All Reviews for Kilauea Volcano, Big Island

This tour was amazing and worth every penny! We decided to do the circle tour on our first island day as an introduction to the Big Island and we couldn’t be more happy about it. Our guide, Jim was so knowledgeable and had such a soothing voice, his storytelling and information were great. I would recommend this tour to anyone.

Dave was very knowledgeable he picked up on time from airport on time and we could cover entire island on one day very nice lunch and breakfast on time amazing tour

This was a very interesting adventure. Our tour guide, Don, was fantastic. and helped make it a very enjoyable trip. He was very accommodating and made sure we saw as much as time would allow. Very long day but lots of good information and local lure.

Bryce, our driver, was amazing! Made the tour everything it was. We all enjoyed the amazing tour with friendly employees and clean vehicle.

Thank you!

Bryce was awesome, very knowledgable. We had a big scare about the fire on the way back to the hotel and he was super professional about letting us know what was going on and even offered to stop at a grocery store in case no food options were open in the evening. Highly recommend!

Pros: It was worthwhile to do this tour to see the entire Big Island all in one day, without having to do any driving. Adam was very informative and shared many Hawaiian mythical stories along the way. Enjoyed the extra stops at the bakery for Malasadas, the driver got us all plain ones, and the fruit stand we stopped at, at the end.

Cons: many errors due to the fact that Veltra books the tour, through the Hawaii Activities, but they don’t run the tour. So the lunch options were not the options listed when we booked. They called to clarify the meals for our group and still got the lunches completely wrong. No chicken on the salads, not enough sandwiches and too many plain veggie salads. Also, we booked a private tour. We booked a private tour. The website said private tour up to 10, we had 9, so we were under the impression we would be the only group on the tour. This was not the case! There was a group of three in the van when it arrived to pick us up. And the other group had much better looking lunches than ours for some reason. Another disappointing thing was that it was rainy and cold for the volcano portion of the tour. Our tour guide informed us that rainy weather is very very common at the volcano park and near Hilo. We were all dressed for warm weather and we were all freezing for a large part of the tour. Our van had 6 rain jackets, but 12 passengers. It would have been very helpful if the person that called to confirm the tour would have told us there is a chance it might be rainy. One last thing, we accidentally left some candy purchases on the tour bus, we called the company, but have not heard back about retrieving these purchases.

This was great! Gabby was our driver and she was absolutely amazing. She knew everything about Big Island and was so friendly. This is a nice tour to get it all in in one day.

So Beautiful and our guide was so friendly!!! It felt like I was in a different world!!

We had a great time with Jim! The trip was very informative and we learned much about the history of Hawaii. I would suggest taking this tour at the beginning of your vacation so that you can explore in-depth some of the places we visited. The winery and tea tour was amazing! I learn so much about tea and the winemaking process in HI!
Thanks so much!

Hank was a wonderful guide and truly went above and beyond to ensure we had a great day! Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting an introduction to the island!

I went solo. There were 2 tour guides. They were informative and funny. I threw up because of road sick and maybe too much caffeine and food coma in the morning (I assumed - I ate my bf&coffee b4 the tour started and ate their bf & tasted their coffee again). The lady guide took care of me well. Other people in the trip were nice too. Some lady gave me a motion sickness pill and some lady asked me how I was feeling. Thanks!

We went to 6-7 places. I like the black sand beach the most. Walking through the volcano tube was fun. But another volcano attraction was not I expected because we couldn’t get too close to the volcano. It was dangerous Lol. So I couldn’t get a clear pics of the crater.

Big island is a black island (in my opinion) because of dry black lava spreading all over the island.

They picked me up in the morning and dropped me off at the Kona airport in the evening. I flew for a day trip. Call them when you arrived at the airport. They need a reminder. I think my tour guides were Gary and Gabbie. I bought this trip to celebrate my bday. Great serviceThank you!

We were only on island for two days, so we had to make the most of it. Rich picked us up promptly and we set out with a total of nine passengers. The van was comfortable, and Rich had water and lunch ready for us, along with clean jackets and umbrellas for the chilly rainy segments of the trip. The drive was safe and pleasant, and Rich regaled us with information and stories. At each stop, he allowed us ample time and shared interesting information.

This was a wonderful day, and we not only saw the island but also learned a lot. Highly recommended, especially if you can get Rich as your driver/tour guide!

Awana was awesome. He did a great job from the start by getting out group of 20 together in one van. His knowledge of the island’s as well as the big island was extensive. Never a dull moment he kept us laughing and taught us a great deal. All stops were as promised. Would do the tour again

Awesome awesome awesome. We had a volcano tour on 3/8/20 with Mike. He was the best. He was especially good with our very inquisitive grandson. He was knowledgeable also!!!! He was great great great!!!!

We had a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Daniel was excellent. Informative and witty. We highly recommend this complete island tour. The steam vents at Volcanos National Park highlighted the day!!.

This was my eighth time on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the helicopter tour allowed me to see the entire island, leading to new discoveries!

今回で8回目のハワイ島でしたが、ヘリツアーによりハワイ島全容を観ることができて新しい発見がありました！

For my wife, who has difficulty walking, navigating uneven terrain is challenging, and even short distances can take time for able-bodied individuals. Therefore, instead of sightseeing by car, we chose the helicopter experience for the first time. Although it was disappointing that there was no lava flow, I was moved by the size of the crater when viewed from above. We also saw whales, and I am grateful to the pilot who helped us find them. I had requested a pilot who could speak Japanese, but since there were no other Japanese participants, it couldn't be helped. I was worried the day before due to strong winds that could have taken the steering wheel from me, but the ride was smooth and comfortable. My wife was also in high spirits. It was great to make effective use of our time.

足が不自由な家内にとっては、凸凹したところを歩いたりするのは困難で、健常者にとっては短い距離移動でも時間がかかったりするので、車での観光ではなく、初体験のヘリを選択しました。溶岩が流れていなかったのは残念でしたが、火口を上空から見ることが出来、その大きさに感動しました。また、鯨も見ることが出来ました。捜して下さったパイロットに感謝。日本語の出来るパイロットをリクエストしていましたが、他に日本人参加者がいなかったので仕方ありません。前日の午後は車のハンドルが取られる程の強風だったので心配しましたが揺れもなく快適。家内もハイテンションでした。時間が有効に使え良かったです。

I have visited Oahu, Hawaii several times with friends. However, I wanted to see the volcano, so I participated alone for the first time. The flight I booked was canceled, but I was recommended another course and joined that instead. Due to the weather, I couldn't achieve my original goal, but I enjoyed the experience of riding in a helicopter and traveling alone. I was able to participate with peace of mind thanks to the prompt response I received. Thank you very much.

ハワイ、オアフ島は何度か友人と訪れています。
ただ、火山が見たくて一人初めて別行動で参加させて戴きました。申し込んだ便は中止になり別のコースをお勧めして戴き参加しました。天候の為当初の目的は果たせませんでしたが。ヘリコプターに乗れて一人旅を経験できて楽しかったです。敏速な対応をして頂き安心して参加出来ました。ありがとうございました。

We had a great time on this tour. We were able to see many different places on the island and our tour guide Awana had great knowledge of the island. The tour is a lot of driving but the van is decently comfortable and they have frequent stops to get out and stretch.

My husband and I booked the Deluxe Circle Island Tour with Kailani Tours online @hawaiiactivities.com a few weeks before we left for our 20th anniversary on the Big Island. We loved our driver/tour guide Alana from the beginning...she was so personable, caring and knowledgeable (a former teacher). The Mercedes van was very comfortable for the 7 people on our tour and we were well provided for with plenty of water and snacks (even with my gluten free limitations). The tour was fabulous, from the Kona Joe coffee farm, lunch/tour at Volcanoes Natl Park, amazing Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, all the way to Rainbow Falls (yes, we saw a rainbow there) and beautiful Akaka Falls! It was great to see the highlights of the island at the beginning of our vacation to get the "lei" of the land so to speak, on the Big Island. This way the remainder of our trip could be spent leisurely exploring the Kohala Coast where we were staying. We highly recommend it to everyone!

The total experience is awesome! We had a looong day without questions. But the guider made sure the tour was full of fun, stories and care, we didn't feel exhausted.
Started from the lava cave, which is cooler than I expected. Black beach is beautiful. The newly formed lava flow is stunning, also sad when we heard stories from local residents, sorry for their loss. Didn't spend much time in the national volcano park, but it was exactly what we needed, also good timing enjoying the sunset there. 3-courses dinner in the volcano house was perfect, with yummy food and wonderful view overlooking the whole crater. Last but not least, stunning stargazing with professional telescope. Sorry I'm terrible at remembering people's name, thanks very much, our lovely & kind & interesting driver & guider!

Hawaii Island is much larger than I expected. There are many breathtaking views that can only be seen by helicopter. Waipi'o Valley was the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen in my life. It was an experience worth more than the price.

ハワイ島は、思った以上に広い。
ヘリコプターでしか見ることのできない絶景がたくさん。
ワイピオ渓谷は、人生で一番美しい景色でした。
お値段以上の感動です。

The tour was nice and Big Island is beautiful, but our tour guide gave an extensive history of Big Island which felt removed and disconnected from what we were seeing. The guide was asked multiple times from other people on the tour about things they had noticed during the tour but the guide was stuck on the historical narrative and refused to talk about "politics", yet the questions being asked were quite simple and relevant to what we were seeing. He was very knowledgeable but it made for a very tiring and boring ride. It would be great if he could break up the historical narrative with some more present-day information about Big Island.

My first time on the Big Island! For our 30th wedding anniversary, my husband chose this tour for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The view of the Big Island from the sky was amazing. The highlight of this tour is landing at a waterfall. The waterfall, which can only be accessed by helicopter, is breathtaking. I highly recommend experiencing the growing beauty of the Big Island.

初めてのハワイ島！結婚30年の記念に一生に一度の体験をってことで主人がこのツアーを選びました。空からのハワイ島は素晴らしかったです。このツアーの目玉は滝への上陸です。ヘリでしか行くことのできない滝は絶景です。成長してるハワイ島をぜひ体験してみて欲しいです。

The Japanese pilot was very entertaining, providing a detailed explanation of the Kilauea volcano's crater. It was cloudy until we reached the town of Hilo, but it was sunny when we arrived at Waipi'o Valley. We had about a 30-minute break for landing at the waterfall. I'm glad I was able to experience something so unique in reality.

日本語パイロットで　とても楽しい機内　キラウエア火山の噴火口を詳しく説明、ヒロの町に行くまで曇ってましたが　ワイピオ渓谷に行くと晴れてて　滝への着陸で３０分位の休憩　なかなか体験出来ないことが　現実に体験出来て良かったです。

I thought I would never ride in a helicopter due to my fear of heights and the fact that it's not cheap, but on the recommendation of a friend who had previously visited the Big Island of Hawaii, I decided to give it a try this time. I participated in a two-hour course that allowed me to see both waterfalls and Kilauea Volcano, and those two hours were truly an emotional experience, filled with goosebumps and tears. The Big Island has many magnificent views that you can't see by car or on foot, so I really want everyone to experience the scenery from the sky at least once. If possible, I would love to join this tour again and again!

高所恐怖症であるかつ、値段も決して安くないのでヘリコプターは一生乗らないと思っていましたが、以前ハワイ島にいった知人の勧めで今回乗ってみることに。私は滝とキラウェア火山の両方が見れる2時間のコースに参加したのですが、この2時間は本当に感動のしっぱなしで、鳥肌と涙の止まらないツアーでした。ハワイ島は車や徒歩では見れない壮大な景色がたくさんあるので、是非皆さんにも空からの景色を一度みていただきたいです。可能ならば何度でもまたこのツアーに参加したいほどです！

I participated in a helicopter tour from Hilo 20 years ago. At that time, I got motion sickness and remember feeling pale when I got off the helicopter. So this time, I recommended my daughter take motion sickness medication before we joined. However, the helicopters nowadays don't shake at all! Or maybe this particular helicopter was just superior. In any case, it was incredibly comfortable. Our pilot was Mr. Mochizuki, who is Japanese. The amount of information we could understand compared to an English-speaking pilot was completely different! It seems that it's not always possible to have a Japanese-speaking pilot, but we were lucky. By the way, applying through Mr. Mochizuki's homepage seems to increase your chances. Mr. Mochizuki, who has lived in Hawaii for a long time, impressively conveys the true state of volcanic activity. The highlight was the Kohala Falls. It felt like I had become a drone myself... The scenery was truly indescribable. The grass and trees swayed in the wind created by the helicopter's propeller as we landed right next to the waterfall. The black and brown lava was not the only color; there was also the green of the Big Island. This tour certainly costs a lot. However, it is an experience that far exceeds its value, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Lastly, please prepare a tip for the pilot. You might think, "Isn't the tour price high enough without a tip?" But when you get off, you'll want to give one. Especially if the pilot, like Mr. Mochizuki, makes sure that all passengers can enjoy the wonderful views by circling around.

20年前にヒロからのヘリコプターツアーに参加したことがありました。そのときは乗り物酔いし、降りたときには真っ青になっていた記憶が…。だから、今回は、娘に酔い止め服用を勧め、いざ参加。ところが、いまのヘリコプターってまったく揺れないんですね！それとも今回のヘリコプターが優れているのかしら。とにかくものすごく快適です。そして、パイロットは日本人の望月さん。英語スピーカーの操縦士さんと比べると理解できる情報量が違う！日本語スピーカーのパイロットを希望しても、常にかなうわけではないようですが、私たちはラッキーでした。ちなみに、望月さんのホームページから申込むと確率アップのようです。ハワイ在住歴が長い望月さん、火山活動のほんとうの様子を伝えようとする真摯な姿が印象的です。極めつきはコハラの滝。自身がドローンになったよう…。ほんとうに筆舌尽くし難い情景でした。滝つぼのすぐそばに着陸する際のヘリのプロペラが巻き起こす風に揺さぶられる草木。溶岩の黒色、茶色だけではない緑色のハワイ島の姿。このツアー、確かに費用はかかります。が、その価値をはるかに上回る、ぜひみなさんに強烈にお勧めしたいツアーです。最後に、パイロットさんにお渡しするチップをご用意ください。こんなにツアー料金が高いのに、さらにチップ？と思うかもしれません。でも、降りるときはお渡ししたくなります。もしパイロットが、搭乗者全員が素晴らしい景色を満喫できるよう旋回を繰り返してくれる望月さんなら、なおさらです。

Outstanding outing discovering the island, its mysteries, its volcanoes, the life of its people. Thank you Uncle Jim to have made this day so lively and personalized to our group.

The flight departed at 7:00 AM, allowing us to see the sunrise. I was seated next to American passengers, but our Japanese pilot, Toshi, passionately spoke about the nature of the Big Island in both English and Japanese. Since it was the day after we arrived on the island and I didn't know much about it yet, it was great to see the overall landscape from the air! Toshi not only had a lighthearted way of speaking but was also an excellent pilot, making the flight very stable, so I could enjoy the scenery without feeling nauseous. We saw valleys and waterfalls that can only be accessed by helicopter, making it a very satisfying flight! The price is high, but I believe it was worth it! Thank you very much, Toshi!

7:00からのフライトで朝日を見ながらの出発でした。アメリカ人のお客さんと同席の機内でしたが、日本人パイロットのトシさんが英語と日本語を使い分けながらハワイ島の自然について熱く語ってくれました。ハワイ島に着いた翌日でまだ島のことをよくわかっていない状況だったので空から全貌を見ることができてとてもよかったです！トシさんは軽妙なトークはもちろん操縦も上手くて機内はとても安定していて酔うこともなく安心して景色を楽しむことができました！ヘリコプターでしか入っていくことのできない渓谷や滝の風景もあり、大満足のフライトでした！値段は高いですが、その価値は十分にあったと思います！トシさんどうもありがとうございました！

My husband and I moved to Kailua-Kona last year and are still in discovery mode, so we were happy to play tourist for a day to join this tour. Although the rides were long (it is a big island), the stops were all interesting and worthwhile, the other guests were friendly and engaged, and - notwithstanding all of our pre-move diligence and studying - we learned a ton from our fabulous tour guide, Kent. Kent was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, engaged, warm, and courteous - we thoroughly appreciated the positive impact he had on the day's adventures.