All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

It was definitely a unique experience, and having it depart from the pier in downtown Kona was great. We saw some marine life, though I guess we expected a bit more variety of fish (mostly yellow ones). Guess the fish don't come when it's sub time though! We loved looking at the coral and seeing a whole different world under the surface.

We did buy the CD that was offered for $20 with your picture, thinking it would have a variety of marine life pictures from previous trips, but on first inspection, it doesn't appear to have much. We did get our picture on the CD plus pictures of everyone else on the ride ... Don't think it was worth the $20.

Overall, a great and unique thing to do and I'd definitely recommend it to first-timers and those with kids, but not something I'd do again I don't think.

Breath Taking Experience. Great Guide.

This was a wonderful, amazing tour! The sunset view from the summit of Mauna Kea is incomparable. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. The stargazing was also wonderful. I never saw the stars so clearly before. My tour guide was Buck, who gave us a great astronomy beginner's lesson. He also was very professional, and knowledgeable about other aspects such as the culture, history, and environmental ecology of the island. I highly recommend this trip to everyone. Bring gloves and a knitted cap--you will use them. The tour company will provide parkas. Cookies and hot chocolate before stargazing was a nice touch!

We were very lucky to see the three whales up-close. One young calf was trying hard to breach with the mother, which was very adorable. The staff was very informative and helpful. I would do this again.

Overall, it was a fun experience to be in a submarine. We got to see a pod of dolphins, so that was exciting. It's like scuba diving but you don't get wet. Pretty neat. The pier is a walking distance from downtown Kona, so it was very close to our hotel.

This was our first time to the Islands and our first Luau. We were not disappointed. We had a fantastic time and loved the entertainment. The host was great and very informative of the Hawiian and Polynesian cultures. We loved the costumes and how the dancers interacted with the guest. We upgraded our tickets and ended up sitting in the very front row. WoW! We could not have had a better time.

Since I came all the way to Hawaii, I wanted to have at least one dinner that truly felt like Hawaii, so I participated in this show. There was a bit of a wait from check-in to entry, but once we were shown to our seats, there were various activities prepared one after another, and I was able to enjoy myself to the fullest without getting bored. Next to us was a group of grandparents in their mid-80s who were college friends, and we had a great time chatting with them. The food was a spread of local Hawaiian dishes, and what I thought would be just a little bit ended up filling my plate completely, leaving me quite full. As for the dancing, several young women and men performed dances from various countries, and it was very impressive. It turned out to be a memorable night!

せっかくハワイに来たのだから、1日くらいはハワイを感じるディナーをしたい
なーと思いこのショーに参加しました。
チェックインから入場まではやや時間がありましたが、いったん席に案内され
てからは、次から次にいろんなアクティビィティーが準備されていて飽きるこ
となく思う存分楽しむことができました。私たちのと隣には８０代半ばの大学
仲間というおじいちゃんおばあちゃんたちのグループの方たちがいらっしゃり
、いろんなお話をしたりしてとっても楽しい時間を過ごす事ができました。料
理もハワイのローカルな料理がずらーっと並んでいて少しずつとっていたつも
りがいつの間にかお皿いっぱいになっていておなかいっぱいでした。
ダンスですが若い女性と男性数名がいろんな国のダンスを踊ってくれとても迫
力がありました。
思い出に残るいい夜になりました♪

I participated in this cruise with my parents, making it a family of three. We were the only Japanese people there, but everyone was friendly and it was a lot of fun.

The weather was nice that day, but since it was February, it was quite cold when we entered the water. However, once we got used to it, it was no problem at all! We were able to see beautiful tropical fish swimming around.

We snorkeled at two locations, and in between, we enjoyed breakfast and lunch. The large hamburger for lunch was very filling and delicious.

I think this is a great activity for those who want to spend a relaxing time on the sea.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any dolphins during the cruise, but we did see whales!

今回このクルーズには両親と3人で参加させていただきました。日本人は私たち家族だけでしたが、皆さん気さくで楽しかったです。

この日はお天気も良かったのですが、やはり2月なので海に入る時は結構寒かったですが、慣れてしまえばもうへっちゃら☆きれいな熱帯魚たちが泳ぐのを見ることができました。

シュノーケルは2箇所で行い、その合間に朝食や昼食をいただきました。昼食のおっきなハンバーガーはボリュウム満点でとってもおいしかったですよ。

のんびりした時間を海の上で過ごしたい方にはいいアクティビティだと思います。

クルーズの途中では残念ながらいるかに会うことはできませんでしたが、鯨には会えましたよ♪

This tour was by far the highlight of our Kona vacation - guide Karen was knowledgeable and friendly and put us at ease even though my sister was a first time snorkeler. She also gave a fantastic history of the island and everything we saw on the way. The best part was seeing a school of dolphins as we were kayaking to the first snorkel sight! I look forward to doing this activity again on my next trip!

This was an enjoyable hour! The staff was great! Spinner Dolphins, Eel, Manta Ray and lots and lots of beautiful fish in the reef! Worth every penny!

Our family had a great time. I loved the diving board from the upper deck! Mahalo!

This was my first snorkel trip ever and I couldn't stop talking about it. The entire experience from the boat, to the staff, to the waters, to the history was amazing!!!!
I will definitely do it again!

WOW! What a fun evening! We were reluctant to do this activity but it turned out be the most enjoyable of all of our adventures in Hawaii. You would never know you were in Hawaii atop this beautiful snow capped mountain. The sights are unbelievable and the sunset probably the best you will ever see. The staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating. This is a must do activity in Hawaii. You won稚 be disappointed.

The crew was fantastic. A very unique way to see ocean life up close. It was a bit crowded and you have to bend over to see out the windows if you are taller than 5 foot, but you soon forget about that as you look through your window.

This is the best luau i have ever been! Not only is it very affordable but the host is very informative on the cultures of the hawaiians and the other polynesian tribes. My best friend and I had soo much fun in this luau and plus we are amazed at the fire show that they put on. We were very overwhelmingly satisfied w/ the amount of food that they serve (about 20 diff kinds of hawaiian dishes)not to mention the 2 hours open bar! I had too much mai tais w/in two hours! This is a great luau to go to for first timers or as regulars.

As everyone recommended, the staff and other participants are all friendly, and basic English conversation is sufficient, allowing you to fully enjoy the vacation vibe on the Big Island. There are pamphlets with Japanese translations for snorkeling precautions, which is reassuring. Breakfast, lunch, alcohol, and snacks are all included, providing excellent service. Regarding the sea, you can encounter schools of dolphins, and they give you plenty of time for snorkeling, but the water is quite cold. For those who have snorkeled in other countries, the variety of fish might feel a bit lacking.

　皆さんのお勧め通りスタッフや他の参加者たちはみんなフレンドリーで、簡単な英会話で通用しますし、ハワイ島でのヴァカンス気分を十分満喫できます。シュノーケルの際の注意事項も日本語訳のパンフレットがあり安心です。朝食やランチ、アルコールやスナックまでついていてサービス満点です。海については、イルカの群れに出会えますし、シュノーケル時間もたっぷり取ってくれるのですが、とにかく水が冷たい。他国でシュノーケルをやったことのある人にはお魚の種類が少なくてちょっと物足りないかも。

We were the only Japanese couple on board. The boat was full with couples and families (about 60 people), but it was spacious enough, and the staff were friendly, chatting with us and other tourists in my limited English. My husband and I couldn't swim without wearing rash guards because it was cold (unfortunately, it was a cloudy day), but the other Westerners enjoyed snorkeling in just their swimsuits without feeling cold at all. There was even a pregnant woman who was 10 months along, which surprised me! Even if you can't swim, there are various floatation devices available, so it's fine. The hamburgers on the boat were very delicious! During the return cruise, we were overwhelmed by sleepiness and ended up dozing off together in the sea breeze. Also, there were two clean toilets on the boat, so we felt comfortable using them. We enjoyed snorkeling at two points and encountered large groups of small dolphins at both spots, which excited everyone!

私達夫婦1組だけが日本人でした。
カップルやファミリーで満席(60人くらい)でしたが、
充分余裕のある広い船でしたし、スタッフも気さくに
話しかけてくれたり、他の観光客と私のつたない英語で
お喋りをしたりしました。
私や主人はラッシュガードを着ないと寒くて(あいにくの
曇り空だったため)泳いでられませんでしたが、他の
欧米人のみなさんは誰一人寒がることなく、水着だけで
シュノーケリングを楽しんでいました。
10ヶ月の妊婦さんもいて、驚きました！
泳げなくても、いろんな浮き輪があるので大丈夫です。
船上でのハンバーガーがとても美味でした♪
帰りのクルージング中はものすごい睡魔に襲われ、
二人で海風に煽られながら爆睡してしまいました。
また、船上のトイレは２つあり、清潔なので
安心して使えました。
2つのポイントでシュノーケリングを楽しみましたが、
どちらにもたくさんの小さなイルカの大群に遭遇し、
みんなで興奮しました！

I was able to see a whale spouting water and its tail about ten times. Although they were too far away to capture in photos, it was my first time seeing whales in the ocean, and I was truly moved.

According to the explanation from the crew on the "Naturalist," the end of December is when the whales coming from Alaska start to arrive, so their numbers are still low. The best season is said to be from the end of January to February. During that time, you can even hear the calls of male whales trying to attract females through an underwater microphone. If you want to increase your chances of encountering whales, I think it's best to check the season.

That said, cruising on the newly refurbished Body Glove was very pleasant, and just looking at the blue ocean and the green shore was soothing. It was also a nice touch that snacks and fruits were provided for free. There was a bartender on board, and foreign tourists were eagerly enjoying cocktails. Since the guide mentioned that soft drinks were included, I decided to try a non-alcoholic cocktail, and they even added a cute orchid flower to it for free. (To order a non-alcoholic cocktail, just add "virgin." For example, you can ask for a "virgin piña colada" to have a cocktail made without rum.)

On the way back to the port, I encountered a pod of dolphins and a manta ray (though I couldn't see it well since it was just its back), so I think the hit rate was quite high. Since this is a tour that relies on nature rather than a guaranteed aquarium experience, I believe you can still have a great time even if you don't encounter any wildlife, as long as you enjoy the cruising itself.

クジラは潮を吹いているのと、尻尾を10回程観る事が出来ました。どれも遠くて写真に収める事は出来ませんでしたが、
海でクジラを観たのは初めてだったので感動しました。

乗船していた「ナチュラリスト」の方の説明によると、12月末はまだアラスカから来るクジラが到着し始めた頃で数が少なく、ベストシーズンは1月末から2月だそうです。 その頃になると、メスを呼ぶオスのクジラの声を水中マイクで聴いたりする事もできるそうです。 クジラ遭遇のヒット率を高くしたい方はシーズンをチェックした方が良いと思います。　

とはいえ、今年から新しくしたというボディ・グローブ号でのクルージングはとても気持ちがよく、青い海原と緑の対岸を見ているだけでも癒されます。 スナックやフルーツが無料で用意されているのも嬉しいサービスでした。バーテンダーの方も同乗しており、外国人観光客の方はこぞってカクテルを飲んでいました。 案内にソフトドリンク付きとあったので、試しにノンアルコールのカクテルを頼んでみたら、かわいい蘭の花をつけてくれてこれも無料でした。（ノンアルコールでカクテルを頼むには「ヴァージン」を付ければOKです。例えば「バージン・ピナコラーダ」でラム抜きでカクテルを作ってくれます。）

港に戻る途中でイルカの群れやマンタ（背中だけなのでよく分かりませんでしたが）に遭遇したりと、ヒット率は高かったと思います。 必ず遭える水族館ではなく、自然に任せてのツアーなので、クルージング自体を楽しむ感覚で行けば遭遇出来なくても十分に楽しめると思います。

The luau staff were great, but we wish the hotel staff at the lobby were more helpful. We were out of cash to pay $3 for the parking, and all nearby ATM's were down. We asked the lobby staff to accept a credit card payment, but they would not budge. Finally one person in the Luau staff (Dan, I believe) helped us out (bless his heart!). So even though the activity was great, the ending was somewhat rocky.

Regards,
-Arnab.

I highly recommend it. The sea is very clear, and there are plenty of fish. For those who are not confident in swimming, they provide floaties and other equipment on the boat, so you can feel safe. The burgers eaten on the boat were also delicious. The captain, who resembled George Clooney, and the cheerful staff were all very kind.

お勧めです。海は透明度が高く、魚もたくさんいます。泳ぎが不安な方も、船で浮き輪等貸してくれますので安心です。船上で食べるバーガーも美味でございました。ジョージクルーニー似のキャプテン、明るいスタッフもみんな親切でした。

I was late for the meeting time, so I was guided to my seat first, but then I went back to get a lei and a flower tattoo. Since it was a buffet, I was able to eat a lot of my favorite foods, but personally, I wanted to eat even more (laughs). While I was in the restroom, the show started, and I missed the Tahitian dance, which was the one I wanted to see the most, so I was really disappointed. The same performers danced various regional dances, which provided a different kind of enjoyment compared to PCC. Since I could see it up close, I carefully observed one dancer to study the dance. If PCC is a show to enjoy the overall impact, I think the show here allows for more detailed observation. It might be great for those who are seeing Hawaiian cuisine and dance for the first time.

集合時間に遅れてしまったので、先に席に案内されたが、戻ってレイや花のいれずみをやってもらった。
バイキングなので自分の好きなものをたくさん食べれたが、私的にもっと食べていたかった（笑）。
トイレに行っていた最中にショーが始まってしまい、タヒチのダンスを見損ねてしまった。一番見たかったダンスだけにショックだった。
色々な地域のダンスを同じ人たちが踊っていたので、PCCとは違った楽しさがあった。まじかで見れたので、一人の人をじっくり観察してダンスを研究した。
PCCが全体の迫力を楽しむショーであるとしたら、ここでのショーはじっくり観察できるものであると思う。
ハワイアン料理やダンスなどを初めて見るといった人にはいいかもしれない。

Great time! The staff was very personable and made the trip even better. Would highly recommend to others. Smaller boat and much better attention to detail for the customers.

I was a bit nervous because there were mostly foreigners, but the staff were very kind and accommodating. I enjoyed snorkeling a lot. My wife kept diving into the sea from the boat with the kids who were participating... We even encountered a pod of dolphins along the way.

外国人ばかりでドキドキしましたが、スタッフの方もやさしく対応していただきました。シュノーケルも十分楽しめました。妻は参加していた子供らと船上から海へのダイブを繰り返していました。。。途中イルカの群れにも会いました。

The crews were very attentive, and the captain was awesome! A group of 4 of us went, and everyone had a great time. I would totally do this again! Thanks for the good time. Oh, and HawaiiActivities called me on the day before to remind me. Such a good service. Thank you!

The luau was good food was great staff were great the show was ok and they would'nt let you video tape the show. It rained on us for a little while before we ate but it cleared up after and we didn't have to go inside but all in all it was a fun time

This was a fantastic experience and very unique. Never expected the manta rays to come soo close. Hope my pics come out. Will definitely do again when I come back to the Big Island. Highly recommend for everyone, was a very easy snorkel and NOT scary at all.

We enjoyed it as a family. The food was delicious.

家族で楽しみました。料理おいしかったです。

My family was satisfied. I think the food was good too.

家族が満足していました。料理も良かったと思います。

This was a great experience to learn about the history of Hawaii and it's polynesian ancestory. The only thing that I was disappointed in was having to pay $20 for a single photo that was taken of my wife and I. A little steap for a single photo.

We participated with our family on October 9. The sea in Hawaii Island is more beautiful than that of Oahu, and it's even more stunning than the White Sands and Keauhou in Hawaii Island, making it impossible not to get in. The boat is a catamaran, so there’s no rocking, and the kids jumped in dozens of times from the slide and diving board. It was also great to have fresh water showers available. The location is just a three-minute walk from the Sheraton where we were staying. I highly recommend it.

１０／０９に家族で参加してきました。
ハワイ島の海はオアフ島より綺麗なのですが、ハワイ島のホワイト・サンドやケアウホウよりも更に綺麗な海で、入らずにはいられません。船もカタマランなので揺れることも無く、滑り台やジャンプ台など、子供たちは何十回と飛び込んでいましたし、真水のシャワーがあるのもよかっです。
場所はシェラトンに宿泊していたので、歩いて３分といったところです。お薦めします。