Top Hilo Day Trips

Explore volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, and more on a full-day, small-group tour of Hawaii with a chance to see local marine life. Visiting the island with a Native Hawaiian guide adds additional insight to the experience, with the chance to learn about local culture that many visitors miss out on. Included national park fees at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park also saves time—so you can focus on the awe-inspiring scenery.

Join Hawaii Island Insider Tours for an unforgettable journey through the natural beauty of East Hawaiʻi. This small group excursion visits Rainbow Falls, Akaka Falls, scenic coastlines, and historic Hilo, showcasing the island's lush rainforests, waterfalls, and local charm. At Hawaii Island Insider Tours, we keep our groups small, giving you more time to explore, take photos, and enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. Travel comfortably in our modern 2025 Ford Transit while your guide shares the history, culture, and stories that make the Big Island unique. As a fully licensed and insured Hawaiʻi tour operator, we're committed to providing safe, reliable adventures. Our itinerary is carefully timed for cruise ship guests, ensuring a worry-free return to the Hilo Cruise Port well before your ship departs.

Experience the lush beauty of Big Island’s Hamakua Coast on our tour to ʻAkaka Falls State Park, where the Island’s tropical splendor is on full display. Akaka Falls is a towering waterfall, cascading 442 feet (135 meters) down into a lush gorge. 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!

Explore the Big Island on a guided day tour covering a range of key natural and cultural sights. Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, and areas around Hilo with a local guide providing context throughout. With transport, lunch, and a structured itinerary included, this experience offers a convenient way to see multiple highlights in one day without arranging separate visits.

As a Native Hawaiian born and raised in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, I’m not just showing you the sights—I’m sharing the home I’ve known my entire life. Every stop on this tour holds history, stories, and personal connections only a lifelong local can share. From Kīlauea and Rainbow Falls to local macadamia farms and the Hilo Farmers Market, you’ll experience Hawaiʻi through the eyes of someone whose family and genealogy are deeply rooted here. I blend cultural knowledge, local history, and genuine aloha with a relaxed island style experience. When choosing a guide, there’s a difference between visiting a place and growing up in it. My goal isn’t just to show you Hawaiʻi—it’s to help you understand it through the perspective of someone who has lived its traditions, respected its history, and proudly calls Hilo home. You’ll leave with more than great photos—you’ll leave with meaningful stories and a deeper connection to Hawaiʻi that only a born and raised local can provide.

Experience the best of Hilo and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on this unforgettable tour. Pass by the serene Liliʻuokalani Gardens, the largest Edo-style Japanese garden outside of Japan, then take in the scenic coastline at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. Enjoy the historic charm of Downtown Hilo, where plantation-era buildings and vibrant storefronts line the streets. Witness the breathtaking Rainbow Falls, cascading 80 feet into a lava cave steeped in Hawaiian legend. Treat yourself to handcrafted chocolates and macadamia nut cookies at Big Island Candies. Finally, explore the dramatic landscapes of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, home to the world’s most active volcano, Kīlauea. Walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, feel the heat from geothermal steam vents, and journey along Chain of Craters Road, surrounded by vast fields of hardened lava. This tour is the perfect blend of history, nature, and adventure!

Make the most of your time on the Big Island of Hawaii on this 3-in-1 tour of the island’s top attractions. Your guide takes care of navigation and logistics on this small-group tour. You’ll walk the famous black sand at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, drive on the Chain of Crater Road and see various lookouts in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and visit the historic town of Hilo and Rainbow Falls.

Experience some of the Big Island’s top attractions during this day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the sights around Hilo. Learn all about volcanoes as you marvel at Halema'uma'u crater and explore the massive Kilauea Volcano. Visit Rainbow Falls around the town of Hilo and stop to indulge in local chocolates and fresh island coffee. Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a blockbuster sight on the Big Island, but reaching the park from the Hilo port on your own can be time-consuming. On this small-group driving tour, save hours with port pickup and head straight to the park’s highlights, including the steam vents and Kilauea Caldera overlook. This leaves enough time to also visit the Japanese Lili'uokalani Gardens, Rainbow Falls, and Big Island Candies.

See the best of the Big Island of Hawaii in one day on this tour of the island’s highlights that maximizes your trip. Travel with a small group and local expert who shares stories about Hawaiian history and culture—and deals with all the logistics. Visit Hilo, Rainbow Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach—look out for sea turtles.

When you only have a limited time to explore Hawaii while your cruise ship docks at the Port of Hilo, it can be tough to know where to begin. Take in views of Kilauea—the world’s most active volcano—visit Punalu’u’s black-sand beaches, and witness the thundering waters of Rainbow Falls on this full-day small-group shore excursion.

On this exciting full-day Kilauea volcano adventure, scour fields of jet black lava in search of volcanic activity, from steaming vents to gaping volcanic craters. Trek through the Thurston Lava Tube and In addition to the sights in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll also make trips to Rainbow Falls.

When your ship docks in Hilo, use your short time in port to get acquainted with Kilauea, the most active volcano on earth. On this tour, you'll explore lava caves; stroll along the island's newest black-sand beaches and feel the warmth from volcanic hot pools. You'll pass along the destructive path of the volcano's most recent eruption, your route including round-trip transport from the port or your hotel.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which sends lava dripping towards the sea, plus a wealth of photo-worthy natural scenery. On this small-group tour of the national park, hear the legends of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess, climb to the rim of Kilauea volcano, and spot many of the region's other top sights. Round-trip transit from coastal Hilo makes getting there easy.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is famous for its ever-flowing lava and the planet’s most massive active volcano. This tour journeys to top natural landmarks in and around the park. Visit Rainbow Falls, Richardson black sand beach, Historic Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory, Akatsuka Orchid Nursery, and the active volcano of Kilauea. You also get the opportunity to walk through a lava tube.

Tour through Hilo in Comfort. Enjoy Everything Hilo Has to offer from a Black Sand Beach, Volcano, waterfall, Mauna Loa Mac Nut Factory, Local Farmers Market, and Big Island Candies. Enjoy all of these exciting attractions while riding in comfort and enjoying a huge variety of local snack and beverages. We ensure everyone is happy and enjoying the adventure. We treat each guest as Ohana(Family). If your looking to Sight See, stop at Local Businesses around town, and learn a bit of the history in Hilo this tour is for you. We welcome all ages.

Experience the Big Island of Hawaii through a local's perspective on a small-group tour led by a Native Hawaiian guide. Check off all the highlights of Volcanoes National Park, including Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world; visit Hilo Farmers Market, Rainbow Falls, and Lili'uokalani Gardens; marvel at a stunning black-sand beach; and learn all about local life from your guide.

This fully narrated tour is ideal for families and small groups, thanks to a maximum size of 11 people. Explore Volcanoes National Park with an expert guide and experience the excitement of the number one tour on the Big Island. You'll make stops at the Liliuokalani Japanese Gardens, Hilo town, Thurston Lave Tube, plus Rainbow Falls, and several other Hawaii highlights. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning to the Big Island for another look, this tour is right for you!

Discover the stunning natural beauty of Hawaiʻi on this immersive tour that highlights iconic waterfalls, unique lava formations, and the majestic Mauna Kea Visitor Center. Marvel at Rainbow Falls, where morning mist creates vibrant rainbows, and explore the swirling waters of the Boiling Pots. Walk through the historic Kaumana Caves for a glimpse into the island's volcanic history. This tour is family-friendly and doesn’t require a summit permit or 4x4 vehicle, making it accessible for all ages. Conclude your adventure with a relaxing picnic dinner surrounded by nature. - Experience Rainbow Falls and the dramatic Boiling Pots - Explore the historic Kaumana Caves and learn about volcanic history - Visit the Mauna Kea Visitor Center for cultural insights and views

Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Hilo on this immersive 7 hour adventure. Journey into Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, where the mighty Kīlauea showcases lava fountains, steaming vents, and lush rainforest trails through lava tubes. Along the way, marvel at the island’s most iconic waterfalls—Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls—and stroll the serene Liliʻuokalani Gardens. With fun stops at the Hilo Farmers Market and Big Island Candies, this tour is sure to be one of the highlights of your vacation! This small‑group experience ensures personalized attention and authentic storytelling from your friendly, fun‑loving local guides. Between natural wonders, enjoy stops at a local farmers market and a chocolate factory, where you’ll taste island flavors and meet artisans. Snacks, drinks, and all park entrance fees are included, so you can relax and fully embrace the aloha spirit.

Hawaii’s natural wonders aren’t only on land and in the sea—the Big Island is also a prime spot from which to admire the wonders of the solar system. This tour is the only one that includes both afternoon solar viewing and nighttime stargazing, accompanied by astronomy experts. Visit Rainbow Falls and the Kaumana lava caves, then explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and use a state-of-the-art solar telescope and Dobsonian telescope to spot solar flares, galaxies, star clusters, and planets.

Explore enchanting sights on the Big Island during this shore excursion exploring Volcanoes National Park, waterfall, black sand beach, and more. You'll make stops at Kilauea Crater and Thurston Lave Tube, plus Rainbow Falls and several other Hawaii highlights. Whether you're a first time visitor or returning to the Big Island for another look, this tour is right for you. Layers of lava stretch over moonscapes, collect in calderas, and put on an awesome show.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my private, custom tour of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park! Over 3-4 immersive hours, we’ll explore the park’s most awe-inspiring wonders, from vast craters to ancient lava flows. I’ll guide you through captivating landscapes, sharing stories of the island’s fiery past and its ever-changing present. Whether you’re a nature lover or a thrill-seeker, this is an unforgettable journey into the heart of one of the world’s most active volcanoes.