Not worth the long day in the car. Just drive directly to the volcano and back.
This tour is called the VOLCANO National Park Experience, however you spend the VAST majority of the day making stops at other places. This makes the tour not really worth the super long time investment required. If you have your own car, just drive to these spots yourself. Our Experience:
We got picked up at 7:30 am, and spent 1.5 HOURS picking up other guests. We didn't really get on the road until 9 am. We stopped briefly at a mediocre coffee shop (no farm tour, nothing...just dropped off at the gift shop). We drove around the bottom of the island and stopped at a cute place for lunch around 11:30. We stopped at a black sand beach for 20 minutes and WE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE ACTUAL VOLCANO UNTIL 2PM!!! We left the volcano at 3:30, and had a almost 3 hour drive home. IT WAS AN ENTIRE DAY (7:30 am to 6 pm) of driving for 1.5 hours at the volcano. I understand that there's a significant distance to and from the park, but please be more clear about what this tour actually is.
事業者からの返答
Aloha, and mahalo for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. However, we do want to clarify an important point regarding the tour you booked.
Our Volcano National Park Experience is designed as a full-day island experience, not as a transportation service directly to and from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The tour highlights and itinerary are provided on our website and across our affiliate booking platforms so guests can review what is included before making their reservation.
The stops you mentioned — including the coffee experience, lunch, black sand beach, and the other scenic areas along the way — are intentional parts of the itinerary. They allow our guests to experience the volcanic landscape, local communities, coastline, and scenery that make the island so unique before reaching Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
It is also important to remember that the Hawaiian Islands themselves were created by volcanic activity. The purpose of this experience is therefore not simply to spend every hour inside the National Park, but to experience the remarkable volcanic island and the landscapes that resulted from that geological history.
We certainly understand that guests have different expectations. If someone is specifically looking for a tour that spends the majority of the day inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, then a self-drive or park-focused experience may indeed be a better choice. For guests who want to experience more of the island along with the National Park, our full-day itinerary is designed specifically for that purpose.
Regarding the time spent picking up other guests, we understand that this can feel lengthy, particularly on a busy tour day. We appreciate that feedback and will continue looking for ways to make the transportation portion of the experience as efficient and comfortable as possible.
We do appreciate your comments, but we also want future guests reading your review to understand that the stops and overall structure of this tour are not hidden or accidental — they are part of the advertised experience.
Mahalo for joining us, and we wish you safe and enjoyable travels throughout Hawaiʻi.
With aloha,
The Aloha Sunshine Tours ʻOhana 🌺🤙
D
Debra_P
September 29, 2026 · via Viator
Kevin is great and Hawaii is amazing
It was a full day, but packed with interesting stories and information about the island. Our driver, Kevin, was the best. Take lots of pictures because it’s so beautiful.
事業者からの返答
Mahalo for the awesome review! 🌺 We’re stoked to hear Kevin kept the full day interesting with great stories and island knowledge. Maui is definitely a place where you’ll want plenty of pictures! 📸🤙 Mahalo for exploring with us!
B
brkfauber
September 18, 2026 · via Viator
Mark, our guide, was a...
Mark, our guide, was a very nice man. However, we did not do anything except drive all day, eat lunch, and visit the Volcanos National Park. We did not visit any other site, or even have some explanation for the drive-by locations. We certainly did not get our money’s worth for the drive-around, nor learn anything except for the Volcanos. The driving lasted from 8:15 AM- 6:45. First time we have ever had an experience of this type with Viator. Perhaps the itinerary needs to be updated so others are not surprised.
事業者からの返答
Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations, particularly regarding the amount of time spent driving and the lack of stops and commentary along the way.
We’re glad to hear that you found Mark to be a nice and courteous guide, but we understand that a long day in the vehicle without enough opportunities to stop, explore, and learn about the locations along the route can be disappointing. Your comments about the itinerary are especially important, and we’ll be reviewing them with our team to make sure the experience and expectations are communicated as clearly as possible.
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and are sorry that this was not the experience you expected from Aloha Sunshine Tours. Thank you again for the constructive feedback. 🌺🤙
E
Ellie G
September 16, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing Tour!
We had Mel as our tour guide and he was the absolute best! He picked us up right at our hotel and the tour itself was so fun and we also learned so much!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that Mel made your day such a fun and memorable experience. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the tour while also learning so much along the way. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Mel—he’ll really appreciate them!
Thank you for choosing Aloha Sunshine Tours, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Hawaii someday! 🌺🤙
K
Kristy_W
September 13, 2026 · via Viator
Island Tour
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and great sense of humor. Had a little taste of the island from different areas. Volcano experience great.
事業者からの返答
Mahalo for the great review! 🌺 We’re glad you enjoyed the tour, got a taste of different parts of the island, and had a great time at the volcano! 🌋 A little knowledge, a little humor, and a whole lot of Hawaii makes for a good day. 🤙 Thanks for riding with us!
D
David_K
September 11, 2026 · via Viator
It was a real fun and...
It was a real fun and educational experience with Mel as he was funny and also informative throughout the entire time
事業者からの返答
Mahalo for the awesome review! 🌺 We’re stoked to hear Mel kept the tour fun, funny, and informative from start to finish. That’s exactly the kind of island experience we love to share! 🤙 Thanks for riding with Aloha Sunshine Tours!
C
Cynthia_S
August 7, 2026 · via Viator
Volcano Park Tour
The Volcano Park is a great place to visit and learn about the volcanic history on the Big Island. You also see a lot more of the island than you might otherwise. Our tour guide, Jenny, was very knowledgeable, personable, and attentive. It's a long day but worth it! The live jazz at the Punalu'u was a nice surprise. Food was great!
事業者からの返答
Mahalo for the wonderful review! We’re so glad Jenny made your day memorable and that you enjoyed the volcano, local food, and live jazz! 🌋🎶🌺
I
Ita_P
July 26, 2026 · via Viator
Kevin was friendly,...
Kevin was friendly, knowledgeable and appreciated his attention to detail. Recommend this tour to everyone, it’s an amazing experience and you get to see parts of this beautiful island.
事業者からの返答
Aloha Ita_P! 🌺
Mahalo for your review! We are so glad to hear you had such an amazing experience on the **Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Experience From the Big Island**.
It’s wonderful to know how much you appreciated Kevin’s friendly, knowledgeable care and attention to detail while showing you around this beautiful island. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words and high recommendation to him! 🌋🏝️✨
*A hui hou* (until we meet again)! 🤙
T
Travel30212887292
July 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great way to experience the island of Hawai’i (The Big Island).
Our Volcanoes National Park tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and our guide, Kevin, made the experience unforgettable. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of the Big Island and how volcanoes are formed, making complex geology easy to understand. What made the tour even more special was how he blended ancient Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions with the scientific explanations behind volcanic activity. It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the island and its incredible landscape.
Every stop along the tour was thoughtfully planned. We enjoyed some of the best Kona coffee at Kona Joe’s and treated ourselves to delicious malasadas at Punaluʻu Bake Shop. From the breathtaking scenery to the fascinating stories and local flavors, every part of the day was memorable.
If you’re visiting the Big Island, I highly recommend this tour—especially if you have Kevin as your guide. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling truly brought Hawaii’s history and natural wonders to life.
事業者からの返答
Aloha Travel30212887292! 🌺
Mahalo nui loa for your review! We are so thrilled to hear that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Experience was one of the highlights of your trip. 🏝️✨
It’s wonderful to know how much you enjoyed Kevin’s rich storytelling, from the scientific geology to ancient Hawaiian history and culture. We’re also glad you enjoyed the stops at Kona Joe’s and Punaluʻu Bake Shop! We’ll be sure to pass your kind words and high recommendation directly along to Kevin.
A hui hou (until we meet again)! 🤙
A
Anonymous
July 14, 2026 · via Viator
Great experience
Our Volcanoes National Park tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and our guide, Kevin, made the experience unforgettable. He did a wonderful job explaining the history of the Big Island and how volcanoes are formed, What made the tour even more special was how he blended ancient Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions with the scientific explanations behind volcanic activity. It gave us a much deeper appreciation for the island and its incredible landscape.
Every stop along the tour was thoughtfully planned. We enjoyed some of the best Kona coffee at Kona Joe’s and treated ourselves to delicious malasadas at Punaluʻu Bake Shop. From the breathtaking scenery to the fascinating stories and local flavors, every part of the day was memorable.
If you’re visiting the Big Island, I highly recommend this tour—especially if you have Kevin as your guide. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling truly brought Hawaii’s history and natural wonders to life.
事業者からの返答
Aloha Anony! 🌺
Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to share such a wonderful review! We are so thrilled to hear that your Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour was one of the highlights of your trip to the Big Island. 🌋✨
It is fantastic to hear how Kevin brought the experience to life by weaving together ancient Hawaiian culture, history, and the science of volcanic activity. We are also delighted that you enjoyed the stops at Kona Joe's and Punaluʻu Bake Shop!
We will be sure to pass your lovely compliments along to Kevin—he will be so happy to know how much his passion and storytelling meant to you.
*A hui hou* (until we meet again)! 🤙
