Visiting the Hawaii volcano from Oahu
 

We're going to Oahu next month for the second time. Once in Oahu, we're interested in potentially taking a tour to visit the volcano on the island of Hawaii. I've sort of fished around on the Web to find out how to go about it, but I'm fairly clueless so I'm not sure even where to start. I think we'd like to see the volcano from a helicopter, maybe, although a tour comprising an airplane Hawaii, transport, and then visiting the volcano by foot(?) might be interesting, as well.

Does anyone who has done this have any recommendations or suggestions at least of where to start looking for info on reputable tours? "We" are a couple with a 15-YO daughter.

Thanks so much.

There a re lots of helicopter tours on the big Island. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters comes to mind, but if you google "helicopter volcano tours hawaii", you'll find lots more.

Its very easy to fly to Hilo. Hawaiian Airlines' flights start very early in the morning. If you take an early flight to Hilo, you can rent a car and drive then hike to the area the volcano is entering the sea. If you schedule your return flight at 8 pm, you'll also have plenty of time to tour Volcano Village, the National park, Hilo town, AND do the one hour heli ride sometime in the middle of the day.

Thanks for all the great information! We didn't get on the stick and get airplane flights, though, and we're leaving in a couple of weeks. I'm looking at a fall-back plan of just taking a combo tour and forgoing the helicopter flight. Looks like the Roberts trip out of Oahu might do...though it's not clear that we'd have any chance of seeing lava even if the volcano cooperates. I'd love to see lava (but not TOO close!). So I don't know.

(I'll accept recommendations!)

beeswing

I'm not sure what the benefit of using Roberts will be...other than their narration:

Roberts Hawaii tour (Hwn Air + big bus): $280 pp
$560 total

Hwn Air, Alamo car, see things at your schedule (or use the Roberts' itinerary):
5:55 am flight over, 8:20 Pm return $167pp
One day car rental w/ Alamo $60
Park your rental car ar HNL for the day $12
Total $406

Oops Three people

Roberts = $840
Independent travel = $573

It's almost impossible to get lost on the Big isle, and especially with three of you you could do so much more on your own than photo ops with 60 other people!

I think your best bet is to fly into Hilo on your own in the early morning, rent a car for the day, and then fly back to Oahu in the evening, if you don't want to stay over. I've done this before. It is cheaper than going with an organized tour of an outer island, which I've also done (and enjoyed).

Thanks. Maybe we should take another look at this. I have to admit, though, I am feeling a little lazy/tired right now, and so it's very tempting to do a group tour and leave the planning and driving to someone else....

Another wrinkle: We just found out the relatives we're planning on visiting with (but not staying with) are having medical problems...so booking ahead for the volcano tour may not be the best thing. We won't know until we get to Oahu when we might be able to visit them, and they are the chief reason we're going.

So revisiting the tour issue... The Roberts Web site says you can book with 48 hours notice, which would give us more flexibility. Are they a good outfit, or would it be better to go with someone else, if we do choose to book a tour? Thanks.

Roberts is an established tour company that has been around for years. I don't think you can go wrong with them. Enjoy!

Roberts seems pretty much the main standard tour company. I've never done a formal tour, but I think they are considered reliable. Unless seeing the volcano is way high a priority to you, for a short trip, there's sooo much to see and do right on Oahu.

My BIL & niece enjoyed their Robert's tour of the Volcano when they visited this past December. They were picked up at their Oahu hotel & taken back there; had a great visit.