Kīlauea Hike And Lava Gazing With Native Hawaiian

Do not miss out on this experience! We learned about island culture, history, spirituality and geography. It was the highlight of our trip. We loved sitting in sacred silence, watching the lava and stars. And as a person with chronic pain and fatigue, the physical demand of the hike was mild to moderate, and we were able to take breaks. Depending where you stay, it may be a long drive, but the views along the way are worth it

We did both the Kīlauea hike and the Mauna Kea hike with Kalaninuimehameha, and they are the best guided tours we've had in our lives. 12/10 worth it. His knowledge is boundless and he talked about everything from flowers and fauna to history and legends to science and geology. Just like Kumulipo, the Hawai’ian chant of creation, he showed us how everything is connected across the land, the oceans, and the heavens, and we felt the level of respect he has for everything around us. Unlike so many commercial tours that flood Hawai’i, this tour really talks about the rich, heavy history, and guides us to nature with respect and depth. The experience is truly magical. In fact, it was much more than an experience, but a chance to reflect and really see the complex Hawai’i beneath the tourist surface. No admission fee, no added fees. He will guide you to less treaded paths and make the experience really meaningful. Length of visit is about 3 hours.

Kalaninuimehamhea is a fantastic guide briming with local and cultural knowledge. He was full of stories of the local plants and wildlife and how the land at higher elevations came to be viewed as sacred. The tour started with a brief history of the islands peoples and how they came to be here, and progressed through to modern times ad the tour progressed. An absolutely gem of an experience and the highlight of my entire trip. If you have a curious and respectful mind and soul, you can't book a better tour.

Christian is such a knowlegeable teacher and steward of Hawaiian culture, history and nature. He made the hike informative yet entertaining and our family of 6 learned so much and had fun! It was a beautiful view of Kilauea volcano and the nighttime stars. A magical experience that we highly recommend- thank you Christian!

Christian gave us an unforgettable tour of Kīlauea tonight. We expected to learn about the volcano, but we ended up learning more about the Hawaiian Islands than we ever imagined possible. His knowledge, storytelling, and passion for the islands absolutely blew our minds. He made the geology, history, and culture come alive in a way that was fascinating and easy to understand. If you’re thinking about taking a tour, do yourself a favor and book it. You’ll leave with a whole new appreciation for Hawaiʻi. Highly recommend!

An amazing experience for the views and scenery but in particular our guide was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and culture that made it incredibly special and inspiring. He was an amazing storyteller of incredible Hawaiian stories!

The lava flow is unpredictable, but the guides knowledge of the island is like no other. Learn, the language, ecology, mythology, history, astronomy and more about the island of Hawaii.

Wonderful! Our guide was very passionate and knowledgeable. He answered our questions, and provided insightful information. Highly recommend.

K's knowledge and respect of his ancestors, Hawai'ian history, lore, flora and fauna is astounding. He shares his experience throughout the walk, and you feel his aloha of Péle. A very special experience! Mahalo

Christian was one of the most knowledgeable and passionate guide I had walked with. He enacts the story instead of telling it. The best

Christian is such a passionate and knowledgeable guide - we learned so much and it was one of our favorite tours….lots of fun history learning about plants and gods and volcanoes! Highly recommend!!!

One of the best tours we had across all Hawaiian islands I visited. Christian is an amazing guide, very gentle and intelligent, he provides an explosion of Hawaiian culture, history and useful information. Super recommended for sure!

We had a wonderful time our host was the best. Such awesome information. Would recommend to anyone .

Christian was an incredible guide. We've been on guided tours all over the world, and we've never encountered a guide who was so fluent and knowledgeable about the area and the history. Throughout the tour and at every place where we stopped, Christian's deep love and appreciation for Hawaiian history and culture shone through. He is truly a cultural ambassador for the beautiful nature and land, able to relate the myths and stories and histories for every plant, animal, and site that we encountered. Hearing him relate the Hawaiian stories of kings and queens and gods and goddesses was almost as if he'd lived them himself. We learned so much and saw such amazing sights on the tour that we would never have known about on our own. We cannot recommend Christian's tours highly enough.

Christian, a native Hawaiian invites you to a once in a lifetime experience. He shows you the true side of Hawaii sharing the history and ancient legends of this beautiful island. He has all positive vibes and amazing storytelling skills! Do it if you want to experience the real culture of the island instead of the commercial touristic offers!

Very knowledgeable guide. Organized and personable. Patient with all the questions. Well worth the price. Strongly recommend for anyone who is interested in Hawaiian culture.

Christian is a unique guide, he can talk to you about history, plants, birds, anything you didn't know about the island. He changed the way I look at things, and I am really appreciative of that. I 100% recommend this tour, and if you don't, you are missing out. Most people just want to see lava, eruptions, but there is so so much to learn in this experience that hopefully will make you see the environment differently, like I saw it in my adventure with Christian.

We learned so much about Hawaiian plant and animal life, Hawaiian culture and folklore, volcanoes and VNP from Christian. He gives his all to his tours which are so comprehensive and fascinating. He brings photos and visual aids to assist in his narration but is a master of Hawaiian storytelling and history. His lava gazing tour was one of the clear highlights of our week on the Big Island. You won’t regret your time on one of Christian’s tours. We even got to see lava tubes and hot lava and taste heirloom bananas and guava. We ended our tour by giving an offering to Pelé at the caldera. Highly recommend!

We planned our park visit with an eye to the volcano, but we saw much more. Christian's enthusiasm and depth of knowledge of nature, geology, and culture was delightful. Enjoying local snacks together was a perfect end to the day!

5 stars for sure! Christian is a gifted storyteller and a wealth of information on all things Hawaii. He is a native Hawaiian and his passion for sharing his culture and heritage was truly inspiring. I would make the big island a part of my next trip to Hawaii just to do more of his tours. He gives several tours around the island. If you search kalaninuimehameha you will find his website with a list of experiences that he offers.

What a great time!! Learned so much about the history of the island from chiefs, gods, and plants. The tour is a nice walking pace and is not challenging. The native tour guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. Tried amazing fruit and had a great day!

The coolest tour we have been on in many years. You have access to one of the most knowledgeable people on Hawaiian culture and history. As well, he knows the park and all of the flora and fauna. On top of that he is a most interesting man with some fantastic stories to entertain while you traverse some of the most beautiful spots in the park.

Christian Kealohapauʻoleokeali’iahokulaninuiākea Phillips was friendly,knowledgeable, and funny. His love for people and the 'aina was expressed throughout the tour. He opens your eyes to the importance if stewardship and connections. Great tour. A must do!

Our guide, Christian, gave us an amazing tour in the Volcano National park. He shared with us his intimate knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history, native plants, and the history of Hawaii. The hike along the Kīlauea rim was spectacular. It was a tour we will remember and treasure forever.

Christian was personable, knowledgeable, and charismatic. As an active member of a traditional Indigenous culture on the mainland (Chahta and Mvskoke), it was great to spend time with a young adult who is active in, and enthusiastic about, the culture, history, and language of his Kanaka Maoli. The four hours we spent with him were one of the best parts of our 7-day trip.

Christian is an amazing guide and all-around good guy offering a guided tour of Volcano National Park from the native Hawaiian perspective. This experience is perfect for first-timers and return visitors alike!

Very interesting because it introduces you to the local culture to see the volcano in a different way, with the relationship with the ancestors and respect for nature.

Our hike was informative and entertaining throughout. Christian knows how to convey his passion and love for his homeland in a beneficial way. We have a lot to learn about the island itself, the volcanoes, plants and animals. Conclusion: A great day !!