Total Game Changer, Oahu Hawaii Tour from a Local!

I still can’t believe I found this absolute gem of a service! From start to finish, the entire experience was seamless. Before the tour even began, our driver Jimmy texted and called us to help plan the perfect itinerary. He was so warm, friendly, and thorough—right away, I could tell we were in good hands. A true local Hawaiian through and through. Jimmy picked us up from our hotel in Waikiki, and from the moment we met him, it felt like we were being shown around by family.

We had nine hours booked, and Jimmy made sure to hit every single spot we wanted to visit—including the famous North Shore, Byodo-In Temple, Dole Plantation, Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Matsumoto Shaved Ice, Green World Coffee Farm, Kahuku Farms, and yes, even a stop at a Costco (because who doesn’t want to see what it’s like in Hawaii?). I would have taken us 3 different full day tours to see all of these locations!! We were able to do all this with one tour of the island and he somehow made everything feel unhurried, fun, and completely personalized.

Jimmy went above and beyond throughout the day. He was amazing with our 4-year-old toddler, kept us laughing with his great sense of humor, helped us take tons of photos and videos, and shared so many fascinating stories about the island, culture, and his own life. Compared to the rushed and generic group tours we’ve done in the past in Oahu, this experience was in a league of its own. Doing the rental cars, self parking(so expensive!), and navigating all on our own—but with a toddler, seemed super stressful and very limiting. Booking Etohi was a total game changer and I can never go back to doing group tours in Hawaii.

What really blew us away was how connected Jimmy is across the island—he knew almost everyone at all the local spots, helped us skip long lines!, and even found places completely off the beaten path. At one point, he taught our daughter how to feed birds right from her hand, and even found a guy with a friendly island chicken and asked if my daughter could pet it(she was obsessed)! He helped me pick out all the best Hawaii only snacks at Costco! He remembered I said I loved fishing back home and took us to a lookout just in time to see some locals reeling in a giant catch. He helped us make the most out of every location we stopped at. We even saw 2 rainbows at the Lookout he brought us to. These are the kinds of service, expertise, and magical moments you just don’t get on a group tour.

The day flew by, and by the end, we were already calling him “Uncle” That’s how genuine and heartfelt the experience was. A day later, we received all the amazing photos and videos he’d captured—and now, they’re some of our favorite memories from the trip.

I rave about this tour to our friends and family. It was the most memorable part of our Oahu Hawaii vacation, and without a doubt, so worth it. If you’re looking for a local, personalized, and unforgettable Hawaiian experience in Oahu, Waikiki, Hawaii —skip the overcrowded group tours and book with Jimmy. We’ll definitely be booking with him every time we’re back in town. Mahalo, Jimmy and Etohi —you made our trip truly special.