North Shore
I was expecting to maybe see some sharks out in the distance, but this was up close and person with about 12 Galapagos sharks!
As soon as we reached the site the sharks were already there because they have been conditioned to think they are getting food.
Our guides Erin and Jordan were amazing! Very down to earth and even gave us some recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat afterward.
This was by far the wildest thing I have ever done and HIGHLY recommend.
We had an amazing time! The only downfall was it was windy so it made it hard for me the short person to hold on and take pictures.
The instructors were great and super friendly! Def recommend
We loved this tour. Thought I was going to be scared but I didn’t hesitate to jump in. Everybody was super nice and we felt like we had ample time in the water with the sharks. We saw SO MANY. It was a very cool experience that we won’t forget. Make sure to take some sea sickness pills. Some people on our boat couldn’t handle the waves. Everybody was a good sport about it though. Super fun!!
This was hands down the best excursion/activity we did on both Maui and Oahu. The crew, especially Erin, were super helpful and great! We saw over a dozen sharks at one time. Only thing we wish we did differently was choosing an earlier tour time so that the water was less choppy and rough. Definitely bring an underwater camera.
This company and crew were outstanding! Great communication and updates about our trip. They treated everyone on board with respect and made it very enjoyable. Erin and the captain were awesome and so much fun. We definitely will refer them to everyone we know and other hotel guests and be back again next year!!
Great time. I had seasickness but it was still a once in a lifetime experience
Beautiful hike to a Waimea Falls. The botanical gardens were beautiful and.full of history too. Easy hike for my kids Got to swim in the lagoon under the falls at the top. I love that they provided life jackets. Once we came down and changed it was off to the luau. We had a great time participating in some of the cultural activities and learning the Polynesian history and culture. Dancing was amazing and food phenomenal. My family really enjoyed it -especially my 11 year old and 15 year old. Highly recommend!!
Aloha, and mahalo for your review! We are especially delighted to know your children had fun at the luau, and we really hope to see you again when you're back in Oahu. God bless you and yours!
fun interactive luau experience. cousin Billy was the funniest ever, we enjoyed our first luau with very friendly staff and night full of culture experiences.
Aloha and mahalo for your review! We'll be sure to tell Cousin Billy you left him a review - we find him to be engaging and hilarious too! ^_^
I would recommend this as a MUST DO!! Yes you will be nervous but, once you get on the boat your captains will make you feel so comfortable! They both have great humor that helps to calm your nerves. What you will experience while your in the cage is amazing! You get to see it all up close! I would recommend anyone to do this. For tourists plan transportation both ways prior to your tour. Its hard to get a uber in that area.
This was amazing amazing experience! The folks running the boat were informational and extremely friendly. There were only 4 people upon the boat and we were all able to get in the cage together comfortably. For the amount we paid we had a generous amount of time in the cage to view the shark in there natural habitat. They were very curious and we got some beautiful pictures. When I had an issue with the snorkel the team provided several others for me to try. The water was high 70’s and we took the early morning venture where the water was fairly still and the island was quiet. I would absolutely recommend this affordable once in a life time experience!
My husband said this was the best excursion we have ever done !
We were initially skeptical of going to any Luau after a previous experience we had on Maui. We were concerned it would feel like a crowded dinner show instead of an authentic experience. We live on Oahu and had guests who really wanted to go. Tao Luau appealed to us because Waimea Falls is a beautiful setting away from resorts, and it has way less occupancy for the event then the others (200 compared to up to 800!). We were pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome, hands on experience, delicious dinner, and stunning show. We have visitors coming in a week, and more in the summer, and have already booked for two more times!
Aloha Heidi, and mahalo for your review! We are pleased to know you had a great experience at the luau, which was initially not what you thought it was. We are glad we have changed your mind about activities like ours. We have planned everything about the luau having one goal - make it a great experience for everybody. Come see us again when you can :-) Mahalo!
Chris and his helping hand was amazing. Made sure that we were comfortable and we had plenty of time in the cage! There were so many sharks around us and we got some great footage! Highly recommend! Thank you again Chris!
I had the best time on my shark tour! The guys were super helpful and informative. The weather was great and I felt very safe the entire time, even inside the cage with the Sharks. There were so many Sharks swimming around the cage, much more than I expected. I highly recommend this shark cage tour. I had the best time with them.
I lived on Oahu, and have attended many of the popular, industrial, Luaus on the island. Due to Covid, most were closed, so we went with Waimea Valley Toa Luau. I can say it was by far the most intermate, and authentic luau I've ever been to. The "cheaper" tickets still have a great, elevated view. The members/staff/performers are all family and the demonstrations they have are authentic to their history. With the admission to Waimea valley included, you can easily make an entire day of exploring the valley and concluding with the Luau. It truly felt like a family cookout (which is the true spirit of a luau) and not an assembly line of people and mediocre food (as most other industrial luaus are). Homemade coco drink, and no less than 5 fire throwers at once, put Waimea Valley Toa Luau over the top for me. Also, not a coconut bra in sight...
Aloha and mahalo for your review! We are very glad to know you had a marvelous time at the luau! We hope to see you again ^_^
What an experience! This tour is definitely worth it. The boat only takes out a max of 6 people which allows for more cage time and less crowds. The cage was plenty big for everyone to see and not feel cramped. We had sharks around us the entire time we were in the water and the water was so clear it was quite the experience. The crew was awesome and very knowledgeable about not only sharks but whales as well. We were able to stop on our way back into harbor and watch the whales for a little bit. Overall such a great experience, highly recommend!
One of my biggest fears is a shark. The idea of this excursion terrified me but When in Rome, right? Hawaii is the perfect place to face your fears and do something you’d never normally do. The guys on the boat helped ease my fears and made the experience so incredible. I would recommend this excursion to anyone. We saw 6 sharks at one time and being that close to a shark was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. We spent about 40 min in the water and it was the perfect amount of time. The fact that only a small number of people can go on the excursion means more time in the water. This is a must do on the North Shore! Bring your GoPro!
This shark cage tour was awesome. Started off the morning with a nice north shore cruise to the cage drop spot. The crew is very laid back and give you all the information you need along the way. Very friendly and knowledgeable and answered all and any questions we had. Spent a good chunk of time in the cage and saw a few different sharks able to collect some pretty sweet GoPro footage. Even saw some whales along the way and you are able to hear them singing underwater which is pretty cool. The boat is spacious and comfortable and they provide bottled water. They also have a fresh water hose so you can rinse off when you are done in the cage. This tour was 100% safe and professionally ran. I would recommend it for anyone looking to have a good time for a few hours on the island.
This tour is one that you won’t forget! During our shark tour, we had 6 sharks around us for most of our time in the water. The cage allows you to get a close view of the sharks while still viewing safe being in the water. You get a beautiful view of the deep blue water that is unlike anything else. The staff was great, informing us of sharks that are often seen as well as educating us on the sharks we were seeing. The staff also gave fun facts about the island during the boat ride. I could not say enough great things about this tour!
I have to admit, even though I knew I would be swimming safely in a cage, I was still a little nervous. But the crew did a good job of putting my mind at ease. These guys really know their stuff! They've been swimming with sharks and surfing in Hawaii their whole lives. They are like walking encyclopedias!
The tour was fun from start to finish. We got to see whales on the way to and from the dive site (and we could hear them when we were in the water!), we saw the Lost beach where the TV show was filmed, and the view of the North Shore coastline was breathtaking.
Last but not least, the sharks. There were at least five in sight when I got in the cage. It was a dream come true getting to be so close to them and watch them swim around us. And the best part is that this tour only takes out a maximum of 6 people so we got to stay in the cage the whole time!
This has been on my bucket list for quite some time and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! The crew is so nice and made everyone feel so comfortable and were very knowledgeable. They only take up to 6 people so you never even have to get out of the cage until the tour is over if you don't want to! We were in there for about 45 minutes getting to see several sharks and it turned out to be a really calming, cool experience. I would definitely recommend these guys, I was sold when I found out that it was a small group and that we would have a lot more time in the cage.
It was great. Very informative and professional tour guide. They were filming the movie Jumanji while we were at the falls.
Thank you so much for your kind comments, we will be sure to forward them to your guide... : )))
Mahalo Nui Loa
Cecilia
this was my first visit to oahu and the i had booked an introductory tour. it was a perfect start. our tour guide was really lovely with a good sense of humour . he was also knowledgeable about the local history and little areas of interest being a local interest.
there were lots of visits to some beautiful beaches and enough time at the waimea botanical gardens to go for a wander. the lunch was delicious. topped at the end a visit to the dole plantation.
i wish we had more time at the plantation to actually go out on the train to be amongst the growing pineapples which would have added to the experience
Aloha Neeti,
Thanks for your kind review. We have many places to go on the tour and have to return to Waikiki on time so we only can stay at Dole 30-45 minutes.
Aloha,
Michael
Very interactive - they do a wonderful job of showing you how things were done back then. You get to help cook some foods (I wish we could have eaten) and get a good look at how they lived! Cousin Billy was funny and very informative, even during our ride from Waikiki to Waimea Valley. The food and drinks did not disappoint either! After dinner the entertainment is second to none - they put on one heck of a show!
We booked VIP and loved sitting up close, but there is not a bad seat in the pavilion.
Our only complaint is that the Toa Luau ruined our other Luau. We attended Toa on Monday and then went to Diamond Head Luau on Thursday and it wasn't even close!!!
Thank you Toa Luau for one of our most memorable experiences while in Hawaii!!
Aloha Jen, and mahalo for your review. We are so glad to hear that you had fun at the luau, but at the same time very sorry for ruining your other luau. LOL Your Toa Luau Ohana though wishes that you come see us again when you're back to visit. Again, thank you very much, and see you again, hopefully soon!
This excursion exceeded our expectations! The crew was personally and knowledgeable about sharks and the ocean sea life. We had plenty of time in the water with the sharks because of the small group. We also saw a huge pod of dolphins 40-60 jumping out of the water traveling out to our final destination. We felt like they were putting on a show just for us. Important to note we never felt in danger while observing the sharks in the cage. Our guides were professional and patient with the timid swimmers. It was a bucket-list check off for us. We recommend an underwater camera or waterproof pouch for your iPhone. Don’t miss these amazing moments with the sharks. We will back! We highly recommend this excursion! Thanks for an incredible experience!!
We had a wonderful time! Not the typical luau where you basically eat, then watch a show. It’s very interactive, we are able to do things. Staff were so friendly and it really felt like a big family celebration. Highly recommended! Plus the free admission to the fall was breathtaking
Mahalo for the wonderful review! We at Toa Luau are doing our very best to make sure the experience is fun and memorable, and we are glad to have been able to share this with you! Your Toa Luau ohana wishes to see you again on your next visit. :-)
So glad we chose Haleiwa Shark Tours/Three Local Boys! Only had six people on boat and cage held six people! We never had to get out of cage! Saw between 10-20 sharks, hard to tell exactly because there was ALWAYS 4-6 in view! The captain and his mate, terrible at names but think Captain was Chris, both very knowledge about history of island and pointed them out as we were going to drop spot. Felt very comfortable in cage - anybody can do this! I'd love to back tomorrow, but we are leaving. HIGHLY recommend Haleiwa Shark Tours
We went for the shark cage adventure on 1st September. It was one of the most terrifying thing we were doing before we started.
The boat was easy to spot, and the best part they waited for us as we got a little late due to road closures. Thumbs up for veltra and the excursion team to work with us on this and keeping us feeling relaxed.
Pro tip: road closures in oahu are really bad, keep more than usual buffer time for your travel.
The boat ride was really choppy, as we were already informed that there were very high waves. The ride could have been slowed down a little(my wife puked due to sea sickness)
Once at the site, we went down in the cage, and after initial jitters of maybe a minute, you start feeling better and safe. So all the folks who are afraid to do so, please just get in the cage, I promise it gets better.
Waters here were again choppy, meaning we were constantly bumping with cage or someone else.
The.good part was we could see multiple galapego sharks, they are magnificent creatures. We saw two upclose and they were big(7-8 feet long).
Ride back was again on rough waters and could have been slowed down a little.
The guides were ok, could have been better and maybe helped us a bit more in water and calming our nerves a little.
This was our first time in Hawaii so we wanted to see as much of Oahu as we could and this tour was a great way to do it. Our driver/tour guide/waiter Steve was excellent; filling us in with fun facts about Waikiki and the places we passed along the way, recommendations for activities and places to eat and restroom breaks along the way! Highlights were the chilli garlic shrimp lunch and the green sea turtle we saw sun-baking on the beach and the ones bobbing up and down in the sea! We would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to see the North Shore and get out of Waikiki.
Hi Karen,
Thanks! for your 5 star review of Steve, your great recommendation and our adventure!
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Michael