Introduction
A full-day tour is one of the best ways to experience more of Hawai’i Island when you don’t want to spend your vacation navigating long drives between major sights.
Blue Hawaiian Activities offers six full-day tours departing from the Kona side of the island. Four are compared here, including three that explore Hawai’i Island and one that includes an interisland flight to O’ahu for a day at Pearl Harbor.
These are long days, ranging from approximately 11 to 14 hours, so choosing the right tour is about more than comparing stops. Walking requirements, minimum ages, meals and transportation can make one option a much better fit for your group than another.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Hawaiian Activities offers six full-day tours departing from the Kona side of Hawai’i Island, with four compared here.
- The four tours range from approximately 11 to 14 hours.
- Three explore Hawai’i Island, while one includes round-trip interisland airfare to O’ahu for Pearl Harbor.
- Walking and activity levels vary considerably between tours.
- All four include lunch, while one also includes dinner.
- Minimum ages range from all ages to 6 years old.
Walking Requirements Can Help Narrow the Choice
Activity levels vary considerably between these full-day tours, making mobility one of the most important factors to consider.
The Big Island Grand Circle Island Tour has the most substantial walking requirement. Guests should be able to walk steadily for up to 2 miles throughout the day, including over uneven terrain. The tour cannot accommodate wheelchairs, walkers or scooters.
The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona takes a different approach, with minimal hiking and comfortable transportation throughout the day.
The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure falls between the two, with an activity level rated easy to moderate.
Guests with mobility concerns should review the walking and terrain requirements carefully before choosing a full-day tour.
Minimum Ages Vary by Tour
Age requirements are another important consideration for families.
The Grand Circle Island Tour has a minimum age of 5. Because it’s a long, activity-filled day, the tour is better suited to children who can comfortably manage an extended sightseeing itinerary.
The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure has the highest minimum age of the four at 6 years old.
The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona and the Kona to O’ahu Pearl Harbor Deluxe Tour are available to guests of all ages.
For families traveling with younger children, consider both the age requirement and the length and activity level of the tour before booking.
What’s Included for Meals
All four tours include lunch, but meal inclusions vary.
The Big Island Circle Tour includes both a picnic-style lunch and dinner during its approximately 11-hour itinerary.
The Grand Circle Island Tour includes a local-style picnic lunch with teriyaki chicken, fish, vegetables and steamed rice, along with assorted juices, snacks and bottled water. Park entrance fees are also included, along with jackets and rain gear for changing weather conditions throughout the day.
The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure includes a deli-style lunch, snacks and refreshments, while the Pearl Harbor tour includes a buffet lunch.
Guests with dietary requirements should provide that information in advance. For the Grand Circle Island Tour in particular, advance notice is required to help ensure an appropriate meal is available.
With full-day tours lasting approximately 11 to 14 hours, it’s also a good idea to consider whether you’ll want to bring additional snacks for the day.
Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls: A Maximum of 12 Guests
The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure has a maximum group size of 12 guests and combines Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park with a private cacao farm experience.
A boardwalk leading into a fern-framed lava tube entrance in dense rainforest
The approximately 11.5-hour tour operates Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with pickup available from select Kona, Waikoloa, Waikoloa Village and Hilo locations.
A National Park Certified Interpretive Guide leads the experience. Volcano stops include Halema’uma’u Crater, steam vents, recent lava flows and a lava tube.
The tour also visits a private 1,000-acre cacao farm overlooking Hilo Bay. Guests learn about the chocolate-making process from cacao tree to finished chocolate and finish with a tasting near a private waterfall.
Because this tour operates three days a week, its schedule may be an important factor when planning your itinerary. Our guide to things to do on Hawai’i Island offers more ideas for the rest of your stay.
A Full-Day Trip to Pearl Harbor from Kona
The Kona to O’ahu Pearl Harbor Deluxe Tour is the longest of these four experiences and the only one that leaves Hawai’i Island.
The approximately 14-hour day runs from 6:00am to 8:15pm and begins at Kona International Airport rather than with hotel pickup.
Round-trip interisland airfare between Kona and Honolulu is included, along with guided ground transportation on O’ahu and live narration from a professional driver.
The itinerary includes the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, a guided tour of the Battleship Missouri and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Our guide to Pearl Harbor tours from Waikiki covers additional Pearl Harbor options for travelers who are already staying on O’ahu.
Because the day begins at 6:00am at Kona International Airport and lasts approximately 14 hours, consider the early start and overall length when traveling with younger children.
What the Four Tours Have in Common
Although these tours offer different experiences, several of their major stops overlap.
Three of the four visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, with park admission included. Two visit Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, and two include a Kona coffee farm.
Both circle island tours visit Waipi’o Valley Overlook and Rainbow Falls, while the Grand Circle Island Tour also includes Akaka Falls.
If Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is your primary interest rather than one stop on a longer island tour, our guide to Volcanoes National Park tours compares additional options.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Big Island full-day tour comes down to how much you want to see, how active you want the day to be and which inclusions matter most to your group.
The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona offers minimal hiking and includes both lunch and dinner. The Grand Circle Island Tour covers a broad island itinerary but requires guests to be comfortable walking up to 2 miles over the course of the day.
The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure combines Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park with a private cacao farm experience and limits groups to 12 guests. For something completely different, the Kona to O’ahu Pearl Harbor Deluxe Tour includes round-trip interisland airfare for a 14-hour day visiting Pearl Harbor.
Ready to plan your day? Book your Big Island tour with Blue Hawaiian Activities and our island concierges can help you choose an experience that fits your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Big Island full-day tour?
The four tours compared here range from approximately 11 to 14 hours. The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona is approximately 11 hours, the Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure approximately 11.5 hours, the Grand Circle Island Tour approximately 11 to 12 hours, and the Pearl Harbor tour approximately 14 hours.
Which Big Island tour is best for limited mobility?
The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona includes minimal hiking and comfortable transportation throughout the day, making it worth considering for guests who prefer less walking. The Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure is rated easy to moderate. The Grand Circle Island Tour requires guests to be able to walk steadily for up to 2 miles and cannot accommodate wheelchairs, walkers or scooters.
Do Big Island tours include meals?
All four tours compared here include lunch. The Big Island Circle Tour from Kona also includes dinner. Meal styles vary by tour, and guests with dietary requirements should provide that information in advance.
What is the minimum age for a Big Island full-day tour?
Minimum ages vary. The Grand Circle Island Tour requires guests to be at least 5 years old, while the Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls Adventure has a minimum age of 6. The Big Island Circle Tour and Pearl Harbor Deluxe Tour are available to guests of all ages.
Can you visit Pearl Harbor from the Big Island in one day?
Yes. The Kona to O’ahu Pearl Harbor Deluxe Tour is an approximately 14-hour day trip that includes round-trip interisland airfare between Kona and Honolulu, ground transportation on O’ahu and visits to the major Pearl Harbor attractions.
