Just took this tour today and it was awesome!!! I've lived here for over 20 years and learned so…read moremuch that I had never heard. Carter really gives you the inside stories and then some. Whether you are a local or a tourist you should definitely take this tour!!

Interesting, informative, poignant, thought provoking.... Just some of the words I could use to…read moredescribe today's tour. Our guide, Carter, was friendly, funny, warm and very knowledgeable. She didn't swamp you with her knowledge, but shared it. Her passion for history and in particular Queen Liliukalani was evident. The tour was perfect in length - a touch under 2 hours - with plenty of time for questions all the way through. It required a little walking - but not much - and there were opportunities to sit down, or at least get out of the sun throughout. I would recommend this tour to anyone who has even a passing interest in history, or the history of these islands. Fascinating! And a great way to spend a couple of hours.

One Day in "The Real Hawai'i"…read more One of our best experiences during our vacation in Oahu was the private day tour we booked with "The Real Hawai'i." The fee of $149.00 a person for six hours was a great deal, especially considering how most tours lasting more then 3 hours will cost you over $100.00 a person. The difference is that "most" tours are going to pile as many people as possible into a bus and take you on a regimented tour with no thought to the individuals. With "The Real Hawai'i" plan to spend a day with a private tour guide who assists you in coming up with a custom day of places and experiences with your interest in mind. They do all the driving, worry about the parking and even know the best "local" places to get fresh delicious food. Oahu is a beautiful Island with many cultural and scenic gems that easily could be missed. The people from "The Real Hawai'i" know the Island and all the fascinating beautiful locations that are not found in tourist pamphlets. What I loved about our tour is that we wanted to take a path less travelled, so Dan our tour guide took us to check out the beautiful views from Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site. Hiked through Waimea Park up to the falls. Watched in amazement as the huge waves crashed onto the shore at Ehukai Beach (AKA The Bonzai Pipeline). Walked through a magnificent Banyan Tree, that was used in filming Lost and Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle. And ate delicious farm raised, fresh caught shrimp. Dan the owner paired us with a terrific tour guide who took pictures for us, gave us some great history of the island, and taught us about local traditions. Our day with Real Hawai'i was by far the highlight of our vacation! If your not sure what you want to see then check out their website www.therealhawaiitours.com where you can find a variety of ideas and prices to help you come up with your perfect day in "The Real Hawaii" You can also check out their FB page @therealhawaiitours. Or find them on YouTube @ The Real Hawaii

You will see two other companies with similar names to this one, but they are not the same as this…read moreone. Make sure you are booking with Dan! Dan is the guy who runs The Real Hawaii. I found him through TripAdvisor when I was seaching for a private circle tour. We were a group of two, and I wanted something small, custom and personal, over an impersonal group tour. If you are looking for the same, Dan is your man. Booking through the external sites is easy, but I recommend calling Dan and booking through him directly. He is polite and prompt in his service. He has a fleet of three vehicles: two jeeps and a van. We took a tour in one of his Jeeps. We scheduled a pickup at our Waikiki Beach hotel the day before. He picked us up promptly at 7am for our tour on the scheduled day. He was very professional, fun and a great conversationalist. He took us to some very beautiful spots of places with names I have trouble pronouncing. He will point out the spots of simple beauty, but also take you to places you never knew you needed to visit. Every place he goes, he has a story or experience there. He seems to know everyone, which makes your tour very efficient. He also adjusts your tour's pace to you, and you will never feel rushed. Some of the lookouts and beaches were so breathtaking. The Pipeline Beach area is a must. You would think places like that do not exist, but WOW. Even if you are not a surf fan, you will appreciate a stop there. The restaurants he takes you to are great! We stopped at Fumi's and Aoki's and I was impressed by both. The shopping area we went to on the North Shore was nice. Lots of photo ops, and Dan will even show you some filming locations from movies and tv shows. We got lucky and even saw quite a few whales during our tour! Overall, this is probably one of the best private tours I have been on in all my years of traveling. Dan knows his stuff, and we were super happy with our experience. Customer service, excellent. Driving, excellent. Tour stops, excellent. And Dan, excellent. Thank you, Dan!

I had already been in the excellent WWII Red Light District tour so decided to take the Devil's Den…read moreTour this time and I enjoyed the last one so much! Once again Carter was awesome and it was so much fun. Very informative and interesting. The time flew by and it was over before I knew it. Thank you Carter!!!!

We had a very entertaining time on this tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. I…read morerecommend this tour to anyone that would like to learn interesting history of Chintown

Wow! This home is a gem. Our docent, Judie was very knowledgeable and such a wonderful story…read moreteller. We learned so much about the Liljestrand family and about how they lived in this very special home designed by architect Vladimir Ossipoff.

Loved the tour, history and the house. It was amazing. But…read moreas someone who is regular weight and height, but struggling with infertility, to be asked by the docent whether I was pregnant, is hugely hurtful and shows lack of interpersonal interactions. Specially as she was a woman, or even it it were a man, that is unacceptable. I am not expecting. We are going through IVF. I thought everyone from a young age was asked not to ask that kind of question. I loved our visit, but now it's on a sour feeling. Would not recommend bc of conduct of the docent. Otherwise, it's spectacular

What an experience!! Highly recommend! Lopaka is a great guide and story teller…read more The tour is engaging and mysterious. We started off sitting on the steps of the bandstand in Waikiki. Walked over to Kapiolani park, then the tennis courts. Lopaka told us stories throughout the entire tour. You do get to participate, I don't want to give too much away. You'll walk away with memories and stories to share. There is walking involved on this tour. Bring a jacket. Park at Waikiki Shell or the metered parking between the bandstand and the tennis courts (Kalākaua Ave). I can't wait to go on the next tour!

What a fun thing to do, whether your visiting or a local. A great guide and even if you don't…read morebelieve in Night Marcher's of spirits, there is a lot of history related in the tour. Allow about 90 minutes, come a little early for parking if needed. Can't say much more as I don't want to ruin the tour. Great guide with 30 years experience.

This was an outstanding way to quickly pop around the Island in style! Paul's love of Hawaiian…read morehistory was contagious! my mom is slow moving and cant do stairs well on a tour bus or shuttle, so this was absolutely perfect! the convertible was perfect to feel fully engrossed with the atmosphere. we slowed down or zoomed through if we wanted and was very customizable. LOVE the car and so did everyone else along the way- get your shaka ready! :)

We've been in Hawaii five-years and I took my wife on Awesome Tours Hawaii for her birthday. It was…read morea fantastic, beautiful trip learning about the different locations in Hawaii as well as being in a very cool car. It was not a boring lecture but extremely compelling. The history mixed with the beauty of Hawaii made this an awesome experience!

Ever wonder why Waikīkī 's luxurious Royal Hawaiian Hotel is painted pink and called the "Pink…read morePalace"? Or why 90% of its original suites face inland instead of taking advantage of the ocean and Diamond Head view? Or what events or who inspired the Spanish-Moorish architecture of this island hotel? I noticed the announcement of this tour on Yelp and signed up because an inquiring mind like mine and a group of 20 visitors wanted to know the answers. We met our tour guide, Kehaulani, at 1:00PM sharp at the lanai of the Royal Hawaiian near the resort's bakery. After a brief introduction, she led us around the main floor of this grand dame which Kehaulani gave us the rich background that Matson Navigation Company had created back in 1927. The answer as to why the hotel was painted pink was because Captain Matson noted that his "neighbor" on Waikīkī Beach was Kimo Wilder and his wife, Sarah, who traveled to and returned from Portugal where they fell in love with the Portuguese salmon pink painted houses with blue shutters and had the Wilder home painted with like colors. The hotel's builder liked the colors so much that he requested to use the same color paint as the Wilders to which they agreed. What we all understood was that this hotel was built for the very wealthy to stay or play at. Travel was accomplished on steamer ships which often took months and these travelers were those who traveled with personal entourages and never asked about cost. The attitude was "if you have to ask, you can't afford it". Anyway, we found out that during the steamer ship passenger days, the wealthy would travel with their own cars, household staff and clothes "to be seen in" or have them tailored once they arrived in Honolulu. Because they were on the ocean for so long, they preferred staying in suites that faced inland where they could gaze at the lush green land. Their staff or entourage stayed in ocean view rooms (which they hated or complained about). Well, how times have changed with air travel... the modern travelers prefer the ocean views. The hotel was designed and built in the late 1920's. At the time, Rudolph Valentino was a big screen star and his movies always had him portraying an Arab sheik. The exotic Islamic art and background seen in the Valentino movies were inspiration to this hotel's architectural design. There were more interesting facts about the hotel and Hawaii society from the 1920's to present day which Kehaulani shared during this 2 hour tour. If you're interested in this free and informative historical tour, please find yourself at the Royal Hawaiian on either Tuesdays or Thursdays at 1:00PM. I believe that you can self-park at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel parking garage (shared by the Sheraton Waikīkī) and they'll validate your ticket. We lucked out with free street parking along the Ala Wai Canal.

Not a tour. This is a talk in the courtyard. Guide had a lot of knowledge and information, but we…read morestarted about 10 mins late and then spent 45 minutes standing in the courtyard (not touring the property). If you like learning about history, and not seeing it - this would be great for you. If you were hoping to see the hotel itself and walk through parts - you either will not get it with this tour or all touring is somehow done in the last 10 minutes (we ended up leaving early)

Pearl Harbor Tour by Luis G. Was Outstanding…read more Luis G. brought history to life in the setting of Pearl Harbor where it happened. His knowledge is detailed and vast, and his stories of history leading up to December7, 1941, what happened on that day, and concluding with events on the USS Missouri that brought the war to an end were fascinating and well-told. Luis managed our day smoothly and with flexibility for our family's requests. We enjoyed his company and benefitted from his experiences growing up in Honolulu and service in the Navy, his education, and his compelling passion for the history he seeks to understand and share. Luis is by far the best tour guide we have met in our travels in the U.S. and abroad!

Our personal, small group tour of Pearl Harbor with Lui was a seven hour day that went by in a…read moreflash as we were at rapt attention from the first minute to the last. Lui's deft handling of history and deep knowledge underscored each area and event he walked us through; all historical material and timelines were shared with great care and accuracy. Lui's narration and storytelling were powerful, in-depth, and he never missed a beat in bringing history to life. Given Lui is 4th generation Hawaiian, a former Navy submariner, and has a history degree focused on Asia Pacific studies, I couldn't imagine having anyone else guide us through one of the most somber and powerful events in our nation's history. We will always remember our day with Lui and still talk about it. Highly recommend his tour: 5 stars.

Magical Train Ride Adventure!…read more We absolutely loved our experience on the historic Hawaiian Railway -- such a unique and beautiful way to explore Oahu's west side! From start to finish it was pure aloha vibes and family fun! Prices: Standard train ride tickets were around $18 for adults and $13 for kids (ages 2-12) (kids under 2 are free!), and we felt it was worth every penny for the experience and memories! Parking & Arrival: There's plenty of free parking right at the train station, which made arriving super easy and stress-free. We got there a little early to soak in the atmosphere before departure! Hours & Tour Times: The train runs on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays with departures like 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, plus a couple of other times depending on the day -- perfect for planning your afternoon. Length & Route: The whole ride is about 90 minutes round-trip, slowly chugging through scenic parts of Oahu's Leeward coast with beautiful views of the ocean and mountains. The narration from the guide made the ride even more interesting! Stops & Fun: One of the best parts was the ice cream stop in Ko Olina -- we all hopped off for a cool treat at a little plaza and waved to neighbors along the way! Photo Ops Everywhere: There were so many spots perfect for photos -- seaside views, cute vintage train cars, and open-air seating made for great candid shots! Plus, we barely saw anyone else there during our ride, so it felt like we had the whole adventure to ourselves. Tips: * Arrive early to grab good seats and explore the train yard * Bring a camera (or phone!) -- the scenery is AMAZING * Don't forget a little extra cash for ice cream! Overall: This was one of our favorite experiences on Oahu -- kid-friendly, super scenic, and just plain fun. We're already talking about going back again next time!

We were really disappointed with this experience. The ride is far too long for young children and…read moresimply isn't engaging enough to hold their attention. The advertised ice cream stop is just a stop at a local shopping plaza, where you're directed to buy ice cream from the ABC Store. It didn't feel like a special attraction at all. If you're expecting scenic ocean views, temper your expectations. We only caught two brief glimpses of the water. The majority of the ride passes through overgrown brush, a shopping cart graveyard, and several homeless encampments. Overall, it felt like a waste of both our time and money. Unfortunately, we wouldn't recommend it, especially for families with young children.

I really appreciate the way Kamaka shares his knowledge. He's authentic, upbeat, and genuinely…read morefriendly, making the experience both enjoyable and engaging. He has a talent for pointing out and explaining things you would normally walk right past, giving you a whole new appreciation for your surroundings. Hawaii is so much more than a tourist destination. Enhance your visit by having him as your guide! I highly recommend him!

One of the Best Walking Tours We've Ever Experienced!…read more My husband and I were fortunate to be among Kamaka's "guinea pigs" on his walking tour along the Ala Wai Canal. It was a complimentary tour--his third time refining the experience before officially offering it to the public--and it far exceeded our expectations. Kamaka has a relaxed, engaging, and easy-to-understand presentation style that made the three-hour stop-and-go tour both enjoyable and informative. Throughout the walk, he shared historical photographs that beautifully illustrated how Hawaiʻi has changed over time. He also provided QR codes at various stops, allowing us to continue learning more about each topic on our own. Such a thoughtful touch! What stood out most was Kamaka's genuine passion for his Hawaiian heritage. His extensive research was evident, and he shared fascinating historical facts alongside heartfelt stories from his beloved Tutu, who was born in 1916. Those personal stories brought the history to life and made the experience even more meaningful. Kamaka also thought of every detail to ensure everyone was comfortable. He provided sunscreen, umbrellas, hand sanitizer, granola bars, ice-cold bottled water, and even collapsible seats for anyone who needed a break. His hospitality and thoughtfulness were truly exceptional. At the end of the tour, he surprised each of us with a beautifully designed lapel pin featuring a red and yellow seedling--a symbol of growth, renewal, and the unyielding drive to rise upward. It was a meaningful keepsake and a perfect ending to an unforgettable experience. My husband and I have traveled extensively and participated in walking tours all over the world. We can honestly say that Kamaka's tour ranks among the very best. The care, preparation, knowledge, and genuine aloha he pours into every aspect of the experience are remarkable. I highly recommend Now and Then Tours with Kamaka!! A job exceptionally well done, Kamaka! Mahalo nui loa!