Hawai'i Volcanoes: Connect with Nature's Power

Run Kilauea Volcano at sunrise. Connect with nature and history. All levels welcome. Unique access and expert guidance. Discover the extraordinary.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Volcano Art Center Gallery - Discover the vibrant scenery of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park alongside a knowledgeable local guide. This journey offers more than just sightseeing; it provides a profound connection to the land, its history, and the natural forces that continue to shape the island.
    With expertise in park service and nature-based…
What's Included
  • Private guided tour
  • Small act of reciprocity with the land
What's Not Included
  • Transportation (meet at starting point to reduce footprint)
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

This is an opportunity to explore Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in a way that educates, inspires, and connects visitors to this extraordinary landscape.

  • Guided by an Experienced Local Guide: Chris offers over ten years of experience in park service, archaeology, and wilderness guiding, providing insider knowledge and ensuring a safe exploration….
Location
Volcano Art Center Gallery
*Most travelers prefer a 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM start, allowing time to drive from Kona *Excursions last 2 to 4 hours, leaving room for other activities afterward *Exact meeting location and start time will be confirmed after booking.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(17 Ratings)
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Bernaeh2026
May 7, 2026
Amazing Day at Volcano National Park - Thank you Chris for an amazing day. Would definitely recommend you connect with Thriving Sun to schedule your tour. Chris took us to see and do everything we asked to see and had some awesome recommendations for us. Shared with us the history and legends of Hawaii, showed us some incredible aspects ot the rainforest and so much more. We will absolutely be going through Thriving sun when we go back. Thank you Chris and Thriving Sun for an unforgettable day full of lasting memories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Billjx9434mh
Apr 16, 2026
A fun day in the Park - Chris is a great story teller and a wonderful guide! We had a full day of park hikes and many tales of the local cultures and lore. Awesome day in the Park!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annabelz2021
Mar 28, 2026
An awesome first visit to the Big Island!! - My 6 year old son and I were lucky enough to have Chris as our guide on our first visit to the Hawaii. We were not disappointed! Chris introduced us to the volcano with a quiet practice of tuning in to the environment around us, and then a song. It was beautiful, and exactly the type of ceremony I wanted my son to participate in, as to understand the importance of the island, the volcano, and all it's inhabitants. Chris was very knowledgeable and knew how to keep my son engaged with story and facts about many things on the island. I learned so much about the volcano and the island in general, and am very pleased with the experience and Chris's expertise. My favorite part of the tour was the lava tube and the vegetation on the volcano. Our tour ended with a beautiful rainbow over the crater. 🌈 At the end of our busy trip on the big island I asked my son what his favorite activity was. His answer was our trip to Mount Kiluaea, which says a lot coming my active curious little boy! I highly recommend Chris as a guide for families and adults alike as he very insightful, engaged, and knowledgeable. Thank you Chris for a wonderful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seancv99hb
Mar 1, 2026
Chris is the best! - Chris was such a great guide! Super knowledgeable and positive energy. Easy to get along with and gave great recommendations. Would be interested in getting a custom guided tour! Probably the best guide you could get for a lava volcano tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillwu342gq
Feb 7, 2026
Wonderful guided tour with relevant story telling - Chris was a thoughtful and knowledgeable guide on our hike through volcano floor. Shared Hawaiian culture as we ventured through the rainforest surrounding the crater. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trainhard111
Feb 3, 2026
Amazing experience with local expert. I got Liko - Amazing guide. Decades of experience working at Volcano National Park. Very knowledgeable about volcanology and the flora and fauna. Great story. You will love hiking with Chris
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amm60745
Jan 26, 2026
Experience the volcanos and rainforest in a whole new way - Chris is incredible. His understanding of the history, culture and geology are excellent. What makes him so very special is the way in which he connects experience of visiting a place with the meaning it has had and has now in Hawaiian Indigenous culture. Traveling with Chris is like moving from 2D to 3D: he adds an entirely new dimension to what you are seeing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O5659ozjensd
Jan 26, 2026
Excellent tour of Kilauea with Chris - Our tour of Kilauea was extra special by having Christopher Quiseng as our guide. He is exceptionally knowledgeable of the volcano and the area’s physical and social ecology and freely shares that knowledge and insights with his guests. It was a real pleasure and learning experience to hike through the volcano with Chris
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kappycanada
Jan 26, 2026
Truly exceptional guide to help you learn about Hawaiian volcanoes, plants, animals and native Hawaiian culture - Chris is just extraordinary. I learned so much about the volcanoes, the plants and animals, and about native Hawaiian practices. This was absolutely the highlight of my trip to Hawai'i. I wish I could have spent a whole week with him. I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to experience the real Hawai'i and not just resort life. He's a seasoned park service researchers, an expert trail runner, and an eco psychologist; and he blends all of this expertise into an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ivantz3551au
Jan 26, 2026
A truly grounding experience led by a very skilled and knowlegeable communicator in a majestic site. - Authenticaly genuine unscripted sharing of a majestic site. Chris was able to provide a true taste of the significance of the site, the role it played in his people history and its current role. His knowlege of the geology of the site combined with his in-depth knowledge his history/mythology complimented by his natural story-telling skills were facsinating. The tour was well described, entertaining and very informative. We spent 3 hours and could use some more. thank you Chris
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $149
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).