excursion by locals for Oahu and Maui

This is our first time on POA and in Hawaii. We are so excited. We prefer to tour with locals. We are all set on the big island but are looking for tours on Oahu and Maui. Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

We sailed the POA last July and looked for private tours on Maui. Although we were unable to use him (he could not accomomdate my mother's wheelchair), Bryan Miner was very helpful and even gave us recommendations (which were good ones) for tours, even after it was clear we could not hire him.

http://www.mauisprivateguide.com/

happy cruising,

el henry

thanks so much! I'll check him out.

It is probably not what you want to hear but since you will have an overnight in Maui, it is a great island to rent a car and do on your own. :)

It is probably not what you want to hear but since you will have an overnight in Maui, it is a great island to rent a car and do on your own. :)

Thanks, after checking the price on the suggested tour ($500) renting a car sounds like the best bet!

This guide is handy when driving around. It's a little old so the pictures are gone but everything is still in the same place. It leads you around by mile markers.

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/byotgdxm.htm

This guide is handy when driving around. It's a little old so the pictures are gone but everything is still in the same place. It leads you around by mile markers.

 

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/byotgdxm.htm

Thank you!

You may have done this but I also do searches on http://www.tripadvisor.com

Keith

Driving on the islands is super easy, except for Oahu and the traffic congestion around Honolulu and Waikiki. Most of the sights are "drive up", no tour needed unless you want to do something like rafting, ocean snorkeling, that type of thing. Precruise, we booked Roberts for Pearl Harbor. It just seemd easier than a one day rental, traffic, tickets for PH, logistics, etc.

Trip advisor is a great resource for each island to see what the most popular sites and tours are and what people are saying about them. We are on the POA this August and have 2 day car rentals ( the shuttles meet you at the ship the first day in port ) set up on Maui and Kauai, and a private tour (check out Mary Lou's, a great value for a customized tour) in Hilo for Valcanoes Nat'l Park and other things. We have a snorkeling tour with Fair Winds in Kona. We have seen many say that the snorkeling here is the best in the islands and far superior to Maui in water clarity.

On. Kauai, we have a Blue Angels heli tour scheduled for the am the first day and then on our own by rental car to the Northshore, Na Pali, Hanalei Bay areas in the afternoon. Second day is still up for grabs. We have already driven Waimea Canyon, and will see it from the air this trip.

In Maui, we'll drive to the "upcountry" all the way to the top of Haleakala and then hit Mamas Fish House for our big anniversary dinner on the way back. A very pricey one of a kind. One of the top 10 I believe in the entire US. Another driving option would be the Road To Hana which will take up most of the day. The road is not scary, just very slow driving with lots if twists and turns. The second day we'll drive to Kaanapali Beach where there is shopping, activities, and good restaurants right on the beach. You also pass Lahaina if you want to stop there.

Hope that gives you some idea of what there is to see. It took us well over a year to figure this all out. Planning is half the fun!

Thanks Brenda and Vance, very helpful information!