Day Trips
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
$243
per adult
Kailani Tours Hawaii
Kailani Tours Hawaii
5
City ToursCultural ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Kailani Tours Hawaii, LLC is a sightseeing and tour company based on the Big Island of Hawaii. We proudly offer the most incredible land based tours on Hawaii Island. We have been recognized for our outstanding service and attention to detail. We focus on the guest experience by utilizing the best vehicles, provide the best service and hire the best guides.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Kailani Tours Hawaii
Day Trips
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$342
per adult
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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
2,656 reviews
Excellent
2,545
Very good
67
Average
25
Poor
6
Terrible
12
Christopher D
1 contribution
Apr 2021
We booked a private tour for 10 people and our tour guide, PJ, picked us up at our rental house in a new clean vehicle. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and full of Dad jokes! He even laid out a tablecloth and placemats for our picnic at the coffee farm.
You will not need to pack much for this day trip because PJ was prepared for anything! We had a variety of still and sparkling water or Hawaiian juice kept in a cooler throughout the day. He offered umbrellas for protection from the sun rays when we walked around the coffee farm. He had a snack basket waiting for us after seeing the turtles at Punalu'u black sand beach. When the weather became misty and cold at the Volcanoes National Park, PJ provided rain jackets. Then when we returned to the park at night to see the lava glow, PJ even had flashlights to help light our path. As we settled back into the van to be driven back home, PJ spoiled us with hot towels to help warm our hands/face!
Do not hesitate to book this tour. It's a gorgeous drive to the Volcanoes National Park. Don't forget to smell the delicious aromas at the Punalu'u bake shop and say hello to the turtles at Punalu'u black sand beach. Heed PJ's advice on the bathrooms at each stop - he provides his personal star rating of the facilities! Dinner at the lodge was very tasty - most of our group ordered the fish of the day (we got marlin) either blackened with Cajun spices or grilled. The caper sauce that comes with the grilled fish was luscious! We had one vegan in our group and he had fried tofu with rice. Keep in mind the alcoholic beverages cost extra, but the lilikoi margarita was on point with the li hing powder on the glass rim.
What better way to end the tour with a viewing of Lilo and Stitch on the drive back home! Thank you again, PJ! We had a blast and we hope to book another tour with Kailani Tours in the near future.
You will not need to pack much for this day trip because PJ was prepared for anything! We had a variety of still and sparkling water or Hawaiian juice kept in a cooler throughout the day. He offered umbrellas for protection from the sun rays when we walked around the coffee farm. He had a snack basket waiting for us after seeing the turtles at Punalu'u black sand beach. When the weather became misty and cold at the Volcanoes National Park, PJ provided rain jackets. Then when we returned to the park at night to see the lava glow, PJ even had flashlights to help light our path. As we settled back into the van to be driven back home, PJ spoiled us with hot towels to help warm our hands/face!
Do not hesitate to book this tour. It's a gorgeous drive to the Volcanoes National Park. Don't forget to smell the delicious aromas at the Punalu'u bake shop and say hello to the turtles at Punalu'u black sand beach. Heed PJ's advice on the bathrooms at each stop - he provides his personal star rating of the facilities! Dinner at the lodge was very tasty - most of our group ordered the fish of the day (we got marlin) either blackened with Cajun spices or grilled. The caper sauce that comes with the grilled fish was luscious! We had one vegan in our group and he had fried tofu with rice. Keep in mind the alcoholic beverages cost extra, but the lilikoi margarita was on point with the li hing powder on the glass rim.
What better way to end the tour with a viewing of Lilo and Stitch on the drive back home! Thank you again, PJ! We had a blast and we hope to book another tour with Kailani Tours in the near future.
Written April 25, 2021
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.
Aloha cdoan,
Thank you so much for this incredible review of P.J.'s tour. His nickname is Big Tuna and he certainly doesn't disappoint! He's at work extra early, he learns everyone's name, and prepares snacks to meet and exceed guests' expectations. It sounds like he hit a homerun in doing just that! Thanks again for pointing out the differences that guests can expect when they tour with us and that there is a clear difference in quality between tour companies. We decided that if you're here, you might as well spoil yourselves because you deserve it! We can't wait to have you back on island.
Mahalo,
Chris
Written May 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Debra M
72 contributions
Jun 2021
If you are visiting the island of Hawaii and want to experience and learn about volcanos…take the Deluxe Volcano Tour offered by Kailani Tours. It is a long day (about 9 hours), but you get to see and learn about so much of the island. Kailani will pick you up at your hotel in a super comfortable bus that seats about twelve (there were 9 on our tour) and take you around the island ending up at Volcanos National Park. On the way we stopped at a coffe farm and the Punalu’u Bakery…the southern most bakery in the US.
Our tour guide, Christopher, was fantastic. His knowledge of the island was truly impressive. On top of his great tour skills, he was so nice and it seemed very important to him that we were having the greatest experience. I cannot say enough great things about him.
And don’t worry…you won’t get hungry. The tour provides a nice picnic lunch at the coffee farm and the day is capped off at the Kilauea Lodge for a really good dinner…plus, there are snacks for the hour+ drive back to your hotel. This is one of the best tours we have taken anywhere in the world and I hope Christopher knows how good he is at his job. Mahalo.
Our tour guide, Christopher, was fantastic. His knowledge of the island was truly impressive. On top of his great tour skills, he was so nice and it seemed very important to him that we were having the greatest experience. I cannot say enough great things about him.
And don’t worry…you won’t get hungry. The tour provides a nice picnic lunch at the coffee farm and the day is capped off at the Kilauea Lodge for a really good dinner…plus, there are snacks for the hour+ drive back to your hotel. This is one of the best tours we have taken anywhere in the world and I hope Christopher knows how good he is at his job. Mahalo.
Written June 26, 2021
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.
tnebec1990
1 contribution
May 2021 • Family
This tour was amazing for the following reasons:
-Our tour guide, Grant, was exceptional. He made the tour an unforgettable experience by sharing the most interesting information about the island. We loved learning about every aspect of the island that we passed throughout the tour from historical facts to geology. Additionally, he was always willing to help and even offered to capture the memories by taking pictures for us. He went above and beyond for us.
-The amount of time at each stop was perfect considering no one in our group felt rushed.
-Throughout the entire ride on the bus, we were entertained whether it was Grant sharing his knowledge of the island or watching a movie discussing a transcendental event on the Big Island.
We would recommend this tour to anyone interested as well as referring Grant as their tour guide.
-Our tour guide, Grant, was exceptional. He made the tour an unforgettable experience by sharing the most interesting information about the island. We loved learning about every aspect of the island that we passed throughout the tour from historical facts to geology. Additionally, he was always willing to help and even offered to capture the memories by taking pictures for us. He went above and beyond for us.
-The amount of time at each stop was perfect considering no one in our group felt rushed.
-Throughout the entire ride on the bus, we were entertained whether it was Grant sharing his knowledge of the island or watching a movie discussing a transcendental event on the Big Island.
We would recommend this tour to anyone interested as well as referring Grant as their tour guide.
Written May 19, 2021
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.
Mark W
Long Beach, CA60 contributions
Oct 2021
This is an amazing tour. It's truly first class all the way. The Mercedes Sprinter vans are the perfect size for a small group tour, and the experience is truly personal from beginning to end. The tour itself is great, but I think we were particularly lucky to get Bryce as a tour guide (hi to Bryce's mom Candy!). Bryce was on top of everything right from the pickup at our hotel (right on time). He was knowledgeable, friendly, charming and funny. If he didn't know the answer to a question, he looked it up. We had a fantastic group of folks with us and I'm pretty sure every one of them will be giving Bryce a 5-star rating for his customer service. We have taken a lot of tours, and I don't remember ever being so engaged by a tour guide. It truly felt like we were just hanging out with an incredibly knowledgeable buddy.
The tour itself was SO much fun. We took a coffee plantation tour (with a picnic lunch included), .ate malasadas at the southern-most bakery in the US, went to a black sand beach and saw a BUNCH of green sea turtles basking in the sun, then checked out several overlooks in Volcano National Park. After that, we had a delicious dinner (included in tour price) at a great restaurant just outside the park gates then went back into the park after dark to see the lava flow. This was truly the highlight of the tour (in fact, the highlight of my 2-week trip to the islands). Our group was all completely awestruck by the sight and none of us wanted to leave. But leave we must, so Bryce got us all back to our resorts safe and sound, and with amazing pictures and stories to share with our friends.
Mahalo, Kailani tours, and mahalo Bryce. Truly the experience of a lifetime. Mike and I will never forget this one.
The tour itself was SO much fun. We took a coffee plantation tour (with a picnic lunch included), .ate malasadas at the southern-most bakery in the US, went to a black sand beach and saw a BUNCH of green sea turtles basking in the sun, then checked out several overlooks in Volcano National Park. After that, we had a delicious dinner (included in tour price) at a great restaurant just outside the park gates then went back into the park after dark to see the lava flow. This was truly the highlight of the tour (in fact, the highlight of my 2-week trip to the islands). Our group was all completely awestruck by the sight and none of us wanted to leave. But leave we must, so Bryce got us all back to our resorts safe and sound, and with amazing pictures and stories to share with our friends.
Mahalo, Kailani tours, and mahalo Bryce. Truly the experience of a lifetime. Mike and I will never forget this one.
Written October 29, 2021
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.
MandiJKai
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Family
Thank you Brett and Chris for providing our family with such a wonderful experience. Our tour guide (Brett) was amazingly knowledgeable about the history of the Big Island and we enjoyed his warm, funny, laid-back personality. We didn’t have to worry about a thing all day. Everything was completely taken care of from getting picked up/dropped off at our hotel, Brett educating us about all the sites we visited and drove by, being served various perfectly delicious food and drinking Kona Joe coffee. We stopped at Punalu’u Bake Shop and the chocolate malasadas were so ‘Ono! We saw many honu’s at Black Sand Beach. Our kids are very into rocks/gemstones and they had fun looking for the rocks with olivine at Kilauea. Both waterfalls were breathtaking and so is the walk through what our family called “the jungle” of Akaka falls. Brett was prepared for anything and did many little things that did not go unnoticed (e.g. you scored big points with this mom when you busted out the hand sanitizer, ha!). Thank you Kailani Tours for giving our family such great memories and pictures that will last a lifetime.
Written January 2, 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.
Aloha Inspiration788293!
Thank you for taking your amazing review, we love hearing back from customers on how we did and how our guides are doing. Its so exciting that the turtles were out and you got to see them, they are my favorite thing to see on the tour besides the amazing waterfalls. It's nice to know Brett took care of everyone, he is one of our best guides. He really treats everyone like family, and has so much passion and energy for what he does.
So happy that you spent part of your vacation with us.
Miah
Written January 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lissakay33
Sevierville, TN4 contributions
Feb 2023
You will be spoiled rotten by Kailani Tours. While showing you the very best of Hawaii, they attend to your every need. The tour guides are gracious, knowledgeable, entertaining, and fun! We have done the Deluxe Volcano tour three times, and the Grand Circle Island tour once, and highly recommend them. It is worth every penny and then some! These are small tour groups, and you form new friendships with the other folks on your tour, rather than just being another face in a crowded bus. Kailani is the highlight of our trips to the Big Island every other year. See you in 2025!
Written February 6, 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.
Aloha, LissaKay and family! We always love having you on board and we cannot wait to see you again either. Maybe by 2025 we will have a brand new tour to offer you! Mahalo!!!
Written February 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John N
Utica, KY5 contributions
Nov 2019 • Family
Although it's a bit pricey, it's probably the best value on the island. At least for the attractions/activities that we took part in. Do yourself a favor, pay full price, and avoid the con-artist at the Time-Share discount presentations. Believe it or not, our guide was Jim Carrey. Not sure if this is true of all the guides, but this guy was like a walking "Big Island: Encyclopedia. He was extremely pleasant, polite, and willing to answer any question you might have. What floored me is how he could answer any question you might have. Great way to become familiar with the island, it's history and it's culture. Highly recommended!
Written February 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.
Aloha jnafrady,
Thank you for such a wonderful, 5 star review! Uncle Jim's knowledge on the island certainly is incredible. We're glad you got to test him and he answered all of your questions.
Kailani Tours definitely strives to make tours both affordable and action packed, so you get the most bang for your buck! If you're ever back on Big Island and want experience another adventure, please call our office so one of our Reservationist Specialists can directly book a tour for you.
Mahalo,
Alyson
Written February 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CANicole
Los Angeles, CA11 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We loved our circle tour of the Big Island with Mike! Kailani was recommended to us by an acquaintance and initially we were a little apprehensive about such a long tour, but Mike made it fly right by! He was able to answer any question thrown at him no matter how random, and was so patient with all members in our traveling party. We really appreciate how he went the extra mile to make sure we got to see everything we wanted to along the route and taste some local produce. Thank you Mike!
Written December 31, 2019
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.
Aloha CANicole!
Mahalo for writing a review. We are so ecstatic that we could provide such a great time for you all. It is our goal to make everyone feel comfortable and have an amazing experience with us. Mike is so zealous and spirited about what he does, which makes him such a significant part of the Kailani team. I truly love his passion for guiding and his level of customer service to our guests like yourselves.
Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit to the Big Island!
Miah
Written January 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cyndi S
Gurnee, IL5 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
It is was a pleasure to spend an entire day of our vacation with our guide John Gary. He is an excellent guide. It felt like a far away family member was excited for our visit and ready to show us a great time!
Any one can drive you through the stops and read a script, this tour was above and beyond!! We were lucky to have a smaller group and he was attentive to everyone’s questions and really made the trip personal for us. The stops were beautiful beyond words, interesting and educational. We were feed ( constantly) with awesome snacks on the van and food at different stops. When the climate changed, (late in the day after sundown and elevation rose) out came snuggly blankets for the ride. Then a stop to see the universe in a dark sky zone, and warm jacket appeared, wow!!
It was a luxury tour, at a very reasonable cost. We recommend the slightly higher cost compared to similar tours offered with a large gaggle of people.
Shout out to John Gary, he made it a trip to remember!! Best wishes for you and you lady on your adventures on the big island!!
Any one can drive you through the stops and read a script, this tour was above and beyond!! We were lucky to have a smaller group and he was attentive to everyone’s questions and really made the trip personal for us. The stops were beautiful beyond words, interesting and educational. We were feed ( constantly) with awesome snacks on the van and food at different stops. When the climate changed, (late in the day after sundown and elevation rose) out came snuggly blankets for the ride. Then a stop to see the universe in a dark sky zone, and warm jacket appeared, wow!!
It was a luxury tour, at a very reasonable cost. We recommend the slightly higher cost compared to similar tours offered with a large gaggle of people.
Shout out to John Gary, he made it a trip to remember!! Best wishes for you and you lady on your adventures on the big island!!
Written March 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.
Aloha, Cyndi! It was an absolute pleasure assisting you from booking, to confirmations, to your actual adventure. Your review is spectacular and we couldn't be more thankful for you sharing your experience and opinion with our future guests. May you never lose that traveling spirit! Best wishes, friend!
Written March 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alice B
Bowling Green, KY62 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Kailani Tours was the provider booked by Shore Excursions on Princess Cruises. We booked the Volcanoes National Park and Tastes of Hawaii and couldn’t be more pleased with our day on the Big Island. Our guide (and company owner/partner) Jim has an amazing knowledge and respect of island history, culture, and geology. The super nice and comfortable leather-seat 15 passenger van set the standard for the day and Jim did not disappoint, even adding a few stops along the way while still managing the timing of the itinerary. We saw it all: Bayfront Park, Big Island Candy, Rainbow Falls, Kilauea Crater, vents, lava fields, and lava tube, Volcano Garden Art Gallery, and Mauna Loa macadamia farm. The company arranged a catered lunch of tasty Hawaiian sandwiches and sides. We would definitely recommend this company and will use them again!
Written December 13, 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.
Aloha, Alice! We love getting cruise ship guests. Our express tours are great for the allotted times that the cruise ships permit for land excursions. Thank you for joining us and for sharing your experience with our future guests. Your recommendation is powerful and we appreciate you! Mahalo and best wishes!
Written December 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The van holds 10 people. We viewed the active volcano at night. I couldn't see the ocean from where we stood. The tour is 11 hours in the van. I wouldn't take children under the age of 11. It is best to rent a car to take the kids to view the volcano. I advise parents to keep a close eye on your kids and not have them running around.
Written July 28, 2022
Which is the most popular tour for this company? IE: best value and most interesting?
Written November 11, 2019
We enjoyed the rum tour very much. I have no idea what the most popular tour for this company is. I felt we had a very interesting and educational tour at a great value.
Written November 12, 2019
Did you view the lava flowing into the ocean?
Written April 15, 2017
KailaniToursHawaii
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Yes, we did! Not on tour, of course. It's quite a hike and quite a rugged drive for our Mercedes. Other tour companies offer the 8 mile hike on the lava to view the ocean entry. It's usually best to go at night like our volcano tour. I wish I could recommend a company, but make sure to research each company. Many of them don't have the necessary insurance to do hiking tours; let alone lava tours.
Written April 15, 2017
I am looking at flights from Maui that will bring us in early enough to do this tour and stay overnight. Is there pickup from the airport? If not what is the latest we can be picked up from hotel? There are a couple of flights very early in the morning and one that comes in close to 10am. I have not booked a hotel yet, is there a recommended that is close to the airport or easier for return at end of tour?
Written July 4, 2016
This company is wonderful to work with !!! I would check with them directly with dates and pickup times at the hotels.
Written July 6, 2016
Would this tour be appropriate for my grandchildren, ages 6 and 8? What time does the tour begin? Roughly how long does it take to drive from one side of the island to the other? If we go near the end of June, what clothing and other things do we need to bring? I assume a group of four adults and two children would be okay.
Written April 13, 2016
It depends. It was a LONG day. We started at 11:30 and were not home till after 11. My kids, 12 and 14, did OK but they were cranky/irritable towards the end of the night. I felt bad for the other people on the tour but then I am overly attentive to my children's behavior affecting the experience of others.
I would say - No, 11+ is probably the age cutoff here, unless you book the whole vehicle and can tailor the tour to your specific needs.
Written April 14, 2016
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