All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

The tour was a lot of fun! Kona Joe's has a great view and good coffee, stopped here for lunch included in tour. Then went on to the bakery at South Point for a Malasada. I don't recommend waiting in the line for purchasing anything else. The malasadas are called in so you don't have to wait, but the line for other items was super long and you can buy their bread in grocery stores. Then to the black sand beach - very cool to see and we saw a sea turtle in the beach! Then on to Volcano Park for a quick tour and to see the caldera and steam vents. On to the lodge for dinner, which was pretty good. I don't recommend the broccoli Cheddar soup and they only had ranch dressing for salads. The blackened catch of the day was great! Then to the lava glow - where our tour guide PJ brought a scope for a better look. It was very cool, but not as close as I thought we'd be so it's not a bright red like in the picture.
But the tour guide was the best part - full of information, fun to talk with and really looked out for his guests! I'd recommend!

It was such a great experience! Our tour guide was AMAZING! So personable and knowledgeable. He knew sooo much history. I don’t think there was a question asked he couldn’t answer at all. My favorite stops were the lava tube and volcano summit visits. Incredible views. My wife and I were saying we should’ve done this when we first arrived instead of at the end of our trip. Sooo much great information. Learning about how coffee was made was also great! Keep it up!

We had an amazing experience, the mantas were huge and plentiful. Seeing the amount of plankton, no wonder the mantas stays in that area. The crew was awesome, the hot chocolate was great. Finding Sea quest was easy, and getting out to the swim site was quick. The only downfall was when water would get into the mask, and you go to readjust the mask, because there’s a lot of plankton around, could there be a possibility that you may have swallowed some as well, or may have gone up your nose. My friend had a serious sinus infection the day after our tour. She’s doing ok now. Otherwise, we had a blast and will cherish this moment forever. Thank you for the experience.

Great day to see all parts of the Volcano Park! Nice they have Hilo side tours as we were nervous when staying on Hilo side.

This experience was awesome and you dont even need to be a great snorkeler!

Jumped over to Bg Island for the day and this tour hit it all! Great experience

It was OK. Nothing was explained well. Water was cold and did not expect to be hanging by the side of board for half hour to watch them coming at you! Very inconvenient, cold and ill-explained activity. Although staff was helpful. Wished they listened to the individual difficulties to understand. Could have enjoyed better with help.

I have to say, the the experience from the beginning was very impressive. Bruce, the tour guide reached out to everyone, he was very intelligent and very knowledgeable of all things we were doing. Bruce made sure everyone in the tour was taken care of, feed, and having a great time. At the volcano Brice made sure everyone in the group was safe and having a good time . We have been on many tours in the past and this by far was the most enjoyable tour we have ever taken. Thank you Brice for all you did.

David and Ofelia
Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This Zip-line Tour was off the hook! David and Josh, along with the other staff, were awesome and very good at what they do! They’re safety instructions were very friendly and clear that made it a really simple and fast process. They’re funny humor kept my wife and I engaged and laughing the whole time which helped break the ice and had everyone conversing. The Zip-Lines are short at the beginning but that’s ok because it was our first time doing this type of activity and helped ease into the longer ones. The grand finale is awesome and are still super stoked about doing it! You won’t be disappointed. Oh! And you have to try the different types of bananas while tracking through the different Zip-Lines and don’t forget to enjoy the views! Once again, thank you Josh and David for a great time and all the info provided! Until next time!

The crew was fun, safe and respectful as well as extremely fun! We saw a minimum of 3 and a max of well… it was 7 or 8 at once. We were all so pleased with this even and I highly recommend going at sunset.
The rays were magnificent and gentle for such large creatures. They truly are a sight to see.
Will do this again on our next visit.

We had a great time on the tour. The description about black sand beacb was misleading we did t go there since it’s not anywhere near hilo but We got to see lava rocks, lava tubes and learned a lot about the National park and plants located on the island! Definitely recommend the tour

There is some hiking (up to 2 miles round trip) involved so definitely wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket

The canoe was a very cool option and keeps the number of people in the group low. The boat sailed a very short distance to the manta viewing area- great for me as I tend to get motion sick. The water was warmer than I thought- again great for me bc I think I’m allergic to cold water. I wore my own wetsuit but they provided everyone with a proper wetsuit top. I wore both and was fine. Our 12yo said he was cold but didn’t complain.
We were all provided snorkels and masks. We all got into the water and held onto a floating device equipped with an underwater light. There we’re several mantas in the area and a few of them swam within inches of us! One touched my arm with its belly. We were in the water about 30 minutes at best guess which was plenty of time in my opinion. I specifically booked a shorter tour for fear of getting sick or freezing but none occurred.
Overall it was a very cool experience and our guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful! Definitely recommend this adventure!

Jasmine was our guide. She’s so fun and kind and the boats were great. We had plenty of time to snorkel, the coast was lovely, and it was all we could have wanted. We skipped the Cliff diving because the surf was rough. But the sunshine and company, fish and laughter made it all worthwhile.

The journey was well organised and on time. The team was really cheerful and fun.
We could see Manta Rays swimming below us all along our time in the water. I liked to learn about Manta Rays while seeing them. It was one of the best moment on the island, Magic!

From the beginning, we were greeted with smiles and outstanding service. Captain Cindy and crew were wonderful! The snacks were great and a small dinner was a nice surprise. Full service bar was beyond expectations.

We had not been zip lining before. They walked us through everything and we had a great time. They were very knowledgeable of the area and it’s history. They were hilarious and made the trip a blast! I would highly recommend them!!

The guide is friendly and informative. He can speak fluent English and Japanese. He provided the needed equipment for the trip and took nice photos for us. We’ve had unique and amazing lifetime experience by standing on the top of the world (count elevation from the seabed) and watching the stunning sunset and moonrise. Unfortunately, the full moon was so bright and we couldn’t clearly see the Milky Way. Overall a must have one and I will recommend do it with a guide as first time as some unexpected situations could happen if you are not fully prepared.

Warning: some people might feel faint and uncomfortable or fall asleep due to elevation

We had a great time. The Manta Rays gave us a great show! I was a little worried about getting in and out of the water but that was no problem with a little help from our guide. I highly recommend this tour.

This tour was jammed packed with fantastic activities and good information. Todd was our guide, and he was filled with lots of good information on the area and language. He is definitely the one you want around for star gazing as he has a formal education in astronomy. One word of caution--bring warm clothes and jacket! You are going to a higher elevation with trade winds, and it gets cold!! (even on the van)

We were going to see a volcano, and our guide went to the University of Hawaii with a degree in geology and volcanology. I didn't even know the latter existed!

Grant's knowledge was only exceeded by his enthusiasm. The tour provides everything you could think of - two types of jackets if you come unprepared, flashlights to make the short hike (really a walk) safe at night, glow lights to wear so we don't lose each other.

The meals were well prepared at our two stops for them. The van we rode in was luxurious.

Thanks to the sighting scope Grant set up, we had close-up views of the labs lake and spewing lava

A great tour, not to be missed!

●Tour Details: We were guided by a charming guide who spoke fluent Japanese. Along the way, we enjoyed stories about the history and specialties of Hawaii Island, making the approximately 2.5-hour journey to the summit of Mauna Kea feel effortless. At the summit, we watched the sunset over the vast sea of clouds, followed by a sky full of stars. It was truly the best view.

●Cautions: Most of the road is paved, so I don't think you'll get car sick, but there is about 25 minutes of bumpy road near the summit, so if you're prone to motion sickness, it's better to take some anti-nausea medication.

●Food: We had a hearty BLT sandwich. Since you'll be busy enjoying the scenery during the tour, I think it's a good idea to bring some light snacks.

Overall, it was a wonderful tour and one of the most impressive experiences in Hawaii. Thank you!

●ツアー内容：日本語ペラペラでおちゃめなガイドさんにご案内頂きました。道中もハワイ島の歴史や特産品などの話で楽しませて下さり、マウナケア山頂までの約2.5時間も飽きる事なく過ごせました。山頂では大雲海に沈む夕日を眺め、その後は満天の星空。ほんと最高の景色でした。
●注意点：大部分は舗装された道路なので車酔いしにいくと思いますが、山頂の近くで25分ほどガタガタ道を通るので、酔いやすい方は酔い止めを飲んどいた方が良いと思います。
●食事：ボリューム満点のBLTサンドを頂きました。ツアー中は景色を見るのに忙しいため、軽く軽食を持って行った方が良いと思います。

総じて素晴らしいツアーで、ハワイで最も印象的な経験になりました。ありがとうございました！

Thank you for the guide. I was able to see some very beautiful scenery.
However, I was very concerned about the driver’s hands-free driving and using a smartphone while driving.
I understand that this is a road he has been driving on daily for years and that he is familiar with it. The speed was not excessively fast.
Since I also drive in Japan, I know that it is possible to drive with both hands off the wheel at a slow speed. Using a smartphone might be similar to looking at a navigation system.
That said, this is not a drive with family or friends; it is a tour that I paid to participate in. The lives of several people are at stake. It would be too late after an accident or injury.
In fact, we were able to return safely without any incidents. However, as a guide, I believe it is not acceptable to make participants feel uneasy.
Those participating in English may not mind. However, I felt anxious every time the driver looked at his smartphone, worrying about the distance to the car in front of us.
If he is so accustomed to this road that he cannot drive without using his smartphone, then I think the company should implement some measures.
Alternatively, if hands-free driving and smartphone use are allowed in Hawaii, then I apologize for my lack of knowledge. However, if that is the case, I believe it would be appropriate to inform us at the beginning, saying, "I will be using my smartphone while driving, but this is okay."
While entertaining as a guide is important, I think safety should come first.
I enjoyed everything else besides the driving. Thank you.

ガイドありがとうございました。とても素敵な風景を見ることが出来ました。
ただ、ドライバーの、両手放し運転とスマホいじり運転が非常に気になりました。
何年も毎日の様に通っている道で、運転し慣れていることは重々承知しています。スピードがすごく出ていた訳でもありません。
私も日本では運転しますので、遅いスピードでの両手放しが余裕であることはわかります。またスマホいじりも、カーナビを見るのと同じかもしれません。
とは言ってもこれは、家族や友人とのドライブではなく、お金を払って参加しているツアーです。数人分の命を預かっているわけです。事故や怪我をしてからでは遅いです。
実際、何もなく安全に帰ることは出来ました。しかしガイドとしては参加者に不安な気持ちを抱かせた時点でNGではないでしょうか。
英語で参加する方は気にしないのかもしれません。しかし私は、スマホを見ながら運転される度、前の車との車間距離が気になってしまったのが事実です。
あまりにも毎日慣れている道で、スマホをいじらずには運転してられない、というのであれば、会社として何か対策を打つべきだと思います。
もしくはハワイでは、両手放しもスマホいじりも許されているというのであれば、私の知識不足です。すみません。しかしそれなら、冒頭に「私はスマホをいじりながら運転するけどこれはokだからね」と伝えるのが正しい姿勢だと考えます。
ガイドで楽しませることも重要ですが、安全を第一にしていただいた方がよろしいのではないかと思います。
運転以外は楽しめました。ありがとうございました。

Awesome tour! Stephan was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the island, Mauna Kea and the stars. We would definitely recommend. Everything was as advertised and even more!

Our driver was mike and he was awesome! The bus was a luxury bus with limited passengers. Mike was funny and personable and treated us like royalty. Set us up for breakfast and lunch, provided snacks and drinks, cold cloths and hot cloths when needed. Made sure we all got our Portuguese donuts without having to wait in line. Just all around awesome! The back sand beach and the crater on the volcanoes were amazing as well as walking through the lava tube. I 100 percent recommend this tour to anyone

I chose this boat because my group had 2 little ones, 3yrs and almost 1yr old. This was perfect for them. We all enjoyed the lessons and the guide who was very attentive to everyone! I highly recommend this tour

I'm glad I went.
As expected, the weather was better at the summit, and once my eyes adjusted, I could see everything clearly.
Our guide, Stephan, was very polite and illuminated things with his light, providing information about the stars, even sharing knowledge I had no prior understanding of. Thank you for being such an interesting guide, Stephan.
I want to go again.

いってよかったです。
やっぱ、山頂のほうが天候もよく目がなれてくるとくっきりと見えてきました。
ガイドのステファンさんも英語でも日本語でも丁寧にライトで照らしなが

星に関してまったく知らない知識まで教えていただきました。それにおもしろいステファンさんありがとう。
また、いきたいです。

One of the most fun nights! Shawn was an awesome host. We laughed, hung out in lava tubes and enjoyed the stars! So fun that it was just us... not a big group. We created a memory that we will have for a life time!

Amazing experience for the four of us (mum, dad & two teenage boys!). The crew has the right balance of humour, sensitivity & business like manner! The snorkelling experience was just phenomenal, one of the best experiences of our lives! Captured on go-pro, so a memory we can re-live time & time again!

Filled with amazing views and places along the way. It really hits so many must dos on Big Island- worth every penny!

I liked this tour, but I would say its a one and done!