Bus Tours
5–6 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$168
per adult
Mauka Makai Adventures
Mauka Makai Adventures
5
Cultural ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Mauka Makai Adventures specializes in personalized tours of the Big Island of Hawaii. Visit the active Kilauea volcano, witness molten lava flows, explore tropical valleys with waterfalls, and beautiful black sand beaches. See all that Hawaii has to offer from the mountain (mauka) to the sea (makai). Aloha, e komo mai!
Tours and Tickets by Mauka Makai Adventures
Adventure Tours
5–6 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$168
per adult
Adventure Tours
5–6 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$1,746
per group
Travelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
711 reviews
Excellent
681
Very good
28
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Barbara L
Punta Gorda, FL113 contributions
Dec 2019 • Solo
Josh was an excellent tour guide. He took our group all around to see the lava flows and gave us some great insight into the last big eruption and the impact on the locals. The small group made it easy for us to change the itinerary to what we liked. We got to go to a lava cave and a black sand beach. It was a great trip! I was traveling solo, but bundled with a group of 6; perfect size!
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gtaylor530
1 contribution
Feb 2020
Josh and Jill Grotkin provide wonderful tours of the island of Hawaii through their Mauka Makai Adventures. Josh was our tour guide and did a wonderful job explaining the history of Hilo and the island. Josh's knowledge of the Kilauea volcano and the surrounding area was outstanding. We had a wonderful time on the tour and I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting the island of Hawaii.
Written April 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walt J
Denver, CO9 contributions
Apr 2023
My wife and I had a one-day trip to Hawaii Island, which has been on my bucket list for years. We had limited time (one day excursion) to visit The Big Island, during a recent trip to Oahu for a wedding. We spent an amazing 5-hours on a guided tour by Mauka Makai Adventures. For me, there is nothing more special than learning from “firsthand” knowledge. Jill, our guide, shared stories of growing up on the Big Island and contending with not only the active volcanic presence, but the intense beauty of Hawaii and the history and culture of the people who live there. I would highly recommend Mauka Makai Adventures to anyone visiting this astounding spot on earth.
Written April 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lsftlk
Clemson, SC8 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We had a good time at Volcano National Park even though it was a rainy day. Josh was very informative and he was on time since we booked with Mauka Makai private tour instead of cruise ship tour. Enjoyed small group travel.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn M
Henderson, NV34 contributions
Feb 2024
OMG, I can't believe how amazing this tour was, getting picked up at the airport for our day trip was so worth it. Josh is beyond knowledgeable and makes this trip feel personal to him. All of the fun facts he gave us about every stop (I even saw other people listening in when Josh was talking), made the van ride fun with questions. I felt like part of his family when we left. After the tour, we dropped a majority of the group back off at the cruise port, and then Josh dropped us off at HILO Brewing (a fantastic place to stop). Thanks, Josh!
Written March 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheyenne M
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Josh was an amazing tour guide! He was knowledgeable, down to earth, and funny. He kept us entertained and well informed throughout our tour. We saw a beautiful waterfall and active volcano spatter and cracking. I would 1 million percent recommend Mauka Makai if you’d like to support a local tour company.
Written October 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mandy C
Canberra11 contributions
Oct 2023
I booked this tour because it sounded way better than the one offered via Norwegian Cruises and I was proven correct. Not only did we see the usual sights of rainbow falls and the active volcano on Hilo, but also got to see steam vents, walk on a lava field and see the "shadow" of a tree that had been engulfed by Lava - our guide Jill was full of interesting information about the volcano and Hilo.
The tour was well paced and we were given enough time at each stop to really appreciate what we were seeing. The cold water and taro chips were also much appreciated.
The tour was well paced and we were given enough time at each stop to really appreciate what we were seeing. The cold water and taro chips were also much appreciated.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise819739
1 contribution
Apr 2023
One of the best tours of our vacation! Our tour guide was personable and informative. My husband and I learned a lot about the Volcanoes, lava, lava tubes, flora and Hawaiian culture. We also had an added treat of watching Japanese hula dancers at the crater. Go on this tour!
Written April 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda T
Syracuse, NY147 contributions
Sep 2022
Josh was an excellent guide for this tour. His knowledge was extensive and he told us about all of the areas we visited...and then some.
Let me say that we did a tour the next day and that guide barely spoke a word, which only highlighted our Mauka Makai tour as tops!
Let me say that we did a tour the next day and that guide barely spoke a word, which only highlighted our Mauka Makai tour as tops!
Written October 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JFreviewed
1 contribution
Apr 2023
We absolutely loved this tour. A big part of why this tour was so great was Josh! We learned so many great things. Our favorite part was hearing mo'olelo during our tour. The itinerary was fantastic. We felt we got to see and experience a little bit of everything along the way such as Rainbow Falls and Big Island Candies. The tour bus was extremely comfortable. Best way to see Volcanoes National Park 💯
Written April 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am on a cruise when I visit. Cruise line has cancelled my excursion at Hilo. Why are other excursions still going out?
I would like to book an excursion but asking airline info. To book on trip advisor. I am on a cruise.
Written July 8, 2018
Hi I would call the company for Info. They were amazing and can answer whatever questions or concerns. Also check out their Facebook page it has updates on the volcano situation. Good luck and enjoy your cruise
Written July 10, 2018
I'm thinking of coming back to Hawaii in February, and wanting to come to Hilo for a few days. Mauka Makai Adventures sound amazing and I am wondering if I need to pre book before coming or can I book when I am already on the island?
Written October 1, 2015
Aloha! Yes, we recommend you pre-book your tours ahead of time to be sure to reserve the date and tour you are interested in. We look forward to hearing from you! Mahalo.
Written October 2, 2015
I live on Maui and have visited Hilo three times. Please tell me more about what we will see/experience.
Written May 24, 2015
Aloha,
Thank you for your inquiry. We offer personalized tours of Hawaii Island. Some of our tours out of Hilo include the Volcano Adventure, Hamakua Adventure and the Hawaii Island Adventure.
The Volcano Adventure includes exploring the highlights Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and hiking trails if you are interested.
The Hamakua Adventure travels north of Hilo along the coastline with highlights including Onomea Bay, Akaka Falls and Waipio Valley.
The Hawaii Island Adventure is a customizable circle-island tour with highlights such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Punalu'u black sand beach, Kona coffee farms, Waipio Valley and Akaka Falls.
Please give us a call or email if you have further questions or would like to arrange a custom tour.
Mahalo nui loa,
Jill
Mauka Makai Adventures
Phone: (808) 640-7557
Written May 24, 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3