All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

We thoroughly enjoyed the Manta Ray excursion. The tour guide was great with telling us about the history of this tour and details about the behavior and nature of these Manta Rays. My daughter was most impressed. Although she’s 9yo and a good swimmer, she was still a little nervous about snorkeling at night and meeting these Manta Rays that could come inches to your face. However, the tour guide has made everyone felt safe and she was able to enjoy the magnificence of these gentle sea creatures. Highly recommended

The tour that day consisted of just two people, including myself, who had snorkeling experience. I'm grateful they held the tour with the minimum number of participants.

First, we searched for dolphins off the coast of Kailua-Kona. There were many tour boats gathering around a pod of dolphins, and the sea was already filled with people! The waters off Kailua-Kona were as crowded as Takeshita Street! Amidst all this, Captain K skillfully predicted the dolphins' movements and dropped us in an area with fewer people.

By repeating the process of moving the boat, dropping us, surfacing, and moving again, we were able to chase the pod of dolphins more dynamically, doubling our chances! Dolphins surfaced right in front of us to breathe and passed by!

According to our guide, "Dolphins will avoid people if they're in a bad mood," but today we were lucky, and the dolphins didn't seem to mind people. It was a lucky day! I had a fantastic time on the tour! When I visit the Big Island again, I will definitely join another tour! Mahalo!

当日のツアーはシュノーケル経験のある方と私の２名でした。
ツアー最小挙行人数で開催してくれて感謝です。

まずはドルフィンを探してカイルアコナの沖へ
ポイントには沢山のツアーボートがドルフィンの群れを
追い集結しており、海には沢山の人が既にいる状態！
カイルアコナ沖が竹下通りのごとく人人人！
そん中船長のKさんうまくドルフィンの動きを予想して
あまり人混みのない海域で私たちをドロップさせてくれました。

船移動→ドロップ→上がってまた移動→ドロップ
と繰り返すことで機動的にドルフィンの群れを追うことで
チャンスが倍増！
すぐ目の前をドルフィンたちがブローのため浮上して通過して行く！

ガイドさん曰く「ドルフィンも機嫌が悪いと人を極端に避ける」そうで
今日は運が良くドルフィンたちも人を嫌がらない
ラッキーデイだね！と言っていただき
大満足なツアーを過ごせました！
またハワイ島を訪れる時はまたツアーに参加します！
Mahalo!

They booked me a spot I wasn't able to book directly through the company; and at a cheaper pricer!!

First of all, this activity is a test of physical strength and mental stamina. It's not recommended for those who are prone to motion sickness.

Regular motion sickness medication may not be effective, so it's best to take a stronger anti-nausea medication in advance.

Additionally, a wetsuit (10 dollars) is essential. It gets very cold on the water, and the 40-minute manta ray viewing can be quite tough. The return trip is especially challenging. The water is extremely cold after sunset, and even in summer, a wet body can feel freezing.

In addition to drying off, it's necessary to bring a towel for warmth, so make sure to take a thick one.

That said, you don't need to worry about not seeing manta rays; they come quite close and swim around, providing a thrilling manta ray show.

Moreover, it seems that other tour companies are watching from a distance, likely due to the equipment of this tour, so they aren't very close. If you want to enjoy the closest manta rays, I recommend this tour.

The guide, Alicia, speaks Japanese, which I thought was very good.

Lastly, I want to emphasize again that managing your health and body temperature, as well as maintaining your physical and mental stamina, is essential. I do not recommend bringing children. The family next to us had to leave because their child couldn't handle it.

When we returned to the boat, we had a hard time getting the raft close, and our stamina was running low; it felt like we were about to get lost. The sea might have been rough, but it was quite dangerous. My wife was on the verge of getting lost or drowning.

Also, after the tour, the area around the parking lot is pitch dark, and there are no facilities like showers. The only thing available is a dimly lit restroom.

Changing clothes is impossible, so it's best to head back as you are. It's scary even without considering safety concerns.

まず、このアクティビティは体力と気力勝負です。
乗り物酔いする方にもお勧めできません。

車の酔い止め程度では効きませんので
ちょっと強めの酔い止めを事前に飲んでおきましょう

更に、ウェットスーツ（10ドル）は必須です。
洋上は非常に寒く、40分間の海の上でのマンタ見学も
かなり辛いものになります。
特に辛いのは帰りです。日の落ちた洋上は非常に寒く
濡れた身体は、夏でも凍えるほどです。

身体を拭くのとは別に保温用としてのタオルは必須で
厚手のものを持って行きましょう

さて、だからと言ってマンタが見れなかった訳では
ありませんのでご安心を、かなり近くまでマンタが
寄ってきて回遊しますので、迫力あるマンタショーが
体験できました。

しかも他社のツアーは、このツアーの設備目当てに
周りで見ているようなので、あまり近くに居ないようです。
最接近のマンタを楽しみたいなら、このツアーをお勧めします。

ガイドはアリシアちゃんが日本語を喋れるので
非常に良かったと思います。

最後にもう一度だけ言っておくと
体調と体温の管理、体力と気力の保持は必須です。
お子様も連れて行くのはお勧めしません。
隣の家族は途中で子供が根を上げて、帰ってしまったようでした。

我々も船に帰る際になかなかイカダが船が近づけず
体力もキツくなってきて、それはもう遭難しそうでした
海が荒れていたのかも知れませんが、かなり危なかったです。
妻はもう遭難か溺れる寸前でした。

あと、終わると駐車場周辺は真っ暗闇で、シャワーも何も設備はありません。
あるのはうす暗いトイレのみです。

着替えるのは無理なので、そのまま帰りましょう
治安とか考えなくても怖いですよ

I couldn't believe I could meet manta rays so close. I was moved to see five manta rays. It was a wonderful tour.

こんなに近くでマンタに会うことができるなんて信じられないくらいでした。
五羽のマンタに会え感動しました。素晴らしいツアーでした。

This company was professional and went out of their way to make sure that everything was in place to make our trip first class. From calling the day before to confirm with us on meeting location and time to hot brownies at the end of the tour. Everything was great and the guide took the time to get to know us so she could make our experience the best it could be.

I would highly recommend this company.

Excelllent trip. Microphone would of been nice. Hard to hear everything. I would still recommend this tour!

I participated on the first night after arriving on the Big Island. Even though the encounter rate is 99%, I was worried that I might not see any... but that was not the case!! A total of nearly six manta rays appeared, showing their bellies while feeding. They came so close that it felt like I could touch them, and it was an amazing sight. The guide was also very kind and attentive, and I had a truly wonderful time. Next time I come to the Big Island, I would like to participate in the manta ray experience again.

ハワイ島に到着した初日の夜に参加しました。
遭遇率99%といえど、もしかしたら会えないかも…と心配していましたか、なんのその!!
合計6羽近くのマンタが現れ、お腹を見せてご飯を食べてくれました。
触れてしまいそうな距離まで来てくれ、圧巻の光景でした。
ガイドのお姉さんも親切丁寧に対応してくれ、とても素晴らしい時間を過ごさせていただきました。
次回ハワイ島に来るときは、またマンタ大学に参加したいと思います。

One of the coolest things we’ve done. The Manta rays would get so close and were so graceful and gentle.

The crew, including Capt Mike Morgan, was awesome and ensured we had a fabulous time. I would rate this as a MUST DO on the big island! Experience of a lifetime!

I have done dolphin snorkeling in places like Honolulu, Guam, and the Ogasawara Islands, but this was the first time I encountered so many dolphins. In the early morning, the water was very clear, and I could see dolphins from a distance, but after a while, the water became murky, making it a bit difficult to find them even when they said, "There are dolphins!" However, I got to see baby dolphins and a lot of dolphin jumps, which made me very satisfied. There was someone in the tour who was free diving, and I was really envious of them. When we were leaving, the captain sped off at an incredible speed, so be careful! (laughs)

ホノルルやグァム、小笠原などでイルカシュノーケルをしたことがありますが、
こんなにたくさんのイルカと会えたのは初めてです。
朝一番は海も透明度が高く遠くのイルカもたくさん見えましたが
少し時間がたつと海が濁ってきて「イルカいるよー」と言われても潜ってしまうとちょっと探しづらかったです。
でも赤ちゃんイルカも見れたし、イルカジャンプもたくさん見れて大満足でした。
ツアーの中で一人巣潜りされてる方がいらして本当に羨ましかったです。
帰る時、船長さんが恐ろしいスピードでぶっ飛ばすので要注意です（笑）

Even though I was sea sick, my husband and daughter had the time of their life that they described as surreal like a dream. The mantas were inches away from their faces doing rolls. An experience they will never forgot and well worth it. The captain and crew were very nice and sympathetic to my condition.

The meeting is at 15:30, and it takes about four hours in a relaxed manner. I didn't expect much from the food, and it turned out as I anticipated. However, if you can have a normal conversation in English, it might actually be quite interesting. We encountered dolphins, or rather, there was a dolphin show happening around the boat in a certain area of the sea.

15:30集合からダラダラと四時間程度かかります。食事も期待しないで行きましたが、やはり予想通りでした。ただ、英語で普通に会話出来れば案外面白いかも。
イルカには遭遇というか、航路上のある海域で、船のまわりでイルカショー状態でした。

During my second visit to the Big Island, I participated in the manta night snorkeling that I had wanted to join for a long time. At first, I was a bit anxious because we couldn't see them, but towards the end, the mantas came multiple times, making it the best day ever! I was truly moved to see that they really exist! The ocean around the Big Island is wonderful! In June, the water wasn't too cold, but the return trip on the rubber boat was uncomfortable and made me feel sick. Also, I arrived by rental car, but I panicked because I couldn't find the landmark sign. Has the sign changed? Please check for the sake of future visitors.

二度目のハワイ島訪問で、前からずっと参加したかったマンタのナイトシュノーケリングに参加しました。
始めはなかなか見れなく少し焦りましたが、最後の方にはマンタが何度も来て最高の日になりました！
本当に実在しているんだぁと感動！！
ハワイ島の海は素晴らしいですね！
6月の海では寒さはあまり気になりませんでしたが、帰りのゴムボートが気持ち悪くてしんどかったです（ ; ; ）
あと、レンタカーで現地集合したのですが、目印の看板が見つからず焦りました。看板変わっていませんか。
今後の方のためにも確認をお願いします。

I was scared because the speed of the boat felt like it was going to fly away! It was more amazing than a banana boat! But even though I couldn't swim, it was good that there was a life jacket.

ボートのスピードに飛んでしまいそうで怖かったです！バナナボートよりすごかった！
でも、およげなくても、ライフジャケットがあるので、よかったです。

I was very satisfied with this trip. The tour guide was very friendly, and despite my initial fear of water, the guide's efforts allowed me to enjoy the dolphin tour up close. I highly recommend this trip!!

此次的行程非常滿意，導遊人員非常親切，原本怕水的我，因導遊非盡力的導引之下，也讓我能近距離的享受海豚之旅。 此行程大大大推！！

You will board the submarine after going a little offshore from the dock. The interior of the submarine has two rows, both of which are by the windows, allowing you to observe the underwater scenery without any stress. My 4-year-old grandchild who accompanied me was also very excited. All the staff members are young and friendly. I especially recommend this experience for families with small children.

船着き場よりやや沖にでてから潜水艦に乗り込みます。潜水艦の内部は２列ですがいずれも窓側でそれぞれの窓からストレスなく海中（海底）の様子がうかがえます。同行した４歳の孫も大興奮でした。スタッフの皆さんもみな若くてフレンドリー。特にご小さいお子さんを連れたご家族の方におすすめできます。

As the reviews mentioned, it seems that there is a long line, so when I went to the front at 5 PM for the 5:30 PM reception, there was a long queue next to the front desk! Everyone was shouting something together, and I panicked thinking I was late, but it was still okay. I was seated about three rows from the front, which made it very easy to see, and the food was quite delicious. The atmosphere was friendly and lively, and I really enjoyed it.

口コミの通り並ぶようなので、1730受付のところ17時にフロントに行ったところフロント横に長蛇の列！なにやら掛け声をみんなで掛け合っていてやばい遅れてしまったと焦ったのですがまだ大丈夫。前から三列目ぐらいの席でとても見やすく、ご飯もなかなか美味しかったし、和気あいあいとしていてとてもいい雰囲気で楽しめました。

In the past, I watched a program where the hosts discovered and introduced the wonders of a certain world while answering quizzes. I saw footage of former synchronized swimmer Mikako Kotani swimming freely with dolphins, and I dreamed of swimming with dolphins like that. It was truly a happy time when that dream came true!

I was told not to touch them, but the dolphins came so close that it felt like they were about to bump into me. They swam alongside me, followed behind in a group, and suddenly one appeared right beneath me. I had so much fun playing with the dolphins! (*^^*)

The dolphins on the Big Island of Hawaii are said to be friendlier than those on other islands and will come close to you. So, if you're going to do a dolphin swim, I highly recommend the Big Island!

Also, I was lucky enough to see a manta ray! That seemed to be a stroke of luck. The tour guides were also dedicated to helping us find dolphins and ensuring we had a great time.

You can borrow a wetsuit, which is enough to keep you afloat, but if you're feeling anxious, you can also borrow a floating pole (a cylindrical float), so even if you're not a strong swimmer, you'll be fine. There was even a little boy, about three years old, who was entering the water with the guide's support. (Little ones must wear life jackets.)

When I posted about it on Facebook, someone immediately expressed interest in going, so I recommended this tour. When we come back to the Big Island, we will definitely participate in this tour again! Thank you so much! (*^^*)

昔、某世界のふしぎを発見・紹介しながら出演者がクイズに答える番組で、元シンクロ選手の小谷実可子さんがイルカと自由に泳いでる映像を観て、イルカと泳ぐことに憧れていました。
あんな風にイルカと泳げたらいいな、と思っていた状況が実現して、本当に幸せな時間でした！
触っちゃいけないと言われてましたが、イルカの方からぶつかりそうなくらい近くまで寄ってきて、横に並んで泳いだり、群れの後ろについて泳いだり、突然イルカが私の下から現れたりして、イルカに遊んでもらえて本当に楽しかったです(*^^*)
ハワイ島のイルカは他の島より人懐っこく、近くまで来てくれるそうです。なので、ドルフィンスイムをするなら、ハワイ島が一番オススメ！！
あと、ラッキーなことにマンタも観れました！それは運が良かったみたいです。
ツアーガイドの皆さんもイルカを探したり、先回りしたり、楽しめるように尽力してくださってました。
ウェットスーツを借りるので、それだけでも十分浮けますが、不安な人はフローティングポール(筒状の浮き具)を借りられるので泳ぎが得意でなくても大丈夫です。3歳くらいの男の子も、ガイドさんに支えてもらいながら海に入ってました。(ちっちゃい子はライフジャケット着用)
Facebookにあげたら、早速行きたい！という人がいたので、ここのツアーをオススメしました。
私達もまたハワイ島に来る時は、このツアーに参加します！
ありがとうございました！(*^^*)

My wife and I had a good experience. The boat was comfortable although some people got seasick since it was a fairly choppy sea. I'd recommend taking Dramamine before going. The appetizers were just bagged snacks and cans of juice and pop. We ended up seeing about eight manta rays in the water.

Excellent experience and well worth the money. The crew was friendly and helpful. I would not recommend this experience for “timid” children but, if your kid is into new things and not afraid of the ocean, this is an experience they will remember forever! It was amazing to see how well all the boat crews worked together to ensure everyone enjoyed a fantastic show

I love the ocean, and I have had experiences swimming with turtles and dolphins while snorkeling in various places. Unfortunately, I can't dive because of my hearing issues. However, manta rays don't usually come close to the surface. I had given up on seeing them up close, but on this tour, they kept coming one after another! ♡

We surrounded the light with our snorkeling gear and observed them. It felt more like the manta rays were coming to eat the plankton gathered around the light rather than swimming alongside us. Still, they came so close that I had to dodge them! I could see right into their bellies.

There were probably 6 to 7 manta rays that kept circling around endlessly. I might have been lucky, but I really enjoyed it! You should definitely bring a GoPro. Also, I wasn't cold at all on the boat. However, since many Japanese people are sensitive to the cold, it might be a good idea to bring a towel or a sweatshirt just in case.

私は海が大好きで、いろいろなところでシュノーケリングをすることで亀やイルカと泳いだ経験はありました。耳が悪いので、ダイビングをすることができません。でも、マンタはなかなか水面までは来てくれません。なので、マンタをまじかで見ることは諦めていましたが、このツアーだと、次から次へと遊びに来てくれます♡
ライトの近くを囲んでシュノーケリルをつけて観察する感じで、一緒に泳ぐというよりは、マンタがライトに集まって来たプランクトンを食べに来てくれるという感じでした。それでも、マンタが自分でぶつかってくるほど近くに来てくれたので、こちらが避けないとならないほどでした。
マンタのお腹の中までよく見えます。
多分6-7枚のマンタがエンドレスで順繰り廻って来てくれる感じでした。運が良かったのかもしれないですが本当に楽しめました！
Go proは絶対持って行くべきです。
あと、船の上では私は全く寒くなかったです。
ただ、日本人は寒がりな人が多いので、タオルを呼びで1枚持って行く、もしくはトレーナーなどを持って行ってもいいのかもしれません。

I truly experienced the spiritual awe of the ocean on the Big Island. On the way to the encounter spot, I also came across dolphins and whales. I think this is something you absolutely must experience when you visit the Big Island.

まさに、ハワイ島のスピリチュアルな海の畏怖の念を体験しました。遭遇スポットに行く途中、イルカやクジラにも遭遇しました。ハワイ島に行ったら、絶対体験すべきだと思います。

I've been to various luaus, and this was the best. Really. My three-generation family ranges in age from 3 y/o to 70, and everyone had a great time. The 7 y/o was truly amazed by everything, which was delightful. The event was well organized, informative, and vastly entertaining. The food and beverages we're very good, high quality, and plentiful. No dishes ran out, and the selection was excellent. The arrival of the King and his court was fun. We enjoyed the extra touches, like the Hawaiians tattoos, and hula lesson. The dancers were excellent and engaging; we especially enjoyed those involving fire! I would definitely recommend this luau. I don't think there were any bad seats, and the view was glorious.

Overall, this was as a good luau experience. The show was excellent and the food was also excellent and plenty of variety. The setting is beautiful. The open bar was very good. There was not a lot of room, however, considering they were serving over 500 people (I overheard an organizer tell a waiter it was "515 people tonight"). The seating was a bit cramped. The ancillary activities (lei making for example) was fairly limited and not too well publicized. Those were the things that made our luau in Oahu truly special and yet we weren't able to take advantage of them since the supplies were limited.

Had a fantastic time. Kayak was good fun and not overly strenuous. Had a couple of stops along the way to catch our breath before we arrived at the monument. Snorkel was amazing with a huge variety of fish on display at close quarters. A pod of spinner dolphins arrived as we were leaving. Spent an hour snorkeling which gave us plenty of time to look around.
Then a paddle back again afterwards.
Our guide Patrick was very knowledgeable and safety conscious. He looked after us extremely well.
Very good value for the money.

Very organized and friendly staff. The restroom I used was very clean. The gears were clean. Excellent experience. If I have another chance to come back, I would definitely come back again!

This was the most enjoyable tour I've ever experienced for activities on the Big Island. I was moved by the sight of manta rays doing backflips underwater and sucking in plankton up close. This tour is one that I would definitely do again for the incredible experience it offers. I highly recommend it. My whole family was very happy as well.

ハワイ島でのアクティビティで今までで一番、楽しむ事が出来るツアーでした。
すぐ間近でマンタが水中バク転をしてプランクトンを吸い込む姿には感動しました。
このツアーはまた行ってもよい最高の感動を頂く事が出来る一つです。
お奨めします。
家族も全員、大いに喜んでいました。

You can see manta rays really up close. The manta rays illuminated by blue light cross right in front of you over and over again. This was a wonderful experience. Alicia, who speaks Japanese well, explained everything clearly, so both my middle school daughter and us in our late forties enjoyed it without any worries.

As a note, if you're not confident in swimming, don't hesitate to borrow a life jacket (free of charge). If you check the water temperature and feel it's even a little cold, you should rent a wetsuit for a fee. If you're prone to seasickness, be sure to take motion sickness medication.

We zoomed to the spot where the manta rays are located by boat, and since we were in the night sea for 40 minutes, it was quite chilly in mid-June. They don't provide a tutorial on how to use the snorkel, so if it's your first time, it's better to ask how to use it once you receive it. They will talk about not touching the manta rays and safety precautions before entering the water, so make sure to follow those instructions.

After starting the snorkeling, they check on you multiple times asking, "Are you okay?" So if you feel uncomfortable, it's better to get back on the boat. It's a wonderful experience, so feel free to ask for assistance, and enjoy it while considering your own stamina and condition.

マンタが本当にすぐ近くで見られます。青い光に照らされたマンタが目の前を何度も何度も横切ります。
これは素晴らしい経験でした。
日本語の上手なアリシアちゃんがきちんと説明をしてくれたので、中学生の娘もアラフィフの私たちもなんの不安もなく楽しめました。
注意点としては、泳ぎに自信がないなら迷わずライフジャケット（無料）を借りること。水温を確認して少しでも冷たいと思ったら有料のウェットスーツは借りること。船酔いの恐れがある人は酔い止めを必ず飲むこと
マンタのいるスポットまでボートで飛ばしますし、40分間夜の海に浸っているので、6月半ばではかなり冷えました。
シュノーケルの使い方は講習的なことはやってくれません。初体験の方は渡されたらどう使うかを聞いたほうが良いです。
海に入る前にマンタを触らないことや態勢の注意点を話してくれるのできちんと守りましょう。
シュノーケルを始めた後、途中で「大丈夫？」と何度も声かけしてくれるので、辛いと思ったらボートに上がったほうが良いです。
せっかくの素敵な体験です。声をかければ対応してくれるので、自分の体力や体調と相談しながら楽しんでください。

I was so scared being a non swimmer but I’m so glad I didn’t chicken out and did it!!! What an incredible experience. Professional crew that kept us safe and relaxed the entire time. I would recommend Wahine Charters to anyone and will recommend to all my friends!

Wow, I was surprised when a real manta ray came towards me with its mouth open! It gracefully swam by, flipping over to show its white belly. There were fish similar to horse mackerel swimming right next to me, and the water was so clear that I could see snake-like fish slithering along the seabed. I definitely recommend enjoying the natural beauty of the Big Island of Hawaii. When a manta ray appears, you should jump in the water and stay underwater for about 30 minutes in a horizontal position. There are occasionally cold currents, so it's better to rent a wetsuit. I think it would be tough to participate on a full stomach since the boat sways when it stops.

いゃぁ〜、本物のマンタが口を開けてこっちに向かって来たときにはビックリしました‼️ （口は閉じれるのか？）目の前で体を反転させ腹の白い部分を見せて、優雅に泳いでました。
鯵に似た魚もすぐ側を泳いでいて、海底では海へびのような魚もニョロニョロしているのがわかるくらいの透明度が高い海です。
ハワイ島の自然を是非楽しんでほしいですね。
マンタが現れたら入水し、30分は水中でケノビ状態でいます。時たま冷たい流れがあるので、ウエットスーツは借りた方がいいです。 停船すると波でゆれるので、お腹いっぱいで参加するのはキツイと思います。