Big Island Grand Circle Island Tour from Kona (11 Hours)

Overview

The Big Island circle island tour from Wasabi Tours Hawaii is an 11-hour loop in a 13-seat van from Kona hotels through Punaluʻu black sand beach, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, ʻAkaka Falls and Waipiʻo lookout for $249 plus tax with lunch. It suits first-time visitors with one day. The drawback: only 1.5 hours in the park.

Highlights

• Eight stops in about 11 hours: Kona coffee farm, Kealakekua Bay and South Point views, Punaluʻu black sand beach, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, ʻAkaka Falls, the Hāmākua Coast and Waipiʻo Valley lookout at sunset.
• $249 plus tax per adult and $239 for children 12 and under, including a local-style picnic lunch, drinks, snacks, all admission fees, jackets and rain gear.
• Maximum 13 guests per Mercedes Sprinter van with panoramic windows; hotel pickup between 6:45 AM and 8:00 AM from Kona, Waikoloa and Kohala Coast resorts.
• About 1.5 miles of easy walking in total, including the Nāhuku (Thurston) Lava Tube and the ʻAkaka Falls loop; ages 5 and up.
• Full refund with 24 hours' notice for groups of 1 to 5; operator may cancel with a full refund if fewer than 4 guests book.

What to Expect

1. Board the van at your Kona, Waikoloa or Kohala Coast hotel between 6:45 AM and 8:00 AM, depending on where you stay.
2. Walk a Kona coffee orchard, hear how beans are harvested and milled, and taste the coffee at the first stop.
3. Drive south past distant views of Kealakekua Bay and South Point, then take free time at Punaluʻu black sand beach to look for resting green sea turtles.
4. Spend about 1.5 hours in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at steam vents, the Halemaʻumaʻu and Kīlauea Iki lookouts and a short walk through the Nāhuku Lava Tube.
5. Eat the included picnic lunch, then stop in Hilo at Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot drop beside a large banyan tree.
6. Walk the short rainforest loop to the 442-foot ʻAkaka Falls viewpoint, passing bamboo and smaller falls.
7. Follow the Hāmākua Coast north to the Waipiʻo Valley lookout for sunset before the drive back to the Kona side, about 11 hours after pickup.

What to Bring

• Covered walking shoes (required)
• Layered clothing: light base layer, long pants and a light jacket or fleece for the cool, misty park
• Sun protection and a camera

Restrictions and Requirements

• Ages 5 and older only
• Guests must manage about 1.5 miles of easy walking over the day
• Lava sightings and volcanic activity are not guaranteed; no refunds for closures outside the operator's control
• Wheelchair access is not mentioned on the operator's page

Cancellation Policy

Full refund with at least 24 hours' notice for groups of 1 to 5, 48 hours for groups of 6 or more, and 72 hours for private charters; later cancellations, date changes and no-shows are charged in full. The operator may cancel a departure with fewer than 4 bookings and refunds it in full. Tours run rain or shine. Checked October 2026 on wasabitourshawaii.com.

Location

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Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii

Meeting Point

Hotel pickup at listed resorts in Kona (e.g. Courtyard King Kamehameha, Royal Kona Resort), Waikoloa (Hilton Waikoloa Village lower lobby) and the Kohala Coast (Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Fairmont Orchid, Four Seasons Hualalai); guests elsewhere call (808) 238-5222 for the nearest point

Check-In

Pickup window 6:45 AM to 8:00 AM depending on location; exact time confirmed by the operator

Parking and Getting There

Not applicable for hotel pickups; Kahaluu Beach Park main entrance is a listed pickup point for self-drivers

Frequently Asked Questions

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