Big Island
Our guide was a local, born and raised, and very knowledgeable about everything! He was entertaining, friendly, and went out of his way to make it special for us! Highly recommend!
The trip of a lifetime (to Hawaii) included an experience of a lifetime (Glass bottom boat scenic cruise)! We saw many beautiful sea creatures in a coral laden ocean! Even a sea turtle surfaced for a few breaths before taking a dive into the turquoise waters again. The captains and naturalist answered questions about the water and its inhabitants. A job well done from beginning to end! Mahalos!
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip and your interactions with our crew, and most importantly, got an opportunity to see such a wide variety of marine life.
We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the Big Island and we're honored you chose to join us on board.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
The top rating goes to the crew's hospitality. Even though the cocktails were free, I was very impressed. It's definitely not a cheap tour, but I would like to participate again if the opportunity arises.
1番の評価は乗務員のホスタビリティです。カクテルフリーとは言え、大変感心しました。決して安いツアーではありませんがまた機会があれば参加したいと思います。
Thank you for joining us!
Mahalo for joining us!
It was our 2nd time at the summit after 14 years with your company and we were more concerned about the summit weather due to last time it was so windy and cold to stay outside of the car.
But, the weather this time thanks to god it was good to watch the sunset.
Our driver was so nice was caring, professional skill of guiding and a gentleman.
He was caring everyone.
This made our trip OUTSTANDING.
I would recommend this trip to anyone eligible it is good tour with a Mercedes 4WD van with 14 passengers.
This was a local tour on the Big Island of Hawaii. The original plan was to drive to the summit (4,200 meters) to watch the sunset, and then observe the stars in the night sky at another location.
However, at the visitor center (2,800 meters), the area was covered in clouds, and the road was closed, preventing us from reaching the summit. I had heard that the summit of Mauna Kea is above the clouds and has low weather risks, but I realized there is a risk of road closures along the way.
After that, we were able to observe the stars from a lower area (1,800 meters). We could see Saturn, and the night sky was magnificent.
ハワイ本島での現地ツアーです。元々の予定は、車で山頂(4200メートル)に登り日の入りを見学、その後別の場所で夜空で星を観察というものでした。
ところが、途中のビジターセンター(2800メートル)で辺りが雲に覆われて道路が閉鎖され、山頂に行けませんでした。マウナケア山頂は雲の上にあり天候リスクが少ないと聞いていましたが、途中の道が閉鎖されるリスクを認識しました。
その後、少し下った広場(1800メートル)で夜空の星を観察出来ました。土星も見え、星空は素晴らしかったです。
レビューをありがとうございます。ご意見をいただき感謝いたします。土星を見ながら星空を楽しんでいただけたことを嬉しく思います。今後のご利用をお待ちしております。
Mahalo for your review. We appreciate your feedback and are pleased you were able to stargaze and see Saturn! We look forward to hosting you in the future.
I had a very enjoyable time with the dolphins. I had many opportunities to touch them. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to swim while holding onto the dolphin's dorsal fin. It was listed as one of the activities, so I thought I would definitely be able to experience it, but I couldn't.
とても楽しい時間をいるかと過ごせました。たくさん触る機会がありました。残念だったのはいるかの背びれにつかまって泳ぐことはできませんでした。アクティビティのひとつに書かれていたので、必ず体験できると思っていたのですができませんでした。
You can borrow winter clothing, but it is very cold. Wear long pants and sneakers. However, during sightseeing until sunset, you will be walking, seeing waterfalls, and entering caves, so it can get hot and you might sweat. Drinks are also available.
防寒服は貸してもらえますが、とても寒いです。
長ズボン、スニーカーで行くこと。
しかし、日没までの観光は、滝を見たり洞窟に入ったり歩くので暑くて汗をかきます。
飲み物も頂けます。
The whole family loved the experience and had a blast! Fun, informative and friendly staff. Would love to do it again.
Wonderful! We are so thrilled that you and your family had a lovely time. We are excited to see you next time. ALOHA!
So from other reviews you know the lines are long, especially in the heat. Now they have water fountains, and it does move semi quickly. But it would make sense to have the vip's seated 1st, then the GA seats enter by sections.
This would help with standing in the sun for to long.
The show it self was fantastic! Very entertaining, and kept you wanting more.
My only gripe, is that I am diabetic, and needed to eat sooner than later, and since I was the last table to be sat, we were the last table to be approved to get up to the Buffet. Also there was no sugar free desserts. Other than that the foods I was able to eat was delicious and flavorful. But I did end up in the restroom for most of the evening once returned back to the room. Could have been that some foods were in the temp danger zone for to long.
God’s amazing creativity seen through volcanic activity and celestial bodies. Truly an experience you won’t forget. Maka was the best. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Be forewarned that if you have altitude problems, you may fell icky at the summit. Take it slowly. You’ll fell better when you descend.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn't travel to Hawaii in 2020 and 2021, but I resumed my trips to Oahu in 2022 and 2023, and this time, it was my first trip to the Big Island in five years. As usual, I stayed at the Hilton resort in the Waikoloa area, but I felt that I couldn't truly experience the Big Island without seeing the traditional luau and hula Hawaiian show, which I also hadn't seen in five years. On the day of the event, it started drizzling, and as we transitioned from the first traditional hula show to dinner, the staff quickly distributed vinyl raincoats. By the time the Polynesian dancers' torch-lit group dance reached its peak, the rain had turned into a light mist, and most of the audience removed their raincoats. With the host's lively lead, the audience became one with the show and was filled with excitement. However, perhaps due to the rainy weather from the start, the program was moved up, and the audience participation hula was skipped, which was a bit disappointing.
コロナ禍で2020、2021年はハワイに行けなかったが、2022、2023年とオアフ島(ホノルル)で旅行を再開して、今回、5年ぶりのハワイ島旅行となった。いつもの様にワイコロア地区のヒルトンのリゾートに滞在したが、やはり伝統のルアウ&フラ・ハワイアンショーを見ないとハワイ島に来た感じがしないと思い、これも5年ぶりの観覧となった。当日はスタートから小雨模様で、最初の伝統フラのショーから食事に切り替わる頃に、スタッフが手早くビニルのレインコートを配ってまわり、ポリネシアンダンサーのトーチを使った集団ダンスが佳境に入る頃には雨も細かい霧雨に変わり、観客の殆どがレインコートを脱ぎ去り、司会者の軽妙なリードで会場が一体となってショーに熱狂した。今回、スタートから雨模様のためか、プログラムの進行が全て前倒しで進められ、観客参加のフラがスキップされたりしたのが少々、残念であった。
I'm embarrassed to say that I balked a little at first at the cost of this tour. Let me tell you, 15 minutes into the tour it felt like a total bargain.
The van was super comfortable and clean. We were running a little late and the tour guide called us to make sure we were going to make it. He was kind and understanding.
Our guide's make was Kea. He was the best guide of any tour I've taken in thirty years. So much local knowledge, and very generous with his experience and expertise. He made everyone on the trip feel like an individual. Also, he's hilarious.
The stargazing was simply mind blowing. It was like looking into deep space for nearly two hours. We lost count is the shooting stars after 15.
Kea was also very knowledgeable about the stars and the telescope we used was amazing. We saw nebulas, globular clusters, binary stars, and more.
After a long day, full bellies, and stargazing it was a real relief to have someone else driving us down the dark mountain.
I'll wrap things up by thanking our guide one more time. The quality of this tour really felt like it came from the quality of the person who shared his knowledge with us.
For the tour departing at 10:30, we needed to arrive at the heliport an hour in advance. The heliport is located near Waikoloa. We arrived at 9:30, checked in, and then watched a video. When the time came, we took a tour of the Big Island, flying counterclockwise. It was about a two-hour helicopter tour. The pilot, who is from Massachusetts, provided guidance in a mix of Japanese and English. There were a total of seven of us on board: four Japanese, the pilot, and two Americans. It was very helpful that the guide spoke Japanese.
十時三十分出発のツアーで一時間前までにヘリポートに行く必要がある。ヘリポートはワイコロア近くにある。九時半に到着してチェックインしてから、ビデオを見た。時間になりハワイ島を左回りに一周した。約二時間のヘリツアー。マサチューセッツ州出身の操縦士が日本語と英語を混ぜながら案内してくれた。登場したのは我々日本人四人と操縦士とアメリカ人二人の合計七人。ガイドは日本語を話せるのでとても助かった。
The luau at Hilton Waikoloa Village was my first experience, and the kalua pork was incredibly delicious. The traditional luau and hula Hawaiian show, although pricey, was definitely worth seeing live. Plus, with the all-you-can-drink option, I ended up drinking a bit too much, but I really enjoyed it. I would love to visit again.
ヒルトンワイコロアビレッジでのルアウは初めてでしたが、カルアポークも非常美味しく、伝統ルアウ&フラ・ハワイアンショーは、高価ではありますが、生で見る価値満載でした。そして、飲み放題ということもあり、お酒を飲みすぎましたが、非常にエンジョイ出来ました。また、訪れたいですね。
Wow! What an amazing experience. We were so glad we took this tour instead of attempting this ourselves. It was beyond our wildest dreams, like leaving earth and visiting Mars. Just incredible. Our tour guide, Arthur, was extremely knowledgeable. We all learned a tin from him through the tour. I highly recommend him.
The food was from a local restaurant and was delicious. The bus was comfortable and I would not have wanted to drive to the summit in a rental car. That alone was worth the rate.
Also, Parkas and gloves were provided and they were super nice and warm. This tour was by far thi highlight of our trip to Hawaii. Do not hesitate. The experience is incredible and better than we could have possibly imagined. Not to be missed. And...it's cheap when you consider the quality I'd the experience. We LOVED it.
This luau was everything our family could have hoped for. It felt genuine and true to Polynesian history and tradition while still having fun moments and many laughs. The music, dancing, and fire aspects were all top notch. I have also heard that typically the good at luaus is so-so, but the buffet was fantastic as well as the drinks and dessert. Excellent all around. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I've been on many catamaran snorkel trips on different Hawaiian islands over the years, this one was just OK compared to the others. The things that brought the experience down a bit for my family were the number of people on the boat, it was very crowded, the way food was handled (you're paying handsomely for some chips and a pretty bland sandwich -- they ask you what you want when you sign up for the boat but on the boat it's a free-for-all, so you might end up with something you didn't want or pay for), and lastly (and again) the number of people on the boat. The first 15 minutes of snorkeling was just spent trying to get away from everyone else so you didn't get kicked in the face or torpedoed by some mid-westerner trying to play aquaman by diving under the water and surfacing right into your abdomen. So yeah, it was OK -- wouldn't do it again for the price though.
We saw fish, turtle, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and had a great time! Guide and captain were very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend for a quick and short excursion!!! We stayed at Hilton Waikoloa and we were 5 min drive.
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the trip and the information provided by our crew. We know there are a lot of ways to spend the morning when you're on the Big Island and we're honored you chose to spend part of one of yours with us and that we've earned your recommendation.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
Loved everything about this group from the easy registration, the friendliness and professionalism of the crew and captain and you can't beat the location
Thanks for everything
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Snorkel Cruise. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed the experience and your interactions with our crew. We know there are a lot of activity providers to choose from when you're on the Big Island and we're honored you chose to join us aboard!
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
I felt there were many Polynesian dances. There were fewer hula performances, but the fire show was impressive. The food was very delicious. However, the location was hard to find. Even the staff at the Orchid didn't seem to know much about it. I think I should have asked the doorman at the front entrance from the beginning.
ポリネシアンダンスが多く感じました。フラは少なめですが、ファイヤーショーは見応えがありました。食事はとてもおいしかった。ただ、開催場所がわかりにくかった。オーキッドのスタッフに聞いてもあまり知らないようでした。正面玄関のドアマンに最初から聴けばよかったと思いました。
An absolutely amazing experience!!! Our guide Anderson was very nice and energetic, helped us took great photos. The stargazing is a wonderful experience, making me curious about the dark sky.
What a morning, sights I will remember in my head forever!
Show was great! Service did their best. I was not pleased with set up & quality of how things were presented & for food & drinks.
Sunset from the summit! This is a $ splurge, at least for us, but between the quirky Hawaiian history and mythology lesson plus solid science and general kind authenticity of our guide Addison; the "you'll never see a sunset quite like this one" moment; a humbling and breathtaking view looking out at the galaxy; and the luxury of being a passenger rather than a driver, with convenient pick-up and drop-off...totally worth it. Thanks for the highlight!
I participated in a helicopter tour of the Big Island! The pilot was Toshi, who recently became a grandfather and has semi-retired. I felt very lucky to meet Toshi on this trip!
From the moment we headed to the helicopter, my excitement soared, and it reached its peak during takeoff! I was moved by the breathtaking natural beauty of the Big Island spread out below me.
The landing and takeoff at the cliffs of Kohala Coast and the 365-meter drop of Punalu'u Falls were absolutely thrilling!
As I flew, reflecting on the history from the birth of the Big Island to the present, I was reminded of how short and precious life is.
It was truly priceless! I highly recommend it!
ビッグアイランドのヘリコプター遊覧ツアーに参加しました!パイロットはToshiさん、お孫さんが産まれて、セミリタイアされたとの事。今回、Toshiさんにお会い出来たのは、非常にラッキーでした!
ヘリに向かう時からテンションが上がり、テイクオフでMAXに到達!眼下に広がるビッグアイランドの大自然に感動しました(^^)
特にコハラ海岸の断崖絶壁と、落差365mのプナルルの滝へのランディング&テイクオフは迫力満点でした!
ビッグアイランドの誕生から今に至る迄の、歴史に思いを馳せながらのフライトは、人の一生が如何に短く、如何に大切か、改めて感じる事が出来ました!
正にプライスレス!!お勧めです(^^)
The pilot was Toshi Mochizuki! With his warm and passionate guidance, we discovered the true charm of the Big Island of Hawaii! Thank you so much, Toshi!
パイロットは望月トシさんでした!
彼のあたたかく、そして熱い案内で、わたし達はハワイ島の本当の魅力を知りました!トシさんホントにホントにありがとうございました!!
The site for the luau was gorgeous. The food was excellent. We couldn't see the show at all because we were in the back and had kids , although none of us could see it. We left early. We haven't gotten our pictures because we didn't get a chance to do it quick enough. The old method of bringing to the guests was better.
I participated alone during my stay in Hilo. It was great to find a Mauna Kea tour departing from Hilo, as they are not easy to come by. The scenery while driving through Mauna Kea felt like I had arrived in another world. The sunset and the evening glow were wonderful. The starry sky was also breathtaking, with the Scorpius and the Southern Cross clearly visible. I'm not good at English, so I listened to the guide's talk while translating it with a translation app. It was a tour that nature lovers would absolutely enjoy.
ヒロに滞在中に一人で参加しました。
ヒロ発のマウナケアのツアーがなかなかなくて、
見つけられて良かったです。
マウナケアの懐を走っている時の景色は、
地球外に来たのではないかと思ってしまうような異空間でした。
また、サンセット、からの夕焼けは素晴らしかったです。
そして星空も、さそり座や南十字星が綺麗に見えて感動しました。
英語が苦手で、ガイドさんのトークは翻訳アプリで翻訳しながら聞いていました。
自然好きにはたまらないツアーでした。
This was my second time doing this and it was amazing both times! This time I took my 3-year-old grandson. He was excited up until it was time to get in the water. He started crying and wanting mommy and though she was there she wasn’t planning to get in the pool (I hadn’t paid for her). Anyways, the trainer saw how upset he was and asked him if he wanted to hear the dolphin fart. He stopped crying and watched as she proceeded to make the dolphin make a fart sound. She then offered to let him do it and he did which made him laugh. He then decided the dolphin was pretty cool and ended up petting her and feeding her too. It was so fun spending that time with him and I can’t wait to do it again when my granddaughter is old enough.
Aloha- we are so thrilled that you enjoyed the program so much that you have returned to share the experience with other generations. We love that! Also, happy that the trainer was able to break the ice with your grandson, so that he was able to become comfortable to enjoy it as you do. Mahalo. See you when you bring your granddaughter.
It feels like you can enjoy your meal while watching. The variety and amount of food and drinks are just right. With Alii Seat, you get priority entry and can grab the buffet first, and the staff at your table quickly ask for your drink orders and bring them to you. The show isn't flashy, but you can enjoy it casually while eating and drinking. If you don't understand English, you'll just have to enjoy the atmosphere.
食べながら見るという感じですが食べ物、飲み物の種類と量もちょうど良い感じです。
Alii Seatだと優先的に入れてブッフェも先に取れるし飲み物もテーブル担当の方が直ぐに聞いて持って来てくれます。
ショーは派手さはないですけど飲み食いしながら気楽に楽しめる感じです。
英語がわからなければ雰囲気で楽しむしかないですけど。