For tours purchased via our website, follow the steps below:.

• Download the Shaka Guide: GPS Driving Tours app from the App Store or Play Store
• Open the app and click on "My Stuff" or on "Support" from the bottom menu and click on Retrieve Purchases
• Create an account or Log in to the app. Or use the Continue with Apple or Continue with Google option
• Tap on "Retrieve Purchases" and then on  "Use a Redeem Code" 
• Enter your redeem code  "SG_X1234567"  and download your Shaka Guide tours

For tours purchased from our partners TripAdvisor/Viator/GetYourGuide/AirBnB/Veltra and other websites, check your ticket or voucher and follow the instructions regarding how to download the Shaka Guide app and tours onto your phone. 

If the download freezes up on your phone, please check your phone's internet connection, force quit or exit out of the app completely and reopen the Shaka Guide app to resume the download. You may want to close off all other apps running in the background to let the downloads finish faster. 

If you're still having the same issue after this step, delete the app and download the latest version of the Shaka Guide app from the App store or Play Store and resume or restart your downloads

All Shaka Guide tours come with the following: 

• Offline Map of your Destination: our map works without any data! Even in the most remote areas you’ll have access to our offline map. 
• Offline Audio Tour: Learn the history and culture of the spots you're visiting as we tell you stories along the way. Don’t just see  — experience! 
• Offline Driving Directions: We’ll give you turn-by-turn directions without using any data. 
• Tour Highlights: See all the locations mentioned on the tours and more! Get suggestions for local restaurants, activities and nearby sights in addition to the stops on the tour.
• Tour-Related Articles: Get travel guides, itineraries, packing lists and more!

Yes! We can’t stress this enough. Make sure you download the tour before you go (preferably at your hotel). You don’t want to get on the road only to have a poor data connection and no access to the tour or offline map. Remember, you'll be driving in some remote parts of Hawaii. 

If you download the tour before you go everything will work offline. While you’re downloading the tour make sure you leave the app open. Closing the app or switching over to another app may stop the download or cause problems.

If you didn't download the tour at your hotel before you left, don't worry, there are still some options for you!

1) Find a spot with WiFi like Starbucks or a local coffee shop. Pro Tip - McDonalds WiFi is super slow so look elsewhere!

2) Can't find a spot with WiFi - go to a nearby city where data is likely to be stronger and download the tour over your data service. If you do this, we recommend you pull over and wait for the tour to finish downloading before you continue to drive.

If the download freezes on your phone, here are some steps you can take:

• Check your phone's internet connection, exit out of the Shaka Guide app completely and reopen to resume the download. 
• Trying pausing the downloading and then resuming it.
• Close all the other apps running in the background to let the downloads finish faster.
• Delete the tour and by clicking “trash can” icon in upper right corner. Then try downloading it again.  
• Delete the app and download the latest version from the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Make sure your phone has enough free space for the Shaka Guide app and tours.  

Still having problems? Use another device. If you need further assistance, email us at aloha@shakaguide.com 

On our tours you’ll hear fun stories, music, and precise directions that play automatically as you drive (or walk!). We do this by using your phone’s built-in GPS to determine where you are and which direction you are headed. Like a real tour guide, Shaka Guide will take you to all of the best attractions around the island (and even the hidden spots that most tourists miss! Since your GPS does not require any data connection, you can download the tour to your phone, and then explore 100% offline! 

Our goal at Shaka Guide is to give you the freedom and expertise to explore on your own. Unlike traditional tour methods, Shaka Guide allows you to travel at your own pace and stop whenever you like. So take the stress out of your vacation and let Shaka Guide lead the way!

So go ahead, get your Shaka Guide tour today and start exploring!

To get started, browse through our list of walking and driving tours located in the ‘tours’ tab of the app. Once you’ve seen one you like, you can ‘preview’ the tour by watching a video or listening to sample audio. Purchase a tour by scrolling down to the ‘purchase options’ section in the tour page. Purchases are processed through your default payment method in the app store. 

TIP: Download the tour over Wifi for faster download speed. Do not close the app until download is completed. If download stays frozen for longer than one minute, please close the app and then reopen it and select ‘restore purchases.

That’s it! Once you’ve downloaded the tour, follow the steps on the screen, and start the tour by driving to the green flag located on the map. You can also use our ‘tutorial to starting point’ tool for directions to the tour starting point.

We recommend selecting a tour that works best for you based on your location and schedule.

Pro Tip! The best deal is to download the tour bundle which gives you a generous discount on all driving and walking tours. This also allows you to choose a tour that works best for your schedule.

The best way make sure everyone can hear the tour is to play it through the car's speakers. There are few ways to do this: bluetooth, USB cable or AUX cord. We recommend using a USB cable.

Check out our video tutorial to learn how to connect your phone to the car’s stereo.

Pro Tip! Before you leave the car rental lot, confirm that you can play audio through the car’s stereo. Some rental cars are old or have broken USB ports. The rental car agencies will willingly change your car if the car stereo does not play from your phone.

Still need help? No worries. Below are detailed instructions for setting up the audio based on the different methods we've outlined.

1. USB Cable:

Depending on the make and model of your car, sometimes you are able to sync your phone’s audio through a USB cable. This is our favorite option because it also charges your phone at the same time. The most likely place to find the USB port is in the middle glove compartment, on the car dash or near the audio control panel.

1. Connect the USB to car stereo
2. From your car stereo, select “media player”, iPhone, CarPlay, Android Auto, or find the name of your device.
3. Look for signs of connectivity through the display on your car dash.
4. Play any of the tour audio to test if the audio plays correctly from the speakers.

USB still not playing audio?

Try some of the following, testing the audio after each attempt:

1. Make sure your volume is turned up on your car stereo.
2. Restart your device and restart your car stereo (turn off both devices and turn them back on).
3. Unpair bluetooth connection with phone (if you are paired).
4. Connect your device to a different stereo USB port (if you have one).
5. Try a different USB cable.
6. Update your device firmware.
7. Try playing audio from a different app to see if any audio will play.

NOTE: Trying to play audio through the USB cable in many older rental cars sometimes do not work for reasons related to a damaged USB port or car’s stereo firmware. Please consult your car rental company for further assistance.

2) AUX Cord:

Does your phone have an audio port? If not, move on to the next method. 

If your phone does have an audio aux port, then you will need to get an auxiliary jack with two male ends: one plugs into your phone, the other plugs into the car. You can adjust volume from both the car radio and the phone’s volume.

3)  Bluetooth

Depending on the make and model of your car, sometimes you can sync your phone’s audio through a bluetooth connection. Here are the steps:

1. First go to your phone’s bluetooth and turn it on.
2. Then in your rental car, use your car’s dash system to activate the bluetooth connection of the car.
3. When you see your phone, select it to complete the bluetooth connection.
4. Play any of the tour audio to test if the audio plays correctly from the speakers.

Bluetooth still not working?  

Try some of the following to troubleshoot:

1. Restart your device.
2. Make sure your device’s Bluetooth is turned to ON (check your settings).
3. Unpair both your device and car stereo from each other, restart your car, and then try to pair and connect your device again.

NOTE: In some older rental cars bluetooth appears to be connected but still doesn't play audio. Again, likely something not working with the car's bluetooth system.

Still can’t get audio to play through the car stereo?

Just use your device’s built in speakers and turn the volume up as loud as you can. 

Before a tour is purchased, the app uses the internet or data to display the map, images, and play sample audio. However, after a tour is purchased and downloaded it works 100% offline. This includes the map, audio directions, as well as tour highlights.  

If you are concerned about your data usage, simply turn your phone on “airplane mode” while taking the tour. This will turn off your data while leaving your GPS signal on. But again, this is only needed if you are nervous about using data. 

Note: Some older Android devices when turn on airplane mode will turn off your GPS signal. If this is the case for you, then go to your settings and only turn off Cellular Data and WiFi and keep GPS or Location on.

Yes! You for sure need to bring a car charger on your tour. Most rental cars now come equipped with USB ports so you can charge your phone and connect to the car’s stereo. However, if your rental car doesn’t have one, you can bring a charger that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter outlet. 

Forgot yours at the hotel? Some rental car agencies have these available for purchase, but you can also check out a nearby Target, Walmart or convenience store! 

Yes! As long as you download the tour before you go. Even without service, the app will use GPS to access your location and give you turn-by-turn directions. 

One of the most important items to pack with you for your tour is a car charger. If you didn't bring one on your trip you can pick one up on island at Target, Walmart or convenience store. Without a charger, you can expect your fully-charged phone to last about 4-5 hours and many of our tours take between 6-10 hours to complete.

However, many rental cars have USB ports that will allow you to charge your phone and connect to the car’s stereo. Check out your rental car before you head out for the tour and if you have a USB port, just bring your regular charging cable along for the drive!

Here are some tips to conserve battery throughout the day.

• Turn OFF the tour when making a long stop: this means the app will stop using your GPS signal. Just remember to switch the tour back on to continue. The tour will pick up where you left off.
• Turn off the screen of your phone: the audio tour will continue playing in the background.
• Use the car’s speakers to play the tour: here’s a video tutorial that details how you can connect to the car’s stereo.