Big Island of Hawaii Nature & Wildlife

Rebecca picked us up from Port of Hilo. Rebeccas communication prior to our tour was fantastic, she picked us up on time. We started the day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - home to Mauna Loa and Kilauea where the goddess Pele lives. After a quick coffee stop, we went to the Thurston Lava Tube, which is surrounded by stunning rainforest. The path takes you right through the tube, and out the other side, in a loop. We then headed to the district of Ku'a, which was severely affected by hurricane Lala last month, we had lunch at a lovely restaurant. Our tour guide Rebecca was keeping an eye on the live Kilauea feed, while we had lunch, as Kilauea was building up for an imminent eruption and the smoke was showing signs of an orange glow! So back to Kilauea we headed. We waited and watched for nearly an hour - the smoke was getting thicker and was coming from lots more vents, we could have stayed there for hours just watching but we had to leave to get back to the ship. Rebecca was very professional and knowledgeable, we had a fantastic day, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and felt like we were touring with a friend, that is how relaxed we felt. Thank you Rebecca for making our day wonderful.

Rebecca was amazing! Kind, flexible, and accommodating to any group or limitations you have! She called within minutes of me booking just to go over every detail and reassure me of the itinerary and that she was able to pick me up from our hotel even though the website said it was out of policy. She accommodated a family or two elderly grandparents and a 2 yr old toddler. We were changing our pickup time and whether we wanted to do a day or night tour all the way up until the night before and she was so accomodating and doing research to give us minute by minute suggestions. I will totally book with her again the next time I come back!

Thank you Steven for a great day and tour! We had a blast! And a big thank you for sending me my lost sunglasses! I am grateful for your kind heart ❤️ looking forward to a Hawaiian visit again and touring with you!

Hawaii was everything we hoped it would be and so much more.We zip-lined through the trees, explored coffee farms and volcanoes, experienced a beautiful luau, enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise, traveled through incredible microclimates, and eaten some of the best food we’ve ever had. Every day was an adventure.But on our last day of our vacation, we were reminded that the most meaningful experiences aren’t always the ones you can plan.We had the privilege of participating in a stewardship program with this nonprofit dedicated to preserving Hawaii’s ancient lands, including the sacred Valley of the Kings on the Big Island. Guided by Native Hawaiians, we listened to stories passed down through generations and learned how to cultivate taro, the plant used to make poi and one that holds deep cultural significance.Knowing this is a place few people ever get to experience, and only with the guidance of Native islanders, made the day even more special. It was humbling, inspiring, and a powerful reminder that the heart of Hawaii isn’t just found in its breathtaking landscapes, it’s found in its people, traditions, and the care they continue to show for this extraordinary place.What an unforgettable way to end an incredible adventure. We leave with full hearts, wonderful memories, and a deep appreciation for the beauty, history, and spirit of Hawaii. 🌺❤️🙏🏻

We had a great experience from beginning to end. Steve was very responsive and helpful. Our tour guide Amanda was very nice and knowledgeable. We enjoy learning about the culture. We were provided with a great meal, wich provided sample of local food. This was a nice unexpected touch. Overall, I was very pleased with the service. I would definitely recommend touring with Aloha Aina.

Fabulous experience for my family. Super easy pick up from the Pride of America and off we went to the volcano national park. Our guide Jodi was amazing. We had so much fun at the park exploring the different areas. Everything about this adventure was fantastic for my family and I highly recommend!

This was an amazing tour. We thoroughly enjoyed everything, Jodi is so engaging and knowledgeable. We had adults and teenagers and everyone enjoyed our tour. She customized to what we did and didn't want to do, timed it so we beat the crowds and buses. Highly recommend

This excursion went perfectly from start to finish. Our booking experience with Shawn was very smooth and our day out with Lisa was a heap of fun. We were picked up at Kona Airport right on time. We had a great day out with personable and knowledgeable Lisa. Lunch was a picnic from the excellent bakery. Our only complaint was that they couldn't time the volcano to go off while we were there. I mean really, what's wrong with you guys?!We would definitely travel with this team again.

My family and I were incredibly fortunate to spend an entire day with Shawn on his private “All Day Volcano Tour”, and I can honestly say it was the most remarkable tour we have ever experienced. From start to finish, every moment exceeded our expectations—and believe me, we came with high expectations!Traveling all the way from Australia, we wanted to make our visit to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park truly special, and Shawn, along with Lisa’s seamless communication beforehand, ensured it would be. They checked in with me at every step, asking about our preferences and making sure our day would be tailored to exactly what we wanted to see and do.Shawn arrived promptly at 9 a.m. at our hotel, full of energy and ready to make our day unforgettable. From the very beginning, it was clear that this was no ordinary tour. Lunch, dinner, and unlimited snacks were included, making the day effortless and enjoyable. One of the highlights was having tea at the Volcano House Restaurant—a surprisingly simple meal that became my absolute favorite of our two-week Hawaii holiday.What truly sets Shawn apart is his insider knowledge and passion for the Big Island. He guided us to secret spots that only a local deeply invested in their clients would know—places most tourists would never find on their own. His explanations were both fascinating and engaging, sharing stories, history, and science in a way that made the volcano and the surrounding landscapes come alive.After our meal, Shawn suggested we return to the crater, and we were beyond lucky to witness the beginning of Episode 45—an experience we could never have planned or predicted when we booked our tour three months earlier. We were still at the crater long past the time we should have returned to our hotel, but Shawn’s dedication never wavered. He had already given us 12 hours of his time and energy, yet he went above and beyond so that my family could experience this once-in-a-lifetime moment. That level of commitment and care is extraordinary.If you are considering this tour, don’t hesitate for a second. It was by far my favorite day in Hawaii, and we’ve visited six times! Shawn’s combination of knowledge, warmth, and passion ensures that every single moment is special. If we are lucky enough to return to the Big Island, there is no question—we will be booking with Shawn again. This day will stay with us forever.MAHOLA SHAWN - don't change a thing you do because its perfect! Katrina Andrew Kyralee and Tayah!

Our guide, Shawn was very knowledgeable about the ecology of upper-elevation forest life. He was also able to adapt to the needs of his guests.

Hiking with Backroad Adventures was hands-down the highlight of my trip to the Big Island. Shawn and Lisa were incredibly attentive and responsive to all of my questions, even before I officialy booked my tours. I joined them for both the Pololū Valley hike and the In-depth tour of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and both were exceptional.My tours were well-organized, thoughtfully planned, educational and genuinely fun. Shawn's passion for Hawaiian ecology, especially native plants and birds, really stood out and added so much depth to the experience. I learned so much about the island's landscape, history, and cultural significance.What impressed me most was their flexibility and professionalism. Kīlauea erupted the day before our Volcanoes National Park tour, and they didn’t miss a beat. They kept me well-informed about the park’s status and seamlessly adapted the itinerary to ensure the day was still unique, safe, and memorable.An added bonus: they share photos from the hike digitally for your personal use, which is such a thoughtful touch and a great way to relive the experience.If you’re visiting the Big Island and want a curated, meaningful experience, I cannot recommend Backroad Adventures enough.

This was the best way to see the Big Island! Shawn’s extensive knowledge of the island and its nature provided so much value to our full-day tour. We appreciated the well thought out itinerary and how comfortable the ride was. Shawn’s food recommendations were also spot-on!

Very easy to book a tour on their website and communication with Shawn was a breeze. The tour itself was everything we wanted - a relaxed day visiting waterfalls around the island and then the National Volcano Park with excellent driving by Shawn. The restaurant he selected for lunch was perfect for our dietary needs and the restaurant for dinner has the the best view! I would highly recommend booking a tour with them if you're looking for a private tour of the island!

You can stop looking for whale watching excursions if you come across this company! This excursion was worth every penny. First of all, it's a small group tour. The max they can take is 6 people....the minimum is 2. So for me and my friend ...it was just us that they took out and that alone was awesome as it felt more personal. Samantha and her partner (in life and in business) were informative and just overall fun! They offered us drinks and prepackaged fresh fruit and cheese for a snack which was wonderful. Now about the boat...it appears to be new...its beautiful! Super clean and bright white. It has twin outboard motors and was a rather smooth ride for us sitting in the back. They played Hawaiian reggae like music and were thoughtful to ask if the volume was too loud or needed turned up. They allowed plenty of time for us to look over the horizon for whale activity. We were fortunate enough to see a LOT of whales...solo whales and a few in pairs. Where the boat ramp and harbor is there is a pod of spinner dolphins that had babies so they allowed us to hangout there to get video and photoz...even offering to take photos and videos of my friend and I with the dolphins on the background. They showed us video and sound clips of past trips they took which was great too. They have an awesome underwater 360 camera which allowed us to see some of what they experience on a daily basis! Again, an overall WONDERFUL excursions managed by WONDERFUL people. If you want a more intimate experience...you should book this tour with this company. It literally was the highlight of my Hawaiian cruise trip where we ported at multiple islands. I'd definitely book them again in a heartbeat if I can afford to visit Hawaii again!

What a wonderful time we had!! Seeing the volcano, waterfalls and the shore line of the big island was just amazing. Shawn our guide was very knowledgeable of the Island. Not only did we enjoy the sites, but we learned a lot ! Our daughters have food allergies so he made sure we had options when we went to lunch. I highly recommend this tour. He takes care of everything for you! Thank you Shawn! The Daltons

What we an amazing day!! We booked the Fire and Water tour. My husband and I had been to Kona several times before but were never able to make it to the volcano. Since that was our priority this trip, we reached out to Shawn for a private guided tour. We cannot say enough anazing things about him or our day. We were incredibly lucky in that the volcano has been erupting periodically for the last several months and there was a possibility that it might erupt during our visit. Shawn knew this was what we were hoping and so even before our tour day he was in contact with us. He had been following the volcano’s activity online to try to determine what day he thought we might have the best chance of seeing the volcano erupt. After picking us up from our hotel we visited several beautiful waterfalls. Shawn was incredibly knowledgeable about all the flora and fauna, the history of the island as well as all the volcanoes ( not just the one we were going to see). After the waterfalls we enjoyed a nice lunch and then headed to Volcanoes National Park . We toured the park with Shawn who showed us the highlights one of which was the vent where the volcano had been erupting .When we got to the park the volcano was only letting off gases. We continued through the park stopping at other points of interest and spending as much time at each spot as we wanted. Shawn had bookecd a table for dinner at the Volcano House which overlooks the volcano. We arrived at dinner only to discover that just at that moment the volcano began to erupt. It started out slowly and then over time was an incredible sight -a fountain of lava spewing 600 ft into the air. We ate dinner watching this spectacular sight right in front of us. After dinner Shawn took us to another amazing spot to view the eruption. It really was just so unbelievable to see. On top of all that , Shawn had everything organized for us and the day-snacks, warm jackets for the evening and headlamps. And on top of everything he memorialized the day in photos.Honestly it was just a magical day and Shawn is just fantastic!!