Lavaland Hawai’i

Our guide was Vince and he was awesome! Totally felt like ohana :-) We did the volcanos national park tour, then a pit stop at Rainbow Falls. Vince was super kind and informative beyond any expectations! The group was small. The pace was perfect. We saw things that were off the beaten path, things we’d never have found on our own. He was careful to avoid the crowds and ensure we felt comfortable and not like cattle. We loved him and we’re so happy with the tour. I would highly recommend and would never book any other company.

Fantastic hiking tour! Hank is incredibly knowledgable, very helpful and a super nice guy. This is more than a hike amongst the lava, its a lesson in geology, botany & Hawaiian culture. You’ll be inspired by his passion for volcanos. And, he has you covered for everything, including rain gear. Thank you Hank, for a truly memorable trip!

We can’t be more thankful of Lavaland, and specially Hank, our guide. He went above and beyond to show us the island, keep all of us dry and protected from the rain, and he kept in mind our time constraints for a cruise trip (although we missed the main waterfalls, but got two small others to make up for that one). He is very knowledgeable about the volcano park, lava and many other related topics; he took us to places where others don’t, and if you are really interested in the volcano and learn a bit, this is the tour you want to do
We were lucky enough that a large portion of the day was sunny so enjoyed a bit better our experience. Rain started during our picnic so made us rush a bit, but Hank kept us dry and safe,
The Pro’s of traveling with Lavaland:
— It is a small van with up to 8 people, so you won’t be part of a huge 50+ seats bus
— Lavaland showed us Hilo, its nature, which in my case is what I wanted to see. Large buses can’t get in the same places and also make stops on too many gift stores. The only gifts store I saw was the one in the Volcanoes Park’s visitor center (for me, great!!)
— Although I’m not much into sandwiches for lunch, their picnic is really good and their sandwiches are what we could call gourmet. Their tangerines, ufffff, you need to taste them.
— Hank has healthy snacks and water :). We ended up buying the same brand once we got home
The Cons?
I can’t think of any

My husband and I opted for the custom tour when we visited the Big Island this September and it was one of the best things we did on the island. One of the most unusual things about Hawaii is its live volcano, and viewing the aftermath of recent lava flows. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Walking the porous, black flows felt like exploring an alien planet.
We were extremely happy to have Hank as our guide, as he was incredibly upbeat and knowledgeable on the history of the island, plant life, and all things lava. Hank took care of all the little details that made the day special for us by listening to what we had already been doing on the trip and what our interests were and catering the day around it. He was overly prepared with equipment, water and snacks, and made sure we would have everything we would need and that we were comfortable before each stop. Hank has a deep love for the island and its culture, so he knew all the best places to go and what time of day to go there for the best lighting and effects. He showed us things we know we never would have found on our own.
Nothing will compare to hiking the island, eating berries off the land, feeling the porous lava rock in your hand, and being in the middle of the most amazing views you could ever imagine. We can’t recommend Lavaland tours enough.
Thanks Hank for a wonderful time. K & G

My husband and I did the Lavaland hike/​tour on July 2, 2013 during our vacation in Hawaii, and it was one of the best highlights of our whole trip!
We really lucked out and ended up getting a private tour with Hank and Malia, because we were the only ones that happened to book them that day. Hank and Malia were SO friendly and welcoming and gracious hosts to us, and we felt very comfortable in their care. They took care of EVERYTHING — nice rain jackets, water, snacks, binoculars, little mats to sit on to watch the lava (the ground can be pretty sharp/​jagged and not comfortable to sit on), etc. It was especially nice to be able to borrow Hank’s binoculars once we got to the lava viewing site, because we were able to clearly view the detail of the lava entering the ocean through them.
It is a medium length hike (I think 2.5−3 miles each way), and while it’s not steep/​uphill, you do have to look at the ground and walk carefully the whole way since the ground is not super stable/​smooth. It wasn’t too strenuous for us, but we’re fairly young/​active… Hank and Malia said that that the oldest person that did their hike was 80 or so!
It was an amazing experience that I can’t really describe in words, but we immensely enjoyed it. Viewing the power of the earth, with the lava flowing and entering into the ocean, was incredible. One of the main reasons we even went to the Big Island was to see lava, and our experience with Lavaland couldn’t have been better. We will DEFINITELY be telling all our friends about Lavaland if they go to the Big Island.
Thank you, Hank and Malia!
Hannah & Eric

Excellent adventure to the lava flows at Kalapana! This couple respects the land and culture and is knowledgeable on both as well. They guided us carefully through the Kalapana lava flows, seeking out the most comfortable path available through the lava yet doing so as not to tread on anything fragile or dangerous.
Hank was supremely prepared — binoculars, snacks (fruit, nuts, energy bars), flashlights, medical and boot repair equipment, etc. and spares of everything. As a former hiking guide myself, I can tell you that Hank and Malia are doing this absolutely right!
For anyone looking to hike to the active lava flow from Kilauea, we highly recommend this terrific couple!

My husband and I did Lavaland Hawai’i’s Kilauea lava walk on 5÷23÷2013, during a vacation on Hawai’i, and I can’t say enough about how great it was. It was an experience we will never forget.
We heard about Hank and Malia through our innkeepers in Volcano. Lavaland Hawai’i is a fairly new enterprise, but Hank is a highly experienced guide and volcano enthusiast who has taken folks out to the site countless times.
My husband and I are both in our early 60s and in good physical condition. It took us about an hour and a quarter to get to the lava flow. Good footwear is essential. Hank was so helpful in leading the way, taking a route that seemed fairly level considering the walk over rocky terrain for a couple of miles each way. The walk started in daylight, we arrived at the site close to sunset, and were able to see the transition from daylight to darkness. We saw the lava both at the spot where it flowed into the ocean, and the area above it as it was coming down to meet the water. We walked back after dark with flashlights. It was the full moon, the flow was breathtaking, walking over the vast expanse of lava was extremely cool — it really was quite an experience.
Like Greg, we were impressed with Hank and Malia’s preparedness — they take their roles as guides seriously and our enjoyment and safety were clearly their #1 objective. Hank is a Mr. Wizard who seems to know everything about Kilauea and lava — we got an education as well as an experience. Navigating the walk and being around liquid rock is no joke, and I felt completely safe in his care.
We highly recommend Hank and Malia as guides to a unique, awe-​inspiring walk.