Big Island Backroad Adventures LLC

Water and Fire

Water and Fire is a full-day guided tour on the Big Island that visits waterfalls along the North Hilo coast and then continues to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The tour crosses the Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to reach the east side of the island. Stops include Wailuku River State Park, where Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots are located, and the park itself, where the itinerary covers the rim of Halema'uma'u Crater, Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs, and the Thurston (Nahuku) Lava Tube. Guests are picked up from their lodging. The tour is rated easy and can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs when guests can enter the vehicle on their own. A private option is available. Several length options exist, with meals, snacks, and all non-alcoholic beverages included depending on the version chosen. The longer option includes a sit-down dinner in the town of Volcano. All park entrance fees are covered. Gear provided includes a Patagonia Rain Jacket and Nano Puff, Black Diamond Hiking Poles, Nikon ProStaff binoculars, and flashlights.

The Full Circle Big Island Tour

The Full Circle Big Island Tour travels the perimeter of the Big Island, stopping at a Kona coffee farm, Punalu'u black sand beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, the Hamakua coast, and Waipio Valley overlook. Guests are picked up from their lodging, so there is no separate meeting point to find. The tour is rated easy. Strollers can be brought along, and collapsible wheelchairs are accommodated as long as the guest can board the vehicle independently. Park entrance fees are covered, and included food and drink spans a picnic lunch from Punalu'u Bakery with coffee or tea and malasadas, all non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks. Patagonia rain jackets, hiking poles, binoculars, and flashlights are also provided. A naturalist guide delivers commentary and educational materials throughout the day. A photo package of professionally edited images is shared via Adobe Cloud. The longer version of the tour adds a sit-down dinner in Waimea, the historic town associated with Hawaiian cowboy culture, before the return to lodging.

Hilo Cruise Ship Guest Special - Botanical Gardens, Waterfalls, and Farmers Market

This shore excursion is designed for cruise ship passengers whose vessel docks at Hilo. A naturalist guide picks the group up directly from the Hilo Cruise Terminal, so there is no need to arrange separate transportation into town. The day moves through Wailuku River State Park, where Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots sit along an ancient lava-sculpted river, then north to the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Gardens, a reserve holding a wide range of tropical plant species along rainforest trails. A locally sourced lunch at a coastal restaurant is included before the group continues to Akaka Falls State Park for a guided walk through dense rainforest past multiple waterfalls. The day finishes at the Hilo Farmers Market before returning to the terminal. The tour is rated easy and runs as a private excursion. All entrance fees are covered, and gear lent for the day includes Patagonia rain jackets, Nikon binoculars, and Black Diamond hiking poles. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are provided throughout. Strollers can be accommodated, though any car seat needed must be supplied by the traveler.

Volcanoes, Lava Tubes & Black Sand Beaches Adventures

This tour covers the southwest portion of the Big Island, stopping at Punalu'u Bakery, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the route takes in Halema'uma'u Crater, Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs, and the Thurston Lava Tube. Guests are picked up from their lodging, so there is no separate meeting point to find. The tour is rated moderate in difficulty and suits travelers who want a naturalist guide walking them through the geology, cultural history, and ecology of the area. Gear is provided, including a Patagonia rain jacket and Nano Puff, Black Diamond hiking poles, Nikon binoculars, and flashlights. Entrance fees, a picnic-style lunch from Punalu'u Bakery, snacks, all non-alcoholic beverages, and a sit-down dinner in the town of Volcano are also covered. Strollers can be accommodated, and collapsible wheelchairs are welcome as long as the guest can enter the vehicle independently. A car seat must be provided if one is needed for a child.

The Ultimate Waterfall Experience

This full-day tour takes guests from their lodging through the rainforest and coastline on the eastern side of the Big Island, stopping at a series of waterfalls, state parks, and scenic overlooks. Pickup is included, and the day moves through Wailuku River State Park, a private waterfall property with swimming access, historic downtown Hilo for a locally sourced lunch, the Onomea scenic route, Akaka Falls State Park, and the Waipio Valley overlook. Gear such as rain jackets, hiking poles, and binoculars are provided, along with snacks, beverages, and all entrance fees. Guests who want to swim should bring a bathing suit, and waterfall rappelling at Kulaniapia Falls is available for those interested. Wheelchair users may be accommodated if they can board the vehicle independently and use a foldable chair.

Hilo Cruise Ship Guest Special - Water and Fire

This shore excursion picks up cruise ship passengers directly at the Hilo Cruise Ship Terminal, so there is no need to arrange separate transportation into town. The itinerary takes guests to Richardsons Beach Park, where a black sand beach formed by volcanic activity sits alongside warm rocks that Hawaiian green sea turtles use for resting. From there, the tour continues to Wailuku River State Park to visit Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots along a tropical river landscape. The day finishes at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where stops include the Kilauea overlook above Halema'uma'u crater, the Wahinekapu steaming bluffs, and the Thurston lava tube. A naturalist guide leads the full day and provides commentary on the geology, ecology, and cultural history of each location. The tour is rated easy in difficulty and can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs, provided the guest can enter the vehicle independently.

Kona Cruise Ship Guest Special - Kona Historical Tour

The tour visits Greenwell Farms, where a naturalist guide walks guests through the coffee fields and explains how the crop moves from plant to finished cup, with tastings of different roasts included. Tropical fruits such as mangos, papayas and bananas also grow on the property. The route continues to Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, known as the City of Refuge, where ancient Hawaiian temples, a great wall, fish ponds and traditional board games remain on the grounds. St. Benedict's Painted Church, decorated with frescos depicting biblical and Hawaiian scenes, is another stop along the way. The longer itinerary adds a picnic lunch at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park beside the Kona coastline. All admissions, beverages, snacks, a Patagonia rain jacket, Nikon binoculars, hiking poles and a photo package are included. The tour is rated easy and can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs when guests can enter the vehicle independently.

Meet you at Kilauea Volcano!

The tour meets at the park visitor center, where guides outfit guests with Patagonia rain jackets, Black Diamond hiking poles, Nikon binoculars, and flashlights before heading out. Stops follow Crater Rim Road and Chain of Craters Road through geological and biological landscapes. Guests stand at the rim of Halema'uma'u crater at Kilauea, walk through the Wahinekapu steaming bluffs, and take a guided loop through the Thurston Lava Tube, also known as Nahuku. Chain of Craters Road continues down to the coast, passing eruptive sites and ending near the Holei Sea Arch. Guides build a custom itinerary based on group interests and can add locations such as the Pu'uloa petroglyph field or Ha'akulamanu sulfur vents. A picnic lunch, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and a photo package shared through Adobe Cloud are all included. The tour is rated moderate in difficulty. Strollers and collapsible wheelchairs can be accommodated.

Best of Kona Shore Excursion

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park In-Depth Adventure

Pickup from lodging is included, and the route travels across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa before reaching the park. Once inside, a naturalist guide leads walks along the rim of Halema'uma'u crater at Kilauea, through the Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs where volcanic heat pushes rainwater back up through the ground as steam, and into the Nahuku lava tube through native forest. Chain of Craters Road is explored from end to end. The tour comes in multiple length options, and the longer versions allow more time exploring the park. The tour covers geology, cultural history, and ecology throughout the day. Gear provided includes Patagonia rain jackets, hiking poles, binoculars, flashlights, and umbrellas. A picnic lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included, as is a photo package shared digitally. Difficulty is rated moderate.

Pololu Valley Hike

The Pololu Valley Hike takes hikers to a black sand beach at the end of a rugged trail on the Big Island of Hawaii. The descent follows a path that horses still use today, winding down through a valley with steep cliffs and dense greenery along the coastline. The trail is relatively short but carries a genuine physical challenge, so a reasonable level of fitness helps before heading out. This outing suits travelers who want to reach a remote corner of the island and spend time in a quiet, natural setting away from developed areas. Big Island Backroad Adventures LLC operates the tour out of Kailua-Kona. There is no hotel pickup available, so arranging independent transportation to the meeting point is necessary. Cruise ship guests should note that a full refund applies if their ship does not reach port on the scheduled day. Checking all logistics ahead of time helps the day go smoothly.

Pu'u O'o Hike

The Pu'u O'o Hike follows a loop trail that the first peoples of the Big Island used as one of their original foot paths. The terrain shifts as the trail moves through old-growth stands of Koa and Ohia forest, then across barren lava fields, with varied landscapes in between. The trail is rated moderately challenging, so a reasonable base level of fitness will help. Birdwatchers have good reason to choose this hike. The forested sections of the trail are habitat for several endemic Hawaiian bird species, including the I'iwi, Akiapolaau, Akepa, Elepaio, Omao, Apapane, and Amakihi. Groups focused on birdwatching follow a shorter route that concentrates on the areas with the strongest birding opportunities rather than completing the full loop. The tour is run by Big Island Backroad Adventures LLC, based in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.