When Booking a Unique and one of kind Private Tour in Hawaii you may have questions you wouldn't normally have for a BIG BUS OR VAN TOUR...That's why we put together the most Frequently Asked Questions for Customers below. That way we can cut to the chase and get you booked & on tour with us!
Frequently Asked Questions
OUR MOST COMMON ASKED QUESTIONS:
HOW MUCH DO THE TOURS COST?
Prices are "PER PERSON" We run one of the most Private, Personal and Unique Services in the Hawaiian Islands...
Here at Hawaii Jeep & Specialty Tours we hold ourselves to a much higher standard...We only do PERSONAL & PRIVATE Jeep Tours that are fully CUSTOMIZABLE with your Friends & Family only...May you have 2 to 12 in your group we DON'T fill our Jeeps and leave an open spot for anyone outside your group, so it's just your Party! Because of that your Tours can be changed on the fly, something other tours just can't do!
Once you Experience our Jeep Tours you never go back to Van or Bus Tours AGAIN...EVER!
Also, as an Educational and ECO Friendly local small business you are supporting Hawaii's ECO System and Environment with a minimum Footprint instead of contributing to the environmental harm Big Buses & Vans cause!
can WE DRIVE THE JEEPS?
You CAN NOT drive our JEEPS!
The State of Hawaii IS a HIGHLY Regulated State. We have many Laws that don't allow Customers to Drive our Jeeps!
The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) as well as the Public Utility Commission (PUC) do not allow Passengers to Drive COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. Our Commercial Insurance Carrier don't allow Passengers or anyone not on our 2 Million Dollar insurance Policies to drive on any Public roads in Hawaii.
Our Modified Jeeps are Driven by professionals and your very own Personal MASTER GUIDES!
*Future Intention are to purchase Private Land with off-roading trails to allow guests to drive our Jeeps on the BIG ISLAND after signing an Accident Waiver & injury Release of Liability as well as a Property Damage Agreement.
WHy do you have seasonal tours?
Many connect Hawaii with 24/7 perfect weather, surf, rainbows, sunshine, trade winds, whales and waterfalls all year long...
This is NOT the case. SUMMER & WINTER are VERY DIFFERENT!
SUMMER: (APR-OCT)
Summer brings sunshine, warmer and calmer weather, as well as peaceful waters where a vacation is based around beaches, hiking, swimming, snorkeling and diving. There is little rainfall for waterfalls and the weather is often dry, so if there is no rain...there are no waterfalls.
WINTER: (DEC-MAR)
Winter brings some sun, some clouds and a lot of rain, wind and inclement weather, however it brings some amazing waterfalls, big surf, rainbows, whales, hiking, but rougher seas, strong currents and riptides.
why AGE & weight restrictions?
AGE:
When it comes to age we require Customers to be between the ages of 7 to 70 Years old.
WHY? Because Insurance Policies in Hawaii DO NOT COVER children under 7 years of age or those over 70 because of the types of tours we do. Also, Child Seats or Boosters are NOT ALLOWED in our DOORLESS JEEPS. Lastly, children under the age of 7 and those over the age of 70 will more than likely not be able to handle the activities of the Tour as we are not just a cookie cutter Tour. (Over 70 years of age is negotiable if in Great Shape!)
WEIGHT: (Max weight is between 225-250lbs Per Person)
Under HDOT Regulations our Jeeps have pay load restrictions of 1,250 lbs. Jeeps holding 5 people at 250 Pounds each= 1,250 lbs. The desire is to keep it under that. We also want to ensure customer
comfortability for our guests.
HOW MUCH OFF-ROADING DO WE DO?
This is a VERY GOOD question and one we often get...with that said it is a complicated answer...
The DLNR (Division of Land and Natural Resources) has very strict Regulations and Laws on the island of Oahu when it comes to 4x4's OFF ROADING...Especially since COVID-19 hit the islands (because of groups congregating together off roading and camping during covid) Because of this many Trails have been CLOSED, blocked by boulders...others PERMANENTLY!
As for designated Permittable Trails...No new Permits are being permitted until sometime in 2023. So as of today ALL TRAILS are CLOSED! As for the Outer islands...Kauai, Maui and Big Island...Off Roading has continued for the most part.
Because OAHU is the island we book the most when it comes to our Hawaii Jeep Tours we wanted to make it clear that
OFF ROADING on your Tour on Oahu will be unlikely for the foreseeable future until the DLNR alerts us of changes.
*ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BELOW*
IS MY PARTY THE ONLY ONES IN THE JEEP?
YES, 100%...May it be your FAMILY or FRIENDS...Your Party is the only Party on Tour with us...There is also a MAJOR ADVANTAGE of having a completely PRIVATE TOUR...Although you booked a certain tour with us, because it's your party only, we can change your Tour on the fly and customize it, if within reason, during your day so if there is something on Tour not on the days Itinerary, we can do it for you!