Hawaii’s existence is the result of millions of years of volcanic activity that has created a wonderful tropical paradise for us to enjoy.  Today we are able to witness continuous volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawaii.  There are several different types of Hawaii volcano tours that you can participate in and will give you a deeper appreciation for Mother Nature.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park showcases Hawaii volcanoes, craters, lava tubes and active lava flows.  There are several means by which you can explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  For a quick overview, you may drive around the Kilauea Crater on the 11 mile Crater Rim Drive, where you can witness steam vents, hot lava percolating underground and peer into the Halema’uma’u Crater.  Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year and admission is $10 per vehicle.  Driving the Crater Rim Drive takes approximately 45 minutes, but will vary depending on your length of stay at the look-out points. Lava viewing tours are also available.

Safety is always a concern when hiking unfamiliar territory, so it is advisable to stop at the Visitors Center of the park entrance and knowledgeable Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Rangers will direct you where and how to view the lava safely.  A safe and fun way to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is by guided volcano tour with Hawaii Forest and trail.  These knowledgeable guides know the ins and outs of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and will show you lava tubes and many sites you wouldn’t see otherwise while on these guided lava viewing tours.

Another unique way to witness the Hawaiian volcano is on the Waterfall and Lava Viewing Ocean Tour.  Gain a new perspective on volcanoes as you travel by catamaran and view lava flow while floating on the ocean.  It is an amazing sight as you see the lava bubble and slither into the ocean, bringing the water to a boil. Your Hawaii Volcano Lava Ocean Tour will also provide sites of the numerous black sand beaches along the way.  This Hawaii Volcano Lava Ocean Tour will allow you to get up-close and personal, as you are witnessing the actual creation of a new Hawaii.

To get a bird’s eye view of Hawaii volcanoes, Hawaii helicopter tours will give you access to the remote and rugged areas of the Big Island, otherwise inaccessible by land.  The most popular helicopter tour destination is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll also get a close-up view of the magnificent lava flow and get a better overall view of how Mother Nature is continuously molding its newest island in paradise. Hawaii helicopter tours vary in length and diversity of viewable terrain.  Some helicopter tours even offer a doors-off experience, where you can actually feel the heat from the molten lava just below you.

Other attractions that you may see on some of these Hawaii volcano helicopter tours are the deep valleys on the Hamakua Coast, the verdant North Kohala Mountains, multi-colored sand beaches, the many cascading waterfalls and the magnificent Waipio Valley.  Most people that are intrigued by Hawaii Volcanoes are also interested in the Hawaii Waterfalls, so be sure to check out information on our Hawaii Waterfalls page.  For one of the most unique Big Island accommodations, be sure to check out the Waipio Valley Treehouse, where you can stay in an actual tree house three stories up in a large monkey tree.