Why Choose Open Eye Tours?

Winner of the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence every year since 2012!

Farm to table seasonal fruit tastings on all tours! Several varieties available most of the time.  Here are some of what is sourced from my organic farm located Upcountry, Maui:

  • Tangerine
  • Orange
  • Tangelo
  • Meyer lemon
  • Seedless Tahitian lime
  • Mandarina Costa Rican lime
  • Loquat
  • Sapote
  • Liliko’i  (passion fruit)
  • Jamaican soft-skinned liliko’i
  • Guava
  • Fig
  • Banana
  • Papaya
  • Mango
  • Avocado
  • Pineapple
  • Soursop
  • Sugarcane
  • Star fruit
  • Brazilian plum
  • Acerola
  • Surinam cherry
  • Mysore raspberry
  • Strawberry
  • Egg Fruit
  • Mulberry
  • Lychee
  • Longan
  • Inga (Ice Cream Bean)
  • Atemoya
  • Dragon fruit
  • Acerola
  • Waiwi (strawberry guava)
  • Jaboticaba
  • Atemoya
  • Malabar chestnut
  • Macadamia nut

Whether you’re feeling outdoorsy or not, you’re likely to be the only people around at some of the more unique stops you’ll make during an Open Eye Tour, so photos can be taken in settings not usually found! I’ll be your designated photographer for the day, documenting your journey so you can be included in your photos for a change. You’ll have fun while you learn about the island’s evolution, plants of medicinal and cultural significance (with seasonal sampling of fruit and other edibles), language, history, legends, chants, music, and food. Let me entertain you!

I’ve been awarded the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence, based upon ratings by guests, every year since 2012.

“Every word in every Trip Advisor review is from what they experienced! Always well done! Maui’s Premier Personal Island Guide. Knowledgeable, educated, respectful, experienced, sensitive, caring, attentive, personable. Pono exudes the Aloha Spirit and Hospitality of our people.”

Kumu Uluwehi Guerrero, Halau Hula Kauluokala, Maui

My one-of-a-kind scenic island land tours have an educational / environmental focus and will take you to the off-the-beaten-track Hawaii only available with guided specialty travel. You can experience:

  • Nature tours: rain forests, waterfalls, bird watching, wildlife viewing, native plants.
  • Cultural tours: sacred sites, spiritual, gardens and architecture, churches and mansions, myths and legends, historical context, archeology, farms, indigenous and native culture.
  • Your interests: specialty tours, photography, walking tours, Hawaii with kids, family travel, learning vacations, health & wellness, island sightseeing.

Your personalized day trip with my exclusive Maui private tour guide service can take many forms:

  • Customized private tours with your personal guide.
  • Unusual Maui activities, hidden treasures of Maui, exciting destinations, exceptional journeys, exquisite Maui, exotic holidays, eco-tours and other adventures.
  • Full or partial day itineraries/privately guided tours.
  • Maui with children.
  • Senior travel.
  • Sophisticated tours, upscale Maui holidays, prestigious Maui, First Class Maui, world class service, high end excursions, luxury vacations.
  • Spiritual travel.
  • Romantic honeymoon, vow renewals.
  • Executive travel.
  • Cultural vacations.
  • Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

Clients include Heads of State, Professional Athletes, Entertainers, Celebrities, in addition to wonderful families, couples, singles, groups.
An Open Eye Tour is perfect for curious first time &  return visitors.

Once you’ve confirmed, I then get to work planning a one-of-a-kind educational presentation just for you from my hundreds of files, prepare other special surprise treats, and arrange for our delicious, healthful meal(s) from the best local markets or cafes! We maintain ethics of responsible tourism on each trip.

*Fully licensed & insured, including Harbor permit for cruise passengers/shore excursions.
*Top Five Star Trip Advisor Reviews; recipient of annual Certificate of Excellence.
*Vendor at some of the finest Maui resort properties and select guidebooks.

Take advantage of my experience as teacher and professional published photographer, with Hawaii residency since 1982.

Engage all your senses as you immerse in the beauty, wonders, culture, history, people, nature, wildlife, music, food of the islands on an Open Eye Tour soft land adventure!  Return home refreshed, enriched, renewed…

At the Heart of Each Open Eye Tour are the Following Goals of Eco-Tourism:

  • Conserving our precious natural resources, reusing & recycling whenever possible
  • Holding the indigenous culture in highest esteem, and being sensitive to regional customs.
  • Preserving fragile ecosystems by using more well-established trails & authorized roads.
  • Supporting the local economy by purchasing foodstuffs & handicrafts directly from homesteads & farms, favoring small & family-run businesses.
  • Leaving intact each place as it is found, including living things, their remains, & artifacts.
  • Caring for the safety & well-being of people, plants, & animals. 
  • Offering healthy, hands-on “local style” activities (like tide pool exploring, wild fruit & flower gathering, palm frond weaving.)
  • Suggesting resources for further study on subjects of interest, providing continued opportunities for learning.
  • Actively contributing to organizations, groups & individuals which perpetuate the above principles
“Dear Pono, I have thought about so many things to say about your bespoke tours. I think my thoughts still remain the same: ‘You are the Capstone of the Private Guide Industry in Maui.’ I cannot imagine a better guide in all of the island of Maui (maybe the whole of the Hawaiian Islands). Your thoughtfulness and your attention to detail were unsurpassable. You listened carefully and gave us not only exactly what we wanted, but even more with your additional suggestions and surprises. Your love of Hawaii is contagious, and we still think about moving to Maui for the school year! What a childhood for a young boy! Again thank you,”
M. and C.A.,
London
“Loved seeing the ‘real’ communities and learning about the history of various areas. The beautiful spots we saw were very special. Good variety. Very educational and helpful. Teaching the kids the hula was wonderful. There was no question we had that was not answered.” 
Diane Samples
New Fairfield, Connecticut
“The tour definitely makes us want to return to Maui. Very responsive to our needs and time constraints and we were able to maximize our enjoyment of the island. Describe how I felt after the tour? Awesome, happy, astonished, enlightened, well-treated… Particularly liked? The special insights and Hawaiian blessings… The cultural stories about Hawaiian History and legend of the flower ripped in half (Naupaka) stand out…” 
Claire Dwoskin
Mclean, Virginia
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the magical, spectacular day, and for the beautiful pictures you took of us. This was truly the high point of our vacation- and the most delicious!” 
W. Bingham, Artist
Vancouver, British Columbia
“Invigorated, relaxed, informed… swimming holes, the stories/history… I liked that we went at our own pace/weren’t rushed to be on any schedule. What a wonderful day! The tour was full of interesting, lesser-known details. Great!”
Dr. Mary Patton
Piedmont, California 

“He gave us a tour that seemed like a National Geographic tour. Excellent in all ways!!!! We got a glimpse at a beautiful culture different from ours.” 
Keith and Carol Blandford
McKinney, TX

“Culturally enlightened, impressed by the on time service and clean vehicle…we would never have seen all the spectacular sights if not for Barry. Barry is extraordinarily knowledgeable about Maui’s flora, fauna and culture because of his education. He has a real love for his job.” 
K.A. Romines,
Morris, IL

Get Started

Ready to schedule your memorable day in Maui?  I will work with you to create a custom, unique, one of a kind private tour experience

Mail

P.O.Box 324
Makawao, HI 96768 USA

Phone

(808) 280-5299

Email

openeyetours@gmail.com