Arrive at the Kealakekua Bay and Captain Cook Monument, a Marine Life Conservation District and where the first western explorer made contact with Hawaii. Hop into the warm Hawaiian water and explore the coral reef wall, dramatically dropping from 10 feet (3 m) to 130 feet (40 m). Often described as an "aquarium-like experience," the Kealakekua Bay is home to a vast array of marine life, including turtles, eels, clown fish, and the humuhumunukunukuapua'a, the Hawaiian state fish.
After an hour in the water, return to the boat and bask in the sun's warmth as you enjoy some light snacks and beverages. Read More close
At the Kailua Pier, board a 65-foot (19-m) catamaran—complete with first-class amenities, cushioned seating, and restrooms—and set off toward the breeding grounds of the gentle oceanic giants the Hawaiians call na kohola. These incredible creatures return to the tropical waters off the island's coast each year to breed and calf their young.
As you enjoy island juices and Kona coffee, an expert naturalist recounts fascinating facts and details about the whales, unveiling the mysteries of the more than 8,000 humpbacks that make the journey to Hawaii each year.
Humpback whales are known for the particularly long and complex songs they use to communicate, so listen in on their stirring, eerie melodies using a special underwater hydrophone. Watch as they play and feed, and keep your eyes peeled for other marine life—these life-filled waters are also home to spinner dolphins, pilot and sperm whales, manta rays, and green sea turtles. Read More close
Your adventure takes flight at Kona International Airport, where you settle into an executive-style Bell 407 helicopter. En route to the volcano area, fly over the world-famous Kona coffee district and skirt 3 of Hawaii's volcanoes: Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. As you near Kīlauea, the only erupting volcano in Hawaii, your pilot keeps an eye out for hot lava. Then, sink deep into uninhabited valleys that showcase the islands' wild, untamed beauty. Water cascades down soaring sheer valley walls, and surf pounds rocky cliffs and secluded beaches.
Land in historic North Kohala, where you're outfitted with a helmet and harness for the second half of your adventure—a thrilling canopy zipline experience. Trek along elevated suspension bridges, traverse tree platforms, glide on ziplines, and rappel from the final tree. The zipline system offers smooth-stop braking and other features to ensure your safety and comfort and deliver an experience like no other.
At the end of the course, enjoy free time at the charming historic plantation town of Hawi. Browse shops and grab some lunch before taking a hassle-free ride back to Kona International Airport.
A stop at the Jaggar Museum offers a wealth of interesting facts and history about the volcanic activity in the area. From a panoramic lookout, take in the amazing views of a crater that has been continuously erupting since early 2008. Watch as steam and gas rise to the sky, and if you're lucky, you might even see a faint glow from the lava.
Take a break from bicycling and hike to scenic lookouts along the way. A short hike through a lush rainforest takes you to a lava tube where you can walk on lava that once flowed. Enjoy a scrumptious picnic lunch at one of the many stops in the park. Read More close
Accompanied by a US Coast Guard-licensed captain, set off in a small, rigid hull, perfect for swooping through breathtaking sea caves and lava tubes. Drive along the scenic coastline and arrive at Kealakekua Bay for a 45-minute dip near the Captain Cook Monument. Learn the historical significance of this unique location as you explore the 130-foot (40-m) deep coral reef wall and snorkel around clown fish, turtles, eels, and maybe even an octopus.
On your ride to Honaunau Bay (Place of Refuge), listen as your captain spouts Jeopardy-worthy Hawaiian marine trivia. Relax in the sun’s warmth and enjoy beverages, fresh fruit, and island chips. Keep an eye out for lively nai’a (dolphins) swimming alongside the boat.
Arrive at the flat lava rocks of Honaunau Bay and discover the ecosystem living within shallow-water coral gardens. A wonderland only accessible by boat, this bay's warm, clear water surrounds you with honu (sea turtles) and schools of tropical fish. See if you can spot (and pronounce) the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Hawaii’s state fish. Read More close
Depart from the Kona Airport in a Bell 407, Hawaii’s premier touring helicopter. Fly over Kona’s famous coffee district on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa before making your way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to hunt for red-hot lava around Kīlauea, the world’s most active volcano, and Pu‘u ʻŌʻō Vent.
Descend into the Hilo Airport where the ground staff awaits to whisk you away to historic downtown Hilo for a short self-guided tour. After exploring the museums and landmarks by the seaside, be sure to grab a quick lunch.
Enjoy an exhilarating ride on 7 ziplines, taking you over running rivers and the beautiful gardens where there are more than 5,000 plant species. This thrilling ride also features views of spectacular waterfalls and Mauna Kea. If you don't want to zipline you can take a walking or Segway tour through the gardens.
At the end of your excursion, head back to the Hilo Airport, where your helicopter awaits to take you on the second half of your tour. Visit the breathtaking Kohala valleys and their lush tropical rain forests and waterfalls. Rounding out your trip, you get a birds-eye view of iconic white sand beaches, including Hāpuna Beach and Kua Bay. Then return to the Kona Airport in time to watch the beautiful sunset. Read More close
Your day begins at the Honokohau Harbor. Taking into consideration every diver's individual needs, sit on a customized 20-foot twin-vee boat with comfortable seating for 7 people and discuss your freediving experiences and desires for the day. Whether you are freediving to spear fish for dinner or to put photos on your wall, have fun in a supervised and safe environment.
Designed for beginners, intermediate, or advanced free divers, the class requires at least basic skills and understanding of diving masks, snorkels, fins, water orientation, and swimming ability. After a few hours of training on the boat, suit up and get in the water perusing the depths you are most comfortable with. Afterwards, enjoy lunch and a freshwater shower on the boat.
Before you hit the water, learn about freediving psychology and physiology as well as numerous skills and training regiments to greatly improve your ability instantly—even doubling or tripling your ability in a day. A guide or safety diver is in the water with you at all times to help with anything you might need. Read More close
Depart from Kona International Airport after a brief orientation. Climb into the Bell 407 helicopter and buckle up as you lift off from the ground below. En route to the volcano area, you fly over the world-famous Kona coffee district and skirt 2 of Hawaii’s towering volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Upon arrival to Kīlauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, your pilot searches out red-hot lava, pointing it out to you as you fly over. Then, venture deep into uninhabited valleys that showcase Hawaii’s wild, untamed beauty. The waterfall part of this helicopter tour takes you to where cascades flow down sheer valley walls. Then soar to the coast where surf pounds rocky cliffs and remote beaches.
In an air-conditioned aircraft, take to the skies and head toward one of the most geologically active areas in the world. Kilauea volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983, and it's just one of the volcanoes you see through the helicopter's over-sized windows. Be on the lookout for surface flows and steam vents as your pilot safely navigates over the volcanic landscape.
Soar above lush, tropical rainforest and multiple waterfalls, taking in the 422-foot (129-m) Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls' 80-foot (24-m) drop into a freshwater pool. Back on the ground, take a scenic drive to your zipline adventure.
Certified guides get you geared up and for an 8-line zipline course that hugs the lush Hilo forest reserve. The tour kicks off with a climb up a suspension structure that takes you to the first platform. Experience side-by-side zipping with dual ziplines that change elevation more than 1,000 feet (304 m) and extend more than half a mile (. 8 km) long.
After you're done soaring across river gorges and waterfalls, break for a deli-style lunch before a return transfer takes you back to your hotel.
Your guide picks you up and drives you through the "saddle" between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes along Saddle Road. Make a quick stop in Hilo for provisions before heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Preserve. Stop at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center, enjoy a picnic-style lunch, and visit the Jaggar Museum.
Then, make your way to the renowned Thurston Lava Tube. Hike down through the lush rainforest to the Kilauea Iki crater and venture across the steaming crater floor. This 4-mile (6. 4-km) hike culminates in a walk through the cave-like Thurston Lava Tube.
Next, visit the Volcano Winery and take a private tour of the vineyard and tea orchard. Sit down to a delicious meal served with local wine. End your adventure with a stop at the Halemaumau Crater to view the glow up close before returning to your hotel. Read More close
Kick off your adventure at Volcanoes National Park—an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Meet your guide and head to the lush rainforest, where you can hear the chirping of native birds and marvel at the colorful Hawaiian flora and fauna.
Next walk into a lava tube, a cave formed by once-flowing lava, and then witness the explosive power of the Halema’uma’u Crater. Continue to Kapoho-Kalapana Road, also known as the "Red Road," along the breathtaking coastline of the Puna district. Here, you can peer over jagged cliffs to see the black sand beaches that line Kaimu, a small town annihilated by the eruptive lava flow of the Kilauea volcano in 1990. Read More close
Your cycling adventure—mostly level terrain with a few small uphill and downhill sections—takes place around the rim of the Kilauea Volcano and along the Chain of Craters Road. Hike through the rainforest to the impressive Thurston Lava Tube and see the heart of the volcano's eruptions at Halema'uma'u Crater. During your ride stop at the Jaggar Museum, home of many seismographs which monitor every twitch of the earth.
After biking in Volcanoes National Park, journey to the Puna area by van. Travel the "Red Road" to admire the scenery as you weave through the forest and marvel at the jagged cliffs overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Pacific before walking out to the black-sand beach at Kaimu, forever changed by lava flows in the early 1990s. Read More close
Journey over the lava fields along the Kona coast and pass through the charming towns of Hawi and Kapaau—site of the life-size statue of King Kamehameha I on your way to the lush, green country of Kohala.
Arrive at the gate to a private reserve. Your 6WD Pinzgauer vehicle maneuvers down a short road along old sugar-cane fields. Hike along the 1. 5 mile (2. 4 km) loop trail and examine tunnels blasted and carved through solid rock, bringing much-needed water for agricultural use. Your guide provides details about this amazing irrigation network, stretching over 22 miles (35 km) as you walk through the aqueduct. Explore fascinating Hawaiian history with a visit to a former taro-farming site just off the path.
Enjoy a picnic lunch among far-reaching mountain views, lush green valleys, and up to 7 thundering waterfalls. At the last waterfall, plunge into the cool water for a refreshing dip before heading back to your hotel.
Nourished by afternoon showers and rich volcanic soil, the famous Kona Coffee Belt—on the slopes of Hualalai—produces some of the finest coffee in the world. Journey from sea level to a world of volcanic majesty at an elevation of 6,000 feet (1,828 m) on the privately owned lands of Kaupulehu. Although in plain sight of Kailua-Kona, the seldom-visited uplands seem geologic light-years away.
The story of Kona Coffee unfolds as you explore the volcanic and royal history of this area. Amid distinctive birdsongs, the rock-rambling tour takes you through a surreal landscape of native dryland forest, lava flows, and stunning craters. Along with seeing 3 distinct types of craters, follow your interpretive guide on a walk through an impressive lava tube.
Next, in the Kona Coffee Belt, visit a family-owned working coffee farm, encompassing all aspects of the process—growing, harvesting, roasting, and packaging. Go behind the scenes to see how bright red coffee cherries are handpicked, meticulously sorted for color and size, and roasted to produce a cup of coffee. Sample a few varieties and get a chance to buy whole-bean coffee direct from the farmer.
When you arrive, get state-of-the-art outdoor laser tag gear, join your combat squad, get a brief orientation, and then work together to strategically plan and complete your laser tag objective. Video games such as Call of Duty and Halo are a blast and now Hawaii Laser Tag offers this same type of gaming experience—where you are the real player right in the middle of the action.
Among 10 acres of a tropical cloud forest, you have room to run along trails and around bunkers with the summit of a dormant volcano, Mount Hualalai, as your stunning backdrop. Weave your way through the trees and get right in the middle of a strategic mission. Feel your heart pound as your teammates give you the signal to move up—the coast is clear. Read More close
Starting from the Hawaii Forest and Trail Headquarters in Kona, you're driven past varied landscapes such as lava flows, pastureland, dry forest, and rain forest on your way to the base of Mauna Kea. Stop in Humuula for a picnic dinner before a picnic dinner of either hot barbecue chicken or a cold vegetarian tofu wrap with peanut dipping sauce, both served alongside lemon-mint quinoa and a dinner roll. After your meal, grab your parka and continue the steep drive up to the summit.
Upon arrival, gaze out from the mountain at the peaks of nearby Mauna Loa and Hualalai, rising high above the countryside, and the far-away Haleakala crowning Maui. As you take in the view, a pastel sunset stretches over the Pacific.
When the sun sinks below the horizon, it's on to the Visitor Information Station at 9,000 feet (2,743 m). Warm up with a hot drink and some cookies as your guide sets up your telescope for a stargazing party like no other. Free from light pollution, Mauna Kea offers crystal-clear views of the stars. Listen to the tales of Hawaiian celestial lore and spend the rest of your time on the lookout for constellations and shooting stars. Read More close
Get started with a ride north along the coastline, and keep an eye out for open-country birds as you make your way to the old Mamalahoa Highway. From there, set off along the Saddle Road and watch for game birds as well as the pueo, or short-eared owl. After you stop for breakfast, it's time to head into the forest for one of 2 spectacular birding adventures.
Dry Forest Birding:
Just off Saddle Road, you can ride into the Kaohe Game Management Area, 4-wheel your way into Puu Laau for stunning views of the leeward coast below, and step into the Mauna Kea Forest Preserve for some serious bird watching in native Hawaiian dry forest. Keep watch for the critically threatened palila, the Hawaii amakihi, and the local species of the Hawaii elepaio with distinctive white feathering on its head.
Make your way to the Puu Oo Trail, a historic cattle drive route, on Mauna Loa's northeastern flank. An environment of windy clouds that often cloak the windward side of the island, this route takes you over century-old lava flows and into the Hawaiian rainforest.
Your vehicle parks at the trailhead, where you can set off toward some of the most productive birding areas in the state. Along the way, you can hope to spot iiwi, apapane, amakihi, omao, elepaio, and the elusive akiapolaau with its unique multipurpose beak. Read More close
The youngest island in the Hawaiian chain, the Big Island still has active lava flows, where steaming magma pours into the sea and melts across blackened lunar landscapes. In sharp contrast to this barren, underworld-like visage, the island is also covered in lush rainforests and palm-fringed beaches that fade into the sapphire sea. Touring with a naturalist guide is the perfect way to discover the island's spectacular diversity.
Ride in comfort to 4 different National Park sites, hopping out for short walks and enjoying locally sourced snacks and meals along the way. At Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, see where Hawaiians who had broken an ancient kapu (law) could seek refuge from the penalty of death. At Hawaii Volcanoes, watch for glowing ribbons of molten rock and walk through the surreal Thurston Lava Tube. And at Pu'ukohola Heiau, admire the temple of King Kamehameha the Great.
Climb on to the award-winning vessel, Kanoa II, and indulge in the first-class amenities before settling into a shaded, cushioned seat as your knowledgeable captain steers the boat towards the finest snorkeling spots. Along the way, don’t forget to scan the boat’s wake for smiling spinner dolphins.
After a brief cruise, you arrive at a marine preserve only accessible by boat. Strap on your snorkeling gear and dive into the warm Hawaiian sea. Join more than 600 underwater species in the swim of a lifetime set against a backdrop of stunning coral reef gardens.
Off the south shores of Kona, embark on a 35-mile (56 km) roundtrip journey and be sure to keep an eye out for lively nai'a (dolphin) swimming alongside the boat. The small raft-boat tour allows you to cruise through sea caves and along cliffs, blowholes, cinder cones, and lava tubes. Learn local legends and Hawaiian marine trivia from your knowledgeable captain and view striking landmarks from the best seat in the house.
Arrive at the Kealakekua Bay, a Marine Life Conservation District, and learn the historic significance of the nearby Captain Cook Monument. Explore the coral reef wall, dropping dramatically from 10 feet (3 m) to 130 feet (40 m). Meet a vast array of marine life, including turtles, clown fish, vibrant reefs and octopus.
Ride along the flat lava rocks of Honaunau Bay (Place of Refuge) and hop into the warm Hawaiian water to discover an underwater world of tropical fish. The third snorkel location is kept secret until you're on the boat—you won't be disappointed. Before the return to Kona, bask in the sun's warmth and enjoy a deli-lunch, tropical snacks, and drinks. Read More close
Leave the Honokohau harbor behind and travel 20 minutes up the Kona coast as the sun sinks down over the horizon. The experienced staff shares tips and instruction and gets you fitted with wetsuits and water gear prior to arriving, so you have plenty of time to actually jump in and swim among the rays.
Once at the manta viewing area, grab your dive light and jump into the ocean. Hold onto a flotation raft as you get your bearings and prepare for the experience of a lifetime. As the light from the boat shines out into the darkened tropical waters, the phytoplankton that mantas feed on swarm toward the glow. Watch as the graceful aquatic creatures swim around you with mouths wide open, feasting on plankton during this stunning underwater ballet.
At depths of only 30 feet (9 m), you can clearly see the ocean floor and observe how the rays appear from the darkness. With their calm nature and nothing that bites or stings, manta rays are one of the safest and most fascinating animals you can encounter in the wild. Read More close
After departing from Kona Airport, fly over the famed Kona coffee district on your way to explore the volcanic activity at Kīlauea and get a peek at hot lava. Then, turn your attention north to the town of Hilo and the lush rainforests of East Hawaii. Along the way see many waterfalls and notice how the windward side of the island is transformed by the water caught by the mountains.
Unlike any other tour on the Big Island, fly deep into the rainforest of Kohala for an exclusive landing. Here—normally only reached after hours of grueling hiking—walk the fertile valleys that King Kamehameha I did or relax at the scenic overlook. As you fly back to Kona, view the drastic change from the windward to leeward landscape and admire the white-sand beaches and resorts of Waikoloa. Read More close
Arrive at the trekking course, once the home of the Great King Kamehameha, and learn about the native flora that gave life to the ancient Hawaiian community. Take a deep breath of the sweet Hawaiian breeze, carrying the fragrance of gingers, guava trees, and eucalyptus across the island. As you strap into your safety harness, listen as your knowledgeable instructor trains you on zipline specifics and rope safety.
Take off from your first platform and feel the fresh air blowing through your hair as you whip through the stunning rainforest on a speedy zipline. Encounter a variety of stations, laced high above the ground among massive trees, varying from ladder climbs and suspension bridges to rappel stations and ziplines.
Once you've exhausted all of the course's obstacles, give your body a rest with a picnic-style deli lunch on the stunning cliff side of Pololu Valley. Embark on a short hike along the mountain through the dense rainforest and arrive at a cascading waterfall and swimming hole. Cool off with a refreshing dip in the water, or finish an already exciting day with cliff jumping. Read More close
Your last zipline is more than a half-mile (. 8 km) long, completing your adventure at exhilarating speeds. Gain a new and unique perspective of Big Island as you zip directly above a riverbed, multiple waterfalls, and rapids on this unforgettable experience.
After a scenic ride along Saddle Road, get geared up and head to your first platform, high above the Hilo Forest Reserve. When you’re ready, push off into a sea of green. You can zip by yourself or with a friend on the island’s only tandem zipline. Soar through a blurred alley of leaves and vines as the calls of exotic birds welcome you to the second leg of your 8-part zipline tour.
Zip between suspended platforms and fly over the turbulent Honolii River, wiping mist from your face as you plunge past cascading mountain waterfalls. Take a deep breath before the last leg of your zippy tour. The final segment of your adventure in the air ends with the longest zipline in Hawaii, which stretches over 2,400 feet (732 m). More than half a mile from where you started, cruise to a stop and enjoy a picnic lunch while you recover from the adrenaline rush.