Your guide · Since 2005
Meet Scott.
Guiding visitors across Hawaiʻi Island since 2005 — 500+ tours and 1,000+ happy guests later.
The story
From California to Paradise.
Scott left California in the late ’90s to begin his journey into Paradise — the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. He spent years soaking up local knowledge from every corner of the island, and started teaching what he’d learned to friends and visitors. They’re the ones who pushed him to become a professional guide.
Word spread around the island and well beyond it, and Scott has dedicated himself to learning, teaching and guiding ever since. Lava Guides has run since 2005, with the same idea every day: a safe, educational, unforgettable look at the most active volcano in the world.
“Quality, dedication, ethics: never waver from it.”
- Guiding since
- 2005
- Tours led
- 500+
- Happy guests
- 1,000+
What we stand for
Mission, vision and promise.
01
Mission
To inspire travelers from all over the globe with a safe, educational and diverse tour of the most active volcano in the world.
02
Vision
An unforgettable tour that leaves you with a real understanding of the volcano’s history and how it works in Hawaiʻi. We specialize in once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
03
Promise
A safe, educational perspective on one of the most diverse islands on the planet.
In their words
“…still one of the best experiences we’ve ever had on any vacation.”
Jake Dowell · Westlake Village, California
Excellent private tour. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic day on the Big Island. We learned about history, geography, culture and much more. We are well traveled and have high standards, and we were very happy with our tour guide. Time and money well invested; it is still one of the best experiences we’ve ever had on any vacation.
Highlight of our weekend on the Big Island! We absolutely loved doing this tour and would recommend it to ANYONE who wants to do an experience of the island of Hawaii. Our guide Scott was brilliant — super friendly, helpful, considerate and extremely knowledgeable about the history and area. We love you Hawaii!
5 of us had our vacation on the Big Island in 2022. This is our 2nd time in Hawaii, with Oahu as our first island visit in 2017. This was indeed a memorable trip and a great bonding time with our kids. And this was made possible because of the assistance of Scott from Lava Guides who did a great job in arranging our tour of the must-see sights in Hilo, Kalapana, and the Volcano National Park.
From the archive
Twenty years of following the lava.
A few frames from the Lava Guides archive, 2008–2016. See the full gallery.
Swipe or drag to see more
- 2008
Pāhoehoe breakout · June 2008 - 2009
Night flow · December 2009 - 2012
Ocean entry at sunset · December 2012 - 2012
Christmas Day flow · 2012 - 2013
Dusk flow · January 2013 - 2016
Lava Tree State Park · March 2016 - 2016
Sea cliffs · April 2016 - 2016
Ropy pāhoehoe · July 2016
Ready when you are