Meet The Team
Meet The Team
Hawaii Turtle Tours prides itself in providing intimate, family-style tours to some of Oahu’s most beautiful locations. Turtle tours are kept small in order to offer guests incredible encounters with the island’s wildlife and natural beauty. Hawaii Turtle Tours offers an Oahu sightseeing tour that circles the island and includes snorkeling and the chance to swim with green sea turtles, making it the island’s one and only circle island “wet” tour. This Turtle Eco-Adventure is truly an adventure unlike any other!
Benjy Gilholm
Benjy Gilholm, co-founder and CEO of Hawaii Turtle Tours, moved to the North Shore of Oahu in 1990 at the age of 18 from Encinitas, California, to pursue his dream of surfing Pipeline and the challenging waves of Hawaii after his first visit at age 14 with team Quicksilver for the US champions at Sandy Beach. He has a long history of interesting employment positions since his arrival in Hawaii. Mr. Gilholm held positions with several major surf labels as team manager/marketing specialist, 5 years as a State lifeguard, 5 years at Turtle Bay Resort and most recently since 2008 as a highly accomplished realtor, selling 5 oceanfront properties and a 16-unit apartment building in Waikiki to add to his resume. In 2011, he decided it would be fun to build a tour company in order to share the beautiful island of Oahu with tourists and really show Aloha by offering intimate tours with small groups. He feels blessed to give back by offering free tours to the Make a Wish Foundation, helping Hawaii’s homeless by purchasing free bikes, food, and clothes for the less fortunate, and employing multiple local families.
Ernest Egan
Ernest Egan, Chief Operation Officer and co-founder of Hawaii Turtle Tours, was born in San Francisco, CA, in 1967 and moved to Pacifica, CA, in 1970. His back door neighbor was a Judo instructor, Fred Lee, from Ehukai Beach whose son Freddy Lee was an incredible surfer and surfboard maker. The Lee’s were like a second family, and at age 6 Ernest started Judo and by 10 became a top 3 state competitor, a state champion and top 5 in the nation for 6 years. At 11 Freddy Lee made Ernest his first surfboard. At a national competition held in Waikiki at age 14, Ernest stayed after with the Lee family and fell in Love with Hawaii and surfing warm water. At 16 Ernest became a Christian. At 18 Ernest left a swimming scholarship at USF to move to Kauai and surf “real” waves. Waiting tables nights at the Princeville Hotel gave a great background for high level hospitality and a chance to work alongside many amazing Hawaiian Legends in addition to surfing daily.
Raul Marin
Raul Marin was born in Chile and spent his childhood in Ecuador, where exposure to diverse landscapes and cultures inspired his passion for tourism. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management, combining his love for exploration with professional expertise. His career spans multiple continents and sectors within tourism and hospitality, including working with airlines in Chile, exploring the hotel industry in New Zealand, and contributing to tour operations in Hawaii. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, Raul uses his language skills to enhance traveler experiences.
Since 2011, Raul has lived in Hawaii, embracing the aloha spirit and the islands' rich cultural tapestry. He shares his life with his partner Phillippine and their dog Luna, forming a close-knit family that finds joy in the ocean. Surfing is a beloved ritual that connects them with nature and each other. Raul continues to pursue his passion for travel and tourism, fully immersing himself in the paradise he now calls home.