Big Island of Hawaii Private & Custom Tours

Our tour guide Adam was excellent. He shared a lot of knowledge/history/facts along the tour, took group photos, adjusted the schedule as we wanted. Couldn't have had a better experience! That you Adam!

20/10 — One of the Most Incredible Ocean Experiences We’ve Ever Had!I honestly don’t know how to give Scott, Kate, and Kona Ocean Adventures enough stars for the experience they gave us tonight. Five stars doesn’t even come close. This was a 20/10 experience from beginning to end.We booked their private sunset snorkeling trip, rustic dinner, and nighttime manta ray experience, and the entire evening was absolutely incredible.A little perspective: we’re from Florida, we’re scuba divers, and we spend a lot of time in and around the ocean—so it takes quite a bit to really blow us away. Scott and Kate absolutely did.The sunset snorkel alone would have made the trip worth it. We saw an unbelievable amount of marine life—puffer fish, purple tangs, yellow tangs, unicorn tangs, blue boxfish, angelfish, foxface, all kinds of wrasses, urchins and so much more.And then there was the monk seal.A HUGE monk seal came right up between the boats and literally used the line between them to brush her teeth! 😂 We just sat there watching her work the rope through her mouth like dental floss. It was one of those completely unexpected wildlife encounters you know you’ll be talking about for years.But somehow the night was just getting started.The nighttime manta ray experience was absolutely unreal.We had at least SIX different manta rays swimming with us, and when I say close, I mean INCHES FROM OUR FACES.They came straight toward us and did barrel roll after barrel roll directly underneath us. At times they were so close you could look straight into their mouths as they rolled beneath you. They actually made physical contact with us multiple times as they passed.We have video of it, and even watching the video doesn’t completely capture what it felt like to actually be there.There were moments when you’re floating on the surface, looking down at these enormous animals coming straight toward you, and your brain is telling you there’s no possible way they can get any closer—then they roll at the last second and pass just inches underneath you.Again. And again. And again.It was spectacular.What really made the evening, though, was Scott and Kate. A private charter is supposed to feel different from being shuffled through a big commercial tour, and this absolutely did. They made the entire evening personal, relaxed, fun and memorable. You never felt rushed or like you were just the next group being moved through an itinerary.The sunset, snorkeling, dinner, wildlife, manta rays and the personal attention from Scott and Kate all came together into one of those rare vacation experiences that completely exceeds what you thought you were booking.We’ve done a lot of ocean activities and diving over the years, and this is easily one of the coolest marine experiences we have ever had.If you’re coming to Kona and considering a manta ray trip, do yourself a favor and book the private experience with Kona Ocean Adventures. Especially if you want something more personal than a large-group excursion.Scott and Kate — thank you for an absolutely unforgettable evening.We came hoping to see some manta rays.We left having watched at least six of them barrel roll inches from our faces, had a monk seal stop by to floss her teeth, saw an incredible variety of Hawaiian marine life, and made a memory we’ll be talking about for the rest of our lives.Five stars isn’t enough. 20/10. Absolutely phenomenal. 🤙🌅🌊🤿

Amazing, incredible, fun, beautiful!!! Brian and Tracey were amazing! The best experience so far on the Island and best fishing experience ever! We caught sooooooo many fish, including a 20lb Wahoo! Don’t waste your time going elsewhere🐟😍

Thank you Steven for a great day and tour! We had a blast! And a big thank you for sending me my lost sunglasses! I am grateful for your kind heart ❤️ looking forward to a Hawaiian visit again and touring with you!

We had a great experience from beginning to end. Steve was very responsive and helpful. Our tour guide Amanda was very nice and knowledgeable. We enjoy learning about the culture. We were provided with a great meal, wich provided sample of local food. This was a nice unexpected touch. Overall, I was very pleased with the service. I would definitely recommend touring with Aloha Aina.

We dove with Kona adventures in January and then again this week in July and both experiences were top-notch. They were friendly professional and accommodating. Both dives we saw Tiger shark turtles eagle rays rock fish and all the other animals of the sea. This trip we got to jump into a pot of dolphins and swim with them for a little bit. The post refreshments have never been better. Highly recommend this group.

Over all great experience! Highly recommend!! The boat was super fast!!! Quality equipment!! I’ve always had issues with the mask leaking but NOT on this trip! Was able to enjoy the snorkeling!! Mitch and Riley lead us to spinner dolphins! Will book again next time we are back on the Big Island!

A wonderful charter experience that was easy going and supplied everything we needed so was stress free Led by Captain Mitch and Riley as guide. The 10 person boat was great to avoid crowds and get in and out of site with ease. We had one family member not comfortable with the ocean/snorkleing but the guide and captain made her uncomfortable with the experience she was in the water the entire time! We saw beautiful coral reefs and a multitude of fosh along with spinner dolphins chasing our wake. The captain and guide were top notch and very knowledgeable about the marine life and history of Hawaii. Can’t wait to call them and book next trip to the Big island.

This was a very fun family event with snorkeling and having dolphins swim next to us and behind us. The snacks were tasty. Highly recommend!!

Adam was very knowledgeable. He was flexible and made sure we saw what we wanted. If we had to turn around to see something. He was very accommodating.

This excursion went perfectly from start to finish. Our booking experience with Shawn was very smooth and our day out with Lisa was a heap of fun. We were picked up at Kona Airport right on time. We had a great day out with personable and knowledgeable Lisa. Lunch was a picnic from the excellent bakery. Our only complaint was that they couldn't time the volcano to go off while we were there. I mean really, what's wrong with you guys?!We would definitely travel with this team again.

My family and I were incredibly fortunate to spend an entire day with Shawn on his private “All Day Volcano Tour”, and I can honestly say it was the most remarkable tour we have ever experienced. From start to finish, every moment exceeded our expectations—and believe me, we came with high expectations!Traveling all the way from Australia, we wanted to make our visit to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park truly special, and Shawn, along with Lisa’s seamless communication beforehand, ensured it would be. They checked in with me at every step, asking about our preferences and making sure our day would be tailored to exactly what we wanted to see and do.Shawn arrived promptly at 9 a.m. at our hotel, full of energy and ready to make our day unforgettable. From the very beginning, it was clear that this was no ordinary tour. Lunch, dinner, and unlimited snacks were included, making the day effortless and enjoyable. One of the highlights was having tea at the Volcano House Restaurant—a surprisingly simple meal that became my absolute favorite of our two-week Hawaii holiday.What truly sets Shawn apart is his insider knowledge and passion for the Big Island. He guided us to secret spots that only a local deeply invested in their clients would know—places most tourists would never find on their own. His explanations were both fascinating and engaging, sharing stories, history, and science in a way that made the volcano and the surrounding landscapes come alive.After our meal, Shawn suggested we return to the crater, and we were beyond lucky to witness the beginning of Episode 45—an experience we could never have planned or predicted when we booked our tour three months earlier. We were still at the crater long past the time we should have returned to our hotel, but Shawn’s dedication never wavered. He had already given us 12 hours of his time and energy, yet he went above and beyond so that my family could experience this once-in-a-lifetime moment. That level of commitment and care is extraordinary.If you are considering this tour, don’t hesitate for a second. It was by far my favorite day in Hawaii, and we’ve visited six times! Shawn’s combination of knowledge, warmth, and passion ensures that every single moment is special. If we are lucky enough to return to the Big Island, there is no question—we will be booking with Shawn again. This day will stay with us forever.MAHOLA SHAWN - don't change a thing you do because its perfect! Katrina Andrew Kyralee and Tayah!

We booked this tour last minute to get help seeing and getting access to the waterfalls we wanted to see. From the outset Shawn was superbly professional. He delivered on his promises of clear communication and tailoring the day to include what we wanted. The private waterfall and rappelling were amazing and see all the other waterfalls on the east and north side of the island were breathtaking. The farm tour and cooking class were….interesting. See the potential there but the folks running that (not related Shawn or his company and to his credit he agreed with our assessment) need some more professional organization.Eric and Cora were great and felt completely safe rappellingPickup and drop off at our condo were seamless. When Shawn learned we had been at Volcanoes National Park the day before he happily filled in with extra information we had missed out on and answered our questions as we drove from Waikoloa to Hilo. His knowledge of the geology, history and culture of the island and Hawai’i are superb. And on the drive home we talked restaurant recommendations rations and they were all spot on. His talent for subtly figuring out what clients are asking for and then delivering exactly the experience they want makes home the best. We had a great day.Mahalo nui Shawn!!

This was the best way to see the Big Island! Shawn’s extensive knowledge of the island and its nature provided so much value to our full-day tour. We appreciated the well thought out itinerary and how comfortable the ride was. Shawn’s food recommendations were also spot-on!

We contacted several tour companies looking for a private tour. Malahini was the first we found that was very accommodating for a private small group tour. We had other plans that day and our guide adjusted the tour to meet our needs. Dan was our guide and was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and fun. He made the day a great experience. Highly recommend this private tour.

Very easy to book a tour on their website and communication with Shawn was a breeze. The tour itself was everything we wanted - a relaxed day visiting waterfalls around the island and then the National Volcano Park with excellent driving by Shawn. The restaurant he selected for lunch was perfect for our dietary needs and the restaurant for dinner has the the best view! I would highly recommend booking a tour with them if you're looking for a private tour of the island!