Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Volcano National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii, HI
Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park including a visit to Kilauea caldera where you will witness the dramatic changes from recent or perhaps current volcanic eruptions within Halema'uma'u crater. Feel the heat of steaming bluffs and enjoy the cool mist of the Hawaiian rainforest. Enjoy short hikes and Hawaiian cultural interpretation throughout Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with your certified national park guide.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii, HI 96718
Enjoy a walk through the Hawaiian rainforest to Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube). Explore the 500 year old underground tube where hot molten lava once rushed through.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chain of Craters Road, Island of Hawaii, HI
Explore volcanic formations amongst frozen fields of lava and peer down into once active volcanic craters. Learn the history, culture and geology of Kilauea volcano on this small group guided tour.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rainbow Falls, Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720
View the majestic 80 foot waterfall of Waianuenue or Rainbow Falls. Enjoy the tropical landscape as you learn the legends of Hawaii.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Big Island Candies, 585 Hinano St, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720-4428
Get your pep in your step with tasty hand-made chocolates, locally grown macadamia nuts and island fresh coffee!
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Lili'uokalani Gardens, 189 Lihiwai St #151, 49 Banyan Drive Adjacent To The Hotels And Along Hilo Bay, Hilo, Island of Hawaii, HI 96720-4680
Enjoy the scenic drive through Liliuokalani Gardens with large banyan trees, fishponds, pagodas and picture perfect landscaping along Hilo bay.
See Availability.
1: 329 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
2: 1 Crater Rim Drive, Volcano, HI 96785, USA
Traveler pickup is offered
CRUISE SHIP PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:
Upon disembarking the cruise ship in Hilo, head through the passenger terminal and look for your guide standing to the left near the pre-arranged tour operators with a sign that reads "Mauka Makai Adventures". Please check in with your guide 10-15 minutes prior to tour start time.
HILO AIRPORT PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:
Please schedule your flight to arrive at the Hilo Airport a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the tour start time. We require your airline flight number and arrival time to schedule pickup at the airport. As you disembark the airplane head towards Baggage Claim “D”. Look for the tour operator parking area near the restrooms. Our vans are marked with the logo "Mauka Makai Adventures".**
HILO HOTEL PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:
We provide pick up service at Hilo Hotels along Banyan Drive only. Please meet your tour guide near the front entrance to the lobby, our vans are marked with the logo "Mauka Makai Adventures." We may also contact you prior to the tour to make arrangements for a meeting location.
ALL OTHERS STAYING ON ISLAND:
If you are driving from Kona, Waikoloa, or another part of the island, please confirm that you will meet us at the Hilo Mo'oheau Bus Terminal (329 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720). There is free parking adjacent to the bus terminal. Look for our van parked in the parking lot with the "Mauka Makai Adventures" logo on it.
OR MEET US AT THE VOLCANO:
You may choose to meet us at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kilauea Visitor Center. This option would be for a Volcano Only Private Tour (all of the tour time will be in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the sites in Hilo will not be included). Park entrance fees will apply to your vehicle and the tour start and end time may be adjusted.
Airports
5 hours 30 minutes(approx.)
Returns to original departure point
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Operates in all weather conditions (be prepared for sun, wind and rain).
Covered walking shoes are required and a jacket is highly recommended.
We do not guarantee you will see molten lava on this tour.
HOTEL pick-up is offered for select HILO HOTELS ONLY. If you are staying outside of Hilo, please plan to meet at the Hilo Mo'oheau Bus Terminal (please confirm at time of booking).
CRUISE SHIP passengers, we pick-up directly at HILO HARBOR and will adjust the tour time as needed to accommodate your ships time in port.
For a one DAY TRIP to the Big Island, please make your travel arrangements to and from the HILO AIRPORT. Schedule your flight arrival a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the tour start time AND provide your flight details at time of booking.
Children ages 8 years and up may participate in tour. All participants must have a paid seat. We do not allow any "lap" children.
Kilauea volcano is an active volcano, you may be exposed to volcanic gas on this tour.
This tour cannot accommodate guests with wheelchairs, scooters or oxygen tanks.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Posted By : 489shannons
Amazing tour of Volcano National Park!! Jill was our guide and grew up on the island. She was a wealth of knowledge. Being a small group we were able to see a ton of the park as well as explore some areas in Hilo. Definitely recommend this tour company!!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-28
Posted By : Kevin_P
First, Jill was an incredible guide!!! She has genuine and meaningful stories about the area. She was super attentive and catered to our specific requirements. We thought we had scheduled a different, longer tour, but I am so glad we ended up with Jill!! I would (and may) book this tour again in the future. Highly recommended!!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-09-07
Posted By : Nomad782809
They customized a tour to fit our flight schedule! Jill was not only kind and professional, but was a wealth of knowledge! We learned so much from her and she knew exactly where to take us to ensure we hit all the highlights! Without her guidance there is not way we would have known all these places existed!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-08-06
Posted By : LovedStJohns112022
Our Volcanoes tour with Mauka Makai was the highlight of our two week Hawaiian adventure! We are in Big Island for the second half of our trip, and did a private tour for our family of four with Jill and Mauka Makai. What a wonderful experience to get a true Hawaiian perspective on this beautiful island and all it has to offer! The tour started promptly and Jill was so warm and such a great energy to be with. She shared so much of the history and culture of Hilo and Hawaii, with a very personal touch weaving in stories of her family, her upbringing on the island, and her insights into the local culture and traditions. She truly was wonderful - we especially enjoyed her storytelling of some of the Hawaiian legends of Pele, Maui, and other stories that had our young pre-teen kids mesmerized. Quite a feat! We also got lucky with the weather , having amazing weather to explore the caldera. Jill worked the sequence of the trip so that we felt like we had the park to ourselves - we were literally the only ones on our hike and at the viewing outlook of the caldera. It was truly special. If you are considering a tour of the volcanoes, and especially a private tour for a small group, look no further and just book this trip, you won’t regret it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-07-08
Posted By : Brian_C
Great day, excellent tour with a fun and knowledgeable host. Josh kept us entertained and on time but never rushed. He was prepared with umbrellas in the rain and took us places and told us history, facts and stories we would never have gotten in a larger or self guided tour. Worth the money. You'll have a great time.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-04-06
Posted By : Daydream107861
Our family really enjoyed this tour. Jill was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great experience for all of us to visit the volcano viewing locations. Also enjoyed the stops at the waterfalls and chocolate factory. Highly recommend this tour.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-08-03
Posted By : joshwenttoaplace
It rained and was Josh's fault. 0/10.
For real though, we had a great time on this tour despite the rain trying to obscure everyone's view of Kīlauea. Plenty of local knowledge from an enthusiastic guide who knew the right places to go at the right times. Josh was also more than happy to provide flexibility in the tour, as well as pick up and drop off.
(Just for clarity's sake, Josh is one of the owners. I'm not talking about myself in the third person)
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-05-06
Posted By : millers308
Josh is a fun and knowledgeable guide and the large Mercedes shuttle van was immaculate. Max 10 people which is great. But be aware that while the description says several short hikes, that is mainly true, but the main hike to see the lava at the top of Kilauea is two-miles round trip. And the description also says uneven terrain which is also very true. So if you're not steady on your feet or can't walk a mile in one go - this isn't a tour for you. The tour also ended at Big Island Candies (chocolate factory), which was fun for us but others might find that annoying. Anyway, we had a great time and recommend :)
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-04-06
Posted By : cristina_d
Josh fue un guía excelente, amable y divertido. Fue un gran día. Sabía muchísimas cosas de la isla y los volcanes.
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-07-30
Posted By : Rey_del_Castillo
Josh fue genial y nos contó muchísimas cosas de la isla y de los volcanes. Puntual, amable y pendiente de su grupo. Fue un gran día. Muchas gracias Josh
Rating :
Posted On : 2022-07-30
