All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

The sunset viewed from the summit of Mauna Kea and the starry sky spread across the entire sky was a sight I will never forget!! If you're considering it, I absolutely think you should participate!! It was a wonderful tour!! I want to bring my parents along next time!!

マウナケア山頂から見たサンセットと空一面に広がる星空は、一生忘れることのできない景色でした！！迷われている方がいたら、絶対に参加するべきだとおもいます！！
とても素晴らしいツアーでした！！また両親を連れて参加したいです！！

I didn't understand the system and just went with the flow to take my seat. The show while watching the sunset was wonderful. The fire show was intense and very powerful.

システムがわからず流れにのって席につきました。夕日をながめながらのショーは素敵でした。
火を使ったショーは体をはったものでとても迫力がありました。

One instructor is assigned to every six people, allowing for interaction with the dolphins. I have participated in a dolphin interaction event at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, but this experience was so much more substantial and satisfying that it’s not even comparable.

We were able to touch the dolphins, observe them swimming up close, and even make them jump. The hour flew by in no time. Unfortunately, my 5-year-old grandchild was scared and couldn't put their face in the water while wearing a mask. I wish we had gotten them more accustomed to the water beforehand.

6人に1人のインストラクターが着いてイルカと触れ合います。
八景島シーパラダイスでもイルカとの触れ合いイベントに参加したことが有りますが、内容は比較にならない程ボリューム満点で大満足です。

触れたり、泳いでいる様子を顔を付けて見たり、ジャンプさせたり、あっという間の1時間でした。
残念なのは、5歳の孫がマスクを着けて顔を水に浸けられず、怖がってしまった事。水にもう少し鳴らしておけばよかった。

They picked me up at the hotel at 1:30 PM. There were three guests ahead of me, and they went to pick up others, totaling 11 for the tour. Actually, I had gone there 12 years ago with a rental car, but now you need a four-wheel drive, and bringing winter gear is a hassle, so I decided to use their service. I completed the card payment procedure with a reservation from Japan.

The dinner bento (Japanese food) and the salty miso soup were good, and the cocoa was delicious. Mr. Konno's service was great. Unfortunately, the clouds were thick, and the sunset wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. However, the stargazing afterward was amazing. The explanation of the constellations using a laser pointer was particularly good, and he had a wealth of knowledge about the constellations.

There's a boom in constellation photography with DSLR cameras in Japan, so anyone interested should definitely go. However, a tripod is necessary, so it would be great if Masashi could prepare one for a fee.

In any case, it was worth $170.

ホテルに１３時半に迎えに来てくれた。３人先客会って他にも迎えに行き１１名にツア－だった。実は１２年前にレンタカーで行ったのだが、今は四輪車でなければならないし防寒具持って行くのも面倒なのでお世話になることにした。
日本から予約でカ－ド支払いの手続きを終わって行った。
夕食の弁当（日本食）と塩っけの味噌汁良かったし、ココアも美味しかった。
コンノさんの対応良かった。
残念ながら雲が厚く太陽落ちてからの燃え方はさほどではなかった。
そのあとの星空観察は最高だった。特にレ－ザポインタ－使用しての星座の説明は大変良かった。又とても星座の知識豊富。
日本でも一眼レフカメラの間では星座ブ－ムだから興味ある人は是非。
但し三脚必要なのでマサシさんの方で有料でもいいから準備してくれたらいいのだが。
とにかく＄１７０の価値あり。

I participated with my parents in their 70s. Since it was at a high altitude, I was worried, but thanks to the guide's consideration, we were able to participate without any issues. The sunset and the starry sky were truly moving. We could see the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, and the guides took many photos for us. Every time we look at the photos after returning home, the emotions come flooding back. My parents seem to have gained confidence from going to a place higher than Mount Fuji, and they are saying they want to go again.

70代の両親を連れて参加しました。高地なので心配はありましたがガイドさんの気遣いなどもあり、まったく問題なく参加できました。
サンセットも星空も本当に感動しました。ハレマウマウ火口も見え、ガイソさん達がたくさん写真を取ってくれます。帰ってきてからも写真を見るたびに感動がよみがえります。
両親も富士山よりも高いところに行ったという自信もついたようで、また行きたいと言っています。

It was an interactive show, so the performance itself was short, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was fairly good as well. They made the drink I wanted (highball) when I asked for it. There weren't any noisy customers. I was staying at the Kamehameha, but I was glad I walked over here to experience a closer ocean vibe. Also, I arrived just in time and, although I had to wait a little, I was able to secure a seat relatively close to the stage.

参加型のショーなので、鑑賞するショー自体は短いですが、
雰囲気は楽しめました。ご飯もまぁまぁおいしかったです。
お酒も欲しいもの（ハイボール）を言えば作ってくれました。
お客さんも騒がしい人たちはいませんでした。
カメハメハに滞在していましたが、
より海に近い雰囲気を味わいたかったので、こちらまで歩いてきて良かったです。
また、時間ぎりぎりに行き、少し並んだものの、割と舞台に近い席は確保できました。

I was very excited to meet many dolphins and see them up close. The guide was young but very calm and kind, which helped me relax. I highly recommend it!

たくさんのイルカに会え、間近に見ることができ、とても興奮しました。
ガイドの方も若い方ですが、とても穏やかな優しい方で、
リラックスできました。お勧めです！

I participated in the afternoon tour, but it ended up being just kayaking around Keauhou Bay and snorkeling only within the bay, leaving us with quite a bit of extra time. There was no explanation provided on-site, so when I returned to Japan, I inquired about why we didn't go to Keauhou Bay. I understand the reason related to the weather (it was indeed quite choppy and cold), but I found it a bit questionable to mention our physical fitness and kayaking skills as issues. Do they change the route if there are beginners? At the very least, if there had been some explanation on-site, I would have felt a bit more satisfied, but I was a little disappointed this time.

午後ツアーに参加しましたが、
ケアウホウ湾付近のカヤックと、
ケアウホウ湾内だけのシュノーケルで終わってしまい、
時間が大分余ってしまいました。
現地では何の説明も無いまま終わってしまったので、
日本に帰ってきてからクアモオ湾まで行かなかった理由を伺いました。
天候のせい（確かに波が高く、寒かったです）という理由は分かりますが、
私たちの体力やカヤック技術の問題にまで言及するのはちょっと疑問でした。
初心者の人がいるとルートを変えるのでしょうか？
せめて現地で何らかの説明があればもう少し納得がいくのですが、
今回は少しがっかりしました。

It's a special experience where you can feel the grandeur of the Big Island, including the appearance of the volcano, the flow of magma into the ocean, the townscape of Hilo, and the waterfalls in the valley. It's an experience that money can't buy. I highly recommend it! Although I wasn't a Japanese pilot, I could somewhat understand what was being said through the words.

火山の様子やマグマの海への流出、
ヒロの町並み、渓谷内の滝が流れる様子、
とにかくハワイ島の雄大さを感じることができるスペシャルな体験です。
お金じゃ買えない経験です。お勧めします！！
なお、日本語パイロットではなかったですが、
単語でなんとなく言っていることは分かりました。

I had very little experience swimming before, and it was my first time snorkeling, so I was quite anxious. However, I am grateful to our guide, Daisuke, for easing my nerves. Since we were looking for wild dolphins, there was no guarantee we would see them, but it seemed like he was using his experienced intuition to search for them. Normally, it takes about an hour to find them, but in our case, we encountered them just one minute after departure and were able to swim with them for a long time.

これまで泳ぎをあまりしたことがなく、シュノーケリングも初めてでとても不安でしたが、ガイドの大輔さんが緊張を柔らげてくださって感謝です。野性のイルカなので、必ず会える保証はないとのことですが、経験豊富な勘？でイルカを探していただいているようで、普段1時間ぐらいは船を走らせるところ、私達の時は、出航わずか1分で遭遇し、長い時間一緒に泳ぐことが出来ました。

We enjoyed a lively atmosphere with a live band and beautiful sunset, followed by an abundance of Polynesian dance performances. The final fire dance is a must-see.

生バンドの演奏で雰囲気を盛りあげ、美しい夕陽を眺めたころより、盛りだくさんのポリネシアンダンスを楽しめました。最後のファイヤーダンスは必見です。

I participated last September, and thanks to the experienced guide, I was able to encounter pods of dolphins multiple times, creating the best memories. I definitely want to join again when I go to the Big Island! I highly recommend it!

昨年の9月に参加しましたが、経験豊富なガイドさんのおかげで何度もイルカの群れに遭遇することができ、最高の思い出になりました。
またハワイ島に行った際はぜひ参加したいです！
おすすめです！！

I have participated in snorkeling tours on all the islands in Hawaii, but this spot on the Big Island has the most coral and plenty of fish—it's truly a wonderful place! This is my third time, and I'm always very satisfied. The price is a bit high, but the boat is clean, the lunch is delicious, and it's very comfortable. There are various activities on the Big Island, but I definitely want to experience snorkeling in the ocean. I really recommend it! My 82-year-old father didn't go into the water, but he enjoyed just looking at the beautiful sea like he was on a cruise. I will definitely come back again.

ハワイでは全ての島でシュノーケリングツアーに参加してますが、
ハワイ島のここが1番珊瑚が多く魚もたくさんいて本当に素敵なスポットです♪
今回三回目ですがいつも大満足です。
ちょっと金額は高いですが、ボートもキレイだしランチも美味しいし
とても快適
ハワイ島は色んなアクティビティあるけどやっぱり海でシュノーケリングも体験しで欲しいです。ほんとにオススメ
82歳の父は海には入らないけどクルーズ気分でキレイな海を眺めているだけで楽しめました。
またリピートします

Was a wonderful tour and would advise others to do this!

The manta ray approached with incredible power, opening its large mouth, and I was surprised at how much more impressive it was than I had imagined. Our guide, Musashi, reassured us by saying, "Manta rays like plankton and are not interested in humans, so they won't eat you. They come to feed while upside down." This made it easy for me to swim without worry. While trying to stay still and "float," two manta rays crossed right in front of me, and their fins almost touched my body, making me move my legs out of the way. I was so thrilled that I had a dream for the first time in years that night. Since it was getting cold, I was glad I brought a windbreaker and a towel. I thought it would have been nice to bring an underwater camera if I could have used one hand. Later, I received the graduation photos, which became a wonderful memory.

とにかくすごい迫力でマンタが近寄ってきて大きな口を開け、想像以上だったので初めは驚きました。ガイドのムサシさんが、「マンタはプランクトンが好きで人間には興味がないから食べられることはない。ひっくり返って餌を食べに来ますよ。」と教えてくれたので安心して泳ぐことができました。なるべく体を動かさずに「ふし浮き」をしていたら2匹が一緒に私の前で交差してひれが体に触れそうになり足をよけたほどでした。とにかく大感激で夜に何年かぶりに、夢を見ました。寒くなるとのことで、ウインドブレイカーとタオルを持参していたので良かったです。片手が使えるなら、水中カメラを持参しておけばよかったかなあと思いました。後で、卒業写真を送っていただき思い出になりました。

This was the high point of our 10 days in Kona. The boat was well kept, the staff was extremely friendly, helpful and professional. The entertainment was top notch. The food was some of the best in Kona. I wish I had time to do it again.

My husband and I went snorkeling and it was amazing! We saw Captain Cook monument and snorkled the most beautiful part of Hawaii. The boat tour was so much fun, we saw so many dolphins. Our boat driver and helper were super friendly. This is a must! Don't second guess just book it...your adventure begins here!

We chose the morning Kayak tour, it was a bit of a walk to get to the dock but were greeted warmly by Hauoli, our guide, and Ben. We stowed our valuables in their lock box and paddled out into Keauhou Bay and out into the ocean past the Sheraton Hotel, the Lekeleke/Kuamo'o sacred burial grounds, and the End of the World burial grounds which is a great tourist spot too. We got to the Sea Cave but because the swells were too high and dangerous that day, we admired them from outside. Our guide, Hauoli, made our tour so much fun. He regaled us with the history and attractions of the area, and being a local, was very knowledgeable and interesting. We did not stay for snorkeling or cliff jumping but thoroughly enjoyed our time kayaking.

The guide was very kind and made an effort to speak to us in broken Japanese, even though my English is basic. The atmosphere was fantastic, and my daughter, who was a bit nervous at first, seemed to relax and even started petting her horse later on. Crossing the river was a lot of fun, and our family is already talking about coming back here on our next trip to Hawaii Island. I'm really glad we participated—highly recommended!

基本英語ですが一生懸命カタコトの日本語で話しかけてくれたり、とても親切なガイドさんでした。
雰囲気も最高で最初は緊張気味だった娘も後半は自分の馬を撫でたり余裕もあるような感じで＾＾
川を渡ったりするのもとても楽しく、また次のハワイ島でもここへ来ようねと家族で話しています。
参加してよかった～！オススメです＾＾

Swimming with a pod of wild dolphins multiple times became the best memory for our entire family on the Big Island. It felt like I was part of the pod. I've heard that swimming with wild dolphins might soon be prohibited, so please make sure to go soon!

野生のイルカの群れと何度も一緒に泳ぐことが出来て家族全員一致でハワイ島で一番の思い出になりました。まるで自分が群れの一員の様な気分でした。もうすぐ野生のイルカと泳ぐ事が禁止になるかもとの事で是非お早目に行って下さい！

The weather was great and it was absolutely wonderful. The hiking trails were well-maintained, so you can walk in jogging shoes. The dad from the American family who joined the tour was wearing flip-flops, but he was able to walk without any issues. (≧▽≦)

Insect repellent, sunscreen, water, and even towels and bags were available for rent.

Above all, having lunch on the grass with the backdrop of the Porn Valley after the hike made me very happy! !(^^)!

お天気も良くとても最高でした。ハイキングも道がちゃんと整備されておりジョギングシューズで歩けます。一緒にツワーに参加されたアメリカ人の家族のパパはビーチサンダルでしたが問題なく歩けていました。(≧▽≦)
虫よけや日焼け止めクリーム、水もバスタオルにかばんなどもレンタル可能でした。
何よりハイキング後のランチが芝生の上でポルノ渓谷をバックに食べてとても幸せでした
!(^^)!

My wife and I had a great time doing our first ever zipline here at Akaka falls. The crew were very nice and ensured we were careful and had fun.

A car arrived to pick us up from the hotel around 3 PM, and we set off, but we soon encountered heavy rain. By the time we arrived at the Onizuka Center, we were at a high altitude, and we said goodbye to the rain, taking dinner there to avoid altitude sickness. After a short break, we headed towards the summit, but the sunset was hidden by clouds, which left me unsatisfied. At the top, I was able to see the Subaru Telescope in Japan, which made me somewhat satisfied. It seems that May has a lot of rain, and I would like to challenge this again next year. The guide from Masashi Tours was friendly, and it was an enjoyable tour.

午後３時過ぎにホテルに送迎の車が来て出発しましたが、直ぐ豪雨に遭いました。オニズカセンターに着く頃には高度の高い所で、雨ともお別れし、高山病にならないようにそこで夕食を取りました。しならくの休憩の後、山頂へ向かいましたが、サンセットが雲に隠れ、満足できませんでした。頂上には日本のスバル天文台も見ることができ、一応満足できました。５月は雨が多いらしくまた来年以降に挑戦したいと思いました。マサシツアーのガイドさんもフレンドリーで楽しいツアーでした。

I was worried about altitude sickness at 4,200 meters due to my age, but I had no problems at all. The smog at the beginning of the trip changed to a clear blue sky around 2,000 meters, and I was deeply moved by the sea of clouds and the sunset! I've traveled a lot overseas, but I never expected to have such an emotional experience on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our guide, BIGJIN, was fun to chat with, and he took many interesting photos, which I downloaded after returning home, creating wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the starry sky wasn't very visible because it was close to a full moon, which was a bit disappointing. I saw the moon through a telescope, but I also wanted to see Jupiter and Saturn. There are tours that don't go to the summit, but I definitely recommend going to the top.

高齢なので4200メートルで高山病を心配しましたが、全く問題ありませんでした。出発当初のスモッグも2000メートルあたりで真っ青な空に変わり、雲海と夕陽に大感動！今迄たくさん海外旅行をしましたが、ハワイ島でこんな感動的な体験ができるなんて。ガイドのBIGJINさんのおしゃべりも楽しく、たくさんの面白い写真を撮ってくださって、帰国後ダウンロード、素敵な思い出になりました。星空はあいにく満月に近かったため、あまりよく見えなかったのがちょっと残念でした。望遠鏡では月を見ましたが、木星や土星も見たかったです。山頂に行かないツアーもありますが、是非山頂まで行かれることをお勧めします。

This was our second trip snorkeling with Tim. This time we brought my wife's family (from Miami). They absolutely loved it, and we can't thank Tim and crew enough for making it, yet again, a once in a lifetime experience for our family.

You guys rock!!!

We arrived at the hotel (Kingsland) right on time for the welcome. As soon as we got in the car, Mr. Matsuzaki started his self-introduction. Mr. Matsuzaki is from Noda in Chiba. Wearing a knitted hat made by his wife featuring Funassyi, he was cheerful throughout the journey and the tour.

Mr. Matsuzaki is also an amazing photographer. He took beautiful pictures of the two of us during sunset and stargazing with everyone’s cameras and his own. It was impressive and will make for great memories.

Both of us are 61 years old. Due to the thin air (about 65%), my wife mentioned she felt a bit unwell at the summit, but after following Mr. Matsuzaki's advice to take a few deep breaths, she felt better right away.

Thank you, Mr. Matsuzaki.

ホテル（キングスランド）お出迎え時刻通りに到着。すぐに車に乗車
乗車するなり松崎さんの自己紹介が始まる。千葉の野田出身の松崎さん。奥様に作っていただいたフナッシーの毛糸の帽子をまとい、とにかく移動中・ツアー中は愉快です。
松崎さんは写真の腕前も凄い。皆さんのカメラ・自分のカメラでサンセットや星空観測等のお二人の写真もきれいに撮っていただけますよ。びっくりです。いい記念になりますよ。
私たちは二人とも61歳。酸素が薄いため（65％程度）女房が山頂で少し体調が悪いと言っておりましたが松崎さんのアドバイスで深呼吸を数回したらすぐによくなりました。
松崎さんありがとうございました。

We stayed in the center of Kona and had a pickup around 1:30 PM. Therefore, we had enough time to participate in the dolphin swim tour at the nature school in the morning. After the pickup, we took a restroom break at a shopping mall (there was also time for some shopping) before heading to Mauna Kea. During the drive, we enjoyed the guide's fun stories and excitedly made our way up to the mountainside. After eating our lunch and putting on warm clothing, we got back in the car and finally set off for the summit. By the way, from this point on, you shouldn't sleep due to the altitude, but perhaps because the air was thin, and also because I had just done the dolphin swim, I felt incredibly sleepy and it was tough both going and coming back. However, the guide cheerfully woke us up by saying, "Is everyone awake?"

That day, the wind was strong, and it got extremely cold as we ascended. I think participants, especially those who are not good with the cold, should prepare plenty of warm clothing and gear. If you underestimate it, it will be really cold.

First, we watched the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds at the summit. I was moved by the sea of clouds all around me, and even more so by the sunset sinking into it. It was such a beautiful world. After enjoying the slowly sinking sunset, we descended a bit to observe the starry sky. It was my first time seeing so many stars. The guide used a laser pointer to explain the constellations, and even without any prior knowledge, he made it very easy to understand and interesting, so we had a really enjoyable time. We watched the starry sky while sipping warm tea and having cookies, and he even took photos for us.

Afterward, with a sense of reluctance, we got back in the car and were taken back to our hotels, marking the end of the tour. The sunset and starry sky were truly, truly beautiful! I want to join the plan for the starry sky and sunrise next time. I was entertained by the guide's stories throughout the trip! Thanks to him, we had a fulfilling day! Thank you!

コナの中心部に宿泊していたわたしたちは、13時半ごろのピックアップでした。
そのため、午前中はネイチャースクールのドルフィンスイムのツアーに参加しても時間に余裕がありました。
ピックアップ後はショッピングモールにてトイレ休憩をとり（多少のショッピングも楽しめる時間設定でした）マウナケアに向かいましたが、道中はガイドさんの楽しいお話しも聞けてワクワクしながら山の中腹まで一気に進みます。
お弁当を食べて防寒具を着て、また車に乗り込みついに山頂にむけて出発しました。
ちなみに、ここから先は寝てはいけない標高になるのですが、やはり空気が薄いからか、さらにわたしはドルフィンスイム後というのもあったのか、行きも帰りも死ぬほど眠くて辛かったです。笑
でもその度にガイドさんに、『みなさん起きてますかー！』と元気良く起こされるので心配は無用です。

この日はとにかく風が強くて、標高が上がるにつれてとんでもなく寒かったです。
参加される方、とくに寒いのが苦手な方は防寒着やあったかグッズをたくさん用意してきた方がいいと思います。舐めてかかると本当に寒いので。

まずは山頂にて雲海に沈む夕日を見ます。
視界一面の雲海に感動し、そこに沈んでいく夕日にさらに感動しました。
とっっっっても美しい世界です。
ゆっくりゆっくり沈む夕日を堪能したら、次は少し山を降りて星空観測です。
あんなにたくさんの星を見たのは初めてでした。
ガイドさんがレーザーポインタを使い、星座の説明もしてくれるのですが、事前知識がまったくなくても、とても分かりやすく面白くお話ししてくれるのですごく楽しい時間を過ごすことができます。
暖かい紅茶とクッキーを頂きながら星空を眺め、写真も撮ってくれました。

その後は名残惜しいながらも車に乗り各ホテルまで送迎していただき、ツアー終了です。
夕日と星空、本当に本当に綺麗でした！
次は星空と朝日のプランに参加したいです。
終始ガイドさんのお話しに楽しませていただきました！
おかげさまで充実した1日を過ごすことができましました！
ありがとうございました！

Trevor and Captain Jesse James were incredible. We were in Hawaii for 7 day with 3 days in Hilo and 4 days in Kona and this 3 hour trip is what my three sons remember the most. Highly recommend!

Mike and Deanna were our guides this afternoon. They were quick but thorough in equipping everyone and explaining what to expect. The snorkeling was amazing. Though the wind picked up more than expected, they skillfully guided us back across the bay. Great experience that was enhanced by Mike's tales of the history of the bay.

Seriously, it was amazing. That was the first thing the husband of the newlyweds said when he looked up at the starry sky during the tour. The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds, the breathtaking starry sky. The guide's fun and easy-to-understand explanations made everything even more moving.

マジ、やばい。ツアーで一緒だった新婚さんのご主人が満天の星空を見上げた時の第一声でした。
雲海に沈んでいくサンセット、満天の星空。ガイドさんの楽しくて分かりやすい説明。全てが感動でした。