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Big Island
I wanted to see the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea again on our 25th wedding anniversary, which I booked (though it doesn't align with Japan time) since we visited the Big Island for our honeymoon 25 years ago.
We were staying at a B&B, so we were picked up at the entrance of Kona Mountain Coffee near the airport. The large van was fully booked with 13 people. Due to bad weather, the mountain had been closed for four days, and it was finally open again… everything about this trip felt lucky!
Our guide, JIN, who was quite big, kept us entertained with his lively talk in the van (laughs). Around 3:30 PM at the Onizuka Visitor Center, we had an early dinner with bento boxes, warm miso soup, and drinks, and put on our ski pants. We took photos at a beautiful spot with a sea of clouds, and everyone bundled up in their ski jackets as we headed to the summit.
The sea of clouds changes every day, so the way the sunset reflects varies, allowing us to see different sunsets each day. The clouds looked like snow! Without any wind, we felt truly lucky. As the sun gradually set, the surroundings turned orange… it was moving. I might have extended my life (laughs).
Once the sun set, we moved down in the van because the headlamps would interfere with the observation. We waited until it got darker, and warm drinks and cookies were distributed. The star explanations were given by another tour guide, Ishikawa.
Looking up at the sky made my neck a bit sore, but the starry sky was so overwhelming it felt like they were falling. JIN took many photos with his hobbyist telescope camera, being considerate since it was our silver wedding anniversary (the photos can be downloaded later with a password). The photos that can't be captured on a smartphone will become one of our precious memories.
We were dropped off at the meeting point around 9 PM, and since we were a bit hungry, we stopped by Subway to take out sandwiches on our way back to the accommodation.
Thank you, JIN! The next day, for our final dinner, we made a reservation at a restaurant you recommended where we could see the sunset! Please continue to help many people create wonderful memories!
25年前の新婚旅行で訪れたハワイ島でもう一度マウナケア山頂からの夕陽が見たくて25回目の結婚記念日（日本時間とはずれますが）に予約をしました
私たちはB&Bに宿泊していたので、飛行場近くのコナマウンテンコーヒー入口でピックアップしていただきました
大きなバンに13名満席でした
4日間悪天候の為山がクローズしていて、久しぶりのオープンとのこと…今回の旅行は何だか全てラッキー！
大きな大きな（身体がbig）ガイドのJINさんはバンの中でも軽快トークで飽きさせません（笑）
オニヅカビジターセンターで15:30頃早夕食のお弁当と温かい味噌汁、飲み物をとり、スキーウェアのパンツを履きます。雲海が綺麗なスポットで写真を撮り、スキーウェアの上着を着て全員モコモコギュウギュウ詰めで山頂へ
雲海は毎日出方が違うので、雲海の出方によって夕陽の映り方も違い、日々違う夕陽が見れるそうです
雲海がまるで雪のよう！風もなく本当にラッキー
だんだん陽が沈み、辺りがオレンジ色に…感動です
寿命が延びたかも（笑）
陽が沈むとヘッドライトが観測の妨げになるとかで、バンで下の方へ移動します。そこでもっと暗くなるまで待ちます。暖かい飲み物とクッキーが配られました
星の説明はもう1組のツアーガイドの石川さんが
空を見上げて少し首が痛くなりましたが、降ってくるかと思うくらいの星空でした
JINさんが趣味という望遠カメラでたくさんの写真を撮ってくれました。銀婚式ということで気を遣ってたくさん撮ってくれました（写真は後日パスワードを受け取りダウンロードできます）
スマホでは撮れないような写真はまた大切な思い出のひとつになります
集合場所に送り届けてもらったのが9時頃、さすがに小腹がすいたので、宿に戻る途中、サブウェイでサンドイッチをテイクアウトして帰りました
JINさん、ありがとうございました！
翌日最終日の夕食は教えていただいた夕陽が見れるレストランに予約をして行ってきました！
これからもたくさんの人達の素敵な思い出作り、頑張って下さい！
Translated by OpenAI
First of all, this is a fantastic trip. When we first booked the trip, we saw the 4.9 out of five rating and doubted. When we came back from the trip, all doubts were erased!
Our guide Kevin is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. We were picked up at our hotel at 12:05 noon. The lunch was served in the Mauna Lao Rest Area at 1pm. The quality of the lunch is totally out of expectations. Kevin told us they were picked up from a famous deli at 11:30 AM. No wonder it’s so good and fresh!
The Rainbow Fall in Hilo is the first highlight. We saw the rainbow as soon as we got there. It’s exactly the same as shown in the advertisement picture. Absolutely beautiful! Kevin specifically warned us not to climb on the rocks in the upper river because many people died falling into the pond under the waterfalls. We saw about 10 people on the rock that day. Two days later I saw a news that a young couple were seeing struggling in the upper River and disappeared. The lady was later found dead at the bottom of the waterfall and the guy was still missing. Very good advice from Kevin!
The highlight of all highlights is of course the view of the live volcano. The tour company’s arrangement it’s very smart. They let us view the volcano crater at sunset for about 30 minutes. Then, we were transported to a very nice restaurant nearby to enjoy a five course formal dinner. Again it is so good that it is totally out of expectation.
We were back to the volcano after dinner when it is dark and very few people there. We can see the lava glow very clearly. When Kevin set up his high quality binoculars on a stand, we can even see the lava splashed out of the crater like fireworks!
Overall, it worths all 5 stars. I would recommend this trip to anyone!
On the day I participated, I was lucky enough to see a beautiful sunset and starry sky! The summit of Mauna Kea was unimaginably cold, but I was able to manage thanks to the warm clothing they provided. Additionally, they took photos at each point, and there was a service to download them for free from a dedicated site, allowing us to get pictures with the starry sky in the background that we couldn't have taken ourselves! Depending on the weather on the day of participation, it seems that you might not be able to reach the summit or see the stars well, so I really feel lucky. If I could wish for something, I would be happier if the quality of the bento was a bit higher.
私が参加した日は運よくサンセットも星空もとってもきれいに見れました！マウナケアの山頂は想像を絶する寒さでしたが、防寒着を貸し出していただけたので我慢できました。また、ポイントごとに写真も撮っていただけて、無料で専用サイトからダウンロードできるサービスもあり、自分たちで撮影することのできない星空をバックにした写真なども撮っていただけました！参加日の天候によっては、山頂まで登れなかったり星空があまり見えなかったりするようなので、本当にラッキーだったなと思います。欲を言えば、お弁当のクオリティーがもう少し高いと嬉しいです。
Translated by OpenAI
Kailani tours on the big Island of Hawaii was wonderful! Our tour guide Kevin, was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and understanding and he took us to so many beautiful destinations on the island. The timing of the tour was perfect we had a beautiful lunch with an amazing view and the weather was great then he took us to see a beautiful waterfall at rainbow Falls and I actually saw a rainbow! We saw so many wonderful things on this tour. They took us out to a wonderful delicious dinner and after dinner we got to see the amazing volcano the red glow was magnificent. One of my favorite parts of the tour was when our tour guide Kevin offered to take an amazing photo that he captured in the dark from my cell phone. He was able to capture us and the red glow from the volcano behind us. True photographer status and that was just a bonus!! From what I recognized throughout the day on the tour is that there were a lot of other tour buses out there as well but I noticed that those tour guides were rushing their customers in and out of the van not giving them very much time to actually explore and learn about Hawaii. This is one thing that made Kailani tours and our tour guide Kevin stand out to me! Our tour guides patience with the group was excellent and he allowed us to really explore the land. The whole day I learned so many amazing things about Hawaii. Kailani tours made our Hawaii trip perfect. And I will cherish these memories forever. I highly recommend taking a Kailani tours if you’re ever on the big Island. I give them 5++ stars!! Thank you Kailani Tours of Hawaii.
We arrived at the Royal Kona Resort in about 15 minutes by taxi.
There’s nothing in particular that you need, but if you have sensitive skin, it's definitely a good idea to apply sunscreen!
The guide was cheerful and it was a lot of fun!
We took many photos, which became great memories.
ホテルはロイヤルコナリゾートでタクシーで15分ほどで到着しました。
必要なものは特にないですが、肌弱い方はかならず日焼け止めは必ず塗ったほうがいいです！
ガイドさんも陽気でとても楽しかったです！
写真もたくさん撮っていただき、思い出になりました。
Translated by OpenAI
We signed up for this kayaking tour with a young toddler with us and initially I was a bit sceptical of how well it would go. But Kevin was friendly, informative and really patient through out the activity making sure our first experience in Hawaii and of snorkeling was pleasant and enjoyable. Definitely recommend
I was hoping for a starry sky, but there were clouds, and even at an altitude of 3,000 meters, I realized it was difficult to see perfectly. It was my second time, and I was disappointed.
満天の星空を期待しましたが、雲があり3000メートールの高さでも、完璧にはなかなか見ることができないことを痛感しました。二度目だったのですが、残念〜
Translated by OpenAI
The expected lava was subdued, and the anticipated scenery was not visible. However, the position I sat in the helicopter, at the edge of the front seat, had a clear view with almost no obstructions. The weather that day was overcast with low-hanging clouds, preventing us from getting close to the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater. The ocean entry was thwarted by the capricious Pele, who stopped the flow of lava, resulting in a disappointing aerial tour with almost nothing to see.
期待していた溶岩は成りを潜め、期待していた光景は見ることはできなかった。しかし、ヘリコプターで座った位置は、助手席の端で視界が良く遮るものがほとんどなかった。当日の天候は、雲が低く垂れこめ、プウオー火口へは近づけなかった。オーシャンエントリーは気まぐれなペレさんが意地悪して溶岩の流れを止めてしまい、見るべきものはほとんどなく、がっかりな空の旅となってしまった。
Translated by OpenAI
I participated in this tour on November 17, 2017, expecting a sky full of stars. Unfortunately, due to strong winds, we couldn't go to the observation deck at the summit of Mauna Kea, but our guides (Ishikawa and Matsuzaki) set up another viewing point on Mauna Kea, and we were able to enjoy a very satisfying stargazing experience. They set up a telescope so we could see Saturn and shared fun stories about the stars under the real night sky. The real Milky Way is truly moving. We also had the opportunity to take photos with the starry sky as a backdrop, which became a wonderful keepsake.
Once it was confirmed that we couldn't go to the observation deck, they efficiently moved us to another sunset point, and we were able to take photos at a great timing. Despite the many challenges posed by nature, I truly appreciate the sincere efforts of the guides to make our experience enjoyable. It was a truly wonderful experience. If I ever have the chance again, I would love to see that starry sky once more.
☆2017/11/17参加
今回は満天の星空を期待し、こちらのツアーに参加させて頂きました。残念ながら強風の為マウナケア山頂の展望台に行くことが出来ませんでしたが、ガイドのお二人が(イシカワさん、マツザキさん)マウナケアの別のポイントをセッティングして下さり、大満足の星空観測を堪能する事が出来ました。土星がみられるように天体望遠鏡をセットし、皆に見せて下さったり、本物の星空の下にて楽しい星のお話をして頂きました。本物のミルキーウェイは本当に感動的です。また、星空をバックに写真撮影もして頂きました。とても良い記念になりました。
展望台に登れない事が確定した時点で、手際よく別のサンセットポイントへ移動され、とても良いタイミングで写真撮影もしていただきました。
自然に左右される事も多い中、少しでも我々を楽しませようとして下さる、ガイドの方の誠意ある対応に、本当に感謝しております。
本当に素晴らしい体験でした。もしもいつか機会があれば、またあの星空を見たいなあと思ってしまいます。
Translated by OpenAI
We had a fantastic time with our Kailani tour of the Big Island that we booked through Veltra. I’ll go through each category of the trip one by one and leave my detailed thoughts:
GUIDE
Our guide, Kevin, was a former U.S. Navy electrical engineer and was quite knowledgeable about the island. He spoke on the microphone throughout the trip, always providing new and interesting information, but never repeating himself or sounding boring. I got the sense that he wasn’t just trying to fill space, but rather that he genuinely had lots of things to share about the island. I also appreciated how he had studied some Hawaiian and was able to translate a number of names and titles to us in English and explain the cultural and linguistic origins.
ITINERARY
I was stoked to get to see Volcanoes National Park because it was on my bucket list and it was beautiful. The guide provided night-time binoculars so we could see the magma spitting out of the volcano crater at night—truly spectacular. Plus, the itinerary was designed so that you avoid the large crowds at the volcano, making stops before and after it erupts. Hilo was nice but quick, so I’d say if you really want to explore the town of Hilo you should go on your own. This one makes a brief stop in Hilo but really just uses it as a jumping off point to explore the volcano.
FOOD
The lunch was pretty simple but fresh – sandwiches with turkey, hummus, and avocado in various varieties. The dinner is quite special though as the lodge is quite intimate, very cozy and offers great food.
TRANSPORT
The transport is a Mercedes 12 seater van with a co-pilot seat, then three rows of three and one row of four. Even if you get a middle seat it’s not bad, because the windows are essentially panoramic on the bus and they are extremely clean. The black leather interior was very comfortable and not one on our ride got carsick.
Overall I highly recommend this tour!
Our tour included three couples from the mainland besides my husband and me. There was also a Japanese tour with a guide fluent in Japanese at the same meeting time, but the instructions and riding techniques were explained so thoroughly that we had no trouble at all with the English tour.
I was unsure about wearing a helmet. If you're worried, you can wear one, but the other couples weren't wearing helmets, so we decided not to. All the horses were well-trained (though some were quite greedy and tended to wander off), so it was fine without a helmet.
There was a bag available at the stable that you could borrow for free. You can put drinks, smartphones, and digital cameras in it. One person on the same tour attached a handle to their digital camera and took lots of photos while riding. I thought it would be a hassle to carry a selfie stick, so I just took my smartphone, but I was nervous about dropping it while taking pictures. I wished I had attached it to the selfie stick.
We also rode through the beautiful nature along the river, soaking in plenty of negative ions.
It was an afternoon tour, and it drizzled a bit on the way, but we were lucky that it didn't rain at Waipi'o! I would love to go horseback riding again when I visit the Big Island.
私たちのツアーには私たち夫婦以外に本土からのカップルが3組でした。同じ集合時間で日本語が堪能なガイドによる日本語ツアーもありましたが、注意事項も乗り方も丁寧に教えて下さるので英語でも全く不便はありませんでした。
迷ったのはヘルメットの着用。心配なら着用、他のカップルは着用なしだったので着用なしで。馬はどの子も良く調教されてるので（一部かなり食いしん坊で寄り道の多い子もいましたが）ヘルメットなしでも大丈夫でした。
馬屋に蔵につけるバッグがあり、無料で借りれます。
飲み物やスマホ、デジカメなど入れておくことができます。同じツアーの方がデジカメにハンドルをつけて乗馬しながらバシバシ写真を撮ってました。私は荷物になるかとスマホの自撮り棒を外してスマホのみ持って行きましたが、落としそうでハラハラしながら撮影してました。自撮り棒につけていけば良かったなと思いました。
大自然の中川の中も進んで行きます。マイナスイオンをたっぷり浴びてきました。
午後からのツアーで、行く途中パラパラと雨が降っていましたが、ワイピオは雨が降らなくてラッキーでした！またハワイ島に行った時には乗馬したいです。
Translated by OpenAI
I was worried about seasickness, but I took some motion sickness medication and it seemed to work, so I was fine. The explanations were also provided in Japanese, so there were no problems at all. However, even when we arrived at the spot, it took a while for the manta rays to appear, and we waited on the boat for quite some time. Finally, we got the go-ahead to enter the water and waited for the manta rays to come. Soon, one manta ray passed by so close that I could almost touch it. It was thrilling. That day, I saw four manta rays, but only the first one came close, which was a bit disappointing.
船酔いを心配しましたが、酔い止めを飲み効果があったのか大丈夫でした。
説明も日本語でしてくれるので全然問題ありません。ただポイントに着いてもなかなか マンタが現れず、船の上でずっと待っていましたが。やっとゴーサイン出て海の中に入って、
マンタがくるのを待ちました。程なく一匹のマンタが触れるほどすぐ近くを通って行きました。感激です。その日は四匹のマンタを見ましたが近くを通ったのは最初の一匹だけだったので少し残念でした。
Aloha!! Yocchan,
Thank you for participating in the manta tour. We are all very happy that you were able to experience something that is hard to come by in Japan. When you come to Oahu again, we also have tours like the Dolphin Middle School and University, so we look forward to your next visit.
Mahalo!!
Dolphin Office
Aloha!! よっちゃん様
この度はマンタツアーにご参加頂き、ありがとうございます。
日本では中々経験出来ない体験をして頂けて、スタッフ一同嬉しい限りです。
オアフ島にお越しの際はイルカ中学・大学などのツアーもございますので、またのお越しをお待ちしております。
Mahalo!!
イルカオフィス
Translated by OpenAI
Diese Tour fand mit ca. 18 Personen auf einem modernen Katamaran statt. Man befindet sich ca. 45min im Wasser, wobei man neue Neoprenanzüge trägt. Der Trip wurde professionell durchgeführt, es fanden sich neben den Teilnehmern stets 2-3 Sicherheitsschwimmer im Wasser. Wir sahen 5-6 majestische Mantarochen - selten was eindrucksvolleres erlebt. Ich empfehle Mittel gegen Seekrankheit, denn die Tour findet auf offenener See (Wellengang) und bei Dunkelheit statt. Kann diese Tour auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the experience. Hope to serve you again in the future.
Aloha!
As soon as I entered the sea, a manta ray came right up to me and performed several spins! It was so close that I could feel it touching my body. It was very impressive and exciting.
It takes about 20 minutes to get to the spot, so if the waves are high, you might get seasick. Also, it gets quite cold after coming out of the water.
海に入ってすぐマンタがそばまで来て、何回もクルクルと回転するサービスをしてくれました！近過ぎてマンタの方が体に触れてくる感じです。とても迫力があって興奮しました。
ポイントに行くまでに20分くらいかかるので、波が高いと酔ってしまうかもしれません。後、海から上がった後はかなり寒いです。
ALOHA!! Thank you for participating in Manta University! I'm glad you were able to experience the power of wild mantas up close. Please come visit Manta University again when you're in Hawaii Island. MAHALO!!
ALOHA!! この度はマンタ大学にご参加いただきありがとうございました！ 野生のマンタの迫力を直に味わっていただくことが出来て良かったです♪ また是非ハワイ島にいらした際にはマンタ大学に遊びにいらしてくださいね。MAHALO!!
Translated by OpenAI
It was my first time watching a proper hula dance show, and the performance was wonderful and very enjoyable. Before the show, I was entertained by the performance of a whole roasted pig for the buffet, and Kamehameha the Great made an appearance on a raft, along with traditional games to enjoy.
However, I believe the plan included photography, but they asked for $20, so I ended up not purchasing it. I was also disappointed that the lei was not made of flowers.
きちんとしたフラダンスショーを見るのは初めてでしたが、踊りも素晴らしくてとても良かったです。ショーの前にはバイキングに出る豚の丸焼きのパフォーマンスや、カメハメハ大王がいかだに乗って登場したり、伝統的な遊びをしたりと楽しめました。
ただ、プランの中に写真撮影も含まれていたはずですが、お金を要求されて20ドルもしたので結局買いませんでした。レイも花ではなくて残念でした。
Thank you very much for participating in the tour. However, I sincerely apologize for not being able to provide a satisfactory service.
The "photo service" mentioned in the inclusions was intended to allow for photos to be taken during the show intermission, but I apologize for the unclear description. Additionally, we provided shell leis at the venue, but the inclusion was only described as "leis," which may have led to expectations of floral leis, resulting in disappointment. I am very sorry for the insufficient guidance. We have corrected the information on the tour page.
We take your feedback seriously and will work with the operating company to further improve our services. Thank you very much for your valuable feedback despite your busy schedule.
VELTRA Customer Support Team
この度は、ツアーにご参加いただき誠にありがとうございます。
しかしながら、ご満足いただけるサービスを提供できませんでしたこと、心よりお詫び申し上げます。
含まれるものに記載しておりました「写真サービス」は、ショーの合間に写真の撮影をさせていただくというサービスでございましたが、
記載がわかりにくく申し訳ございませんでした。
また、会場ではシェルレイ（貝のレイ）をお渡ししておりますところ、含まれるものに「レイ」とのみ記載しておりましたために、
花のレイを期待され、結果として残念なお気持ちにさせることとなってしまいました。
ご案内に不十分な点がございましたこと、大変申し訳ございませんでした。ツアーページの記載は修正をさせていただきました。
いただいたご意見を真摯に受け止め、催行会社とともに、今後一層のサービス向上に励んでまいります。
お忙しい中、貴重なご投稿を賜りまして、誠にありがとうございました。
VELTRAカスタマーサポートチーム
Translated by OpenAI
I'm so glad I participated! I encountered more than eight manta rays, and it seemed like it was a particularly lucky day for encounters. It was the best! I wasn't cold at all after borrowing a wetsuit! Thank you for the amazing experience!
めちゃくちゃ参加して良かったです！
8枚以上のマンタと出会えて 本当 この日は特に
遭遇率がラッキーな日だったみたいで最高でした♡
ウエットスーツを借りたら寒くもなかったです！
最高な体験をありがとうございました★
ALOHA!! Thank you for participating in Manta University! We are glad to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your encounter with wild mantas. Please do come back to Manta University when you visit the Big Island again. MAHALO!!
ALOHA!! この度はマンタ大学にご参加いただきありがとうございました！ 野生のマンタとの遭遇を存分にお楽しみいただけたようで幸いです。 また是非ハワイ島にいらした際にはマンタ大学に遊びにいらしてくださいね、MAHALO!!
Translated by OpenAI
Frantastic. Trip could not have. Been better well worth the money
Trip was great captain Jon was funny/informative. Chelsea and Rachael were both awesome would definitely book again and look forward to seeing them all soon
Loved the event and tanner made it fun! They broight drinks and snacks, and we agree with rahguard shirts and a hat are great choices!
It was my first time kayaking, but I managed to move forward somehow. I went snorkeling, and I felt a bit anxious when I couldn't return to the kayak, but I somehow got back on board like a beached tuna. It was fun!
初めてのカヤックでしたが、なんとか前に進めました。
シュノーケリングをして、カヤックに戻るのができないので、一瞬不安になりましたが、打ち上げられたマグロのように乗り込んでなんとか戻れました。楽しかったです。
Translated by OpenAI
Since retiring at 65, my dream has been to fulfill my childhood longing for space by visiting Mauna Kea.
I spent two years planning under the conditions of a new moon during the off-season, thoroughly researching direct flight tours to the Big Island, and spent two weeks online looking into Mauna Kea tours before choosing Masashi's tour.
After witnessing the splendid sunset with the Subaru Telescope proudly glowing red, I was able to see the starry sky a little further down. However, clouds started to appear after a while, which was a bit concerning, but as Mr. Otaka suggested, waiting paid off as the skies cleared beautifully.
Everyone says it’s like a planetarium, and I thought it couldn’t be that great, but it truly felt like a planetarium.
Additionally, the Leonids meteor shower coincided with our visit, providing the best conditions with occasional shooting stars and the Milky Way.
From the moment I got into the welcoming car, Mr. Otaka's high-energy tour began. I bombarded him with various questions during the ride, and he provided precise answers that were far superior to what I found in books or online, which greatly benefited my travels in the following days.
Thank you very much.
65歳でリタイアしてからの夢は、
少年のころからの宇宙への憧れを、
マウナケアに行って満たすことでした。
2年かけて新月でシーズンオフの条件で計画し、
ハワイ島直行便ツアーを調べつくし、
2週間ネットでマウナケアツアーを調べつくして、
マサシさんのツアーを選びました。
スバル天文台が誇らしげに赤く輝く極上の夕陽を見た後、
少し下った所で星空が見えました。
が、暫くして雲が出て来てやや危なかったですが、
大高さんの言う通りに待つときれいに晴れてきました。
皆さんまるでプラネタリウムと言うけれど、
そこまでは無いでしょうと思ってましたが、
本当にプラネタリウム見たいでした。
さらにしし座流星群も重なり、
時折の流れ星と天の川最高の条件でした。
迎えの車に乗った時から大高さんのハイなツアーが始まり、
車中で様々な質問を浴びせましたが、
本やネットとは別格の的確な答えをいただき
翌日以降の旅にとっても良かったです。
ありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
My wife and I were celebrating our Honeymoon in Hawaii and were lucky enough to have a full day of entertainment with this tour! The Big Island can require a lot of driving time to get to see the numerous sights it has to offer. The tour we booked provided us with an experience I know we would not have gotten on our own. I cannot speak anymore highly of our awesome Tour Guide Jim Carey (I know and yes he has the same name). He made the whole experience that much more memorable by his genuine appreciation for Hawaiian culture. He was extremely knowledgeable about EVERYTHING which made the tour in depth and interactive. His added commentary was great while visiting the waterfalls and volcano. The day flew by and we were continuously more and more impressed with everything the tour offered. The provided lunch and dinner were both delicious. Every part of the day flowed very well and it was capped off by our last stop back at the volcano to stargaze. We were able to set up the telescope and see the lava erupting in the volcano! I definitely would recommend this tour to anyone and everyone and I can't thank our tour guide enough. Jim made the whole experience 10 times better! Thanks Jim!
After a self-guided drive and tour of the Haleakala volcano in Maui, I decided to let a professional do the drive from Kona to the Kilauea National Park. After reading many of the TRIP ADVISOR reviews (97% excellent), I felt confident this was the tour for my wife and I. It did not disappoint! I hate bus tours because it seems you spend half your day loading and unloading the 50+ passenger buses. Our 11 person tour allowed us to spend much longer times at each wonderful stop with no pressure. Our guide, Kevin Hasting, just said “Come back when you have seen enough.” Fantastic! In addition, Kevin had an encyclopedic knowledge of Hawaiian culture, lifestyle, history, geography, ecology, you name it. He was also an excellent storyteller between stops which made this tour a unique and personal adventure. Lastly, Kevin was so proficient at navigating the Eastern Coast, Hilo area and park that he was somehow able to adjust his routes and timing to avoid the many rain squalls and downpours common to this area. I cannot say enough about how great this tour is. Don’t drive yourself, you will miss so much. One piece of advice. Take some warm clothes with you as it gets cold at night at the high elevations. I carried a light windbreaker jacket, a hoodie, a knit cap and a pair of pullover slacks to put on at night. I ended up giving my hoodie to a fellow passenger to wear who was shivering. The tour does provide emergency blankets and jackets.
In November 2017, I booked a helicopter tour to see the lava flowing into the sea and the magnificent nature of Hawaii Island. However, the result was that there was no lava flow at all, and the tour only included a view of a small waterfall called Rainbow Falls. Since Rainbow Falls can be accessed by car, I really wanted to encounter nature that could only be reached by helicopter. The flight time was also quite short, about 45 minutes from takeoff, which is too brief. If you're going to go, you need to choose a longer tour to truly enjoy it. Riding in a helicopter is nice in itself, but longer tours can be quite expensive, so it's a tough decision.
2017年11月に溶岩が海に流れ落ちる様子とハワイ島の壮大な自然を見るためにヘリコプターで申し込みしました。
結果、溶岩は全く流れ落ちる事無く、壮大な自然もレインボー滝という小さな滝を眺めただけのツアーとなりました。
レインボー滝は車でも行けるのでヘリでしか行けない自然に出逢いたかったです。
ヘリの飛行時間も離陸から約45分でこれでは短すぎますね。
行くなら長時間のツアーにしないと堪能出来ませんね。
ヘリに乗るという事自体が良ければ良いですが、長時間ツアーですと費用がかなりかかるので迷い所です。
Translated by OpenAI
My girlfriend broke her ankle trying to go snorkeling so going again was out for us. The next best thing or better even was this tour; Kat, our guide, answered every one of our questions and it was super fun! We saw all kinds of critters and fish and it felt like you were under the waves yourself! Clear and colorful! I’d do it again, and the price was the most reasonable of all the activities we’ve tried so far on the Big Island ;)
Aloha Scott, Glad you had a great time and thank you for such a nice review. Sorry to hear about your girlfriend, hope she is better now...ankles take time healing though!
Mahalo,
jeannie
It was my first experience riding a horse, but I got used to it in about 30 minutes. The guide was flexible and provided support throughout the ride. Since we walked along narrow paths in the valley, the horse stopped to drink water and eat grass along the way, and we even passed by cars, which helped me improve my reins handling. They also took some great photos.
The meeting point was quite far and hard to find. I was a bit nervous during the journey, but somehow I understood the pickup fee.
乗馬初体験でしたが30分ほどで慣れてきました。
ガイドの方が前後について、臨機応変にサポートしてくれました。渓谷の細い道を歩くので途中で馬が水を飲んだり草を食べたり、途中で車とすれ違うことも、おかげで手綱さばきも上手くなりました。いい写真も撮ってくれました。
集合場所は遠くわかりづらいですね
道中ハラハラドキドキ、ピックアップの料金になぜか納得しました？
Translated by OpenAI
Had a great time with beautiful surroundings and very cooperative horses!!! Would definitely do it again.
This was my second trip up to the summit of Mauna Kea for the Sunset & Stargazing Adventure. The drive up this time was smoother than the first, thankfully, and our guide was excellent. You could tell he was well-informed on all the topics he discussed. The catered Hawaiian dinner was very tasty, and in sufficient quantity to satisfy a good appetite. The only drawback this time was that the clock-drive on the telescope was not working, which took away from our ability to look at celestial objects at high magnification. I recommend this trip, and also that the tour company repair their clock drives!
After eating lunch at the Onizuka Visitor Center, we put on our warm clothing and were about to head to the summit when the road to the summit was closed due to snow and icy conditions. I understand that this is nature, and it can't be helped, but I have questions about the subsequent handling of the situation.
We were left at Onizuka for over 30 minutes without any explanation, then we were taken back to the car and descended. Just when I thought, "Are we going home like this?" we returned to the parking lot at 2000 meters, received a refund of $15 per person, and were left waiting again...? When I checked with the guide, I was told, "We descended because you can't see the sunset from Onizuka."
Of course, due to the thick clouds, we couldn't see the sunset, and after being taken back to the car, I was wondering, "What will happen next?" We returned to the dark Onizuka, and when we arrived, the driver and guide left us in the car and went outside. We were left in the cramped car for about 30 minutes, still in our warm clothing, without any explanation. Everyone started expressing their dissatisfaction, saying things like "It's hot," "What will happen next?" and "I want to get out of the car." Finally, the guide returned and let us out.
There seemed to be about 25 of us on the tour with two cars. During that time, I was quite irritated by the sound of the guides laughing outside.
After that, they used a laser pointer to explain the constellations against a sky where only three stars were visible due to the thick clouds, but at that point, I just wanted to go back to the hotel. Since our time on the Big Island is limited, I think it would be better to have the option to descend instead of forcing a tour that can't do anything.
Our guide had the stance of "Please ask anything if you have questions," so perhaps I should have asked more questions, but since it was a change in the tour itinerary, I would have appreciated explanations each time. More than being unable to go to the summit due to the weather, I was most disappointed with the guide's handling of the situation.
I heard that on 90% of the days, you can reach the summit, but on 10% of the days, you cannot. I was told that in January of this year, there were more than ten consecutive days when the summit was inaccessible. I think it's better for those who are looking forward to it to understand in advance that there may be disappointing outcomes.
オニズカビジターセンターでお弁当を食べた後、
防寒着を着込み、これから山頂へ・・・というところで、
雪と路面凍結の為に、山頂への道がクローズされました。
自然のことなので仕方がないのは理解できますが、
その後の対応に疑問が残ります。
何の説明もないまま３０分以上オニズカで放置状態、
その後車に戻されて下山「このまま帰るの？」と思ったら、
２０００Ｍのパーキングまで戻り、１人－１５ドルの返金を受け、また放置状態・・・？
ガイドに確認すると「オニズカでは日の入りが見れないから下山した」とのこと。
もちろん雲が厚く日の入りを見ることはできず、また車に戻されて、
「これからどうなるの？」って思っていたら、また真っ暗なオニズカに戻り、
着いたらドライバー兼ガイドは私たちを残したまま車外に出てしまい、
３０分くらい狭い車の中で、防寒着を着たまま何の説明もなく放置され、
みんなが「暑い」「これからどうなるの？」「車から出たい」など、
それぞれが不満を口にするようになったところで、
やっとガイドが帰ってきて車外へ出してくれました。
私たちのツアーは車２台で２５名前後いたように思います。
その間、車外から聞こえるガイド同士の笑い声にかなりイラっとしました。
その後、厚い雲で３個しか星が見えない空に向かって、レーザーポインターを使って
星座の説明をして下さいましたが、こんなことならさっさとホテルに帰りたかったです。
ハワイ島の滞在時間はわずかなので、何にもできないツアーを無理に継続するのではなく、
ツアー客の多数決を取るなりして、下山するという選択肢もあっていいと思います。
私たちのガイドは「質問があったら何でも聞いて下さい」というスタンスだったので、
こちらが何度も質問すればよかったのかも知れませんが、
ツアー自体の行程変更なので、その都度説明をしていただきたかったです。
天候で山頂に行けなかったことより、御社のガイドの対応が一番残念でした。
９割の日は山頂まで行けるけど、１割の日は行けないことがあるそうです。
今年の１月は１０日以上山頂に行けない日が続いたそうです。
楽しみにしていても残念な結果になることがあることを、
事前に納得して参加された方がいいと思います。
Thank you very much for participating in the tour. However, I sincerely apologize for not being able to provide a service that meets your expectations.
I have confirmed the situation on the day of the tour with the operating company. As you mentioned, due to bad weather, we had to give up on viewing the sunset and returned to the Mauna Kea State Park at an altitude of about 2,000 meters. After that, we headed back to the Onizuka Visitor Center at around 2,800 meters to check the movement of the clouds, which would help us decide on a location for stargazing.
While the guide did provide explanations during the move, I apologize that the information did not reach everyone. Additionally, the conversation among the guides was about discussing the location for stargazing while observing the clouds, but I understand that this resulted in delays without a clear outline of the tour, which may have caused you discomfort. I deeply apologize for the lack of consideration.
We have received the feedback you provided and the operating company has expressed their commitment to further improving their services. Our company, along with the operating company, will continue to strive to provide activities that always satisfy our customers.
Thank you very much for your valuable feedback despite your busy schedule.
VELTRA Customer Support Team
この度は、ツアーにご参加いただき誠にありがとうございます。
しかしながら、ご満足いただけるサービスを提供できませんでしたこと、心よりお詫び申し上げます。
当日の状況を催行会社に確認させていただきました。
お客様のおっしゃる通り、悪天候のためにサンセットの鑑賞を断念し、一旦高度2,000m付近のマウナケアステートパークまで戻った後、
星空鑑賞の場所を決める材料となる雲の動きを確認するため、再度、高度2,800m付近のオニヅカビジターセンターに向かったとのことでございます。
移動の際には、ガイドはお客様にご説明をさせていただいたようでございますが、皆様にご案内が行き渡っておりませんでしたこと、申し訳ございません。
また、ガイド同士の会話は、雲を見ながらの星空鑑賞の場所の相談であったとのことではございますが、今後のツアーの工程がはっきりしない中でお待たせする結果となりましたこと、
ご気分を害されるものであったかと存じます。配慮が足りませんでしたこと、深くお詫び申し上げます。
いただいたご意見を真摯に受け止め、今後一層のサービス向上に励んでまいるとの言葉を催行会社より預かっております。
弊社も、催行会社とともに、お客様方に常にご満足いただけるアクティビティの提供に努めてまいります。
お忙しい中、貴重なご投稿を賜りまして、誠にありがとうございました。
VELTRAカスタマーサポートチーム
Translated by OpenAI
When we gathered, the guide mentioned that on the same tour a few days prior, they hadn't encountered any dolphins, which made me a bit worried. However, we were lucky to see many dolphins!
After heading out to sea, I learned that usually, they swim slowly towards where the dolphins are, but that day, there were unusually many dolphins coming towards us.
While we were fortunate, I believe it was also thanks to the guide who chose that location. The guide decides where to wait for the dolphins.
The boat ride took about 30 to 40 minutes, but the guide shared various stories about the Big Island, dolphins, and whales, making the journey enjoyable. It was also nice that it wasn't a large group tour, but rather a small one. Thank you very much.
集合したときガイドさんに、私が参加した数日前の同じツアーでは全くイルカに出会えなかったと聞いて心配になりましたが、運よくたくさんのイルカに会えました。
沖にでてからも、いつもはイルカのいるほうへ少しずつ泳いで移動するそうですが、その日はいつになくたくさんのイルカが来てくれてたそうで、イルカのほうから寄ってきてくれる感じでした。
運もよかったですが、その場所を選んでくれたガイドさんのおかげでもあると思います。どのあたりでイルカを待つかはガイドさんの判断だそうです。
船での移動は30～40分ほどありましたが、ガイドさんもハワイ島やイルカやクジラのいろんな話をしてくれたので、移動中も楽しく過ごせました。一度に大勢参加するツアーではなく少人数でのツアーだったのもよかったです。
ありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
