Big Island: Hawaii Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Black Sand And Hilo

Fantastic viewing of the Hawaii Volcano National Park and Kilauea with minimal walking. Great for seniors. Our your guide was full of enthusiasm and was born in the big island.

This was a great way to see as much as possible in Hilo during a cruise ship stop! Our guide, Aaron, was full of interesting information and had a great sense of humor. He was flexible with the groups needs to ensure everyone had a great time We would certainly use this company again!

Aaron is an amazing guide! A Hawaii native, we got to see Kailua volcano emitting lots of steam/smoke…just missed the lava by 15 minutes…viewed the volcano from 2 sites, experienced a steam vent, went to a local street market in Hilo and had amazing fish tacos…tasted like the fish had just been caught! Interesting goods for sale, tourist oriented, of course, and even sourdough bread and espresso for sale…live music played in the background! Then through the lava tubes underground…then to black sand beach…amazing how soft the lava sand was…saw interesting trees and a siting of 2 sea turtles…also to Rainbow Falls with a strong torrent flowing over lave into a deep pool below…he was pleasant to spend time with and shared his personal experiences needing to hunt, fish and raise vegetables to feed his extended family during the pandemic and still hunting wild pigs for food! Great tour, charming, personable guide…could not have been better!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an amazing time on the Big Island: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and Hilo Adventure! Our tour guide, Aaron, was fantastic—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and culture of Hawaiʻi. The excursion was packed with incredible sights, from the breathtaking volcanic landscapes at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the fascinating Thurston Lava Tube to the beautiful Rainbow Falls, Hilo, and the stunning black sand coastline. Every stop offered something unique, and Aaron made the experience even more memorable with his insights and stories along the way. The tour was well organized, enjoyable, and a great way to see so many of the Big Island’s highlights in one day. Aaron made everyone feel welcome and helped make the entire adventure special. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Big Island, and if you get Aaron as your guide, you’re in great hands! 🌋🌺🤙

Amazing tour guide, Aaron was extremely knowledgeable as he is born and raised in Hilo. He shared his life experiences on the island, and kept us all feeling like family for the entire tour. Cannot recommend enough. A must do tour for all!!

We had a wonderful experience with Pualena Tours during our Norwegian Pride of America cruise! Aaron was a fantastic guide and made our day exploring the Big Island both fun and memorable. We got to experience so much in one day, including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the Kīlauea crater, Thurston Lava Tube, steam vents, Rainbow Falls, Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Banyan Drive, and Richardson Black Sand Beach. We also enjoyed a stop at the Hilo Farmers Market and a visit to Big Island Candies. The tour was well organized and gave us a great variety of experiences, from the volcanic landscape to beautiful waterfalls and beaches. Aaron helped make the day special, and we really appreciated the opportunity to see so much of Hilo in the time we had in port. If you’re visiting Hilo on a cruise and want to make the most of your day, we highly recommend Pualena Tours. We would absolutely book with them again! Five stars for Pualena Tours and a big thank-you to Aaron for a great day on the Big Island! 🌺

This was a fantastic tour that covered everything we wanted to see in Hilo, from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Rainbow Falls to several historical landmarks, all with great stories along the way! Aaron was a knowledgeable and passionate guide who also provided excellent recommendations for additional things to do in the Hilo area after the tour. He made sure to tailor the experience to each family’s main points of interest, checking in at each stop to see if we wanted to spend any additional time there. Returning to the visitor center at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park so my son could earn his Junior Ranger badge before we left was especially important to our family, and Aaron made sure we could fit it in. Although we had to adjust a few viewpoint stops due to the vog, we still got great pictures of the volcano and steam vents. Aaron also gave us a wonderful recommendation for lunch at the farmers market, and we were so glad we took his advice! All the snacks provided throughout the tour were another great touch that made the experience even better for my son. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see all the major highlights in one day without the stress of navigating and fighting for parking at every stop. Aaron made the entire experience enjoyable, informative, and family-friendly!

This was a fantastic tour that covered everything we wanted to see in Hilo, from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Rainbow Falls to several historical landmarks, all with great stories along the way! Aaron was a knowledgeable and passionate guide who also provided excellent recommendations for additional things to do in the Hilo area after the tour. He made sure to tailor the experience to each family’s main points of interest, checking in at most stops to see if we wanted to spend any additional time there. Returning to the visitor center at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park so my son could earn his Junior Ranger badge before we left was especially important to our family, and Aaron made sure we could fit it in. Although we had to adjust a few viewpoint stops due to the vog, we still got great pictures of the volcano and steam vents. Aaron also gave us a wonderful recommendation for lunch at the farmers market, and we were so glad we took his advice! All the snacks provided throughout the tour were another great touch that made the experience even better for my son. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see all the major highlights in one day without the stress of navigating and fighting for parking at every stop. Aaron made the entire experience enjoyable, informative, and family-friendly!

Great time with Aaron the host and owner. Very funny and knowledgeable guy! We visited black sand beaches, lava tubes, Hilo Farmers market, the Volcano, Big Island Candy factory, Mauna Loa nut farm. Highly recommend!

It was a full day of exploring Hilo and the volcano. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and a hoot

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our tour guide Aaron on the Big Island. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly personable. He shared so much interesting information about the island, its history, culture, and beautiful scenery, making the entire tour both enjoyable and memorable. He was also very attentive to everyone in our group providing snacks and cold water. We were able to see all of our desired sights and he even took our photos at various locations. We would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Hawaii. He truly helped make our visit unforgettable! 🌺🌴☀️

Great tour. Aaron was a great, informative guide with stories of island life. Take this tour you won’t regret it.

Great experience! Highly recommended! You don't have to walk a lot but you are gonna get tired after the day!

A great mix of lots of sights. Aaron our guide was very good! I wish we had a bit less time at Volcano and more time at Farmer's Market.

This tour is well timed to see all the Hilo highlights. I came specifically for the volcanoes, which did not disappoint! The stops at rainbow falls and the black sand Richardson beach were also beautiful. Between the farmers market, the candy company, and the macadamia nut store, I was well fed and checked off all my gift shopping. Aaron is full of interesting details and great food recommendations. Highly recommend!

It was an amazing experience! This company is the best! They are friendly and personable! Want to go back!!

This was a great tour. Aaron was more than accommodating. He was funny and knowledgeable.. It started raining and he pulled out umbrellas for everybody on the tour. He made a rainy day awesome.. I definitely recommend this tour. Great experience and went to several stops

The tour was Amazing! Tour guide was friendly, funny, and personable. Made us feel like family and we had a great time! We didn’t want it to end!!

I sadly cannot remember our tour guides name but he is an absolutely delightful owner and operator and genuinely knowledgeable about the island (his home) and the National Volcano Park. Have visited many islands over the years while cruising and absolutely one of the best tours we have ever experienced! it was not a "passing shower" Hawaiian kind of day! it was a torrential down pour all 7-8 hours but he had umbrellas and ponchos and snacks and drinks. He made it fun though it was hard at times going between soaked and dripping and steamed. Very inclusive, kind and attentive. Go help this wonderful young man grow his business and care for his family and support small local! great value for dollars spent!

Such an amazing tour! Aaron was truly a wonderful guide who made sure everyone was having a great time. He knew the national park and the people there well and was able to get us all the best views of the lava fountain even though it was unusually busy at the park causing more traffic than if the lava wasn’t spewing. He had such a great personality and could make friends with anyone. Definitely evident by him having friends at every stop we visited. If we could give him a higher review we absolutely would.

This Hilo experience was awesome. We had a fantastic time. Aaron was a fabulous guide. He was personable and knowledgeable. He was able to connect with each person in the tour group. We had great day in Hilo.

The best tour we took entire vacation. Aaron was the best tour guide. You can tell he really loves his island and wants to show it off

Very knowledgeable tour guide. Loved the stories that he told about ancient Hawaii as well as current history. He made adjustments to the tour as needed. Fair warning for those on the cruise, he WILL wait for you but disembarking off the Spirit may take longer than you expect but this tour was worth it.

Aaron is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly! Every stop was interesting, and we spent just the right amount of time at each. We were able to visit many points of interest and hear the stories and history behind them. The ride was comfortable, he even offered local snacks and drinks throughout. Highly recommend Aaron and this tour!

I cannot say enough good things about Aaron other than he is amazing! Super funny and informative! Very attentive and easy to talk with on the ride. He answered any and all questions with a smile and good natured humor. He truly made an effort to make us all feel the Aloha spirit and like ohana while on board! This company might be just starting, but it delivered history, culture, and insight from a true Hilo native! If you’re looking to make memories and experience Hilo like a local, I HIGHLY recommend this tour! Mahalo nui loa Aaron!

I cannot say enough good things about Aaron other than he is amazing! Super funny and informative! Very attentive and easy to talk with on the ride. He answered any and all questions with a smile and good natured humor. He truly made an effort to make us all feel the Aloha spirit and like ohana while on board! This company might be just starting, but it delivered history, culture, and insight from a true Hilo native! If you’re looking to make memories and experience Hilo like a local, I HIGHLY recommend this tour! Mahalo nui loa Aaron!

Aaron with Pualena Tours was amazing! They are local to Hilo and knew all the history as well as the local spots and back roads. He took us to volcano spots we had never been too on other tours! He also gave us ideas where to eat in the Hilo Farmers Market, as well as found the best local shop for snow cones (Ice Shave) for the kids at the end. We can't wait to do another tour with him. Well worth it!

Aaron was a wonderful tour guide and driver. He was professional, knowlegeable and provided outstanding customer service during our tour. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time to see the active volcano and other sites in Hilo. Recomend highly! Mahalo Aaron!

The travel guide Aaron was very knowledgeable, patient, kind and we saw lot yesterday. Recommend this excursion to all. The volcano was a sight to see alo g with everything else he showed us.