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Big Island Tour: Native Hawaiian Experience
5.0
439 Ratings
Hilo
Native Hawaiian guided tours offer an exceptional experience on the Big Island, ensuring visitors enjoy the most sought-after attractions. As a family-operated business, they provide immaculate luxury vans and take great pride in their work and attitude, aiming to create unforgettable island memories for all guests.
Native Hawaiian guided tours offer an exceptional experience on the Big Island, ensuring visitors enjoy the most sought-after attractions. As a family-operated business, they provide immaculate luxury vans and take great pride in their work and attitude, aiming to create unforgettable island memories for all guests.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The majority of the visit will be spent here! All popular stops will be covered with informative commentary. The following areas will be explored: Volcano House, Visitor Center, Kilauea overlook of the Halemaumau Crater, steam vents and sulfur dioxide banks, Kilauea Iki Crater, Laumanu Crater, and Nahuku lava tube….
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - The majority of the visit will be spent here! All popular stops will be covered with informative commentary. The following areas will be explored: Volcano House, Visitor Center, Kilauea overlook of the Halemaumau Crater, steam vents and sulfur dioxide banks, Kilauea Iki Crater, Laumanu Crater, and Nahuku lava tube.
- Hilo Farmers Market - The largest selection of locally grown vegetables and fruits can be found at the Hilo Farmers Market, conveniently located in the historic Hilo Town. Guests have an hour for lunch in this area, which is full of restaurants and local shops.
- Rainbow Falls - One of the most iconic waterfalls, cascading down the Wailuku River in Hilo. Known for rainbows that appear when the sun hits the mist below. Many tropical trees and plants can be seen and touched in this area, including a famous 1/4 acre Banyan Tree that many tourists and locals enjoy climbing and swinging from.
- Liliʻuokalani Gardens - Explore a historic 24-acre botanical garden near Hilo Bay that hosts many species of eucalyptus trees, monkey pod trees, and island tropical vegetation. Many bridges over saltwater tide pools full of tropical fish can be viewed and explored. Hawaiian Geese called Nene’s (state bird) are often seen here too.
- Big Island Candies - An exclusive local candy factory where visitors can sample their famous island delicacies like the many macadamia nut cookies dipped in a variety of chocolates. Free samples of Kona or Kau coffee are also available! Experience and view the production crew through large windows as they carefully make, handle, and pack their amazing products!
- Richardson Beach Park - A popular black sand beach in Hilo known for Honu’s (Hawaiian green sea turtles) that swim and relax in the saltwater tide pools. Here, tourists and locals surf, swim, snorkel, and explore the many activities available at this island paradise or find a cool place under a coconut tree to relax!
What's Included
- Luxurious reclining 15 passenger seating
- Professional Native Guide
- Port of Hilo/Hotel/Hilo Airport pickup & drop-off
- National Park fees
- Bottled water
- Umbrellas
- Luxurious reclining 15 passenger seating
- Professional Native Guide
- Port of Hilo/Hotel/Hilo Airport pickup & drop-off
- National Park fees
- Bottled water
- Umbrellas
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Location
Port of Hilo
Kuhio Street
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(439 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Susan
Mar 25, 2026
A must do on the Big Island - This tour is a most do if you are visiting the Big Island! My 18 year old daughter and I were here on spring break staying on the Kona side of the island and drove over to Hilo to experience this tour (about a 90 minute drive - totally worth it). Justin communicated with us in advance as to where to park and where we would get picked up. All instructions were spot on. The van was comfortable and clean. From the minute we were greeted you feel like family. Justin was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Loved each stop - especially the sea turtles and black beach.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q46nhrachelg
Mar 24, 2026
An awesome way to see the sites of Hilo - Our first day in Hilo was excellent thanks to Justin and Makaio Tours. Not only did he share the “touristy” parts of the island, he more importantly shared a local and personal perspective. He was very personable, friendly, funny, and kind hearted. He went out of his way to make sure we all experienced the flavor of Hilo. I would recommend him in a heartbeat to family, friends, and strangers. Mahalo Justin, for an excellent day (and the macadamia nut ice cream.)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dream00148212396
Mar 24, 2026
Must do experience - This is a must do experience, especially with Justin of Makoio tours. His knowledge, experience, and humor was outstanding. This is one of the best trips I’ve ever been on and I have done trips throughout the world. Justin exemplifies the ALOHA philosophy. Don’t miss this trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linda_k
Mar 24, 2026
Must do, Justin is amazing - Encompasses all the important elements of the side of the island. Justin is absolutely amazing, fun, knowledgeable, caring. I can’t say enough about him and this tour. I’ve travel all over the world and he and this excursion was the best. Kudos to Justin for all he does to make this the best for the island and his guests. ALOHA
Review provided by Viator
Andoffshegoes
Mar 23, 2026
Justin was our star tour guide !!! - Justin provided a fabulous tour of Hilo. He has a wealth of information and shares it enthusiastically along with local life on the island. His love of the island shines through.
Not only did we visit a number of the major sights with the Volcanoes being the highlight but he managed to squeeze in a couple more.
Justin was funny and a gentleman throughout the tour and I would highly recommend Justin if you are thinking of doing this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Penny
Mar 23, 2026
Great tour and tour guide - Had a great time in this tour. Justin was fun and knowledgeable. Paid great attention to details. The van was clean and comfortable
Would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ayaho868
Mar 16, 2026
Amazing Big Island Tour! Justin is the GOAT - We had an incredible experience on the Hilo Highlights Day Tour with Makaio Tours. Justin was an outstanding funny and charismatic guide. He had friends at just about every spot we visited. Justin’s comfortable and clean van, great storytelling, and deep knowledge of the island made this one of the best tours we’ve taken. If you want a more personal Big Island tour that covers Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, waterfalls, lava tubes, black sand beaches, and authentic local culture, without having to worry about the hassle of figuring out admission tickets and navigating, I highly recommend Makaio Tours. What really stood out was his care and communication. He personally called me after booking to make sure I understood the distance between Kona and Hilo, and even checked in the week of the tour because a storm was forecasted. That level of honesty and professionalism is rare. Even with rainy weather and low visibility at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Justin made the experience unforgettable. We explored the steam vents and lava tube, saw the lush rainforest landscape (straight out of Jurassic Park!) , visited Rainbow Falls and Liliʻuokalani Gardens, stopped at Big Island Candies, and enjoyed lunch near the Hilo Farmers Market. My personal highlight was the black sand beach, where Justin showed us exactly where to look and we quickly spotted five green sea turtles.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Milorbec
Mar 14, 2026
Hilo/volcano + tour - Justin from Makaio tours was fantastic as a tour guide. He shared so much info and was very personable to the entire group. Highly recommend Justin for all your needs when in Hilo! 🤙
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tashasj7660ks
Mar 12, 2026
Best tour guide in the area - Epic tour, honestly cant recommend this tour guide and expereince enough. Justin went above and beyond to make everyone's expereince amazing. I had a unforggetble time. Justin is a fun, funny and chrismastic dude who knows the big island well. He went above and beyond to make sure our group and me and my sister had a amazing unforgettable adventure. If I could give more then a 5 star I would.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ann_s
Mar 12, 2026
Above and Beyond THE BEST!!! - If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!!!!
Justin is an owner/operator run tour and he went above and beyond to give us the BEST experience. We were blessed to be there when the volcano was erupting, and he tried to do all he could to give us the best views. He even provided N-95 masks, so we wouldn’t get any of the volcanic dust in our lungs. The 14 passenger bus was VERY well kept too. Skip the big charter bus experience and book with Makaio Tours!!!!!
Review provided by Viator
