Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Tour - Volcanoes National Park & Hilo





Description
Discover one of Hawaiʻi’s most unique and visually striking natural wonders on this unforgettable visit to Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach. Stroll along the shoreline where endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) often bask in the sun. Dip your toes in the cool waters, explore tide pools teeming with marine life. Your all inclusive tour includes the Hilo Discovery and Volcanoes National Park Explorer packages. As a locally owned and operated tour company based on Hawaiʻi Island, we offer immersive, guided experiences while sharing not just the breathtaking beauty of volcanoes, waterfalls, and valleys – but the stories, language, and spirit that make these places sacred. Our expertly guided tours highlight the island’s natural beauty, rich history, and volcanic landscapes. We also offer custom and private tours!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover one of Hawaiʻi’s most unique and visually striking natural wonders on this unforgettable visit to Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach on this all-inclusive tour. Located on the Big Island’s southeastern coast, and known for its jet-black shoreline formed by cooled lava fragments, Punaluʻu offers a rare and captivating sight that perfectly blends natural beauty with cultural significance. Also included in the excursion is the Volcano Explorer which is a drive through Chain of Craters Road and Crater Rim Drive, scenic stops, as well as a self guided visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Also included in the excursion is the Volcano Explorer which is a drive through Chain of Craters Road and Crater Rim Drive, scenic stops, as well as a self guided visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: - Kīlauea Visitor Center - Volcano House - Halemaʻumaʻu Crater (Uekahuna Look Out) - Steamy Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) - Kīlauea Iki Overlook - Thurston Lava Tube
Included in the excursion is the Hilo Discovery which includes a drive through Historic Hilo town and stops at: - Reed’s Bay - Banyan Tree Drive - Queen Liliuokalani Gardens - Rainbow Falls - King Kamehameha Statue - Big Island Candies
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- We will contact you regarding any specific details about your tour. - Cruise ship Passengers: - While our tours are scheduled to begin at 8:00 am, we know that delays happen, and that it may take some time to come off the ship. We keep track of ship arrival times and will adjust accordingly. You will not miss your tour. - Tour lengths vary and adjustments to the schedule may need to be made in order to accommodate your timely return. - Cruise Ship Hilo Port – Look for your Guide with the “Aloha Aina Tours” sign. You will be provided instructions for pick up either inside the terminal or right outside Hilo port gates. - If your ship is unable to dock, we’ll issue a full refund. When possible, we’ll also try to reschedule your tour so you don’t miss out. This situation is entirely outside your control, and we want to make it worry-free for you.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(35)
This was one of the best tours I have ever been on. My husband and I flew in from Oahu to Hawaii just for the day. The tour guide, Amanda, was incredible. She was waiting for us when we got off the plane and from the moment she picked us up was engaging and accommodating. She has so much knowledge of Hilo and the island of Hawaii and shares it in an understanding and very interesting manner. She took us everywhere and informed us of the best views and photo spots at the beach and waterfalls. She shared the history of the volcano, the current and past eruptions, the makeup of the volcano and the chemical reaction that is currently happening. She knows the landscape of Hilo, the vegetation and migration of the plants. She knows history of what country and people contributed to the development of Hawaii. She is so interesting and what she shares is fascinating. She is proud of her tours and loves the company she works for praising them for treating her so well and providing tours that people enjoy. The van was clean and comfortable. She is a great driver. The bento box lunch was delicious. She provided beverages and made the day very comfortable. This is a tour worth taking and I hope all of the guides are as enjoyable as Amanda. Working with Viator is very easy too.
Our guide Ken was very interesting and informative. He took the time to answer all questions and make sure that we were safe and aware of our surroundings. Good tour guide for all ages. Educated us on the culture, but didn't talk to excess.
This company goes above and beyond, excellent service. We were collected from the ship for tour, through no fault of Company Immigration held us up on boat so tour got severely delayed by 2half hours, plus the ship wanted us back by 3.30pm so instead of 9 to 11 hr tour it was crammed into a very short time. Because of shorter time this company also gave us a slight refund. Again brilliant. Nothing to much bother with this company. The lady guide whom drove was so brilliant trying to let us see all major areas to enjoy albeit shorter times.
Mahalo so much for your wonderful review! 🌺 We truly appreciate your understanding regarding the unexpected immigration delay. While it was completely beyond anyone’s control, we know how disappointing it can be to lose valuable time on the island. We’re so glad our guide was able to make the most of the shortened day and still show you many of the highlights of the Big Island. We always do everything we can to take care of our guests, including adjusting the tour and providing a partial refund when circumstances significantly shorten the experience. Thank you again for choosing Aloha ʻĀina Tours Hawaiʻi and for your kind words about our team. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Hawaiʻi someday for an even longer adventure! Mahalo and aloha! 🌴🌋 — Aloha ʻĀina Tours Hawaiʻi
Holly was a fantastic guide and driver. It was one of the highlights of our trip! So amazing to see a live volcano. And the black sand beach is truly different than the other black sand beaches we saw earlier.
Aloha, Mahalo so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear Holley helped make your tour one of the highlights of your trip. She loves sharing the beauty and stories of the Big Island, and we’re so glad you enjoyed your day with her. Seeing an active volcano is truly a unique experience, and we’re happy you also enjoyed the beauty of Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach. It really is a special place with its striking black sand and incredible scenery. Thank you for choosing Aloha ʻĀina Tours. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to the Big Island again someday!
Holley was absolutely amazing! We ended up being the only group on the trip and she took us everywhere we wanted to go. She was so personable and a great tour guide through the national park. She was able to provide great stories and facts about the history of the volcanoes and the islands. Highly recommend this tour!
Aloha, Mahalo so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience with Holley. She truly loves sharing the history, culture, and natural beauty of Hawaiʻi, and we’re so glad her stories and knowledge made your day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park memorable. We’re also happy you enjoyed the flexibility of having a private experience that day. Thank you for recommending Aloha ʻĀina Tours—it means so much to our small, local business. We hope to welcome you back to the Big Island again someday!
This was a great tour with lots to see. Aaron was out tour guide and was very informative. We saw the volcanoes, waterfalls, and more. He answered any questions we had and was always very accommodating. Snacks and water provided throughout the tour.
Mahalo for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed seeing the volcanoes, waterfalls, and all the beauty the Big Island has to offer. Aaron takes great pride in sharing his knowledge and making sure every guest has a memorable experience, so we’re thrilled to hear he was informative, accommodating, and able to answer all your questions. Thank you for choosing Aloha ʻĀina Tours, and we hope to welcome you back to Hawaiʻi for another adventure in the future! 🌺🤙
I loved the beach it was similar to the HANA but better. The volcano was boring and not as exciting as I expected. My husband loved it. I wish the conversation from the driver was a bit more interesting, so many other tour guides give a TON of history and fun facts, I felt ours missed a lot and I zoned out because of it and it made the car ride feel even longer.
Aloha, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach—it really is a special place, and we’re happy to hear it exceeded your expectations. We’re also glad your husband enjoyed Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, though we understand it’s not everyone’s favorite stop. We especially appreciate your comments about the narration during the drive. We strive to provide an engaging experience filled with local history, culture, and fun facts, so we’re sorry to hear we missed the mark on your tour. Your feedback is valuable, and we’ll share it with your guide as part of our ongoing training to help make future tours more informative and enjoyable. Mahalo again for choosing Aloha ʻĀina Tours. We truly appreciate your honest feedback and hope to welcome you back to the Big Island someday.
We had an absolutely amazing experience on our Big Island tour, and it honestly exceeded all expectations! Our tour guide was fantastic from start to finish—so knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely caring. Since we were the only guests on the tour, everything felt extra special and personalized just for us. We were able to move at a comfortable pace and even finished earlier than planned. What truly stood out was how thoughtful our guide was. She suggested that we ask the airline agent about taking an earlier flight from the Big Island airport, which turned out to be the best advice! Because of her, we were able to leave much earlier and avoid waiting over 3.5 hours at the airport. That alone made our entire travel day so much easier and stress-free. We are so grateful for her care and attention to detail. She didn’t just guide us—she truly looked out for us and made our experience so smooth and enjoyable. Highly, highly recommend this tour and especially this wonderful guide. She made our Big Island trip unforgettable!
Thanks so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing experience exploring the Big Island with us. We believe every guest deserves a memorable and personalized adventure, and we’re so happy our guide was able to make your day extra special. It’s wonderful to hear that her suggestion helped make your travel day smoother and less stressful—that’s exactly the kind of aloha spirit and care we strive to provide. We’ll be sure to share your compliments with her; she’ll be delighted to know she made such a positive impact on your trip. Mahalo for choosing Aloha ʻĀina Tours and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back to Hawaiʻi again someday! 🌺🤙🚐🌋
Great experience. Amanda, our tour guide was awesome.
Mahalo for the kind words! We’re so happy you had a great experience. Amanda will be thrilled to hear your feedback — she truly loves sharing Hawaiʻi with our guests. We appreciate you choosing Aloha Aina Tours Hawaiʻi and hope to see you again on your next visit! 🌺
This tour is still being talked about with my group. We had a big group so I was looking for tours that could be enjoyed by everyone. I found this company via suggestions on a Facebook group, and we were not disappointed. Holley was our tour operator, and when she picked us up, we knew we were in good hands. She received word that morning that Kilauea was likely to put on a show, so she was determined to get us there to see it. And boy did she. Her excitement got the group excited, and everyone enjoyed the entire day (and is still talking about how this tour was our highlight of the whole trip). We were able to see some of the Volcano National Park (and she was accommodating to everyone in the group to ensure everyone got to do what they came to see). We saw the highlights of Hilo, and she provided great stories and experiences in each place she took us. Would highly recommend looking into this company; you won't be disappointed.
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We’re truly honored that your tour with Aloha Aina Tours was such a memorable part of your trip. Holley will be so excited to hear your kind words. She absolutely loves sharing the beauty and excitement of the Big Island, and we’re thrilled you were able to experience Kīlauea putting on a show that day! It means a lot to us that your entire group — especially with such a wide range of interests and abilities — felt accommodated and enjoyed the experience together. Mahalo again for trusting us with your adventure and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you all back to the Big Island again someday! 🌺



