An informative tour that included some beautiful running - This exceeded expectations. Chris took me on a lovely trail run. Chris has a fascinating life story. He has spent decades exploring the cultures of indigenous peoples around the world and that perspective informs his sharing of his Hawaiian culture. Our run was at a conversational pace with pauses to appreciate and experience the park. I learned so much about the park, the flora, the fauna and about the cultural practices of the Hawaiin people. And I got a nice run in too. And he shared some delicious local produce at the end.

Just the right amount of adventure! - As an avid traveler, I find it important to immerse myself in the landscape of the places I visit. I find I best understand a destination by connecting with the land and its natural history through the eyes and knowledge of a local. My preferred tours are small, personalized, and unique. My trail run with Chris of Thriving Sun at Kilauea Volcano was all of that and ultimately so much more. Chris was one of the best guides I have ever had. He chose a favorite trail that showcased a wide variety of the ecological zones around the volcano, making the terrain always varied and interesting. I could tell he loved the area because he shared personal stories along the way that made its natural beauty come alive. I learned about the different plants, birds, animals, and traditional uses of the land. He quickly learned my preferred running pace and set a nice rhythm that allowed us to talk but he also created quiet moments of self-reflection and time to appreciate the beautiful views. There is no better way to experience the power of the volcano than while running along its rim and through its forests. This run was truly the right amount of adventure. I recommend this run for any type of runner because Chris is extremely adept at adjusting to the needs and the pace of his guests. For me, this run was a training run for a race I had coming up. It was one of the longest distances I had run yet, and by the time we finished the trail, I felt more confident about my upcoming race. Chris had shown me that I was stronger than I thought and that by appreciating the beauty along the way it makes it easier to keep moving forward.

A beautiful trail run and so much more! - This guided trail run was a very special experience from the blessing of the land where clouds formed a rainbow-like arc over the crater to the end where we sampled local foods and drank coconut water straight from the coconut. This was so much more than a beautiful run in the forest and around the crater. Chris is a very knowledgeable guide who shared information about the local land, the volcano, plants and animals, Hawaiian culture, eco-psychology, and trail running. If you love running and want to feel more connected to the land that you are visiting, this is the tour for you!

Restorative Nature Walk through a Forested Coastal area. - Chris is an amazing guide and held a safe container for me. He led me through a beautiful forested coastal area where I could begin to reflect on my personal life transitions within my family. He was able to reflect back to me my strengths and helped me feel like I can trust myself to move forward. He helped me safely explore and listen to the teachings inherent in a calm tide pool within an encroaching storm. I gained a beautiful vantage point to see my situation more clearly within a relatively short amount of time. I look forward to working more deeply with Thriving Sun’s offerings.

The Center of the Universe - Chris is an engaging guide whose varied experiences over the years at and around the volcano make him uniquely capable to enhance what would otherwise be a solitary enlightening experience into an encyclopedic understanding of the vistas before the observer. His enthusiasm and gentle sharing of his factual and scientific and philosophical as well as spiritual knowledge enhanced exponentially the physical wonders before us, for which we will always remember fondly.