Reviewed by: Leah
Took this tour 6 years ago and had the most amazing experience. So I had to do it again. This tour offers the best of Big Island because you get to see Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. We saw lots of turtles at black sand beach and an actual rainbow at Rainbow Falls! Our guide Brent was very informative and helpful.
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2023/12/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/12/23 |
Reviewed by: Mpy14
The tour was very well organized and very well planned. I felt I saw so much and learned a lot about the culture and history of the island. Jim was full of interesting information and made the trip memorable Fun group.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2023/11/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/11/19 |
Reviewed by: Brittany B-M
The perfect experience for first time visiting Kona! Loved the Coffee farm, black sand beach, and stargazing the most on this full-day excursion!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/11/05 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/10/19 |
Reviewed by: Kara
You hit it all and you do not need to drive and miss views along the way!
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/09/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/08/02 |
Reviewed by: ラシオ
I couldn't book the same tour I wanted, so I chose this one with an English guide as a second option. My elementary school daughter also enjoyed it without much issue. For stargazing, I always book two sessions during the trip considering weather conditions, and since I had a Japanese explanation the day before, we were able to enjoy the stars. However, compared to a full-fledged stargazing tour, this part felt more like a bonus, with less explanation and no use of a telescope. There were new discoveries as well, as the places I visited for the first time and the Kīlauea crater had changed significantly due to the eruptions.
行きたかった同じようなツアーの予約が取れず、次善の策として英語ガイドでしたが選びました。小学生の娘もさほど問題なく楽しめました。星空観察は天候の問題などを考慮して旅行中いつも2回予約するのですが、前日に一度日本語の解説をしてもらっていたので、星空も楽しめました。ただ、本格的な星空観察ツアーに比べるとその部分は「おまけ」みたいな感じで説明も少なく、天体望遠鏡を使用することもありませんでした。初めて訪れた場所や、キラウエアの火口も噴火により依然とだいぶ変わっていたり、新しい発見がありました。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/09/10 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/08/16 |
Reviewed by: Mob_cali_breaks (IG)
Incredible tour but our Tour guide, Anson really brought the island and the tour to life. Honestly enjoyed the tour to the max but we would pay to just hang out with Anson again. Lol. I'm sure all the guides are great and extremely courteous.
All the jokes we made he would rebuttal and be involved all while still maintaining his poise and professionalism. It's the little things guys and this tour has it all. Thank you From the bottom of our hearts.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/09/09 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/09/08 |
Reviewed by: Barbara
We had a lot of fun on the tour Ridge was amazing and gave us a lot of good local history and knowledge. If he didn't know the answer to a question he found it out for us. We'd highly recommend this tour to anybody looking for a great day on the island.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/09/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/09/05 |
Reviewed by: Justin
Good tour! Aaron was our guide and he did a perfect job! I only wish the volcano was erupting so we could see more activity. The meals were good, the views were good and we learned a lot.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/09/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/09/02 |
Reviewed by: Sandrine
My partner and I went on this tour with Aaron. He was a fantastic tour guide, with lots of interesting tidbits about the history of the island and plenty of jokes. He also offered to take plenty of photos of us at all the stops. A huge thank you to him for remaining so cheerful and helpful after such a long day. If it was a long day for us, I can't imagine how long it was for him.
The tour was exactly what's stated in the description. We chose to do the tour in part because we weren't certain how to navigate Volcano National Park, and the tour offered highlights of the Park. After the tour though, I wish we had had more time on the island so we could explore Volcano National Park ourselves. Two hours wasn't nearly enough. If you're lucky (we unfortunately weren't), there will be lava at the Park. But don't worry, the volcanoes on Hawaii won't kill you, but bad tour guide jokes will (thank you for that one Aaron!).
Another highlight was Punalu'u Bake Shop. Try the pineapple malasadas: you won't regret it! I was initally hesitant because I'm not a fan of pineapple not in its raw form/juice, but the pineapple malasada was the best of those we ordered. I wish we got more. The passionfruit (lilikoi) and apple ones were also delicious.
After the bakery, we went to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. It's absolutely lovely and a nice chance to see the endangered Hawaiian sea turtles up close. It's also very picturesque. Just don't get too close to the waves or you'll get very wet.
We finished the tour with stargazing.
Overall, I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants a quick, yet interesting and surprisingly thorough, tour of the southern part of the Big Island. If/when we go back, we would book with Wasabi Tours again.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/08/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/08/01 |
Reviewed by: Diana P.
This was a long tour, about 13 hours, and it was so informative and fun! Our guide Aaron was very safe, smart, and informative during our tour. We had a great time at the coffee plantation, black sands beach, a famous bakery, and at the volcano national park. Dinner was good and so was lunch they provided. We had a great and unforgettable time.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/08/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/08/17 |
Reviewed by: Kara
So much goodies in 1 day- we loved the Kona coffe and cannot stop thinking about it!
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/08/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/06/19 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Amazing experience! Lots of the island wrapped up in a day you can't go wrong.
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/07/31 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/06/09 |
Reviewed by: M & A
We booked this tour based on these reviews, it seems that these reviews were spot on. Our tour started when Tod picked us up on time and whisked us off to our island adventure. He was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to explain Hawaiian culture and pointed out things in our drive that were informative.
The stargazing portion of our tour was an incredibly unique and awe-inspiring experience. Tod was a knowledgeable guide and took us to a dark and remote location in Mauna Kea, perfect for stargazing. With the use of his personal high-quality telescope, binoculars and a powerful laser pointer, we were able to see constellations, planets, and even faint nebulae. Tod also shared interesting facts and stories about the night sky, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.
Tod even made the experience memorable by playing The Planets by Gustav Holst, its those little details, that made this tour the highlight of our Big Island Vacation.
Overall, this tour is a must-do for anyone who wants to see the stars in all their glory accompanied by our an amazing guide Tod.
Make sure to request him on your next stargazing adventure.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/06/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/05/13 |
Reviewed by: Sherri
Tour was excellent, Aaron was a great host. Very informed, engaging. Had fun all along the way. We had plenty of time at all the stops to experience and enjoy. Made our 1st trip here an experience to remember. We are telling everyone if they come to the Island they need to take this tour.
In addition when we 1st booked, we were told that our location was around 90 minutes from the tour pickup. We chose to go ahead but very much appreciated the help and advice. Excellent service all around.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/05/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/04/27 |
Reviewed by: Kara
From local coffee to black sand beaches to wineries to lava flows to lava tunnels to a charming sunset, this tour is a entire day filled with memories. The guides were knowledgeable and so kind and accommodating, which we appreciate :)
Aloha Kara,
Thank you so much for the kind review! Thanks for acknowledging the guide, they are your captain for the day and we are so proud of the ones we have. We hope you enjoyed your time on the Big Island!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/04/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/13 |
Reviewed by: Hiro
I was able to learn a lot about lava from the very detailed explanation. Although we couldn't see the starry sky, we can't go against nature.
非常に丁寧な説明で、溶岩について、多くを学ぶことができました。
星空が見えなかったですが、自然には逆らえないですね。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/23 |
Reviewed by: Frances Morgan
Awesome day on the Big Island. A full day with a coffee farm, tour of the Volcanoes National Park, then stargazing on a clear night. Our Tour guide Aaron was the best. His knowledge of Hawaiian culture, the volcano, and then the night sky was awesome. He was so helpful and kind. This was a once in a lifetime experience. The volcano stopped erupting a few days after our tour. So, we felt so lucky to get to see an active volcano. Be sure to take a sweatshirt or jacket. It got cold in the evening. It is a full day, but so worth it.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/28 |
Reviewed by: Julie
We really enjoyed our experience on this tour. Our tour guide, Aaron was very informative! I mean who better to have for a tour guide than a history teacher!! The only part that could use some improvement are the meals. We expected a meal with more substance.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/14 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Not only does it cover so many aspects of the island, you have an excellent guide the full time that makes you understand each area you are stopping at and the history!!
Aloha Kara, and thanks for your kind words. We're glad you enjoyed the tour, and we thank you for choosing Kailani Tours!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/22 |
Reviewed by: Flora
Just want to say that my husband and I really enjoyed our tour with Zachary he was very knowledgeable and attentive with everyone in our group! Thank you!
Aloha Flora,
Thank you for your review! We appreciate you picked Kailani to tour you around the island. Zachary is amazing, a very humble and knowledgable guide. Thanks again for posting, and we hope you enjoyed your time on the Big Island!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/09 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/07 |
Reviewed by: Dan&Renee
This tour was worth every penny. The sites and culture we experienced were beyond our expectations. The tour guide was so friendly and her knowledge of each and every site visited and of the Hawaiian culture and history was beyond outstanding. This tour has to be the highlight of our visit to the Big Island. If you want an exciting, exhilarating, beautiful, and culturally immersive experience this tour will meet your every expectation.
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/22 |
Reviewed by: Tom
The guide was very friendly and shared many interesting stories! Everyone participating was American, and we all had a great time together. We were able to see a starry sky that you can't experience in Japan. The guide also explained about the stars, which was very enjoyable.
ガイドさんが非常に気さくな方で色々な面白い話をしてくれました!参加していたのはアメリカ人だけでしたがみんなでワイワイしてました。日本ではみるようなことができない満点の星空を見ることができました。ガイドさんが星の解説もしてくださり非常に楽しかったです
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/21 |
Reviewed by: Katherine Y.
This trip was such a convenient way to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I think it can be a bit daunting when planning trips to the different islands for the first time especially considering location of places, terrain, the type of vehicle you may need, parking, and the length of the trip. So I would say this is a great way to get a taste for a bunch of different activities to do on the big island.
It will take about 13 hours to complete the whole trip and the temp will be warm during the day and cold at night so be prepared. Luckily the company does provide windbreakers and fleece jackets for the cooler temperatures. Our tour guide Aaron was great! He was very friendly and helpful. He is very knowledgeable about the history, environment, landscape, and so much more! Thanks so much for touring us around, Aaron. We appreciate it so much.
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/10 |
Reviewed by: Gitika
Todd was great, he went out of his way to make it a great experience for us. He set up his own telescope for the group to get a good look at the stars and moon. He was very knowledgeable and extremely patient. We were also lucky enough to catch the eruption making the trip really great
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/06 |
Reviewed by: Kara
You see everything on this tour!!! Delicious coffee!!
Thank you Kara! We hope you had a wonderful experience and that your time on the island was amazing!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2022/11/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/11/13 |
Reviewed by: Gila
It was such a great experience! Our tour guide was AMAZING! So personable and knowledgeable. He knew sooo much history. I don’t think there was a question asked he couldn’t answer at all. My favorite stops were the lava tube and volcano summit visits. Incredible views. My wife and I were saying we should’ve done this when we first arrived instead of at the end of our trip. Sooo much great information. Learning about how coffee was made was also great! Keep it up!
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| Packages: | Pick-up from Kona Hotels |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2022/10/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/10/13 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Jumped over to Bg Island for the day and this tour hit it all! Great experience
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2022/10/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/09/23 |
Reviewed by: Saunders 2022
This tour was jammed packed with fantastic activities and good information. Todd was our guide, and he was filled with lots of good information on the area and language. He is definitely the one you want around for star gazing as he has a formal education in astronomy. One word of caution--bring warm clothes and jacket! You are going to a higher elevation with trade winds, and it gets cold!! (even on the van)
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2022/09/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/09/28 |
Reviewed by: KellyB
Our driver was mike and he was awesome! The bus was a luxury bus with limited passengers. Mike was funny and personable and treated us like royalty. Set us up for breakfast and lunch, provided snacks and drinks, cold cloths and hot cloths when needed. Made sure we all got our Portuguese donuts without having to wait in line. Just all around awesome! The back sand beach and the crater on the volcanoes were amazing as well as walking through the lava tube. I 100 percent recommend this tour to anyone
Aloha Kelly,
Thanks for posting a review, and we're thrilled you enjoyed your Big Island Circle Tour experience! Mike's awesome, so happy you thought so too. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time on the island as well!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2022/09/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/09/16 |
Reviewed by: Cindy W
One of the most fun nights! Shawn was an awesome host. We laughed, hung out in lava tubes and enjoyed the stars! So fun that it was just us... not a big group. We created a memory that we will have for a life time!
Aloha Cindy and Family, mahalo for the review and the kind words! I am very glad that you all had such a great time! I too enjoyed taking you all on our adventure and still get a big smile thinking about the laughs we had. Thanks again and looking forward to our next adventure together! A hui hou, Shawn
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| Packages: | Private Afternoon Tour with Dinner & Stargazing (up to 7 participants) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2022/09/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/08/23 |
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Aloha, Barbara!
Thank you for sharing your positive experience! Ridge is indeed a fantastic guide, always eager to provide local history and insights. We're thrilled to hear you had a lot of fun and enjoyed the tour. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for another great day on the island in the future! Mahalo again!