Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour from Oahu: See Kilauea

Kilauea volcano, lava tubes, steam vents and Kona coffee in one island day

A 12-hour inter-island tour from Oahu to Hawaii's Big Island includes round-trip airfare from Honolulu, park admission and a guide. You'll walk through the Thurston lava tube rainforest, stand at active steam vents, visit the Kilauea Visitor Center to learn the volcano's timeline, explore Kona coffee farms, and walk the black sand beach at Punalu'u. The tour also stops at a local bakery and includes ground transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Big Island volcano and local sites

• Fly round-trip to Kona
• Visit Kona Town and coffee farm
• Stop at Punalu’u sweet bread bakery
• See Punalu’u black sand beach
• Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Visit Kilauea Visitor Center
• View active steam vents
• Walk through Thurston lava tube
• Lookout at Kilauea Iki rainforest
• Enjoy no-host morning and lunch stops

The experience

If you're staying on Oahu and want to see Hawaii's active volcano without arranging your own inter-island travel, this tour handles the airfare and gets you to the Big Island in one booking. You fly round-trip from Honolulu to Kona International Airport, then spend the day on the ground with a guide who drives a small group through the island's volcanic landscape. The 12-hour day is built around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you'll walk the Thurston lava tube (a short rainforest trail through a tunnel carved by lava centuries ago), and stand near active steam vents that rise from the crater floor. The Kilauea Visitor Center gives the chronological story of how the volcano shaped the island.

Between the park stops, the route passes through Kona town and the coffee belt where the famous Kona coffee grows, includes a visit to the Punalu'u sweet bread bakery, and ends at Punalu'u black sand beach where the lava met the ocean. The tour stops for meals at local restaurants, though breakfast and lunch are on your own. An air-conditioned vehicle keeps you comfortable during the drive, and the guide leads you through each stop. Seasonal airfare surcharges may apply, and you'll need to arrange your own transport to Honolulu Airport beforehand.

What’s included

• Round-trip airfare from Honolulu to Kona.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park admission.
• air-conditioned vehicle and ground transport on the Big Island.
• live English-speaking guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Pearl Harbor Oahu

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers staying on Oahu who want to see an active volcano without renting a car or booking separate flights and ground transport. The 12-hour day is full and moves quickly through multiple stops, so it suits someone with one free day on the Big Island rather than a leisurely pace.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is the Thurston lava tube and what do you do there?

The Thurston lava tube is a tunnel carved through solid lava by flowing molten rock centuries ago, now surrounded by native rainforest. You walk through it as part of the park portion of the tour, a short trail that shows how the volcano shaped the landscape.

Does the tour include meals?

The tour stops at local restaurants for breakfast and lunch, but those meals are on your own. The itinerary includes a stop at the Punalu'u sweet bread bakery, which is separate from the meal stops.

What does the Kilauea Visitor Center show?

The Kilauea Visitor Center tells the chronological story of how the volcano formed and shaped the Big Island. It's where you learn the timeline of the five volcanoes on the island and understand what you're seeing at the active steam vents and crater.

How much time do you spend at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

The park is the main focus of the 12-hour day, with time to walk the Thurston lava tube, visit the active steam vents, explore the Kilauea Iki rainforest lookout, and spend time at the Visitor Center. The rest of the day includes the Kona stops, the bakery, black sand beach and travel time.

Is there a guide with the group the whole time?

Yes, a live English-speaking guide leads the tour throughout the day, driving the group in an air-conditioned vehicle and explaining the sites at each stop.