All Reviews for Waipio

This shuttle tour is absolutely amazing!! Our guide, Kaleo, was extremely, knowledgeable, courteous and funny! He and his family live in the Waipio Valley and his pride of the history of this historic place shines through! In the beginning of the tour he stops at the Sacred Rock and prayed in his native language for our safety. The ride is very steep and very rocky. Along the way, he stopped the vehicle and lucked chameleon off a bush and allowed each of us to hold it. What a treat! At the bottom of the valley we saw wild Spanish horses, Belladonna flowers, Sleeping Hibiscus and Kaleo explained the history of the Taro plants It was like stepping into Jurassic Park. We saw the most magnificent Hehelava Falls and the Kohala cliffs. We road through rivers also. This tour was one of our best adventures of our trip and one of our favorite memories. We felt very safe with Kaleo as he lives in the valley and travels the road daily. Mahalo Safari Shuttle Tours and A Hui Hou!

This was an amazing experience taking us deep into the Waipio Valley. This shuttle is almost the only way to explore the Waipio Valley, which is something NOT to be missed in touring the Big Island of Hawaii.

Our driver (unfortunately forgot his name; were on the 1st morning tour on 5/9/24) was extremely proficient in navigating the exceedingly steep terrain and making us feel safe and calm. He pointed out areas of interest, and made frequent stops for us to get out of the van and take pictures.

We highly recommend this tour!

We were impressed by the tour guides knowledge of the Valley and the breathtaking beauty of an unspoiled and barely populated part of the island. We saw wild Mustangs, countless birds, streams and experienced seeing the valley upclose. Just seeing the valley from a lookout point doesn’t compare to going down into the valley. Don’t miss out on this shuttle experience, it will leave you impressed!

Very informative happy for the presentation given. Was really nice to stop and get out at sights for pictures and to explore. Very welcoming

When you descend into the gorge, you feel a mystical sensation. Even now, there are people living in the gorge, creating an indescribable atmosphere. From a Japanese perspective, you can feel the presence of gods in the river, mountains, and land. When I shared this with the guide, they said, "This is a special place." There was no Japanese guide available, so I couldn't understand the detailed explanations, but I enjoyed it enough. The quiet atmosphere brings a sense of calm, allowing you to become one with nature and the gods.

溪谷に降りると、神秘的な感覚を覚えます。今も、溪谷で暮らしている方々もいらっしゃって、何とも言えない雰囲気です。
日本人感覚としては、川、山、土地に、神様が居るのを感じます。
ガイドさんに、それを伝えると、「ここは、特別な場所。」と
日本語ガイド無いので、細かい説明は、分かりませんでしたが、充分楽しめます。
静かな雰囲気が、落ちつき、自然と神様達と一体になれます。

The trip into Waipio Valley was among the highlights of our trip to Big Island. Easy check in process with sweet and friendly receptionist.
Our driver and guide was informative, kind and truthfully, really fun to hang out with!
The cultural experience was terrific and the scenery was incredibly beautiful!
Thank you so much! I will recommend this adventure to anyone heading to the Big Island!
Mahalo nui loa!

Our guide, who was born & raised in the valley and still lives there, was amazing. We learned a lot about the day-to-day lives and history of the people in the valley. He was so friendly, welcoming & willing to answer any and all questions. He pointed out local birds & stopped to grab & show us a chameleon from a tree & paused again when a group of wild horses joined on the road. Also, the parking & check-in process were super easy plus the shop had bathrooms, several cute gift options and snacks/coffee available for purchase.

About 60 km from the hotel in Waikoloa, after passing Honokaa and driving for a while, we arrived at the ranch, which took about an hour. We hopped into a two-person buggy and started our adventure. First, we drove through the mountain course, encountering ducks, cows, and horses for an hour. After returning to the office, we took a break and enjoyed freshly picked pineapple to recharge, then spent the second hour on the coastal course. We could switch drivers at any time, which added to the thrill. On the way back, we were satisfied after eating the famous Malasada at Tex Drive In.

ワイコロアのホテルから約６０ｋｍ、ホノカア過ぎてしばらく行くと牧場に到着、約1時間のドライブでした。2人のりバギーに乗り込みスタート。まずは山岳コースでアヒル、牛、馬と出会い、1時間ドライブ。事務所に戻り休憩、取り立てパイナップルを食べて鋭気を養い、後半は海岸コースを1時間。ドライバーの交代は随時可能でスリル満点でした。帰りはテックス・ドライブインで名物のマラザダを食べて満足しました。

My wife and I were treated to a magnificent drive down the unusually steep road into Waipio Valley in the early afternoon of Thursday, 4/18/24. Our tour guide Kaleo is a great young man who has lived in this unique place for most of his life; he grew up here. Kaleo was friendly, very knowledgeable, and very hospitable. He led us to several spectacular sites including waterfalls, lush foliage, and flowing streams. One could readily sense the tremendous power and majesty of this valley. We will treasure the opportunity we had to visit here. Our tour was for 1.75 hours. We HIGHLY recommend taking time to experience this great tour!

This tour is wonderful. Waipio Valley is an incredible place, and the tour guide (who grew up in the Valley and lives there still) was phenomenal.

Our guide lived here and shared some stories and was extremely knowledgeable. We encountered wild horses. Before entering, pray and be respectful. Thank you for showing us this beautiful sacred land

We had done a tour of Waipio decades ago when it was a horse drawn wagon tour. The van tour we did this year was many times better than that one, and our guide was actually a resident of Waipio and gave a lot of insight into the area.

虹を見ることができなかったのは残念でしたが、子供たちはツアーを楽しんでいました。

It was a shame that we didn't see a rainbow, but the kids loved the tour.

We very were honored to be in the presence of such a beautiful and sacred place. The discussion of Waipi’o history and culture from someone who was raised in the valley was a special experience. Thank you for your hospitality!

I chose this place because I wanted to try something different from horseback riding last time. We rode for about two hours. The scenery was absolutely amazing, and the view of the ocean from the high ground was wonderful. Our guide, Maika, was very kind even though we couldn't speak English well. The horses were also very well-trained, allowing us to enjoy horseback riding with peace of mind. I'm grateful for that. I want to go again. Thank you. Aloha.

前回、乗馬と違う場所でしたくてこちらを選びました。2時間ぐらいかけて乗馬しました。景色がとても最高で高台から見える海も眺めれて素晴らしかったです。
ガイドのマイカは、私達が英語を話せなくても、とても優しかったです。
馬もすごく教育されていて安心して乗馬を楽しむことができました。感謝です。
また行きたいです。ありがとうございます。Aloha

We are so happy that we took this tour! It was one of our favorite days of the vacation. Our tour guide, Omar, was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about Hawaiian culture and the history of the valley itself. It was beautiful.

Fun,educational tour for the entire family. Thank you Omar for a great trip

Although this is now the only way that you can visit the Waipio Valley it is so worth taking the guided tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history and culture of the valley, and shared loads of local insights and stories which made this one of the best tours we have ever experienced

My family did this experience. It’s quite a drive to get to this place. I did this with my husband and 2 kids (ages 12 & 9). The tour guides were really friendly and informative. They chose our horses for us based on weight and experience. The horses know where they’re going so there’s little for the rider to do. The waterfall was very cold, deep, and there’s quite a current! Be prepared if you want to swim (we did!). They have kayaks and paddle boards if you prefer not to swim. My kids loved this experience and have been asking for horseback lessons since we got back. Bring a long sleeve shirt or light jacket just in case- we were chilly!

One of the best and most impressive tour we ever made!

I thought this horseback riding experience was a bit hard for complete beginners. The staff was very kind and interacted with us in a fun way, which made me very satisfied. However, the fact that it was only in English was a concern. I understood that there was no Japanese guide, but since we are dealing with animals, it's very important to have explanations that need to be conveyed clearly, and doing that entirely in English felt a bit off. While it's understandable that the guide is in English, I believe there should be a Japanese version of the instructions on how to ride and safety precautions, or at least an email sent in advance with that information.

Even though the staff explained things clearly, I think there might be instances where I could miss something if it's in English. It's not just about being careful for myself; we are dealing with living animals. Their mood can change, and they might get agitated over small things. I actually experienced that this time. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, and the horse is not to blame, but I hope this aspect can be improved.

今回の乗馬体験は、全くの乗馬初心者にはちょっとハードだったかなと思いました。スタッフの方はとても親切で、楽しく接してくれて大満足なんですが、まずは英語ガイドなこと。日本語ガイドがない事はわかっていたのですが、動物相手なので、とても重要なことの説明が必要なのに、それを全部英語でと言うのは、ちょっと違うかなと思いました。ガイドは英語でも仕方ないことですが、注意しなければいけない事、馬の乗り方の説明ガイドの日本語版は用意して欲しい、もしくは前もってメールで送るなどの配慮が必要だと思いました。
スタッフの方はわかりやすく説明はしてくれても、英語だと聞き逃したりがあるとおもいます。
自分だけが気をつけていればで済むことではないからです。相手は生きている動物なので。その時の気分や、ちょっとしたことで暴れてしまうこともあるからです。実際今回私はそうでした。大事にはいたりませんでしたし、馬に罪はないのでそれ以上どうと言う事はありませんが、その点は改善して欲しい事です。

I felt like I got to see all the best spots of Big Island on this 1 day tour!

Four years ago, I visited Waipi'o Valley and took photos from the observation deck. I joined this tour because it allows you to drive down to places that ordinary people can't access! The slope was steeper than I expected, and the driving was very slow and cautious. The guide spoke entirely in English, so I didn't understand anything, but the other foreign guests in the car were laughing and asking questions, so I think it was a good guide. It was fun to drive into the river and cross it; it felt like an attraction!

４年前に来た時は展望台から眺めて写真を撮ったワイピオ渓谷。こちらのツアーでは普通の人が行けない場所まで車で下って行けるとの事で参加しました！
思ってた以上に急斜面で、かなりゆっくり慎重に運転されてました。ガイドは完全に英語でしたので、私は全くわからずでしたが、車内の他の外国人の方は笑ったり質問したりしていたので、良いガイドさんだったと思います^_^河に車で入って横切ったりと、アトラクション的な感じもあったので、楽しかったです！

We’ve been to Waipio Valley several times but have never taken a guide-led tour, and it made a huge difference. The guide was charming, knowledgeable and experienced. We saw parts of the valley that we wouldn’t have been able to in the past, and certainly now that the valley is closed to non-residents. Highly recommend!

My wife and I took this tour with our three young kids. We had a very knowledgeable guide for our tour—Ray. He is a native of Waipo Valley and he had a lot of good information to tell us both about Waipo Valley and Hawaiian history in general. Beyond this, the valley itself is breathtakingly beautiful! All of us thoroughly enjoyed this tour.

Overall, this was an excellent tour!

I HIGHLY recommend this experience to everyone. My crew enjoyed a shuttle ride down to Waipio Valley with the most knowledgeable and engaging guide. We learned so much about history, culture, farming, and geography of the valley.

Five Stars.

Only authorized vehicles can enter down to the valley, so it's worth going. Basically, you receive explanations while remaining in the car, but it's not an ordinary drive as you cross rivers and navigate steep slopes. This time, I had elderly parents with me, and it was great that we could enjoy the sightseeing without any strain. It's also recommended for those with small children or anyone who may have some concerns about their physical stamina. We went there by rental car, and it was easy to arrive by setting the destination in the GPS.

渓谷の下までは許可された車両しか入れないので行く価値が有ります。基本的には車に乗ったままで説明を受けますが、川を車で渡ったり、急な坂道を登り降りするので普通のドライブではありません。今回は高齢の両親がいたのですが、無理なく観光できたので良かったです。小さなお子さんもそうですが、体力に少し不安のある方はおすすめです。レンタカーで現地に行きましたが、目的地に設定していけば簡単に到着しましたよー

The meeting point was in a remote area. The view of Waipi'o Valley was amazing, but the directions to the meeting place were a bit unclear. However, I managed to search for the address and arrived just in time for check-in.

This tour takes you to places that are inaccessible to regular travelers, going down a steep slope in a four-wheel drive vehicle and driving through the river—an experience you can't have in Japan. Unfortunately, due to the rain, we could only see part of the waterfall, but I was overwhelmed by the magnificent nature. I created wonderful memories. The local driver was cheerful, and although the entire tour was conducted in English, I hardly noticed it and he treated us kindly, which was great. Thank you very much.

現地集合でしたが、辺境地でした。
ワイピオバレーの景色は最高でしたが、集合場所の案内が少し分かりづらかったですが、住所を検索して、なんとか時間に間に合って、チェックイン。

一般旅行者は通行止めでも、現地の方しか行けないところに入るツアーで、急な下り坂を四輪駆動車で降りて行き、川の中を突き進んで行くとても日本では体験できないツアーでした。
残念ながら滝は雨の為、一部だけしか見られなかったですが、壮大な自然に圧倒されました。
とても最高の思い出ができました。
現地のドライバーさんも陽気で、もちろん終始英語での案内でしたが、ほとんど気にすることなく、優しく接してくださり、良かったです。
ありがとうございました。

I was overwhelmed by the magnificent scenery. The location of the steep entrance in the rugged canyon, along with abundant water sources, is said to have once been the capital. Although it suffered damage from tsunamis twice, it is believed that everyone was safe due to the powerful mana (spiritual power) that protects it. We descended to the valley floor in a four-wheel drive vehicle, crossing four to five small streams. We got off at a riverbed further in to take a break, and it felt like a mysterious and sacred place. My wife wanted to explore on horseback, but due to my weight limit, we had to settle for the four-wheel drive course.

雄大な景色に圧倒されました。切り立った渓谷で急勾配の出入り口の立地、豊富な水源で、かつては首都となっていたそうです。2回、津波による被害を受けましたが、全員無事だったのは、強力なマナ（霊力）によって守られていると信じられています。四輪駆動車で谷底までおり、４～５の小川を渡っていきます。奥の河原で下りて休憩しましたが、神秘的で神聖な場所と感じ取れます。妻は、乗馬で散策するコースを希望していましたが、私の体重制限で断念して、四輪駆動車のコースとなりました。

We had a wonderful time on our Waipio Shuttle experience with an exceptional guide, timely service, and of course, incredible scenery. Looking back on our family vacation to the Big Island, this was one of my favorite activities we got to share! Highly recommend, and look forward to returning.