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Rating: 5 out of 5.TripAdvisor Oahu Private Tour Reviews
It has been so much fun showing people around over the years. Many of them have taken the time to leave their Oahu Private Tour reviews on TripAdvisor and Viator. So we gathered from all and put them here.
Home » Best Hawaii Tour Reviews » Oahu Private Tour Reviews on TripAdvisor
Recent Oahu Private Tour TripAdvisor reviews
In order to recognize the time that each guest took to leave TripAdvisor (Viator) reviews for Halia Tours and Transportation, we gathered them all in one place. So you can sort the reviews most recent to the originals. But weʻll start with our very first one. Thank you to everyone who helps spread the word about Your Private Tours of Oahu, Hawaii. Especially those who have done it on multiple platforms.
Our Very 1st
Highly recommend this tour.
Thanks Micheal, we had a great day. Highly recommend this tour. Tour guide Micheal, enthusiasm, knowlegde and passion for the island was clearly felt. Micheal was such a gentleman and clearly cared for everyone safety especially in the ocean. Thanks again Micheal. Great memories. Aloha
jodieshep
May 2017
Best tour we had on Oahu
Michael communicated with us prior to the tour to ensure that we’d be able to see all the places on our list. This tour far exceeded our expectations. We got to experience the best of what the north shore has to offer. Michael is simply the best tour guide out there — you’ll never have a dull moment on your tour! Go book this tour now 🙂
RCD
March 2024
Best Day on Oahu
What an incredible experience. Micheal was by far the best tour guide we have ever experienced. From the initial phone call where he got an idea of what we like to the actual incredible day he planned for us was AWESOME! Michael’s customer service and excellent communication ability made the day a huge success. We were able to let him know what we like and the attractions we wanted to see and he was able to cultivate a wonderful day for us. His knowledge of the island and how long the attractions would take were spot on, he is a true professional. He also knows the history of the island like the back of his hand and was able to answer all of our questions. It was so nice being escorted around the island by someone who has the spirit of Hawaii in his heart, the knowledge of its history in his mind and by someone who was always a step ahead of us making sure the experience was top notch. He is also very funny, personable and makes you feel very at home. Best decision and best day of our trip!
Jasmine_R
March 2024
Great Day
Tour guide Micheal was great. He had lots of interesting things to tell us and tailored our travel around the island to what we wanted to do.
Elsworth_B
March 2024
Best private tour of Oahu, Hawaii
I have had a number of guide tours during my travels & cruises including a previous one to Hawaii however this one was the best ! What made this one especially great was the fact that our tour guide, Mike was an excellent historian of Oahu . He offered fantastic insite about all the areas we stopped at. We had more than enough time at each location we stopped at to explore the surroundings- never rushed ! We would definately recommed MIke for any tours i Oahu, Hawaii !!!
Stay66621280185
December 2023
Private Tour of Oahu
Hands down the only way to see Oahu is with a private small group guide. Michael of Hali’a Tours is so personable and his knowledge of Hawaiian culture, sites and foods gave us a new insight on our 15th trip to the islands.
Deborah M
November 2023
Oahu Sites in a day
Excellent driver and guide for a day around Oahu. Really listen to our interest and took us to places we have never stopped.
Deborah M
November 2023
Fabulous Experience
Spent a wonderful day with Michael of Halia Tours today. It could not have been better. Everything was so easy. We had a schedule that we asked for but we got more. When we had time to do more, Michael gave us options and let us choose. Nothing was too much trouble – we got more than we expected. Cannot recommend this small business professionally run with all health and safety issues important to him as well. We started out as a client and felt we were friends at the end. Don’t hesitate – this is high end.
Bronwyn S
October 2023
Knowledgeable, courteous, and fun
Michael did a fantastic job touring us around. He hit all the points and then some as a guide and driver. Safe driver, courteous, hustled to open doors and set out the steps, was familiar with Oahu enough to change course at a moments notice, legally parked in all the places we stopped, respectful of other tours, culture, our crazy and fun group. To top it all off, his Hawaiian language skills are excellent. He pronounced everything correctly, knew and shared history and legends of places. He also supports other small businesses without being pushy about where you need to go, and has the inside scoops on clean bathrooms. Highly recommended and would absolutely hire Michael again.
S6631UHbonniem
October 2023
Wonderful tour!!
What can be said about Michael and his personalized tour that hasn’t been said already? Believe all the reviews and book a private tour without hesitation – you won’t regret it. Michael is so knowledgeable about the island and is willing to take you wherever you’d like to go, even if you haven’t figured that out yet! We were astounded by his knowledge of the island and it’s history, and blown away by his friendliness and enthusiasm. We left knowing and loving Hawai’i more, all because of Michael, who we consider a new friend.
400shaneb
October 2023
Maximize our experience
We used this tour to maximize our experience during the day that we left our cruise ship in the morning, and departed from the airport in the evening. The operator kept our luggage with the van at all times and scheduled the day so that we could visit specific sites that we were interested in. We were very satisfied with the tour. Michael contacted us several weeks before the tour to discuss our interests, worked out a schedule, and was able to give us choices for additional things to see. He was very accommodating, full of information about Honolulu and Oahu, and kept in touch from before we left the ship. I would highly recommend this tour for those with a need to choose and schedule their time in Honolulu.
Harold_G
October 2023
Why go private with Halia?
Why private vs group? Customized attention and detail from Michael makes memories not just experiences. Spend the extra money or add additional travelers for a flat rate experience. We have done group tours in past but this North Shore experience was by far the best tour we have taken..why? The owner Michael’s expertise, energy and knowledge. Do yourself a favor book with him for memories not just experience. Maholo!
larrywI1633NR
October 2023
Awesome Island Tour
My family had the pleasure of using Michael and Halia Tours twice when we stayed on Oahu. We have two kids ages 9 and 13, and they also had a blast. Michael was on time and was willing to take us anywhere we wanted and wait as long or as little as we needed at each place. He knows the island so well, and all the tips he shared helped us make good choices for what we wanted to do each day. One really great thing about Michael was that he was super flexible. Having kids, we often had to make plan changes on the fly and Michael had no problem with anything and was always super accommodating. I just can’t say enough good things about this guy. He knows so much about the locations and history of Hawaii that I came away learning so many cool things about the places we visited. His recommendations for food and shopping were spot on. Add to that he cares deeply about the environment, culture, and history of Hawaii, and my whole family was impressed. But perhaps my favorite thing about our two full days with Halia Tours was how much positive energy Michael communicated. He is the type of guy you want to be friends with. Finally, Michael was so good with making sure he spent equal time talking and staying aware of all of our needs. He was so good with our kids. They just loved him and still talk about him 3 weeks later. My 13 year old son kept asking me if we can stay in touch with Michael after we go home :o). I don’t know when we will go back to Oahu, but hopefully it is soon, and the first thing we will be setting up is a few days with Michael from Halia Tours! Thank you again from Tony, Tara, Jamison, and MooMoo.
taradusko24
August 2023
Fun tour
Fantastic tour. Michael was extremely knowledgeable, about the island. Great scenic spots he took us all to and food spots as well. Very respectful and had a lot of patience and a little sarcasm, which I enjoy, for us group of ladies. He had no problem making a couple extra pit stops and was always giving great suggestions on where to go, shop, eat. Overall would definitely do a tour with him again. Highly recommend
Elizabeth H
August 2023
Only way to see the island!
Cannot say one bad thing about this tour!! This is the absolute best way to tour the island. Michael made sure this was everything and more!! Thank you so much!!
Jennifer T
July 2023
Excellent way to spend a day!
Halia Tours and Michael are absolutely amazing. Michael goes above and beyond your expectations and is very knowledgeable and respectful. I would highly recommend.
nicolej741
July 2023
Fantastic Fun
3 Day Tour. Michael went above and beyond with our family of 5. He made sure we all got to see something on each of our lists. We had lots of fun. He even personally walked me up and down Diamond Head. His knowledge of Oahu and his connections with people throughout the island was great. Would definitely visit Oahu with Michael again.
lienaud
July 2023
Great Array of Island Vibes
This tour was an excellent primer to our vacation. Michael was an excellent and accommodating guide and knew a lot about the island, the culture, and great viewpoints. I would recommend doing this early on in your vacation so that you can see spots that you might want to revisit during the rest of your stay. If you have specifics that you want to see, he will make it happen. If you want to go with the flow, he will make a ton of suggestions and let you decide on the fly. We had a great day and would recommend this tour to anybody.
jmarko
May 2023
Fantastic Experience
This was a fantastic experience! Michael was amazing! He was very informative and always had a story to tell! Lots of laughs! He was also very flexible and willing to accommodate any changes we made on the day! Michael really loves what he does! You can feel his passion for the island! Aloha!
Kathy
April 2023
Awesome tour and tour guide
My husband and I took the custom Circle Tour with Michael on our first day in Hawaii. Our experience was fantastic – this was an awesome way to check everything out and determine where to go spend more time on a planned free day. Michael was awesome! We didn’t know what to see and he just threw out ideas and gave us the option to do it or skip it. He shared the history of Hawaii, took us to breathtaking views, and even went off the beaten path to several places we’d never know about unless told by a local. He coached us on securing Pearl Harbor reservations and gave us tips on the rest of our time in Oahu. When we ran into Michael again a few days later, he remembered what we had planned, genuinely asked about how everything was going and treated us like an old friend. Highly recommend!
Teresa
April 2023
Great trip and lots of fun
Our group of 7 ladies chose the tour with Michael, as we had toured the North Shore with him previously and it was great. Michael is accomodating and easy-going and has a great knowledge of the island , it’s history and inhabitants. He will alter a tour to suit any group and stop wherever you want, as well as having great suggestions for places to go and points of interest. His van is roomy and comfortable and we had a great half-day tour chatting to him, asking questions and learning more about Hawaii. He even provided umbrellas for our slightly wet walk to Manoa Falls. A fantastic tour guide and highly recommended by our whole group.
HappyTravellerdaf
April 2023
Absolutely Amazing
Mike is absolutely amazing! He allows you the ability to “create” your own tour while giving his suggestions! You can tell he loves his job. He had so much knowledge about the island… he answered all our questions and made the entire experience truly outstanding. If you want an amazing tour guide, amazing views and overall and amazing experience, book a tour with Mike
samanthanJ8062WZ
April 2023
Honolulu Island Tour
Michael was funny and knowledgeable the entire time. Very informative trip and willing to
change direction at anytime to accommodate our needs! Highly recommend!!
change direction at anytime to accommodate our needs! Highly recommend!!
260jason
April 2023
Best Oahu Tour Guide
Our overall experience with our tour guide, Michael couldn’t have been better. You could really feel Michael’s love for the island of Oahu and made us appreciate it as well. His knowledge of opening times, roads and people around the island is so cool. Everybody knows him and it feels like you’re on a tour with an island celebrity. He kept us laughing all day with his jokes all of which were family friendly except for the one about ducks ( you got to ask him). All in all we’re definitely coming back to Oahu because of Michael and we’ll definitely be back on a tour with Michael !! Mahalo Dude !
antonio_villa27
April 2023
Excellent Adventure
This was one of the best things we did while in Hawaii! Michael was fantastic. He communicated with us before the tour and customized our tour just for us. He made suggestions and made extra stops to show us sights. The tour was fabulous. He is so knowledgeable about the culture and history.
Danielle B
March 2023
Excellent Day
Can’t pick a favorite – the entire day was excellent! Didn’t want the day to end. From pick up to drop off, every moment was packed with fun. Michael was so knowledgeable, friendly and showed us exactly what the “spirit of Aloha” means. Considerate, pleasant, funny, just a joy to spend the day with while enjoying the beauty of Oahu. From coffee (thank you Michael – the coffee was delicious!); to Dole whip, shopping for very specific items (and he knew where to find them), Pearl Harbor, flea market, to the stunningly beautiful Waimea Botanical Garden and Waterfall, to dinner recommendations – Michael packed our day. His knowledge of the islands, the culture, the history, the local landmarks, the flora and fauna – all without sounding like a lecture, made our day so well rounded. Even the corny jokes were welcomed! My daughter (young twenties) and I felt that we were travelling with a friend, not a guide. He knew all the spots, was ready and willing to accommodate us, gentlemanly without being fussy – just perfect. I can’t speak highly enough of Michael and our experience. I seriously cannot think of one negative thing to say – not one. Well ok – one negative thing – the day had to end and we had to say Aloha!
karski
February 2023
Oahu Last Day Tour
Michael was a terrific tour guide. We have been to Oahu many times and just wanted to spend 6 hours doing anything except waiting at the airport. He customized the tour and made recommendations and we ended up seeing things we had never seen before. He recommended a great lunch spot and terrific dessert place. I highly recommend this tour.
Rhonda A
January 2023
Amazing Tour
This tour was the best day of our vacation. They are very flexible you can plan what places you’d like to see and he also makes some great suggestions. It was like having a friend show you around. Definitely book a tour you won’t be disappointed!!
L2959NUmichelleh
January 2023
My trip around Oahu
Michael is a great guide. He was both friendly and helpful. He knew a lot about Hawaii. He helped us
a lot on our hike at Manoa Falls.
a lot on our hike at Manoa Falls.
thomasdX5527AF
December 2022
Great day trip of Oahu
We flew over from Maui for one day to visit Oahu and this tour was fantastic. It was just earlier this week (October 2022) and found the day to be a memory of a lifetime. Our tour guide, Michael, was super knowledgeable about everything going on in Oahu and the conversation really helped make the day. We were originally going to spend more time at Pearl Harbor but due to some dock issues they are experiencing and long delays, we ended cutting that portion short. So, we ended up driving towards the North Shore and made a few stops but the highlight was when we decided to all go paddle boarding together where the water was calm, warm and full of sea turtles. Nobody in our family had ever done it before, but Michael helped us along the way and we had an awesome time. We followed this up with lunch at Roy’s at Turtle Bay. We finished our drive down the east side of Oahu
badgerfanot
September 2022
Never to be forgotten tour of Oahu
What a big day we had, we finally took the tour which we had booked in 2019 before the world came crashing down.
I am so grateful that l booked this tour with Halia Tours and Transportation . Michael took care of us from the minute he picked us up, this man is a gentleman and was so attentive and accommodating to all our needs. Not once did we feel rushed, Michael’s knowledge was impressive and he kept us engaged and entertained for the whole 12 hrs. We felt like Michael was a friend to us, someone we’ve known for years, so much infact that we were left emotional saying goodbye and ending our 12 hr day together.
This man took care of us, not because it’s his job but because he genuinely is a gentleman and he did so without expecting anything in return.
All we can say is Wow!!! What a day, we travelled the entire island and saw sights that one would think did not exist, the scenery was breaking.
If any of you are ever fortunate to visit Oahu please put Halia tours and transport on your must list
Mahalo Michael
I am so grateful that l booked this tour with Halia Tours and Transportation . Michael took care of us from the minute he picked us up, this man is a gentleman and was so attentive and accommodating to all our needs. Not once did we feel rushed, Michael’s knowledge was impressive and he kept us engaged and entertained for the whole 12 hrs. We felt like Michael was a friend to us, someone we’ve known for years, so much infact that we were left emotional saying goodbye and ending our 12 hr day together.
This man took care of us, not because it’s his job but because he genuinely is a gentleman and he did so without expecting anything in return.
All we can say is Wow!!! What a day, we travelled the entire island and saw sights that one would think did not exist, the scenery was breaking.
If any of you are ever fortunate to visit Oahu please put Halia tours and transport on your must list
Mahalo Michael
Linda M
September 2022
Unforgettable multi day tour of Oahu!
Michael was a wonderful tour guide! He was very kind, loving, funny, helpful, understanding, knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give them the best day ever and great experience.
Vinay S
September 2022
Best time ever
Michael was a wonderful tour guide! He was very kind, loving, funny, helpful, understanding,
knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give
them the best day ever and great experience.
knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give
them the best day ever and great experience.
Ladyroc777
September 2022
First Girls Trip to Hawaii
We had an absolutely amazing time with Michael as our tour guide for the Circle Island Tour. He is so knowledgeable about the Hawaiian Island. He even tried to help us to pronounce the name of the native fish (which we still can’t pronounce lol). He took us around to some amazing places and gave us time to explore each one and take lots of pictures. He was so patient with us the entire time as we took a little extra time at some of the locations. He gave the best suggestions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which all were on point! He’s the nicest most friendliest tour guide you would ever want. I’ve been suggesting to everyone I talk to to take the Circle Island Tour when you come to Hawaii and ask for the the Tour Guide named Michael. We had so much fun! He is the best tour guide ever and come highly recommended!
NewWaveTravel
September 2022
Excellent Service
Michael was absolutely amazing! He was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and very considerate! He even bought my group of ladies an appetizer at a restaurant that he made reservations for us! He even called ahead to ensure places were opened and we had enough time to visit everything on our list! I would highly recommend him to any and everyone!!!! Excellent service!
Lsposey
September 2022
Fantastic Day
From the minute he picked us up Micheal made my experience fantastic, nothing was to much trouble and he bent over backwards to make sure we all had a magical day. I am a huge history buff and also an Aviation geek, my sister and the rest of the party not so much. Micheal organised for me to do all the things that I wanted to do and also made sure my sister and the rest of the group didn’t get bored and got to do all the stuff that they wanted to do. Micheal is an excellent guide who knows the island well and knows all the ins and outs. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone that wanted to do a tour he is excellent in every way and will make sure you have a fantastic time and will work with you to make a tour that is personal to you. Thanks Micheal
peterrV455JD
July 2022
Donʻt look elsewhere for a tour guide!
Michael was nothing short of amazing! His flexibility, patience and attention to detail was outstanding. Loved his sense of humour, made the whole day even more enjoyable. We toured the north shore and cannot wait to do the south shore with him next time we visit beautiful Hawaii.
Thank you Michael for giving us such a wonderful day out!
Kelly & gang
Thank you Michael for giving us such a wonderful day out!
Kelly & gang
kellykV1885CK
July 2022
Had a great time!
We had a great time exploring Oahu for the fist time with Michael. He is very flexible and
accommodating to my 6 uear old daughter. He even bought us poi so we can try it. We also learned a
lot during our trip. Our family totally had a blast! Thank you Michael!
accommodating to my 6 uear old daughter. He even bought us poi so we can try it. We also learned a
lot during our trip. Our family totally had a blast! Thank you Michael!
jz7nvj9ymd
July 2022
Had a wonderful time
We had Michael as our guide and he was great. He enhanced the tour and it was an enjoyable
experience
experience
Carla_b
May 2022
Real Aloha Spirit – Halia Toiurs
Michael Waters and Halia Tours are AWESOME! He’s been driving our keiki to field trips during our
after school program and has such a heart for Hawaii and our children. What a generous spirit and in depth knowledge about the culture.
after school program and has such a heart for Hawaii and our children. What a generous spirit and in depth knowledge about the culture.
lfukikoa
May 2022
Fantastic for Teens
My family loved it. I was working business in Honolulu all day and was confident in handing responsibility for my family’s fun and safety to this fantastic company. Their guide was warm, fun, knowledgeable, and extremely engaging. No small task with teenagers who always have their face buried in a phone. They never waited in a line for the entire trip. He had everything pre-coordinated and knew how to avoid the peak periods. His help was worth every penny. They hit every “must do” attraction on the island in just 3 days…and had a blast doing it. Personal service tailored to your every need. It’s like a 1st Class ticket for touring Hawaii. Thank God I didn’t screw this up! Thanks, Michael! You made their Spring Break a FANTASTIC tropical memory!
Richard H
April 2022
Best Tour Guide in Hawaii
We just finished a half day tour with Michael where we went to the Green World Coffee Farm, Waimea Falls, north shore macadamia nut company, food trucks in Haleiwa, and Dole planation. He also brought us Malasadas from Leonard’s bakery to eat with our coffee. Our party was 2 adults and two 3 year olds.
Ive been on tours across the US, in the Caribbean, all over the UK and Europe and this was by far the best one I’ve attended. Michael tells you stories about Hawaii that are interested and only a local could know, he was extremely friendly with us, the people around us on the tour that we experienced and he honestly made my daughters day how he treated her. She was sad when we had to leave Micheals bus at the end of the tour. He treated us like we were old friends and really made everything exactly how we wanted it. I am so happy we went with his company.
If I could give a thousand stars I would and I truly believe that a tour with Michael should be suggested to any family traveling to Aulani or or Hawaii,
Ive been on tours across the US, in the Caribbean, all over the UK and Europe and this was by far the best one I’ve attended. Michael tells you stories about Hawaii that are interested and only a local could know, he was extremely friendly with us, the people around us on the tour that we experienced and he honestly made my daughters day how he treated her. She was sad when we had to leave Micheals bus at the end of the tour. He treated us like we were old friends and really made everything exactly how we wanted it. I am so happy we went with his company.
If I could give a thousand stars I would and I truly believe that a tour with Michael should be suggested to any family traveling to Aulani or or Hawaii,
Alex Murphy
April 2022
Amazing
this tour was very fun, learned a lot about the island and our tour guide made it even better. Michael was very funny and cool, i had a very fun time.
Kaylyn
March 2022
Amazing
If you do anything in Oahu, book a tour with Michael! I promise you, you will not be disappointed! Michael has extensive knowledge of the island. His tour was hands down the best part of our vacation. He customized a private tour for our family that was absolutely remarkable! Thank you, Michael, you left us with unforgettable memories that we will treasure for our lifetimes!
Barbara B
March 2022
My trip around Oahu
Michael is a great guide. He was both friendly and helpful. He knew a lot about Hawaii. He helped us
a lot on our hike at Manoa Falls.
a lot on our hike at Manoa Falls.
thomasdX5527AF
December 2022
Great day trip of Oahu
We flew over from Maui for one day to visit Oahu and this tour was fantastic. It was just earlier this week (October 2022) and found the day to be a memory of a lifetime. Our tour guide, Michael, was super knowledgeable about everything going on in Oahu and the conversation really helped make the day. We were originally going to spend more time at Pearl Harbor but due to some dock issues they are experiencing and long delays, we ended cutting that portion short. So, we ended up driving towards the North Shore and made a few stops but the highlight was when we decided to all go paddle boarding together where the water was calm, warm and full of sea turtles. Nobody in our family had ever done it before, but Michael helped us along the way and we had an awesome time. We followed this up with lunch at Roy’s at Turtle Bay. We finished our drive down the east side of Oahu
badgerfanot
September 2022
Never to be forgotten tour of Oahu
What a big day we had, we finally took the tour which we had booked in 2019 before the world came crashing down.
I am so grateful that l booked this tour with Halia Tours and Transportation . Michael took care of us from the minute he picked us up, this man is a gentleman and was so attentive and accommodating to all our needs. Not once did we feel rushed, Michael’s knowledge was impressive and he kept us engaged and entertained for the whole 12 hrs. We felt like Michael was a friend to us, someone we’ve known for years, so much infact that we were left emotional saying goodbye and ending our 12 hr day together.
This man took care of us, not because it’s his job but because he genuinely is a gentleman and he did so without expecting anything in return.
All we can say is Wow!!! What a day, we travelled the entire island and saw sights that one would think did not exist, the scenery was breaking.
If any of you are ever fortunate to visit Oahu please put Halia tours and transport on your must list
Mahalo Michael
I am so grateful that l booked this tour with Halia Tours and Transportation . Michael took care of us from the minute he picked us up, this man is a gentleman and was so attentive and accommodating to all our needs. Not once did we feel rushed, Michael’s knowledge was impressive and he kept us engaged and entertained for the whole 12 hrs. We felt like Michael was a friend to us, someone we’ve known for years, so much infact that we were left emotional saying goodbye and ending our 12 hr day together.
This man took care of us, not because it’s his job but because he genuinely is a gentleman and he did so without expecting anything in return.
All we can say is Wow!!! What a day, we travelled the entire island and saw sights that one would think did not exist, the scenery was breaking.
If any of you are ever fortunate to visit Oahu please put Halia tours and transport on your must list
Mahalo Michael
Linda M
September 2022
Unforgettable multi day tour of Oahu!
Michael was a wonderful tour guide! He was very kind, loving, funny, helpful, understanding, knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give them the best day ever and great experience.
Vinay S
September 2022
Best time ever
Michael was a wonderful tour guide! He was very kind, loving, funny, helpful, understanding,
knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give
them the best day ever and great experience.
knowledgeable, entertaining. I feel like he can adapt to the vibe of the group he is with and would give
them the best day ever and great experience.
Ladyroc777
September 2022
First Girls Trip to Hawaii
We had an absolutely amazing time with Michael as our tour guide for the Circle Island Tour. He is so knowledgeable about the Hawaiian Island. He even tried to help us to pronounce the name of the native fish (which we still can’t pronounce lol). He took us around to some amazing places and gave us time to explore each one and take lots of pictures. He was so patient with us the entire time as we took a little extra time at some of the locations. He gave the best suggestions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which all were on point! He’s the nicest most friendliest tour guide you would ever want. I’ve been suggesting to everyone I talk to to take the Circle Island Tour when you come to Hawaii and ask for the the Tour Guide named Michael. We had so much fun! He is the best tour guide ever and come highly recommended!
NewWaveTravel
September 2022
Excellent Service
Michael was absolutely amazing! He was extremely knowledgeable, personable, and very considerate! He even bought my group of ladies an appetizer at a restaurant that he made reservations for us! He even called ahead to ensure places were opened and we had enough time to visit everything on our list! I would highly recommend him to any and everyone!!!! Excellent service!
Lsposey
September 2022
Fantastic Day
From the minute he picked us up Micheal made my experience fantastic, nothing was to much trouble and he bent over backwards to make sure we all had a magical day. I am a huge history buff and also an Aviation geek, my sister and the rest of the party not so much. Micheal organised for me to do all the things that I wanted to do and also made sure my sister and the rest of the group didn’t get bored and got to do all the stuff that they wanted to do. Micheal is an excellent guide who knows the island well and knows all the ins and outs. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone that wanted to do a tour he is excellent in every way and will make sure you have a fantastic time and will work with you to make a tour that is personal to you. Thanks Micheal
peterrV455JD
July 2022
Donʻt look elsewhere for a tour guide!
Michael was nothing short of amazing! His flexibility, patience and attention to detail was outstanding. Loved his sense of humour, made the whole day even more enjoyable. We toured the north shore and cannot wait to do the south shore with him next time we visit beautiful Hawaii.
Thank you Michael for giving us such a wonderful day out!
Kelly & gang
Thank you Michael for giving us such a wonderful day out!
Kelly & gang
kellykV1885CK
July 2022
Had a great time!
We had a great time exploring Oahu for the fist time with Michael. He is very flexible and
accommodating to my 6 uear old daughter. He even bought us poi so we can try it. We also learned a
lot during our trip. Our family totally had a blast! Thank you Michael!
accommodating to my 6 uear old daughter. He even bought us poi so we can try it. We also learned a
lot during our trip. Our family totally had a blast! Thank you Michael!
jz7nvj9ymd
July 2022
Had a wonderful time
We had Michael as our guide and he was great. He enhanced the tour and it was an enjoyable
experience
experience
Carla_b
May 2022
Real Aloha Spirit – Halia Toiurs
Michael Waters and Halia Tours are AWESOME! He’s been driving our keiki to field trips during our
after school program and has such a heart for Hawaii and our children. What a generous spirit and in depth knowledge about the culture.
after school program and has such a heart for Hawaii and our children. What a generous spirit and in depth knowledge about the culture.
lfukikoa
May 2022
Fantastic for Teens
My family loved it. I was working business in Honolulu all day and was confident in handing responsibility for my family’s fun and safety to this fantastic company. Their guide was warm, fun, knowledgeable, and extremely engaging. No small task with teenagers who always have their face buried in a phone. They never waited in a line for the entire trip. He had everything pre-coordinated and knew how to avoid the peak periods. His help was worth every penny. They hit every “must do” attraction on the island in just 3 days…and had a blast doing it. Personal service tailored to your every need. It’s like a 1st Class ticket for touring Hawaii. Thank God I didn’t screw this up! Thanks, Michael! You made their Spring Break a FANTASTIC tropical memory!
Richard H
April 2022
Amazing
this tour was very fun, learned a lot about the island and our tour guide made it even better. Michael was very funny and cool, i had a very fun time.
Kaylyn
March 2022
Amazing
If you do anything in Oahu, book a tour with Michael! I promise you, you will not be disappointed! Michael has extensive knowledge of the island. His tour was hands down the best part of our vacation. He customized a private tour for our family that was absolutely remarkable! Thank you, Michael, you left us with unforgettable memories that we will treasure for our lifetimes!
Barbara B
March 2022
Fantastic Day!
What a great day! We had the chance to shape our own tour depending on proximity, weather and kids’ preferences. Michael knows so much about the island and is a genuinely engaging and accommodating person. Everyone had a blast and learned so much about the island!
Sarah S
January 2022
Best Tour of Oahu
Absolutely incredible tour!!!!!
Where do I even begin?! Michael is fabulous. He makes this tour so special and fun. From the time I booked this tour and saw all the wonderful reviews, I knew we were going to have a great time.
All of the great things people say about this tour are true. Michael communicated with me a few days prior to our tour to go over points of interest and activities. Day of – he was just fabulous. He took us everywhere we wanted to see and gave my husband (the history buff) all of the history he wanted to hear. Michael customizes this tour and experience to whatever you’re looking for – which makes the experience awesome and unmatched to any other tour out there.
I could go on and on, but really, all I need to say is thank you Michael for making our time in Oahu so special and memorable. We will never forget how much fun we had on your tour! Mahalo!
Where do I even begin?! Michael is fabulous. He makes this tour so special and fun. From the time I booked this tour and saw all the wonderful reviews, I knew we were going to have a great time.
All of the great things people say about this tour are true. Michael communicated with me a few days prior to our tour to go over points of interest and activities. Day of – he was just fabulous. He took us everywhere we wanted to see and gave my husband (the history buff) all of the history he wanted to hear. Michael customizes this tour and experience to whatever you’re looking for – which makes the experience awesome and unmatched to any other tour out there.
I could go on and on, but really, all I need to say is thank you Michael for making our time in Oahu so special and memorable. We will never forget how much fun we had on your tour! Mahalo!
JennaObengDMD627
December 2021
Private Tour
My friends and I booked the tour at the last minute! Mike was wonderful. He was so accommodating ,
making sure we got the most out of our tour. Mike was very knowledgeable and funny. Would definitely
us him again!
making sure we got the most out of our tour. Mike was very knowledgeable and funny. Would definitely
us him again!
544yasmeenw
December 2021
Amazing Tour of Oahu
My husband and I started our honeymoon off with Michael on the full circle tour. We spent the entire day exploring Oahu and learning about the history, culture, cuisine and present day Oahu (also other islands). Michael had us pick a few must-do’s so we settled on finding the best food trucks, views, pineapple farms, Waimea Valley, etc. We really enjoyed Michael’s insights and direction on the best places to go given time and season. We highly recommend Michael’s full circle tour. Do not miss out! Michael was even generous to give us tips for the remainder of our trip. P.s. Michael knows where to find the best poke bowls and garlic shrimp!
Brittany G
December 2021
Do it! you wonʻt regret it!
Great communication before hand! Took the time to truly customize the day based on our interests. Made modifications as the day progressed. Went at our speed, never felt rushed. Our guide was so knowledgeable and personable! Far exceeded my initial expectations. Would recommend to friends and would definitely use again!!!
AimeeP
November 2021
Best day of our 2 week honeymoon!
This was the highlight of my two week honeymoon!!!!!! My husband and I did various tours in Maui and Honolulu and this was by far the best day I had! Michael is AWESOME! He is laid back, full of knowledge about the Island, funny, helpful, great driver (always felt safe) and just an overall great guy. He also knows a lot of people and went the extra mile to find out some information for us for another excursion we had booked. I can’t stress enough how much better it is to have a private tour guide; it was worth every penny. Michael always got back to us with any questions prior to the trip and picked us up promptly the day of. We had some things we wanted to do, but we also let him pick some places (including local spots which is always the best) and we truly had a blast. We saw so many beautiful sights and ate great food! Even with some Covid restrictions, we did not feel slighted in any way because Michael made sure we did everything we wanted to and had the best time. We finished the night off getting some malasadas and he even had a bag warmer to keep them warm for us (he pulled out the cooler too for all the food we brought back). AWESOME time! If you are between a private tour or group tour please do this! It is worth the experience-you spend as much or as little time in the various spots you go! Thank you so much for the tour!!!!
Mahalo
September 2021
Great guide! Memorable Tour!
Michael was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating when planning our trip to Oahu, Hawaii. He made suggestions to help us maximize our time. We spent 2 days with him and Halia Tours and Transportation. Michael knows a lot about the Hawaiian culture and you can tell he enjoys his job when meeting him for the first time. He also went above and beyond our expectations. We highly recommend him and Halia Tours and Transportation to anyone visiting the island of Oahu looking for a great private tour guide who is flexible and accommodating. Michael’s wealth of information and suggestions made our private tour memorable! We will definitely use Michael and Halia Tours and Transportation when visiting Oahu in the future.
Tony G.
September 2021
Great day!
Michael Waters was the best tour guide back in June of 2018 when we come to HI for the first time for our kids graduation. He was so pleasant and caring. He took his time with explaining the town and history. When it come time for getting into the ocean, he stayed with me as I’m terrified of the ocean. He gave me the courage to get in and see the sea turtles. Cannot wait to have him as our tour guide in December.
lpappy68
August 2021
Great experience!
We spent two days with Michael and he was a wealth of information and suggestions. We had to reschedule from 2020 and Michael worked with us to make sure we were kept up to date on the continual changes in travel to Oahu. We were aged 11 to 61 and he was able to keep everybody informed and entertained. Changes unfortunately kept us from hanging out at the beach with Michael. He made sure we made the best of our time and didn’t miss a thing.
Donna G.
August 2021
Amazing Adventures
My heart is full of gratitude for the amazing day we spent with Michael exploring this island. We’ve done group tours in other locations, but this tour far exceeded my expectations. For a lower price, you get to see what you want and only with your group. “Mikey” knows everyone around the island and was able to treat us like royal guests everywhere. For instance, he waved us through at the lines in two locations, smashed some fresh macadamia nuts for us to try and the macadamia nut farm, and lots of other extras. We learned SO much from him and his vast knowledge of this place! We set our own pace and saw so much. Highly recommended!!
afirefly79
July 2021
Great circle island tours
Michael was terrific. We spent the day with him starting with a good breakfast at Koa. Michael is
extremely knowledgeable, amusing and articulate. Highly recommend this tour.
extremely knowledgeable, amusing and articulate. Highly recommend this tour.
138rossw
July 2021
Perfect Guide for the Perfect
We booked this trip during Covid, to get the best tour possible for our vacation during one of the worst times to vacation. Michael went above and beyond showing us around, telling Island history and his story, funny stories, bad Dad jokes and local places we wouldn’t have found if we were able to get our own vehicle. He takes pride in the community, his business, his home and shares as much or as little as you want him to. We decided if we had to leave Oahu after that time with Michael, it would’ve fullfilled our vacation requirements and we would’ve left happy. From coffee to cacao, eels to turtles, mountains to waterfalls, food trucks to restaurants, he showed us all of this and so much more. Mahalo Michael!
mehouses
July 2021
Amazing day for our families!
Booked this tour for a our family of four (my wife and I plus two teenage daughters) and Michael provided an absolutely fantastic day. We wanted to see Pearl Harbor and then were totally flexible on seeing the remainder of the island, and Michael was on point for the entire day. He had terrific suggestions and we appreciated his stories and him sharing some of his favorite places to see and eat with us… we all loved it!!
223chadc
July 2021
Great Oahu Experience
Michael is the best! We got to see everything we wanted to and then some. We did Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, paddle boarding in the North Shore, and then toured the island. We even were telling some locals what we did on the tour and they were impressed! This is a great way to tour Oahu. Michael even went out of his way to save my sunglasses. Highly recommend!
Caitlyn
May 2021
Great tour, worked great
We recently toured with Michael on the North Shore half day tour. Michael was very knowledgeable about the area and added to our list of things to do. We traveled with elderly parent who had limited endurance and was able to combine there needs with our request for some snorkeling and waterfall swimming. Thanks Michael for the wonderful trip, my parents were very happy with the tour!!!
seaturtle2020
March 2020
Great for elderly parents
We recently toured with Michael on the North Shore half day tour. Michael was very knowledgeable about the area and added to our list of things to do. We traveled with elderly parent who had limited endurance and was able to combine there needs with our request for some snorkeling and waterfall swimming. Thanks Michael for the wonderful trip, my parents were very happy with the tour!!!
GraesanaC
March 2020
Best tour guide ever!
Best tour guide ever! Michael was extremely helpful in not only showing us around Hawaii but guiding us around Pearl Harbor. He is very knowledgeable and clearly loves what he does. My only regret is that we did not book a tour with Michael of Halia Tours for both of our days on the island. We would have loved to have had his guidance and insight for both days while our cruise was there.
Donna N
February 2020
Private island tour for 4
Michael was amazing. The reviews were correct. He is personable, funny, patient and very knowledgeable. We saw so much on our 1/2 day tour. He knows all the great spots, how to get around, good food. Amazing views and it was more than we ever expected. We had such a wonderful day with him! Would highly recommend!
EK674
February 2020
Best Yet!!!!
Mike is very knowledgeable of the area and gave an excellent tour. Very informative and wanted to be sure we were able to see what we wanted to see. It was an amazing experience and would recommend this service to anyone want a personalized experience. As a private party of 8 he was accommodating to everybody’s needs in the group. I’d definitely use his service again!!!
Muzzer825
January 2020
Best tour and guide
We spent the most engaging, educational and fun day with Michael of Hali’a Tours. He was prompt, extremely knowledgeable, a great conversationalist and story-teller, and flexible to our requirements. Our initial enquiry had quite the wishlist, and not only did we accomplish most of those at our own pace, we also had the privilege of being able to learn about local culture, history, food, and folklore but also to be able to give back to the community by helping to clean up a local beach. Certainly the clean up was the best part of my entire family’s day. The cost of the 9hr Tour (which ended up being almost 12hours without any additional cost) was extremely reasonable, and we got so much more out of our day than we had anticipated. We can’t wait to come back to Hawaii to explore more with Michael and Hali’a Tours.
Amira H
January 2020
Private Tour of Pearl Harbor
Michael Waters was amazing! He was able to make 13 of us happy. He had an incredible amount of knowledge about the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the USS Missouri which were the top two sites we wanted to visit in Honolulu. He chose a fantastic restaurant for our family. We liked him so much we had him eat dinner with us! Michael was even able to make a side trip to a specialty shop for my 13-year-old son so that he could find a pair of sneakers he had been looking for for many months. Micheal was very accommodating. He took photo after photo for us, brought us our lunch, and was patient with our large, opinionated group. Thank you, Micheal! Our day trip would not have been the same without you!
Shay2374
January 2020
Best Anniversary Ever
Michael Waters is one of the best tour guides I could have asked for. We had a tour with him back in June 2018 and we went back on 12/5/19. He helped me with planning a surprise vow renewal for my husband for our 21st Anniversary. He is very knowledgeable with HI culture. I cannot wait to go back in a few years and have him show us around again. He also give me ideas of were to get leis for our ceremony. Mahalo, aloha nui Michael for everything.
Strongwoman1980
December 2019
Fantastic Day
Thank you Michael. We booked a private tour for a group of 10 for a tour around the island. It was an amazing day and Michael was very obliging with our many and varied list of things we wanted to see and eat. It was a foodies delight. He is so knowledgeable about everything. Well done and we would definitely book with him again.
Casey Family Holiday
November 2019
What they said..
All I can do is echo the reviews already here. Without a doubt, engaging Michael/Hali’a Tours was the best decision we made during our two weeks in Hawaii. There are not enough superlatives to describe our time with Michael. We wanted to have a relaxed exploration of the island and sights. We didn’t want to waste time figuring out where to go or how to get there, and like other reviewers, we didn’t want to get on a tour bus with a gozillion strangers and travel at their pace. This was EXACTLY what we wanted at very,very reasonable! price. Michael’s can-do attitude was sooo refreshing and he gave us option after option of what we could do. We kept telling him to take us to his favorite places and to do the things he would do…..and….it was perfect. Thanks Michael for two wonderful days!!!
Letsgobacknow
November 2019
Amazing -Highly recommend!!
I booked this tour for myself, my husband and our three adult children and their spouses, so there were 4 couples. Michael was awesome! He was extremely accommodating and flexible. He was very knowledgeable and we learned so much from him. We had the best time! This was definitely the highlight of our trip. I highly recommend you book your tour with him. You won’t be disappointed. He knows this island and all the best places to go. He goes above and beyond to make sure you are happy and have a great time! All eight of us were very pleased!
LeeLee Traveler
October 2019
Fantastic day trip with variety and fun!
Our group of 5 ladies did a private day trip to the North Shore with Michael. We had ideas of what we wanted to do and not to do and Michael made some suggestions and came up with a great day for us. Stopped for a quick breakfast at the coffee plantation, then paddleboarding, walk to Waimea falls, lunch at one of the food trucks, snorkelling at Wiamea Bay, visits to Pipeline and Sunset beaches, cocktails at Turtle Bay and returned to Waikiki via the East coast. Michael was informative, fun, and nothing was too much trouble and we all had a lot of laughs. Our 9 hour trip ended up at 11 hours and he was still happy if we wanted to do extra stops on the way back. We learned a lot about Hawaii, it’s history and politics along the way as well. I would highly recommend Michael’s tours to anyone and will certainly use him again.
frankenda
October 2019
What can I say!!!!!
I’M late. We were in Oahu in Sept 2019 for ten day. We were with 3 other couples that decided to renew their wedding vows. Michael along with my best friend (who was one of one renewing) set it up) It was done in conjunction with a all day tour and it was a all day tour. The renewal of the vows itself didn’t take long maybe 45 minutes or so but it was done on a beach that was off the beaten path not used by tourists. It was just amazing. Michael Knowledge of the island. His friendship all the people where we stopped at made us all feel right at home.
The best thing I think is that we were not in a large bus like you see traveling the island. There was only eight of us. It was intimate. friendly. Michael was able to talk and answer all of us and pay individual attention to each one of us. That really got to me. He knew all of us.
As is always said There is no doubt in may mind I would go right back to Michael when I go back to Hawaii. If I ever go to another Island I’m dragging him to it so he can guide me around it as well.
Thank you you sir for such a wonderful and Fantastic day that I’m sure the eight of us will never forget
The best thing I think is that we were not in a large bus like you see traveling the island. There was only eight of us. It was intimate. friendly. Michael was able to talk and answer all of us and pay individual attention to each one of us. That really got to me. He knew all of us.
As is always said There is no doubt in may mind I would go right back to Michael when I go back to Hawaii. If I ever go to another Island I’m dragging him to it so he can guide me around it as well.
Thank you you sir for such a wonderful and Fantastic day that I’m sure the eight of us will never forget
BobEsher
October 2019
So many memories to this day…..
Thank you Halia Tours and Michael Waters.
We highly recommend Michael. We spent Monday exploring O’ahu with Michael as our Guide. Michael is more than your average tour guide, he is an all round genuine guy who cares about giving you the best possible experience, he took plenty of photos of us too. He has years of experience and loads of knowledge of the Island and his respect of local Culture oozes throughout the day. We are a family of 5 with kids aged 11, 14, 16 and he tailored the day to give us all an experience to enjoy and remember. We stopped and picked up some Leonard’s Malsadas which we ate whilst viewing Halona Blowhole(so yummy). We saw so many spectacular views and visited so many amazing places during our day. We visited the Valley of Temples Memorial Park and Kualoa Ranch to briefly see the sights. Another highlight for the kids was eating Shrimp from a food truck. We also walked along the beach at Papukea and heard many stories. We swam at the Waterfall and finished our day with a swim and snorkel with Michael at Waimea Bay this was a perfect way to finish our day. Our trip home was filled with more stories and laughs. We had a Wonderful Day with Michael and have so many beautiful memories of spending this day with Michael.
Thank you Michael, Monday was an Awesome Family Day. We have been blessed with so many beautiful memories to take home to Australia and share with our Family and Friends.
Thanks KennedyFamily5
We highly recommend Michael. We spent Monday exploring O’ahu with Michael as our Guide. Michael is more than your average tour guide, he is an all round genuine guy who cares about giving you the best possible experience, he took plenty of photos of us too. He has years of experience and loads of knowledge of the Island and his respect of local Culture oozes throughout the day. We are a family of 5 with kids aged 11, 14, 16 and he tailored the day to give us all an experience to enjoy and remember. We stopped and picked up some Leonard’s Malsadas which we ate whilst viewing Halona Blowhole(so yummy). We saw so many spectacular views and visited so many amazing places during our day. We visited the Valley of Temples Memorial Park and Kualoa Ranch to briefly see the sights. Another highlight for the kids was eating Shrimp from a food truck. We also walked along the beach at Papukea and heard many stories. We swam at the Waterfall and finished our day with a swim and snorkel with Michael at Waimea Bay this was a perfect way to finish our day. Our trip home was filled with more stories and laughs. We had a Wonderful Day with Michael and have so many beautiful memories of spending this day with Michael.
Thank you Michael, Monday was an Awesome Family Day. We have been blessed with so many beautiful memories to take home to Australia and share with our Family and Friends.
Thanks KennedyFamily5
KennedyFamily5
September 2019
Lifetime memories
Halia Tours and Michael Waters ……
Where to start.. Michael Waters is a great tour guide.. extremely knowledgable in the local culture and knows where the good places are. First I wanted to tell you to ask him to take you to the small little fruit nursery to meet the mad scientist and taste his baby pineapples.. you wont believe how good they are.. he also took us to Kahana Beach were he performed a short ceremony for our vow renewal.. actually 3 of the four couples did this.. it was our 30th anniversary. He went over and above and actually made the girls a little bouquet and got us all lei’s for the ceremony. He took us places that big Tours cannot go on. Michael.. you are part of our Ohana now… I wish you the best of everything in the future… you deserve it sir. We had a great time the whole 13 hours we were gone. Mahalo Nui Loa for all your genuine hospitality sir. You are a class act and proved that to me when the little confrontation happened on the North Shore.
If you want a great time.. Pick Halia Tours.. this guy rocks.
I do promise if we come back to this island.. we will do the cleanup tour with you… show that person.. there is no disrespect from these two tourist to the Hawaiian culture or the locals that live here.. Mahalo Nui Loa Michael.
I do reccomend you times 10.
Sorry my wife took all the pics….
Where to start.. Michael Waters is a great tour guide.. extremely knowledgable in the local culture and knows where the good places are. First I wanted to tell you to ask him to take you to the small little fruit nursery to meet the mad scientist and taste his baby pineapples.. you wont believe how good they are.. he also took us to Kahana Beach were he performed a short ceremony for our vow renewal.. actually 3 of the four couples did this.. it was our 30th anniversary. He went over and above and actually made the girls a little bouquet and got us all lei’s for the ceremony. He took us places that big Tours cannot go on. Michael.. you are part of our Ohana now… I wish you the best of everything in the future… you deserve it sir. We had a great time the whole 13 hours we were gone. Mahalo Nui Loa for all your genuine hospitality sir. You are a class act and proved that to me when the little confrontation happened on the North Shore.
If you want a great time.. Pick Halia Tours.. this guy rocks.
I do promise if we come back to this island.. we will do the cleanup tour with you… show that person.. there is no disrespect from these two tourist to the Hawaiian culture or the locals that live here.. Mahalo Nui Loa Michael.
I do reccomend you times 10.
Sorry my wife took all the pics….
Mike S
September 2019
Great tour
Would highly recommend Michael for an island trip around. He responded quickly to emails and was very flexible with arrangements for the day. We managed to do most of the stops we wanted to do. The van is very comfortable and the air con rocks. Michael is very knowledgeable about Oahu and its history etc and indeed we had a few in depth conversations during the day lol. Thanks again.
Pastor C
September 2019
Mike was awesome
First time to Oahu but I feel like we like we belong there. We didnt want a tour with 40 others getting off the bus for 5 minutes at a time. Mike was recommended and boy was he worth it. So full of information and passion for the island. Mike took us to Pipeline, Wiamea waterfalls and bay then to swim with turtles. Each experience he made us feel so comfortable. Totally recommend Mike to any size group you will love him. Alison and John. Perth.
allison d
September 2019
What an amazing day on Oahu!!!
Our tour day with Mike was the highlight of our time in Oahu! We did so many things that we never would have done on our own, he really gave us the personal treatment and made our trip so memorable. Starting from our morning pickup, he was chock full of information and told us everything we could have wanted to and more about the island, the people, and the places we were going or passing on the way. We left at 6am and went to Pearl Harbor, the Battleship Missouri, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Green World Coffee Farm, Dole Plantation, and then some amazing food trucks, shave ice, shopping, and some time for relaxing and sun at Waimea Bay. He had beach blankets and snorkels so when we went to Waimea Bay, mike took our boys snorkeling while my husband and I hung out and enjoyed some relaxing time on the beach. Waimea was a beautiful beach and the ocean was so clear and flat….it was the most beautiful spot we have been to and are so glad to have been able to go! By the end of the tour Mike felt more like a part of our family than our tour guide! I will 100% recommend him to all of my family and friends and will definitely call him next time we are in the area to go on another tour with him to see the sights that we didn’t get to this time!!!!
Michelle M
August 2019
Highlight of our trip!
We just got home from our private island tour and had the best time! Michael is one of the best people you will ever meet with so much knowledge about the island and he was so great with our 2 young children, they couldn’t get enough of him! We saw everything we wanted to see on our tight schedule and although it was our 7th trip to Hawaii we learnt so much and got to visit places we’ve never seen or even heard of before. Michael truly went above and beyond to ensure that our day was perfect. We will definitely be booking another tour with Michael next time we’re in Hawaii.
belle1284
August 2019
Donʻt miss out on this amazing experience
Where do I start? My family and I’s 9 hour tour around Honolulu was hands down the best part of our Hawaii trip. Although it was our 5th time coming to Oahu, I feel like I finally got to know the island this time. We were taken to unique and beautiful places that we probably would never have gone to. A part from that, Michael is a walking history book and I really admire how much love he has for Hawaii and how much effort he puts into making sure we have the best (and safest) experience. He will customize your trip to best suit your goals! Mahalo Michael! Heather, Charles, Marissa, Roland & Ian
hsgarcia91
July 2019
Michael was the best!
Michael is an outstanding guide who specializes in making your tour special and memorable… He is friendly and knowledgable about the culture and the islands and provides a unique and personalized experience… Definately a highlight of your vacation…
AORMBouton
July 2019
Our dream vacation
Michael came highly recommended from a neighborhood friend and he did not disappoint. We booked a 12 hour tour having no idea what we would do for the day. He filled our day with adventure including Pearl Harbor, a waterfall, shave ice, food truck (even accommodating my daughter’s request to visit the same one twice), multiple beaches, and an almost private swim with some sea turtles. We could not have asked for a better day. Go ahead and book your full day tour!
ashleym1980
June 2019
Private Island Tour – the best EVER
Michael Waters and Halia Tours are the ultimate. Michael was the most gracious host we have ever encountered. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about the history of Hawaii, he knew all the best spots to go (both tourist and non-tourist locations). He was very accommodating and willing to change our itinerary as the day went along. We spent 3 AMAZING days with Michael and did more in those 3 days than we could’ve even imagined. From snorkeling with turtles, watching amazing waves at Sandy Beach, swimming at Waiamea Falls, visiting several coffee farms and macadamia nut farms, the Dole Plantation, a sugar cane rum distillery, Giovanni’s shrimp truck, Matsumoto Shave Ice, North Shore, South Shore, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Leonard’s Bakery, Penny’s Malasadas, Polynesian Cultural Center, and a full-on food tour of some of the best food on the island. There are not enough amazing words to say about Michael and Halia Tours. This was the trip of a lifetime…one I will never forget. We can’t wait until we can get back to the islands and explore more of this beautiful land with an amazing person. Halia Tours is one to not be missed.
Kristen F
May 2019
Best private tour guide on the island
Michael was the very best. We spent all day with him and he went out of his way at every angle to make sure we had the best experience ever. He is very knowledgeable about the island history and can tailor your adventure to meet your requests. He really knows how to show you the best of Oahu. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone coming to explore this island paradise.
Debrorahoneal
May 2019
Just do it!
I didn’t even have to wait until our 3 day tour was over to want to write my review. I 1000% recommend if your coming to Oahu book a tour with Michael. He is such a gentleman, real down to earth & extremely knowledgeable & passionate about his beautiful island home. Nothing was too much for him & he went out of his way a number of times to ensure we had the best time. Don’t look anywhere else, Micheal is the best!!
Shannon66A
April 2019
Fantastic – Again!
Just had our second visit to Oahu, and couldn’t go past having another day out with Michael after the great time we had out with him nearly two years ago. True to form, Michael gave us the most wonderful day out all around the island and made such a special effort to take us to places we hadn’t seen last time. Such a good guy – still so passionate about showing off Oahu and he just amazes us with his knowledge of the area and its history. Honestly he’s like a walking talking history book only better! All the way he ensures our safety be it in his vehicle, crossing the road or on the beach, (really safe driver too!). This time he took us to an incredible lookout, followed by Punchbowl Cemetery, Iolani Palace and downtown Honolulu area before heading to the North Shore. For lunch he took us to the Poi Factory and introduced us to one of his favourite lunch time treats which was pretty good! We also stopped at a bhudist temple and fed the Koi, and a special treat was a stop at an orchid farm before a swim in the beach then finding turtles at another beach. The great thing about going out with Michael is that you get to choose what you see and where you stop which is fantastic. We highly recommend anyone to take a day out with Michael, you definitely are in for a full day of great sightseeing and activities – our days out with him will be forever etched in our memory banks with such a big smile.
AKAAustralia
March 2019
Amazing Day
Michael planned a great day for our entire family. Ages 9 – 80. He was extremely thoughtful of everyone’s interests. We had a fun day while seeing a variety of sights. We were flexible with our itinerary so we devoted time to activities that appealed to us. Michael’s knowledge, experience, and attitude enhanced the tour tremendously. He was especially helpful to a family member with mobility issues. His caring manner made it a special day for all of us. Truly a treasured memory!! Mahalo!! We highly recommend this tour and Michael.
TDQ38
March 2019
Personalized is exactly what we got
I asked Michael for a specific tour and he spent time looking for information about that topic. There are so many aspects of Hawaii and he was able to talk about history, surfing, beaches, scenic views while at the same time making changes on the fly. Safe driving, good advice on food, help with a souvenir- all well worth it.
reidt858
February 2019
Wow!!!
The best tour guide you could ask for! Michael is easy going, engaging, fun, knowledgeable and fantastic with children. Easy to communicate with and book, very accommodating to requests. Highly recommend, service was outstanding
Kelly Wayne S
January 2019
Great tour and guide
On December 24th, our family of 4 had the pleasure to tour the south shore with Mike. We had a fantastic day and enjoyed all the sites that Mike showed us. Mike is a great guide and full of information about the Hawaiian islands. I would highly recommend using Hali’a Tours while in Oahu. Thanks for the great memories Mike! Aloha from Susan and Family. Toronto. Canada
SusanCruiseandTravel
January 2019
Memories mad on this tour are priceless!
We saw the whole island and did everything we wanted and more in just one day! Mike is extremely knowledgeable about everything and anything Hawaii! He even comes with free jokes at no extra charge! We mentioned broad things like waterfalls, ocean views, Jurassic Park and Mike knew exactly where to take us. We would have never been able to visit all the places we did on our own. We visited a park and swam in a waterfall, watched the pipe masters surf competition on the beautiful North Shore beaches, enjoyed lunch from Hawaiian food trucks, spent some time in a beautiful bay, took a tour at Kualoa Ranch, the rest of our family visited a macadamia nut farm while they waited for us, then we got dropped off at a mall to visit the Asian Market for dinner while the rest of my family was safely brought back to their hotel! The experience and memories we made on this tour are priceless and we have Mike to thank for that!!!!
Jamie B
January 2019
Holiday highlight
Being our first time visiting Hawaii, this was a great way to discover the island of Oahu. We got to choose what we wanted to visit and was able to be done at our own pace. The guide was really knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble. This tour was the highlight of our holiday – perfect for teens.
Anthea R
January 2019
Best experience we could have hoped for
We had a great experience with Michael on our day tour. Very knowledgeable of the island and took his time and showed us anything and everything we wanted to see. Went around the whole island and he would suggest places to stop and we said yeah or nay. A very personable and polite young man. We had 4 people on our tour and if you want to learn about Oahu this is your guy. Thank you so much Michael for our tour. 5 star all the way.
24castor86
December 2018
Best Day!!!!! Sunrise/sunset tour
Came to Oahu with my best friend and our husbands. First time to the island. Spent our 1st full day with Michael. Excellent introduction to the island. Michael was great. We were able to totally customize our day. Not a minute was wasted. We caught a stunning sunrise at the Halona Blowhole. We were also very fortunate to see a monk seal resting on the shore. Michael found out the HIC surfing contest was going on that day and surprised us with that !!! The day was perfect and Michael treated like celebrities. Felt like family by the end of the day. He’s a wealth of Hawaiian knowledge. Would definitely recommend Michael without hesitation. You will experience so much more with Michael than on your own. He knows just how to time your day so you get the absolute most out of it. Aloha Michael, thanks for the memories !!!!!
kgillett0001
December 2018
Fantastic Day on Oahu
The four of us had a fantastic day with Michael, he went above and beyond. His attempt at Jokes keep you entertained all day. He is very knowledgeable and knows the best places to visit but will accommodate most requests and we seemed to beat the crowds everywhere we went. I highly recommend Haila Tours
Trish1770
October 2018
Excellent Day Out and About
THANKYOU Michael for an awesome day nothing was ever a hassle , very knowledgeable , down to earth nice guy (only down side terrible jokes ).10 out of 10 from us.We will definitely book again when we come back
Mellisa F
October 2018
Wedding in Hawaii
Mike, you’re an absolute legend! You were so humble, so informative and interactive! We had the best day with you on this tour and can’t thank you enough for liasing with another company to get us this tour!
Jaden143
October 2018
An exceptional person!
Michael is the gold standard for a tour guide. He is an experienced tour guide and former manager/trainer for larger tour companies. He has started his own one man company. He can do it his way. All of the reviews touch on some part of his unique service. It is a wonderful day driven by his enthusiasm and love of Hawaii. His college major was Hawaiian studies. All the reviews mention the touches he has that makes his tour special. This is the first time I have been moved to write a review.
billmnrv
October 2018
Unforgetablle Day
My daughter’s 40th Birthday 26th Sept, Michael went out of his way to make it amazing day for Renee & her family & friend’s.Went up to Nth Shore tour we done snorkeling, swimming with turtles, waterfall swimming, pineapple plantation. Thank you Michael for fantastic memories.
54denise2018
October 2018
Amazing Tour!
Michael gave us an amazing tour of the North Shore while we were staying in Waikiki. The snorkeling, waterfall swimming, lunch on Turtle Bay was all Fantastic! He was so knowledgeable about the island and it’s history and beauty that we did not want the day to end. Thanks for the memories Michael.
Jill O
September 2018
Full Day Tour
What a fantastic and unexpected tour of the island we had
We explored the entire island and learnt so much about every place we visited. The guide was super easy to interact with and felt like a long time friend by the end of the day. He entertained us for well over what we had paid for or expected. His tour was fun and informative. Highly highly recommend for anyone visiting Waikiki. We will talking another next visit.
We explored the entire island and learnt so much about every place we visited. The guide was super easy to interact with and felt like a long time friend by the end of the day. He entertained us for well over what we had paid for or expected. His tour was fun and informative. Highly highly recommend for anyone visiting Waikiki. We will talking another next visit.
lozy2203
August 2018
An outstanding experience
We loved every minute of our amazing tour which was adapted to our interests and needs. The day flew by with wonder. Michael flows with the Aloha spirit and is enthusiastically motivated to share his vast knowledge of the island in an entertaining and knowledgeable way. We are so grateful to have experienced a tour so special with such a wonderful soul as Michael.
888leighanne
August 2018
Island private tour
My Daughters and I had an awesome day out. Michael showed us all the sights we want to see and we had a very enjoyable day. it was a great way to finish our trip to Hawaii.
scc0b
July 2018
All day private tour around island
Mike was great. He showed us lots of places in a short amount of time since we were doing a transfer from our cruise ship and then catching plane in the evening. Picked us up transfers were seamless and we would have never gotten as much accomplished and seen everything without him. Very knowledgeable about the island and found things for us to do that werent the typical tourist traps. We of course saw great beaches and some must dos like grab some pinapple icecream for the kids but he really tried tailoring our day to suit us. My son drove him nuts being a star wars halo fan and he aimed to even please little dude! So if you want a relaxing day to see some great stuff and not have to worry about getting around on your own or logistics. Mikes the man that can get it done. Has some great food choices along the way! We enjoyed our ending to our trip with him and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed if you book with them. Take the stress out of the day and let him do it all for you!
reschrist123
July 2018
Fun on the North Shore
My daughters and I had spent 5 days in Waikiki and needed to get out of the tourist area so we booked a 9hr day tour to the North Shore and had a great day with Michael. We made lots of stops on the way to view beautiful scenery, wildlife (birds, seals and turtles) and sample delicious local food. Michael is a wealth of local knowledge and history. He spoke a lot during the tour, most of which was enlightening. We swam in a pretty waterfall, ate lunch at a local farm, checked out the surf at some local beaches and visited quiet un-touristy areas which was a blessing after Waikiki. I would recommend this tour to anyone who doesn’t want to bother with driving and parking. Michael was excellent with my elderly mother and his care and patience was much appreciated.
jr330
July 2018
Fantastic private island tour
We did the full day wet north shore tour with Mike. He was great with the kids, which really meant a lot to us. We never felt rushed and were able to see some amazing spots and ate great food. Kids got to swim with sea turtles, snorkel at wamea bay and complete an easy hike to the waterfall. Mike had amazing recommendations for delicious food throughout the day. A day well spent!!
garciak3
July 2018
Once in a lifetime tour!
I don’t even know where to start when describing the incredible personalized service and amazing day we had with Mike at Halia Tours! The booking process was easy despite a five hour difference in time zones. Mike asked what we wanted to do and customized a touring plan just for us. We booked a circle island tour and was able to do and see more than I could have imagined! From malasadas from the world famous Leonard’s bakery, our first taste of poi, a visit to the Dole plantation, unbelievable snorkeling with sea turtles, majestic views like Waimea Falls, Halona blowhole and Diamond Head, plus more! Mike stressed safety from the beginning and was great both on the road and in the water. Yes, he was even our personal lifeguard in the water while we learned to snorkel! We weren’t great at it and he was incredibly patient and helpful allowing us time to get acclimated at our own pace. While touring, he provided fun and interesting commentary on the island and its history which really added to the experience. Honestly, I felt like was family as we had such a great time with him and truly made once in a lifetime memories! As they say on the island, thanks cousin!
mbkinhou
June 2018
A Level above the Rest!
Michael was born to do this work – with his passion and expertise in the delights of Oahu are endless and simply amazing. We booked the all day circle island tour which we enjoyed immensely and included some hidden gems (Monk seal and Turtles in a little cove away from the tourists) Michael turns out to be quite the photographer. No request was a problem with a stop at Kahuku Farms for lunch this is a must for any Vegetarian or Carnivore. A stop at the famous Turtle Beach Resort for a cocktail at Roy’s beach bar also a must. Although a full day tour we didn’t want the day to stop. We now wish we had more time on the island to book another tour with Michael.
lorita2018
June 2018
Amazing++++++
Such an amazing day (amazing doesn’t even cut it) was spend with Michael from Hali’a Tours. We were 2 families travelling together with 5 young kids between us. Michael was great with the kids and we were able to see the sights we were interested in at our own pace. I am not usually one to spend the time writing reviews (well with the kids its just because I don’t have the time) but Hali’a tours deserves a 5 star rating. Well Done Hali’a we had one wonderful tour day!!!!
COBFamily
June 2018
Highlight of trip…
This was the most memorable tour of O’ahu. Michael has a way of blending in with the family while being your very own personal guide while still giving you personal family time. He made sure we got to see everything we wanted to see on our tour and experience many hidden treasures this beautiful island has to offer. Something we would have never been able to find or experience on our own. The highlight was Michael was just as excited as us on finding Turtles and a rare sighting of a Monk Seal. Michael’s passion for the Aloha way is shown in everything he does including his rich knowledge of culture, history, language, fauna and flora. We had the privilege of trying taro (thanks Michael for finding a store) and eating at the Kahuku Farm Cafe (vegetarian option). We did the “Full Day Classic Circle Island Tour” and catered this to what we wanted to see. I will treasure these memories forever – thank you Michael. I will be recommending all who visit O’ahu to Hali’a Tours.
SalesRepBris
June 2018
Stop Scrolling – This is the tour you want!
Excellent private tour for a family of 5! Michael delivered a memorable experience that the whole family enjoyed, from pick-up to drop-off. Our adventure was jam-packed with activities all around the island, complete with history, culture, folklore, plants, animals, customs, and traditions of the island. Halia Tours and Transportation LLC embraces the Aloha spirit by offering all of the above and provides an opportunity to give back to the community. The Davis family thanks you for an incredible journey that kept a smile on 3 teenager’s faces for over 12 hours, which is not an easy feat to accomplish!
Dreamer779862
June 2018
Fantastic Tour!
Michael was wonderful! He was very accommodating & his main concern was ensuring that we saw & did what we wanted to do. Our group spent the day touring the North Shore & saw sights we would not have seen on our own. He wanted to make sure we had fun, which we did!!
Lovewine1
May 2018
Amazing!!!!
Michael was an unexpected addition to our trip to Wakiki and turned out to be the highlight of our vacation! He is so kind and polite! He ensured that we experienced everything we have heard about in O’ahu and added more of his own known hidden treasures. Michael may be from from the mainland, but is knowledge, appreciation, and passion shows that he has the heart of a true islander! I can’t wait to go back and I will definitely be contacting Michael again (and referring all of my friends)! Thank you Michael for adding the true Aloha spirit into our trip!
Wendy N
May 2018
Great day of fun and excitement
Had a wonderful time on one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Michael was very informed about the island and very professional in providing a great tour for his patrons. He had put together a great agenda for us to see all of the things he recommends while still building flexibility into the schedule so we could see anything we had a passion for. The trip was timed out perfectly to best avoid crowds as well as long stints stuck in traffic. At one point our group was found to be surrounded by more sea turtles than people on the beach! I highly recommend Hali’a Tours
cts4z7
May 2018
You have to do this tour!!!
Best tour for visiting Oahu! We did the sunrise to sunset tour for 4 adults, worth every penny! We had Michael as the tour guide who was amazing! We had some spots in mind but he showed us so much more than we could have imagined! We made several stops for food every place he took us to was local spot we would have never found on our own. We had plenty of restroom stops all day long. Ask him to take you to the best pineapple spot -hint**-it’s not the dole plantation We learned so much history along the way. Would recommend him to anyone looking to see the island and learn about Hawai’i!!
Alex S
May 2018
Private Oahu Circle Island Tour
What a fun day! It was an inspired idea booking a private tour with Michael. From the early morning trip to Pearl Harbor ,where we were on the first boat out to the Arizona Memorial when the national anthem was played (very moving), to many hours later trip to Sam’s Club, we had a full day of tourist must-sees as well as off the beaten path secret finds. Michael is the go to guide for all things surfing related and food related as far as best of and not widely known places to see and eat at. We had the sweetest pineapple at a local nursery that was quaint and picturesque and not some big commercial plantation. I highly recommend Haila Tours and Transportation. Michael is personable, knowledgeable, and really goes above and beyond to make the day fun and worthwhile.
beckydee2018
May 2018
Best day!
We enjoyed a custom full island tour with Michael he was full of knowledge. He was punctual, courteous and adventurous. We did food trucks, went to the quiet beaches and went looking for turtles. It was a great day! Best part of our trip to Oahu. Booking Hali’s tours is a must! And he takes great photos.
Traceynewmanpeterson
April 2018
Oahu Tour
We were looking for a tour of the island that would include the North Shore. We had a day to kill after getting off the ship, and had a late 9:30 pm flight. Michael had just the thing we needed. He was so knowledgeable. We went to beaches, parks, Falls, plantations, and the sunset drink and appetizer were the icing on the cake before heading to the airport. Our group of 4 would highly recommend Michael. We will look for him when we try to return in a few years. Thank you Michael!
Road662043
March 2018
The best tour hands down
My wife and myself were looking for a tour of the North Shore of Oahu and Michael came highly recommended. We read the reviews which were all fantastic. We were not dissapointed. Michael picked us up at 7 am and took us to the best portugese donut truck on the way out of Waikiki and then to the coffee plantation. Yes they were the best donuts and coffee to start the morning. We had no idea on what to see so Michael tailored our tour going on what we wanted to do for the day. We were had a ball. He has a wealth of knowledge and has a great sense of humour and glowing personality. We snorkelers, paddle board and canoe in a river with sea turtles swimming right along side of us. We swam near the waterfall at Waimea gardens, ate pineapple at Dole plantation and many other shopping stops along the way. We arrived back at our hotel around 7pm making it a 12 hour day and Micheal still was telling corny jokes which we thought was great. I could highly recommend Hali`a Tours for a group or personal tour. Do yourself a favour and book a tour with him. You definately won’t be dissapointed. A big (five stars) + from us. Gary and Bernadette. Sydney, Australia
Road662043
March 2018
Full day tour
Eight Aussie women hired Michael for a private full day tour around the island. He’s punctual, with an extremely clean van, but his greatest assets are his vast knowledge about all things Hawaiian and his cheerful and friendly nature. He’s an extremely nice guy who can’t do enough for you. He handled eight giggling and loud women very well for what must have been a very long day for him! Our only let down was the weather, which Michael couldn’t control of course, but he made our day very enjoyable regardless of the heavy rain. Highly recommend Michael if you’re after a private tour of the island, in fact any tour at all – he’s great.
Jackie C
March 2018
North Shore and East Coast of Oahu Tour
Mike picked us up at 8:00 a.m. for a one day personal tour of the North Shore and East Coast of Oahu. It was a great day! Mike was very accommodating of the places that we wanted to see, as well as taking us to places that he thought we would be interested in seeing. He is a very knowledgeable tour guide with a great sense of humor. It was obvious that he was well known and liked within the industry. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and would highly recommend Halia Tours. We will certainly book a tour with Halia again when we return to Oahu.
Jackie C
March 2018
Amazina Anniversary Adventure!
We were in Hawaii celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary. We had never been to Oahu so we were looking for tour ideas the first day we arrived. We bumped into Michael Waters of Hali’a Tours while strolling in the Waikiki beach shopping area and thank goodness we did. It absolutely made our vacation that much more special. In addition to his incredibly friendly demeanor, Michael offered us a wealth of knowledge in terms of the culture, history, food and people of the Hawaiian islands. He has a degree in Hawaiian Studies as well as a background in developing Quality standard work instructions for tour companies on the island. It reflected in everything he did throughout the tour. We had our own private tour with nobody else and it was tailored strictly to what we wanted to do. He gave us all the main highlights from Pearl Harbor to the best surfing areas, romantic beaches, Dole planation, macadamia farms, to quaint little artsy towns with some of the most delectable food we have ever eaten. If you’re craving seafood, you have to go to Uncle Bo’s in Haleiwa. Try the ceviche and the seafood soup….OUT OF THIS WORLD!! As the day was winding down, Michael took us to an overlook where we could watch the sunset. The day was so perfect and the view spectacular that it brought tears to my eyes. We felt like we hit the jackpot with him. To finish off the evening, Michael brought us to a small local restaurant for appetizers called Fresh Catch. Again, the food was to die for. Finally, his last secret weapon before bringing us to our hotel was a quick stop to grab dessert at Leonard’s bakery where we bought Malasadas, a Portuguese doughnut that people line up out the door for. It was worth the wait. Overall, if you get the opportunity to do a tour, don’t think twice about Hali’a Tours. His prices are fantastic and the service is best in class. You will not be disappointed. Oh and P.S. we bumped into Michael the last morning we were there and he offered to bring us to the airport so we would not have to call a cab….Just top notch service.
Valman01
February 2018
Pearl Harbor and South Shore, then North
Was good to gain a better understanding of the vents of Dec 7 1941. Tour guide was very informative. Southside snorkelling was relaxing; 1 turtle seen (highlight). Juxtaposition of coast with mountains is always mind blowing. Oahu (and Hawaii in general) extremely easy on the eye. Tour guide very accommodating.
jmn2018
February 2018
Remarkable in every way.
We met (think interrupt marketing anyone???) Michael Waters of Hali’a Tours on the main street of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu — and were immediately impressed with his “non aggressive” sales pitch. After much pleasant banter — we agreed to taking a sunrise to sunset tour with him. {You got to wonder what would possess someone to agree to a day long ride in a complete strangers van, no less!} So, with much enthusiasm and an extreme eager to please personality style… Mike offered us a full menu of awesome, breath taking sights. Describing and stopping at the most beautiful of secluded beaches — all while offering up island history with accurate
(you betcha…I fact checked) narrative, made his tour very different than the usual. We negotiated a very affordable reasonable rate for the day, all went off without any hitches, delays or surprises, He came to pick us up at the set time and our day long journey began — it was non stop for the entire day. Mike’s only concern was to ensure our experience was bliss. Mike is polite, well studied on Hawaiian history and culture in Honolulu. Definitely if you are considering a unique, very personalized, interesting island tour (off the beaten track type of excursion) then Mike is your guy! Amazing scenery for sure. Interesting, well guided tour. Great value. Highly recommended!! To this end, I personally think Mike doesn’t charge enough for his services. So even if you have a tendency to $$$ over tip ~ it’s well earned! Sam & Sandy – TORONTO, Canada
(you betcha…I fact checked) narrative, made his tour very different than the usual. We negotiated a very affordable reasonable rate for the day, all went off without any hitches, delays or surprises, He came to pick us up at the set time and our day long journey began — it was non stop for the entire day. Mike’s only concern was to ensure our experience was bliss. Mike is polite, well studied on Hawaiian history and culture in Honolulu. Definitely if you are considering a unique, very personalized, interesting island tour (off the beaten track type of excursion) then Mike is your guy! Amazing scenery for sure. Interesting, well guided tour. Great value. Highly recommended!! To this end, I personally think Mike doesn’t charge enough for his services. So even if you have a tendency to $$$ over tip ~ it’s well earned! Sam & Sandy – TORONTO, Canada
youbetchaman
January 2018
Day tour with Halia
Full day trip to the North Shore. Completely tailored to suit our needs – 4 adults and 3 kids. Michael picked us up at the hotel at the time that suited us and while he made recommendations he allowed us to decide what we wanted to do for the next 9 hours!! Michael’s knowledge and passion for the island was incredible as was his interaction with our young children. Highly recommend a tour with Hali’a to anyone visiting the island.
Glenn O
December 2017
Halia Tours by Michael Waters
My husband and I and our friends were ready to cruise in November around the Hawaiian Islands and had a morning with hours to kill before our ship left. We encountered Michael Waters of Hali’a Tours on a street corner in Honolullu and decided to give his services a try! Boy were we impressed! Mike took us all around the southern side of Oahu and showed us the most beautiful beaches, etc, all the while narrating about the history and famous people who live/lived on these beaches. He is a very polite, well spoken young man who has studied Hawaiian history and culture in Honolulu. He adds his own perspective to the narration, as he is not originally from the island, but has chosen to make it his home. His van seated the 4 of us very comfortably and he was always there to open our doors or help us in and out of the van! We highly recommend him, you won’t be disappointed! Oh, almost forgot to mention that he took us and all of our luggagge directly to the ship after the tour, thus saving us the cost of a taxi ride! Thanks Mike! Paul & Paula (FL) and Pam & Walt (MO).
paulasW3813YL
December 2017
Amazing Day
What an amazing day with Michael. Our 11 family members to experience the Island as we did. Micheal has a wealth of knowledge and was very accomodating to all our needs. His service and tour was outstanding. He picked up us at the time agreed. The price was exceptional the variety of the tour covered all our needs and was beyond our expectations. as there where 11 of us in various age groups. Highly recommend! Don’t go anywhere else! I am going back to Australia to send all my family and friends to him when they visit Hawaii. Thank you Michael for the experience you shared with us and the memories we will hold forever.
JodiPop
December 2017
Tour of Oahu Island
Michael Waters was an excellent tour guide. 2 couples did the 10 hour tour of Oahu in his private vehicle. The price was very reasonable. Michael had a wealth of knowledge about the islands and the history of Hawaii. He ensured that we all had good photo opportunities, and plenty of time to enjoy the attractions, however, just missing the sunset over Waikiki by a few minutes was a blow. We have no hesitation in recommending Michael Waters to anyone going to Hawaii. See Michael for an amazing tour of Oahu, you won’t regret it. Thank you Michael for the amazing memories.
greenhorizons2017
November 2017
Fabulous Day Out
We have just had the pleasure of enjoying a most wonderful day out with Michael on a private tour. Michael went to great lengths to tailor our day to ensure he included all that we wished to see and showed us his own special sites normally missed by larger operators or self drive tourists. Michaels knowledge of the local area and history of Hawaii was very impressive and made for such an interesting trip. We had a full day from 6.00 a.m until after 6 p.m, starting at Pearl Harbour and then heading around the island to the North Shore where we saw beautiful beaches, turtles and were able to swim safely under his watchful eye. Time was never an issue and he went out of his way to ensure he always checked with us if we needed to stop anywhere else or what we would like for lunch and had the best recommendations for places to eat. The highlight was when he timed it just perfectly to catch the sunset on our way back to Waikiki, just stunning. We highly recommend Michael for anyone considering a day trip from Waikiki and we would definitely go with him again. Thank you Michael for such an awesome day.
AKAAustralia
November 2017
Unforgettable Day
No words can describe what an amazing day we had with Mike. A must do!!! on your Trip to Oahu if you are seeking an unforgettable experience. Mike went above and beyond. Not only has this guy an outstanding knowledge he also was great with our son. He made sure we get to do and see everything that was on our list and even at the end of the day it was not to much for him to show us how to make a Lei. You rock man we are glad to get to know you. We met with a handshake and said goodbye with a hug. ALOHA
pvcammon
September 2017
North Shore
We met Michael on a stand on the streets and explained it was our last day in Honololu and what we wanted to see and how many hours we had. Michael was great and took us to see everything we wanted to and more. He was extremely friendly and very informative. We had a great day and would recommend anyone who goes to honololu to contact Michael
tasha2083
September 2017
Fun-filled Day on Oahu
We highly recommend Hali’a Tours. We wanted to see all of O’ahu and thought our choices were a pre-packaged tour (limited stops/fixed times/no flexibility) or renting a car (time spent in traffic on unfamiliar routes focused on driving). Michael gave us a private tour of our own choosing. We saw what we wanted, took our time, and changed our itinerary on the fly. Michael planned a general route that avoided traffic at its worst and showed the island at its best. He suggested side trips that were just as enjoyable as our major stops. Michael was a knowledgeable and friendly host, eager to share his experiences and ready to answer our questions. It was a real pleasure to spend the day in his company.
rwelper
September 2017
Fifth Trip – Best Time Ever!!!
Fantastic day with our tour guide Michael, it was like spending the day with a family friend- this was our 5th trip to Hawaii and our first tour with Michael, highly recommend- his knowledge of the island was amazing, our day was jam packed with lots of fun. Day started early with a tour of Pearl Harbour, then traveled around the island stopping at great places on our way to Waimea falls where we had great fun swimming under the falls. We then went snorkelling with turtles did paddle boarding and great shopping at the outlets and returned to our hotel exhausted after an extremely fulfilling day Michaels knowledge and attention to details was second to none!!!!
BarbMc64
September 2017
Best Times in Hawaii
It was the greatest time ever, tour guide was amazing. very helpful, knowledgeable and respectful. amazing price.
carlosvN3925JK
September 2017
Day Tour of Honolulu
Started the day early with a trip out to Pearl Harbour where we spent some time and got to go over to the memorial site. We went to beaches and saw turtles swimming right up close. Michael was very knowledgeable about Hawaii and pointed out things on our travels of interest and the history. He also took us to Kualoa where Jurassic park was filmed and as Michael pointed out the scene from 50 first dates with Drew Barrymore. He also took us and taught us to paddle board, I even managed to stand up and not fall in. Thank You Michael, I would definitely recommend Michael and his company. He was extremely accommodating and very pleasant. Thanks Michael
Robyn N
September 2017
Best Way to Spend a Full Day
What a way to spend our last in Hawaii. We had the best day with Michael and have taken away some amazing memories. We started at Pear Harbour, then went to the Pineapple Farm, then swam with the Sea Turtles, had a great seafood lunch and then went to a beautiful waterfall. Michael’s knowledge of Hawaii was amazing and he was so accommodating to all of our needs, questions and requests. a truly great bloke and I would recommend to anyone out there that is considering a day tour of the Oahu that they spend it with Michael. Thanks for the memories mate!
robbM1865OI
July 2017
Fun Filled Day
We bumped into Michael by chance out the front of our hotel (outrigger Waikiki), and started chatting about a tour, we really had no idea what we wanted to do, except USS Arizona and Mighty Mo memorials. We booked Halia tours and Michael picked us up right out front at 6am. He took us to a hideaway coffee and donut place for our morning fix before proceeding to the Memorials. Michael also seemed well connected and was able to swing tickets from another tour operator, so we skipped the lineup. Once finished there, we headed up the north shore for some lunch at Ted’s burgers (which were awesome), before going SUPing (standup paddleboarding). This was awesome, of our group only 1 had done it before, so with 4x beginners we took to the water under Michael’s watchful eyes. An added bonus, was that a turtle followed us for about 30mins. We then headed over to famous Waimea bay for a swim(again awesome) and again Michael seemed connected-the lifeguards coming down to give him a high five as he walked over to see to us. We then began heading back, but not before a few photo opportunity stops for our avid photographer among us – got some truely stunning snapshots. We had a great day out, and Michael was just awesome, highly knowledgeable and easygoing, a real character. Well worth it
Martin Q
July 2017
Amazing Tour and Tour Guide
Had the most amazing day trip ever with Mike & wish I could rate him and the company higher than a 5. Not only was Mike the best guide I’ve ever had, and I am a travel agent, (very funny guy and also very informative & knowledgeable) he was also a FANTASTIC people person and had a perfect way of keeping our group of 8 entertained. The youngest in our group was 11, we had 4 x 20 year olds & also an 83 year old granpa along too, and Mike kept us all happy. We took the full day option and happily would have done another full day too if it was not for us being at the end of our trip. We did the North Shore tour which was fully customized, and only organised it directly with Mike a few days beforehand. We were picked up from our hotel in an almost brand new air con’d van and went straight for Pearl Harbour, then on to Dole Plantation, heading toward the North Shore we then went for a lunch at an amazing local spot. After our lunch, we started snorkeling with the most beautiful turtles and my grandfather decided to stay back in the car as he was feeling a bit wheezy. (Granpa is asthmatic so not a concern to us family happens alll the time). Mike however said straight away he would spend his time between lifeguarding over us (yes – qualified life guard) and sitting with Papa in the van. We told him nope dont worry, come swim with us, but he insisted. Very lucky he did as my granfather was actually suffering an anaphylactic shock & Mike got to him JUST in time. We cannot thank Mike enough for his first aid training and quick acting getting the ambulance and fire brigade to Papa just in the nick of time. Poor Mike got us to sign off early in the trip re any allergies and this was not one that was known to us, so not like it could have been prevented from his side either. Mike the took the 7 of us to the hospital and waited with us for the whole rest of the day until Granpa was able to be released. He then took us all the way home, would not accept ANY MONEY from us & even offered to take us back out for the rest of the trip which we missed. Cannot believe what an amazing guy Mike was & can’t recommend him highly enough!! We truly thought he was bloody cool at the beginning of the day, you can just imagine how awesome we thought he was after he saved my granpas life. Thanks again Mike – we owe you big time & wishing you all success in life. Let us know if you’re ever in NZ. SHAKA!! – Laura, Wayne, Ingrid, Zavier, Bella, Jacob, Kirsty & of course Granpa Tony 🙂
lauramayburns
June 2017
The Best 6 Hours of Oahu
We hired Michael for a six hour tour, the one regret we have is we should of taken the full day option. We found Michael to be everything and more we wanted in a guide/ tour leader. He is knowledgeable, funny, obliging, flexible and accommodating. We will without doubt recommend Michael to any friends and family who may visit Hawaii in the future.
ianhargreeves
June 2017
Amazing Custom Tour
Michael hosted our family of 7 (ages 11-74!) for a full day custom tour. We visited Pearl Harbor, the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, did a driving tour of Honolulu, hiked Diamond Head Crater, and drove up into the mountains for the most amazing view. Yes, all in ONE day!! Michael is an incredible guide, so knowledgeable about the area, history, culture…we learned so much and had fun, too! Our tour was perfectly organized to make the best use of our time and Michael went out of his way to make sure each person was having a great time. Mahalo, Michael! We highly recommend Hali’a Tours!!
Briosochick
June 2017
Great Tour
Mike , the tour guide picked us up promptly at 6:25 and that in itself set the day off to being great being the norm here is being late. Took us too diamond head for an early hike. Absolutely magnificent. Then from there he took us to varies spots around the island. Took to an awesome Shri p truck place and finished the day at Dole plantation. Let me tell u if u want a professional tour. Someone who is punctual ( again that’s a big deal on Oahu). And Mike was very knowledgeable about the island, the spots he took us and Hawaiian history. He even taught me some stuff I never knew. This is the go to guy…..There are a lot of guys selling tours in Waikiki. Some lie to get u to join up but Mike is 100 percent legit.
Mike J
June 2017
Best Tour Ever
I highly recommend taking a tour with Michael – Hali’a Tours. Honolulu was the last stop on a 3 week tour in the USA and this was the best tour we did. A personal tour for 6 people. We loved the the day and saw a good bit of Oahu and had the best swim at a beautiful sandy beach that had hardly any one there (but did have life guards) where Waikiki had thousands of people on the beach and in the water. Michael was so full of knowlegde and love for the Island.
LouiseG2098
June 2017
Fantastic Day Out
We booked Hali`a Tours at the last minute and Michael did an outstanding job of organising a fabulous whole island day tour for us. He is courteous, very knowledgable and passionate about Hawaii – and extremely helpful. He found a great “out of the way” spot for our brekky, got us to Giovanni’s for lunch, organised our drinks, took along snorkels for our use and showed us a few lesser known Oahu gems along the way. Michael even hunted down some hardware stores for us to checkout on the way home!! He went the extra mile to seamlessly stitch our day together and meet our very specific needs. He worked out the timings for everything and even took us to and from the dinner cruise that night! We couldn’t have asked for a better day out, or a better guide for the day. Michael you are valuable asset to the Hawaiian Tourist Industry and we 6 Aussies wish you all the best in your new venture. With service and attitude like this we know you will succeed! Thanks again. Cheers Julia
Julia R
June 2017
A tour crafted to our needs
The perfect tour was crafted to our time, “want to see” list & budget. Michael has an outstanding knowledge of and love for Hawaii and its history and he genuinely wants to share that with his guests on his tours. His enthusiasm is very infectious! Honolulu was a one day stopover on our way home to Australia after almost six weeks on the road and we thought we would wind down and have a little look around… instead we were treated to a real highlight of our trip thanks to the professional and personal touches Michael provided. We can’t thank him enough or recommend him highly enough
Ryanies
May 2017
Perfect Tour of this beautiful island
Truly enjoyed our private tour of Oahu by Michael. We had so many things that we wanted to see and a minimal amount of time to see them. Michael offered us the perfect solution. Private Tour designed by us and Michael mapped it out and even showed us things we didn’t know were there. He has an amazing knowledge of the islands popular and not so well known places. We stopped when we wanted to and passed on others that we didn’t want. Can’t get that kind of personal service on a cookie cutter tour with 30 other people. Also, stopped for lunch when we were ready. I highly recommend his private touch if you are short on time, but want to explore. Great for seniors, small children or handicapped because he changes the pace to personalize your needs. Thanks Michael for a great day!!!
shareshoe
May 2017
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Oahu Private Tours
All tours are private, custom, and the best way to explore Oahu. Pick from Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, circle the island, or Your Transfer and Multi Day Tours. Choose from Half, Full, or Long Day options.
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There are so many excellent custom family activities for you to enjoy. Plan your tour around food, shopping, or the best beaches. Pick from a variety of great options to customize Your Private Tours of Oahu, Hawaii.
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- Fun Half Day Tour Oahu Ideas
by Halia Tours and Transportation | Private Tours Oahu HawaiiThere is so much to see on a half day tour of Oahu! These are some of our favorite island activities for your family vacation to Hawaii. - Hawaii Bucket List Tours and Activities
by Halia Tours and Transportation | Private Tours Oahu HawaiiTips on how to check as many bucket list tours and activities in Hawaii as possible. Weʻll cover from Na Pali to Pearl Harbor and Haleakala to Kilauea. Make sure to read these this post before you travel to the islands. - Free Waikiki Activities
by Halia Tours and Transportation | Private Tours Oahu HawaiiWaikiki has many free activities, hula shows, and stretches of beach. Make sure to read this post before visiting Oahu for vacation ideas. Learn about our favorite things to do, that wonʻt cost you any money. If youʻre bored in Waikiki, youʻre doing something wrong.
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