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!

We are a family ranging from 4 to 73 y/o. We enjoyed the boat ride although sitting for awhile in a bumpy ride is not so comfortable still we had fun. Captain and crew were very friendly and informative. We saw a lot if dolphins and fishes while snorkeling at captain cook. We wish we even had more time snorkeling. My niece 6 y/o and nephew 4 y/o was their first time snorkeling and they were experts right away. I was kinda scared for them going into the water but they actually had the most fun. There was enough lunch and snacks and drinks for our family. We even brought home the leftovers. It’s also easy to find the location and once you book, you just show up and they were really nice. They even gave us sun screen to use. Also everything is provided for the snorkeling.

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.

Fabulous experience for my family. Super easy pick up from the Pride of America and off we went to the volcano national park. Our guide Jodi was amazing. We had so much fun at the park exploring the different areas. Everything about this adventure was fantastic for my family and I highly recommend!

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 an amazing tour. We thoroughly enjoyed everything, Jodi is so engaging and knowledgeable. We had adults and teenagers and everyone enjoyed our tour. She customized to what we did and didn't want to do, timed it so we beat the crowds and buses. Highly recommend

Anthony and Desmine were wonderful. You can tell they love the island and their job. 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!

Our guide, Shawn was very knowledgeable about the ecology of upper-elevation forest life. He was also able to adapt to the needs of his guests.

Really friendly, informative, comprehensive tour, with a great guide (thank you, Thia !). Very flexible on timing and content and adjusted to suit our needs at every point.

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!!

Hiking with Backroad Adventures was hands-down the highlight of my trip to the Big Island. Shawn and Lisa were incredibly attentive and responsive to all of my questions, even before I officialy booked my tours. I joined them for both the Pololū Valley hike and the In-depth tour of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and both were exceptional.My tours were well-organized, thoughtfully planned, educational and genuinely fun. Shawn's passion for Hawaiian ecology, especially native plants and birds, really stood out and added so much depth to the experience. I learned so much about the island's landscape, history, and cultural significance.What impressed me most was their flexibility and professionalism. Kīlauea erupted the day before our Volcanoes National Park tour, and they didn’t miss a beat. They kept me well-informed about the park’s status and seamlessly adapted the itinerary to ensure the day was still unique, safe, and memorable.An added bonus: they share photos from the hike digitally for your personal use, which is such a thoughtful touch and a great way to relive the experience.If you’re visiting the Big Island and want a curated, meaningful experience, I cannot recommend Backroad Adventures enough.