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Kaumana Caves

Kaumana Caves: Our most recommended tours and activities

Mauna Kea: Stellar Explorer Tour from Hilo

1. Mauna Kea: Stellar Explorer Tour from Hilo

Visit Rainbow Falls and the Kaumana Caves before heading to your stargazing location. Travel across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, 2 of the tallest and biggest volcanoes on Earth. To complete your tour, your guide will take you to one of the preferred locations on Mauna Kea for nighttime stargazing. Observe the deep sky and planetary objects through a large aperture telescope, under one of the darkest and most pristine skies on planet Earth. Enjoy narration from expert astronomers, who have written articles for well-known magazines and worked at world-class observatories for decades. The telescopes are a true purist way to view the night sky. Their fast focal ratio enables you to see sprawling wide-field views of objects that are simply not possible with other telescopes.  Weather permitting and depending on what is visible in the current sky, you can observe galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, double star systems, the moon, and much more.

Big Island: Small Group Waterfalls Adventure

2. Big Island: Small Group Waterfalls Adventure

Explore Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, swim at Kulanipia private waterfalls, visit majestic Waipio Valley Lookout, and the stunning Akaka Falls on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii on this full day of fun and exciting adventure. Discover the island’s diverse natural beauty, including multiple waterfalls, lush rain forests, and rugged sea cliffs as your guide shares history and legends. The morning begins with a visit to the majestic Waipio Valley Lookout after passing through the famous Parker Ranch. Marvel at the stunning views of the rugged sea cliffs drop into the sparkling blue ocean and mile-long black sand beach. A drive along the scenic Hamakua Coast will greet you with a burst of energy as the splendid waterfalls await – capture the famous Akaka Falls while you hear the unrivaled power of water coursing down hundreds of feet. Continue to a garden nestled in the scenic Onomea Bay – Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. Throughout this garden valley, nature trails meander through a true tropical rainforest, crossing bubbling streams, passing several beautiful waterfalls, and the exciting ocean vistas along the rugged Pacific Coast. This highly acclaimed garden allows you to take up-close shots of rare and exotic flora-over 2000 species of exotic tropical plants and orchids in a tranquil setting. In the afternoon, you will escape the crowd and get to swim under the 120 feet tall Kulaniapia private waterfall, Hawaii’s largest privately accessible waterfall, to cool down and relax when river conditions permit. The adventure ends with the return to Kona or Kohala Coast via a spectacular drive on Saddle Road, a highway nestled between the world’s tallest sea mountain Mauna Kea and the world’s most massive mountain Mauna Loa.

Big Island: Self-Drive Sightseeing Road Trip

3. Big Island: Self-Drive Sightseeing Road Trip

Explore Hawaii’s youngest and largest island and change the way you see the Big Island with this narrated, self-drive road trip. Visit historic sites, popular attractions, world-class beaches, and scenic hikes. Hear local stories, legends, and fun facts about the places you’re visiting and listen to unique Hawaiian music to entertain and relax you along the way. Drive across barren lava fields that are wedged between two active volcanoes. Visit a black sand beach and taste Hawaiian coffee and macadamia nuts on local farms. Be adventurous and go cliff diving or take advantage of the beautiful nature and take a scenic hike. See the tallest mountain in Hawaii at night for the ultimate stargazing experience. This adventure is great for families and solo travelers alike.

From Kona: Elite Volcano Hike

4. From Kona: Elite Volcano Hike

Explore Hawaii’s explosive side on foot with this tour. First, travel across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and biggest volcanoes on Earth. Learn more about the volcanology, geology, and history of these wonders from your National Park Service certified guide and enjoy an in-depth narration of the various lava flows and flora and fauna that you pass by. Afterward, explore Kaumana Caves, part of the lava tube system that brought lava as close as 1.5 miles from downtown Hilo in 1881 and take a peek inside the dramatic cathedral-like space. Next, head to Mackenzie State Recreation Area, where the historic eruption took place in 2018. Take a hike along the now-closed highway, and then follow the lava flow through the pine forest to the altered coastline and cliffs overlooking the new black sand beach. Afterward, head to Isaac Hale Beach Park. Be sure to check out the boat launch ramp, now sitting in a pond cut off from the ocean by a berm of lava and don’t forget to look for steam still rising from the cooling lava as you drive across it before stopping for a picnic-style lunch. Next travel to the crown jewel, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Briefly visit the Kilauea Iki Overlook before heading off on foot down the paved road to Keanakakoi. Get a birds-eye view of the Kilauea Caldera and the enormous Halema’uma’u Crater. Pass by the famous Sulphur Banks, through ancient forests of tree ferns, and look for native bird species and incredible rock slides. Enjoy some dinner after your sightseeing.

Waikoloa/Kohala: Elite Volcano Hike

5. Waikoloa/Kohala: Elite Volcano Hike

Your experience begins as you head out of Hilo to the Puna Coast, the location of the historic 2018 eruption and where your first stop of the Mackenzie State Recreation Area is. The highway there was closed by the marching 40-foot-tall wall of crumbly a’a lava as it continued to the sea. You will take a hike along the now-closed highway, and then follow the lava flow through the pine forest to the altered coastline and cliffs overlooking the new black sand beach. Isaac Hale Beach Park is next, where you can drive along the infamous “Fissure 8”, which erupted in the heart of Lelani Estate's subdivision. A picnic-style lunch will be served at the park, weather permitting. You will then travel to the crown jewel of the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You'll begin by briefly visiting the Kilauea Iki Overlook, before heading off on foot down the paved road to Keanakakoi. You can check out the activity there from the historic 2018 eruption, which buckled the road and caused racks and sinkholes. You’ll also get a birds-eye view of the Kilauea Caldera and the enormous Halema’uma’u Crater, along with views of the trail you will take into the Caldera. Throughout your 2-mile hike you can look for native birds, such as the yellow ‘amakihi and the red ‘apapane. Huge boulders came to rest at this location during ancient rock slides and eruptions, and you can look for marks left by previous visitors such as Benjamin Boyd and John Webster, just to name a few. Reaching the floor of Kilauea Calder there is an incredible rock slide to your left, evidence of the 2018 eruption, as well as the Halema’uma’u Crater which sits before you. The crater increased in size during the eruption, with the lava lake draining out of it leaving behind an enormous 1,000-foot-deep pit.

Other Sightseeing Options in Kaumana Caves

Want to discover all there is to do in Kaumana Caves? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Kaumana Caves

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 64 reviews

It was a wonderful tour. We were traveling with Richard. He was such a sweetheart and had an answer for everything. He brought us closer to the history of Hawaii and told a lot about the stars. Rich knows a lot and we could really benefit. He loves his job and it shows! It was really nice to see the stars from so close. Wonderful tour and great guide!

Super elaborate route with many great stops, sights, viewpoints, snack and restaurant recommendations - Offline navigation works to the point - All tips and information (even before the start of the tour) are very helpful Always again A great experience for us

Our tour guide Nate really had an answer to all our questions, we visited some waterfalls, a cave - while the sunset was a picnic and after it was dark we got a lot of sneaks and insights to the stars over us (we even saw some shooting stars). Amazing Tours!

We found this guide to be an excellent and informative as we toured the island. Great directions on where to visit, scenic points and history and to easily navigate from place to place with time suggestions to plan our day.

Great app and tour of the big island. Very accurate gps coordination with tour speaking. I would highly recommend. So Worth it.