Kelvin was tour guide/driver. I feel he needs to manage time better so that ALL guests have the experience expected from the tour description.
From the pier we started at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Very quick walk along raised path around the lava rock and some info given, then whisked back to the bus to drive to the area with the turtles. There was bit of a walk on un-even ground to get to the beach. This tour should not be considered for guests that have difficulty walking long distances or on uneven ground. There was one turtle laying on the beach, and a few in the water close to shore. We ended up waiting a bit in the bus as a guest that should not have tried to walk the path did, and she stopped with issues, taking time from tour. We then went to one of two coffee farms. Could have skipped this one as it was only a bathroom break and gift shop opportunity, no tour of actual coffee field or facility. We then were brought to Keokis for lunch, who had evidently been given heads up that a group of 24 were to be there. That lunch wasted a huge amount of time, as only one server was taking orders, and guests did not get food quickly. After lunch we went to the Painted Church, which was to be a very quick stop, and turned into 30 minutes. Then we went to Greenwell Farms coffee grower. We should have started here as Dave gave us a full tour of the farm and walked us around the facility explaining how coffee is grown and processed. Very interesting, but by this time in the afternoon everyone was very hot and tired, and there was a bit of incline walking which some of the guests couldn't really handle. This stop should have been first thing in the morning. By the time everyone was back in the bus and we headed out, it was very apparent that we were all worried about making it back to the ship on time. There would be no choice of 3 "optional tour endings". Just one - the ship. I was very disappointed as we were counting on a visit to Kona Brewery.
My suggestion to this tour company is to PLEASE give authority to your tour guides to make decisions to cancel stops on tour, and manage people and time better. Start with the Greenwell Coffee Farm Tour first, then the National Park and Sea Turtles, then lunch and the Optional Endings. Skip the first coffee farm sales opportunity, and the painted church (not all guests want to visit religious settings). And add to the description an activity level, so people can know if they should or should not book depending on their health. These tours are most likely the one time guests will be in the area in their lifetime; a badly managed tour is a memory I wish I hadn't taken home.
Response from Host
Oct 2022
Thank you Nicole for your feedback. We do advertise that there is walking on uneven ground. Sorry to hear about the lunch stop, that has never happened before. There is a reason why the tour is laid out the way it is. I know this tour departed late as well due to the ship's schedule which is frustrating but out of our control. Apologies that this was a bad memory to bring home