All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

Looking at the participants, my husband and I were the only Japanese. The rest were all foreigners, including Americans, Germans, Poles, and Portuguese. Additionally, the guide was an American who couldn't speak Japanese. To top it off, we were asked to introduce ourselves in English in front of everyone at the beginning of the tour. However, since we came all the way to a foreign country, a tour like this, rather than one with only Japanese participants, was quite nice! I was able to catch a glimpse of how Americans think and their everyday habits. The trekking and birdwatching were truly immersive experiences, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making me feel how small humans are in the grand scheme of nature and the depth of the natural world. For those considering joining in the future, be sure to bring long sleeves and long pants, as well as rain gear and a hat to prepare for the temperature and rain. Also, I recommend wearing lightweight hiking boots instead of sneakers, and if possible, high-cut ones would be ideal. Additionally, the breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared by the guide were delicious and reminiscent of an American picnic, quite different from what we are used to in Japan.

参加者の顔ぶれを見ると、日本人は私たち夫婦だけ。あとはアメリカ人、ドイツ人、ポーランド人、ポルトガル人など外人ばかり。また、ガイドさんは日本語ができないアメリカ人。挙げ句の果てに、ツアーの最初にみんなの前で英語で自己紹介をさせられた。でも、せっかく外国に来たのだから日本人ばかりのツアーでなくこんなツアーもいい！アメリカ人の思考がどうなっているのか、日常的な対応（習慣）などを垣間見ることができた。肝心のトレッキングとバードウォッチングは、都会の喧騒から離れ、まさに自然の真っ只中に放り込まれ、自然の中では「なんて人間はちっぽけなんだろう」、とか「自然の奥深さ」を感じた。なお、これから参加を検討している方は、気温や雨に対応するため、長袖や長ズボンだけでなく、上下のレインウェアや帽子が必要です。また、スニーカーではなく、軽登山靴、さらにできればハイカットのものがあればいいと思います。そのほか、ガイドさんが用意してくれた朝ごはん、昼ごはん、おやつは日本の感覚とは違ってアメリカのピクニックのようなもので美味しかった。

I was extremely excited to see the manta rays coming up from the seabed to the surface. I had been told not to touch the manta rays, but they came so close that I found myself twisting my body to avoid touching them. The boat was rocking quite a bit, so I was glad I took motion sickness medication. The sunset on the way to the spot was incredibly beautiful. Also, the night sky was stunning on the return trip. I think it could be called a Manta & Sunset & Night View Tour!

マンタが海底から水面に上ってきて補色をする姿に大興奮でした。マンタに触れてはいけないと説明されていたけれどあまりにも至近距離まで近づいてきてくれていたので体をくねらせてマンタに触れない体勢でいたほどです。かなり船が揺れるので酔い止めを飲んでいて良かったと思いました。ポイントまで行く間にサンセットがもの凄く綺麗でした。また帰りの船中では夜空が美しかったです。マンタ＆サンセット＆夜景ツアーという名でもよいのでは笑　　　　　　　　　

Captain Steve was hilarious and Michael was a great assistant captain. Both Steve and Michael were entertaining and very knowledgeable about the southern part of the island of Hawaii. We saw dolphins, tons of colorful fish snorkeling, traveled to look inside sea cave and had more food than we needed! It was a truly amazing day on the ocean with Sea Quest!

So much fun! The crew was wonderful and it was fun meeting people from all over.

I was hoping to see at least one, so I was really happy to see four! I heard that you can see even more during the summer, but one of the four danced right in front of me, spinning around multiple times, which was amazing!

一枚(1匹？1頭？)でも見れれば良いなあと思っていたので、4枚も見れて嬉しかったです！夏の間はもっとたくさんみれるそうですが、4枚のうち1枚の子が目の前でくるりくるりひらりひらりと何回転もしてくれたのがすごがった〜

A perfect size group for this expedition. Captain Steve was knowledgeable and interesting.

We arranged our dinner plans through Veltra for a great luau experience which was spectacular.
We came to Hawaii for our honeymoon.
Everyone at the luau were very friendly in greeting everyone and keeping us posted on the weather which ended up being nice vs pouring rain.
I hope we can come back again with our kids.

Was amazing experience easily the best dolphin swim I have ever done. We got to see a bit of the coast line and the guides were very friendly we would definitely come back again

Wonderful luau!! Would highly recommend!! Came here with my brother who was visiting and we had a blast. Mahalo!

We liked it very much. The narratot, the history, the various outfits, the sincerity of all who performed. And yes, the food was good.

I had a wonderful time. The food was also very filling! However, since I am learning hula, I participated with the image of the best hula dancers in mind, so I felt a bit unsatisfied.

楽しいひと時を過ごしました。ご飯もボリューム満点！
ただ、フラを習っているので、最高のフラダンサー達をイメージして参加してしまったので、少し物足らない感じがしてしまいました。

The purpose of this trip to the Big Island was to see the night manta rays and Kilauea Volcano. First, we participated in the night manta experience. It included transportation, but I received a call the day before saying, "It has been moved up earlier than scheduled." When I arrived at the designated pickup location at the hotel, a Caucasian man informed me that it had been changed to "three hours later." I thought it was an inauspicious start, but we had a fun departure with the captain, who kept cracking jokes, and a Japanese-American girl (tall and slim like Sumire) who translated into English, though her Japanese was a bit shaky. Since I had studied abroad at a university in the U.S., I found the captain's English easier to understand. As for the manta rays, they gathered in droves to feed on the plankton attracted by the powerful LED lights. It was impressive to see the mantas circling vertically and feeding on the plankton, with about three of them at a time. There were two changes to the reservation, but I believe that if the outcome is good, everything is good. The recommendation for Manta University Night Division came from a diving instructor living in Honolulu, and it was the right choice.

今回のハワイ島行きは、ナイトマンタとキラウエア火山の鑑賞が目的でした。まず、ナイトマンタに参加しました。送迎付きでしたが、前日に電話がかかってきて「予定より早くなった」とのことでした。指定された時間にホテルのピックアップ場に行ったところ、白人男性が「３時間後」になったと再度変更。幸先悪いなと思っていましたが、冗談を次々と飛ばす船長さんと、英語を通訳する、少々日本語が怪しい日系の女の子（すみれさんのように長身でスリム）で楽しく出発しました。僕は米国の大学に留学していたので、船長さんの英語の方が分かりやすかったのですが(?)。肝心のマンタですが、強力なLEDに集まるプランクトンを捕食する為にマンタが次々と集まって来ました。垂直方向にぐるぐる回りプランクトンを捕食するマンタは、一度に3枚位で圧巻でした。予約の変更は2回ありましたが、結果良ければ全て良しと思っています。マンタ大学夜学部はホノルルに住んでいるダイビングのインストラクターのお勧めでしたが、正解でした。

It was amazing, the good was great and entertainment was excellent

Crew members were great, accommodated 6 toddlers very well! Friendly and professional. Great live music and guided tour. Food was excellent and we got to see a school of dolphins swim along with us! Would recommend for sure!

I was able to see the dances of each island in the Pacific, learning about their similarities and differences. There were also efforts made to ensure participants enjoyed themselves, such as celebrating birthdays and cheering together.
The meals offered a considerable variety, and even taking small portions resulted in quite a large amount. As mentioned in previous experiences, the order in which you go to get food is determined by your seating, so it’s not an all-you-can-eat situation from the start time. It might have been tough waiting and getting hungry (laughs).
If you don’t have the opportunity to see traditional shows (or have never eaten traditional cuisine) during your stay, I think this is a great option.

太平洋の島々のそれぞれの踊りを見せてくれて、似たところ違うところを知ることが出来ました。参加者の誕生日を祝ったり、一緒に掛け声をかけたりなど参加者が楽しむための工夫もされています。
食事は結構な種類があり、少しずつ取ってもかなり大量になります。前の体験談にもあるように席によって食事をとりにいく順番が決まっていますので、スタート時刻から食べ放題と言う訳ではありません。待っている間におなかへってツラかったかな（笑）。
滞在中に伝統的なショーを見る機会がない（または伝統料理を食べたことがない）なら、いいとおもいます。

We were able to see as many as five manta rays, which usually don't inhabit this area! The guide was also Japanese, which made us feel very comfortable! It was great!!

通常群では生息しないマンタがなんと5匹も見られました！
ガイドの方も日本人でとても安心！
よかったです！！

Setting sail on a cruiser while watching the sunset is a bit romantic. I was worried about the night sea, but with a wetsuit and a float to rest my feet, there was nothing to worry about. I was wondering if we would actually see a manta ray, but one appeared right away, and by the end, there were five. It was an experience like no other, with a large mouth open in front of me, showing its belly and doing flips.

夕日を見ながらクルーザーでの出航ちょっとロマンチックです。夜の海は心配でしたが、ウェットスーツと足を乗せる浮きがあり心配する事もなかったです。肝心のマンタ果たしてくるのか？と思っていましたが、直ぐに1枚現れ、最後には5枚が。目の前を大きな口を開け、腹を見せて宙返り、2度と経験できないような体験でした。

Very exciting to see the dolphins on our outing as well as the tropical fish below. The guide was very knowledgeable and provided lots of info on what we were seeing! Excellent outing.

I was able to see manta rays, and I was moved by that, but I suffered from seasickness. After we arrived at the point, it would have been better if they had let us into the water as soon as possible, but we had to wait for quite a while with the boat stopped, and during that time, many people started to feel unwell.

マンタは見られたし、それについては感動もしたけれど、とにかく船酔いで悩まされました。ポイントについた後、できるだけ早く海に入らせてくれればいいものを、船が止まった状態でかなりの時間待たなければならず、その間に気分が悪くなる人続出。

The manta rays were swimming really close by, and it was wonderful. I know they don't eat people, but it felt a bit scary, like they could. Haha.

マンタが本当にスレスレの所で泳いでいて、素敵でした。
食べないのは分かっていますが、食べられそうな感じがしてちょっと怖かったですけど。笑。

My first snorkeling experience with dolphins was exhilarating. We traveled to the spot by boat, and the weather was perfect, making the journey even more enjoyable! Once we arrived, the guide observed the dolphins' movements and chose the best spot for us to dive in. Dolphins swam right in front of us, and as I looked around, I spotted a mother and baby dolphin below me. They even came close to me, which was incredibly exciting. The guide swam with the dolphins, and it was truly amazing. I definitely want to do this again when I visit the Big Island!

初のイルカとのシュノーケリング、ワクワクで参加。
ポイントまで、ボードで移動。天気にも恵まれて移動中も気分は最高‼️
ポイントについて、ガイドの方がイルカの動きを見て、ベストな所でダイブイン。目の前をイルカが通過したり、周りをキョロキョロしてると、自分の下の方に親子連れのイルカがいたり、自分の近くまで近寄ってきたりと大興奮です。ガイドの方は、イルカと一緒に泳いだりしていて、本当に凄かった。
またハワイ島に行ったらやりたいと思いました。

I had been interested in the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea, which I had seen on TV for a long time! Additionally, we got to do some stargazing, making it the best day ever! We participated as a couple on our honeymoon.

Initially, I was planning to sign up for a tour with a Japanese guide, but it was already fully booked, so I signed up for this tour instead. I was a bit worried since I don't speak much English, but despite the tour being almost 100% in English, thanks to the tour guide's consideration and a Japanese family who happened to join us, I was able to enjoy it very much!

I also observed other tours with Japanese guides and felt that the content and quality of this tour, along with the consideration for customers and the very free-flowing nature of the proceedings, made me truly glad that I participated in this tour.

The hot chocolate and brownies during stargazing were unforgettable. It was truly the best tour! Thank you very much!

以前からテレビで見て気になっていたマウナケア山頂でのサンセット！さらに天体観測もさせてもらえて最高の1日でした！
新婚旅行で夫婦で参加しました。
当初、日本語ガイドのツアーを申し込もうと思っていたところ、既に一杯だったためこちらのツアーに申し込みました。
英語がほぼ出来ないため、多少心配していましたが、ツアーの最中はほぼ100%英語だったにもかかわらず、ツアーガイドさんのお気遣いと、偶然一緒に参加した日本人の家族の方のおかげで、とても楽しむ事ができました！
他の日本語ガイドのツアーの方々もいらっしゃって様子を拝見致しましたが、ツアーの内容や質、お客様への配慮やとても自由な感じでの進行など、このツアーに参加出来てよかったと改めて感じています。
天体観測中のホットチョコレートとブラウニー、あのおいしさはわすれられません。
本当に最高のツアーでした！ありがとうございました！

This trip was the highlight of our trip to the Big Island. We had a great time and enjoyed the experience immensely. I was a little disappointed when they called me that morning and told us the road to the summit was closed and we might not be able to go to the top. Since we were on a limited time schedule we decided to go anyway. Nate was our guide and picked us up in Kona. On the ride to Mauna Kea, he explained about the different kinds of lava flows and some of the myths about Pele. When we got to the sheep station, Nate set up our meal for us and explained about life as a sheep rancher on the island. He promised that if we didn't get to go to the summit, he would make sure we at least saw the sunset from another spot. Supper was very good and it was fun getting to know the other tourists with us. After we ate, we got the good news that the road had opened and we were able to go to the top. What a gorgeous sight!! We saw the sun set on one side and turned around and saw the full moon coming up on the other. After watching the sunset, we went back down to visitor center and did some stargazing. Nate was very knowledgeable about the constellations. We were able to see the rings around Saturn and other constellations that night. The hot chocolate and warm brownies tasted good after being up on the summit where it was pretty chilly! I would definitely recommend this adventure for anyone visiting the Big Island, If we are fortunate enough to return, we will be doing this again!! Thank you Nate for a great evening.

We enjoyed the Island Breeze Luau. We were seated with a great group of people and enjoyed talking with them.. The show was very well done. The fire dancer at the end was especially good. The food was very good and had a lot of choices on the buffet.

It was a great snorkeling experience. They did a great job all around. Seeing Dolphins is a guarantee. They hang out just off the coast on the way to and from the snorkeling location. The food they served was great and included (breakfast/lunch). They provide some drinks for free with the food. Any smoothies or alcoholic drinks you must pay for and there is a bar on the boat for that. They provide rash gaurds, towels, fins, snorkels, various floatation devices (noodles, boards, etc...). I did start feeling a little sea sick and missed out the last 15 min of water time before we headed back. So I would recommend taking some Dramamine if you get motion sickness.

Joe was amazing!!! His passion for astronomy was so refreshing and we loved his poem at the end.

I used this for my honeymoon! Seeing the manta rays up close was truly moving! Personally, even though I took motion sickness medication, the time spent searching for manta rays at the snorkeling spot was long, and the strong winds and rough waves made me feel seasick... Even while watching the manta rays, the waves were rough and I got nauseous. It felt like I barely managed to take some photos.

For those who get motion sickness, it might be better to eat dinner after it's over. Also, I think it's good to take extra motion sickness medication...

ハネムーンで使用しました！マンタが本当に間近で！感動でした！
個人的には、酔い止めを飲んだのにシュノーケリング地点に到着してマンタを探している時間が長く、また風が強く波が激しかったので船酔いに…マンタを見ている最中も波が荒く酔ってしまって。やっとの思いで写真が撮れたって感じです。
乗り物酔いをする人は夕食は終わってから食べた方がいいかもです。そして、酔い止め多めが良いかと…思います。

I was really able to swim with dolphins! On the day I participated, we encountered dolphins right after the boat left the port. I was surprised to see dolphins swimming in such a place! Under the guidance of Daisuke, who loves dolphins, we positioned the boat well and entered the water, but it was challenging to avoid splashing when entering. Timing for the dolphins to come was also tricky, so it seems important to keep your face in the water and look around while you're in the sea. There were two divers, but I think practicing to swim to some extent beforehand would allow you to swim more with the dolphins. The baby dolphins were jumping on the surface and were incredibly cute! Above all, when I heard the dolphins' voices underwater, it felt mystical. I can't guarantee it, but they really work hard to help you swim with the dolphins, so I believe it's definitely worth participating if you want to swim with them!

本当にイルカと泳ぐことができました！
今回参加した日は港から船が出たすぐの部分でイルカに会うことができました。こんなところで自然のイルカが泳いでるの！？とビックリしました。イルカ大好きダイスケさんの指示のもと船を良い部分に付けて海に降りるのですが、着水時に水しぶきが出ないようにしなければいけずそれが難しかったです。イルカが来るタイミングも難しいので海にいるときは常に顔を水につけてキョロキョロすることが大事みたいです。ダイバーさんは二人いましたがある程度泳げるように練習しておくとよりイルカと泳げると思います。イルカは赤ちゃんイルカがたくさん水面を跳ねててとても可愛かったです！何より海の中でイルカの声を聞けたときは神秘的なものを感じました。絶対とは言いませんがイルカと泳げるようかなり頑張ってくれるのでイルカと泳ぎたい方はぜひ参加する価値ありだと思います！

We were able to enjoy ourselves fully as adults because the staff also took care of the children and grandmother. I'm grateful to the wonderful staff. We had the chance to meet many dolphins and had enough time to swim, creating the best memories!

子供と祖母の面倒も見て頂けたので大人も存分に楽しめて、素敵なスタッフさん達に感謝です。
沢山のイルカに出会える事が出来て、十分な時間泳げ最高の思い出が作れました！

First of all, it was fun heading out to sea while watching the sunset sink into the ocean! We stopped the boat and waited for it to get dark, and then it was time to go underwater! I was so happy when 2 to 3 large mantas came close to us. On the way there, there were a few people who got seasick, so motion sickness medication is a must. I forgot to bring my motion sickness medication for the return trip, so I ended up feeling nauseous on the way back. Also, it gets really cold on the return trip, so I think it's essential to have clothes that you can easily change into or warm clothing on the boat.

まず、海に沈む夕日を見ながら沖へ向かって行くのが楽しかったです！そして船を停めて暗くなるのを待ち、いざ水中へ！とても大きなマンタが2〜3枚来てくれてとっても近くまで来てくれてすごく嬉しかったです。行きの船では船酔いしている方が何名か居たので酔い止めは必須です。私は帰りの酔い止めを持参し忘れた為に帰りは気持ち悪くなってしまいました。そして帰りはすごく寒くなるので船の上で簡単に着替えられる様な服や防寒着は必須だと思いました。