Global_Scientist
Aug 2022
Firstly, we started 40 mins late. Organizers were waiting for a group of 5 that ended up on the wrong bus. My sister-in-law who is an expert in Hospitality and Marketing politely engaged with the bus driver who then accused her of being rude. I think if you are 40 mins late, you should be accommodating the customers who took their time and effort to show up on time. These folks were late.
The stops in the beginning were sub-par. It was more entertaining taking the hop on hop off blue trolley line. Tour guide was nice, but inexperienced. He tried. Bus itself needs a bit of maintenance. Shocks were worn out where you can feel every bump. Compared to the trolley, it was extremely bumpy. Also, air conditioner gave out 3 hrs into the tour which made the bus uncomfortable. They should have called a replacement bus, since it was getting 85 degrees inside. I would not recommend this tour for any group or even local wild animals.
Now that we were late, we were stuck in 20 mins of traffic with bus temperature now getting hotter. Tour guide was now having a bit of trouble, with the delayed start and hot bus and now with traffic, entire bus was in a bad mood. The tour guide was struggling to keep the conversation. He should have offered people water and such.
I’m getting a little sleepy now out of heat exhaustion. We are now stopping at Hualoa Beach Park. My niece who just had ovarian surgery was nauseous from the heat, plus the bumpiness of the bus was giving her pain. Thus, she and my sister had to leave the tour and meet her husband three hours out, since there were no Ubers out here - without even hitting any of the highlight stops.
Food (not free) was so so. There were better food stops. Seems we stop at “paid and prearranged” places.
Tour guide seemed now a bit disengaged, given he knows he and the bus driver won’t be getting much gratuity. I really wish I can say more positive things. Perhaps, the owners and operators should do the tour themselves.
The snorkeling stop was okay. A bit crowded and the water was a bit murky. It was an okay stop, though not enough of these stops to give it a better rating.
Overall, it was not a greatly executed experience by the tour operators. Seems like most places in Hawaii, tourism and customer service aren’t as ingrained as you would think because of Covid. Perhaps, when tourism increases, things will be better. For now, not a good experience nor worth the money at all.