04-06-2013, 10:05 PM
Hi all. I am a mainlander who visited Hawaii back in January. I rode on one of Shane's daytime tours and am happy to share my experience - good, bad, ugly - as honestly and objectively as I can, though I will admit that the only reason I found this forum was because I have had my concerns raised ever since that tour and have been searching for more solid information about it than most sites offer.
That's what led me to find this forum and to want to talk frankly and honestly about what's going on here. It kind of surprises me that even well-published articles don't delve into much factual information. One article - you all probably know the one - praises Shane's operation for the amazing thrill (which I can't deny either), and implies that it's safe simply because the author "felt" safe. There can be a big difference between feeling safe and being safe - why is no one talking about THIS in that article, or in any article I can find?
I'm not sure what I think on a lot of points, but I do think there's enough evidence of real and serious risk here to warrant the attention to these tours and their practices. I will say, too, that I think it is unethical to expose kids to these risks, however big or small the degree of risk might be. The potential for disaster may be small (or not, I'm not convinced either way), but the degree of disaster could be anything leading up to loss of life.
Adults can choose what they do. Kids don't and can't, so I believe they deserve to be protected from such unnecessary and potentially grave risks. My opinion is that it is unethical for tour operators to take out anyone less than 18.
As for the adults... well... we can talk about that, and I'd love to get some more good information about the real degree of risk, past "incidents" experienced by anyone nearing lava ocean entries (via land or sea) and the circumstances surrounding said incidents, and whatever else people want to share.
Shane claims he's had no incidents and maybe that's true, though I've read plenty of complaints and anecdotal reports of "incidents" - one story reports Shane acknowledging burnt spots on his (smaller?) boat from falling and obviously dangerous debris. Hmm. Documented in any reliable way? Probably not. Two complaints with the better business bureau - one resolved, one not. Would love to learn more about those.
I'm focusing on Shane's operation because it seems to be the one most people think is most reputable, and it is the one I was on, myself, but I'd be interested in any information about any of the lava boat tours or hikes (Shane, don't you offer hikes, too?).
I know no one here knows me from Adam, and maybe I won't be welcome on a forum that's really geared toward locals. If so, that's fine. I'm not here to create unnecessary drama or to be underhanded or dishonest or whatever else. I'm here to offer whatever information I can, and to hopefully gain some, too. Hope that's OK.
Thoughts? Comments? Discussion? References? (questions?) Lay it on me.
That's what led me to find this forum and to want to talk frankly and honestly about what's going on here. It kind of surprises me that even well-published articles don't delve into much factual information. One article - you all probably know the one - praises Shane's operation for the amazing thrill (which I can't deny either), and implies that it's safe simply because the author "felt" safe. There can be a big difference between feeling safe and being safe - why is no one talking about THIS in that article, or in any article I can find?
I'm not sure what I think on a lot of points, but I do think there's enough evidence of real and serious risk here to warrant the attention to these tours and their practices. I will say, too, that I think it is unethical to expose kids to these risks, however big or small the degree of risk might be. The potential for disaster may be small (or not, I'm not convinced either way), but the degree of disaster could be anything leading up to loss of life.
Adults can choose what they do. Kids don't and can't, so I believe they deserve to be protected from such unnecessary and potentially grave risks. My opinion is that it is unethical for tour operators to take out anyone less than 18.
As for the adults... well... we can talk about that, and I'd love to get some more good information about the real degree of risk, past "incidents" experienced by anyone nearing lava ocean entries (via land or sea) and the circumstances surrounding said incidents, and whatever else people want to share.
Shane claims he's had no incidents and maybe that's true, though I've read plenty of complaints and anecdotal reports of "incidents" - one story reports Shane acknowledging burnt spots on his (smaller?) boat from falling and obviously dangerous debris. Hmm. Documented in any reliable way? Probably not. Two complaints with the better business bureau - one resolved, one not. Would love to learn more about those.
I'm focusing on Shane's operation because it seems to be the one most people think is most reputable, and it is the one I was on, myself, but I'd be interested in any information about any of the lava boat tours or hikes (Shane, don't you offer hikes, too?).
I know no one here knows me from Adam, and maybe I won't be welcome on a forum that's really geared toward locals. If so, that's fine. I'm not here to create unnecessary drama or to be underhanded or dishonest or whatever else. I'm here to offer whatever information I can, and to hopefully gain some, too. Hope that's OK.
Thoughts? Comments? Discussion? References? (questions?) Lay it on me.