The Land of Frozen Fire

Take full advantage of your time while on the beautiful island of Hilo and prepare to explore Hawaii's back roads among the volcanic eastern rift zone and journey to the land of frozen fire!

Your adventure starts with a scenic drive through the historical downtown Hilo area as you learn about the devastating tsunamis of the past. Make a stop at one of the best and well-known waterfalls on the Big Island, Rainbow Falls. The waters of this 80ft. waterfall cascade beautifully over a lava cave where picturesque photo opportunities abound so have your cameras ready and cell phones fully charged for Insta-worthy snaps.

Up next, time to explore lava caves! Walk down into a lava cave through a skylight, also locally known as a lava tube. Kaumana Caves was created by one of the island's largest volcanoes, Mauna Loa. Your local, expert guide will explain how molten lava makes these spectacular lava tubes and the fascinating colors inside.

Continue from here into the Hawaiian countryside of the Nanawali Rainforest and the area of recent destruction from the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption. Several earthquakes cracked open the roads, lava fountains started spewing lava 300ft. into the sky and nearly 2,000 residents were evacuated. This amazing force evaporated Green Lake, the largest, natural freshwater lake in Hawaii. You will be shown the areas of mass destruction from the Kilauea Volcano.

Along the drive, you will arrive at the quaint town called Pahoa. Once a booming plantation town and now a laid-back hippie town with old school artistry charm and wood-plank boardwalks. See the current lava flow that nearly wiped this town off the map. Next, walk a trail among lava trees that looks something like a petrified forest and look down into a deep fissure. This unusual volcanic sight is one stop not to be missed on the island.

The next stop is a truly amazing creation by Kilauea's lava flow. View the newest created black sand beach where once was an old boat harbor and ramp that you can still see and has now been cut off from the creation of a large black sand beach.

After a full day of an incredible journey experiencing mother nature and her wonders, it's time to return to the port area as you enjoy the panoramic sights along the entire way and reminisce about your unforgettable day spent while in Hawaii.

Please Note: Liliuokalani Japanese Garden is not an official stop; the tour will drive by for a visual experience. On February 27, 2025, this tour will be 5 hours due to the ships short time in port. This tour will not include the drive by Liliuokalani Japanese Garden. Please note that there is no lunch stop, so guests are advised to bring their own snacks.