Overview:
This full-day small-group experience takes you deep into the story of Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption and the living landscape it created. Designed for guests who want more than a quick viewpoint stop, the Fissure 8 Lava Flow Tour combines exclusive access to private land in Lower Puna, a guided visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and a relaxed exploration of historic Hilo. You’ll see where entire neighborhoods were buried beneath lava, hear first-hand accounts from those who lived through it, and witness how both the land and local communities are rebuilding.
Duration:
Plan on approximately 7–8 hours.
Meeting point:
Departures are primarily from Hilo-area locations. Pickups from Kona can be arranged for private tours by special request.
Activity details – Fissure 8 Lava Flow Tour:
This is a rare opportunity to stand on ground reshaped by one of the most significant eruptions in recent Hawaiian history. Guided by a longtime resident of Leilani Estates who owns and has direct access to property at Fissure 8, you’ll walk across young lava fields that only a few years ago were homes, farms, and streets. Up close, you’ll see the towering cinder cone of Fissure 8, frozen “rivers” of pāhoehoe and ʻaʻā lava, and a rugged, rippled surface that tells the story of months of intense volcanic activity. As you explore, your guide shares the cultural meaning of the area, the science behind the eruption, and the emotional reality of losing and rebuilding a community. The focus is on respect—for the ʻāina (land), for Pele, and for the people whose lives were forever changed here.
Volcano Explorer – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park:
Your day also includes the Volcano Explorer component inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. You’ll begin with an introduction at Kīlauea Visitor Center, where exhibits and ranger information help frame what you’ll see next. From there, you travel along scenic park roads with multiple stops, taking in signature viewpoints such as the steam vents, Kīlauea Iki Overlook, and Halemaʻumaʻu Crater as seen from Uēkahuna or other lookouts. Along the way you’ll learn how these active volcanoes continue to build and reshape the island, and why this area is considered one of the best places on Earth to witness the forces of plate tectonics and island formation in real time. This portion of the tour connects the dramatic events at Fissure 8 with the broader volcanic system that fuels them.
The Volcano Explorer portion typically includes:
• Kīlauea Visitor Center
• Volcano House and summit views
• Halemaʻumaʻu Crater (from designated lookout points such as Uēkahuna)
• Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
• Kīlauea Iki Overlook
• Thurston Lava Tube (as conditions allow)
Hilo Discovery:
To round out the day, the Hilo Discovery segment offers a gentle introduction to the history and charm of “old Hawaiʻi.” Your guide drives you through historic Hilo town and along scenic coastal byways, sharing stories of tsunamis, sugar plantations, and cultural landmarks. You’ll stroll through Queen Liliʻuokalani Gardens, a serene Japanese-style park overlooking Hilo Bay, and visit Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot waterfall framed by lush greenery. Additional stops may include coastal parks and historic sites that highlight Hilo’s unique character and past.
The Hilo Discovery portion generally includes:
• Reed’s Bay scenic drive
• Banyan Tree–lined avenue
• Richardson Ocean Park or other coastal lookout
• Queen Liliʻuokalani Gardens
• Rainbow Falls
• King Kamehameha Statue and the historic Naha Stone
What’s included:
Throughout the day you’ll be offered a selection of Hawaiian-style juices, bottled water, and grab-and-go snacks to keep you energized while on the move. For lunch, you can choose from a list of available options arranged by your guide. Every effort is made to respect food allergies and preferences; however, all meals and snacks may be prepared in facilities that handle common allergens such as nuts, dairy, gluten, soy, and others. Guests with severe allergies are encouraged to bring their own food if they prefer; tour pricing remains the same.
What’s not included:
Alcohol is not provided on this tour, and both drinking and carrying open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle are strictly prohibited for everyone’s safety and in accordance with Hawaiʻi state law. If your custom itinerary includes a restaurant or winery stop, you may purchase and enjoy drinks there, but we ask that you do so moderately and responsibly, and never bring alcohol back into the vehicle.
Highlights – Explore:
• Visit the Fissure 8 cone and surrounding lava field
• Hike to a summit vantage point overlooking the 2018 flow path and former lava river
• Experience active steam and sulfur areas in connection with the broader Kīlauea system
• Hear a local resident describe how his former home lot was overtaken by lava
• Climb down into a large tree mold—a hollow left where a tree once stood and served as a children’s tree house before the eruption
Highlights – Learn:
• Discover the meaning behind the Hawaiian name “Ahu ʻAilāʻau,” given to Fissure 8 and translated as “Shrine of the Forest Eater,” chosen through a community-driven process and officially recognized by the Hawaiʻi Board on Geographic Names
• Understand how the 2018 lower Puna eruption, which began on May 3, 2018 along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone, fits into the longer eruptive history that started in January 1983
• Hear how 60-meter-high lava fountains from Fissure 8 drove a fast-moving flow that advanced roughly 13 kilometers in just five days, entered the ocean at Kapoho Bay, and ultimately destroyed more than 500 homes
This combined Fissure 8, Volcanoes National Park, and Hilo experience offers a rare, ground-level look at destruction and renewal in real time—told by people who witnessed it, and felt it, firsthand.
