Pacific Trip Leader

EliLai Sugiyama

EliLai grew up with adventure in her veins. With a father from Palau and mother from the Native American tribe of Shoshone-Bannock, she feels equally at home whether she's free diving the sapphire-blue waters of Palau or fishing and horseback riding in the mountains of Idaho. EliLai has a keen eye for Palau's elusive birds and has been known to be a dugong whisperer—she can hold her breath up to three minutes to swim alongside these gentle species. When she's not guiding, you'll find EliLai racing outrigger canoes for Palau's national women's team, constructing traditional Micronesian sailing canoes using local materials, or adventuring in the wilds of Idaho.

Our Team

Client Testimonials

Eli was terrific! She is just a sweetheart -- warm, friendly, honest, welcoming, and highly knowledgeable. The activities and snorkeling sites she chose were wonderful.

Bob F.

Arlington, VA

Eli was one of the highlights of the trip. She could have not been nicer, knowledgeable, accommodating, patient, flexible, attentive, detailed oriented, respectful, and with a great sense of humor. We so enjoyed having her as our trip leader. Her stories and knowledge of Palauan history, particularly given her family background, were outstanding. She is a great lady.

Maritza C.

Arlington, VA

We have been avid travelers for many years now and hands down Elilai was one of our best guides ever! She is knowledgeable in terms of the fauna, flora, culture, and history of Palau. Eli was so very accommodating and anticipated all of our needs. Having her as our guide definitely made our travel experience in Palau thoroughly enjoyable!

Vanessa K.

Hillsborough, CA
Palau Private Journey

Book Your Trip Today

Our Area Specialists know every detail about our adventures around the world. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Talk to an expert
Choose a Trip
{"Guide":[{"GuideID":851238,"First_Name":"EliLai","Last_Name":"Sugiyama","Guide_Profile":"EliLai grew up with adventure in her veins. With a father from Palau and mother from the Native American tribe of Shoshone-Bannock, she feels equally at home whether she&apos;s free diving the sapphire-blue waters of Palau or fishing and horseback riding in the mountains of Idaho. EliLai has a keen eye for Palau&apos;s elusive birds and has been known to be a dugong whisperer&mdash;she can hold her breath up to three minutes to swim alongside these gentle species. When she&apos;s not guiding, you&apos;ll find EliLai racing outrigger canoes for Palau&apos;s national women's team, constructing traditional Micronesian sailing canoes using local materials, or adventuring in the wilds of Idaho.","Image_Name":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/guides\/elilai-sugiyama.jpg","DisplayOnWeb":true,"GuideShortProfile":""}],"CustomFields":{"Custom_Leader_Region":"Pacific","Custom_Leader_Languages":"","Custom_Leader_Since":"","Custom_Leader_Slug":""},"activities":[{}],"destinations":[{}],"reviews":[{"GuestNames":"Bob F.","GuestLocation":"Arlington, VA","GuestReview":"Eli was terrific! She is just a sweetheart -- warm, friendly, honest, welcoming, and highly knowledgeable. The activities and snorkeling sites she chose were wonderful.","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Maritza C.","GuestLocation":"Arlington, VA","GuestReview":"Eli was one of the highlights of the trip. She could have not been nicer, knowledgeable, accommodating, patient, flexible, attentive, detailed oriented, respectful, and with a great sense of humor. We so enjoyed having her as our trip leader. Her stories and knowledge of Palauan history, particularly given her family background, were outstanding. She is a great lady. ","TripName":""},{"GuestNames":"Vanessa K.","GuestLocation":"Hillsborough, CA<br \/>Palau Private Journey","GuestReview":"We have been avid travelers for many years now and hands down Elilai was one of our best guides ever! She is knowledgeable in terms of the fauna, flora, culture, and history of Palau. Eli was so very accommodating and anticipated all of our needs. Having her as our guide definitely made our travel experience in Palau thoroughly enjoyable!","TripName":""}]}