USA TODAY 10Best
Explore the wonders of Hawaii with the 10 best tour companies
Best Tour Company in Hawaii (2024)
The sugary white sand beaches and colorful tropical flora certainly offer a serene feeling of paradise, but there's much more to Hawaii than lounging on the beach.
From boat tours and flights in helicopters to volcano treks and rafting, there are tours in Hawaii to suit anyone's interests. We asked an expert panel to nominate their top picks for the best tour companies in the Aloha State, then readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best tour companies in Hawaii.
- Hawaii Forest & Trail - Big Island, Hawaii
- The Umauma Experience - Hakalau, Hawaii
- PacWhale Eco-Adventures by Pacific Whale Foundation - Maui, Hawaii
- Ocean Sports - Big Island, Hawaii
- Alii Nui - Maui, Hawaii
- Holo Holo Charters - Kauai, Hawaii
- Island Helicopters - Kauai, Hawaii
- Blue Dolphin Charters - Kauai, Hawaii
- Atlantis Submarines - Big Island, Maui, and Oahu, Hawaii
- Redline Rafting - Maui, Hawaii
No. 10:
Hawaii Forest & Trail offers small guided tours of the Big Island, each focusing on a topic like volcanoes, waterfalls, or bird-watching. Tourgoers might get up close to lava tubes, zip line through the trees of Halawa Gulch, or swim at the base of a waterfall.
Photo courtesy of Natalia Mastrascusa
No. 9:
On Hawaii's Big Island, the Umauma Experience is the ideal destination for all things adventure! This company provides an abundance of high-adrenaline tropical experiences, including zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, ATV tours, kayaking, e-bikes and much more.
Photo courtesy of PacWhale Eco-Adventures
No. 8:
Owned by the Pacific Whale Foundation, PacWhale Eco-Adventures is devoted to ocean research and sustainability. Passengers learn all about the environment, the ocean, and the latest scientific research while enjoying spectacular eco-tours such as sailing, snorkeling, and sealife spotting in various locations across Hawaii.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Sports
No. 7:
Ocean Sports offers boat cruises from Hawaii’s Kona-Kohala Coast, with options for snorkeling, whale watching, sunset, or glass-bottom boat cruising. The company also outfits beachgoers at Anaeho’omalu Bay with kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear.
No. 6:
Visitors to Maui who want to spend some time out on the water can do so with Alii Nui, a company known for their snorkeling excursions, whale watching tours, and romantic sunset sails.
Photo courtesy of Holo Holo Charters
No. 5:
With Holo Holo Charters, visitors to Kauai can cruise to the "forbidden island" of Niihau or sail along the spectacular Na Pali Coast to see its waterfalls, lush valleys, and hidden sea caves from a new perspective.
Photo courtesy of Island Helicopters Kauai
No. 4:
The Hawaiian Islands are renowned for their spectacular natural beauty, and Island Helicopters offers several unique tours showcasing some of Kauai's most stunning landscapes. The Grand Skies Island tour highlights iconic sites like Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali Coast, while the Jurassic Falls excursion provides guests with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Manawaiopuna Falls, the stunning backdrop used in the arrival scene of "Jurassic Park."
Photo courtesy of Blue Dolphin Charters
No. 3:
No trip to Kauai would be complete without seeing the spectacular Na Pali Coast. Blue Dolphin takes guests on snorkeling tours and raft adventures along this scenic stretch of coastline. Those who prefer to stay dry can opt for a sunset dinner cruise instead.
Photo courtesy of Atlantis Adventures
No. 2:
Dive deep into the turquoise blue waters of Hawaii with Atlantis Submarines and explore an underwater world filled with colorful coral reefs and exotic marine life. This state-of-the-art submarine takes passengers 100 feet below the ocean in this truly memorable experience, and it's available in several locations around the islands.
Photo courtesy of Redline Rafting
No. 1:
Redline Rafting’s motto is “half the crowds, twice the adventure.” That’s what you can expect, whether you’re cruising Maui’s Forbidden Coast, snorkeling in Molokini Crater, or looking for north Pacific humpback whales who make Maui their winter home.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper is a former editor of the San... Read More
Jeanne Cooper is a former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle Travel section and a longtime author and coauthor of Frommer's guidebooks to Hawaii. Her freelance writing has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and digital platforms, including Hemispheres, AAA Explorer, Sunset, CNTraveler.com, Toronto Star, and Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. She lives on Hawaii Island with three rescued pets and one triathlete husband.
Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper is a former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle Travel section and a longtime author and coauthor of Frommer's guidebooks to Hawaii. Her freelance writing has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and digital platforms, including Hemispheres, AAA Explorer, Sunset, CNTraveler.com, Toronto Star, and Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. She lives on Hawaii Island with three rescued pets and one triathlete husband.
JQ Louise
JQ Louise is a travel writer and influencer based... Read More
JQ Louise is a travel writer and influencer based in Boston. Her website, JQLouise.com, offers personal travel stories, curated itineraries, and tips for the globetrotting foodie. Follow JQ on Instagram @jqlouise not only her beautiful images, but also her insightful travel tips and tricks.
JQ Louise
JQ Louise is a travel writer and influencer based in Boston. Her website, JQLouise.com, offers personal travel stories, curated itineraries, and tips for the globetrotting foodie. Follow JQ on Instagram @jqlouise not only her beautiful images, but also her insightful travel tips and tricks.
Juliet Izon
Juliet Izon is a New York City and Hudson... Read More
Juliet Izon is a New York City and Hudson Valley-based food, travel, and design writer. She studied English Literature at Trinity College before holding staff positions at Bauer Publishing, Niche Media, and Modern Luxury. You can catch her bylines in places like Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, and Architectural Digest. You can also find her on Instagram.
Juliet Izon
Juliet Izon is a New York City and Hudson Valley-based food, travel, and design writer. She studied English Literature at Trinity College before holding staff positions at Bauer Publishing, Niche Media, and Modern Luxury. You can catch her bylines in places like Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, and Architectural Digest. You can also find her on Instagram.
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based... Read More
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based freelance journalist and travel writer. She has had the privilege to visit all six of the major islands in Hawai‘i and has written about them for such publications as Fodor's Travel, Matador Network, Hawai‘i Magazine, SF Gate, Trip Advisor, Local Getaways, and others. Her writing carries with it the kuleana (responsibility) of helping to produce more educated, conscientious visitors to this culturally and ecologically sensitive place, advocating for tourism that is sustainable and ethical. Laurie’s areas of expertise include Hawai‘i hotels, family travel, luxury travel, food & beverage, Indigenous excellence, animals, sustainability, voluntourism, and nonprofits. You can read her work on her website, or follow along with her on social @hawaiitravelwriter.
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based freelance journalist and travel writer. She has had the privilege to visit all six of the major islands in Hawai‘i and has written about them for such publications as Fodor's Travel, Matador Network, Hawai‘i Magazine, SF Gate, Trip Advisor, Local Getaways, and others. Her writing carries with it the kuleana (responsibility) of helping to produce more educated, conscientious visitors to this culturally and ecologically sensitive place, advocating for tourism that is sustainable and ethical. Laurie’s areas of expertise include Hawai‘i hotels, family travel, luxury travel, food & beverage, Indigenous excellence, animals, sustainability, voluntourism, and nonprofits. You can read her work on her website, or follow along with her on social @hawaiitravelwriter.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Natasha Bourlin
Natasha Bourlin is an award-winning freelance... Read More
Natasha Bourlin is an award-winning freelance food, travel, and environmental writer based on the island of Hawaii. As a first generation American, her fervor for travel and culture has sent her around the globe exploring myriad countries and continents, while her favorite times are spent at home in Waimea with her dog Lucy. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, SFGate.com, AFAR Media, and USAToday.com, among others. Follow her on Instagram @Natashawandersoff or visit Passportandplume.com.
Natasha Bourlin
Natasha Bourlin is an award-winning freelance food, travel, and environmental writer based on the island of Hawaii. As a first generation American, her fervor for travel and culture has sent her around the globe exploring myriad countries and continents, while her favorite times are spent at home in Waimea with her dog Lucy. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, SFGate.com, AFAR Media, and USAToday.com, among others. Follow her on Instagram @Natashawandersoff or visit Passportandplume.com.
Rachel Ng
Rachel Ng is an award-winning food and travel... Read More
Rachel Ng is an award-winning food and travel writer living on the island of Hawai'i. She is a frequent contributor to National Geographic and various AAA publications, and her stories have been published in AFAR, Tripadvisor, Outside, Bon Appétit, Men’s Journal, Fodors, Robb Report, TheKitchn.com, and Rachael Ray Every Day. She is also the co-author of National Geographic’s Great Outdoors U.S.A.: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States.
Over the past two decades, Ng has held positions at the Los Angeles Times, Bon Appetit, FitPregnancy, and AAA's Westways and AAA Explorer magazines. Her website is www.rachelng.net.
Rachel Ng
Rachel Ng is an award-winning food and travel writer living on the island of Hawai'i. She is a frequent contributor to National Geographic and various AAA publications, and her stories have been published in AFAR, Tripadvisor, Outside, Bon Appétit, Men’s Journal, Fodors, Robb Report, TheKitchn.com, and Rachael Ray Every Day. She is also the co-author of National Geographic’s Great Outdoors U.S.A.: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States.
Over the past two decades, Ng has held positions at the Los Angeles Times, Bon Appetit, FitPregnancy, and AAA's Westways and AAA Explorer magazines. Her website is www.rachelng.net.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
