Private tour in Hilo Laurence C
5.0
(5) reviews
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Laurence C.
4.9
Guide rating
162
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Tours delivered
7 hrs
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Aloha, My first trip to Hawaii was when I was 12 years old and I fell instantly in love with it the moment I stepped off the plane. I kept coming back every chance I got until I finally got the opportunity to move here. I made many trips over the years to all the islands and in 2005 I made the move to Oahu and have given many tours there. In June of 2012 I moved to the Big Island and currently reside in Leilani Estates in the district of Puna, also known as the east cape, 22 miles from Hilo. I have both a deep love and a great respect/reverence for everything Hawaiian from the beautiful land and ocean, to the history and culture, to the people and music as well as the beautiful Aloha Spirit which I strive to incorporate into my tours. In the years I've lived and worked all around Oahu & the Big Island, I've discovered many very wonderful, spectacular places, hikes with truly breath-taking views and photo ops, and beaches that the large, major tour companies don't go to with the best snorkeling ever, some of these places I found on my own and some I learned about from locals that have lived here their whole lives. Whenever friends or family came over, I would take them on these circle island tours to these places and eat at these less known, less expensive, but very, very good places and they absolutely loved the tour so I decided to offer this same wonderful, more private/intimate island experience to smaller, more eco-friendly (I have a Ford Escape Hybrid) or sustainable groups at a very reasonable price. They are really and truly are "the hidden Big Island" tours. When I took family and friends around, we would leave at 8am and end up returning by between 6 & 8pm in the evening. It was so enjoyable that it never seemed like 10 or 12 hours, not even close. It seemed to take that long to really be able to see/experience most of the island without being rushed but then I realized that many people visiting won't have that much time or want to spend that much time so I decided to also offer tours and hikes of lesser lengths (10, 8, and 6 hour tours just by either leaving some parts out that might not be of as much interest, covering only part of the island, by shortening the amount of time we spend at certain spots and/or just focus on a couple of areas, activities, and/or hikes. If you feel any or all of the hikes are too much for you physically, we can spend the extra, more time, on covering more of the island, seeing more things and/or spending some time at one of the many really wonderful, uncrowded beaches. Since I'm a certified sailing instructor I'm going to be joining the Hilo Sailing club so that I'll have access to several sizes and types of sailboats in case you'd rather go sailing or just make that a 2 hour part of your tour, let me know. During your tour I will answer any and all questions about other parts of the Island that we haven't covered. I look forward to hearing from you, discussing which options you're interested in, and planning your ideal tour with you. You are in for a really great treat, something you will cherish and remember always, have you wanting to come back for more soon to see and do more in this Island Paradise. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on one of my tours so that I can share with you the amazing beauty, wonder, and some of the great food of the land (Aina) that I love and so that you can return home with wonderful memories, photos, and a real sense of the Aloha Spirit. During the tours I will also share some of the history, stories, and stats of the islands. If you decide to join me I guarantee that you will experience the best views, waterfalls, beaches/snorkeling, and photo opportunities, as well as have a great time, eat some great food, get some great photos, and be very glad that you joined me for an experience you'll always remember & cherish. With warmest Aloha, your Private Island guide in Paradise, Laurence ITMI Certified Tour Director/Guide, US Sailing Certified Sailing Instructor, Red Cross First Aid and CPR certified for both adults and children, Advanced Scuba certification. Hawaii Exise Tax license for my company.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Laurence C.
You will experience the beauty & magic of this side/part of the Big Island, why it unique in the Hawaiian chain, and why I have chosen to live here. You will learn a lot about Hawaiian history, culture, the language, volcanoes, trees, fruits, flowers, birds, animals, and more. There will be many great photo ops. It will be a very educational, informative, interesting, fun, and memorable tour that you will remember & cherish the rest of your life. Lunch at a great local restaurant in either Hilo or historic Pahoa town.
As you'll see in the 6 hr tour, it starts in Hilo with the choices there and then moves up the the beautiful Hamakua Coast then south/East to the Puna district where I live on a 9 acre coffee farm. Swimming and/or snorkeling is an option for those that enjoy that. The additional 2 hours is to extend either the distance covered, things seen & done, or just to spend a more time at the places and activities you enjoy the most. Lunch at a great local restaurant either in Hilo or historic Pahoa town.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Clean, well maintained 2022 Toyota Rav 4 SUV with air conditioning, capacity is up to 4 regular size adults. For groups of 5 or 6 a 7 pax van will need to be rented and for groups of 7 to 14 a 15 pax van at an additional charge.
80 Kuhio Street, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, United States
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