Kilauea Volcano Adventure

A "Keep It Hawaii" Merit Award Winner

Experience the awesome spectacle of Pele's creation. There's not a better place to witness the timeless battle between the elemental forces of fire and water than at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. And there's no better way to explore the park than in the company of one of our Interpretive Guides. Let us share with you our passion and knowledge of the special places and stories that make Kilauea world renown.

Schedule: Morning trips departing daily. 11 - 12 hours round trip, departs from Hawaii Forest & Trail Headquarters, and Waikoloa Kings' Shops.

Rated: Easy to Moderate; All ages welcome.

Included in the Tour: Continental Breakfast including fresh local fruit, baked goods, 100% Kona coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Deli style lunch with assorted soft drinks, juices and bottled water.

Gear Provided: Walking sticks, day packs, warm wear and rain ponchos.

Prices: Adult: $169.00, plus tax. Child (12 and under): $129.00, plus tax.

Group Size: Tour limited to a maximum of 12 guests.

Restrictions: Guests should be able to hike on uneven or rocky terrain. We sometimes encounter cool, wet or muddy conditions. Other tour restrictions may apply.

What to Bring & Wear: Comfortable walking shoes, long pants, and a light jacket.

The location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is an inspiring and precious place. It is listed as both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere preserve. Once at the park we will see splendid native rainforest, visit a lava tube, discover remarkable volcanic formations and experience an incredible diversity of geography and climates. Through detailed geologic and natural history interpretation, short walks and driving, we explore and learn about the world's most active volcano. A picnic lunch is served en route during our adventure through the park.

The drive: You'll really get an idea of how big the Big Island is during the course of this tour. And you'll appreciate that someone else is doing the driving. Starting out from our headquarters in Kona, we travel up the coast over desolate lava flows for about a half hour before proceeding up the rolling pasturelands on the flanks of Mauna Kea. Turning onto the Saddle Road that traverses the island between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, you'll see a dramatic and diverse landscape of ranchland, sub-alpine dryforest and rainforest (with striking features such as cinder cones, lava flows, lava tubes and kipuka). We'll stop for a short break and continental-style breakfast. Continuing on, we drop down to near sea-level on our way through Hilo where we begin the final climb to the summit of Kilauea and the lush entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On the way back, we'll travel along the Hamakua Coast and pass through Waimea before returning to Kona. By the end of the day, you'll have traveled over 300 miles and experienced an elevation change (we go up and down a few times!) of over 30,000 feet.

  • Pickups: Hawaii Forest & Trail Headquarters, Waikoloa Kings' Shops
  • Destination: Kilauea Volcano Adventure
  • Route: HFT HQ North on 19 to Waikoloa Rd (runs between 19 and 190 at Waikoloa), 190 to 190/200 junction, 200 East to Hilo, 11 South to Kilauea Volcano Adventure

FAQs

  1. How much hiking do we do? We'll stop a couple times throughout the adventure for short hikes of less than one mile.
  2. Is there elevation gain? Except for the lava tube exploration, the trails are relatively level. While exploring the lava tube, expect to descend approximately 30 feet.
  3. Will we get to see active lava? Due to the dynamic nature of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kilauea Volcano, active lava viewing conditions can change daily or even hourly. As of June 29th, 2007 the crater at Puu Oo is no longer erupting. Please contact our office staff for the most current volcano conditions, or visit the Eruption update page via the hyperlink in the Links section.