The ranch is open from 10am to 2pm with their hours clearly listed by the parking lot…read more It's a quaint little museum that records how the Parker family contributed, and continues to give back, to the Big Island community. The gift shop has a range of clothing, books and other information pertaining to the cowboys. It was fun to learn about how Hawaii came to grow to what it is today. Apparently they have fun events with plenty of vendors frequenting the ranch on weekends and holidays.

Parker Ranch is such a nice gem in Waimea (Kamuela) and full of history; in fact, they have been…read morefeaturing on Scenic Hawaii Channel (now Experience Hawaii). As of Summer 2024, they only offer self-guided tours at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 1:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. But if you are able to make it out to Parker Ranch, it is so worth it. There are a couple houses that you can go into (including the main one which you check-in with the staff), and then select parts of the grounds, and you might even see the cattle and horses along the way.

Do experience the tasting. The chocolate is dark with flavours enhanced with coconut milk, almond,…read moreand more. Very unique blend of chocolate. Locally grown and processed. We loved the cocoa, sent some home!

Experienced the VIP cacao tasting tour and enjoyed every last second of it! Mike was an amazing…read moretour guide. He built his cacao farm from the bottom up and it was amazing to witness his progress ever since 2017. He walked us through the seed germination process, the growing process, the fermentation process and everything before, in between and after that.. from seed all the way to chocolate bar. This tour is meant to expand your knowledge and change your perspective on how you think about, taste, and experience chocolate. At the end of the farm tour, you drive down to the gift shop (about a 3 min drive from the farm) to make any potential purchases as well as taste even more chocolate! What an amazing and unique experience in Honaka'a and 100% recommend adding this tour to your Big Island itinerary. P.S. my favorite chocolate bar is the barrel aged bourbon bar!! Notes of dark cherry with a bourbon finish :)

Please be sure to check hours and Info on website before going. We arrived too late for a tour but…read morewere able to check out the grounds and shop. Volunteers in the shop are very informative and helpful. We learned so much just from the information in the shop. It's a beautiful location, but a long drive to get there. Be patient and drive safe.

We did the Big Island Bees tour - 100% your time and the drive. Our guide/beekeeper grew up on…read moreher family Bee farm in the mainland. She was extremely knowledgeable about beekeeping. She shared her knowledge regarding be keeping, hive management, and the lifecycle of bees. She identified drones, workers, and the queen. She also explained Big Island Bee's rotates their bee hives into three unique environments which provide distinctive flavors of honey. and the process used for honey is extraction for sale. Big Island Bee's honey is 100% pure honey. (No attatives, it was interesting to learn that some producers of honey add corn syrup an and other adjectives) And she provided information regarding the year-round, honey production that is available in Hawaii, including the fact that big Island bees rotates their hives into three unique environments which provide distinctive flavors of honey. The honey tasting offered a great sampling of the honeys produce by the bees by the and good people at Big Island Bees. This is a great activity for everyone of all ages.

"Experience" the parts of Hawaii that few will ever get to…read more I wanted to give my scuba diving wife an unforgettable birthday present on the island. Booking with Hawai'i Island Private Charters didn't disappoint! We signed up for a two-tank all-day excursion to the northern part of the Big Island coast. As we boarded the boat, the captain explained that whatever activity you book with him--scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, whale watching, snorkeling, or a night manta ray excursion--quickly becomes secondary to the "experience" of the luxury of the boat and the breathtaking scenery. He was absolutely right! You quickly glide up the coast, taking in the last remnants of civilization and feeling like a king. By the time you reach your first dive on the edge of the wild lands, you almost don't want to get up, but the dives were worth it. The boat drops you off at location with various secret dive sites that the captain knows well. You drift along underwater, marveling at the diverse sea creatures. On our dives, we spotted sharks, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers, lobsters, hawkfish, and more. After a safety stop, the group resurfaces, and the boat that has been following you is right there to pick you up. But the real magic happens during the long surface interval after the dive. The boat moves up a coastline that rivals any in the Hawaiian islands, including Maui and Kauai. You'll be stunned by the stunning cliffs, beaches, caves, palm trees, valleys, and peaks that come one after another. The best part is that you can see them all in a culturally sensitive way--from a boat off in the water, without ever needing to hike on land that you are not suppose to, trudging through and destroying ancient Hawaiian ground. However, the excitement doesn't there. During the boat ride up the coast, we witnessed many whales breaching, spouting, and tail slapping (it was the right time of year). When we turned around to speed back for our second dive, we were greeted by bottlenose and spinner dolphins surfing our wake. We managed to get some close-up pictures of both without even trying! Our second dive was perhaps even better than the first. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious meal, snacks, and drinks on the ride back to the dock. We were once again kings and queens, content with the fact that our cameras were full of pictures to capture this unforgettable "experience". Whatever activities you choose to book with Hawai'i Island Private Charters, you'll have an amazing time and return with wonderful memories. It will be a highlight of your trip to Hawaii and well worth it.

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

Mauna Kea summit trip was amazing. Definitely worth it. Our guide, Aaron was very humbly…read moreknowledgeable and you can tell he really enjoyed the star gazing. He made our group time together feel like ohana. The equipment was top notch.

The Circle Island Tour was fantastic. Justin was a great tour guide. The amount of information that…read morehe has is incredible. He kept us entertained the entire time which says a whole lot considering how long the tour is. He was so full of great stories and information not only about the Island but so much more. I asked him had he ever considered being a Jeopardy contestant. lol . I highly recommend this company and I recommend Justin as your tour guide even more.

This review is for the Twilight Volcanoes and Stargazing Tour, with tour guide Drew…read more My partner and I had never been to the Big Island before, so we chose a tour that would essentially bring us around the island and visit some of the major "must-see" locations. We also happen to love astronomy, which made the stargazing tour an easy choice for us. It was also extremely important that we selected an experience that offered *small* tour groups and was locally owned and operated. Drew was an absolutely fantastic and entertaining host. His enthusiasm and knowledge shines through the way he spoke non-stop from the moment he picks you up. On this tour, we visited Bay View Coffee Farm, Punalu'u Bake Shop, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and stargazed near Mauna Kea. This was a LONG tour, but was filled with so much fun that time flew by. Although we missed Kīlauea's most recent fountaining episode (51) by a few days, Drew still made time for us to catch the lava glow which was super cool and a highlight of the tour. Our weather was not super favorable with thick, overcast skies; and my partner and I actually gave up on our hopes of stargazing. But Drew is so observant of the weather that when a window to view the night sky opened up, he did so. He provided thick coats to those that needed them and spent some time pointing out different stars and constellations. By this time in the evening, it was really cold and we didn't mind our limited stargazing time. We truly enjoyed our experience, as well as Drew's expertise and respect in regards to Hawai'i's culture and history. We highly recommend that you take a Wasabi Tour early in your trip (like first day if you can), and then you can tailor the rest of your Big Island afterward.

Our family of 4 did the 1.5 hour tour. Heather our guide was great and she was very knowledgeable…read more Definitely recommend to addd to your list of things to do if you have time.

I enjoyed my time on this 1.5 hour tour which was led by guide Heather, whose infectious…read moreappreciation of the cloud forest kept me interested and wanting to learn more about the plants. The walking stick very much helped me with navigating the terrain along with a fairly slow pace of the walk. I came away from the tour with a new appreciation for nature and idea for how to help the world (plant a tree!).

This review is strictly for Cameron, our tour guide. He has set the bar for everyone else. I was…read moreamazed by his legitimate Aloha spirit (harder to come by than professed around the islands). He has the type of personality that I could see as a successful tv host on a discovery or nature channel type show. He offered a wealth of knowledge about the land, flora, fauna, history, and beliefs of Hawai'i. At every point he kept us safe, entertained, and informed. He has made Hawai'i my favorite of the islands. My only complaint about the tour has nothing to do with him, but with scheduling. I really didn't want to go to a hotel gift shop and would have preferred more time to swim or snorkel.

What an amazing experience. We booked a tour to see the lava fields and enjoy a snorkeling…read moreadventure and it was a full day of adventure. Keep in mind there is no snorkeling on this excursion and the area around the Hilton is not safe or appropriate for snorkeling. I am writing the review solely on the lava field excursion part. My wife was very dissapointed that there was no snorkeling as we purchased new snorkeling equipment. Roxy was our tour guide and was probably the most knowledgeable and professional tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Roxy was knowledgeable in the history of volcanoes on Hilo and elsewhere, horticulture, bird species, animals, Hawaiian culture, tourist attractions, history of the Hawaiian Islands, tribes and Capt. Cook, beaches, teachings, burial practices and so much more. Roxy told stories of the early days in Hawaii and how it evolved. Also as a noted her driving and safety practices were impeccable. If you are planning to come to Hilo you must make it a point to reach out to Roxy. We spent approximately 8 hours on the tour and it was so enriching although the lack of snorkeling was a dissapointment . Highly recommended Mahalo

Awesome tour. Sights were amazing. The experience of the trip and the drive were like something out…read moreof the movies. Our tour guide was a local and gave us a local perspective on everything we saw. He told us the story behind the side by side falls, the big one and the little one. (Hint, it's a love story.) He was very flexible and accommodating, helping his guidees get the best out of their experience. We also had fresh fruits and sampled wild ferns along the way. Our guide explained how the locals were able to sustain them selves in this wild valley.

I cannot recommend this experience highly enough…read more From the moment I arrived, everyone involved was incredibly warm, welcoming and friendly but what truly made the experience exceptional was our guide, Seanry. His knowledge of Waipiʻo Valley, its history, culture, people, agriculture, waterways and the relationship between the community and the land, was extraordinary. He didn't simply drive us through a beautiful place, he helped us understand what we were seeing and why this valley is so sacred and deserving of respect. Equally important was the sense of safety Seanry created for our group. Navigating the incredibly steep road into Waipiʻo is no small thing, yet I felt completely comfortable in his hands. He was attentive, knowledgeable and genuinely cared about everyone's experience. Initially, I was disappointed to learn that the tour's permit does not include access to the black sand beach but once we entered the valley, however, that disappointment disappeared. There is SO much more to Waipiʻo than its beach. The waterfalls, taro fields, freshwater springs, wild horses, vegetation, history and people who continue to call the valley home made this one of the most meaningful experiences I've had on Hawaiʻi Island and throughout my world travels. The value for the money is beyond words. What you receive isn't simply transportation into a place most visitors can no longer access by vehicle or on foot, you receive an education and a deeper appreciation for Waipiʻo that you simply cannot get by standing at the lookout with another tour bus. I also came away understanding why these permitted tours are so important. If we ever hope to see responsible public access to the road expanded again, visitors need to understand how to enter this sacred place with respect, for the residents, the culture, the land and the fragile ecosystem. Experiences like this provide that education. If you are visiting the Big Island, do not just drive to the lookout or take another tour bus, take a picture and leave. Take THIS tour. Go into the valley. Listen to its stories. Learn about the people who have lived there and those who still do. Understand the land you're standing on. Waipiʻo deserves to be more than something we photograph. It deserves to be understood, respected and protected. And if you're fortunate enough to have Seanry as your guide, you're in excellent hands. A must do experience on Hawaiʻi Island!

Amazing time. Crew was very expressive on the trip and was very professional. Showed us dolphins…read morewhen they didn't have to. Made sure everyone on the trip enjoyed and experienced something wonderful. Offered insight on anything, let us enjoy the water before showing us the manta rays. 10/10 experience and highly recommend!

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.