Big Island
We just returned from Kona, Hawaii and had the opportunity to participate in 3 excursions from different operators. Our tour, specifically our tour guide, Jim Carey, was life changing. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm made for a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget. From Jim's storytelling, songs, narratives of the Hawaiian culture and history, throughout our 12 hour adventure that included stops at Rainbow Falls, Big Island Candies, Mauna Loa, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (with afternoon and evening viewings), hikes through lava tunnels, a fine dining experience, topped by an amazing stargazing experience, I was inspired by Jim Carey, which serves as a testament to the caliber of talent that Kailani Tour employees. I would highly recommend this tour and in particular, any tour with Jim Carey. I am blessed to have gone on this journey with him as our tour guide. Bravo to Jim and Kailani Tours.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim Carey! He is a wonderful guide whose Aloha shines through his stories, songs, and genuine love for Hawai'i. Jim's top-notch hospitality allows our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are glad that you enjoyed all of our stops along the way and were able to get in some incredible stargazing! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
Super fun time during the entire cruise, great drinks, and outstanding food. Captain and crew attentive and fun to talk to. Can't go wrong with this cruise.
The BEST zipline on the island. Staff was wonderful. Ask for Kalo the tour guide. The last zip was worth every penny.
There were six of us, two of us and four travelers from China. The pilot was a handsome young American man. Although he spoke in English, he really got us excited. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, we couldn't see the lava flow that we were looking forward to. However, we received a refund for that, so I would like to try again next time. The helicopter tour got us close enough to reach Waipi'o Valley, which was thrilling.
中国の旅行客4人と私たち2人の6人の客でした。パイロットはイケメンの若いアメリカ人の方でした。英語でしたが、私たちを盛り上げてくれました。天候が悪く、楽しみにしていた溶岩流は見ることができませんでした。でも、その分、返金していただけたので、次回またチャレンジしてみたいと思いました。ヘリコプター遊覧は、ワイピオ渓谷に手が届くくらいの距離まで近づけて、興奮しました。
I was impressed by the intelligence and cuteness of the dolphin. When I asked its age, it was said to be 32 years old. Dolphins really do live a long time, don't they?
イルカのかしこさとかわいさに感激しました。
年齢を聞いたら32歳とのこと。イルカって長生きなんですね。
We had such a great time snorkeling we did the trip again the next day. Awesome crew and a beautiful place to snorkel!!
The booking process so easy – one simple phone call. The tour provides lunch, dinner, snacks, EVERYTHING you’ll need.
Jim Carey was our guide, and was EXCELLENT in EVERY WAY. “Uncle Jim” was very accommodating and went out of his way to ensure guests were comfortable. We were amazed at Jim’s knowledge of island history & Hawaiian culture. As we traveled, Jim educated us on island facts, myths, and legend. He recounted many great tales of Hawaiian lore,with enthusiasm and energy. Jim loves his job and entertaining his guests.
The tour began with a trip to Mauna Kea and picnic lunch. After, we headed to Hilo and stopped at a lava field. Next stops were Rainbow Falls, Kamehameha Statue and Big Island Candies for a snack. After Hilo, we went to Volcanoes National Park while Jim told us history of the island’s volcanoes. Jim is as much a geologist as tour guide. We pulled over to see “steam vents”, and then to the viewing area and the Volcano Museum and gift shop.
On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube. The tube was well lit, but Jim made sure we were armed with flashlights. We exited through a “skylight” and made our way back.
We ate at the Kilauea Lodge, a quaint restaurant. Meal was top-notch. Back to Volcanoes Park at dark. Jim had high-powered binoculars and we viewed spewing lava. The temp dropped, and Jim was ready w/hot chocolate.
We made one last stop to do some stargazing. For someone who had never viewed the stars in the blackened sky of Hawaii, I was astounded. The sky was FULL of stars – thousands of them that I’ve never seen before. It was like visiting a planetarium, in real life.
In conclusion, we highly recommend this excursion for anyone interested in a comprehensive tour that covers everything you would want to see on the Big Island, in one feature-packed day. If Jim is available, as for him by name. He was the best tour guide we’ve ever had – on any tour, on any island, country or continent.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an excellent day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a favorite among our guests. His top-notch hospitality allows everyone to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are so glad that you enjoyed all of the stops along the way and were able to get some stargazing in, as well. It truly is breathtaking to see such an abundance of stars and we totally agree that it's like standing in a real-life planetarium! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
Very nice experience! I was going with my 8yd son. Very impressive!
Mahalo for joining us and for taking thebtime to share your review with us all. We look forward to the next time we can share the waves with you both! Aloha
I found out about this activity by chance at the hotel where I was staying and signed up on-site. There were few Japanese tourists, and the host was speaking in English, but I think you can have a great time just dancing!
宿泊先のホテルで、偶然このアクティビティがあることを知り、現地で申込みしました。
日本人観光客が少なく、司会進行も英語でしたが、ダンスだけでも十分楽しめると思います!
Eight years ago, my eldest son experienced this, and my second son saw the photos and videos and said he wanted to do it too, so we came to have this experience. The content seems to be the same as before.
The day before, we were satisfied swimming with wild dolphins, but I think this attraction is good for children because they can take their time to look and touch.
The participation fee and the cost of photos are a bit high.
8年前に長男が体験していて、次男がその写真やビデオを見ていて、自分もやりたいと言い出し、この体験をするためにやって来ました。内容は以前と同じように思います。
前日は野生のイルカと泳げたので満足でしたが、このアトラクションはゆっくり見たり触ったり出来るので子供には良いと思います。
参加費用と写真代が高いのが何点です。
I just took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano recently. It was a very enjoyable and breathtaking experience with Chris, who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the tour!
From the beginning to the end of the tour, it was on schedule and pleasant to be part of. Chris was very informative and well prepared for everything (water, hot chocolate, umbrellas, heavy jackets, hot towels, etc).
From driving along Saddle Road to picture taking at Rainbow Falls to walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, and much more, It was one of the best tours I have ever taken.
I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone who wants a rewarding trip with magnificent sceneries and wildlife!
WOW!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a magnificent day with Chris. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who genuinely loves what he does! Mahalo for your thumbs up recommendation! We hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island for some more fun with the Kailani Tours 'Ohana!
Well worth the long ride from Hawaii to the mountain. The guide was excellent and gave every one a look through the telescope multiple times. A once in a life time experience!
My husband and I enjoyed this trip immensely! Since we were staying on the opposite side of the island from the Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, this was a great way to see it all without having to spend half the day driving. The hotel pick-up was a nice added convenience. Taking the tour allowed us to just sit back in comfort and enjoy the sights and the company of some really nice people who took the tour with us.
The van was comfy and spacious, and the group is limited to 14 guests, so we were never lost in a crowd. Our tour guide, Chris, was a joy to spend time with. He knew the island quite well, from the top of the mountain to the waterfalls, the lava tube and all of the interesting sights that were covered on the tour. He showed a genuine interest ad knowledge of all of the places we visited, and delivered commentary with a great sense of humor thrown in - he was never boring! He was familiar enough with the tour and our expectations that he was able to adapt the schedule just enough to accommodate the changes in island weather - namely rain - on the wet side of the island. He even provided umbrellas and flashlights for exploring after the sun went down.
The trip included a Fantastic dinner at a lodge near the Park. This alone was almost worth the time and cost of the tour! We were lucky enough to be seated with Chris during dinner and found him to be very personable. I could have spent hours just enjoying our conversations. Chris is perfectly suited to run this type of tourism business, and has created a tour that is just different enough from other tours to make it stand out!
I would absolutely recommend this tour to others. Thanks for a great time on the Big Island!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a fantastic day with Chris. He is an amazing guide, whose love for the Big Island really shines though his stories and fun facts along the way. His witty personality and attention to detail really allow our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy! The dinner at Kilauea Lodge is always a very welcomed treat to help refuel and warm up before checking out that majestic glow from the lava lake inside of Halema'uma'u Crater and we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much! Mahalo for the wonderful review and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
Food was awesome!!! So much variety and lots of it! Entertainment was fabulous, and people were friendly! A total Hawaiian experience that you must do while visiting! Great for couples, or great for families with kids!!
"I was told during the trip that 'the waves were strong, and it might actually be canceled,' and I was wondering what would happen... but it turned out to be an even more enjoyable swimming experience than I imagined. Many dolphins stayed around us, and during the first session, we played together for over an hour after jumping in. It was so much fun that I couldn't even find the right moment to get back on the boat, and the captain had to call us for a break... But we jumped back in right away. Since the dolphins didn't leave, we were able to swim freely as well. There’s no other sea where you can swim with wild dolphins like this. I definitely want to participate again. Thank you for the wonderful experience!"
「うねりがあって、本当は中止になるかもしれませんでした」と移動中聞かされ、
どうなることやら・・と思っていましたが想像以上の楽しいスイミングになりました。
多くのイルカが私たちの周りから去ることはなく、一回目は飛び込んでから一時間以上一緒に
遊んでくれたのです。あまりにも楽しくて、ボートに上がるタイミングもつかめず、
キャプテンが呼んでやっと休憩・・
でも、またすぐに飛び込みました。イルカたちが離れなかってため、自由に私たちも
泳がせていただきました。野生のイルカとこんなに泳げる海はありませんね。
また、是非参加したいと思います。感動をありがとうございました!
Strolling through the spacious grounds of the Hilton, we made our way to the venue. As the sun set, we enjoyed the gentle movements of hula dancing and the impressive luau show, immersing ourselves in Hawaii's traditional culture. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, and I thought the seasoning was quite good. Although the venue was large, we had reserved premium seats, allowing us to see the dancers' movements up close.
ヒルトンの広い敷地を散策しながら会場へ。
日暮れとともに、優しい動きのフラダンス、迫力のルアウショーが続き、ハワイの伝統文化を堪能しました。バイキング料理もメニューが豊富で、味付けもよかったと思います。
広い会場でしたが、プレミアムシートを予約していたので、ダンサーの動きなどを間近で見ることができました。
Enjoying the majestic nature of Mauna Kea and Kilauea, along with activities facing the Pacific Ocean. Although the captain kept a keen eye as we sailed, we were unable to encounter any whales. However, we were able to fully enjoy the sunset quietly sinking into the Pacific Ocean.
マウナケア・キラウエアの雄大な自然を満喫し、太平洋に向けてのアクティビティ。船長さんが目をこらして船を進めるものの、クジラと出会うことはできませんでした。しかし、太平洋に静かに沈む夕日を満喫することができました。
Great tour and great guide in Brett....very knowledgeable and entertaining...one comment is tour could be shorter by eliminating the dinner
The tour was great. We started by being picked up a local shopping center and then driving north. On our way, our tour guild spotted whales jumping off the coast and pulled over so we could watch. An extra bonus. We then picked up the rest of the guest and went over the mountain. Chris, our tour guild was a wealth of information and gave a great discussion of Hawaii and the different things that we saw. After stopping for lunch, which was basic but good, we went to Hilo for a tour and then on to the National park. Chris took us to a couple of sites not normally seen by tourist which was great. He also took us to the volcano tubes which was really interesting. He timed the tour so we had the whole tube to ourselves, which was really neat. We then went to dinner at a very nice place. The food was great, especially the fish. After dinner we went to the volcano and since it was night we got to see the lava light up the back ground. Chris helped us take pictures which are already posted on Facebook. After that we headed back. I would recommend this tour, especially Chris, for anyone who wanted to see the volcanoes and learn about the Island of Hawaii.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a great day with Chris. He is a wonderful guide with an abundance of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. Whale season usually runs October-March and we are so excited to hear that you folks had an opportunity to see some humpback whales on your way up the coast. Very cool treat! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
Staff was knowledgeable and expecting us. The tour guide was a riot (funny) and the whole crew made it an awesome time - would do it again!
Entertainment was top notch. Location was incredible. Food was fair to decent.
Aloha Mr. Wariner
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review of your experience at our luau. We are very to hear that you and your family had a great time.
Thank you for choosing us and supporting our luau!
Mahalo,
Voyagers of the Pacific Luau Team
Our tour guide Mike was fantastic. After a bit of confusion on picking up passengers, we started heading east across the Big Island on Saddle Road in a very comfortable Mercedes van. Mike has a wealth of knowledge, both cultural and local, so he made the tour feel almost personalized for everyone. We stopped at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area for a tasty, fresh lunch. Weather was perfect to see both volcanoes. We stopped along the highway to walk on the lava and see and he explained the different types. We continued to Hilo and watched a video about the volcanes, and then we stopped at Rainbow Falls. Mike knew the best places for nice pictures. After taking the scenic route and getting downtown Hilo, we learned more history about various buildings and the Kamehameha statues around the islands and stopped at Big Island Candies for some tasty samples and quick shopping. Time for the main event!
We went into the Volcanoes National Park. We stopped by some active steam vents and then the Jaggar Museum to see the active crater. Mike tooks us to see other craters and lava flows and stopped to let us walk around and see various formations created by the flow. We went deeper and deeper into the park, making our way almost to the ocean, and then stopped at the Thurston lava tube. Very unique!
From there, we headed for dinner at the Kilauea Lodge. Great atmosphere, great food, great service! Definitely try the soups! After dinner and after dark, Mike took us back to the Jaggar Museum to view the lava glow. Mike must have called on Pele to part the fog, because we were able to see and take pictures of the glow. He provide binoculars and jackets to those who needed it.
Now, heading back to the Kona side at night, we finished the volcano video and watched an "update" video that showed all the eruptions since 1983. We stopped across from the Mauna Kea Rec Area for stargazing. Mike point out constellations, planets, galaxies, stars. BEAUTIFUL!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear you had such a fantastic day with Mike! Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is such a special treat, and we agree that their soups are a must try to help warm up on those cold Volcano nights. We love when the fog parts and our guests get to enjoy that magnificent glow so clearly. Those clear skies also make for some amazing stargazing as well and we're glad to hear you enjoyed it! Mahalo for the wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
As someone who grew up in new york and then relocated to seattle, I'm used to big city living and never learned how to drive. This was my first trip out to ANY Hawaiian Island so you can imagine my dismay when I realized how limited I was in terms of car service so this tour was a god send when it came to actually being able to see a lot of the big island which I never would have managed on my own. The coach itself was spacious and comfortable and even thought the tour itself was carefully constructed to have a lot of walking breaks I don't think I would have gotten stir crazy even once if we'd done just a complete driving circuit of the island.
Our driver, Jim, was just a fountain of knowledge of not just the sites we visited but also the history/mythos behind a lot of them them and their importance to the indigenous peoples, but also of local attractions that I've totally added to my "to do" list whenever I make it back to the island. Jim was warm and accommodating and the embodiment of 'aloha' . The more in depth stargazing portion of our tour ended up getting rained out which was a disappointment (it was the part I was looking forward to most!) but I did manage to get in a little constellation viewing with Jim while waiting for the rest of the tour group to complete their night viewing of Halemaumau.
It's definitely a tour I would recommend to all of my family and friends, mahalo!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. It's always nice to just sit back, relax, and let our guides show you some of our favorite spots. Our Mercedes Sprinter Vans are the best way to do just that! We can also customize private tours for guests who would like to see more of our beautiful island with our amazing guides! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
My husband, who loves roller coasters but can't swim at all, was worried about whether he could really enjoy the speed of the Zodiac without being thrown around, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary concern.
We were the only Japanese people in a group of nine, which included four other couples and families. The Zodiac goes really fast, so we bounced around on the boat, but there was no worry about falling into the sea, and it was a lot of fun.
After about a 15-minute ride from the marina, we encountered a pod of dolphins, and then after another 15 minutes, we were incredibly lucky to see a family of whales.
After that, we went snorkeling, which was my husband's first time snorkeling despite not being a good swimmer. I was more worried, but he seemed to really enjoy it and said he wanted to go snorkeling again. When we returned to the boat, we had snacks and delicious turkey sandwiches, making it a very enjoyable and satisfying tour.
ジェットコースターが大好きだけど、全く泳げない主人がゾディアックのスピードに振り下ろされずに本当に楽しめるかどうか心配でしたが、全く杞憂に終わりました。
日本人は私たちだけで、他に4組のカップル&家族の計9名のグループでした。
ゾディアックは、めちゃくちゃ飛ばすので、ボートの上で私たちはポンポン跳ねましたが、海に落とされる心配は無くとても楽しかったです。
マリーナから15分くらい走ると、イルカの群れに出会うことが出来、それから15分くらいまた走ると最高にラッキーなことにクジラのファミリーにも会うことが出来ました。
その後は、シュノーケルもしましたが、カナズチの主人の初シュノーケル。
私の方が心配でしたが、本人もとても楽しめたみたいで、またシュノーケルしたいと言っていました。
ボートに戻るとスナックや美味しいターキーサンドイッチを頂き、とても楽しくて満足なツアーでした。
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!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Mike. It's incredible how fast 12 hours can go by when you're having so much fun! Most people don't realize how cold parts of our island can get, especially in the evening, and we are glad that our parkas helped keep you comfortable while watching the glow from the lava lake in Halema'uma'u and also while stargazing. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose hospitality really helps our guests connect with our island while on tour. It's always great to hear that we are helping people check off items from their "bucket list"! That's why we love what we do. Mahalo for your glowing review and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
The staff on the boat were fantastic. We were all very patient but only 1 manta ray showed, and stayed for about 1 minute so that was disappointing. we were offered another night on the house but we were flying out the following day, and they don't offer refunds.
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!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Jim. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable guide with so much Aloha to share! His Hawaiiana stories and ukulele playing have quickly become a favorite amongst our guests. We love hearing that you enjoyed all of our stops and treats along the way! Mahalo for the fantastic recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
We enjoyed the entertainment. There were a lot of people in attendance which made this a little difficult to see especially when people were standing and crowded around. We would have preferred a venue with a smaller attendance. Food was good.
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.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Chris. We'd agree that he is a wealth of knowledge whose attention to detail and hospitality are truly Top-Notch! To hear our tour even exceeded your expectations is so incredible to us. Mahalo for your excellent review and recommendation! We hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.