All Reviews for Waikoloa Resorts

Whilst reading this activity when planning my vacation to Hawaii I knew that going to the summit and doing some stargazing would be something not to be missed. I'm glad it did not disappoint! The sunset atop Mauna Kea is amazing with only clouds below us, and we were able to view a great deal of objects in the night sky. It does definitely get chilly up there, and even though they supply Parkas and gloves be sure to wear some heavy pants and thick covered in shoes (lest your toes succumb to frostbite!) I have recommended this tour to friends whom I know will be going to Hawaii in the next few years.

Since the Japanese tour was fully booked, I participated in the English tour. I couldn't understand the explanations about the stars clearly, but they let each person look through the telescope and used simple English. The sunset was amazing.

日本語ツアーがいっぱいだったため、英語ツアーで参加しました。
英語がわからなくて星の説明はハッキリわからなかったけれど、望遠鏡で1人1人星をのぞかせてくれたり簡単な英語を使ったりしてくれていました。
サンセットは素晴らしかったです

Seeing the sun set at the top of mauna kea was a once in a lifetime adventure. However dInner wasn't that great - was handed the food to eat at the visitor center -no where to sit and eat and had to balance dinner plate on my lap. This was not what I expected. As well, food was not very good. No drink included. Astronomy lesson after sunset was interesting. Although overall the trip was ok I did not think it was worth the money.

The view of Hawaii Island from the helicopter was amazing. I was very satisfied to see the lava as well. I got so close to the lava that I could even feel the smell and temperature, which was really exciting. I wasn't expecting much, but Waipi'o Valley and the neighboring valley were wonderful, with breathtaking scenery. The waterfalls were also incredibly beautiful. The helicopter pilot got really close to the lava and waterfalls, allowing us to see many sights I had never seen before. I highly recommend it. I want to experience it again.

ヘリコプターからみるハワイ島は最高でした。溶岩も見れて大満足です。
溶岩近くでは臭いや温度まで感じるくらい近づいてくれてとてもワクワクしました。
そんなに期待してなかった、ワイピオ渓谷やその隣の渓谷がすばらしくて、圧巻の景色でした。
滝もすごく奇麗でした。ヘリのパイロットがすごく溶岩や滝の近くまで接近してくれて、いままで
見た事もない景色が沢山みれました。本当におすすめです。また体験したいです。

Excellent tour. We'll worth the money. More educational than expected. We would have liked to have more time to ask questions but the two guides did a fantastic job trying to see everyone was comfortable and amazed. We would book it again just because it was one of the highlights of our vacation. A job well done.

In October 2014, as usual, the Japanese tour was fully booked, so I joined this one. The guide's English explanations were at native speed, making it hard to understand, but he answered our questions slowly during meals and bathroom breaks.

While the Japanese tour seems to have meals at the Onizuka Visitor Center at an altitude of 2,800 meters to help acclimatize, this tour had meals at a "certain place" at the foot of the mountain. After a brief rest at a scenic spot, we climbed straight to the summit, so those worried about altitude sickness need to stay hydrated. Each person was given a bottle of water during the meal for this purpose.

The views of the various observatories from around the world, the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds, and the subsequent twilight were absolutely stunning. As the sun set, the cold increased, and the warm clothing provided was appreciated. After it got a bit darker, we moved near the Onizuka Visitor Center for stargazing after a bathroom break. Unlike other tours that observed within the center's grounds, we had our stargazing in a less illuminated area by the roadside.

I can't forget the beauty of the starry sky I saw at a ski resort late at night, and this sky, along with the Milky Way, was equally enjoyable. There was also stargazing with a telescope, and although the moonlight can be a nuisance for stargazing, the crescent moon this time allowed for good observation of craters through the telescope, which was actually a plus.

In this tour, out of 16 participants on one bus, only my spouse and I were Japanese. Another bus (which had the same meal location) had only one couple of newlyweds as Japanese participants. I think the Japanese tour is recommended, but this one is also a good tour overall. However, the "certain place" where we had our meal had a simple toilet, so those who are extremely particular about cleanliness should be prepared for that.

２０１４年１０月、例によって日本語ツアーが満杯でこちらに参加。ガイドさんの英語説明はネイティブスピードでほとんどわからないが、食事やトイレ時のこちらからの質問等にはゆっくり答えてくれた。
また日本語のツアーは標高２８００メートルのオニズカ・ビジターセンターで食事をしながら標高に体をならしていくようだが、こちらのツアーは麓の「とある場所」で食事をし、その後は見晴しの良いところで少し休憩はあるものの、一気に山頂まで登るため、高山病が心配な人には水分を多く取るような注意が必要だ。そのための水は食事の時に１人１ボトル配布された。
山頂での各国の天文台、雲海に沈む夕日、その後の夕焼けは文句なくすばらしかった。
日が沈むと寒さが増し、貸してくれた防寒具がありがたい。さらにすこし暗くなるとトイレの後、星空観測のためオニズカ・ビジターセンター付近に移動。こちらも他のツアーがセンター敷地内での観測になるのに対し、周りの光がより少ない道路脇の空き地での観測だった。
昔、夜中にスキー場で見た星空の素晴らしさが忘れられないが、それに匹敵する星空と天の川が堪能できた。天体望遠鏡での観測もあったが、星空観測には天敵の月の光も今回の三日月程度なら天体望遠鏡でクレーターがよく観察でき、逆によかった。
今回のツアーはバス１台に１６人の参加者中、日本人は我々夫婦２人だけでした。もう１台別のバス（食事だけ同じ場所で）も日本人参加者は１組の新婚さんのご夫婦だけでした。
日本語のツアーの方がおすすめとは思いますが、こちらも総合的に良いツアーです。
ただし、食事をいただいた上記「とある場所」は簡易トイレなので、極端に清潔好きな人はほんの少々ですが覚悟しておいた方がよいでしょう。

Great tour guide amazing experience the best view on earth

I participated with my parents. The Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour seems to be quite popular, and although I asked a travel agency to make a reservation, they couldn't secure one, so I booked online for the first time.

At first, I was filled with anxiety about whether it would be okay, but the guide and all the staff were kind, and I was able to enjoy the experience without any problems.

Regarding my concerns, since it was a meet-up at the location, I was worried about how to get there, but I used a taxi. Once I told the driver the name of the company at the meeting point, they understood right away.

I was prepared for no return transportation, but I was pleasantly surprised to be taken back to the Keauhou Hotel. I think it would be reassuring if it were noted that "return transportation is included."

During the drive, I saw that the mountain was covered in clouds from below, but since the car passed above the clouds, it makes sense that the summit has a high rate of clear weather. Also, the road near the top was unpaved, and there was a broken-down car along the way. I really don't think it would be feasible with a rental car. I felt a little bit of altitude sickness, with a slight headache, but overall, I was fine.

We arrived at the summit just in time for sunset and were able to see the sun setting into the sea of clouds, which was very magical.

As for the stars, since it was a new moon, they were incredibly beautiful. It was my first time seeing the Milky Way so clearly. The chocolate brownies and warm drinks during the observation were also very delicious.

The only downside was that everything was in English. The most challenging part was the phone call. I had to confirm the reservation by phone before the day of the tour, but when I tried to call, I couldn't communicate, so I ended up asking the travel agency for help. Additionally, since my parents don't speak any English, I think they had a hard time understanding the guide's explanations.

However, unlike Oahu, where there are mostly Japanese people, the other participants in the tour came from various countries, which made me feel like I was truly traveling abroad. I think it’s worth participating even if it’s not in Japanese.

I'm not a spokesperson for the tour company, but I believe you'll be more than satisfied with the tour price! I highly recommend it!

両親と三人で参加しました。マウナケア星空ツアーは人気なようで旅行代理店に予約をお願いしたがとれず、はじめて、インターネットで予約しました。
最初は、本当に大丈夫かなと不安でいっぱいでしたが、ガイドさん、スタッフの皆さんは親切で、
全く問題なく楽しんで参加できました。
不安だなと感じた点について、
現地集合ということもあり、どうやって現地まで行こうか悩みましたがタクシーを利用しました。
集合場所の会社名を伝えたらすぐにわかってもらえました。
また、帰りの送迎が無いと覚悟していたのですが、しっかり、ケアウホウのホテルまで送って頂けました。「帰りの送迎あり」と記載して頂けると安心できると思います。
車での移動ですが、下から山を見たら雲に覆われていたのですが、車は、雲の上を通過していくため山頂の晴天率が高いこともうなずけます。また、頂上付近の道は、舗装されておらず、途中、故障車が停まっていました。やはり、レンタカーでは無理だと思います。高山病も、すこし頭が痛いかなと思ったりもしましたが、特に大丈夫でした。
山頂には、しっかり夕日の時間に到着し雲海に沈む夕日を見ることができ、とても幻想的でした。
肝心の星空ですが、
新月ということもあり,とても綺麗でした。天の川をあんなにはっきり見たのは、はじめてでした。
また、観測中のチョコブラウニーとあたたかい飲み物は、とっても美味しかったです。
一つだけ残念なのは、すべて英語ということです。
一番困ったのは、電話です。前日までに予約確認の電話をしなければならないため、電話をしてみたものの伝わらず、結局旅行代理店の方にお願いしました。
また、両親は全く英語ができないためガイドさんの説明が？？？だったと思います。
しかし、日本人ばかりいるオアフ島と違って一緒にいったツアーの皆さんも様々な国からお見えになっていて、海外旅行にきたと言う感じがして良かったのかなと、見方をかえれば言えなくもないです。
日本語じゃないからとあきらめず、参加してみるのもいいと思います。
ツアー会社の回し者じゃありませんが、、ツアー料金以上に満足できると思います！
オススメですよ！！

I was able to sit in the front row when I arrived on time.
The show featured wonderful hula dancing, powerful male fire performances, and a packed schedule that made the time fly by.
The food was served buffet-style, which allowed me to adjust the amount I ate, and I thought that was great. The taste was fairly good.

集合時間通りに行ったら、一番前の席に座ることができました。
ショーの内容は素敵なフラダンス、
迫力満点の男性の火を使ったダンスと盛りだくさんの内容であっという間の時間でした。
お料理はブュッフェで、自分が食べる量を調節できたのでよかったと思います。味はそれなりに美味しかったです。

Jason was our guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Amazing views from the peak, wonderful sunset and star gazing, even got to see the rings of Saturn. Dinner at deserted sheep farm was OK. Hotel pickup would have been nice.

The office was situated in an area easy to find from Kailua Kona. I was quite satisfied to visit Mauna Kea with an excellent guide. I learned a lot from his wealth of knowledge and experience. His sense of taking pictures was also appreciated.

The office was situated in an area easy to find from Kailua Kona.
I was quite satisfied to visit Mauna Kea with an excellent guide (attached is a picture of him with Mauna Loa). I learned a lot from his wealth of knowledge and experience. His sense of taking picture was also appreciated.

I have seen the Hilton Luau three times so far. This time, the Hawaiian show felt fresh with younger performers. I had a great time participating from the front row.

今までに３回ヒルトンのルアウを見ました。今回のハワイアンショウーは構成メンバーも若く新鮮に感じました。一番前の席で大変楽しく参加させていただきました。

Amazing sunset from the summit and a very informative evening all round. The meal en route was pretty average but the pause in the journey for the meal made the transition
to 14000 feet more manageable. The views are out of this world and it was a relief not to have to drive ourselves to and from the summit, even though on our trip the minibus broke down and it took an hour to get the replacement bus up to us. It was handled well though and overall was a very worthwhile trip.

A fabulous experience with such a friendly crew, no one was left unattended. The sunset was particularly beautiful including the cloud colouring over the volcanoes. A lovely adventure worth every penny,i would recommend it to anyone!

The tour guides were ver knoweldgable, especaiily Chris. It was my childhood dream to see the Keck telescopes and it became a reality, The sunset view was amazing and the diamonds in the sky, aka the starts were even better. I saw satellites and shooting stars and the milkyway galaxy.

the hosts were so friendly and informative...they made the extra effort to make sure we saw dolphins...

just a very exciting, pleasant experience :)

As a precondition, I have a TOEIC score in the 300s, and this is my first self-arranged overseas trip (I've traveled abroad three times). Initially, I had booked a "Helicopter Tour with a Japanese Pilot" from another company, but I switched to this one because I was informed that a Japanese pilot was unavailable. Fortunately, I was assigned a Japanese pilot here.

To conclude, I was very satisfied. I'm glad I had the courage to choose the helicopter. I took the tour to see Kilauea Volcano, but I was impressed by the North Waipi'o Valley and the surrounding table mountain-like terrain. Kilauea has been in a state of calm since around 2013, so I couldn't see any eruptions. I chose the helicopter tour thinking I could still see lava even in a calm state, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

It's also nice that hotel pick-up is included depending on the plan. Arranging a taxi can be quite challenging for someone who doesn't speak English...

As a note, the only person who speaks Japanese is the pilot. The pick-up driver and the reception staff do not understand it at all. Still, I managed to communicate with gestures and my voucher. If you can speak English, you would probably enjoy it even more.

Before boarding the helicopter, you need to check in your luggage, so it's better to take out your camera and gum (for motion sickness). I think they asked in English if I had taken out my camera, which I understood, but I didn't grasp the intention and ended up forgetting to take out the gum.

After returning, I was able to take a commemorative photo with the pilot. It makes for a great memory.

前提条件として、私はTOEIC300点台で、自分手配の海外旅行初めてです（海外は３回目）。
当初、別会社の「日本語パイロットと行く～ヘリツアー」を予約していたのですが、日本人パイロットの都合が付かないと連絡があったのでこちらに切り替えました。こちらは幸運にも日本語パイロットに割り当ててもらえました。

結論から言うと、とても満足しました。勇気を出してヘリコプターにして良かったです。
キラウエア火山目的で乗りましたが、北部ワイピオ渓谷や、その周辺のテーブルマウンテン？状の地形に感動しました。キラウエアは2013年ごろから小康状態なので、噴火しているような場面は見れません。そう思って小康状態でも溶岩を見ることの出来るヘリを選択しましたが、嬉しい誤算でした。

こちらは、プランによってホテル送迎が付いているのも嬉しいです。
タクシー手配も、英語できない人間には難易度が高いので・・・。

注意として、日本語が通じるのは（日本語可能な）パイロットさんだけ。送迎運転手や、フロア受付の方には一切通じません。それでも、バウチャーもって身振り手振りで何とかなります（なりました）。英語ができれば私よりももっと楽しめるでしょう。
ヘリに乗る前に手荷物を預けるので、カメラやガム（酔い止め）は出しておいた方が良いです。（英語で、カメラは出したか？と聞いていたようで、それは分かったのですが、意図がわからず、ガム出しそびれました。）

帰着した後に、パイロットとの記念撮影を撮ってもらえました。
良い記念になります。

It was a very educational tour with a breathtaking view. I just expected astronomy but the tour guide knew a great deal about volcanos, geology and island plant and animal life as well. The guide was awesome and I love taking tours with someone as trained and passionate about his work as this guy was. The food was so-so but it was hot and ready. The bus was cramped but it got us there and had big windows for great viewing. Once at the top, the observatories were incredible to look at as they opened up for evening viewing. The view of the sunset was also breathtaking, and not just from the lack of oxygen on top of the mountain. Once we headed back down for stargazing, our guides did a great job of pointing out astronomy as we used there 11 inch telescopes. Very great tour and highly recommended!

Food was wonderful. The show teaches a lot about the first king of Hawaii. Great show. Will do again.

Trip was the best. Food was wonderful. Nate was super. Very knowledgeable. Learned so much. Thank you and we will tell all our friends.

As a family with teenagers this trip catered to our needs. Our trip up the mountain was very good and our stop at the visitors centre for our meal gave us a chance to acclimatize before moving onto the summit. We made it to the summit and saw a wonderful sunset before moving onto some stargazing. Our artic jackets were more than handy and we arrived back in Kona by 11pm.

A must-see in winter on the Big Island of Hawaii!
You can definitely see a large group of humpback whales if you join a tour.
However, if you don't go on a Japanese tour, there will be no explanations in English, and there was no consideration for Japanese speakers as they spoke very quickly.
There is no transportation provided outside of the Waikoloa area.
Just a heads up.

冬のハワイ島で必見！
座頭鯨の大群、
ツアーに参加すれば必ず見れます。
但し、
日本語ツアーに行かないと
全く英語での説明、
しかも全く早口日本人に対する配慮はありませんでした。
ワイコロア地域以外は送迎はありません。
念のため。

A must for anyone even slightly intrigued by the world of SUP. If you do go make sure to ask for George as your instructor, he was the best and most knowledgeable.

The whales didn't come as close as I had expected, but I was able to see many of them. We were blessed with good weather, and the feeling of cutting through the calm sea was incredibly refreshing. The view of the mountains from the sea was also fantastic. The staff did not speak Japanese, and about 80% of the participants were foreigners, so a basic understanding of English is necessary to comprehend the situation. Additionally, there was a notification about meeting in the lobby for pickup, but we actually gathered at the car drop-off area just outside the hotel entrance, so be careful about that.

クジラは、思っていたより近くに現れなかったけれど、数はたくさん見ることができました。天候に恵まれて、穏やかな海の上を風をきって進む感じがなんともいえなく爽快でした。海から見える山の景色も最高です。スタッフは日本語を話せず、参加者も８割は外国の方なので、状況を理解する程度の英語力は必要です。またピックアップの際、ロビーという連絡がありましたが実際にはホテルのエントランスを出てすぐの車寄せのところで乗り合わせていたので、注意が必要です。

Good organization but a rather long ride to the top. Stargazing was only so-so. I expected that we would see the stars through one of the observatories located at that top but instead, about 20 of us took turns looking through a kids reflective telescope. Not very exciting. Air is rare up there so be prepared for the possibility of altitude sickness.

We had a great guide Jim. His knowledge of Hawaiian history, plants and wildlife was great. When we were at the Summit with the large world telescope buildings and when we did the viewing of the stars he was excellent there as well.

Highly Recommend this tour.

I participated on December 9.
It might be a bit early for whale watching, as they appeared briefly in the distance, disappeared when we approached by boat, and then reappeared again when we moved away.
Since it was the beginning of the season, I wondered if the captain wasn't familiar with the points, so I thought a bit more patience was needed.
Unfortunately, I couldn't understand much since no Japanese was spoken, making it a disappointing tour.

１２月９日に参加致しました。
まだクジラウォッチングには時期が早いのか
遠方にちらっと現れ、船で近付くといなくなり、
離れると、また遠方に現れる　の連続でした。
シーズン初めで船長がポイント慣れしていないのか
もう少し、我慢が必要かなと思いましたね。
日本語は全く通じないので説明含めほとんど理解できず
残念なツアーになりました。

Mauna Kea has been called the world's observatory. Nowadays, there are others, like the Hubble Space Telescope floating in space and those in Chile, South America. While in Japan, I knew there were many constellations from star charts, but I couldn't actually see them. When I went to the mountain and darkness fell, the first constellation I saw was Cassiopeia, with five stars visible at a very low position. That's right! This is Hawaii, around 20 degrees north latitude, so the circumpolar stars appear very low. The North Star is also at a height of 20 degrees, while where I live is at 35 degrees north latitude, so it appears at a height of 35 degrees. The Milky Way was clearly visible, and I was once again moved by how many stars there were. The Swan constellation was also clearly visible with the guide's explanation. On the way back in the car, looking east, I saw Orion about to rise from the mountain. The three stars in the middle were vertical to the mountain range. It is known that the three stars of Orion are at a 90-degree angle to the horizon when they rise and set, but this time, participating in this tour, I was able to confirm it for the first time. It was very cold, but there was a service for warm drinks, which was comforting.

マウナケア山は世界の天文台と呼ばれてきた。今ではその他、南米のチリや宇宙に浮いているハッブル望遠鏡もある。日本にいるときは星座早見盤では星座がたくさんあることは知っていたが、実際には見ることができなかった。山に行き、暗闇が訪れ、まず最初に見えたのが、カシオペア座、とても低い位置に5つの星が見えた。そうだ！ここはハワイ、北緯20度ぐらいだから周極性もとても低く見える。北極星も20度の高さ、わたしが住んでいるところは北緯35度だから35度高さに見える。銀河もくっきり見え、あらためて、こんなにも星があったんだ、と感動した。ハクチョウ座もｶﾞｲﾄﾞの説明で、きっちり見えた。帰りの車の中で、東の方向をみると、オリオン座が山から今にも登ろうとしていた。真ん中の三つ星が山並みと垂直になっていた。オリオン座の三つ星は、登るときと、沈む時には地平線と90度になることで知られていたが、今回、このツアーに参加して初めて、確認することができた。とても寒かったが、温かい飲み物のｻｰﾋﾞｽがあり、ほっとさせられた。

The temperature was colder than I expected but the viewing was spectacular!

It was incredibly exciting!
Aside from us, all the other guests were foreigners. The pilot was Japanese, so he explained everything in both Japanese and English. I think the views that you can only see from the helicopter are definitely worth the trip.

大興奮でした！
私たち以外は、外国人のお客さんでした。パイロットさんが日本人だったので、日本語と英語両方で説明してくれました。ヘリコプターに乗らないと見ることのできない景色は、行く価値ありだと思います。