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OUR GUIDES | RAVE REVIEWS
The hike was well planned and organized, leading us to three waterfalls in the beautiful rain forest. The tour would have been another "good" tour we have taken in our many travels throughout the United States and other countries around the world. However, it was the "best" tour we have ever taken because of our guide, Akiko. She had so much knowlege of plant life, history, the area and its people, that we could have spent an entire day with her and still longed for more. Her genuine love of the job reflected her love of Maui as well. It is the only trip I have ever been on where every single guest hugged our tour guide a thankful goodbye!
David & Carol Miller, Lebanon, PA
We enjoyed our experience immensely. Akiko was so informative and enthusiastic. We loved her knowledge of the trees and plants around us and her willingness to share and let us taste! It was an invigorating and exciting trip.
Lynne & Jim Brady
Akiko was wonderful. She has a passion for plants and taught us so much. She made sure the teenagers were at the front of the line and engaged in the hike. She took time with them to get them interested, which is sometimes hard to do with teenagers, but she managed to get them hooked.
Kcellst on TripAdvisor.com
It had been raining for two days on Maui. We were looking forward to swimming the waterfalls, but were told it was too dangerous. Despite that, and due to our wonderfully engaging and informative guide, Akiko, we had an absolutely wonderful time. The hike was beautiful.
Charlene Macneill, West Yarmouth MA
I loved Akiko. She was very informative and made me feel safe. She is also very nice and I liked her immediately.
Michelle Conroy
Special thanks to our most knowledgeable guide, "Ula Ula" aka Chris, who not only had us swimming in beautiful waterfalls and traveling through lush foliage, he provided a most thorough ongoing commentary on the bountiful and varied resources available all around us. The most meaningful part though, was Chris’ ability to connect all that natural beauty and abundance to the history and spirituality of the Hawaiian people. His explanations of some of the island beliefs and customs is what truly provided a greater depth to our simple nature hike.
12getaway on TripAdvisor.com
San Diego
Ula Ula/aka 'Red', aka Chris. He was fantastic! What can I say? I know he felt a little self-conscious sometimes when he told us about the plants but we loved it. We had an older couple with us that none of us were sure would make the hike - and he was really patient with them. Ula Ula kept the conversations going, his native plant guide and eats were what made the hike. My older daughter was taking pictures of insects and he got right into it with her. Ula Ula made us feel like he valued our business.
catgetsdown on TripAdvisor.com
Moraga, CA
Our guide, "Ula-Ula" (apparently it means "red" in Hawaiian, you'll understand if you meet him) was outgoing, entertaining, and extremely knowledgeable. There were 2 other young /adventuresome couples on the tour, and a middle aged couple who were perhaps not as used to exertion in the great outdoors. Somehow, Ula-Ula made it work for everyone. He filled the hike through the rain forest with a nice balance of entertainment and information about the Hawaiian rain forest.
bfnbon on TripAdvisor.com
Maryland
Thank you for an awesome day yesterday. The hiking and waterfalls were incredible, and we really enjoyed your discussion of Hawaiian culture and especially Hawaiian spirituality. With your guidance and encouragement, Pat grew tremendously yesterday.
Thomas Halliwell, Los Angeles, CA
We had a group tour with Helga and all I can say is that we had a fantastic time. We still talk about it 5 months later. She knows everything there is to know about the rain forest and Hawaii. I don't think we stumped her with any questions we had. The only thing we regret is not having more time to spend with Helga. She is a fabulous person and tour guide.
alyssacaggiano on TripAdvisor.com
New Hampshire
Please use my email as a testimonial -- maybe it will inspire everyone else to put their hearts into what they do just like Helga did with her professionalism and great attitude. She is a biologist and quite an expert on the plant life. We want to congratulate you and the whole team for your excellent product.
Alfredo Phillips, Mexico
I never planned to travel to Maui. I came to be with my sisters, but they had no interest in going on any tours. I was on my own in a totally unfamiliar climate and geographical location. I knew I didn't want to sit on a bus all day, but I wanted to visit Maui on a less superficial tour. At 7:30 on Saturday I met Helga. I knew immediately that my money had been well invested. I'm afraid words cannot describe the love and awe Helga has for the earth. Her knowledge of the flora and fauna is remarkable, and she was able to relate beautifully with every person on our tour. Her depth of knowledge as a naturalist, environmentalist, and scientist is humbling to novices such as me. Your company has a treasure in its midst! I will never forget Maui!
Myrna Kay Young, Madison, WI
I wanted to comment on the FANTASTIC time my son (19) and I had on our waterfalls hike. Helga made the trip very intriguing and fun, based on her expansive naturalist/botany knowledge and island history, witty humor and great attitude.
Natalie Davis, Stockton CA
As always Helga was terrific and she was a wealth on Hawaiian history
and culture. My son who was there for his 16th birthday had a great
time and it was a wonderful learning experience for him.
Cheryl Kelly, Long Island, NY
Let me just say that it was one of the most incredible days of my life, not just my vacation. Our guide Kahi was very friendly, informative and very knowledgeable about the culture and surroundings. When he encouraged us to wade in the water, swing under the waterfall and jump from some of the rock ledges, it was an opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime. When the excursion ended and we all had to say goodbye, it felt like we were saying goodbye to a long time friend.
Termelsells on TripAdvisor.com | Rochester
We chose Hike Maui specifically for the opportunity to hike with Kahi. My husband is Hawaiian but was born and raised in Wisconsin - our November 2005 trip was his first trip to Maui. It was very important to find a Hawaiian guide to show us the "true" Maui. Kahi was amazing - he greeted my husband like a long lost cousin! I instantly saw similarities between my husband John's personality and Kahi's - both full of fun and adventure and great at making people laugh and have fun. We remain constantly grateful for Kahi sharing his Aloha spirit with us.
Deb and John Kaioula, Madison, WI
Kahi was our guide and his knowledge of the plant life gave us an education--much more than we had anticipated. My husband Jon has a horticulture degree and he was intrigued by the information. Kahi made jumping off a waterfall look like so much fun that I did it myself! It was scary, but so much fun!! We booked several tours and excursions on Maui, but this one was tops for us.
Stefanie & Jon Martin, Jefferson City, MO
This was truly the highlight of our trip. My husband Nick was so happy afterwards. It was the Hawai’i he had been waiting his entire life to see! Kahi was so knowledgeable, pleasant and fun. He made what could have been a scary day for this hardcore urbanite into the most amazing exhilarating experience. We have not been able to stop talking about the hike.
Susan & Nick Guarracino, NY
I can't even begin to express my appreciation to our guide -- Kahi -- for his expertise, knowledge, generosity, and all he did to make this trip so wonderful for my daughter & I. The whole experience is something I still can't stop thinking about.
Victoria Haling Dunlap, Rocklin CA
The day was a full 10 out of 10! Kristin knew so much about the island, the natural environment, and the Hawaiian culture, it was like spending the day exploring with a college professor outside in the "classroom."
TrAvElr80 on TripAdvisor.com
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
This was a top highlight of our Hawaii vacation. Our guide Kristin encouraged us to experience Maui with all our senses: hiking through magnificent forest, swimming in waterfall pools, climbing into secluded spots, touching fruits and flowers. Her extensive knowledge of the land includes much about Maui history.
constellar63 on TripAdvisor.com
Wisconsin
We just wanted Kristin to know how much fun we had on the hike, and how A-M-A-Z-I-N-G we thought she was. OMG! Both of us were blown away by the amount of knowledge she imparted to us on our half day hike. I don't think I've ever met a guide as informed as she. She knew obscure dates, historical facts, scientific facts, nature facts, facts about the property, etc... and was able to tie all that information together to answer our group's varied questions. But that isn't all!! She was extremely down-to-earth, super friendly, and didn't mind sharing about her life on Maui when the group asked questions. We were super impressed with her enthusiasm and her Tarzan-of-the-jungle skills--showing us how to properly (and safely) jump into these pools, climb and hike through crazily rooted terrain, and swing with abandon on the rope swings. We absolutely loved her.
jcsmiles on TripAdvisor.com
SF Bay Area
Kristin’s knowledge was very impressive and made the drive to and from the hike very educational and informative. Moreover, her passion was evident and made the experience all that much more enjoyable. In my opinion, passion is not taught, and it's clear to me that you have an extremely gifted hiking guide who is passionate about Maui and her job.
Patrick Mahoney, Minneapolis, MN
Kristin was fabulous. She gave us LOTS of information about Maui. She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and open. She was also patient and understanding. My 16-year old thought the hike was the best part of the trip! Thank you, Kristin.
The Hartley Family, Northern CA
We can't say enough about the passion of our guide Marko who was more than happy to answer questions or share information ranging from Hawaiian history to plants and animals. He is a real gem and left us with a lasting appreciation of the land and the people.
mvplevine on TripAdvisor.com
Toronto
I just wanted to tell you that it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I have never seen a tour guide jump in and have fun with their group as Marko did. He is by far the friendliest tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of touring with.
Brian and Becki Ingraham
Awesome!! That is the best way to describe it. Definitely worth every penny and then some. Marko is a walking encyclopedia so there was never a dull moment. We were totally in awe of everything we experienced. The waterfall jump was my husband’s favorite part of the entire vacation.
Teena Workman, Salisbury, MD
Thanks to Marko Polo for such an exciting time on our half-day hike. I will always remember my wife and my five-year wedding anniversary, but the ten-foot jumps into the waterfall made that day even more memorable.
Gilbert and Lynn Garcia, Alhambra CA
Talk about someone who loves his job! He took my son under his wing and made him feel special. On top of that, Randy took good care of each person on the trip, helping along a woman who recently had a knee replacement. He inspired us all to keep going and shared his passion for the beauty around. He was knowledgeable (we learned so much), enthusiastic (his passion was contagious), and just plain fun!
MomPrincipal on TripAdvisor.com
Indianapolis, IN
I had no expectations as this hike was previously set up by my husband's company. As it turns out, I was in for the adventure of a lifetime! One of the reasons the hike was so great was because our guide Randy was very helpful, informative, and especially, interactive. I was able to challenge myself on this hike, yet I never felt unsafe. The waterfall jump at the end was the best! My friends and I couldn't stop talking about how great Randy was and how fun the entire experience was.
Lara010 on TripAdvisor.com
Benicia, CA
This amazing guy named Randy led us deep in the forest showing us bamboo forest, amazing colorful flowers, strange fruits, waterfalls and a lot of wonderful things whose beauty is hard to describe with words. Some places in the forest pushed us for a moment on the island of the serial Lost! The competence and human warmth of Randy and the respect for nature he taught us made this experience truly unforgettable.
sciamu on TripAdvisor.com
Rome, IT
Three words best describe the difference of using this tour company....easy, entertaining, and educational. For easy, let’s just say Randy was prepared for everything. For entertaining, let’s just say Randy is a very fun character. His personality grows on you instantly. For education, let's just say....skip the luau and listen to Randy. I swear this guy is a walking and talking encyclopedia of Hawaiian culture and history. As we went to other tourist areas and read the plaques of historical facts..... "we learned that from Randy!"
RichardForster on TripAdvisor.com
Glendale, CA
Randy took special care that everyone in our group, from my 2-year-old niece to my 70-year-old mother, had a wonderful time. Randy brings so much passion to his work! I couldn't tell, actually, whether he believed it was work.
- Erin Craig
I had the extreme fortune of hiking with Randy. WOW. When I looked over his other reviews, I felt like I had written every one of them. I've been to Maui 5 or 6 times, visiting Hawaii for the last 20+ years. Thanks to Randy, I can't wait to get to get back to those trails, the waterfalls and pools, the banyan tree & it's roots. I have a completely new love and perspective of Maui and Hawaii due to that day spent with Randy. It was more than a hike, but an immeasurable gift. Also, on our hike was a 75 year-old woman, Connie, who when teamed with Randy, hiked the walls of waterfalls, and scurried down the banyan tree roots. We were all moved by the courage and confidence he instilled in Connie. What a gift of a young man to a woman of her years. I am clearly still moved. You have an extremely special man there.
Jennifer Sinclair, Greenbrae, CA
Our first trip to Hawaii and what better way to see it than through the eyes of an expert. Ray was so knowledgeable on the plants and trees as well as the cultures and lore of Hawaii. We ate guava right from the trees. He explained the meanings of each word and their spiritual beginnings. You could tell his love for the land. There were 4 other people in our group and by the end of our trip, we felt as if we were old friends.
PeggysueNewJersey on TripAdvisor.com
New Jersey
We were blessed to have Ray as our guide. In all my journeys of life, I don't think I've been inspired by such an amazing individual like Ray. He's incredibly passionate about his job, family, and his native Hawaiian background. He also made us laugh the entire time with his great jokes and humor. But most importantly, he taught me how bring ALOHA to my everyday life.
jroski on TripAdvisor.com
Chicago, Illinois
Our tour guide, Ray, was more than we could ask for in a guide. He had a great personality, was patient, and extremely informative. He was able to answer all of our "first time in Maui " questions.
christyr72 on TripAdvisor.com
Denver, CO
We had an amazing day ... it was the highlight of our vacation. Ray was our guide and I cannot express how impressed we were by the vast amount of knowledge he had of just about everything! I can't imagine having a better experience than we did with Ray. We have much more respect for the land and culture now, and we're very grateful for that. PLEASE don't let Ray go anywhere!! He's fabulous.
Denise D'Ambrosio & Erik Opsahl
I just HAD to write and commend Ray for being the absolute BEST tour guide I have ever had. His absolute love for what he is doing and passion about educating us so that he can indeed "save the world one van load at a time" definitely shines through. A++++
Tessa Chan-A-Shing
Of all the excursions we did while we were there, Ray gave us the best experience....BY FAR!!!!!! His obvious love for his job, the culture, and his experience made it a perfect day.
Chris & Shannon Suarez, Kalamazoo, MI
Renee made our vacation. She was the embodiment of Aloha, with her stories and her charm, always happy to take photos of the hikers. Renee was very easy to hike with, really the perfect guide, showing us easy handholds for climbing, strawberry guavas to sample, a nest in a tree which we would have missed, and all the special memories of the day, which were enhanced by her graciousness.
Sherry & Corey Harris
Moorpark, CA
I went on a hike with Renee and I loved it. Renee was really friendly and knowledgeable and fun! We enjoyed the small group atmosphere and the knowledge of the tour guide.
Danhira Barajas, Bakersfield CA
What a great job our hiking guide, Renee, did. She was very patient and informative on the native plant life, culture, etc. She set the hike at the correct pace, stopping when necessary and always keeping safety in mind. Most of all she was able to use her diving mask to retrieve my digital camera that I dropped into the water below the waterfall. I would never have been able to find it and she saved our 200 plus pictures.
Bob and Janice O'Brien
I understand now that Renee is a swimming coach and champion. I should have guessed --some dumb guy jumped in a pool and couldn’t swim. Down he sank before anyone realized what was happening. Except Renee. She hit the water so fast, and she saved his life, and he wasn’t even one of her hikers. He just happened to be at the waterfall too. Wow. Impressive.
Renate Angers, Bellevue, NE
Roger never missed a beat and although it was storming, a bit chilly, and streams had almost turned into raging rivers we had a wonderful time experiencing and learning more about native Maui. I believe our only regret may be not being able to spend another day in a different, or even the same, location. This is a testament to the care and enthusiasm that Roger has for the island, nature and culture.
Bentley01 on TripAdvisor.com
My husband and I were the oldest ones in the group and we had to rest some on the hike, but we just acted like we were interested in looking at something and stopped, but I think Roger knew and he would stop and show the group something interesting on the trail at that time. Thanks Roger! We have bragged you up so if anyone from AZ comes your way, they will be sure to book with you.
Diana Foster, Chandler, Arizona
Roger was extremely knowledgeable and informative, as well as being extremely easy to be around and talk to; as far as I am concerned he is the one who made this trip. Everything turned out perfect.
David & Mary Cole, Houston TX
I have to say the waterfall/rain forest hike was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. Roger was extremely knowledgeable and a genuine pleasure to hike with.
Scott Pellegrino, Port Washington, NY
I take a number of tours each year as I travel. Stephanie's passion, personality, likability ( I could go on) made this one of the best hiking tours I have ever taken. She was both fun and informative. She was an encourager. She became part of our group. What a great day. She was awesome.
Kirk Leff
Our guide Stephanie made a beautiful hike a spectacular experience. She was remarkably knowledgeable about all aspects of our surroundings and Hawaii in general. Her pleasant demeanor, patience and encouragement made each of us feel that the trip was designed for our own enjoyment.
Tim & Ann Little, Ann Arbor MI
Wanted to send a bouquet Stephanie's way. I hiked with my wife, our 15-year-old daughter, and our 13-year-old twin sons. Stephanie was a terrific guide, made us all feel welcome on your wonderful island, impressed everyone with her knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and engaged us all with her manner and care. It turns out she's a twin herself, which endeared her to my sons (not the easiest of tasks), and my daughter thought it was great having a girl guide, especially one who climbed to all of the high places to go cliff jumping. Helen (my daughter) was inspired to climb to the 20-foot level at the first pool, and as neither son went from that height, she came away with bragging rights. Stephanie took extra time with us, and particularly impressed my wife, who is herself well-versed in a pretty broad range of plant life. Stephanie was fun, smart, nice, capable, environmentally sensitive, included everyone (including the Swedish couple who comprised our other two hikers), had tons of pertinent information right at hand, answered every question.
Chris Mead, San Francisco, CA
We had a wonderful experience with Stephanie. She was so friendly and informative. She took time to talk with everyone in our mixed group of couples and a mother/son pair. It was also good that she seemed to tailor our hike to our ability levels - seemed that we could handle a little more strenuous trek. The experience made our first trip to Hawaii so memorable.
WOWseeker on TripAdvisor.com
Wisconsin, USA
The hike turned out to be the highlight of our holiday on Maui. Stephanie was a brilliant guide and her knowledge of Maui and its flora and fauna was exceptional.
Ken & Jan Wilkins
Our guide, Stephanie, is phenomenal. I watched her interact with everyone in the group (which was pretty diverse!) and she met everyone on their level and made all of us feel very special and comfortable. She is very gifted.
Linda & Mike Oland
Tony was great. We had a lot of fun with him. We learned a lot --he knows everything. No other tour or guide was as good. Tony was the best. None of the others could even compare. At the end of the other tours --we would all say: It was good , but it wasn't Tony!!!
Mary Ellen Stezar
Tony was so knowledgeable and answered every question we asked. I didn't have quite the agility that the rest of the group had, and Tony's hand was always there to help me, including giving me the opportunity to feel the waterfall pouring down on me.
Junnnybug on TripAdvisor.com
Monroe, CT
Our guide, Tony, was a combination, botanist, historian, environmentalist and personal assistant. We had a ball because of Tony. He did not rush us through our tour. He took family photos and even joined us splashing around in a secluded waterfall pool shared only by our small group.
USC_Trojan_Fan_90275 on TripAdvisor.com
Los Angeles, California
We have been all over the world in our excursions and I have to tell that the East Maui waterfall hike was the best!!!! Our guide Tony was very knowledgeable and loved having our kids ask lots of questions. We have been to Maui 7 times and we will be seeing you again. I also wanted to thank you for spending the extra time with us, so as not to make us feel rushed.
Ryan Turner, Spokane WA
Tony was the best! He had such a vast knowledge of the history, botany, geology, and local customs of the Island. In addition, his friendly and outgoing personality made the hike that much more enjoyable. He was able to customize it for our interests, and make the experience extremely "hands-on:" allowing us to use our sight, hearing, touch, and even taste. We got to swim in the waterfall pools, see great views, and learn many interesting facts about the island. We will never forget the tour or Tony.
Andrew Norato
We spent half a day with Wayne, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. His knowledge and experience was evident from the outset and we felt like we were in safe hands. If all your guides are as good then you truly have a great team.
Killcare1 on TripAdvisor.com
Adelaide, South Australia
Wayne showed my family a side of Hawai’i that many never see or experience. His knowledge of history and plant life is incredible, his love for the planet, life and its people are unmatched. We have all voted, of what we did in Maui, the hike with Wayne was by far our #1 experience! My daughter Liz even cut and pasted his photo from the internet and put it in her scrapbook along with her photos of the hike.
Scott McKenzie, Fort Collins CO
Wayne was the perfect host and was just so knowledgeable about everything in Maui - wildlife, fauna, climate and even great restaurants! Our group swam at fantastic waterfalls without the crowds. Wayne enabled my husband to jump safely from high rocks while I was safe in the knowledge that he was completely looked after by a complete pro! Our only regret is that we didn't book the full-day hike instead!
Tamara Lightfoot, England
WOW what a wonderful day it was. Wayne allowed us to enter what he called "Wayne's World" and what a wonderful world it was. Wayne was so fun and knowledgeable about Maui. And, he provided us with tips on where to eat and what to do.
Debra Ivey James
Just wanted to give you a quick note about how great of a time we had with Wayne. This is the best thing we did during our whole stay in Maui. We saw a part of Maui we would have never seen. Thanks Wayne for showing us "Waynes World."
Tim & Christi from Texas!!!!
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