It wasn't the horrid weather, that was just bad luck. However the tour guide felt he had to make up the time by driving around to assorted small tourist towns. It was an incredibly boring experience. We should have been allowed to simply return to our hotels.
We had a wonderful time. The crater was spectacular, lunch was great, very organized. But the best part was our guide. She was friendly, fun, engaging, and taught us so much about the history of the island, the flora and fauna, and the Hawaiian culture. My kids said it was their best day on the island!!
Very informative guides on a host of subjects, including the National Park itself, as well as wildlife, birds plant species, and even pronunciation of Hawaiian language.