I cannot say enough wonderful things about Wilson and the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars excursion…read more Wilson was incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable and I learned so much! He did all of this while navigating steep roads (not all paved) and feeding us amazing chicken stew, cookies, and hot cocoa. This was a truly memorable and magical trip and the weather was just perfect! Everything was well organized and I cannot recommend them enough

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.

Super fun, thoughtful crew; Nick, Avery and Myra!! Beautiful park and a great value. We learned…read moreabout some flora and fauna as well!

Hands down one of the best experiences we had on the Big Island. We got super lucky -- it ended up…read morebeing just me and my boyfriend on the tour, and it felt like a completely personalized adventure from start to finish. The entire team was unbelievably nice. Not just polite -- genuinely warm, fun, and so welcoming. They took the time to get to know us, made us laugh, hyped us up, and really made the whole experience memorable. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in how they treat every guest. The ziplines were gorgeous, safe, and such a thrill, but the guides truly made it next level. It didn't feel rushed or routine at all. Instead, it felt like hanging out with friends who just happen to be amazing at their job. We loved it so much and would recommend this place in a heartbeat. If you're on the Big Island, this is absolutely a must-do.

Kailani Tours is a first rate business. Our tour was wonderful. Our driver (Thaia I believe) was so…read morekind, informative and enthusiastic about our tour. The van is very comfortable. We enjoyed our Kona Coffee stop and of course the stop to the "southernmost bakery in the USA". Dinner was good. Not very flavorful for ordering the blackened fish, but good. Travelling into the National park at night was so cool. We enjoyed walking down into the lava tube and then back to the lodge to view the crater. The tour is a solid 11 hours. But it goes fast. I highly recommend for everyone. As long as you're up for an adventure.

Everything was amazing and way more then was described Our…read moretour guide Thia was unbelievable her knowledge and her wonderful personality just made the day I have taken tours all over including Europe and this was by far the best

Captain Jerry and Tony were great! We had a wonderful time and caught two huge fish! Highly…read morerecommend! Definitely a highlight of our trip to Hilo!

My sister, brother-in-law, son and I went out with Captain Jerry and First Mate Kimo in pretty bad…read moreconditions--10 foot waves and poor visibility. They were up-front about the battering we were about to receive, which of course was out of their control. We were excited to go out anyway, and felt that we were in completely capable hands (Kimo is also a captain, so between the two of them there are decades of experience on the sea.) The whole morning was an adrenaline rush! We made it back completely safe, although without any fish. These guys are so great that we will definitely try again someday!

The coffee samples were flowing, and I really enjoyed trying so many…read more The free tour was so informative and our tour guide Deshawn was fun, kind, and made a real effort to make the tour a great experience for everyone involved. The farm has so many fruit trees, beyond coffee! We even tried Surinam cherries, fresh peppercorns, and jabuticaba. I highly recommend checking this place out for the great coffee, educational tour, and kind staff!

Whether you're a coffee drinker or not, you'll enjoy a visit to Greenwell Farms. First off, there's…read morea sample station with about 8 different coffees. All are free. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I thought what the heck, so I tried a few sips and was surprised how smooth it was. They also have tours that run about 1/2 hour (also free). The tour is very casual, and you're free to leave whenever you want. I thought the tour was really entertaining, and we got to see the chasm left by the spring storms. You learn about the history of the farm, sample some of the other items they grow on the farm (like pepper), and take in the beauty of the tropical flowers all around. Even if you're not a coffee lover, you'll probably walk away with a few items from their gift shop. They have coffee (of course), mac nuts, plantain chips, and avocados as big as your hand.

We got an email from these guys ONE MINUTE AFTER POSTING HERE THAT THEY DON'T EXIST and that they'd…read moreSTILL TAKEN OUR PAYMENT that we'd somehow "fallen through the cracks" and were getting refunded. This was AFTER their site advertised they were open, AFTER their site accepted our payment, AFTER we got a pre-trip confirmation email that we were good to go, AFTER we *wasted a tank of gas driving 4.5 hours round trip from Kona on our last day in Hawaii*, and AFTER a next-day "thanks for riding with us" email from them. So ... they only realized we'd "slipped through the cracks" and refunded us when they somehow learned they'd been rumbled here on Yelp. Not pretty stuff. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but I'm now sure how we can or what explanation could possibly point toward mere negligence.

The electric bikes from Hawaii Lava Bikes are by far the best way to see the active lava flows…read more Even though it's only a ~4 mile ride out to the lava, after you hike 4-5 miles over rough terrain to see the lava (3-4 hours of hiking on tough terrain!), you will be SO HAPPY that you have an electric bike to get your tired legs back to your car. We flew past so many people on regular bikes who looked at us with jealous and envy as we used minimal effort and got there much faster. The guys who run the company are also INCREDIBLY nice and down to earth. Bikes are in excellent condition, and they give you backpacks, headlamps, and water. Would 100% use this company again.

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.

JP Taxi and Tours provides excellent, professional service, that is personable and punctual. I…read morewhole heartedly recommend!

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.

I first came across Ka'u local buzz coffee and Paradise Meadows a couple of years ago and decided…read morethat this was the best coffee I've ever had. Same for the Mac Nuts. I immediately subscribed to their newsletter so I could keep up to speed on what they where offering. In a recent trip to Hawaii, we were finally able to visit in person and it was a fun experience. Enthusiastic staff, lots of laughter, delicious fruit slushies, Art Gallery with featured local artists, penny the pig, baby ducks, parrots that would squawk at you until you engaged in conversation. Premium Kau Coffee, Macnuts, chocolate, short bread, slushies, pizza (on the day we were there) made by two Italian guys. Yes please! After we gorged on free samples and margarita pizza, we went on a shopping spree at the well stocked gift shop (not sure if that's the correct term, maybe farmstand?). Since we spent a certain amount on goodies, a discount was given along with free shipping to Alaska (what?!?). It makes me so happy just knowing that places like this exist. My only regret about stopping is that because we were in go, go, go mode to get to a birthday party, we didn't spend nearly enough time here as I would've liked. Next time!

This is a must-see stop on the way to South Point. Admission is free, and you can wander the…read moregrounds filled with lush plants, birds, and an art gallery. Grab a bite from the food truck or enjoy the samples in the store. The macadamia nuts are absolutely addictive, and the thoughtfully crafted honey is just as incredible. We left a generous tip for our sample guru and went home with bags of macadamia nuts and a variety of honey. Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable, and I loved learning how the honey develops its unique flavors. Best of all, it feels great to support local farmers!