvivian6/26/2023Surpassed my expectations! Worth it. Great tour! What made this tour excellent:
1. Jim, our guide, was so knowledgeable. I learned so much about the island, its history, geology, and biodiversity. We had a running joke that âJim keeps bursting our bubbleâ because we learned things like: coconuts not being native to Hawaiâi. Bits of information you can take home to share, and more importantly, that enrich your stay at the Big Island
2. Extremely professional, timely, and well organized tour. Before taking the tour the company will give you a call to confirm. This shows how professional and caring they are. During the tour the stops are well timed, thereâs a lot to see and you have limited time at each spot. However, they time it so you get to take photos and eat on stops where they have the breakfast and lunch. Itâs enjoyable knowing youâre cared for during a tour and that your time is well spent.
3. The food! Everything was delicious: The breakfast was light and included fresh fruit. The famous masaladas from the southernmost bakery, enjoyed at the black sand beach. The lunch was the star. While we were doing the wine tasting, Jim had carefully setup the tables where we would eat with utensils, napkins and lunch boxes. Seeing this small detail of how he setup the food made it special, plus it was delicious. We also had a snack basket available for the rest of the trip.
4. The sites we got to visit. The volcanoes National park, black sand beach, Greenwell Kona Coffee Farm, Hilo Farmerâs Markert, Volcano Winery, and Rainbow Falls were all interesting. Iâm glad we got to see them all in one day. By the way, we had binoculars to better see the lava at the volcano.
This was a fantastic tour and the people really made it special. Iâm glad I booked this!read moreread lesstello20216/26/2023Samâs the Man My only regret is we didnât schedule this the first couple days we were in Hawaii. The information provided by Sam on the tour would have served us well earlier in the week. I like to know where locals eat, drink and be merry and Sam let us know some good spots. This was the best value the entire week.read moreread lessTempe-Sean6/26/2023Excellent Tour of the Big Island Such a great, comprehensive tour of the volcanoes, along with some other treats that you may not notice in the itinerary a coffee farm, a wonderful bakery, and a black sand beach. Our tour guide, Bryce, was awesome! He was so knowledgeable and very engaging and entertaining. Highly recommend!read moreread lessjennya6956/25/2023 - Highlight of our trip! This was by far the best guided tour weâve ever experienced! Alex was our guide and we canât praise his efforts enough, incredibly knowledgeable and well read on everything we experienced throughout the day not to mention finding ways to interact with each member on a personal level. From Hawaiian mythology, in depth coffee mechanics, volcanic geography, to flora and fauna found around the island, he knew it all! If youâre trying to conveniently see the highlights the big island has to offer, this is the tour to be on!read moreread lessalylusk6/25/2023Great tour, highly recommended Excellent tour! The tour guide/driver was very informative and very attentive. We really felt like we saw all the highlights of the island. You wonât go hungry on this tour- snacks, lunch, coffee tasting, wine tasting, candy sample and more snacks. The best tour we went on in Hawaii!read moreread lessRCSherman6/24/2023Great experience I did not do a tour but I met Grant while watching the volcano erupt! He was so kind to everyone, including those not on his tour. He was very knowledgeable and taught me a lot about the volcano! I will recommend this tour to friends.read moreread lessmarcia33626/23/2023Must Do! Fantastic tour! Our guide, Uncle Jim is such a fountain of knowledge and made sure we made fantastic memories! Book it and wear layers!read moreread lessgaleh8926/22/2023Great tour and John was amazing Had a wonderful experience touring the island and seeing all the sites. John was an awesome tour guide and went out of his way to make sure each and every member of the tour group was always taken care of. He was very personable and had a great sense of humor. He definitely made the long trip easier to handle. In all, we had a great experience and loved Kalahni Tours. Thank you again John for the excellent service.read moreread lessS2912JXmichaelc6/21/2023
- Must-Do Tour! I loved this tour! Actually it was our second time. The first one was so good we decided to book again for this trip. Our guide was Gary. He was exceptional! Extremely knowledgeable on the history of the island, the volcanos and the Hawaiian culture. He was polite, professional, patient and funny. ???? We had a group that included an elderly woman with a cane. She was a total rockstar joining in on all the walking times in our tour. She even went through the challenging path of the lava tube we visited. Gary was with her every step of the way, helping her navigate the uneven surface. I was so impressed with his kind and patient way with her. Not once did he try to rush her and a few times suggested they sit so she could take a break. The food was great, cold water and other beverages available. The van was very clean and comfortable and gave great views of the landscape. They even provided rain jackets for us. They thought of everything and then some. I believe this is a must do tour if itâs your first, second or third trip to the island. Mahalo Gary and Kailani Tours! We will be back!read moreread lessAllison E6/21/2023Around the island tour with Kailani Tours Wonderful trip! Saw a lot of Kona/Hilo island âmust seeâ sites. Our driver/tour guide was a local and was able to recommend other things and places to see on the island. Ask for Chaz, he is/was the BEST! Five Stars!read moreread lessDebbie K6/20/2023Anson is a gem! First, our tour guide Anson was THE BEST. We were so lucky to have a native Hawaiian tour guide to provide context and insight all along the trip. He was friendly, funny, generous, and very attentive. He was also a GREAT driver. My spouse and I get carsick and that didn't happen even once! He was also responsive to any special interests. I am a beginning birder, and he was careful to point out Hawaii's endemic state bird, the nÄnÄ goose, when we passed by a couple.
Our small group was delightful to spend time with. As an LGBTQ+ couple, with everything going on in the country right now, I was a little nervous about how folks would treat us. Luckily, everyone was welcoming and engaging. A big relief since this was our second honeymoon.
The tour van was very comfortable and we were fed and hydrated every step of the way. The food and snacks were delicious and it was so nice to get something more than a sandwich! Grilled chicken on orzo with lemon sauce and veggies, yum!!!
The tour itself was fantastic. It was well -structured and well-planned. 11 hours flew by. All the activities were educational and fun, and we had just enough time at each one. Of course, we managed to visit during Kailua's eruption, which can't be planned.read moreread lessAmber G6/19/2023Absolutely do this tour Absolutely do this tour. It's an amazing way to see some of the highlights of the island. The breakfast and lunch were delicious and we never felt rushed at any of the stops. It's a long day and a lot of it is spent in the van going from stop to stop, but our guide was absolutely terrific. Kona Chris was a wealth of knowledge of history of the island and culture and shared it with us throughout the tour. The space between stops were just history lessons and information to prep us for the next stop. Not a single minute was wasted. We loved every second of this tour and absolutely recommend it and Kona Chris.read moreread less900kristenr6/19/2023Perfect Day on The Big Island We had a great experience on this trip! There was only 11 of us in a very comfortable sprinter van. Our driver and guide was Jim. He was wonderful. He knows so much about the islands and is a great storyteller. He kept us entertained during the 11 hour day. The trip included lunch at a stop at a coffee plantation and dinner at The KÄ«lauea Lodge. Drinks and snacks were available throughout the day. We had musaladas at our rest stop at a bakery. We also stopped at the black sand beach. We were lucky to be at the national park when KÄ«lauea was erupting. Jim brought his own telescope and we were able to see the lava flow up close. He arranged the stops based on the day and crowds. We saw the crater during the day and after dinner. It was amazing! The tour includes flashlights and jackets for the evening mile walk to view the volcano. We also went to the lava tubes at night with very few people. It was a great day!read moreread lesstink47486/19/202325th Anniversary Trip No better way to start your vacation than to go on this trip. Best way to see a lot of the island in a day.
Kona Chris was a great tour guide. We learned a lot about the history of the islands, and we where able to see so much of it in a day. Chris gave recommendations of things to do and places to eat.
We can not recommend this trip highly enough. It is a must due.read moreread lessCuriosity4356486/18/2023 - Great way to spend a day Very informative. Jim was a very knowledgeable guide! The van was new and comfortable and the whole experience was quite positiveread moreread lessL2492JXoksanas6/18/2023Wonderful tour, amazing guide We booked our tour months in advance, and by sheer chance, Kilauea erupted the day before our tour. With the consent of everyone in the tour group, our amazing guide, Bryce, modified the tour schedule to maximize our viewing time at the volcano. We still made all the planned stops except for the lava tube, but kept them shorter so we could get to the volcano sooner. We were able to view the ongoing eruption in the caldera by day and again by night. In between, we had a lovely dinner at Kilauea Lodge. After dinner, when we went back to view the caldera, Bryce brought out a telescope as well as several pairs of binoculars so we could all get a great view. He even mounted our phones on his telescope to shoot super-close-up photos and video. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the island, especially the volcanoes. He was super energetic and went above and beyond in all regards. In addition to the amazing experience of seeing Kilauea erupting, we also enjoyed delicious malasadas from a local bakery and saw sea turtles lounging on a black sand beach. All in all, it was a fantastic experience.read moreread lessmcentor6/17/2023All Day Island Tour We had an amazing day! Pickup was on time and right where we were instructed. The van was clean, roomy and temperature was adjusted throughout the day. We hit lots of different stops and some extras as time permitted throughout the day. The day was busy but ran smoothly and no stop felt rushed. Kona Chris was our guide and he was wonderful! Lots of facts and stories and jokes throughout the day. There were 6 kids on our tour and he had movies and snacks to keep them happy. He went out of his way to make sure everyone (children included) were comfortable and having fun. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the island!read moreread lessRachel R6/17/2023A day to remember on the Big Island â Volcano views were spectacular and the guide was perfect. John Gray was our guide (driver, historian, cook, etc). and he showed up on time and ready to go at the Hilton. The van was a Mercedes and was in excellent shape. John provided water consistently and constantly asked how we were doing. In addition to focusing on the volcano, John provided context on the history of the Island the coffee and sugar cane industries as well as recent immigration patterns to Hawaii for the past 200 years. We at a quick but sufficient lunch at Greenwell Coffee Farm, one of the largest Kona farms on the Island. In addition, we visited a black sand beach and got to enjoy the visit of two turtles. The visit to the volcano clearly met our expectations. We went twice â before sunset to view the crater and then after dinner â which we shared at the Kilauea lodge. The dinner was excellent. We returned to the volcano for an evening viewing and the colors were spectacular. John helped with photographs and did an excellent job with a telescope and showed us, as well, how to take pictures through the scope. It was a wonderful evening and went far beyond our expectations â first class experience.read moreread lessRobin B6/16/2023Top Notch Tour This tour is AMAZING! Not only was our tour guide, Kevin- absolutely incredible, knowledgeable, personable, funny, and interactive . but the tour itself was wonderful. This was our first time to Kona and it was a great way to see everything from someone who knows what they're talking about vs us renting a car and trying to see the island ourselves.
This tour was well worth the money. We expected small snacks and a bag lunch but we ended up with a great light breakfast, waters and other drinks all day long, a stop for Malasadas (Portuguese donuts), wine tasting and a great chicken/pasta/bread lunch, and more snacks and such in the afternoon.
Not gonna lie it was a long day- 11 hours including pickup from various spots to drop off- but if you want to see the highlights of Kona, eat breakfast/lunch/snacks, have your entry fees paid for, and have a private tour guide to show you the ropes- this is the tour for you.
PS- There was a 5 year old girl on our tour as well as a couple well into their 70's plus .. and everybody did great!read moreread lesssylviafS9114AY6/15/2023Best tour company in Hawaii We took several tours on four of the islands during our trip to Hawaii and KailaniTours was the best! They were attentive and provided everything you needed including jackets, blankets, flashlights, binoculars, snacks, lunch and a great dinner. John Gary was our guide and he did an excellent job taking care of everyone. His knowledgeable commentary and sense of humor made the trip very comfortable and enjoyable.read moreread less869anitas6/15/2023 - The tour company and guide to do it right Our trip/tour, with Kalani Tours, included a drive down the Kohala and Kailua-Kona coastline with an explanation of their history and development and a stop at Greenwell Farms (Coffee Farm), for Coffee Tasting and Lunch. Kalani Tours provides historical documentaries of the area on the vanâs A/V system while driving through the area. After a quick stop at South Point (Ka Lae) and an explanation of the significance of that location. We continued our journey around Hwy 11, up the windward side of the island to Black Sand Beach (Punaluâu) for a walk and photo opâ with a couple of Green Sea Turtles that happened to be lying on the beach. Back on the bus, we headed further north to Hawaii Volcano National Park for a day time look at the lava lake of the Kilauea Caldera. From the Volcano House, the daytime view looked like the volcano was dormant except for the steam and smoke coming from the far end. I would say it was anti-climatic, except for the perspective it would offer when we came back after dark (which is an invaluable part of the equation, donât overlook it). Our guide (John Gary) provided and overview and historical insight of more recent volcanic events that gave us all a reverent sense of the current eruption. Then we took time for a wonderful dinner in Volcano Village at the Kilauea Lodge as the sun set and darkness settled in. When John returned us to the overlook, his experience and professionalism really kicked in. In a word, this experience became Breathtaking. He knew where to go and how to do it. Combined with the Name Branding of Kilani Tours made this experience the highlight of our 1st Visit to the Big Island. When we return with family/friends this tour will be high on the list of âmust doâsâ and John will be the first person I look for. A vacation in Hawaii is always going to be expensive, so you want to do it right!read moreread lessrichardmE3610TR6/15/2023Book this tour! John was an incredible tour guide! His knowledge of the island was very educational, entertaining, and interesting. He made sure everyoneâs needs were met the entire day. In addition, we were able to see stunning views of the lava during the evening. Definitely recommend this tour for anyone visiting the Big Island!read moreread lessMari Jo O6/15/2023Best tour of the Big Island! This was an amazing experience. The Volcano began erupting the morning we went, so it was really an unforgettable time. Jim was such a great tour guide, he knows literally everything there is to know about Hawaii and the history of the islands, and he made sure the drive times were filled with entertaining and educational stories. I really couldn't recommend this more- it's a must do if you visit the Big Island!read moreread lessMichelle M6/08/2023Amazing big island tour I went on this tour in late May 2023 and it blew away my expectations. Everything we saw was amazing, but our driver/guide Jim was what made the big difference. He was extremely pleasant and knowledgable about everything on the tour and everything on the island that was not on the tour. His details about the coffee farmers and volcanoes was over the top awesome. We will never forget the walk through the lava with Jim and everything he pointed out to us. You must do this tour to get an appreciation for the big island!read moreread lesssoccera7236/06/2023Best day in Hawaii! This tour was worth every penny and more. Stephan arrived in a comfortable van right on time. From the moment we started he gave a running stream of interesting stories and facts about the island. He seemed to know everything! Each stop was better than the last. At the breakfast and lunch spots he set up a beautiful breakfast and lunch spread, all delicious. This tour was the highlight of our week and we got to see and enjoy so much more than if we had tried to do it ourselves.read moreread lessMary K6/04/2023
- Amazing full tour The trip was amazing, John our guide was absolutely amazing, we had a beautiful trip , he had everything we needed . Very organized and smooth, very informative. The bus was new , I highly recommend the trip .read moreread lessolamarie876/04/2023Cloud Forest was so Green!! We took the half day tour of Kona offered as an excursion on Norwegian. It included the Cloud Forest and Gold Coast. Sam was our tour guide. We learned so much about the area in such a short time, and saw many unusual sights. The area was beautiful. We never could have seen so much on our own!read moreread lesssmellace6/04/2023Wonderful Grand Circle Island Volcano Tour Thia was an excellent tour guide on our Grand Circle Island Volcano Tour. Kailani Tours thought of everything to make our experience wonderful, including meals, jackets to protect from rain, towels, information about Hawaiian history and culture, and comfortable, clean transportation to each stop. We had a great time and will cherish the memories. Views of the Kilauea Volcano were breathtaking.read moreread lessTwyla H6/03/2023Great Tour Guide- fun small group We had Grant as our tour guide and he was great. It was about an 11hr day but he made the time fly. He always had interesting info even between stops. The tour description was pretty spot on. The lunch was a tasty sandwich box lunch, the coffee was delicious, the donut also tasty (but not too unlike other donuts), we stopped at a farmers market as a bonus stop which was quite fun, black sand beach we saw a Sea turtle, and then saw the volcano park stuff. No live lava unfortunately but canât control that. The lava tube quite cool- looked almost man-made. Dinner very tasty in a cute lodge. Had local fish, salad and cheesecake. We even stopped to look at stars for a short time. Saw the Southern Cross for the first time.Met fun people since only about 12 of us. The small group really made it so much more fun than a big crowd. Highly recommend.read moreread lessphylliso20176/02/2023Excellent tour The Volcano, volcano tube and Rainbow waterfall was amazing. Our guide, Chase, was the best. Professional and entertaining.read moreread lessSusan G6/01/2023Great way to explore the island! I'm so happy I came across this tour when scheduling the itinerary for our Big Island trip. Chris was our tour guide and was fantastic. He was born and raised on the island and was able to provide fascinating insight into local life and overall history of the area. He was funny and friendly and we really enjoyed his professionalism throughout the entire tour. We felt safe and well taken care of throughout the all-day tour and I highly recommend this as an activity on your next trip to Kona. Thanks for an amazing day Chris!read moreread lessNK8815016/01/2023
- Wonderful tour of Hawaiâi with a great guide Our group of 6 went on this tour with Stefan, our guide. This was a really good introduction to the Big Island of Hawaiâi. We saw a lot of great places and sampled a little bit of everything- coffee at Greenwell Farms, wine tasting at Volcanoes Winery, viewing the volcanoes and lava tube at the National park, walking on a black sand beach while viewing a big turtle and experiencing a couple of stunning waterfalls in Hilo. Stefan was what made the trip so very interesting- he not only told us about the flora and fauna of the island but told us stories and legends of Hawaiâi. Breakfast was yogurt with granola and fruit, mango sweet bread and juices with coffee. Lunch was a grilled chicken salad over orzo and veggies and a delicious pecan pie. Stefan offered ice cold water, juices and sodas all day. We had chips, trail mix and crackers on the final leg home, so donât bother with bringing extra snacks. We also were given hot lemongrass infused towels after lunch, and cold lavender infused towels after walking up to see the waterfalls in Hilo. What a nice touch! We had a great time. The van was comfortable but the only negative was the air conditioning was quite cold and we had to ask several times for the temps to be adjusted. Tips- wear walking shoes, not sandals or âslippahsâ . Bring a rain jacket. Stefan did have jackets and umbrellas but it poured several times when we were at Volcanoes Natâl park and driving through the rain forest. Speak up if you get cold. Donât forget to tip your guide. We were very grateful for his recommendations and stories, his friendliness and safe driving.read moreread lessMichele L5/31/2023Awesome! This is a great way to see a lot in one day. We traveled with a family of 11, so we did a private tour. It was a little more but worth it. We were able to take as long as we wanted at each place of interest. We started with lunch at the coffee farm. It would have been nice to do a tour there, but we did have coffee waiting for us, hot towels to clean our hands and seats reserved. The only suggestion is to be more communicative as to what we are supposed to do when we get off. Often times we got off the bus and stood there with no direction on what to do. Grant was super informative about the island. He knew so much history that we were able to learn a great deal on our tour. He was a fantastic guide. It was too cloudy for star/gazing so that was a bummer. I appreciative all the restroom stops along the way. I donât feel like we went a full hour without a break to get off the bus.read moreread lessdeborakleven5/31/2023Luxury, education and delicious food! An authentic Hawaii tour experience. This tour by Kailani Tours was incredible. Our party of 5 adults, some of us prone to severe motion sickness and my elderly father all had the best time. The Mercedes van was the epitome of luxury and so comfortable which is important during an 11 hour day with multiple stops. Our tour guide was Thia. Incredible! She is so friendly and knowledgeable. She clearly loves the island and took excellent care of all of us. From providing drinks and snacks to a delicious breakfast, lunch and bakery tour, nothing was lacking and we are foodie people! I would take this tour again and ask for Thia again. She was remarkable. The tour itself included everything promised. Breathtaking views, coffee tasting, scenery/plant explanations, wine tasting, turtles, waterfalls and the incredible volcano National Park. It was foggy but that didnât dampen our mood. Walking through the lava tube was by far one of the best things I have ever done. I know this tour is a bit of a splurge but you will not regret it. It was a remarkable experience.read moreread lessMoya C5/31/2023Excellent and easy way to see the whole island Excellent way to see and learn about the whole island and not have to worry about building an itinerary. The van was pretty luxurious, and our guide was always ready with drinks, snacks, hot/cold towels and even jackets and umbrellas when necessary.read moreread less173davem5/28/2023Great way to see the Big Island This was a great way to see the Big Island! Jim Hamilton our driver was great - knowledgeable, friendly and well organized.
The itinerary was well planned and included a variety of experiences- from volcanos, turtles, wine tasting and a waterfall.read moreread lessCarmela C5/28/2023 - Visited a bakery for Maladadas, winery at lunch (with tasting), Rainbow Falls in Hilo, the rim of Kilauea, and more! âUncle Jimâ was in a class all by himself. He was friendly, well informed about customs/traditions on Big Island. Aloharead moreread lesscfran55/25/2023Awesome experience John our tour guide was very knowleadgeable with great customer service skills. He took us around the island in a safe way and show us the most beautiful areas.read moreread lessJorge G5/25/2023Great Experience This was a great tour one of the highlights of our trip (and the volcano wasn't even active). Grant was our guide and did an excellent job. He was clearly passionate and knowledgeable about everything our group asked him. The lunch and dinner were both very good and appropriately timed. Grant even fit in a "bonus stop" at a farmer's market. Well done!
The lava tube and caldera were definitely the highlights for us. I would love to have a tour that focused even more on the volcano and could incorporate more hiking. That being said, I'm not sure our whole group could/would do that. Overall, very well done!read moreread lessdruggedzebra5/23/2023Unforgettable TourâŠJim was an amazing tour guide!! This tour on May 2023 was amazing and worthwhile. It was our first tour since our arrival and set the tone for our trip to Hawaii. We took a day trip from Honolulu to Kona by flying there and Jim Carey, our tour guide, came to pick us up from the airport. Jim was amazing, entertaining, very informative and gave us lots of history and stories and walked us to every step of the tour. From Kona coffee, black sand beach, pastries, wine tour, volcano and rainbow falls. Every aspect was a must see and experience that we will cherish. This tour and Jim were unforgettable, and I highly recommend to go for it, you will not regret it. Be prepared it is a whole day tour from beginning to end. We would definitely do this tour again!read moreread lessValou3265/21/2023Best tour ever ! Wow, an absolutely great tour with amazing views and experiences that we would have not otherwise seen. What made the trip so spectacular is our wonderful tour guide, Stefan. Stefan was extremely knowledgeable and tending to all of his customers. He made jokes and gave the history and fun facts of all the sites we were touring. We were able to get a great overview of the entire island and its history. 10/10 would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Kona for the first time and wanting to get a great experience. Would highly recommend requesting Stefan as a tour guide as he was the best!!!read moreread lessJared C5/21/2023 - Highly recommended What a great tour! It was a great way to see a lot of amazing sights in one day, and in complete comfort. Our tour guide, Kona Chris, was awesome!!read moreread lesssamanthapX101ON5/20/2023Very Enjoyable Had a very informative tour with PJ. He really made the experience with his knowledge of the island and all the places that we visitedread moreread lessRob E5/19/2023Amazing, Beautiful Day My husband and I took this tour yesterday. Chance was our driver and he was AWESOME! The Mercedes Black Van was very comfortable for the 10 of us on the tour. We highly recommend you take this tour and ask for Chance. He is a local guy and knows a lot of cool places to eat and the knowledge of the island he shared with us. From the Coffee beans, to the amazing delicious bakery, to seeing sea turtles on the black beaches, to the only winery on the Big Island, the Volcano, Lava tube and the amazing beautiful waterfall, what an amazing day. You will not be disappointed. Yes, it is a long day, but definitely worth it. I canât wait to come back and do another tour with this company. Thank you Chance for making us laugh and sharing your knowledge with us.read moreread lessrc385545/19/2023Book this tour! Our Big Island tour was a great time and Stefan is an excellent driver and a very knowledgable guide. He made himself relatable to everyone on the tour no matter where we were from or our background. Water, drinks, and snacks were provided as well as timely cold and warm towels. All much appreciated.
Our hotel pick-up was right on-time. Stefan made it very clear as to what to expect before each stop, and exactly how things were going to work and for how long. Nobody ever had questions about any of that. We never felt really hurried (maybe a little bit at the three buildings at the national park visitors center/hotel/art gallery) and we always felt safe. It's just like the snorkel boats for tourists -- there will be other vans or busloads of people at each popular stop. But it's not crazy crowded anywhere (find the cashier at the bakery who's not behind the food counter). The tour was a great opportunity to taste and buy some Kona coffee to take home. Everyplace was a worthwhile stop. And we did see turtles at the black sand beach, too. A couple of driving stretches were an hour and fifteen to an hour and thirty minutes long. The other driving times were shorter so not too bad for a long day on the road. Lunch was pretty good and good sized - chicken on orzo with veggies and my wife's vegan option was tofu instead of the chicken. They even provided a vegany yogurt for her at the breakfast stop at the coffee farm!
For a couple like us with no rental car this tour was a no-brainer to see a lot of the island, especially the national park, where you'll spend the most time visiting (as it should be!). Our resort was on the Kohala Coast, so if we had never taken this tour we wouldn't have believed there was ever actually weather - like clouds and rain - anywhere on the island. Stefan explained all of that, too. Plus, Stefan noted additional things-to-do for a vacationer to Hawaii, such as recommended restaurants, coffee shops, beaches, snorkel spots, and other points of interest.
The van is tight bigger folks might get tired of squeezing between the seats to get on and off the van from the rear seats.
Recommendation: my wife almost cried as we drove by the big Japanese garden in Hilo. A short stop there would be great!
We had dinner reservations at our hotel for 7pm and were told we'd be back in time, around 6:15. We were back at 6:10. They clearly know what they're doing, and we highly recommend Kailani Tours for the all-day around the island tour of the Big Island!read moreread lessJeff C5/18/2023Amazing tour! Five stars!!!! We had Jim Carey and heâs the best! Heâs a wealth of knowledge and extremely entertaining. Book this tour, itâs a great way to see the whole island and experience a little bit of history and see beautiful parts of the big island. Coffee, malasadas, turtles, black sand beach, volcano winery, crater trail, lava tubes, and rainbow falls. Itâs a full day and totally with it. Van is comfortable, food was great and had rain jackets if it does start to sprinkle. Highly recommend!read moreread lessmelinaee5/16/2023Best Guided Tour on the Island First off I would like the say Uncle Jim was an amazing guide. He had such an amazing energy and great knowledge of the island. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone. The views and experiences me and my fiancĂ© had will forever be remembered, along with Uncle Jim!read moreread lessAustin T5/16/2023 - Big Island Wrap Around The tour guide [Gary] was excellent in the ambiance and information from each place as well as the travel between, The highlights were the nature parts being not just volcanoes but te coutryside itself - to just take in the expanse and immense breadth of the island. The spots of nourishment were delicious and wholesome.read moreread lesskuasi i5/16/2023Day of insight Chris was amazing!! He was raised in the big island and had so much insight. We visited a lot of places. The catered food was excellent
Bring someone warm to wear while at Volcan park. It was cold and wet.read moreread lessjudy d5/14/2023A fun filled day! Our tour guide Grant was awesome. He was very knowledgeable and funny!
The experience worth every penny. We were fortunate enough to also have stopped at a local farmers market as an extra. Sadly Pele was in a good mood that day, so no lava could be seen. đread moreread lessTimothy D5/14/2023Great Overview of the Many Regions of the Big Island This tour picks up from multiple locations on the west side of the island. The tour was led by Stefan and Chris, who both did a great job of running commentary on this all-day bus tour. Stefan had a lot of pointers about the best restaurants, so I recommend taking the tour early in your stay. Chris had a lot of knowledge about Hawaiian culture and stories.
The tour winds its way counter clockwise around the island mostly along the Hawaii Belt Road/Mamalahoa Hwy.
Stop 1 - Greenwell Farms coffee plantation, where we had breakfast and a quick tour of the facilities.
Stop 2 - Punalu'u Bake Shop, which is famous for their Malasadas doughnuts, first baked in Hawaii by Portuguese plantation workers.
Stop 3 - Punalu'u black sand beach. Quite a beautiful location with many green sea turtles basking or rollicking in the waves.
Stop 3 - Volcano Winery for lunch and a wine and tea tasting. Volcano blends grape with fruit wines and even tea extracts to make pretty original wines. The wines we tried are all quite sweet - even the Pinot Noir using Napa grape juice - but they make for fruity and aromatic dessert wines.
Stop 4 - Volcanoes National Park - includes some time by the steam vents, the lookout above the Kilauea crater (impressively huge), the art gallery/visitor center/Volcano House, and the Nahuku-Thurston Lava Tube.
Stop 5 - Through Hilo along the oceanfront and stopping at Rainbow Falls. Despite being a touristy stop, the falls are beautiful even without the sun-generated rainbows.
Stop 6 - Mauna Kea Recreation Area restroom and snack break along Saddle Rd return to Waikoloa Beach, etc.
Stefan did a great job telling us about the various points of interest along the way, including the history, geography, and Hawaiian traditions of each of the many distinct regions we drove through.
This is an easy-going tour to familiarize newcomers with most of the areas of the Big Island, and can help you make more informed decisions about parts of the island you may want to explore in more depth.read moreread lessnadames5/13/2023