In my experience living in Hawai’i, I have found that the flavors from the food taste more intense and I think this is down to two factors — one being the island's sun and the other being the rich dark volcanic soil. I have always maintained that “less is more in life” and this is very true when you apply it to food. We will showcase a wide variety of tasty and ethnic foods from some of the most popular Food Trucks on the Northshore enjoy some of the world's best coffee and chocolate and hike to one of our most visited waterfalls on Oahu then treat yourself to some rum at Kohana Rum Distillery where they use natural sugar cane.
Posted By : Adventure62525918461
The good - Good tour guide, was about half an hour late in picking us up due to traffic problems but kept us updated in the process. Favorite stops were the Waimea Falls and the food trucks at the North Shore. The coffee and chocalate farm was also very intesting, plus we were given a little tour by an employee prior to samples, followed by a gift shop visit.
We were reimbursed for things no longer included due to old information as a result of a glitch in their website. They were pleasant to deal with, and resolved the situation within a 24 hour time period (more on this below).
The bad - The macadmia nut farm was a gift shop stop, they did have macadamia nut and coffee samples with option to purchase. No tour was given at this stop, but after rereading the website, it does state you learn the industry in more detail by of course touch and taste.
We missed out on Malasadas from Leonard's Bakery as it was closed for renovations, and later learned from Hi5 that we should have been taken to Leonard's Bakery Malasada Truck in lieu of the Bakery. To be fair, I should mention that our tour guide did stop at Doles Plantation for some Dole Whip instead as it was on the way back, but this wasn't a new experence for us.
We had booked online one day in advance. There was glitch in Hi5's touring website saying that Waterfall admission (and Fresh Flower Lei) was included, which it was not as pointed out by the driver. Turns out that this was old information. We did pay the waterfall entrance fees to avoid an argument, but were reimbursed after calling and sending a screen shot of the advertisement to Hi5.
We didn't notice anything about tipping in the website as to whether it is included or not (and if it's optional), but there is a sign facing you in the tour bus stating we get paid by tips, and request tips in the 15 to 20 percent range. In our opinion, it should be noted in the website, and if tipping is optional. Tipping culture varies depending on which country you are coming from, and its good to know how much cash to bring along.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-26 11:10:50 
Posted By : entrekin01
Relaxing no rush layed back enjoyable day- stop at Lenard’s for famous pastry’s, we went to old sugar mill where they make coffee & chocolate, stopped at secluded beach & saw a sea turtle in the distance it was quite relaxing beautiful. Trip to Waimea Valley Visitor Center and walked to the water fall, were there was enough time if anyone wanted to take a dip, then we stopped at food trucks where we had time to walk around and get something to eat, the last stop was at the KoHana rum factory for tasting. - we had a small group of only 6 unlike some of the tours we have been on with lots of people and felt rushed- Hi5 Tours gave us the plenty of time to Relax and enjoy.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-14 17:29:34
Posted By : Wanderer58035177221
Hi5 tours is one of the best when it comes to knowing local areas and hiking trails. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in just one area and wouldn’t be able to do it alone without Hi5 tours. They’re absolutely incredible with what they do and with such enthusiasm about what they do as well. If you get a chance to join Hi5 tours for one of their rides, I recommend you ask for the best places to eat, and especially ask where to get malasadas.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-19 18:02:56
Posted By : Stephen_B
Aunty Kelly was so amazing. Her knowledge of the island as she drove us around and pointed out interesting facts and told us stories was beyond my expectations. She was so friendly and showed me what the spirit of Hawaii really is. I will definitely recommend her and this tour.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-13 13:08:35 
Posted By : desireegQ4525ZJ
Auntie Kelly is so kind and accommodating. She made sure we didn’t miss a thing on our tour and went the extra mile. She was so informative. We learned a lot about the people, the agriculture, and history. She has the best sound effects too!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-12 22:24:53
Posted By : MonicaT274
We were at Turtle Bay so Yanni made accommodations to make it a private tour. He was amazing. Very knowledgeable and informative. Food variety was so good.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-03 18:26:13
Posted By : smurfthekitty
This tour was fantastic! Everything was Awesome! Our tour guide Kia and driver Yanni ate extremely nice.
First due too the off season Hi5 came to us for pick up from Turtle Bay Resorts (most activities we signed up for we had drive ourselves an hour+ to the opposite end of the island).
We went to the Waterfall early which is fortuitous as it is a very popular location. The greenery is so lush. Kia got us interacted cracking seads and chasing geckos. He took really lovely photos of our family and even followed us in the water for the best angles!
The people at the Waterfall lent us life vests for the water for free, however, you can purchase towels, water shoes, etcetera if you are in need. There are bathrooms, changing rooms and water refill stations.
We then went to a nut farm for tastings of coffee and flavored Macadamia Nuts. Kia decided to stop at an unscheduled fruit stand after we inquired where we night get local bananas. Kia bought us icecream bananas, mango and sugar cane stalks for chewing.
Kia knows many of the people around the island, we learned from them and Kia abount the land, the history and their lives there. Kia is very personable and easy going with many different people.
Yanni is very sweet and a great driver! He watched our purchases and personal items in the bus so we didn't have to carry everything around. He quickly let us back in if we wanted to get anything early.
We ate at a location with many restaurants and excellent food trucks. Kia is terribly knowledgeable giving us referrals and suggestions (often knowing people that worked for this one or that one).
The coffee and chocolate tastings were a delight! We got to see the trees, flowers and beans through stages of the process, right where it is done! The gift shop is eclectic with beautiful wood puzzle boxes, spam from around the world, raunchy labeled soaps, and much more!
The rum distillery is distinguished and the rum quite strong! We started with sugar cane juice fresh from the plant. Emily took us through the different types with a fun, playful and engaging manner.
My family is charmed with the whole experience. We have many places now that we want to check out in the North Shore thanks to Kia (which saves us a long dive to the south side)!
Thank you guys!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-03 03:57:59
Posted By : Safari570951
What an amazing day my husband and I had on this food and waterfall tour! Auntie Kelly was the absolute BEST tour guide! A native Hawaiian with extensive knowledge and history and she is so much fun!! The small hike to the falls and the incredible waves on the north shore were something to see! The food was amazing; coffee, chocolate, macadamia nuts and rum/daiquiri tasting was great but Auntie Kelly made the excursion even better! Definitely recommend the tour company and Auntie Kelly. ‘Ae
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-12-06 00:26:18
Posted By : Phuketland
Absolutely thrilled with my experience on HI5's food and drink tour in Oahu, Waikiki! 🌺 Kelly, our native Hawaiian guide, provided an invaluable local perspective, grounding us tourists with insightful information about the island. From Leonard's Malasadas to the North Shore's breathtaking waves and stunning beaches, along with the macadamia nut farm and the Food Trucks, the culinary journey was a delight. A must for every traveler seeking an authentic taste of Hawaii! Special shoutout to Yianni at Luana Hotel – a true gentleman. His expert guidance in choosing a tour and unparalleled local knowledge made the entire adventure even more memorable. Kudos to HI5 for having such outstanding individuals on their team! #HI5Tours #OahuAdventure #NorthShoreBeauty #YianniExpertise #HI5Adventures 🌴🌊🏄♂️🌺
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-30 15:30:45
Posted By : Navigator768988
There are so many things to say and all of them wonderful! Learning about the island culture, history, and food (ohhhh the food!) from Aunty Kelly, left our hearts and ōpū (stomachs) very full. Aunty Kelly was wonderful and a wealth of knowledge answering everyone's questions without hesitation and was absolutely hilarious. She showed us so many beautiful sights and her food and snack recos were all on point. Unfortunately, due to recent droughts, the waterfall was dry but walking through the botanical gardens was still a beautiful experience. I would recommend this tour to anyone who asks as it is worth it. We are already looking forward to touring again when we return to the island! Mahalo Hi5 and Aunty Kelly for making us feel like 'Ohana!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-17 14:16:43
