Summit to Sea in Half a Day: Rainbow Falls, Kilauea and Punalu'u

Half a day that runs from the top of the volcano to the water, with the town in between. It opens with a drive down Banyan Drive into Lili'uokalani Gardens and on through downtown Hilo, then Rainbow Falls. Inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park the route starts at the visitor center, then goes out to the Kilauea caldera and Kilauea Iki, the steam vents and the sulfur banks. Nahuku, the Thurston Lava Tube, gets walked through. Lunch is included, island-inspired, at a local restaurant. The road south runs past lava fields and past coffee and macadamia nut farms. Punalu'u closes it: black sand on the Ka'ū coast, and green sea turtles that come there to rest. The guide brings artifacts you can hold and fresh fruit, and explains what each place means rather than reciting names. Before booking: pick-up and drop-off are in the Hilo area only, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. The walking is moderate, with about 15 steps in the lava tube.