All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

With the help of the friendly Daisuke and Kevin, as well as the slightly shy but cheerful captain, we headed out to sea! At first, I was a bit nervous, but when we encountered dolphins, my excitement grew more and more. Watching Daisuke swim joyfully with the dolphins made me want to join in, but since I couldn't dive, it was impossible. However, I was truly moved to see the dolphins up close. Although I shouldn't reach out to touch them, they were so close that it felt like I could. The fun time flew by in an instant. The anxiety I felt before participating turned into smiles.

気さくでフレンドリーなダイスケさんやケビンさん、少しシャイだけれども陽気な船長さんに助けていただきながら海にGO!!
初めは少し、恐々でしたがイルカに遭遇しどんどんテンションも上がりました
楽しくイルカと泳ぐダイスケさんを見ていると自分も一緒に泳ぎたくなりますが…潜れないので無理でした。でもとても近くで見るイルカちゃんには、とても感動しました。手を伸ばして触ってはいけないのですが、触れそうなほど近くにイルカちゃんがいました。楽しい時間は、あっという間でした。参加する前の不安は、笑顔に変わっていました。

Wow! We had the pleasure of taking the historic Kona tour with Drew. It was an amazing day! Drew has an energy and enthusiasm about the island that is infectious! He took us to beautiful spots that were advertised and even a few of his favorites that were off the beaten path a bit. The thing that stood out was the intricate knowledge of the historical significance of all the places that we went that Drew was able to share with us. I’ve been to a few of these spots before but never understood them as I do now and that’s all from our great guide. Drew, I hope you know that you shared with us a memory that we will all hold dear for life!

Honestly, I didn't expect to see so many dolphins. On this day, we were lucky and encountered a pod of dolphins right after we set sail. My wife was nervous about swimming, but the guide took the time to teach each person how to swim, which made her feel at ease to participate in the tour. Above all, we could feel the love that our guide, Daisuke, had for the dolphins. Thanks to him, we were able to swim with the dolphins together as a couple, creating the best memories. Thank you very much.

正直、こんなにもイルカに会えるとは思っていませんでした。この日はタイミングが良く、出港してすぐにイルカの群れと会う事ができました。
泳ぎに不安だった妻でしたが苦手な人に対して１人１人に泳ぎ方を教えてくれて、安心してツアーに参加する事ができました。
何よりもガイドのダイスケさんのイルカに対する愛を感じました。そのお陰で夫婦でイルカと一緒に泳ぐ事ができ最高の思い出になりました。ありがとうございました。

Despite the concerns raised by the news of the Kilauea volcano eruption, we set off for the Big Island of Hawaii! We enjoyed ourselves without any problems. Of course, we encountered manta rays. Shortly after entering the water, the manta rays came to us. Our Japanese guide, a stylish woman named Tori from Chiba Prefecture, took great care to ease everyone's nerves and provided us with a wonderful experience. Thank you very much.

キラウエア火山噴火のニュースで心配の声も気にせずにハワイ島に出発！
何の問題もなくエンジョイ
もちろん、マンタに出会えたした。
海に入り間もなくマンタはやってきました。日本語ガイド、千葉県出身の粋な女性トリちゃんは一人一人の体調など細心の気遣いで緊張をほぐし、素晴らしい体験をさせてくださいました。ありがとうございました。

I participated in this tour for my honeymoon trip. There were other similar tours available, but I chose this one for three reasons: 1. a 95% chance of encountering dolphins, 2. many repeat customers, and most importantly, 3. it's suitable even for those who are not good swimmers!

If you're someone who wants to see dolphins but is a bit hesitant about swimming, I highly recommend this tour!

Even for someone like me who struggles with swimming, the guide provided excellent support, allowing me to enjoy the experience without worry. It was truly fun!

The guide was very knowledgeable about dolphins, and you could really feel the connection they had with them. I couldn't help but think that they might have been a dolphin in a past life! (laughs)

今回はハネムーン旅行で参加しました
。他にも似たようなツアーがありましたが、こちらを選んだ理由は1.イルカ遭遇率95% 、 2.リピーターが多い事、そして何より3.泳ぎが苦手な人でも大丈夫！とありましたので申し込みしました。

イルカは見たいけど泳ぎがちょっと、、、と思ってる方がいましたら是非こちらお薦めします！

泳ぎが苦手な私でも、安心して楽しめるようにガイドさんがしっかりフォローして下さって、本当に楽しかったです！

ガイドさん、イルカを熟知されてて、イルカと心を通わせてるのが伝わってきて、前世ではイルカだったんじゃないかな？と思わず考えてしまうほどでした。笑

I don't think I'll have the chance to encounter a pod of dolphins like this again in the future. So, I'm really glad I participated. The guide really goes all out to help us see as many as possible. If you're prone to seasickness, I recommend taking some motion sickness medication before joining.

いるかの群れにたくさん出会えるのが今後ないと思います。なので、参加できて本当によかったです。ガイドさん、たくさん会えるように体張って案内してくれます。船酔いしやすい方は酔い止め飲んできてから参加したほうがいいと思います。

the views from the top of Mauna Kea are breathtaking, despite the cold. Jeff, our host was the best tour guide, funny, friendly and veru knowledgeable of the the tour and the history of the sites. All along the tour he would explain the site you are crossing and the topography.
The star gazing experience is somehting cool for someone neer seen into space before.

Brownies and hot chocolate at the end of the tour is the epitpomy of a great evening.

What a fantastic tour, a lot more than expected. Very knowledgeable of all the coral and sea creatures. Not just for kids our party was 2 adults so we had fun too.

During my stay on the Big Island this time, I had to change my original plans due to the eruption of Kilauea volcano, but the manta night snorkeling I was able to fit in became my best memory.

The boat moves forward, chasing the sunset sinking into the horizon from the harbor. It's a large rubber boat, so we straddle the edge and enjoy the feeling of being on a banana boat. After about 10 minutes, we arrive at the snorkeling point.

There is a bright light installed under a large surfboard-shaped float, and while holding on, we waited… and after about 4 or 5 minutes, they came! Mantas started gathering around us! They were gracefully gliding and feeding right in front of us. We had to be careful not to bump into them as they were so close that we could see inside their mouths and gills clearly.

There were nearly 10 individuals. Out of the 40 minutes we spent underwater, 30 minutes were filled with a manta ballet show. I have seen mantas while diving before, but the proximity and density were on a completely different level. It was truly a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it!

今回のハワイ島滞在は、キラウエア火山の噴火で当初の予定を変更せざるおえなかったのですが、開いた時間に入れたマンタナイトシュノーケリングが一番の思い出になりました。
港から水平線に沈むサンセットを追いかけるように船は進みます。大きなゴムボートなので船縁にまたがり、バナナボート気分を楽しむこと10分程でポイントに着きます。
大きなサーフボード状の浮きの裏に明るいライトが設置してあり、つかまりながら待っていると…4,5分程で来ました来ましたマンタが集まってきました！
目の前でくるりくるりと舞いながら補食していました。あまりにも近くでマンタにぶつからないように注意が必要なほどで、口の中やエラの中までしっかり見えました。
個体数は10枚近くでしょうか。水中にいた40分のうち30分はマンタ乱舞ショーでした。
今までダイビングでマンタを見た事もありますが、近さと密度が段違いです。本当に良い経験になりました。オススメです！

It was my first time snorkeling, and being older, I was a bit worried. However, I was thrilled to encounter so many manta rays! They came to us in such numbers, and it was a wonderful experience.

シュノーケリングは初めてでその上、年配者でちょっと心配してましたが⁉️
沢山のマンタに出逢えて感激しました、‼️
私達のために、というほど沢山やって来てくれて、体験できてとても良かったです。

Great day out on the water. A time for the entire family, very friendly crew and the food was great.

The ocean is incredibly beautiful, and the crew members are truly kind! This is my second time on this tour, and I had the best experience.

海がとにかくキレイで、クルーの皆さんが本当に親切です！こちらのツアーはリピーターですが、最高な経験が出来ました。

It was a cloudy day... I arrived early and parked the rental car in the hotel parking lot to check in. There was a counter outside the hotel and a store located a bit deeper inside, which was a little confusing. When the time came, I boarded a contact boat with about 20 participants, including several Japanese people, and in a few minutes, we reached the submarine.

We quickly boarded and began our dive... I enjoyed about 40 minutes while watching the coral and the fish swimming around. We dove down to about 100 feet, or 30 meters, but it felt a bit dark, possibly due to the cloudy sky, and I felt a greater distance from the fish than I expected. It might have been more beautiful if it had been sunny.

At the counter, they put a sticker on the parking ticket to cover the fee. When I tried to pay with my card, it didn’t recognize it, and I panicked a bit as several cars lined up behind me, but I called and they opened it for me, so it all worked out.

当日は曇り空…早めに到着しホテルの駐車場にレンタカーを止めて受付。 ホテルの外のカウンターとホテル内の少し奥にある店舗があり、少し戸惑いました。 時間になると日本人数名を含む20名ほどの参加者と共に連絡用の船に乗り込み数分で潜水艦へ。
早速乗り込み潜水開始…サンゴやそこを泳ぐ魚を見ながら40分程楽しみました。100フィート、30メートル程まで潜りましたが、曇り空のせいか若干暗く感じたのと思っていたより魚と距離感を感じました。 晴れていればもっと綺麗だったのかもしれません。
カウンターで駐車券にステッカーを貼ってくれて料金をカバーしてくれます。2ドル足りずにカード支払いしようとしたらカードを認識せず…後ろに数台並び焦りましたが、電話して開けてもらい事なきを得ました。

The boat took off at an incredible speed, and I experienced a thrill that really got my adrenaline pumping. When we arrived at the spot, two manta rays swam right below us, circling for about 45 minutes—it was amazing!
However, don't underestimate the Hawaiian nights!
With wet bodies and the wind from the boat, the temperature dropped as the sun set, making the return trip very cold!
If you're participating, definitely bring something to keep warm!
It was a tour that my 75-year-old mother could also join.

出発してボートはすごいスピードで、スリルを味わい、テンションが、上がりました。ポイント到着して、マンタが2枚がすぐに私たちの下でグルグルと回ってくれて、約45分間最高でしたよ！
でも、夜のハワイを甘くみてはいけない！
濡れた体にボートの風、太陽が沈んで気温も下がり、帰りは非常に寒い！
参加される方は羽織る物を絶対に持って行きましょう！
75歳の母も参加できるツアーでした。

Two people in their 60s who don't usually exercise. Although I felt relieved to see other participants around the same age, the first time entering the water was tough and terrifying, and I quickly got back on the boat. However, from the second time on, I leaned on a float and drifted around, and with the guide's support, I was able to see many dolphins. It was really fun!

The guide named us after people who were young long ago. I received plenty of support and had a great time, for which I am grateful. The female captain also gave us lots of encouragement.

普段運動してない60代2人。同世代と思われる参加者もあって一安心したものの、1回目の入水は、しんどい、溺れる‥‥恐怖で早々にボートに上がりましたが、2回目からは浮き棒に寄りかかってプカプカと漂い、ガイドさんのフォローを得てイルカさんをたくさん見る事が出来ました。本当に楽しかった！！
昔若かった人達とは、当日のガイドさんからのネーミング。十分フォローして楽しませて頂いて、感謝。女性の船長さんからも沢山沢山エールをいただきました。

This was an awesome night as a family seeing the manta rays so closely. We really enjoyed it and will always remember it.

The dolphins were so close and the ocean was beautiful, far beyond what I experienced on the dolphin tour in Oahu. On this day, I was lucky enough to see both manta rays and tiger sharks☆ I could also hear the dolphins' voices, making it my best memory from the Big Island. Thank you so much, Daisuke and Hitomi (^ ^)

オアフ島のイルカツアーと比べものにならないくらいイルカちゃんが近くて海も綺麗でした。
この日は運がよくマンタもタイガーシャークも見れました☆
イルカちゃんの声も聞けてハワイ島での一番の思い出になりました。
ダイスケさん、ひとみさん本当にありがとうございました(^ ^)

This was my first experience like this. Being rocked by the boat while watching the sunset and heading to a spot where manta rays are found was incredible. As it got darker and the sun set, I was a bit worried about the scary dark color of the sea, but when we arrived at the manta ray spot, there were many other tour boats with lights, so it was fine. Once we got into the water, after a while, the manta rays came and performed flips right next to us, providing an amazing experience. I definitely want to go see the manta rays again.

こんな体験は初めてです。船にゆられて、夕日を見ながらマンタのいる場所まで行くなんて。だんだん暗くなって夕日が落ちると怖い暗い海の色にちょっと心配でしたが、マンタの場所に来ると他のツアーの船も一杯で明かりもあったので大丈夫でした。そして海に入ると暫くしたら、マンタがやってきて何度も何度もスレスレに宙返りをしながらサービス満点でした。またマンタに会いに行きたいと思いました

I was moved when I saw the manta ray right in front of me. However, holding onto the glass boat and floating in the sea for a long time was quite tiring. It gets pretty cold at night. It's definitely better to rent a wetsuit, and when you return to the boat and take off the wetsuit, it gets quite chilly, so having a 100 yen store raincoat or a Uniqlo down jacket would be helpful.

マンタを目の前で見たときは感動しました。ただ、グラスボートにつかまって
ずっと海に浮いてるのも結構疲れた。夜なので結構寒いです。ウエットスーツは必ず借りた方が良いし船に戻ってウエットスーツを脱ぐとかなり冷えるので
100均のレインコート、ユニクロのダウン等があると助かります

Tour actually worked out better than expected. The tour vans are nice and new, the guides are nice and knowledgeable. You go right to the telescope summit and watch the sunrise followed by a great star gazing experience.

The lasagna ain't great but bring snacks and you'll have a great time

Had an amazing time on the manta ray snorkel. Definitely worth it. The manta rays get within inches from you, and the experience is unlike anything else. Crew and boat were also awesome. Ended up loving the snorkeling experience so much we went out on a day trip a day later which was also amazing!

It was great seeing these amazing creatures but this is not so much a see the great manta ray in nature as much as it is a highly commercialized, 'we've figured out how to give you a manta-ray petting zoo experience'. They boat you out, extend a floating ladder with lights (to attract plankton), and then have you float and hold onto the ladder as the rays swim below you. They do come very close to you (and may brush against you) as they eat the plankton. Pretty neat for the first several passes but since you are surrounded by other boats doing the same thing with their own floating ladder-like structures the rays will spend their time with whomever has the brightest lights. After about :30 minutes of this people start getting bored and getting back on the boats. It was fun and interesting and glad we did it but not really "swimming with the rays".

The guide, Herald, was friendly and kept the group energized during the long drive. He shared a lot of local information about Hawaii. If you understand English, I think it's easier to participate than in a Japanese tour.

Although the weather in Kona was nice on the day of the tour, it rained as we got closer to Mauna Kea, and I was worried about the weather at the summit. However, when we arrived at the top, it was above the clouds, so there was no need to worry.

The summit of Mauna Kea was really cold. Even with a light down jacket and four layers underneath, plus a large down jacket they provided, I still felt cold. Despite the warnings about needing a jacket and long pants, some people didn't prepare, and it seemed quite cold, so they ended up spending most of the time on the bus, which was disappointing to see. (So, warm clothing is essential.)

There were parts where we joined other group tours, which made it hard to hear the explanations, and there were often car lights and white lights that are strictly prohibited for stargazing. However, I was able to see shooting stars multiple times, which was moving! I highly recommend it.

とにかくガイドのヘラルドがフレンドリーで、車の長い道のりもグループを盛り上げてくれました。ハワイのローカル情報もたくさん教えてくれました。英語が分かる方なら日本語ツアーより参加しやすいと思います。
当日はコナの天気は良かったもののマウナケアに近づくほど雨で、山頂の天気を心配しましたが、山頂に着くとそこは雲の上で心配無用でした。
マウナケアの山頂は本当に寒かったです。ライトダウンを着て4枚も着込んだ上に貸してくれる大きなダウンを着ても寒かったです。
あれだけ注意事項に上着必須、長ズボンと書いてあっても用意していない人もいて、かなり寒かったらしくバスの中でほとんどを過ごすこととなり、見ていて残念でした。(そのため、防寒具必須です)
ほかの団体ツアーと一緒になる部分もあり、説明が聞き取れなかったり、星を見るには厳禁の車のライトやホワイトライトが行き交うことも多かったですが、流れ星を何度も見ることができ、感動的でした！お勧めです。

I couldn't reconfirm using the phone number written on the voucher. If reconfirmation was necessary, I would have liked to know that before making the reservation. It's quite difficult for those who are not good at English.

On the day of the event, while I was being shown to my seat and went to get a drink, another staff member seated a different customer, which caused us to lose our seats. Again, my limited English made it hard to communicate with the staff. The staff, seeing the situation, called a Japanese staff member to help us explain, and we finally secured a seat, but it was at a different table. The person who originally had that seat was upset. (I couldn't understand what they were saying, but their gestures and tone indicated they were angry.) It seemed that they told the staff, and we ended up staying at that table, feeling quite uncomfortable.

We were looking forward to the show as a couple, but it was very disappointing. Moreover, the food was served by table, and it took a long time for it to come around, so we were almost last. When I went to get food, there was hardly anything left. There were no plates either. We could only get food until the show started, so we barely had anything to eat. I chose this for our last memory on the Big Island, but it turned into the worst memory. The show itself was good.

Please improve communication among staff regarding who was seated where. Well, I won't be using this service again.

とりあえずバウチャーに書かれた電話番号ではリコンファームが出来なかった。
そもそもリコンファームが必要ならば、予約前に分かるようにして欲しかった。英語が苦手な人にはかなり難易度が高い。

開催当日、席に案内され
ドリンクを取りに行ってる間に別のスタッフが別の客を席に通してしまい、私たちの席がなくなってしまった。
またここでも英語が苦手なのでスタッフに上手く伝わらない。スタッフが見かねて日本人スタッフに電話して電話をかわり私たちが説明してようやく席を確保されたが、そこはまた別の人の席で。
元々の席の人には怒られて。(何を言ってるかはよく分かりませんがジェスチャーと口調で怒ってるようでした。)その人がスタッフに言ったようで、私たちはこのままの席になりましたが、肩身の狭い思いをしました。
夫婦で楽しみにしてたショーだったのにもううんざり。
しかも料理はテーブルごとで、中々順番がまわってこずにほぼ最後。
料理を取りに行ったら、料理がほとんどない。皿もない。ショーが始まるまでしか料理は取りに行けないから、私たちはほぼ食べる事が出来ませんでした。
ハワイ島最終日に最後の思い出と選んだのに最悪の思い出になりました。
ショー自体は良かったです。
もっと、誰をどこの席に通したかとか、スタッフ同士で連携してください。
まあ、二度と利用しませんが。

I went directly to the meeting point since I had rented a car. On time, our guide Daisuke arrived. He was amazing!! He claimed to know more about dolphins than anyone else in the world, and he was right.

There were tours for foreigners, and the dolphin spots were crowded, but with his precise guidance, we were able to read the dolphins' movements from the agile boat and dive in!

We were able to see dolphins right in front of us during every dive. I had participated in several tours in Oahu, but this experience was on a completely different level in terms of encounters with dolphins, proximity, and enjoyment.

My middle school daughter was also very satisfied; it was a memorable tour. Thank you, Daisuke. This tour is definitely better than the more famous ones!

レンタカーを借りていたので集合場所に直接行きました。
時間通りにガイドのダイスケさんが来てくれました。
とにかく彼がすごい！！
世界一イルカを知っていると自負していましたが、その通り。
外国人向けのツアーもありイルカのポイントは混雑していましたが
的確な誘導で機動性のある船からイルカの動きを読んでダイブ！

全てのダイブでイルカを目の前に見ることが出来ました。
オアフのツアーでも何度か参加しましたが桁違いのイルカとの遭遇と距離そして楽しさでした。

中学生の娘も大満足思い出に残るツアーでした
ダイスケさんありがとうございました。
名前の有名なツアーより絶対こちら

The Sea Paradise crew gave us a great experience, from setting us up with wet suit and snorkel gear to teaching us how to "behave" in the water (#1 rule - Don't touch the Manta Rays, #2 rule - don't pee in the wetsuits - haha! - they provide a bathroom on board), providing drinks and snacks, including hot chocolate which was welcome after the snorkeling. They also made sure we weren't needlessly floating around in the water before the rays showed up, but got us in there in plenty of time to see 4 different rays swimming literally inches below our faces! So cool to see them somersault and glide beneath you. Completely worth the cost! Do this!

The tour was very interesting and Arthur our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the region. He answered all of our questions about the local environment as well as the history of the Hawaiian people.

It was cold at the summit and a sweatshirt should be worn if you cannot handle the cold even with the atlantic parka and gloves that is supplied.

The stargazing spot was incredibly clear and we could see hundreds of stars. We were also able to spot Venus, Jupiter, and several star systems through the telescopes provided.

This is my second time here, but unfortunately, it started to rain. I had high hopes for the show. I was disappointed by the rain. It would be necessary to prepare a large tent (like at a festival in Germany).

これも2度目ですが、あいにく雨が降って来てしまいました
ショーを期待していた気持ちは大でした。
あの雨にはガッカリしました。大きなテントを準備する（ドイツの
お祭りのように）とかの必要あり。

It can't be helped since we were dealing with wild animals like manta rays, but it was disappointing when time ran out after waiting on the boat in the cold. It seems that other boats didn't see them that day either. In a way, you could say it was a genuine tour rather than a staged one... The staff mentioned that I could participate for free next time, but there wasn't any detailed information, so I'm worried about whether they will really accommodate that for free.

野生の動物マンタ相手なので仕方がないですが、寒い中、ボートに揺られ待っていたので時間切れになった時は残念でした。この日は他の船でも見れなかったみたいです。ある意味、仕込みでは無いリアルなツアーとも言えますが。。。スタッフの方は次回無料で参加可能と言っていましたが、詳しい案内も無かったのでほんとうに無料で対応して頂けるのか不安です。

The sunset on the way to the manta point on the north side by boat was amazing, with a glimpse of the unique green flash that Hawaii is known for. However, to my surprise, I didn't get to see any mantas, and it started to rain coldly along the way, pouring down by the time we arrived at the port. I believe that Pele, the goddess of the Big Island, is calling me to come back, so I will return to the Big Island for a revenge trip!

港から船でマンタの北側のポイントに着くまでの、サンセットはハワイならではのグリーフラッシュも少し見えて最高な気分でしたが、まさかのマンタに会えず、途中から冷たい雨が降り始め、港に着く頃は土砂降りの雨でした。
ハワイ島の神様のペレがまた来なさいと呼んでくれていると信じ、リベンジしにまたハワイ島に行きます！