All Reviews for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This is one of the best tours to take while on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were picked up from our hotel in Waikoloa Beach in a very nice and comfortable van. The first stop was at Mauna Kea park where we had a delicious lunch. Our tour guide (Mike - awesome!) even brought placemats for us to use at the picnic tables! We then went along saddle road while he told us very interesting information about Hawaii and the volcanoes. We saw a beautiful waterfall at Rainbow Falls. We stopped at several locations to see the various types of lava produced by the volcanoes. We went to the Jagger museum and saw Kilauea crater, the Thurston lava tube, steam vents, and enjoyed samples of Kona coffee, cookies, and candy at the Big Island Candy factory. Delicious! We had a wonderful dinner at Kilauea Lodge and then went back to the Jagger museum to see the lava flow at night. It was amazing! Mike had binocular, warm coats, hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snack for us. After that, we went stargazing. It was cold at night, so having the coats was great. We had plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the tour and the 12 hours went by quickly. We also watched some incredible videos about the volcanoes on the trip on a large screen in the van. I would definitely recommend this tour! The tour guide was great, food was great, and we met some new friends along the way!

WOW! We totally enjoyed our 11 am to 11 pm volcano trip on the Big Island, learning about the island's history, Hawaiian stories and the beautiful and amazing sights! Our passionate, energetic tour guide Jim Carey was extremely knowledgeable and prepared for everything (umbrellas, warm jackets, water, hot chocolate and so much more). Jim prioritized in our safety, comfort and having great fun! He hit many of the items on our Hawaii "bucket list" from lava tubes, volcano sights both day and night stargazing, waterfalls, stream vents and so many more stops. I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the whole trip without worrying about directions or driving. As we drove home in the dark in the comfortable Mercedes van, Jim played a wonderful video with the history footage of volcanos eruptions on the island.

From the pick-up to the drop off 11 hours later, this was an absolutely fantastic tour! Our guide and driver, Jim Carey was so considerate of everyone from kids to seniors, he was totally accommodating and made excellent use of every minute. The van was clean and comfortable and he had anticipated every scenario. He was prepared with umbrellas, binoculars, flashlights, warm coats, hot chocolate and cookies and warm towels to freshen up after a day of adventures and beautiful sights. Jim was so knowledgeable about all things Kona, plants, birds, stars and he even played the Ukuele for us. Volcano National Park was truly awesome and especially at night. I really can't say enough about this tour from reservation to follow up - I could not ask for more. The lunch and dinner were great! So much thought and effort has obviously gone into this tour and Jim's enthusiasm was the icing on the cake. The concierge at the hotel said she could not even touch this tour and highly recommended Kailani Tours. This is a 10 star for sure!

What a wonderful tour experience to Kilauea Volcano with Kailani Tours and Chris.  My husband and I greatly enjoyed the entire day and would recommend the tour to anyone seeking a rewarding day with Volcano viewing!  From start to finish, the tour was very well-planned and enjoyable.  Chris was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about sites, plants and the best times and places to enjoy Kilauea.  The food, both at lunch and dinner, was first-rate and could accommodate any dietary preference.  All the little touches -- like hot cocoa and cookies and an evening tour of the Thurston’s Lava Tube – made the day even more special.  Our group was lucky enough to see a great view of the glow at the Volcano on a misty night and stars on the trip home. The van is quite comfortable and we were never more than 45 minutes between bathroom opportunities. Count on Chris and Kailani for a tour to exceed your expectations on the Big Island.

Our tour started at 11:00 AM and ended at 11:00 PM. Our guide, Jim, gathered us together into what felt like a family outing, not a tour with strangers. He sang to us, played the ukulele, chanted and prayed in Hawaiian. He told stories he learned directly from “kahunas,” the gurus of the Hawaiian culture. And his stories had messages beneath the messages that elucidated the world the ancient Hawaiians inhabited when they reached the Hawaiian Islands in 1200 AD that mysteriously still affected me this day. When we arrived at Rainbow Falls, which is more than 75 feet high, I didn’t expect to react that way I did. The falls and turquoise pools beneath them were so majestic that they didn’t seem quite real. I kept looking for the frame around the picture.
“Pele,” the goddess of the volcano, has shimmering black hair that sometimes looks like smooth volcanic rock that oozes out of the craters. Her fiery eyes smoke by day, but they become visible at night. When we returned to the craters to meet her on her terms, at night, suddenly, modern science merged with ancient magic and mysticism, and Jim’s stories took on a haunting inference I hadn’t heard in the light. After several short excursions to the perimeter of Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park that even included a walk through a lava tube, Nahuku, we stopped for a scrumptious dinner in an inn reminiscent of a European, mountain lodge. As the sun set on a day filled with new information that caressed my mind and opened my imagination, I was ready to return to the smoking, lava flows to see Pele’s fiery eyes shooting glances back at me at night, asking me to question the beauty and truth of this world we live in – asking me to quietly contemplate the meaning of my life and whether paradise could actually be something real – whether promises do get fulfilled for those who learn to make a difference.

Currently, the activity of Kilauea seems to be at a lull, and the orange crater is not easily visible. However, the pilot (an American on this day) skillfully maneuvered the helicopter with right and left turns, ensuring that both sides had a good view. In the attached photo, you can see the orange crater when enlarged.

In Waipi'o Valley, you can see multiple waterfalls with a significant drop against a backdrop of green forests, which were even more impressive than the crater.

今、キラウエアの活動は小康状態のようで、オレンジ色の火口はなかなか見ることができないのですが、パイロット（この日はアメリカ人）はヘリコプターを右旋回、左旋回と操り、左右いずれの席からもよく見えるよう、丁寧な操縦をしてくれました。添付した写真は拡大してみるとオレンジ色の火口が見えます。
ワイピオ渓谷では緑の森をバックにした落差が大きい、いくつもの滝を見ることができ、火口以上に圧巻でした。

I ended up with some great pictures. Wasn't sure if I was getting any because it was so windy. Not complaining as I knew that it was going to be windy. I did think that we were going to fly near the volcanoes, but perhaps I read the description wrong. It was a great tour and I am glad I did the doors off tour. Collin was great! Thanks so much for the great tour!

The tour planning was excellent, but the dinner and the starry sky were the best, and I was truly moved. Thanks to Sue, I had a wonderful time. I will come again.

ツアーの企画も大変良かったんですが、夕食の食事と満天の星空最高で、感激しました。スーさんのお陰様で楽しく過ごせました。また来ます。

My husband and I recently took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano. It was a very pleasant experience and probably one of the best tours we’ve ever done.

After driving about 90 minutes, we stopped to have a very nice box lunch at a rest stop near the military base. The lunches were prepared by a nice restaurant in Kona. Place mats were even provided to put on the picnic tables!

This was a tour in itself, as we were able to sample many different treats. We were even able to watch the employees preparing the cookies through a large glass wall. Everything we tasted was delicious except for the chocolate dipped squid that we thought was coconut!! I think one needs to develop a taste for the combination of chocolate and squid.

As we got closer to the volcano, the weather got progressively worse. Chris, our driver, was very adept at adjusting our schedule so that we took best advantage of the time we had. We stopped at the Rainbow falls lookout and took a short walk along the falls til we got to the huge banyan tree.

We went to the Kilauea Lodge for dinner. This looked to me to be a five star hotel and restaurant just outside the park. We were allowed to choose between a New York steak, fresh catch of the day, or a vegetarian dish.

After dinner we went back to the volcano to see it after dark. Thankfully, Kailani Tours provided very comfortable and warm Lands End parkas. Even though we were told to bring jackets, the ones we took were not warm enough as the winds were blustery, making the 45 degree weather seem much colder. We went to the lip of the Calderra where the view of the glowing lava was awe-inspiring.

As a final treat, we were given a short stargazing opportunity when we were about halfway home. The entire experience lasted from approximately 10:00 am to midnight. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about everything on the island, the volcano, and constellations and was very good at passing that knowledge along to us.

Very professional pilot. Incredibly smooth ride without stunts or surprises. However, the doors off was wonderful with nothing between us and the lava. We were high enough to not be at risk but the views of the lava flows, vents, as well as the area waterfalls and scenery were superb. Securely strapped in. Noise dampening headphones with mics allows two way communication, and the pilot was a knowledgeable and helpful tour guide. Worth the time and money.

It was a 7:00 AM flight. Since I was staying at Mauna Lani, I chose a tour from Waikoloa, which was a bit pricey. The departure was just as the sunrise was happening, and the view of the sunrise from Mauna Kea was spectacular. The pilot was very kind, and we could see the lava and waterfalls up close from any seat. The guide spoke English and explained everything very clearly. The 1 hour and 40 minutes flew by. It’s tough to wake up early, but there’s a shuttle service to the hotel, and you can make the most of your day, so I highly recommend it. It’s a bit expensive, but I’m glad I decided to participate. I was very satisfied.

朝一番の7:00のフライトでした。マウナラニに泊まっていたので、少々高いのですがワイコロアからのツアーにしました。朝日が丁度昇る頃の出発だったので、マウナケアから昇る朝日が見事でした。パイロットの方がとても親切で、どの座席からも溶岩や滝を間近で見ることができました。ガイドも英語でしたが、とても分かりやすく話してくれました。1時間４０分があっという間でした。朝一番は大変ですが、ホテルまで送迎がありますし、その日を有意義ぬ使えるので、とてもオススメだと思います。チョットお高いですが、思い切って参加してよかったです。大満足でした。

An unforgettable experience! Viewing flowing lava burning trees, the spots where the lava begins to flow, the breathtaking coastline of the Big Island with its many waterfalls, humpback whales from overhead, and the wonders of the island with the unbelievable views of every hue in the ocean's water= memories that will last a lifetime! Add a fabulous staff and the best pilot ever, and that's what you can expect.

The doors off tour was incredible and well worth the price! I highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to get a real helicopter volcano tour!

The experience was really great!
The views were amaizing!
I recomend this experience!

Very professional staff and felt very safe. I would just say that this experience had a lot for me to compare to for me and my daughter on this trip to Hawaii. We did ziplining, Parasailing, horse back riding and went from high-octane outdoor activities to passenger sightseeing. However, if I were to rank this tour as a stand-alone activity I would give it very high marks. To see the volcanic areas from the air is really interesting since you are seeing a "live" mass in motion (can't see it move but it is moving). Trees are burning from the lava, smoke and craters really lets you know who is in charge, nature.

Helicopter ride over the Big Island!!!

I hesitated for several years thinking about the cost, but... it was definitely the right decision to board! It was worth every penny! (Even for someone like me who is extremely afraid of heights, the stability of the helicopter was reassuring.)

After boarding, I was thrilled by the breathtaking views that you can never see from the ground. Waterfalls, Kilauea, lava fields, valleys, the land... everything was absolutely stunning! (I apologize for not having the best shots since I was sitting in the middle seat at the back...)

And our Japanese pilot, TOSHI (I was lucky with the timing!) provided a detailed explanation of the Big Island. (I might have been caught not really listening, though... haha.) Next time I board, I’ll make sure to study a bit more about the Big Island!

So, I definitely want to take this ride again next time!

ハワイ島ヘリコプターに搭乗！！！

金額のことを考え数年躊躇していましたが・・・
搭乗して大正解！金額を払っただけの価値はあります♪
（めちゃめちゃ高所恐怖症の私でも安心できるヘリコプターの安定感です）

搭乗後は地上からは決してみることのできない景色の数々に興奮しきりでした。
滝、キラウェア、溶岩後、渓谷、大地・・・どれをとっても文句なしです！
（後部中央席に座ったいたのでベストショットがなくてすみません・・）

そして日本人パイロットのTOSHIさん（タイミング的にラッキーだったようです!(^^)!）が丁寧にハワイ島の説明をしてくださいました。
（聞いているようで聞いていない？ことがバレてしまいましたが・・(笑)）
次回搭乗の際には改めてハワイ島のことをもうちょっと勉強して臨みます！

ということで、次回も必ず搭乗したいと思います！

Riding in a helicopter and seeing a live volcano checked off two of the entries on my life list. Scott, our pilot, was as excited as we were to see the molten lava gushing out in neon orange waves. It was definitely one of those,"Oh wow!" moments.

None of the retired ladies in our group had ever ridden in a helicopter before, and Scott had just the right combination of confidence and professionalism that reassured everyone. I would definitely fly with him again!

This tour was the highlight of our trip, and I would recommend it to everyone. It was worth every penny!

Thank you to Jork our pilot for an amazing flight. After breakfast, me and my friends hit up the Volcanoes Winery for some wine tasting and then whipped through the Volcanoes National Park to get an idea of what we'd see from the sky before heading to the airport for our helicopter flight. The check-in was easy (I gained a few pounds from all the Hawaiian food I ate, but it was okay) and the ground crew was super friendly. Make sure you get a phone strap if you want to take pics with doors off, or you can't take your phone with you. I really didn't expect a lot but as soon as we were hovering over small lava ponds I cried a little bit. It was so epic - it looked like we were on another planet. The black lava landscape stretched to the horizon. It was cold up there but whenever we got over the bright orange lava spots you could actually feel the waves of warmth, so soothing! We finished with a fly over bubbling pots waterfalls and some of the towns. All the buildings and cars were so tiny and perfect like a miniature model city. Thanks again to Paradise Helicopters and HawaiiActivities.com. Definitely an unforgettable moment on the Big Island. Ah man!

A enjoyable flight, if they can they take you up to the vent, to try and see lava, which may not always be flowing, the staff are very friendly, organised.

Go for the Eco star! The viewing windows and space provide an excellent ride. Brandt was a great pilot who gave us an informative tour with funny antidotes. It's the closest feeling you can get to literally flying since it such a smooth ride, felt like we floated over billowing volcanoes and gushing waterfalls. Footage from video at the end had great clips inside and outside the helicopter but was too pixeled and fuzzy to want to purchase, hopefully as technology improves so will DVD. Pics and videos we took ourselves turned out good, even with an IPhone 6 and point and low end point and shoot camera. Take the ride, it's worth it!

Now being honest the weather was not good at Hilo, very wet and cloudy. But in spite of the weather the flight did go ahead. I do have to say doors off is definitely the way to go! We flew over several areas of coastline and lava flows and then headed up to the Puʻu ʻŌʻō, again the weather wasn't great but you could see the ground pretty well. Heading up the mountain we saw a small area of fresh lava but it was over in a flash and then we were heading back to Hilo.

Now I fully understand that when weather and visibility are not good you might not see everything but at no point did the pilot state what we would or would not see. Obviously the vent or flowing lava is the main part of the "show" and you keep waiting for that to appear. But it wasn't until a guest asked that we were told that we went as far as we could.

Feel the heat? No we certainly did not.

A word of warning for passengers with longer hair wear a beany or make sure your hair is tied back tight, due to the wind it ended up with my wife's hair being badly knotted around the headset.

Two stars - to be honest only for the fun aspect of the doors off.

It would have been so much better if we were kept informed of the visibility and weather (now on Hawai'i this might not be a normal issue) and what we would be able to see as opposed to not being told anything and not experiencing what the flight was all about and coming away with the slightly cheated feeling.

Would I go again - yes - but I would certainly be asking a lot of questions about the weather conditions, visibility and expected viewing. It is a lot of money to pay, and especially if you are not local to not "Feel the Heat" because why else would you fly "doors off"

In additional I have to say the staff at Paradise were very understanding when we raised our points.

The flight was amazing, but we did not fly from Hilo. When our scheduled time (from Hilo) arrived, the weather was below minimum at the volcano. This was very disappointing since Hilo weather was nice. But, Hawaii weather is very volatile.

We rescheduled for the next day as a "reserve flight" (needed more people to "confirm" the flight). Before the scheduled time, Paradise Helicopters called to say the flight was still only "reserved", but they had an opening in a different, circle the whole island, flight from Kona. They would upgrade me for no additional cost to take that one. We jumped at it.

The flight was amazing. We got to see the whole island, in addition to the volcano and real, live, flowing lava. Our pilot was Koji and he was awesome. The weather over the volcano was mixed, but he was able to navigate through the clouds enough to maintain the FAA rules for height and get us over the actual volcano caldera. Then, we headed for the current eruption points on the southern slopes and saw even more lava in the second vent. Moving further to the new lava fields, he located some live, flow lava. "WOW!!!" is all I can say.

The rest of the flight was great, too. Flying low up the valley on the north shore was wild. Seeing all the waterfalls was also terrific.

Riding a helicopter for the first time and being able to see the faint red lava was a rare and interesting experience. The price was a bit high, but I'm glad I decided to participate.

I had heard that some people get motion sickness on helicopters, but my wife, who is prone to motion sickness, was fine, so that might not be something to worry about.

The footage from the ride can be purchased about 20 minutes after returning, so I bought it as a keepsake (though I haven't watched it yet).

However, I found it difficult to see outside from the middle seat in the back, so I wish they would differentiate the prices based on seating.

初めてヘリに乗ったっていうのと、うっすらながら赤い溶岩も見れたっていうのは、貴重で面白い経験だった。
ちょっと値段は高めだけど、思い切って参加してよかったです。

ヘリに酔うって話も聞いていたけど、乗り物酔いしやすい嫁さんでも大丈夫だったので、そのあたりは心配しなくてもいいのかもしれない。

乗った時の映像が、帰還して２０分くらいで購入できるので、記念に買ったみた（まだ見てないけど）。

ただ、後ろの真ん中席だと外が見づらいので、座席で値段を分けてほしいと思いました。

First helo ride ever and we had the doors off. It was fantastic! Our pilot Rob was great! Would definitely recommend this if you want a close up view of a volcano!

Weather cancelled booked flight. They upgraded me to a whole island tour for second flight next day. Bucket list item checked off - I saw real, flowing lava! Amazing flight. I wanna do it again.

I couldn't fly on the reserved day due to the weather, so I rebooked for two days later, but again the weather was not good. It's sunny in Waikoloa, but the Hilo side was not. On both days, I had watched all the emergency evacuation and safety confirmation videos during the flight, but in the end, a staff member came out from the office and said, "I'm sorry."

Since it's nature, these things can happen. In the end, a Japanese pilot named TOSHI came out and said, "I'm really sorry this time. Please come again next time! We're waiting for you," and he handed me his business card with a refreshing greeting. I was very happy with this kind consideration. I hope to ride in TOSHI's helicopter next year for sure.

予約した日にお天気の関係で飛べず、再チャレンジで２日後に予約しましたが、またまたお天気がNGでダメでした。ワイコロアは晴天なんですけどね、ヒロ側がダメで。両日ともフライト中の緊急避難や安全確認のビデオも全部見終わっていたんですが、最後に事務所からスタッフの方が出てこられて「ごめんなさいね」と。
自然相手ですからこういうこともありますね。
最後に日本人パイロットのTOSHIさんが出てこられて「今回は本当に残念です。次の機会に是非来てくださいね！お待ちしています」と名刺を渡してくださって爽やかにご挨拶してくださいました。こういう心遣い、とても嬉しかったです。来年こそTOSHIさんのヘリに乗せていただきたいです。

Amazing tour and very informative. A great way to see the whole island.

What a great day on the Big Island. If you travel to Kona make sure to put this tour on your itinerary.
Our guide was Nickels and he was the most knowledgeable young man and very patient and pleasant too. He took us to all of the places you should see on the island and even managed an unscheduled stop to the southern most bakery in the US. Even our teenagers we're attentive and even asked questions. It's a long day(@ 12hours)but I didn't want it to end. We truly enjoyed this tour.

I enjoy the tour very much. In addition to National Volcano Park, we also visit other interesting places, such as Black Sand Beach and Rainbow Falls. Our tour guide, Walter, helps us a lot and shares much information and living experience and makes this tour so knowledgeable. But there is one thing to remind. If you don't want to have lunch at Volcano House, you should buy your lunch earlier.

It's no surprise that the Big Island is called Hawaii Island! Seeing Kilauea Volcano and Waipi'o Valley from the sky, I was overwhelmed by the greatness of nature and the majesty of the land. While the roads weave through the volcanic terrain and renting a car for sightseeing is a good option, I highly recommend taking an aerial tour, even though it may be a bit costly.

Kilauea Volcano, where you can witness the Earth's breath (smoke) up close, along with the green valleys and various waterfalls created by nature, is truly breathtaking.

You too will surely develop a sense of awe for nature and find yourself immersed in the beauty of Hawaii Island.

Unfortunately, I couldn't understand much of the guide's commentary due to the foreign pilot, but just watching the scenery from above made the 40 minutes fly by, and I had a wonderful time.

ハワイ島が、ビッグアイランドと云われるのは当たり前です！！
空からのキラウエア火山とワイピオ渓谷を見て、自然の偉大さ、
大地の雄大さに圧倒されて、大変感激しました。
縦横に道路が火山大地の間を縫ってつなっがていて、レンタカー
で観光するのも良いかと思いますが、多少費用は掛かりますがぜ
ひとも、空からの遊覧観光をお勧めします。

地球の息使い（噴煙）が目の当たりに観えるキラウエア火山、自
然が作った緑の渓谷や流れ落ちる様々な滝とその滝壺。

あなたもキット自然に対する畏敬の念を持ち、ここハワイ島に溶
け込むことになってしまうことでしょう。

惜しくも外人パイロットのため、ガイドの内容はあまり理解出来
ませんでしたが、空からの景色を見ているだけで、４０分あまり
がアッと過ぎてしまい、大変楽しみました。