Although we only had a few days to spend in Hawai'i, and a lot of activities to experience, we were…read moreexcited about trying out the variety of food available in Hilo. Thankfully, Pono and the Hilo Food Tours delivered. It was a treat to hear about the food we sampled through the lens of Hawaiian history. I would recommend Hilo Food Tours to anyone interested in sampling some great flavors. We hope to come back some time for the cocktail tour too!

From the owner: Hilo Food Tours is an experience, a walking culinary and historical journey which we make together…read morethrough Hilo town. These tasty dishes have become a part of the food landscape of Hawaii and are enjoyed by everyone. Our customers will experience the history and culture of Hawaii through their taste buds, leaving them with an appreciation for a place known for its beauty and mystery. This is what makes Hawaii unique and this is what we want you, our customers, to experience. Our 2 hour walking tour takes place in our quaint town of Hilo. We will tour five different eateries throughout Hilo town and sample the wonderful flavors each offers in their dishes. As we walk her streets you will learn the history and background of the area and be taken away to another time and place. A place rich in diversity that makes Hilo unique. You will experience each individual culture through your taste buds, savoring the richness and unique spices used in every dish.

The OK Farm tour is a great way to learn about post sugarcane agriculture in Hawaii. Cassie was…read moreour tour guide and was very informative of the OK Farm history teaching us about all the crops growing on the farm. The in season fruit and macnuts were a nice treat as we overlooked the best view of Rainbow Falls!

One of the most interesting, informative tours I've ever been on. If you're a foodie or like to…read morecook this is a great place to visit! Ala and Cassie were great tour guides, driving us on a tour bus and stopping a few times to show us different fruit crops, but my favorite was spice road. Tasting, smelling and learning about the harvesting process. Don't misunderstand this was not at all a boring tour, it was just enough information and then we would move on while sipping seltzers,beer, and trying unusual fruits of the island not to mention snacking on macadamia nuts by some beautiful waterfalls. They also have a store where they sell some of their products and produce.

Bigger of an operation now compared to back when I was growing up in Hilo. But they have always…read morekept the fact that you can walk in and see the workers hand dipping cookies and whatnot. They've not changed much besides having newer items here and there. They've classic chocolate dipped shortbread cookies are always a winner. Best part about visiting is that you get samples of their products if you just ask kindly! The staff are always so friendly and helpful. I wish they would bring back the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars!

Make sure to check this place out if you're in the area! We stopped by around 8:30 AM and honestly…read moreweren't even sure it was open at first--the building looks pretty dark from the outside because of the tint. But as soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the wonderful staff, and the whole vibe completely changed. Inside, the space is bright, inviting, and thoughtfully set up. We were offered samples of their Kona coffee along with a couple of treats of the day, which was such a nice touch. As you walk around, you can actually watch them making their delicious goodies, which makes the experience even more fun and tempting. The shop was beautifully decorated for the upcoming Easter holiday, and they also had some really lovely gift boxes--perfect if you're looking to bring something home for family or friends. There's also a small area where you can grab drinks (and possibly ice cream too). I ordered a green tea latte, and it was absolutely wonderful. Overall, such a cozy, welcoming spot with great treats and friendly service. Definitely worth stopping by--whether you're craving something sweet or looking to pick up a thoughtful gift!

What can I say about wonderful, delightful, knowledgeable Tara within the space and time allotted…read moreto me? EVERYBODY GO ON HER TOUR!! Just do it. If you are someone with an interest in anthropology, culture, history, food, and getting to know an area of the world, you will love this tour. We had the most delicious time with her. It was spent in a small van instead of a giant bus, and I believe that facilitated obtaining the information and experiencing the island in the unique ways by which we, as a small group, connected with our surroundings. As someone who loves to take friends around my home towns, I appreciated Tara's perspective and love for sharing about her home with visitors. No matter how prevalent social media is, there are just some spots that only locals know about, and Tara definitely has the scoop on the Big Island. I would love to go on another one of her tours and look forward to doing so.

My husband and I thought this would be a nice relaxing stroll through a garden munching on new…read morefoods-but it was so much more! Our guide Daisy is very knowledgeable and taught us about plants we have never seen before and pointed out different varieties of things that we have at home. Big Island Farms does an excellent job at conservation of their land. We will definitely be back.

We stopped in to big Island Farms on our way to the Waipio look out, Seeing a lot of other vendors…read moreon the road we went for this big island farm stop simply because we needed Wi-Fi. Enjoying the vibe of the farm we decided to stay and have a coffee the lady was very helpful she directed us to our Airbnb and we were so grateful. I must say this was after she made us an excellent Kona coffee, We enjoyed it so much we went back the next day. If my husband wasn't hurt I would've booked a farm tour, I plan on returning soon. Loved the "cool T-shirt" & shoulda bought nuts too, cause they were the best I tried on the entire Big Island.

Our guides Kai and Kamala(sp) were very knowledgeable about Hawaian history and made wonderful…read morerestaurant selections on this walking tour. My partner, in town to volunteer at the Ironman competition medical tent, and I especially enjoyed the clam chowder at the Fish Hopper restaurant, as well as the very fresh Poke bowl at an out of the way deli (which we would not have found on our own.) Best Poke I've ever had. I also really like the purple Ube-be drinks overlooking the ocean at Papa Konas. Highly recommended!

We did this tour on the last day we were visiting the Island and my regret is that we should have…read moredone it on the first day!!! Our guides were so knowledgeable and shared other ideas on where to go to to capitalize on our trip. One thing I really appreciated was it was not just a food tour but also they shared some of the history of the island and even had pictures to show us how it was back then! I won't give any spoilers but I was shocked at how they would transport cattle off the island before they had planes to do it! Another thing that was amazing was our tour guides had local cut up fruit for us to taste. I honestly would never have tried it if I just saw it at a market or on a tree. Highly recommend this tour on one of the first days you are there!

We had the pleasure of visiting Ono Organic Farms on our journey along the Road to Hana, and it was…read moretruly one of the best parts of our trip to Maui! Our tour guide, Brett, was fantastic--knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly passionate about organic farming and growing the most delicious fruit. The tasting experience was incredible. We sampled the most delicious papaya, mango, pomelo, mountain apples, and several other tropical fruits--many of which we had never tried before. Every bite was fresh, vibrant, and packed with flavor. It was not only a treat for the taste buds but also very educational. We left with a much deeper appreciation for the land and the dedication it takes to grow organic produce in harmony with nature. We also took a box of fruit with us to enjoy during the rest of our trip, which kept the experience going for days afterward. If you're headed down the Road to Hana, make sure to stop here. It's more than a tour--it's an experience. We would absolutely go again!

This visit was our second time at Ono, and it was just as amazing as the first. The fruit was…read moreabundant, even in November. We got to try out papaya, bilimbi, caviar lime, pomelo, sweetsop, durian and so much more! The drive was gorgeous, as always, and Nick is a fantastic guide. We took our 9 year old, and she absolutely loved it. The tour was never tedious or boring for her, and is one of the highlights of her trip. Nick packed us up with fruit to leave with, and we shared it with friends on the beach as part of Thanksgiving. What a hit! Everyone was so amazed by the variety and quality of the fruit, even nearby beach goers stopped by to ask where we got it from. I think Ono will be on the itinerary for many people in the future after that beach outing. The tour is also great for people with limited mobility since most of it is on a golf cart. If you're on a multi-generational vacation here, this is definitely something both young, old and in the middle will enjoy. Also, a review from our child, "I like Ono farms because I got to taste each and every fruit that was in season. It's better than video games. I like the fruit they send us home with. I've been eating it all day, every day since. Thank you!"

We went on the Ahiu guided lava tour about a month ago during a trip to the big island. We knew…read morethat the active lava areas were not visible from the volcano national park. so we wanted to get up close and personal with the lava. From what we could tell, this was the best, and it didn't disappoint. They take care of all the arrangements on the phone and when you show up they have a backpack, light, snacks, water, gloves, and poncho ready for you. The tour starts at 2 pm, but it's a little drive out to the start of the hike. The guides will help you find a walking stick to help you keep your balance. Now, the hike itself is totally insane, and not for the faint of heart. It's about 3 hours of hiking through the rainforest, where there is ankle deep mud, fallen trees, puddles, and a lot of up/down and switchbacks. I've got to be honest with you, this is a pretty hard hike and not for the faint of heart. We were somewhat ill-prepared, as we only had regular sneakers. I'd definitely recommend real hiking boots. Then it's about another mile on the cooled lava fields to get to an area where the lava is actively coming out. All in all, you arrive at the lava around or just after dusk. The lava itself is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It is so hot, that once you get within about 10 feet it starts to scorch your face and arms. You can stick your walking stick in the actively flowing lava, and the tip immediately catches on fire! Amazing, just to dip a stick in liquid rock and watch as it cools to a solid. The guide themselves are totally legit. We had 2 guides for a group of about 13, with one leading the way and another bringing up the rear. We spent a fair amount of time talking to one of the guides, Tomas, a native Hawaiian who is pretty much an all around badass. When he isn't guiding tours, hunting boar, surfing, or other stuff with the company, he does mixed martial arts training and fighting. At the time of our tour, he was still undefeated. Big ups to Tomas. The worst part is the hike out. Because you're starting at about 8 pm, and it's another 4 hours of hiking, you don't get back until midnight or so. I can safely say that it was one of the most exhausting experiences I've ever had. Well worth it though. Overall, Ahiu provided us with one of the more amazing moments in my life. I'll always remember it, and I don't say that in many reviews on Yelp. Definitely do it, but bring hiking boots!

The experience of this was truly once in a life time. The front office however is jacked up. First…read morethey called us on the wrong day and said we were late. We had to email them the reservation they sent us in the first place. Then they told us the hike was about 2 hours when it was more than double that one way. I was totally fine with that, but just be honest about it. I would like to give them less stars just for the way the front office handled the whole thing. The tour was a long hike through a rainy jungle. Then you come up to the lava fields and hike to the spot where the current flows are coming up out of the ground. This tour was an absolute must and I was extremely happy that I did it. We were definitely worn out in the end, but it was all worth it. The guides were extremely friendly and polite. You could ask for anything better. I would have given this five stars if it were not for the front office.