Joshua, Sam and the third guy (sorry forgot to jot your name down, but he was from North Dakota)…read morewere amazing guides for our group! We had a few no shows, so it was a small group that headed out to Captain Cooks. The kayak portion itself is not difficult as long as you have kayaked before. The trip over took about 20mins and was not super strenuous. Getting into and out of the kayaks from the loading dock was more challenging than the trip itself, but the guides talked us through and helped us in and out of the kayaks. I would say if you have not kayaked or if you have any physical limitations this may not be the excursion for you as there is not a convenient loading/unloading shore so you end up dropping into and climbing out of the kayaks while they are still on the water. The guides did an amazing job at tethering us and helping us in and out but I would say it would be a bit intense for first time kayakers. Over at captain cooks, the snorkeling was amazing! They provide you fins, mask and life vest (optional) and then we had an hour to snorkel about. I highly recommend taking the early kayak tour as when we got to the monument there were only a handful of people so we could swim about really not come close to others, but by the time we left there were multiple boats of snorkelers that had come in and it gets busy in the water. There were so many vibrant fish, and the reef is gorgeous. I didnt want to leave the water. After snorkeling Joshua had a few bags of chips and some water for us and then we packed up and kayaked back to the loading area. Overall it was an amazing experience!

Joshua was a great guide for our kayak and snorkel tour to the Captain Cook monument! This was a…read morevery cool experience and a great spot to snorkel! Very worthwhile. It's a great spot to see lots of fish and we even saw a turtle which Joshua said was not common for that spot! The water is very clear! I do think helps to how to kayak and be prepared for a potentially strenuous journey. It doesn't take long but especially after snorkeling/swimming for an hour, the trip back was hard! They provide life jackets and you can wear it while snorkeling. My husband did because that makes him feel more comfortable in the water.

The past week I had called JP Taxi for a ride to the airport. We had been taking Ubers in the past…read moreand for an early morning ride and the XL Ubers in the past few years were somewhat a horror story. Like twice my ride was coming to do my pickup and all of a sudden was canceled. Twice we had driver if a older Toyota forerunner once the rear area had so much dog hair that my luggage had so much hair on it and I was a bit worried to bring it into the house before I had to brush off the hair and hoped didn't have bugs. Same driver picked us up and the inside was so messy with rubbish from candy wrappers and all kinds of paperwork in the doors and just looked like it hadn't been cleaned for sometime, plus no A/C. I had called JP taxi and told him what time to pick me up and he was exactly on time. Taxi was clean and he was very friendly also. He told us to call him when we got back into town and we did. Very friendly and prompt on pickup times.

Jerry is such a sweet man, very friendly and talkative. He's always our ride to wherever we gotta…read morego and makes our day each time. He's also very honest, we left our phone and he returned it without hesitation. He accepts apple pay and square.

Jeff was amazing! So accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to make…read moreour day special. We saw sea turtles at the spectacular green beach and it was a must-do experience. We are so happy we crossed paths with Jeff!

From the owner: Wherever you are on the Big Island, I will meet you and take you on an excursion you'll never…read moreforget! I offer private personalized tours for 1-4 guests. You choose the places you want to visit. Attractions in the Wild, Wonderful South include Volcanoes Nat'l Park, Pu'uhonua O Honaunau Nat'l Historic Park, beautiful black sand beaches, great snorkeling and hiking opportunities, and of course, the amazing green sand beach at Mahana Bay. National Parks admissions are included in your package, as well as beach towels, blanket, canopy and chairs, cooler with ice, and 2 sets of snorkel gear, if desired. Green sand beach is accessible with my Jeep, and will certainly be the highlight of your tour! One of four in the entire world, the sandy bottom is ideal for swimming, and it is visited often by sea turtles and even the occasional monk seal. Come explore the wild side!

We chose Makaio Tours because it seemed like a good length tour that covers a lot of the popular…read moretourist destinations around Hilo, and boy, did Justin deliver! He was prompt, great at planning, and exceptionally personable and professional throughout the entire trip. It is clear that he has a wealth of knowledge regarding the islands of Hawaii and regaled us with tons of interesting fun facts. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking for a great comprehensive and interactive adventure around the Big Island. Justin, thanks for being our host for the day! We have learned a lot from this Hawaii Volcanos, Waterfalls, Beaches, and Hilo tour. We would highly recommend Makaio Tours

From the owner: Aloha! We are a Native Hawaiian guided touring company that specializes in the Ultimate Hilo day…read moretours which consists of everything from Volcano's, blacksand beaches, waterfalls and many hidden gems that the locals know of which stands us out from the rest!

My husband, 1yr old son, and I spent the day touring the big island with Savannah and Keola. We…read morewere greeted with leis and smiles! Really felt the "Aloha Spirit" with them. We were so grateful to find a tour that was kid friendly and they made it so easy with accommodating our son and potty/diaper changing stops. The van was very clean and comfortable with a tv screen that showed educational videos about where we were about to visit. Both Keola and Savannah would chime into the videos and tell different stories that connected with the video, felt very interactive. We had a blast and would 100% recommend!

From the owner: Exploring a new Island may lead to unneeded stress. Don't worry leave it to us your Hawaii Local…read moreConnection to take care of you like ohana (family). All of our tours are done Hawaiian local style full of ALOHA. Lots of fun and laughter will be shared during your tour. We will assure your safety is our #1 priority. Then let the fun times roll. These tours are suited for all ages and fitness levels. If weather is not ideal, we got you covered. We will provide umbrellas and alternat sites to visit if needed. We will provide snacks nonalcoholic drinks and lunches. You will also be driven around in a luxury mercerize sprinter van equipped with a large tv. We will be featuring rare Hawaii videos of Historic lava events, Hawaiian Legends of the lava/fire goddess Pele, Hula dancing and the connection to Pele, and much more options. You will be able to kick back and relax on "Hawaiian time" while we drive you around to visit some of Hawaii's most breath-taking sites. Let us take care of you and show you true Aloha. About Hawaii Local Connection Tours LLC Hawaii Local Connection tours is a 100% local, family-owned company, operating on the big island of Hawaii. Our tours specialize in a fully customizable authentic local island experience. We can take you almost anywhere you want to go on the island with a variety of epic scenic locations available to choose from, with native guides bilingual in Hawaiian-Pidgin and English. We are here to serve you as your Hawaii local connection.

Huaka'i guide services showed me a part of Hawaii I normally wouldn't see. Going hiking is out of…read moremy element but you only live once right? I gave Kehau a call and worked out a hike with a group of friends that wouldn't be too rigorous but still challenging. With steady encouragement and the message "it will be worth it at the top" and on the way he filled me in with awesome history and an authentic hawaiian perspective which was informative. Once at the top of the ridge I was at a loss for words we were mesmerized, it was completely worth it. We ended up scheduling another hike before the trip was over. Highly recommend Huaka'i guide services for an awesome authentic Hawaiian adventure.

From the owner: We are a group of seasoned local guides, dedicated to perpetuating pono and aloha by sharing with…read moreour visitors a cultural and historical understanding on the people of Hawai'i and the place we call home. Experience the amazing and beautiful island of Hawai'i through Hawaiian culture and folklore. We provide a wide range of services guaranteed to show you the most iconic locations in the most authentic way. Whether you are looking for a easy breezy shuttle or an elaborate full day tour, our team at Huaka'i Guide Services has you covered.

TLDR: Paddling to Captain Cook was a blast and we got to see an abundance of wildlife on what felt…read morelike a super curated tour by our amazing guide, Nina! If you're considering taking the Historical Hawaiian Outrigger tour with Ehu & Kai, consider this a sign to DO IT! From start to finish, this felt like an experience tailored for our group, supported by the friendliest, chillest staff. A special shout out to the friendly helpers on land who were incredibly fun and out-of-this-world friendly! Our tremendous guide, Nina, went above and beyond to curate an exceptional experience. From the lively banter and building camaraderie between a group of strangers sharing an outrigger to maximizing the amount of wildlife we got to see, being out on the water with this crew felt like being out with a group that's known each other for ages. Along the way, we got historical facts about the area, got to snorkel with an abundance of wildlife, and even enjoyed a visit from a pod of dolphins! Nina--you're truly one of a kind and I cannot thank you enough for being so friendly and thoughtful in your approach to this tour. Sadly, our tour was Nina's last before she heads out for a bit. Here's hoping we'll see her back at Ehu & Kai before we know it!

Memorable, unique, exciting experience with a friendly, helpful attendant to get you on your way…read more We saw dolphins and tons of fish. It took us about 30 mins each way to get there and back. Five stars with the caveat that no one was there when we arrived at 9:00 am (the time we booked online). After about 10 minutes or so, the employee appeared (didn't get his name, unfortunately). As other reviewers note, this place is just a table at the end of a road with a bunch of kayaks and a guy who will rent them to you. Don't expect storage for your belongings or bathrooms. Parking is along the street. All that being said, they give you this info in advance, so you should be prepared. We had our own snorkel gear (or did before I lost mine in the ocean later that day ha ha) so we only needed the kayak and dry bag. A dry bag is necessary (see "lost my gear in the ocean"). The employee gives you all the info you need to find your way to the snorkeling area and back. He said they "lose" about one party a day who overshoots the entrance to the cove when returning and they have to go rescue them. Don't be that person! Once at the snorkeling spot near the monument, you'll see lots of other people and boats, but once you're underwater, you won't notice them - it's like swimming in an aquarium. You need to keep your kayak with you at all times, so if you're paddling with someone else, consider taking turns holding the kayaks and snorkeling. You aren't allowed to dock or approach the shore (this is a hard rule - surly tour guides will yell at you if you get too close). Keep in mind that getting in and out of a kayak in the open ocean is not the same as doing that on the shore or in shallow water. There's no shallow water here at all, so practice in advance or consider taking a tour boat if that's not something you're comfortable with.