We enjoyed the whole experience. Our tour guide Mel was very friendly and full of information. It is a full day trip.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Engaging narration from a local guide, sharing stories and insights throughout your tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Roundtrip airfare from Honolulu International Airport to Kona International Airport
- Hawaii Volcanos National Park Admission is Included
Excludes
- Transportation to the Honolulu Airport is not included
- If you enjoy your tour tipping your guide in cash is always appreciated
- Meals
- Private Tour
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Upon arrival to Kona International Airport meet at the lot behind Alaska Baggage claim B-2
Itinerary
Greenwell Farms is a well-known coffee farm and producer located in the Kona region of Hawaii's Big Island. Established in 1850 by Henry Nicholas Greenwell, it is one of the oldest coffee farms in Hawaii and has a rich history tied to the development of Kona coffee, which is internationally recognized for its high quality. The farm is located in the Kona district on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano. The region's unique climate, with its rich volcanic soil, sunny mornings, cloud-covered afternoons, and consistent rainfall, creates ideal conditions for growing high-quality coffee.
Manuka State Wayside Park is a tranquil, 13-acre park located on the Big Island of Hawaii along the Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 11). Nestled on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the park features a diverse mix of wet and dry forest ecosystems, offering visitors a peaceful setting for picnicking and hiking. The park's 2-mile Manuka Nature Trail takes you through lush native forests, showcasing a variety of plant species, volcanic features, and providing insights into the area's unique geology and ecology. This lesser-known gem is home to various native Hawaiian plants and wildlife, including endemic bird species like the Hawaiian hawk and honeycreeper. With picnic areas and interpretive signs along the trail, Manuka State Wayside Park offers a serene escape into Hawaii’s natural beauty, making it an ideal stop for those exploring the southern part of the Big Island.
Punaluʻu Bake Shop, located in Naʻālehu on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the southernmost bakery in the U.S. and renowned for its traditional Hawaiian sweet bread, offered in flavors like taro, guava, and mango. Established in 1991, it’s a popular stop for travelers, featuring a variety of baked goods, a gift shop, and a beautiful garden. The bakery emphasizes sustainability and offers a delightful taste
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, located on the southeastern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, is famous for its striking black sand, which is formed from volcanic basalt. The beach is surrounded by lush coconut palms and offers a unique and scenic environment for visitors. It’s also a popular spot for viewing Hawaiian green sea turtles, which often bask on the shore. While the beach's waters can be rough, making it less ideal for swimming, it’s a must-see destination for its natural beauty and cultural significance, providing a unique glimpse into Hawaii's volcanic origins
Visiting Volcanoes National Park offers an immersive experience into Hawaii’s volcanic landscape. Starting at the visitor center, you learn about the park’s geology and history before heading out to explore. At Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, you witness the awe-inspiring glow of molten lava, a powerful reminder of the island's volcanic activity. The Kīlauea Iki Rainforest Lookout provides a striking contrast, offering views of a lush rainforest surrounding a massive crater, where a trail leads through the remnants of a past eruption. Walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, you experience a natural tunnel formed by flowing lava, and at the active steam vents, you feel the heat rising from the earth, reminding you of the intense geothermal activity beneath your feet. Each stop offers a unique glimpse into the forces that continue to shape the island.
Mauna Kea Access Road is a steep, winding route that leads to the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest volcano and the highest point in the state. Starting from the Saddle Road (Route 200), the road ascends through various climates, from grassy plains to barren, volcanic landscapes. As you climb, the air becomes thinner, and temperatures drop significantly.
The Kohala Coast is known for its beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and scenic views. The area has a drier climate compared to other parts of the island, making it ideal for enjoying outdoor activities and exploring places like Mauna Kea, which is nearby.
Hilo, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, boasts a rich history and vibrant cultural scene. The town features attractions such as the Lyman Museum, which showcases Hawaii’s natural and cultural history, and the Hilo Historic District, where visitors can explore preserved early 20th-century buildings. Additionally, the Pacific Tsunami Museum offers insights into the impact of tsunamis on the region, while Liliuokalani Gardens provides a serene setting to honor Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. The Hilo Farmers Market, though not historical, is a lively hub that reflects local culture and history through its diverse range of goods and produce. These elements together make Hilo a fascinating destination for those interested in Hawaii’s heritage and natural beauty.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
It was a very educational and beautiful day touring the big island Hawaii not many places you can go and see an active volcano and a rainforest in the same day great trip wonderful day thanks
What an amazing tour! Mel is an absolutely fantastic guide, such a wealth of knowledge and also so much fun. This is one of the best tours I've ever done.
A trip to Hawaii would be incomplete without visiting the volcanos. The tour was informative and beautiful. Our tour guide, Mel, was very knowledgeable about the volcano as well as the country side to and from the volcano.
Kevin was a great guide, he was very accommodating. There was some confusion about our pick up location. Viator sent info indicating Thrifty car rental and the tour company had sent message indicating baggage claim area. We had only seen the one Viator sent, so we were at the wrong location(along with another tourist). Kevin picked us up at that location once I called about the mix up. We learned a great deal about Hawaii through him. He was very layed back and friendly.
Pretty comprehensive tour of the Volcano National Park and the Black Sand beach. Vegetarian options were very limited at the lunch stop (only cheese pizza was available)
Kevin was a great guide and very helpful and accommodating. My only issue is that through Victor often the directions were unclear or vague which created a mixup that had nothing to do with the tour company. I’ve done a dozen Viator linked tours around the world, and I consistently see this as a problem.
Great experience. Our guide was Mel and he was very engaging and spent a great deal of time explaining the scenery and the volcanoes. Really enjoyed the trip!
Mel was great, provided lots of great information and a dash of humor. The van was perfect, modern with charging capabilities for electronics and very comfortable. We made numerous stops as we made our way to the volcano, all important to understanding the islands characteristics. Our day gave us a small glimpse of lava, no fountains but enough to scratch the itch to see. I did one day travel from Oahu, even with flight issues (a cancellation and maintenance problems) the tour group kept things on track and low stress. Really enjoyed the trip, and highly recommend.
It was AMAZING! Our tour guide (Kevin I think) was phenomenal! He was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. Highly recommend!!!
Wasn’t the experience I was expecting, but 2 items were impacted due to the recent hurricane. I can’t fault the tour for trying to reset. I think the entire day should have been spent in the national park. I really don’t believe based on what I paid for this tour that it was worth the money I spent. Kevin the tour guide was great.
Make sure you read all the texts they send! They changed the meeting place on the last day and if our driver, Kevin, hadn’t been so awesome we would have missed the excursion! He was an excellent driver and very welcoming and knowledgeable.
Kevin was very chill and knowledgeable. His commentary seemed more organic rather than scripted. Loved how the company took care of the airline booking. No issues. Grab 100% Kona coffee from Joe’s. Not a lot of good food options at the Hilo airport at the end so make sure you buy extra food at the bakery in the morning. I regret not getting a loaf of sweet bread to go.
Whether you are staying on the Island or flying in for the day(like we did). The volcano tour is definitely a must do experience. Kevin(from Colorado)brings the energy. He will keep you interested and laughing. My next visit will definitely be on Hawaii Island Lol.
We flew in fro Oahu which means you are at the airport by 6:00 am to catch a 7 am flight to Kona. This is an exhausting trip as it is an all day excursion. Luckily our driver and guide was Mel at Aloha Sunshine. He definitely LOVES history💕 He is a wealth of knowledge and prepared us with a lit of information. I have been to the Big Island many times but did not appreciate it as much as I did with Mel. Mahalo nui loa to Mel🌺 The complaints I had was the increase in the flight cost and the lack of information provided. We were not given the option to book the flight in our own and if a credit would be provided to do it. We were not told to book your own seats etc. Since the person took our names and dates of birth to do the bookings, I expected to have our seats arranged. Luckily, I decided to check as well as enter our TSA status. It would have been nice if she provided all the options to us. People are busy and do not need a a text and a need for multiple calls right before the trip. Please provide the options to folks when you call them especially when I told her that I am not providing her out dates of birth, credit card # etc. That's outrageous and set me off. I almost canceled the trip because of it. I know Customer Service and the call with the Aloha Sunshine rep was not good service. She remained courteous but I NEVER like giving a credit card # to a live caller. There should be a secure line for the information. Heck, I do not know what you folks do with my card info. She did not say if it is destroyed or not. Hopefully, it is not kept on any file. The arrangements were the only downfall with the process. Aloha Sunshine is lucky to have an employee like Mel. He is very special and an Alii of Hawaiian knowledge & culture 🌺🌈💕
Amazing experience!! A great way to see many items in one day! Beautiful volcanos, mountains and local businesses all in one trip! Very interesting and informative tour with excellent service!! Small group so it was a wonderful experience! We also went to a coffee farm, local bakery and had some time to tour mountains on top of that! Excellent tour! 10+ star 🌟 recommendation!!
Check your text messages as soon as you land for driver’s meetup instructions, which are different to the ones sent by Viator! After that, it’s smooth sailing. It was the experience of my childhood dreams to visit an active volcano and this trip was effortless, fun, and beautiful. There were even yummy snacks in the van. Jeffrey was full of fun facts and helpful pointers, making for a great trip and great memories!
Mel was great. He has a wealth of information. His tour was laid back and very enjoyable. We made all our stops. Highly recommend.
This was a unforgettable family experience! Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. This was our favorite excursion of the trip.
It was a long day but so worth it. We had to fly from Maui to Big Island for tour. Our guide Henry was very friendly and informative. Communication prior to and day of was excellent. Each stop was a good amount of time, lots of bathroom breaks and appreciated his rating of the facilities so we knew what to expect. Getting to see Kilauea while it was erupting was a bonus. It's a long day so packing some additional snacks and drinks helpful even though there were several stops where could purchase them. Our van was comfortable. Only down side was the 3 hour wait at airport for our return flight once tour was complete. It would be nice if flight times or the selected aiport coincided closer to the time tour ends. Kona airport is small and doesn't offer much in food selection. Jayson from Aloha Sunshine tours was 10/10. I have never had a tour operator call me before. Jayson spent time going through the details of the excrusion and flight infor, answering my questions, offering suggestions for my stay in both Oahu and Maui. Anytime I texted him with a quesion he would respond even when it wasn't about the tour I booked through him. Highly recommend using Aloha Sunshine Tours.
If you want to see the highlights of the big island, this tour is the one to go on. I do wish that our tour guide spoke about the Island more but in his defense there were a lot of sleepyheads on our van that he probably didn’t want to disturb. This day trip was expensive but totally worth it. Not often do you get to see an active volcano.
Mel Was our guide for the day. He is aboriginal to Hawaii and so knowledgeable. Van of 12 people was very comfortable! We flew in from Oahu to Kona, and out of Hilo. the floods/rain from February affected some of the stops (didn’t stop at macadamia farm at all, lava tube is being repaired -you still go in but not very far 35 yards or so. Don’t let it discourage you- it was very cool. The volcano “erupts” every 2-3 weeks so we were in between events but the steam and views were incredible! A must do experience!
I love the Big Island and have done this tour before a few years ago. The sights from the tour were great, but the description of the tour was deceiving. First, the stops were not listed in order. I understand that there was a flood last year so they could not take us to the coffee farm the first thing in the morning, but I wish that had been communicated to us prior to the tour so that we could have had coffee and breakfast before leaving Oahu. Instead the first stop was at a grocery store which was a little disappointing. Second, although the guide was pleasant he did not really provide any sort of narrative regarding the Big Island - he just drove us around the island. Third, we ended up paying more than the advertised price for the flights. I get that is in the fine print, but considering how expensive this tour is for what little it provides, we were surprised that we were each asked to pay about $75 more for the flight. We have been on other tours and they have never requested additional airfare. Overall, the Big Island is beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the sights, but we probably could have booked our own flights and rented a car and received an equally enjoyable experience at our own pace for less than what we ended up paying for this tour.
We saw an erupted volcano!!! Driver was so nice too!!! We are was so happy to witness it! I would recommend it !!!
My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Experience Departing from Oahu. Our tour guide, Henry, who grew up on the Big Island, was extremely knowledgeable and a skilled storyteller. We learned so much and noticed that other people who weren't on our tour would gather around and listen to Henry's narration. We were amazed to discover that part of this national park contained volcanic craters and lava rock, while the other part featured a lush rainforest. Walking through the lava tube was a fascinating experience. We additionally visited a black sand beach with sea turtles and enjoyed eating treats that were produced locally on the island. This is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity that should not be missed!
A fantastic experience! Although it did feel like the guide was rushed and did not share his conversation with the larger group. All stops along the way were well chosen.
We had an amazing time exploring the Big Island! From the coffee farm, volcano, lava tunnels, black sand beach along with sea turtles, and waterfall to some of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen, every stop was incredible. 🌋☕️🌴✨ A special shoutout to our tour guide, Henry, who made the experience even better. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much history and culture about the island in a fun and engaging way. You can tell how passionate he is about Hawaii, and it made the tour that much more memorable. I would definitely recommend Henry to anyone looking for an amazing adventure on the Big Island. We learned so much and had an unforgettable day! 🤍
Aloha Sunshine Tours provided a fantastic day trip experience. Jayson personally called me to confirm the details. They took care of our flights from Honolulu to the Big Island. I liked the way they had us fly into Kona and out of Hilo. Mel, our local guide and driver, was excellent, providing a wealth of insights. The day was perfect.
Driver Mel was very knowledgeable about the tour and helpful throughout the trip. Yes he stopped and gave us enough time to visit the locations.
Excellent tour with a great guide Henry. Coffee farm black sand beach volcano and rainbow falls. Great big island tour
Volcanoes are gnarly and Mel took great care of us with deep knowledge and stories. We were on the fence about this tour due to the cost, but I’m so glad we went. And it was an absolutely fantastic adventure, and we were so glad to see another island.
It was such a fun and informative ride. Jeffrey was such an amazing guide. Easy to talk to, very accommodating and overall great guy. We visited some amazing sites and had a awesome time. The only thing I do not recommend is eating at the bakery. The malasadas were good, but not the food. There was a long wait and the quality is comparable to a school lunch. Go across the street to the taco place instead for your lunch.
We had an excellent Guide, Mel. He was very funny and full of information. The stops were fantastic. If we travel back to Hawaii we will stay on the big Island. It is a very long day. You are in and out of the van. Would highly recommend
We felt like the tour was missing a true guide. We were expecting more information about the sites we were seeing and the island in general. We could have done this tour ourselves by renting a car and paid 1/2 the price. The driver was great but just that, a driver. When we pay this amount for a tour we expect a tour guide with information not just a driver.
The trip was fun and informative. Though, one of the trip stops was closed (weather related damage), the tour guide more than made up for it, with a cool different stop. The guide was excellent and we had the best time!
Fantastic tour around the Big Island with Meland Aloha Sunshine Tours!!! Mel took us to several locations on the Big Island significant to the culture and history of the area. From Kona coffee to the black sand beaches all the way into Kilauea, Mel taught us what to look for, where to make the most of each stop and introduced us to America’s southern most bakery. Great narration and knowledge. Would recommend to anyone.
Kevin was an amazing tour guide. Laid back and fun, he gave us lots of information but wasn’t too overwhelming. Chips and water provided along the way. Overall excellent experience. Airport transfers went smoothly.
Saw volcanoes NP, black sand beaches and much of Kona and Hilo area. Our guide told us much about history and took us to coffee farm to taste the famous Kona coffee. We also got to taste macadamia chocolates.
The company is too concerned with making every dollar of profit and doesnt make decisions that are best for the tour participants. We were shuttled around a flooded island without being able to see any o fthe main attractions advertised. The tour length was half of the advertised time. They had the information they needed to know things were closed and should have cancelled the tour in advance.
Great do it again in a heartbeat. Tour was well organized. Out tour guide Jim Carey went above and beyond to give us an awesome experience.
Despite the rain, Mel made the experience engaging by sharing numerous facts and stories about the island. We visited many interesting sites and frequently stopped for explanations. The tour seamlessly integrated with our flights, which was very convenient. Since our group returned to the vehicle promptly, we were able to extend our tour and visit the Crater Road Tour, which was both awesome and informative! Two suggestions: 1) We should have stopped at the “Volcanoes National Park” Welcome sign for photos. Mel encouraged us to ask for thing like this, but we forgot until after the tour. Our bad! 2) We should have done a roll call around the vehicle. We spent the entire day with people and didn’t even know their names... Overall a very good and worthwhile day/tour/trip
Our guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable and kept us all together. Loved it all, great day. 5 stars to our driver
It was excellent. Guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The volcano park is something not to be missed when visiting Hawaii.
Very good tour guide, Henry, who brought us to many locations teaching us along the way! Boom, thank you Henry and crew!
I really liked this experience. It was a little stressful, having to take the two planes between islands, especially because our plane getting there was delayed and pick up at the airport could have been clearer by the baggage claim. Having said that, Henry was an amazing tour guide. He was easy to listen to funny, and gave so much information about the island and culture and history of Hawaii. I really wish this guy would get himself a podcast because I would totally listen. We got to see many points of interest despite the airplane delay in overall it was a really magical day.
Great experience Mel our driver with alhoa sunshine tours was great gave us lots of history especially about the volcano and the srea
Mel was a great tour guide and driver for our group. I highly recommend doing this tour. 10 stars and an extra star for being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Great tour. Saw several interesting sites. Learned a lot about the history of Hawaii would definitely do it again
Henry was funny and knowledgeable. The beauty of the island would have made it worthwhile a trip. But Henry made it excellent. He answered many questions. He provided fun anecdotes about the places. He also share interesting history. This trip was amazing.
This was an excellent way to see some of the big island if you don't have several days to spend here. Our tour guide Mel was wonderful. He's extremely knowledgeable and was great at explaining everything to us. We learned so much and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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