All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

Mantas were flipping in front of me, 5 or 6 of them.
I could see them up close!
At first, it was scary to see their mouths so clearly, but they would never attack.
I never expected to see them this close.
It was super fun!

マンタが5～6枚、かわるがわる目前で宙返り。
目前って、カスッテますよ！
最初は口の中がハッキリ見えて怖かったけど、決して襲わえれる事はない。
こんな近くで見えるとは思ってもいませんでした。
超楽しいです。。

Among the various tours available, I chose this one based on the reviews. The wetsuit rental is an additional $10, but it’s a fantastic tour. As mentioned in someone else's post, this tour lights up the water, attracting plankton, and many mantas come to visit! I spent about an hour right in front of the mantas! According to the tour guide, there were supposedly 11 mantas!

Other tours seemed to encounter mantas nearby, but this tour allows you to see them up close. It became a lifelong memory!

It can get a bit cold, so warm clothing is essential!

いろいろのツアーがある中、口コミの内容でこちらを選びました。
ウエットスーツ10ドルが別になりますが、素晴らしいツアーです。
どなたかの書き込みにもありましが、このツアーか灯を照らし、そこにプランクトンが集まります。そこにマンタがたくさん来てくれました！目の前で約一時間、マンタとの時間を過ごせました！ツアーの方曰く、11匹のマンタだったらしいです！

他のツアーは、このツアーの側にきて、マンタとの遭遇のようでした。
でも、一番側で観れるのはこのツアーです。
一生の思い出になりました！

少し寒くなりますので、防寒は必須です！

The land lesson before going to the sea was thorough, and they were considerate of the children who were there for the first time, which made it enjoyable. It was a bit disappointing that there were few waves, and we spent almost all our time just floating... but it can't be helped.

海に行く前の陸のレッスンも丁寧で、
海でも初めての子供に配慮してくださり、楽しめました。
波が少なくて、ほぼ浮かんでる時間だったのが残念でした…。仕方ないですけど。

I had been repeatedly turned down by dolphins in Oahu, Guam, Saipan, and Bali. I signed up for my first dolphin tour on the Big Island, but my family gave me cold looks, saying, "You won't see any dolphins anyway." Deep down, I was filled with a sense of foreboding that I wouldn't see them. (Just in case I didn't see any dolphins on this tour, I booked a stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village, planning to participate in a dolphin program with my kids if all else failed...)

When I mentioned this, our guide Daisuke said, "Let's end that unfortunate record today! Don't worry! You'll see them!" His encouraging words gave me hope. As I boarded the boat, I silently prayed, "I believe!" Just one minute in, I heard, "Oh, there are dolphins!" and when I looked out at the sea, there they were!!! I had never seen them before, but I recognized them immediately! The dolphins were swimming with their dorsal fins breaking the surface repeatedly. And then, we quickly went into the water! There were dolphins everywhere; I was amazed at how many there were. At that moment, I was truly moved...

However, the ocean is vast, and when they dive deep, we just had to wait. But Daisuke dove down to the dolphins. Strangely, they were drawn to him and came up to the surface near us! Incredible, just incredible!

According to Daisuke, "Today, the dolphins are really in a good mood; if I call them ten times, they'll respond every time." (Daisuke can tell the dolphins' moods... that's amazing...) When a dolphin swam past me over my shoulder, I was just overwhelmed with emotion. A regular participant (who has joined this tour about 50 times) said that the dolphins are attracted to Daisuke, and he has never failed to see them.

What I found most wonderful about this tour, especially as a family participant, was when Daisuke said, "Parents, please focus on yourselves. I'll take care of the kids." He actually helped the children who were struggling to get to the dolphins in the water. Thanks to him, I was able to chase the dolphins freely and enjoy myself without worry. I believe families can participate with peace of mind, and it's clear why there are so many regulars; it was a fantastic tour.

We encountered a large group of dolphins just one minute after boarding, but on average, it takes about 50 minutes to find a pod of dolphins.

Once my children's exams are over, I want to go back to the Big Island and join the tour again!

オアフ島・グアム・サイパン・バリ・・・と何度も何度もイルカにフラれ続けた私。
ハワイ島での初のイルカツアーをこちらに申し込みましたが「どうせイルカには会えないって」と家族からも冷たい視線を送られる私。
内心、会えない予感でいっぱいでした。
（今回のツアーで会えなかった場合に備えて、ヒルトンワイコロアビレッジに宿泊。最悪子供とドルフィンプログラムに参加するつもりでした・・・。）

その話をすると、ガイドのダイスケさん、「その不名誉な記録は今日で終わりにしましょう！大丈夫です！会えます！」と力強いお言葉。
「信じてますよ～！！」と心の中で祈りつつ、乗船して一分。
「あ、イルカいますよ～」と言われ、目を海にやるとイルカちゃんが！！！
今までに一度も見たことないのに、すぐに分かりました！
イルカちゃんが何度も何度も海面に背びれを出して泳いでました。
そして、早速海の中へ！
います、います、イルカちゃん達。本当に一体何匹いるんだろうと驚くばかりのイルカの群れ。もうこの時点で私は感動。。。。

ただ海は広いので、深いところへもぐってしまうと、ただ待つことになるのですが、ダイスケさんが素潜りでイルカちゃん達のもとへ。
不思議なことに、それに誘われてイルカちゃんが海面に上がってきて私たちの近くまでやってきてくれるのです！すごい、すごすぎる！

ダイスケさん曰く、「今日は本当にイルカちゃんみんな機嫌がよくて、10回誘ったら10回応えてくれる感じです～」とのことでした。
（イルカちゃんの機嫌がわかる、ダイスケさん、、、すごすぎる。。。）
誘われてきたイルカが私の肩越しにすれ違った時は本当にただただ、感動してしまいました。
常連の方（いままでこちらのツアーに50回くらい参加されている）曰く、ダイスケさんにイルカちゃんはひきつけられてくるんで、一度も会えなかった事はないです～とのことでした。
何より家族で参加した私が一番このツアーで素敵だな～と思ったのは、
「お父さん、お母さんは自分のことをしっかりやってください。子供のことは僕が見ます」とダイスケさんがおっしゃってくださり、実際うまく海の中でイルカのところへ行けな子供達を適時面倒見てくれたこことです。
おかげで、私は本当にのびのびイルカを追いかけまわして、心置きなく楽しむことができました。
家族連れの方も安心して参加していただけると思いますし、常連さんがいらっしゃるのがよくわかる、素敵なツアーでした。

今回私たちは乗船して1分でイルカの大群に出会うことができましたが、平均的にはイルカの群れを見つけるためには、50分くらいかかるそうです。

子供の受験が終わったらまたハワイ島に行ってツアーに参加したいと思ってます！

I never expected to meet so many wild dolphins, so it was truly a wonderful experience. I was nervous because I'm not good at swimming, but they held my hand the whole time and checked in on me frequently, which helped me relax and enjoy it. ♡ It became the best honeymoon!

野生のイルカにあんなたくさん会えるなんて思ってなかったので本当に素敵な体験が出来ました。泳ぐのが苦手で不安だったんですが、ずっと手を引いてくれて声かけもこまめにしてくださってリラックスして楽しめました♡
最高のハネムーンになりました！

Rather than swimming with the manta rays, it feels more like observing them from above while holding onto a board on the surface of the water. It seems that touching the manta rays is prohibited and comes with a hefty fine, so no one reaches out to them. As a result, the manta rays appear completely unafraid and even come surprisingly close, making me think they might be curious enough to wonder if I could be food!

マンタと一緒に泳ぐというより、海の上でボードにつかまって上からマンタを観察する感じです。マンタを触ったりするのは禁じられており高額な罰金があるそうで誰も手を伸ばさないので、マンタは全く危険を感じない様子で、こちらが食べられるんじゃないかと思うくらい近くまで来てビックリでした！

We were able to enjoy over 100 dolphins just one minute after departure! Captain Nawata and Daisuke taught us a lot, and we had a wonderful snorkeling experience two years later! Highly recommended.

出港から１分で100頭以上のイルカと楽しむことができました！！船長の縄田さんや、だいすけさんに色々と教えていただき2年後しの楽しいシュノーケリングができました！とてもおすすめです。

I could see fish well from the window.
Some fish followed the boat, and they were cute.
I listened to the Japanese channel on my headphones, but I thought it would be nice if it were a bit more fulfilling.
However, even without that, it was enjoyable just to watch.

窓からよく魚が見えました。
魚が、船についてくるのがいて、
かわいかったです。
ヘッドホンで、日本語チャンネルを
聞きましたが、もう少し充実されると
いいかと思いました。
でも、そんなのがなくても、見るだけで
楽しかったです。

We participated as a family of five. Our youngest was just two months shy of turning 10, but the VELTRA staff quickly coordinated with the local team, allowing all of us to join without any issues. (It seems age and height are important.)

They also provide thorough preparation and practice before the tour, so I think families with children need not worry. (My middle and high school kids pick things up faster than I do!)

This was my fifth time on the Big Island, but the explanation of Kona's history, which I found lacking in travel guides, really left a strong impression on me.

The passionate guidance from the president and the kind support from our guide, Masako, were outstanding! I will participate in the 120-minute tour next time.

家族5人で参加しました。末っ子が10歳まで2ヶ月足りませんでしたが、VELTRAスタッフの方が現地スタッフへ素早い対応をしていただき、無事に全員で乗ることが出来ました。（年齢+身長が重要みたいです）
ツア－前の準備練習もしっかり行って頂けるので、お子様連れの方も心配ないと思います。（私より、中・高校生の子供の方が飲み込み早い！）
私はハワイ島は5回目でしたが、旅行ガイドだけでは印象の薄かったコナの歴史を解説頂き、非常に心に残りました。
社長の熱血指導、ガイドのマサコさんのやさしい対応！最高でした！！
次回は120分ツア－に参加します。

First, we watched the sunset from a boat and then headed to the manta spot. As soon as we got into the water, a manta did a somersault right in front of us. We were able to see so many mantas up close. Our whole family was very satisfied. The staff were also incredibly friendly.

まず、ボートで夕陽を見てからマンタスポットへ行きました。 海に入ったらすぐに間近でマンタが宙返りしてくれました。 凄いたくさんのマンタがすごく近くで見れました。家族みんな大満足です。スタッフさん達も凄く親切でした。。

The boat was a bit small, but it was agile and great for getting close to the dolphins. There was one male and one female guide, and with the guests included, there were about ten people total, which felt just right. The male guide was Daisuke. After leaving the harbor, I saw Daisuke on the boat, who absolutely loves dolphins and was excited like a child, which made me feel at ease from the start. I had no worries at all. As he said, the dolphins come to you, so this method is enjoyable even for beginners. This way of dolphin swimming is gentle for both the dolphins and people, so if I do dolphin swimming again, I would like to request Daisuke.

Personally, I thought the water temperature might be low, so I borrowed a wetsuit, but after finishing, I realized I should have taken it off to enter the water for diving. However, the dolphins came really close, so the kids could see them up close, and it was a very enjoyable tour. Thank you very much.

P.S. It seemed that some people got seasick during the tour, so I think anyone who isn't confident should definitely take Anelon (there's also a children's version) to enjoy the experience without worrying about seasickness.

ボートは小さめでしたが、機動力もあるし、イルカのそばに近づくにはいいですね。船長、ガイドさんが男性1人、女性1人で、お客さんも入れて全員で10人ぐらいでちょうどいい感じで、その男性ガイドさんがだいすけさんでした。だいすけさんが、港を離れてから、ボート上で、イルカが大好きで、もう、まるで少年のようにワクワクしているのを見て、最初から安心しておまかせできました。全く不安なしでした。イルカは自分から来てくれるから～という通りで、このやりかたなら、初心者でも楽しめますね。このドルフィンスイムのやり方は、イルカにとっても、人にも優しいので、ドルフィンスイムをやるなら、また、だいすけさんにお願いしたいです。
個人的には、水温が低いかもと思い、ウェットスーツをお借りしたですが、潜るためにも、脱いでエントリーすべきだったと、終わったあと、思いました。でも、イルカたちは、ばっちり近くにたくさん来てくれたので、子供も近くで見れて、とても楽しいツアーでした。ありがとうございました。
P.S.
ツアー中、船酔いした方もいたようなので、自信がある方意外は、アネロン（子供用もあります）を必ず飲んで参加したほうが、船酔いの心配ゼロで楽しめると思いました。

After departing from the port, we spent quite a while on the boat. It was a long ride, and the sea wasn't particularly rough, but including the kids, our family was hit hard by seasickness. So, we couldn't enjoy breakfast...

However, once we arrived at the snorkeling spot and got into the water, the seasickness improved, and everyone was thrilled to be in the deep, clear sea.

On the way back, we encountered dolphins, which was super exciting. But then, shortly after that, I felt nauseous again and ended up resting while returning.

The captain was cheerful and lively, making it a lot of fun. I think the hamburgers for lunch would have been really delicious if we hadn't been seasick!

港を出発して結構な時間、船に乗ります。これがなかなか長く、大して海も荒れているわけでもありませんが、子どもたち含め、我が家は船酔いでダウンしました。ですので、朝ごはんは楽しめず。。。
しかし、シュノーケル場所に到着して、海に入ってしまえば、船酔いもよくなり、深いのに透明な海でみんな大喜びしていました。
帰りの船でイルカに遭遇し、大興奮しました。が、またそのあとげろげろになり、寝ながら戻ったという感じです。
船長も陽気、ノリノリでとても楽しく、お昼のハンバーガーも船酔いしていなかったらとてもおいしかったと思います！

There weren't that many mantas, but about two of them swam close by, fluttering around persistently, which was enough for us to enjoy. After we finished watching the mantas, my son got sick, but the guide's response at that time was wonderful, and I am very grateful. Thank you very much.

そんなに多くのマンタがいたわけではないのですが、2匹くらいがしつこいくらい近くをひらひら回転してくれて十分楽しむことができました。
マンタを見終わった後、息子が吐いてしまったのですが、その時のガイドさんの対応も素晴らしく、大変感謝しております。
ありがとうございました。

It is a must! It is worth! I would do it again. At the beginning, I did not know what to expect, it was a friend recommendation and I thought it would be similar to swim with dolphins actitiviy I did before, but no, it is 10 times better! Getting into the water at night and be so close to these gentle giants was an experience that I will never forget. In less than 10 minutes in the water, we had mantas approaching us. They get very close to you thanks to the powerful lights attracting plâncton. I recommend you take your cell phone in a waterproof case and film. Just keep filming uninterruptly because you don’t know when the mantas will show up. Great experience!

You can choose the tour, but you can't choose the weather. It was a windy day, so the boat was really rocking. Some people were holding their heads and feeling sick (including my son).

According to reviews, it didn't seem like there would be many participants, but on the day we went, I think there were over 50 people on board. The second floor was almost full.

We saw dolphins right after we set off. There were several of them, which was a great start.

It takes about 40-50 minutes to reach the snorkeling point. Once we arrived, we received a safety briefing before heading out to snorkel. The water was clear, and we could see fish and sea urchins. My 4-year-old daughter also put on the fins and goggles we borrowed and swam. The waves were high, so just swimming was quite challenging.

After snorkeling, we enjoyed a waterslide from the boat. It was thrilling but fun.

We had breakfast and lunch on the boat, and the lunch burgers were delicious.

Seeing my son suffering from seasickness and a headache, an American lady said, "Drinking ginger ale will help." However, I'm not sure if that's true.

Anyway, it was tough with the high waves, but it was a very good experience!

ツアーは選べても、天気は選べません。強風の日だったので、ボートがスゴく揺れました。何人かの人が頭を抱え、寝込んでいました。(我が息子もですが。)

口コミでは、そんなに参加者も多くなさそうでしだか、私らが参加した日は、50人以上は乗船していたと思います。二階席もほぼ満席でした。

出発してすぐにイルカは見れました。何頭もいて、幸先良いスタートでした。

シュノーケルポイントまでは、40-50分？乗ります。着いたら安全に関するレクチャーを受けてから、いざシュノーケルに出陣。水は澄んで、魚もウニも見えました。４歳の娘も一丁前に借りた足のフィンとゴーグルを着けて、泳ぎました。波が高かったので、ただ泳ぐのも大変でした。

シュノーケルのあとは、ボートからのウォータースライダー。スリリングだけど、楽しかったです。

朝食もランチもボートで食べましたが、ランチのバーガーは美味しかったです。

船酔いで頭が痛くて仕方なかった息子を見かねて、アメリカンのオバチャマが、"ジンジャエールを飲むと、マシになるよ。"と言っていたものの、定かではありません。

とにかく、波が高くて大変でしたが、とても良い経験が出来ました！

We were a family of 7 visiting Hawaii for the first time in July 2018 and swimming with the Mantas sounded like a dream. We went out and was disappointed when only 2 Mantas showed up but I only saw one. To our surprise the captain announced that he planned on going back out later and anyone who wished to go back out was welcomed to stay onboard. Well needless to say we went back out to the south side of the island and to our amazement we were blessed to not only swim with one but with seven Mantas. The experience was outstanding one I will never forget. The captain and crew was courteous and professional and I highly recommend Ocean Encounters.

The night was perfect. We saw 6-7 mantas ! The captain (Tony) and the crew (I don't remember everyone's name :() were great as well giving clear instructions and making sure everyone made the most out of te experience. Prescription snorkling equipment was available which was even better.

The crew were terrific. We had a long lengthy talk about "safety" and what to do and what not to do to keep us and the manta rays safe. Initially, the area looked crowded as there were a handful of boats out in the same area. We booked this excursion early on in our stay as Sea Paradise offers 100% guarantee that we will see manta rays. If we don't, we can come back for free. As we started, the manta rays were swimming underneath us immediately. We had an unusually fantastic night as we were told that normal nights, there were 4 manta rays. Our night, we had 6-8, I loose track. They were so close to us, tumbling and doing their ballets. We had at least 30 minutes of their bellies being 2 inches away from our faces. What an unforgettable night! Hot chocolate as we came out of the water to keep us warm. Lots of snacks on board.

I was really looking forward to swimming with manta rays! We boarded a small boat and after about 30 minutes of travel, the waves were so rough that it felt like a roller coaster ride! It was amazing. ><;

(The instructor said, "Everyone did a great job!")

When we arrived at the site, we listened to the safety instructions and then entered the water one by one, but instead of swimming, we were just floating. We stretched out our legs (keeping a kicking position) and watched as the graceful manta rays swam beneath us. Since they are wild manta rays, we couldn't swim alongside them. Seeing them glide elegantly right in front of me made me go, "Wow!" but it was different from what I had imagined. My mother (80 years old) and my sister (in her 60s), who participated with me, said they wished there had been a clearer explanation of how to snorkel. It seemed to be a bit difficult for the older participants.

On the way back, as everyone mentioned, it was quite cold, so precautions are necessary. There are no changing facilities, so I think it's important to be flexible in preparing for that as well.

マンタを泳ぐ！となっていたので、かなり期待していました。小さなボートに乗り、進むこと30分くらい？波が大荒れだったのと、先端に乗っていたのとでジェットコースター以上の体感！凄かったです。><;
（「みなさん、よく頑張りました！」とインストラクターさんからの一言）
現場に到着し、注意事項を聞いて、次々に海に入りますが…泳ぐのではなく、浮いている状態。足をのばし（蹴伸びしている状態をキープ）その下を、優雅にマンタが泳いできてくれるという光景。野生のマンタですもの、一緒に泳ぐことはできないんですね。自分の目の前を優雅に泳いでいく姿を見るのは、「わぁー！」と思いましたが、想像していたのとは、違っていました。一緒に参加していた母(80歳）とお姉さま（60代）の二人は、「シュノーケリングの仕方？をしっかり説明してほしかった」と言っていました。年配の方には難しかったみたいです。
帰りは、皆さんがおっしゃるようにかなり寒いので、対策は必要です。着替える場所はないので、そのあたりも臨機応変に対策が必要だと思います。

Very few places could match this experience. The location; the slow climb up the giant sloping mountain. We went through rain, sun, even through a cloud; through the lava landscape, ranch lands and very bumpy rocky last stretch of road to reach the top! And wow it was a view from the top.
Be warned; it is very very cold; not what you expect from your Hawaiian break! You get nice warm coats from the tour group though (and later a little hot cocoa and brownie to keep you going!)
As the sun sets; you can see the mountains shadow on the other side; a glimpse of Maui and the glint of the sun off the telescopes preparing for their nights work. You can see the odd bit of movement as they open up. As soon as the suns down; its all go though. We have to leave the area quickly as the lights from the cars interfere with the telescopes (so no, there is no looking around inside them; if that is what you're hoping for in this trip!).
We move down slope a little to a good spot to see the huge expanse of clear, cloudless sky and the abundance of stars.
It is slightly interrupted with the brightness of the moon (so depending how long your stay is in Hawaii, plan for a darker night, unless you love the moon!); but not enough to stop us seeing nebula, planets and stars - its a really interesting spot to see both the northern and southern skies.
We did also spot a bit of the glow from the erupting volcano

I only add the nerve wracking part as it was something I did with a little trepidation - the idea of swimming in the ocean, in the dark, in the cold with a little tube to breathe through... However, I like to do something that scares every once in a while as the fear usually is nothing when actually doing the activity and this one was definitely the case in this experience. The guides were excellent and talked everyone through and kept everyone relaxed. You had a half wet suit to help with the cold; the water was lit up (to attract the plankton and mantas); the snorkel you soon forgot once you were floating in pure amazement and smiles as these giants swooped below you and then treated to the bright white display of them underneath as they rolled to eat up the plankton. Complete gentle giants; and not at all scary but just delightful

The day before the tour, I received a notification about a change in the pickup time. It was only 15 minutes earlier, but since I don't frequently check my emails while traveling, I almost missed it.

On the day of the tour, there were other guests, but perhaps due to the large number of participants, our family of four was directed to a larger boat that seemed to be a different English tour boat called "Hang Loose." We joined about 20 foreign guests on board. A Japanese guide accompanied us, and since the explanations were provided in Japanese, we had no difficulties. However, it felt a bit misleading to call this a "small group of up to 10 people" (although it was true that the guide was only responsible for our family of four). I also felt that the content of the tour was somewhat different from what other Japanese guests experienced.

In the end, I actually thought it was better for our family to be on the boat we were assigned to. First, the Japanese guide who also handled the transportation to the hotel was dedicated solely to our family of four, creating a private guide experience. On the boat, they were attentive to our health and provided light snacks, and they constantly supported our two elementary school children, who were not very familiar with the sea, which made us feel secure.

Shortly after departure, we spotted dolphins and entered the water twice. Although we didn't spend a long time in the water due to our inexperience with snorkeling, the children were able to see the dolphins. After the second time, when we got back on the boat, it sped off to a distant location. The guide informed us that this boat also takes guests to Captain Cook. In the waters in front of the Captain Cook monument, we were able to leisurely see many fish while snorkeling. It seemed that the relaxed snorkeling at Captain Cook suited our children better than the hurried movements chasing dolphins. After that, the boat returned while we enjoyed the view of the cliffs along the coast.

Although the content was somewhat different from what was described at the time of booking, our family was very satisfied with the tour, and we are very grateful to the guide who assisted us. However, if you strongly wish to swim with dolphins, you might be disappointed if you end up on a boat similar to ours.

ツアー前日の午後になって、ピックアップ時間変更の連絡がありました。集合が15分早くなっただけでしたが、旅先で頻繁にメールを見ているわけではないので、危うく見過ごすところでした。
当日は他のお客さんも居ましたが、参加人数が多かったせいか、うちの家族4人は他の参加者とは異なる大き目の船へ案内されました。案内されたのは Hang loose と書かれた別の英語のツアー船のようで、20人程度の外国のお客さんの中にうちの家族4人が同乗する形。日本人のガイドの方が同行してくれて、説明等は日本語で聞けたので何の不自由もありませんでしたが、これを「最大10名の少人数制」と呼ぶのか？？？という感じ（確かに日本人ガイドさんが担当しているのはうちの4人だけではありますが）。 ツアーの内容も他の日本人のお客さんとは異なるものだったような気がします。
ただ、結果としては、うちの家族にとっては、むしろ案内された船で良かったと思いました。まず、ホテルまでの送迎も担当してくれた日本人ガイドさんが、我が家の4名のみに付きっ切りというプライベートガイド状態。船上では体調や軽食などいろいろ気配りをしていただき、海中では海が不慣れな小学生の2人の子供を常にサポートしてもらい安心できました。
出港後、ほどなくイルカを見つけ海に入ったのが2回。シュノーケルに不慣れで手間取ったこともあって、そんなに長い時間ではありませんでしたが、子供たちもイルカを見ることができました。2回目が終わって船に上がったところで船はスピードを上げて遠方へ。ガイドさんから、この船はキャプテンクックにも案内していると教えてもらいました。キャプテンクックの記念碑の前の海ではシュノーケリングでたくさんの魚をのんびり見ることができました。うちの子供達にはイルカを追って慌ただしく動くよりも、キャプテンクックでのゆったりしたシュノーケリングの方が合っていたようです。その後、船は海岸沿いの崖を見物しながら帰港しました。
申し込み時の案内とは内容が多少異なっていましたが、我が家的には非常に満足できるツアーでしたし、担当してくれたガイドさんにも非常に感謝しております。
ただ、もしイルカと泳ぎたいということを強く願って参加される場合は、今回の我々と同じような船に同乗することになると残念に思ってしまうかもしれません。

The phone call for reconfirmation until the day before was a hassle. I don't understand why it's necessary when I've already paid with a credit card. Moreover, since I was planning to participate on the day of arrival, I had to call from Japan considering the time difference.

When I asked about the rain policy, they said that if it rains heavily, we would go under the roof. In the case of a storm, they would decide around 5 PM whether to cancel or not.

After reading other people's experiences, I was surprised to see a long line when I went to line up before 5 PM! Perhaps it was because it was the high season in late July. Registration started at 5:30 PM, and we got to wear shell leis for photos. You can upgrade to flower or nut leis for an additional fee. You can refuse the photo session.

Seating is based on the order of the line. If you pay about 20 dollars more, you can get a table at the very front.

The host talks a lot and sings as well. The English isn't too difficult, and you can still enjoy it even if you don't understand everything. There are hula lessons, traditional games, and stamp tattoos. They show you the whole roasted pig being pulled up, followed by a performance where the king lands from the sea. You're instructed to get your meal from the front tables. Drinks are all-you-can-drink (some are paid), but the bar is far away and inconvenient.

You can see dances from various Polynesian regions. The fire dance was the most exciting. I saw a similar show at Fish Eye in Guam, but the stage here is smaller overall, and there are fewer dancers. The fire dance only has one male performer.

I can tell they are trying to entertain us, but it was very long, and I ended up dozing off a bit.

At the end, you can take photos with the dancers using your phone or other devices. No one seemed to be tipping. The price of the show is much cheaper than in Waikiki, but since I haven't seen it in Waikiki, I can't compare the cost performance.

前日までのリコンファームの電話が面倒です。クレジットカードで支払い済みなのに、どうして必要なのかがわかりません。しかも、到着当日の参加を予定していたので、時差を考えて日本から電話しなくてはなりませんでした。
雨の場合を聞いたところ、かなり降ったら屋根の下に入ると言っていました。嵐の場合は5時頃に中止するかどうか決めるとのことでした。

他の方の体験談を拝見し、5時前に並びに行ったら、既に大行列でビックリ！！7月下旬のハイシーズンだったからでしょうか。5時半から受付が始まり、貝殻のレイをかけてもらって写真撮影。レイはお金を払えばお花や木の実のレイにアップグレードできます。写真撮影は拒否できます。
座席は並んだもの順で前からです。20ドルくらい多く払うと、最も前のテーブルになるようです。

ホストの方がしゃべるしゃべる。歌も歌う。そんなに難しい英語ではないし、分からなくても楽しめます。フラのレッスンや伝統ゲームに興じたり、スタンプタトゥーがあります。
豚の丸焼きを引き上げるのを見せてくれ、直後に王が海から上陸する演出。食事は前方テーブルからに取りにいくよう指示されます。飲み物は飲み放題ですが（一部有料）、バーが遠くて面倒です。
ここまでが長いこと！

ポリネシア各地の踊りを見せてもらえます。ファイアーダンスが一番盛り上がっていました。グアムのフィッシュアイでも同様のショーを見ましたが、こちらは全体的にステージが小さくダンサーの数は少ないです。ファイヤーダンスも男性が一人だけです。

色々と楽しませようとしてくださっているのは伝わるのですが、とても長いので、一部寝てしまいました。

最後はダンサーの方と手持ちの携帯などで写真を撮れます。特にチップを払っている人はいませんでした。ショーのお値段はワイキキよりずっと安いですが、ワイキキでは見ていないので、コスパ比較はできません。

I was able to see many beautiful fish! As a bonus, about ten dolphins came by, and we snorkeled together!! The staff were kind, and I had a great time! There were no other Japanese people besides us, but we enjoyed it enough!!

綺麗なおサカナがたくさん見れましたー
オマケに、イルカか10頭くらいやって来て、一緒にシュノーケリングしました！！ w
スタッフの方達も親切で楽しく過ごせました！
日本人は、うちの他にはいませんでしたが…十分楽しめました！！

Our guide Jeff picked us up from the Pu'u Huluhulu Cinder Cone parking lot, at the base of the road up to the summit. We had a very nice pre-packaged dinner at the base camp, then rode up to the visitor center and onward to the observatories. A bumpy and steep ride, I was very happy to have an experienced driver at the wheel!
At the top the weather was cool and clear and good for viewing a sunset, then we went down to a slightly lower lot to view stars and planets through a good quality Celestron scope.... the clear air and high altitude really added detail! First time I have been able to make out the rings of Saturn, and four of Jupiter's moons were posing really well for us! Some really excellent deep space views too! Check out a cool image of the moon from the Celestron scope....

Highly recommended, especially if you live somewhere with so much haze and light pollution you don't get to see that stars that well!
Mahalo!!

This adventure was awesome! Lots of fish at both areas but especially the second area. We were the only boat at the second place we went to and there were tons of fish! I wish I would've taken my own snorkel gear but I'll make sure I do next time. Their gear was ok though.
5 hours was a good amount of time and we didn't feel rushed at either stopping area.
The breakfast was good.
I don't eat meat and the veggie burger that they made was pretty bad. I have never had a veggie burger that I liked. I love having everything on a bun with cheese though and that was great.

Husband and I throughly enjoyed the excursion! Our guide blew us away with his well rounded knowledge of the island, its geography and history. The coffee farm and meal were a special treat before an evening of stargazing.

It was a wonderful tour.

The summit of Mauna Kea was above the clouds, and I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful sunset and stargazing, as well as photographing the night sky. I was also amazed to see the phenomenon of Kilauea's lava illuminating the sky in red from the summit.

The guide's explanations and guidance were of a high level, and they were very knowledgeable in various fields. The atmosphere, environment, and taste of the dining location were also impeccable.

全てが素晴らしいツアーでした。

マウナケア山頂は雲の上であり、とても美しいサンセットと星空観賞、星空撮影を満喫できました。キラウエアの溶岩が空を赤く照らす現象も山頂から眺められたことに驚きました。

ガイドの説明や案内のレベルも高く、様々な分野にとても詳しい方でした。
食事場所の雰囲気や環境、味も文句なしです。

The tour guide Herald was very nice, friendly and knowledgeble on native hawaiian's culture, ecology and astronomy. We got to see a "natural planetarium" in the mountain including Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. Coming from a big city we don't see stars in the sky, so the view was just breath taking and we were soooo glad we participated in the tour. I guess you can go to the summit and see stars on your own but I'd strongly recommend this tour. Because I think it will give you a whole new experience and view on the island and their culture.
Dinner was tasty too. I was expecting a lot less.

Great crew very attentive kind and funny what a great way to see Dolphins in the wild you can stay with the group or get outside by yourself must do trip you and your family will love it. Bill