# Big Island Audio Tour Guide — Self-Guided GPS Driving Tours

> GPS audio tours for exploring the Big Island of Hawaii with offline access. (iPhone/iPad app by Shaka Guide.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-island-audio-tour-guide/id1070893569 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Shaka Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275283409)
- Category: Travel, Navigation
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 3,978 App Store ratings · 169 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15 · 189 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-02-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-18
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-island-audio-tour-guide/id1070893569/reviews.md

## What is Big Island Audio Tour Guide?

Meet your Big Island tour guide. Discover GPS audio tours that turn your drive into a guided adventure with stories, directions, and local insights.
Imagine driving past a black sand beach or approaching a scenic waterfall when your phone starts telling you exactly what you’re looking at — an overlook, a cultural site, a story you would’ve missed — that’s how Shaka Guide works.
Explore the Big Island with Shaka Guide, a 4.9-star GPS audio tour app trusted by thousands of travelers and made in Hawaii.
Our GPS audio tours play automatically as you drive, guiding you with stories, directions, and local insights, completely offline.

WHY SHAKA GUIDE BIG ISLAND?
• GPS audio tours that play based on your location
• Works 100% offline — no cell service needed
• Built-in maps with preplanned routes and navigation
• Explore at your own pace — no schedules or groups
• Stories, Hawaiian music, and local travel tips
• Visit beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, and more
It’s like having a tour guide in your car. No crowds or time limits. 

HOW IT WORKS
Download a tour, start driving, and go.
• Audio plays automatically along your route
• Get directions, stories, and recommendations in real time
• Stop where you want, skip what you don’t, or explore over multiple days
No rushing. No rigid plans. Just a better way to explore the Big Island.

BIG ISLAND TOURS
SOUTH ISLAND EPIC COASTAL JOURNEY
8+ hours • 30 stops
• Kona Coast scenic drive
• South Point (Ka Lae)
• Punalu’u Black Sand Beach (sea turtles)
• Local coffee, honey, and macadamia nuts

NORTH ISLAND JUNGLE ADVENTURE LOOP
8+ hours • 26 stops
• Akaka Falls & Rainbow Falls
• Waipi’o Valley Lookout
• Hilo Town
• Onomea Trail
• Waimea

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
4+ hours • 18 stops
• Kilauea Volcano
• Thurston Lava Tube
• Devastation Trail
• Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs
• Stories of Pele

KONA BIG KAHUNA TOUR
4+ hours • 20 stops
• Kona town
• Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau
• Two Step Beach snorkeling
• St. Benedict’s Painted Church

KOHALA COAST BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
4+ hours • 11 stops
• Pu’ukohola Heiau
• Lapakahi State Park
• King Kamehameha statue
• Pololu Valley hike
• Waimea

SAVE WITH THE ISLAND TOUR BUNDLE
Get all 5 tours for over 50% off.

TRUSTED BY BIG ISLAND TRAVELERS
What travelers say:
“By far the most useful tool for exploring the Big Island on your own.”
“We would’ve missed so many sights and hidden spots without this app.”
“It felt like having a tour guide in the car with us.”

PLAN LESS. EXPERIENCE MORE.
Skip the research. Travel smarter. Discover more along the way.

IMPORTANT NOTES
• Download tours on Wi-Fi before your trip
• Continued GPS use may drain battery — bring a charger
• Wi-Fi-only iPads are not supported

## Key features

- GPS driving directions
- Automatic audio narration
- Local stories and Hawaiian music
- Offline functionality
- Tours never expire
- Multiple themed tours available

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kona Big Kahuna Driving Tour | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big island North Loop Tour | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big Island South Loop Tour | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big Island 4 Tour Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Volcanoes Park Driving Tour | $22.99 | one-time |
| Kohala Backcountry Drive Tour | $19.99 | one-time |
| Big Island Driving Tour Bundle | $34.99 | one-time |
| Complete Hawaii Collection | $79.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Big Island Audio Tour Guide?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Helpful GPS-guided tours
- 👍 Entertaining and informative narration
- 🎶 Enjoyable background music
- 🤑 Great value for the price
- 🗺️ Ability to explore at own pace
- 🔍 Discovers hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path spots
- 🤓 Provides historical and cultural insights

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues and app crashes
- 🕰️ Tours can be long and tiring
- 🔇 Repetitive background music
- 🧭 Rigid tour directions, can't start at any point

**Commonly reported bugs**

- GPS not always accurate, leading to missed turns
- App sometimes stops working mid-tour

**Most requested features**

- More tour options for each island
- Ability to customize tour routes
- Integration with CarPlay/Android Auto
- More up-to-date information on attractions and closures

## Recent user reviews (10 of 169)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/big-island-audio-tour-guide/id1070893569/reviews.md

### 2/5 — App hard to use- glitchy

*2026-07-18, version 9.1.7*

Having used an older audio tour last time I visited the Island of Hawaii many years ago I had high expectations. This app was glitchy, missed narrations that should have been on the road. When it did work the directions and explanations were good and helpful but I could see by the app when we stopped that it did not activate and speak when in some locations and by then we were long past the area where it would have been relevant.

### 5/5 — Lost Without This!

*2026-07-03, version 9.1.7*

This self audio tour guided us in the right direction in Kona, HI. We purchased the 5 audio tours. Fully informative and music every drive of the way! Works offline when we didn’t have any cellular service but make sure to download the tours before you drive off! Get you a rental car and save you some $$$$ Worth the purchase!

### 5/5 — Fun way to tour

*2026-06-26, version 9.1.7*

This guide made exploring easier & fun. Good stories, good directions, and great recommendations.

### 5/5 — Talking story

*2026-06-17, version 9.1.7*

This is a must have app while on Hawaii. Such good stories and interesting information. The kids loved it! Only suggestion I would make is a “free for all” version. What I mean by that is rather than predetermined routes just have it give information as you drive on your routes.

### 5/5 — Shaka tours

*2026-05-29, version 9.1.6*

I recommend anyone visiting the Hawaii islands to download the Shaka Tours. Better than bus tours because you can do it on your time. They are informative and entertaining. I’ve never been disappointed.

### 4/5 — Super fun, could be better

*2026-04-10*

We loved using this for our drives around the big island! Tons of good factoids and stories to fill the time while you drive for hours while exploring this amazing place. The only reason we did not give 5 stars are:
1. We really needed the speed limits posted in the app like google maps does. There are so many changes that happen quickly if you are trying to switch between the 2 it gets overwhelming and conflicting directions got us mixed up a few times. 
2. The music is much louder than the narration so we had to adjust our volume back and forth a lot. If it was a bit quieter setting that the talking that would have been perfect. 
3. Sometimes the directions would be exactly at the point where you were supposed to turn so we missed at least 5 where we had to do a turn around and go back. And then sometimes the directions would be very far out so we would slow down way too early. The map was very helpful but if we lost service it wouldn’t always put us in the right location for the narrator to be correct. 
Other than those things we greatly enjoyed our Shaka guide and are excited to try it on another island!!

**Developer response:** Aloha! We're so stoked to hear you loved cruising around, soaking up all those factoids and stories! We truly appreciate you sharing the things that could make your experience even smoother. The thing is, to keep our tours working seamlessly offline so you can explore every nook and cranny without needing a constant internet connection, adding real-time speed limits isn't something we can do at the moment. We want to make sure you're free to roam! And mahalo for pointing out the music and narration volume balance! Our ʻohana is actually diving into that right now. We also hear you on the direction timing and those moments when service gets a little spotty. Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to share these feedback.

### 5/5 — LOVE this Guide!

*2026-03-26, version 9.1.3*

We used the Shaka guide in Maui for the Road to Hana 8 years ago and loved it. So we decided to try it again for the Big Island. We did the North island jungle loop tour today. It was so informative, easy to follow, and we all loved it. Even my impossible to please 16 year old daughter mentioned how cool it is- she was so into it, and was listening to every word and wanted to stop at all the stops. It was a great guide, we had a great day! Can’t recommend this enough. I bought the BI package, and we will be using the other tours this trip as well.

### 5/5 — Big Island South Tour

*2026-03-18, version 9.1.3*

Great!

### 4/5 — great app but…

*2026-01-02, version 9.1.1*

Overall the tours are awesome and we would definitely use this again. But the app doesn’t work well with apple car play. The map on your screen doesn’t track like on your phone.

### 5/5 — Perfect for first timers!

*2025-10-12, version 9.0.9*

We used this app for our trip to the Big Island and loved it. The directions and storytelling were amazing, and we could stop whenever we wanted, for as long as we wanted. Much better than a typical group tour where you make designated stops, and usually end up waiting on that one couple who is always late to return to the tour bus. We skipped some of the stops and spent quite a while at others. This was perfect.. Highly recommend!

## Frequently asked questions about Big Island Audio Tour Guide

### What does the Big Island Hawaii Tour Guide app do?

This app provides GPS-guided audio tours for exploring the Big Island of Hawaii. It offers driving directions, hours of automatic audio narration with local stories and Hawaiian music, and highlights popular attractions, beaches, hikes, and cultural sites.

### How do the tours work?

The tours are GPS-enabled, meaning the audio narration and directions will play automatically as you drive to different points of interest. You can also access the tours offline, ensuring you have navigation and information even in areas without Wi-Fi or data.

### How much does the app cost?

The app offers individual tours for purchase, and you can also buy an island bundle that includes all five Big Island tours at a discounted price. Downloading the tours is part of the purchase process.

### Is the app compatible with my device?

While specific compatibility details are not provided, the app is designed for mobile devices. It's recommended to check your device's app store for specific operating system requirements before downloading.

### What are some common use cases for this app?

Common use cases include taking self-guided road trips along the Kona and Kohala coasts, exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, discovering waterfalls and valleys on the North Island, and visiting historical and cultural sites at your own pace.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 9.1.8 — 2026-08-06

Bug fixes

### 9.1.7 — 2026-06-11

- Bug fixes

### 9.1.6 — 2026-04-27

bug fixes

### 9.1.5 — 2026-04-20

bug fixes

### 9.1.4 — 2026-04-08

Bug Fixes

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## More apps by Shaka Guide

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- [Yellowstone + Teton Tours](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yellowstone-plus-teton-tours/id6476590570)

All apps by Shaka Guide: https://appshunter.io/developer/1275283409

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-18.*