This tour is called the VOLCANO National Park Experience, however you spend the VAST majority of the day making stops at other places. This makes the tour not really worth the super long time investment required. If you have your own car, just drive to these spots yourself. Our Experience: We got picked up at 7:30 am, and spent 1.5 HOURS picking up other guests. We didn't really get on the road until 9 am. We stopped briefly at a mediocre coffee shop (no farm tour, nothing...just dropped off at the gift shop). We drove around the bottom of the island and stopped at a cute place for lunch around 11:30. We stopped at a black sand beach for 20 minutes and WE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE ACTUAL VOLCANO UNTIL 2PM!!! We left the volcano at 3:30, and had a almost 3 hour drive home. IT WAS AN ENTIRE DAY (7:30 am to 6 pm) of driving for 1.5 hours at the volcano. I understand that there's a significant distance to and from the park, but please be more clear about what this tour actually is.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Narration from a local guide, sharing stories and insights throughout your tour.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park admission included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off service is included
Excludes
- Gratuities
- Meals are at your own expense
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
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 of Hawaiian hospitality and local flavors.
Walk on a black sand beach with a chance to see the native Hawaiian green sea turtle
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.
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Reviews
It was a full day, but packed with interesting stories and information about the island. Our driver, Kevin, was the best. Take lots of pictures because it’s so beautiful.
Mark, our guide, was a very nice man. However, we did not do anything except drive all day, eat lunch, and visit the Volcanos National Park. We did not visit any other site, or even have some explanation for the drive-by locations. We certainly did not get our money’s worth for the drive-around, nor learn anything except for the Volcanos. The driving lasted from 8:15 AM- 6:45. First time we have ever had an experience of this type with Viator. Perhaps the itinerary needs to be updated so others are not surprised.
We had Mel as our tour guide and he was the absolute best! He picked us up right at our hotel and the tour itself was so fun and we also learned so much!
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and great sense of humor. Had a little taste of the island from different areas. Volcano experience great.
It was a real fun and educational experience with Mel as he was funny and also informative throughout the entire time
The Volcano Park is a great place to visit and learn about the volcanic history on the Big Island. You also see a lot more of the island than you might otherwise. Our tour guide, Jenny, was very knowledgeable, personable, and attentive. It's a long day but worth it! The live jazz at the Punalu'u was a nice surprise. Food was great!
Kevin was friendly, knowledgeable and appreciated his attention to detail. Recommend this tour to everyone, it’s an amazing experience and you get to see parts of this beautiful island.
Our Volcanoes National Park tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and our guide, Kevin, made the experience unforgettable. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of the Big Island and how volcanoes are formed, making complex geology easy to understand. What made the tour even more special was how he blended ancient Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions with the scientific explanations behind volcanic activity. It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the island and its incredible landscape. Every stop along the tour was thoughtfully planned. We enjoyed some of the best Kona coffee at Kona Joe’s and treated ourselves to delicious malasadas at Punaluʻu Bake Shop. From the breathtaking scenery to the fascinating stories and local flavors, every part of the day was memorable. If you’re visiting the Big Island, I highly recommend this tour—especially if you have Kevin as your guide. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling truly brought Hawaii’s history and natural wonders to life.
Our Volcanoes National Park tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and our guide, Kevin, made the experience unforgettable. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of the Big Island and how volcanoes are formed, What made the tour even more special was how he blended ancient Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions with the scientific explanations behind volcanic activity. It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the island and its incredible landscape. Every stop along the tour was thoughtfully planned. We enjoyed some of the best Kona coffee at Kona Joe’s and treated ourselves to delicious malasadas at Punaluʻu Bake Shop. From the breathtaking scenery to the fascinating stories and local flavors, every part of the day was memorable. If you’re visiting the Big Island, I highly recommend this tour—especially if you have Kevin as your guide. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling truly brought Hawaii’s history and natural wonders to life.
This was a great tour. Henry was so entertaining, knowledgeable, patient. He took pride in making sure everyone was comfortable & enjoying themselves. Taking the time to learn everyone's name means a lot. He was a good driver. Seeing the volcanoes in person is much different than viewing a picture. Great memories, if you want to know about Kona/Big Island's history take the tour. It is worth every cent.
Henry was a GREAT guide!! He is funny, informative, and very nice! The sites were amazing! I would suggest anyone who books it asks for Henry! Mahalo for a great experience!
Mel, our guide, talked and explained from the moment the van was full and continued until the end of the day. His knowledge was impressive! The views and each stop was planned and appropriate. Just wish the volcano had put on a bigger show!
Full day highlighted by the volcanic national park. Broke up the long ride from Kona with a stop at a coffee farm, a bakery and of course black sand beach Mel was a fabulous guide educating us all along the way Got to see episode 47 if most recent eruption Awesome!
We had a great day with Jim on our Volcano National Park day tour. We went to an awesome coffee farm in Kona, delicious local bakery, and went to the Volcano National Park. He was a fantastic story teller, and never let a minute pass without telling us something cool about the island and it's history. Very knowledgeable tour guide and we had a great day on the tour!
Mark did a great job in answer all my questions. He really knows the island like he’s been there his whole life. Great guy to talk to!
Henri was an incredible tour guide. So personable and knowledgeable. The views were incredible and he really provided the history.
Our tour guide, Mark was incredible! They entire experience was amazing. Beautiful sights and reasonably easy to walk many of the areas
Mike was a terrific guide/driver. He gave us sufficient time to try the coffee options and get takeaway lunch so as not to shorten time at the Volcano National Park. Long day but very interesting!
Amazing fun pack tour. Recommend the company and our Guide Henry kept us going with info and laughs. Hope you get Henry as the guide!
Wonderful stories about Hawaiian culture. Driver accommodated a range of ages from kids to older participants.
Our tour guide was amazing and made the activity so much more enjoyable. It felt a bit short all in all and we wished there was some time to walk around the national park or the beach instead of having such a long food break.
This tour was absolutely excellent from start to finish. Aloha Sunshine Tours delivered a top-notch experience exploring Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating details throughout the entire route—his passion and expertise made the journey truly memorable. We felt completely safe and well cared for the whole time, even while visiting active volcanic areas. The pacing was perfect, the scenery breathtaking, and the insights deepened our appreciation for the island’s natural wonders. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the Big Island with confidence and curiosity!
Aloha Sunshine Tours completely ruined what should’ve been an incredible Big Island day. Our driver Kevin skipped over 75% of the advertised stops — no Greenwell Farms, no Punaluʻu Bake Shop, no Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach — basically NONE of the sights listed. This wasn’t a “Big Island” tour at all, just a shuttle from Kona to Hilo with a short stop at Volcanoes National Park. I even paid $150 in roundtrip flights expecting to see the island from coast to coast. Instead, we were dropped at the Hilo Airport more than an hour early, leaving everyone sitting around for nearly 3 HOURS before our flights. When I called the company, they said they filed an incident report and would get back to me within 72 hours. It’s been over a week — NOTHING. No apology, no refund, no response. The owner is rude and clearly doesn’t care once they have your money. Save yourself the frustration — AVOID ALOHA SUNSHINE TOURS at all costs. Dishonest, unprofessional, and completely uninterested in customer satisfaction. Plenty of better local companies on the Big Island — this one is a total scam.
Was a full day of island discovery. We had local coffee, sweet bread, black sand beach with sea turtles, and full coverage of the Volcanoes National Park. Our guide Mel was a local who had extensive knowledge of the Big Island history, geology, botany, folklore, music etc. Great day!
Long day but great trip…our driver, Mel, was excellent.. VERY knowledgeable….. and kept us on schedule… late start… but the driver made up for it…..
Brandon was an exceptional guide both knowledgeable and entertaining! His expertise made the experience informative, and his sense of humor kept the group engaged the entire time. I truly appreciated his guidance and would love to book him for other activities when I return to Kona. Highly recommended!
Henry was a Great tour guide Very knowledgeable and funny Only issue might be to put only 12 people instead of 14 in the van- it was a little tight - a couple of passengers couldn’t put their feet down because of the wheel bulges in back and had their knees up their chest
All the locations were breath-taking. Jim (aka Uncle Jim) was super knowledgeable about Hawaiian culture and explained us history and significance of several places that we visited along with certain areas that we can visit in the future
Mel was knowledgeable and tried to build rapport with us. We wished there were more time at the plantation to join a tour and learn more about farming and the processing of coffee. The overlooks at Volcanoes park were similar to each other. Arrived Hilo airport later than scheduled, so we have to change our flights to 7 PM. Plan accordingly.
Everything was rushed, I would have much preferred to travel on my own. The pickup time was an hour later than advertised and we seemed to be rushed for one party’s flight schedule. Jim, the tour guide, seemed knowledgeable but I couldn’t hear a word he said on the van. The only time I heard him is when he would come in booming across an indoor facility that it was time to leave. We did not see molten lava, we didn’t even see a coffee plant at the coffee farm. We were given 15 minutes in places that the tour says 30. Way too much time on a van with no added value due to being unable to hear any of the commentary. Complete disappointment and day in paradise wasted.
It’s a long day but wonderful day. We saw so much of the island and had a variety of experiences. Our guide, Mel, was fantastic! We learned so much from him about the island history, island geology & the Hawaiian culture. There are frequent stops for bathroom use and/or snacks. Lunch stop is really good with lots of choices. Thoroughly enjoyed the volcano national park and black sand beach. Everything else was bonus! Had a great time, thank you Mel!
Best day in Hawaii. Henry was my tour guide and man was he awesome. It was like hanging with a friendly local that was just as excited as you to see all the great spots the big island had to offer. The coffee was amazing, the volcanos were stunning and the rainforests were breathtaking. Only tip I have to give is, if Henry is to ask if Henry is the guide and if not, rebook lol. Couldn’t of asked or imagined a better experience
Henry was an excellent tour guide. We learned so much from him and appreciated the information he provided. The Island is beautiful and has quickly become our favorite of the 3 islands we have visited so far. Thank you Henry for making our trip so memorable.
Knowledgeable driver good with kids. Childish for Adults. No tour audio, driver stating he had a loud voice. Unable to hear the commentary most of the time. Inclusions : No snacks provided, had to ask for water several times. No juice or soda offered. Seemed more interested in getting to places where he could get sustenance. Not offered alternatives for food or beverages. Maximum stress at the end of day. Driver stating it will be ok is not reassuring when Airline policy states Check-in closes 60mins before departure. Unable to check in online and arrived 25 mins before flight take off. Still had to get boarding passes and pass through security. Boarding was called just as we cleared security. Jeffery was a nice guy, but at the end of the day it was very stressful.
The only group tour company that accepts infants! Mel was our guide. He was very passionate about his job and super informative. We learnt alot throughout this tour. He is also really friendly and makes sure we enjoyed the tour. Best tour I've been to so far in Hawaii.
I had a great time the tour guide was very knowledgeable. Only thing I wish we started our day with the rainbow fall so we can catch the rainbow as it is only from 8-11 am, knowing that the tour should’ve started there.
Booked tour and our guide was Mel. We had an amazing time and he really took care of us. The tour was everything we expected it to be and more. I had previously been to the island of Hawaii and took a similar tour but there wasn't as much attention to the volcano as there was in this tour. We enjoyed the knowledge and history of our guide Mel. We enjoyed a great lunch at a popular bakery. We recommend this tour for the volcano experience.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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