Lava Boat Tours?

[Sue Nomie]

Anyone been on a recent boat ride to see the lava?
Company coming and we are looking for a one.
Does one seem better than another?

[hotinhawaii]

Shane Turpin's Lavakai is the biggest and fastest of them all. They regularly go out 3-5 times every day. There are kamaaina rates. He gets you up close to the lava, hangs out for about 45 minutes in a covered boat with comfy seats. lavaocean.com

[Obie]

I agree !!

Shane is the best !!

[loffelkopffl]

Yes Lava Ocean tours with Captain Shane is the best

[Greg]

I wouldn't recommend the Lavakai. Capt. Shane is greedy and anti-aloha. The Lavakai is too big to maneuver safely in small Isaak hale boat harbor and his answer is to ban ramp use by surfers and swimmers. Until there is a separate facility in Lower Puna for people to access the water they are going to have to share. To ban swimmers and surfers is impractical and unenforceable.

I have personally watched him approach unstable ocean entry sites in a way that endangers his customers and violates marine safety law. While truly spectacular, his actions are a serious, potentially fatal, accident waiting to happen.

Of course people think it's marvelous to be a few feet from the Lava entry; but they don't realize the potential danger in which they are being placed by this person's greed and ego; All the while assuming that they are safe. Shane has actually scooped up floating lava from his boat to demonstrate, what? His bravery? How many gallons of fuel on board?

There's never been a bench collapse? Superheated wave and steam explosions? Engine or other mechanical failures on a "lee shore"? (That's where a disabled boat is going to go where the wind pushes it; in Puna Makai it's predominantly onto the rocks/Lava).

So I would agree that Captain Shane is the fastest, and probably the most exciting, but I wouldn't call him the best; Endangering unsuspecting visitors for profit isn't Pono.

[birdmove]

I might suggest Lava Roy Carvalho. lavaroy.com. 808-883-1122.



Jon in Keaau/HPP

[DoryGray]

Second - LavaRoy

[Peter Easterling]

For thrill seekers, the Lavakai is a good choice. Haven't taken their trip but have witnessed their departure many times. They appear to aim at wave faces in order to catch air on their way out through the surf zones. At Pohoiki, getting some air under the hull is often unavoidable, but they certainly choose the steeper wave faces rather than the safer channels.

Swimmers are already forbidden. And kids swim there every day as it is virtually the only place with calm (and warm) water for miles around, aside from Ahalanui, haven of tourists and senior citizens. It is a dangerous situation but one that works reasonably well. I have seen a few near misses with skillful captains avoiding clueless swimmmers, often snorklers. Almost always the shouts of "Boat!" effectively clear the area by the boat ramp.

You could well get the thrill of your life and though reckless, I think my wife and I will do it soon.

[Sue Nomie]

FYI I'm a surfer (retired, bad knees)! I may have to go just to RANT in his ear about the rights of SURFERS.
It would be worth the money to have a captive captain get a piece of my mind about the
issues. Local fisherman, many who surf too, have shown Aloha in getting in and out, that I have seen so far.
Sometimes understanding the problem is just hearing the other side clearly.
Let us hope so anyway. Wouldn't want to miss Pele's magic. After all she is putting on an incredible show.
Mahalo for all your responses.

[dmbwest]

+ 1 Greg,

Gotta go re-read all those older threads again.

Also to all those captains who say they cannot take one hand off wheel to blow horn coming in I say BULLsugarhoneyicetea.

aloha,
pog