My wife and I recently booked a Pearl Harbor tour with Polynesian Adventure Tours, and while there…read morewere definitely some positives, the overall experience left us feeling rushed and wanting more--especially given the cost. The Highlight -- Leo the Tour Guide The best part of the entire day was our driver and guide, Leo. He was kind, informative, and thoughtful from start to finish. You could tell he genuinely cared about the guests and took pride in sharing the history and making the ride enjoyable. He truly set the tone in a positive way, and he deserves recognition for that. The Biggest Issue -- Time (or lack of it) The main problem with this tour is simple: everything felt rushed. We arrived at Pearl Harbor National Memorial around 8:25 AM and immediately started moving. By 8:27, we were already trying to quickly go through the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. We barely had time to walk the submarine itself and didn't have any time to explore the museum building before needing to head across the complex for our 9:15 AM call time for the USS Arizona Memorial. Even though we were on time, we were initially placed on standby. After realizing we might miss our 10:40 AM bus return, we had to speak up just to get onto the correct launch. Because of that, we missed the 20-minute documentary that plays before visiting the memorial--which is a pretty important part of the experience. The memorial itself was meaningful, but the visit is only about 15 minutes, which felt surprisingly short given the significance. Ford Island & Missouri -- Not Enough Time Next, we headed to Ford Island, where we had lunch and visited the aviation hangars. These exhibits were good, but again, time was limited. Guided tours weren't clearly explained, and it felt like if you joined one, you'd miss seeing other areas entirely. The biggest disappointment for me was the USS Missouri. This was the main attraction I had been looking forward to my entire life. I could have easily spent half a day exploring the ship--but instead, we were rushed through it. I didn't get to fully experience the areas I wanted, missed out on exhibits, and didn't even have time to properly explore or enjoy the ship at my own pace. On top of that: We weren't informed ahead of time that the front turrets were under restoration It started pouring rain toward the end of our visit, and we got soaked The rushed schedule meant we didn't even have time to browse shops or grab anything onboard It turned what should have been the highlight of the day into the biggest letdown. Suggested Improvement One major area for improvement: transportation logistics. There were multiple hotel drop-offs at the end of the day, which took about 1 hour and 40 minutes before we even reached our stop. When you factor in pickup time as well, that's easily 2.5-3 hours of the day spent just driving. If the company reduced the number of stops to 2-3 max, they could significantly cut down travel time and give guests more time at the actual sites, which is what everyone is really there for. Final Thoughts This tour has potential, and Leo was outstanding--but the overall structure made the experience feel rushed and, at times, stressful. If you: Want to take your time Are a history buff or military enthusiast Or want to fully experience each site ...I would honestly recommend visiting Pearl Harbor on your own. You'll save money (around $500 for two people in our case) and have the freedom to explore at your own pace. Great guide, but the schedule needs serious improvement. - Dr. Rick

Don't bother with this group…read more We booked a tour with them to see Spouting Horn and the Waimea Canyon on Kauai via Disney Cruise Line (we were on the ship). Let me be clear, Disney was not responsible for anything that happened on this tour. First, the bus (think Greyhound sized) was 45 minute late arriving. Then, even though the tour had been advertised as "no wheelchairs or scooters," there were 2 on this tour, 1 of which was able to be folded up and stowed, but the other required the use of the lift, which the driver didn't know how to operate. Turns out they were short on drivers and flew her in from Oahu that morning... Once we were able to leave, we got to our first destination (Spouting Horn) after about 20-25 minutes. During this time, our driver ground gears, stopped suddenly and generally had issues driving the bus. We were then told that the brakes had failed (!!!!!) and that the company was sending another bus to replace ours. This took an hour. Several people (including the person in the powered chair) elected to bail and head back to the ship. Wish I'd known that was an option. We endured, and ended up finishing the tour 2 hours after our scheduled return time, but still in time to make all-aboard. The driver was just that - a driver. She was NOT a tour guide and didn't know much about the area, the stops or seem to be terribly concerned with the fact that we were on a schedule. Suffice to say that we checked with the excursion desk to make sure none of our other tours used this operator. Epilogue: Disney Cruise Line did their best to remedy the situation by refunding us half of the tour cost. We also recommended they reconsider this company for future bookings.

The Driver was outstanding! Her name is Kanoe! She was informative, funny and knew everyone's name…read moreon the bus. She also knew facts about every home country and state of every person on the bus. I would recommend this this tour line to anyone looking to have a fun and learn about Hawaii.

I booked a tour last minute after the one I booked was canceled! They were able to accommodate me…read morethe day before the actual tour date. I was went on Hidden Gems of Oahu with Byodo In and Turtle Spotting - No Snorkeling Tour (Island Circle Tour)! The tour guide was knowledgeable and had wonderful personality keep it fun! It was an all day tour and well worth the money. Beautiful stops for oceans views, food, and breathtaking nature. The tour arranges pick up and drop off which makes getting to the tour easy for tourist! I highly recommend booking with this tour company for your trip to Waikiki, Hawaii.

O highly recommend!! From booking the tour with Faith to…read morethe driver Neal and our Amazing tour guide AKA he made sure our tour was informative taught us a lot about the islands and Hawaiian culture HE is definitely the best and very knowledgeable I highly recommend to go through Nui if you plan on visiting Hawaii and want to sight see make sure you get AKA as your tour guide he will not disappoint! Aloha

Tour was very misleading. Kap did not seem like he enjoyed his job and told us very little as we…read moredrove. The beach stop was rocky and couldn't be snorkeled in. I've been to many beaches on this island and I'm not sure why this operator would choose to beach. They changed our pickup location on us after we booked and we were required to pay $60 where we had to park. Wish we could get this day we lost back!

What a great way to see the sites! Very entertaining and…read moreknowledgeable drivers. "Toosi" was a great driver nice guy who gave me the trolley cap off his head when I asked about it. The trolley was my main source of transportation for the 5 days I was there.

For someone who has mobility issues, this transportation helped me a lot! It goes around the city…read moreparticularly the shopping and hotel area. It also stops at the Waikiki beach. It takes longer where you want to go but I enjoyed the breeze and saved me from aches and pains. The ride is $6 and it's an all day pass. It starts just before 10 am and I think it ends at 8 pm. If you have the JCB credit card, your ride is free. Don't lose your ticket since you have to present it when boarding.

Our driver Lola was amazing! She made the ride fun and is very informative. We took the bus to…read morePearl Harbor and enjoyed every moment of the ride. I only hope that next time we are in Waikiki and decide to take a tour we have the pleasure of having Lola as our driver.

Marlon was the most amazing tour guide ever! I've done many tours, and this was probably one of the…read morebest tour experiences ever. Marlon was funny, knowledgeable, patient, and welcoming. We did the Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa full day tour...I absolutely recommend it, especially if you don't have much time because it covers many of the most popular attractions in Oahu. The bus was also super comfortable with good AC and an immaculate bathroom in the back. If I could only choose one tour in Oahu this would be it. It highlights everything you need to see on the island. Mahalo!

My husband and I just finished our Hawaiian getaway and we're so lucky to have known Sefo who…read moreintroduced us to the tours that North Shore Tours can provide us. We particularly loved the Oahu Island Tour. Our tour guide, Ian, was excellent and I can do that tour all-over again! We love Ian - so relatable to any age group! We also really liked our Pearl Harbor Tour. We also love our tour guide, Moe for the Luau tour, that makes off the mediocre Luau we got from Paradise Cove to say the least. (I'd say it's not the North Shore Tour's fault at all!) Thanks to North Shore Tours for a very memorable and enjoyable vacation!

For the fried cheesecake, it was off the hook and very good. My fiancé ordered the Cuban sandwich…read moreand lemonade and didn't like either. Won't be returning.

This review is long overdue. Ron is the most knowledgeable, friendly, native Hawaiian tour guide…read moreyou will find. I researched long and hard with various tour companies and magically discovered Ron. He takes your "must do-must see" list and cross sections with his favorite, popular island attractions and makes the tour customized. If there's something you want to eat see or experience, he will make it happen. And because he knows all the books and crannies of the island, we saved so much time navigating thru traffic and dining and local favorite spots. He is the best! These pics could not have been taken on some large bus tour, I guarantee.

I have lived here for a few months now and researched a few tour guides. My reason for choosing…read morethis one was specifically because Ron (the guide) is a native from the island. After speaking with a few companies, I felt Ron was very sincere, humble and honest. I was right! Before you head out on a tour, figure out what you would like to see and give Ron an idea in advance so he can plan the day. There are so many options and time goes by fast when you are having a good time. 0 I went with a group of all ages from as young as 12 and young as 40 :) We all truly enjoyed every stop and wish we had more time. Most importantly we had plenty of laughs and giggles throughout the day! If there is anything specific you would like to know, add me as a friend and feel free to ask.

This review is on the Sights & Bites Circle Island Tour. We stopped at 10 different locations and…read morefound a great snorkeling spot to go to later on in the week (Hanauma Bay). Included lunch at Tanaka's with your choice of entrée. I got the garlic butter shrimp which was absolutely delicious. Takes you in a full circle around the island in about 8 hours.

Tour was good. Guide was great. But the sales rep painted a much rosier picture about the tour than…read moreit really was. Not enough time spent at the better stopping points. More time spent at vendors.

Tour was great but Dirk our tour guide was amazing, he was very funny and outgoing the entire…read moretime.. Asking everyone how they were doing offering drink multiple times, making everyone comfortable.. He seemed to be very knowledgeable about the island and the history of culture and residents.. This was an incredible experience and Dirk made it great, thank you again.. Highly recommend..

This tour was pure magic from start to finish, and that's saying something coming from someone with…read moreIBS! Dirk, our driver and guide, deserves a standing ovation. He was hilarious, full of fascinating stories, and somehow managed to make every bathroom stop feel like part of the adventure. The views were jaw-dropping: Diamond Head glowing in the morning sun, waves crashing at Halona Blowhole, and those movie-perfect cliffs near Kualoa Ranch. Dirk kept us entertained between stops with island legends, trivia, and a soundtrack that could make even a restroom break feel cinematic. Leonard's malasadas? Heavenly. Macadamia nut farm snacks? Dangerous in the best way. Tanaka's garlic shrimp? Worth every bite and every burp. Turtle Beach was the crown jewel--relaxing, peaceful, and filled with lazy sea turtles living their best lives. Dirk's timing was perfect, his humor was infectious, and his love for the island made every mile memorable. I laughed, I learned, I ate too much, and I never once regretted it. If you want a full day of Oahu beauty, good vibes, and an expert guide who'll keep you smiling and on schedule, this is the tour. Mahalo, Dirk, you're the real MVP of island adventures!

Yianni is amazing guide. We booked a private tour just 2 days prior. My wife saw Hi5 in Facebook-…read moreAulani group and can do custom tours. She DM and got a live response. We opted for a light tour, local goat farm, fruit stand, Weimea valley (waterfall), local food trucks, a surf beach and Cacao and coffee refinery. This is kid friendly especially the small one wanted to be carried instead of walking. Yianni knows the people in all areas, able to have a deeper history and great understanding. It's like a live Nat Geo and Anthony Bordain explanation level. It's a great experience. Normally, i hate tours as the guide just point to the local spots and that's it. It's no different from a Google search. Hi5, and Yianni in particular change this by having that connection to the local people. That is the magic. We did talk a bit of business and I think incorporating this idea to a wider audience is perfect. I wish him the best.

What a fun filled day with Ryan.... He is a wealth of knowledge and insight in the Hawaiian history…read moreand life style. The kayaking was so cool and all the stop fun. Excellent lunch at the food trucks. Ryan insured all were safe and having a great day!!!