Big Island of Hawaii Seasonal Events

Highly recommend — eat, learn, and have fun, all in one! We had so much fun. Note that you need to reserve a tour in advance. The guide was personable and knowledgeable, and you get to touch and handle the abalone and some sea urchin, then taste some abalone at the end of the tour. The tour involves easy walking, mostly shaded.

Don’t skip this tour! It was very interesting and a great experience. We held the abalone, urchin, and tasted different sea plants. Our guide was passionate about the farm. At the end we were able to try some abalone, it is very good. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Incredible!!!! We saw lots of whales …. Beautiful …. Knowledgeable guides and so well worth the time

This tour was fantastic and the view even before sunset is unmatched. And that's not it, if you're the type to be interested it's amazing to see the change from sea level then through the clouds where visibility seems to be near 0 and finally up above the clouds with an unobstructed view all the way to the horizon. Our tour guide was a fountain of knowledge for not just of matters of the tour but also for the area and Hawaii in general. He was very kind and kept checking on our wellbeing for any altitude related ailments. All in all an excellent tour for the price.

The tour was paced well with a stop at the visitor center to make sure that everyone adjusted the altitude. Warm jackets were provided on the top of the mountain.

Some experiences just stay with you, and for us this sunset whale-watching tour was one of them. From the moment we stepped aboard, the crew made us feel less like old friends, not customers. The boat itself was beautiful, but it was the people at the helm that made the day unforgettable. Their knowledge of humpback whales was genuinely impressive: every sighting came with real context and passion, not just a rehearsed script. We got to witness spinner dolphins ride the waves alongside the boat, hear live whale song through the boat’s underwater microphone system, and see a whale calf surface with its mother. Just when we thought it couldn't get any more magical, the crew pulled out a ukulele as the sun started setting. I don't have words for how special it was. If you're debating whether to book, please, just do it. This is an operation that clearly pours their heart into every single tour. Absolutely 5 stars.

Two spots to snorkel, plenty of fish. Top tip, take your time, enjoy the water, the fish come to see you and there is more life if only you relax and look.

Crew was great. They don’t crowd the boat. Also, we meet in Kohalo shopping center NOT in downtown Kailua-Kona. It’s very convenient to resorts north of the airport. We saw spinner dolphins, flying fish, and whales! The whale breached 5 times-amazing

My family and I took a tour of the abalone farm on May 27, 2026. Our tour guide, Karen, was charming, friendly and very informative about the farm, the abalone, and about the various other sea animals and seaweed in the area. It was a wonderful hands on experience, and we learned a lot. Tasting sea grapes with ponzu sauce was fun, as was tasting some of the seaweed and, of course, cooked abalone. I highly recommend this tour!

This was such a pleasant surprise. So informative and educational! Getting to hold and taste the abalone was a delight. Busy the food truck after for an extra experience!

Be patient and keep your eyes peeled. Also, Dramamine. The crew was lovely; we felt safe and well-informed : )

This review is for the afternoon whale watching tour operated by Iruka. Pre-Trip communication was excellent. They informed me in plenty of time when our original trip had to be canceled due ro weather and were able to accommodate us on the following day. The crew of the Kibou were outstanding with Tamae at the bow spotting for cetaceans and distributing snacks and beverages. Diego was a font of interesting information on humpback behavior as well as dolphins (we saw both spinning and bottle-nose). We spotted several whales and dozens of dolphins. We even saw a monk seal up close. Captain Trevor plotted a speedy yet safe course. All had excellent knowledge of where to most likely spot the animals. Only negatives: onboard bathroom was out of order and fresh pineapple was not provided as listed in the itinerary. Boat had ample and comfy seating. I would highly recommend this trip and operator to friends and family.

Mr. Arnott conducted a very organized and informative tour. The Mauna Kea summit experience was really fun and beautiful. I am so glad we accepted the offer to wear the freely-provided parkas; it was quite windy and cold at the summit, with freshly-fallen snow to add to the dramatic sights we saw ar sunset. The stars were beautiful and seemed so nearby that I imaged I could touch them.

Donna is an absolutely passionate and super informative guide! We had such a great time visiting Mauna Kea—definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island. Ask her anything about the island and you’ll never be bored. She knows so much and makes the whole tour fun. Highly recommend Donna’s tour to anyone visiting the Big Island!

First whale watch tour of season was AWESOME! Lots of spouts, sprays, humps and tails!! Captain Ty showed the way for us, while Mo & Jess’s were the best mates! 5 kids onboard were thoroughly entertained and in awe! Can’t wait for more! Mahalo from the Hess family!!

It was great! She did a wonderful job narrating along the way sharing HI history. We didn't get to see the stars due to the weather but she didn't let it slow her down.