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We had an amazing personalized "Halfway to Hana" tour by Pono! Our full-day tour was filled with so many beautiful sights, delicious food, and cultural enrichment. He presented us with his handmade flower leis and fresh fruits from his garden and kept us entertained. Every moment was carefully thought out and memorable. He took photos of us throughout the day, so we could relax and enjoy ourselves. We definitely recommend Pono with Open Eye Tours if you are visiting Maui!…
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Date of experience: September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Pono is a one of kind guide. He is so knowledgeable about the history of the island, and knows all the hidden gems! We toured with Pono this past August, we did an 8-hour tour. We were staying at the Montage and met Pono in the middle of the island. Pono greeted us with a welcoming Hawaii'n chant, and we were off and touring. We saw places of the island that we couldn't do on our own nor did we want to do what some of the commercial tour companies had to offer. Pono was recommended to us by a friend where we live, and he lived up to the hype. We saw some of the most amazing beaches (turtles included), best surf spots, upland watering holes, scenic farmland views and so much more. We went were the locals would go, and tasted some of the most amazing cuisine Our time in the car was very informative! Who knew Pono was music producer! Pono clued us in to some catchy Hawaii'n tunes! We highly recommend Pono as a guide to Maui!…
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Date of experience: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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If you're looking for an authentic island experience, customized precisely to what you want to do, see, and learn about Maui, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guide than Pono. Enthusiastic, easy going, entertaining, and extremely knowledgeable, Pono takes you to off-the-beaten path sites so that you can experience the island in ways other cookie-cutter tour operators would never give you access to. As part of our experience, we were taken to see the astounding nocturnal turtle migration up on one of the beaches (we counted 63 in all!) and treated to a little known about driftwood sculpture park featuring life-sized sea creatures. We were also regaled with Hawaiian folklore tales and history that kept us riveted, throughout. If you're looking to tack on a truly unforgettable memory to your trip, a tour with Open Eye is the only way to go. Mahalo!…
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Date of experience: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Our tour with Pono was beyond our most ideal / imagined experience! Pono was referred to us by a very close friend--she told us about his personal approach to providing an amazing experience in Maui, and we were beyond impressed at what he delivered for us! We recognized from the start we'd be immersed in a truly connected experience to Maui and its history based upon what Pono planned, but were truly blown away at the outcomes at every step! From the very beginning, Pono ensured we had moments that aligned to the history of the island, and focused on immersing us in the true history and spirit of Maui. Every place we visited, every person we met, and every story Pono told, helped us appreciate the history of Maui more deeply, and provided us a connection to the island and unique experiences we never knew were possible. Pono was the most attentive, adaptable, humble, and beyond educational guide we could have ever experienced! He even brought us local fruit from his garden! The day we spent with him was meaningful on so many levels, and we are so appreciate we had this opportunity! We'd recommend Pono in the highest possible way, and thank him for our most wonderful experience in Maui!…
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Date of experience: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Pono is a truly amazing guide and person. His knowledge of the island is endless and captivating. We had a large group of about a dozen from age three to eighty-five and everyone came away with a great and unique experience. We spent two days with him and we wish it had been longer. Pono asked a lot of questions about our group prior to our meeting and I gave him a lot of information about all of us. I’m glad I did, because had a one of a kind tour tailored to our needs. We sampled fresh fruits we had never heard of and Pono showed us a new dessert that is already a family favorite. We learned so much from him about the history of the island and found his musical stylings to be a fun way to come together as a group. There were so many times where it felt like we had Maui to ourselves. He never wasted a free moment, if he wasn’t answering questions, he was taking pictures and he captured everything. He was so generous with all of us; he gave us recommendations for other parts of our trip and followed up with us after our tour. After so much, we even got gift bags. If I ever make it back to Maui I will definitely book another tour with Pono.…
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Date of experience: June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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