A visit to the Big Island is incomplete without taking in the extensive views of the Kailua-Kona coastline and some of the world’s biggest geological wonders: Hawaiian Volcanoes. Expect an expertly curated full-day experience that includes a picnic lunch at a Kailua-Kona coffee farm, malasadas at an iconic bakery, a stop at a black sand beach, an in-depth visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and a three-course dinner at an elevated restaurant. This is the Deluxe Big Island experience; the perfect choice for those who want to start their day later with a mid-day hotel pickup. 

Start with a picnic lunch and Kona coffee 
Upon pickup, the day starts off right with a drive through the rolling hills of Kona, where you’ll stop at a plantation to experience the intense aroma and smooth taste of world renowned Kona coffee. You’ll be able to taste the full-bodied flavors of the superior quality beans and learn about the process of the perfect brew. As you ease into your day, breathe in the clean mountain air as your deli-style picnic lunch is set up for you to enjoy at your leisure.  

Indulge in local treats: Punalu’u Bake Shop
Next stop: the southernmost bakery in the U.S.! You arrive at the quaint and colorful roadside bakery, ready to see and taste some of the most delicious baked goods Hawaiʻi has to offer. 

Bakers buzz around as locals and travelers alike peer into the glass cases, pointing at Hawaiian sweetbreads and Portuguese-inspired malasadas — both of which your guide will have pre-ordered for you so you can skip the line. The luscious grounds are the perfect setting for this mid-morning snack. Time permitting, grab extra baked goods for our next stop to a black sand beach (own expense).

Appreciate the majestic sea turtles: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
You can feel all your troubles and stress melt away as you arrive at this unique beach where the black sand provides a striking contrast to the turquoise waters of the Pacific. Breathe in the salty air mixed with the tropical flora and get lost in the rhythmic and soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline.

This stunning beach is home to many nesting Hawaiian sea turtles, also known as honu. 

Though we cannot guarantee sightings, your guide will show you where the sea turtles bask in the sun while communicating an appropriate viewing point that ensures no disruption of the turtles natural habitat while giving you an optimum vantage point. These sacred island dwellers represent good luck, protection, endurance and long life to Hawaiians.

It’s a sensory paradise that leaves you feeling alive and connected to the beauty of nature.

Witness the mighty volcanoes: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 
For many visitors, seeing the Big Island volcanoes is a highlight of this tour. You can expect a visit that lasts over an hour at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park which contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. 

During your visit you can choose to take a short hike through Thurston Lava Tube. This educational experience will leave you with a sense of curiosity and understanding of the natural world. 

Please note: In the event of an active lava flow, or an eruption, we will not be able to access certain parts of the park. 

*Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials have been known to restrict and/or close access to certain parts of the park without prior notice to visitors or tour providers. Kailani Tours will not refund a tour booking caused by park restrictions. 

Savor a Three-Course Dinner: Kilauea Lodge 
End your day of adventure and awe-inspiring sights with a well-deserved dinner and drinks at the Kilauea Lodge’s acclaimed restaurant located in the town of Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. 

At Kilauea Lodge, a three-course dinner is an exceptional culinary experience. The dishes are expertly prepared using fresh, local ingredients and creative flavor combinations that delight the taste buds. The presentation of each dish is beautiful and artistic, enhancing the dining experience.  

The ambiance is cozy and intimate, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Attentive service and perfectly crafted wine pairings (some of which you may recall from our earlier visit to the Volcano Wine and Tea Farm) complete the dining experience, making it a memorable and satisfying end to a full-day experience of the Big Island’s highlights.  

After dinner, hop back on a luxury Mercedes Sprinter for a relaxing ride back to your accommodations. Let the lulling sounds of traditional Hawaiian music be your soundtrack to remember this special day as your driver pulls up to your doorstep — a memory you can now cherish for the rest of your life.  

A visit to the Big Island is incomplete without taking in the extensive views of the Kailua-Kona coastline and some of the world’s biggest geological wonders: Hawaiian Volcanoes. Expect an expertly curated full-day experience that includes a picnic lunch at a Kailua-Kona coffee farm, malasadas at an iconic bakery, a stop at a black sand beach, an in-depth visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and a three-course dinner at an elevated restaurant. This is the Deluxe Big Island experience; the perfect choice for those who want to start their day later with a mid-day hotel pickup. 

Start with a picnic lunch and Kona coffee 
Upon pickup, the day starts off right with a drive through the rolling hills of Kona, where you’ll stop at a plantation to experience the intense aroma and smooth taste of world renowned Kona coffee. You’ll be able to taste the full-bodied flavors of the superior quality beans and learn about the process of the perfect brew. As you ease into your day, breathe in the clean mountain air as your deli-style picnic lunch is set up for you to enjoy at your leisure.  

Indulge in local treats: Punalu’u Bake Shop
Next stop: the southernmost bakery in the U.S.! You arrive at the quaint and colorful roadside bakery, ready to see and taste some of the most delicious baked goods Hawaiʻi has to offer. 

Bakers buzz around as locals and travelers alike peer into the glass cases, pointing at Hawaiian sweetbreads and Portuguese-inspired malasadas — both of which your guide will have pre-ordered for you so you can skip the line. The luscious grounds are the perfect setting for this mid-morning snack. Time permitting, grab extra baked goods for our next stop to a black sand beach (own expense).

Appreciate the majestic sea turtles: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
You can feel all your troubles and stress melt away as you arrive at this unique beach where the black sand provides a striking contrast to the turquoise waters of the Pacific. Breathe in the salty air mixed with the tropical flora and get lost in the rhythmic and soothing sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline.

This stunning beach is home to many nesting Hawaiian sea turtles, also known as honu. 

Though we cannot guarantee sightings, your guide will show you where the sea turtles bask in the sun while communicating an appropriate viewing point that ensures no disruption of the turtles natural habitat while giving you an optimum vantage point. These sacred island dwellers represent good luck, protection, endurance and long life to Hawaiians.

It’s a sensory paradise that leaves you feeling alive and connected to the beauty of nature.

Witness the mighty volcanoes: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 
For many visitors, seeing the Big Island volcanoes is a highlight of this tour. You can expect a visit that lasts over an hour at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park which contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. 

During your visit you can choose to take a short hike through Thurston Lava Tube. This educational experience will leave you with a sense of curiosity and understanding of the natural world. 

Please note: In the event of an active lava flow, or an eruption, we will not be able to access certain parts of the park. 

*Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials have been known to restrict and/or close access to certain parts of the park without prior notice to visitors or tour providers. Kailani Tours will not refund a tour booking caused by park restrictions. 

Savor a Three-Course Dinner: Kilauea Lodge 
End your day of adventure and awe-inspiring sights with a well-deserved dinner and drinks at the Kilauea Lodge’s acclaimed restaurant located in the town of Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. 

At Kilauea Lodge, a three-course dinner is an exceptional culinary experience. The dishes are expertly prepared using fresh, local ingredients and creative flavor combinations that delight the taste buds. The presentation of each dish is beautiful and artistic, enhancing the dining experience.  

The ambiance is cozy and intimate, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Attentive service and perfectly crafted wine pairings (some of which you may recall from our earlier visit to the Volcano Wine and Tea Farm) complete the dining experience, making it a memorable and satisfying end to a full-day experience of the Big Island’s highlights.  

After dinner, hop back on a luxury Mercedes Sprinter for a relaxing ride back to your accommodations. Let the lulling sounds of traditional Hawaiian music be your soundtrack to remember this special day as your driver pulls up to your doorstep — a memory you can now cherish for the rest of your life.  

What is the group size of a Big Island Volcanoes & Dinner Tour?
Kailani Tours prefers small-group experiences, generally booking no more than 12 guests per vehicle. The Mercedes fleet consists of 15 passenger vehicles. If you’re looking for something even more intimate, private tours can also be arranged.

How crowded does it get at the stops on a Big Island Volcanoes & Dinner Tour?
While we cannot predict the crowds at popular destinations, we can assure you that our tours have itineraries best suited to avoid the most popular windows of time at specific destinations. We also have daily standing reservations with Kilauea Lodge to ensure our groups are shown priority attention and seating.

Can you accommodate wheelchairs?
Though we have a compact collapsible wheelchair available for guests, our guides cannot push/assist with wheelchair mobility. Our tours are active and require some physical exertion. While on tour guests may experience some or all of the following: a large step up into the van, tight aisles, steep hills in either direction, stairs, uneven surfaces, wet surfaces, and loose sand. If you have any questions or would like to know more details about the physical aspects of your specific tour, please contact Kailani Tours staff at 808-938-4057 or [email protected].

What should I bring on a Big Island Volcanoes & Dinner Tour?
Kailani Tours Hawaii will provide your meals, snack baskets, beverages, hiking gear, jackets, parkas, umbrellas, flashlights, other related gear for all weather conditions, and items to help with car sickness/nausea. Please come prepared with close-toed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a camera.

Is this tour all-inclusive? This tour includes a variety of refreshments and snacks in the vehicle and covers all tastings, meals, and entrance fees required. We work closely with coffee roasters, wineries, and other establishments on the island to bring you exclusive tastings and experiences.

Can you accommodate dietary needs and restrictions on this tour?
We want to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergy requests as much as possible for each of our guests. Please, notify us immediately if anyone in your party is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, or has any food-related allergies. By notifying us early, we can be best prepared for your tour meal/snack basket/beverage needs. Should there be no contact by 2:00 PM, the day prior to your tour, the meals ordered on your behalf will default to regular with no restrictions. Since gathering these details is time sensitive, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Who is this tour suitable for?
This is the ideal Big Island tour for families, couples, friends, and solo travelers. We welcome ages 5 and up on this public Big Island Volcanoes & Dinner Tour. Choosing a private tour option is required for children under 5 years of age.

I’m traveling with children, what should I know?
Infants, toddlers, or children under 5 years of age are not permitted on public tours, a private tour will need to be secured for families traveling with small children. To abide by Hawaiʻi State Law all children 3 years and younger must be in a proper safety seat. Children aged 4 to 7 who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and are less than 57 inches tall must be in a booster seat. We have all child seat options available upon request. Please, notify us of your children’s age and seat requirements as soon as possible.

How much walking do you do on a Big Island Volcanoes & Dinner Tour?
This tour allows people to explore the island at a “moderate” level of activity. You will be given the opportunity to exit the vehicle to enjoy the lush and unique landscapes of Greenwell Coffee Farm, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Kilauea Lodge. All walks are optional and it is up to you how far you walk at these destinations. The Thurston Lava Tube is the most strenuous part of the tour with roughly 15 steps down, a twenty-minute or 1/3 mile hike through the tube, and roughly 20 steps up.

Is alcohol allowed on tour?
Hawaiʻi laws do not permit the consumption of or an open container of alcohol in any vehicle. There are stops on the tours that offer adult beverages that you are able to purchase specifically. We ask you to remember restrooms are not always readily available and motion sickness is already a common occurrence on island roads. We ask that you drink responsibly while in our care. Kailani Tours reserves the right to ask a guest to disembark if necessary.

What locations do you pick up from?
If you are not staying at a Resort or Hotel on our list of 40 pick-up locations on the West side of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, then we have multiple centralized spots available with free and well-lit parking in the Kailua-Kona and Waikoloa areas. This is very important to have scheduled as early as possible. In the event you need to cancel your tour, you will need to know when your cancellation window expires.

Are tips or gratuities required?
Tips and gratuities are not required, they are greatly appreciated though. Your guide works hard to keep you safe, entertained, and satisfied for 11+ hours. The wealth of information you’ll be exposed to is impressive. The guides spend a lot of time training and perfecting their skills for you. So, if you enjoy yourself, if your guide gives impeccable attention to your needs, and if you feel safe in their care, then show them your appreciation for a job well done! Of course, this is only a recommendation but common tipping for full-day excursions ranges between $20-$40 per person.

What are the benefits of a Private tour?
The most common reasons for guests to choose a private tour over a public tour include the ability to go at your own pace, a customizable itinerary with tour flexibility, customizable timing, customizable pickup/drop off locations, upgraded meals/snack baskets/beverages, no other personalities/strangers, not waiting on rouge public participants, more intimate, any age is permitted, and you’ll be placed with a tenured guide. We have luxury SUVs available for smaller parties (1-5 passengers) and Mercedes Sprinter or Streamliner Vans for larger parties (5-12 passengers).