All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

This was the best experience and the guides made me feel so safe with their knowledge. This was a highlight of my trip I would definitely do it again with them!

You descend to the bottom of a deep canyon and ride through the jungle on horseback. Driving down the narrow, winding, steep road feels like being on a theme park ride, but you can enjoy the beautiful canyon and black sand beach from the car window.

The horseback ride allowed us to cross rivers several times, adding to the adventurous experience. It was my first time riding a horse, but the English instructions were not difficult to understand, and the trained horses naturally formed a line and followed along. There was a guide at the front and back of the line, keeping an eye on things and ready to assist if needed, which made it easy to enjoy the experience with peace of mind.

深い渓谷の底まで降りて行き、ジャングルの中を馬で進んでいきます。
車で狭く曲がりくねった急な道を降りていくのは、遊園地のアトラクションに乗り続けているかのようですが、車窓からは美しい渓谷と黒砂海岸を楽しめます。
馬上の散策は、途中、何度か川を越えたり、アドベンチャー気分を味わうことができました。
馬に乗るのは初めてでしたが、説明の英語は難しくないですし、訓練された馬なので勝手に列を形成して付いて行ってくれる感じでした。
ガイドも列の前後に一名ずついて、様子を見て何かあればサポートしてくれるので、安心して楽しめました。

The veteran captain carefully considered the habits of the dolphins and the interactions with other boats when deciding on the points, so we were able to swim with the dolphins four times (he even extended one session for those who couldn't see them). I would like to use this service again if the opportunity arises.

ベテラン船長さんが、イルカの習性と他の船との兼ね合いなど全てを考慮してポイントを決めてくださったので4回(見れなかった人のために1回ねばってくださり)全てイルカと泳ぐことができました。また機会があれば利用させていただきたいと思います。

Jake and Dustin were fantastic. They were knowledgeable and funny, made you feel safe. It rained the entire time but it didn't matter, this was the best part of our vacation. Mahalo!

The guide's stories, which didn't quite match the Hawaiian atmosphere, were interesting. At the summit of the 4,000-meter mountain, I realized how thin the air was as even the slightest movement made it hard to breathe. However, that day featured a breathtaking sunset that is rarely seen, with the sun setting in a sky that burned bright red, which was truly wonderful and moving. I was very happy to have my husband take a photo with that backdrop. The stargazing tour didn't have a full sky of stars, but I was satisfied to see the Milky Way stretching long across the sky.

道中ハワイの雰囲気に合わないガイドさんの話が面白かったです。
４０００メートル山頂ではちょっとでも動作を早くしただけで呼吸が
苦しくなり、空気の薄さを実感しました。でもこの日は滅多に見れないほどの
絶景のサンセットだったそうで、真っ赤に燃えた空に太陽が沈む様は本当に
素晴らしく感動しました。それをバックに主人と写真をとって下さったのが
とても嬉しかったです。星空ツアーは満天とはいかなかったですが、天の川が
長ーく見えて満足しました。

I was able to enjoy everything from the 3 PM pickup until returning to the hotel. I had a fulfilling time with the guide's stories during the journey, the meal break at the Onizuka Center, photo opportunities along the way, the sunset, and stargazing.

It was my first time seeing such a beautiful Milky Way, and I don't think I'll have another chance like this in the future. I had an incredibly good experience.

I believe this is something everyone should do at least once.

15時のピックアップから、ホテルに帰って来るまで全てを通して楽しむことができました。
移動中のガイドさんのお話やオニヅカセンターでの休憩食事、途中での写真タイム、サンセット、星空観測と充実した時間を過ごさせてもらいました。

あんなに綺麗な天の川を見れたのはこれが初めてで、今後もなかなかないんじゃないかとおもいます。
非常にいい経験をさせてもらいました。

この経験は一度はするべきだとおもいます。

My wife, her aunt, and I participated in this activity together. My wife's aunt is 75 years old and it was her first time snorkeling. The large boat was sleek and white, but we were the only Japanese among the staff and other guests, which made us a bit anxious... Although we couldn't communicate well, the staff was kind. My wife's aunt was able to safely experience snorkeling and saw yellow and blue fish. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and a bit windy, causing the boat to sway, and both my wife and her aunt got seasick before lunch, so they couldn't enjoy the delicious hamburgers. We didn't encounter a pod of dolphins, but on the way back to the port, four dolphins appeared at the stern of the boat, which made my wife's aunt very happy.

私達夫婦と妻の叔母の３人で参加しました。叔母は75歳でシュノーケリングは初めてす。真っ白でカッコイイ大型ボートでしたが、スタッフやお客さんの中で日本人は私達だけで不安･･･会話は通じなかったがスタッフは親切でした。叔母さんも無事シュノーケリングを体験し黄色や青い魚を見ました。残念ながら曇りと少し風がありボートが揺れて、昼食前に妻と叔母は船酔いで、美味しいハンバーガーを食べられませんでした。イルカの群れには遭遇できなかったが、帰港途中で船尾に4頭のイルカが現れ、叔母に喜んでもらえました。

I participated in this tour because I wanted to see wild mantas, which you have a high chance of encountering. Since I had rented a car, I opted for a meeting point, but it was a bit difficult to find. The meeting place is at Honokohau Harbor, not Honokohau Marina (you need to take the first right after entering the side road from the highway), and I wandered around the area for a while.

The tour had a mixed team of foreigners and Japanese, and there was a Japanese-speaking guide as well. After departing, we headed to the manta spot on a high-speed boat while enjoying a very beautiful sunset. The 20-minute journey was thrilling at high speed. Although I usually don’t get seasick, I felt a bit queasy.

Once we arrived, we put on our snorkeling gear and floated on the surface, waiting for the mantas to come. It was exhilarating to see the mantas swimming close by, coming to eat the plankton in the water. I had never seen such a sight, with their mouths wide open.

However, the mantas weren't always in sight; in fact, we spent more time waiting while floating on the surface. It seems that this tendency is more pronounced on bright full moon nights.

All in all, it was a very impressive and extraordinary experience that is hard to come by.

一度は見てみたかった野生のマンタに高確率で遭遇できるとのことで、こちらのツアーに参加しました。
レンタカーを借りていたので現地集合にしましたが、集合場所はやや分かりにくいです。ホノコハウマリーナではなくホノコハウハーバー(ハイウェイから脇道に入って一つ目の分岐を右)の最も奥が集合場所で、しばらく付近をさ迷ってしまいました。
ツアーは外国の方と日本人の混成チームで、日本語のガイドの方もいらっしゃいます。
出航後は、非常に美しい夕日を見ながら高速ボートでマンタスポットまで向かいます。20分程の道のりは、ハイスピードでスリル満点。盛り上がりましたが、普段乗り物酔いしない私でもやや船酔いしました。
到着後は、シュノーケルを装置して海面に浮かび、マンタがやって来るのを待ちます。海中のプランクトンを食べにやって来たマンタが至近距離をグルグルと泳ぐ姿は美しく、非常に興奮しました。マンタの口の中まで丸見えで、あのような光景は見たことがありませんでした。
ただ、ずっとマンタが視界にいる訳ではなく、寧ろ海面に浮きながら待機する時間の方が長いです。満月の明るい夜はそのような傾向があるとのことです。
何はともあれ、なかなかできない非日常な体験ができ、非常に印象的でした。

Elvis and the crew are great fun, they really seem to enjoy there jobs. You would think taking boat loads of tourist out everyday they would get old, if it does they hide it well. They are a safe group and care for the island they are sharing with you. On the way back he turned the boat around to get us a better look at a beautiful Manta Ray. Well worth the time and money!!

The office staff is also great, they will call you to confirm, give you directions, answer questions. Really a great group, not a "sketchy tourist trap"!

First, when we arrived at the harbor and headed to the meeting point, the staff member, Tori-chan, greeted us very cheerfully and friendly! On that day, there were two couples, my husband and I, and a newlywed couple, along with four Japanese staff members from Honolulu participating.

Despite the small number of people, we got to ride on a large rubber boat! The edge of the rubber boat was designed like a banana boat, allowing us to enjoy activities while watching the beautiful sunset. As soon as we arrived, the sun began to set, and we all enjoyed the stunning sunset together, taking photos.

Once the sun went down and we looked at the sea, there were manta rays right there!! We quickly got ready and headed into the water! The sight of three manta rays dancing was exhilarating. Without having to wait for the manta rays to come to us, they approached us repeatedly, coming so close that we could almost touch them!!

The thirty minutes flew by, and the other tour guests returned to the boat. Tori-chan and the other staff members were very attentive, providing support and encouragement to me since I couldn't swim, allowing me to enjoy watching the manta rays without any anxiety. The only downside was that my camera didn’t work well, and I couldn’t take any photos underwater.

On the way back, we enjoyed a relaxing time under the full moonlight and the night view of Kona. With the banana boat ride, sunset, full moon, and night view, this tour offered many wonderful experiences beyond just the manta rays!!

At the end of the tour, we received a cute graduation certificate from Manta University. What kind of certificate it is will be a surprise for those who participate in the tour. Thank you so much, Tori-chan, the captain, and all the staff from Honolulu. Such a wonderful and emotional experience is rare! If you come to the Big Island, I definitely think you should join this tour.

まず、ハーバーに着いて集合場所に向かうと、スタッフの鳥ちゃんがとても明るくフレンドリーに話し掛けてくれました！当日は私たち夫婦と新婚さん夫婦の二組、そしてホノルルから来た日本人のスタッフさん４人の参加でした。
少ない人数ながら、大きいゴムボートに‼
ゴムボートの端じっこはバナナボートみたいになっていて、綺麗な夕日を見ながら、アクティビティーを満喫できます。
到着したと同時に、夕日が沈み始め、すごくキレイなサンセットをみんなで観賞したり、写真を撮ったり。
夕日が沈み、海を見ると、もうマンタがすぐそこに!!
早々に準備し、いざ海へ!
３枚のマンタが踊る姿に興奮がとまりません。マンタが来てくれるのを待つこともなく、次々に３枚のマンタが何度も何度も触ってしまう距離まで
来てくれました!!
あっという間の３０分間が終わり、他のツアー客もみんなボートへ。
鳥ちゃんや他のスタッフさんが泳げない私への声掛けやフォローを丁寧にしてくれて、少しの不安もなく、マンタが踊る姿を楽しめました。ただ、カメラがうまく機能せず、海の中の写真が全然取れなかったのだけが残念です・・。
帰りは、満月の月明かりとコナの夜景にうっとりしながら、まったりとした時間を過ごす事ができました。
バナナボートにサンセット、満月に夜景と、このツアーではマンタ以外にもいくつもの感動が味わえました!!
また、ツアーの最後にマンタ大学のかわいい卒業証書がもらえます。どんな卒業証書かは、ツアーに参加してのお楽しみに。
鳥ちゃん、船長さん&ホノルルスタッフのみなさん本当にお世話になりました。こんな素敵な感動体験はめったにできません！
ハワイ島に来たなら、是非参加してみるべきツアーだと思います。

The Japanese staff provided a fun and entertaining helicopter cruise tour. We went with the intention of seeing Kilauea Volcano, but we were told that Waipi'o Valley is the number one spot. When we flew through the valley, we saw a rainbow from the waterfall, and I found myself moved to tears.

Since it's a place you can only reach by helicopter, it's definitely not overpriced. The grandeur of nature makes your worries seem insignificant. I can definitely recommend this experience. You can also purchase a DVD with footage of our flight route, the inside of the helicopter, the commentary, and background music (it was around $45). I will definitely ride again next time.

日本語スタッフさんがおもしろおかしくヘリクルーズツアーをしてくれました。
キラウエア火山目当てでいきましたが、ワイピオ渓谷がNo1と伝えられ、いざ渓谷のはざまをヘリで飛び、滝からの虹も見れ、気づいたら感動で泣いてしまったくらいです。
ヘリでしか行けない場所なので、決して高くない。そして、悩んでることとかがちっぽけだと大自然の迫力にやられます。確実におすすめできます。
自分達が飛んだルートやヘリ内の様子、トークやBGMが詰まった世界で1枚のDVDデータも購入できます。（＄45くらいだったかな）次回もまた絶対乗ります。

The person in charge of my son was an American woman who couldn't speak any Japanese. I think if a child doesn't have at least some English skills, they might feel lost. However, the female instructor who took over during the final dolphin photo session was able to give instructions in Japanese. From what I gathered in casual conversations with the staff, she seemed to be the only one who could speak a little Japanese.

My son, who has sufficient English skills, was able to swim in the lagoon and learn about marine creatures, and he said he had a great time! I believe that if you can understand English, the program is packed with content and worth the price. I was also very satisfied as I took plenty of photos of my child.

Here’s a summary of the program:
We sat in a circle in a hut and introduced ourselves, sharing our names and favorite animals. We were given boards depicting 12 types of marine creatures, which were explained to us.
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Then we moved to the lagoon to see those creatures. About three or four people held onto a float while being pulled by the instructor to observe in the lagoon (wearing life jackets).
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We returned to the hut to observe and touch small marine creatures indoors.
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Next, we moved to the corner of the dolphin pool. We were given boards depicting the fish that inhabit the dolphin pool and observed them (we didn’t enter the pool yet).
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Finally, we entered the dolphin pool and met the dolphins. Each child got to touch the dolphins one at a time, and photos were taken each time. (While one child was touching the dolphin, the others were instructed not to touch it.)

After the program, photos can be purchased at the shop by the dolphin pool. I think it was about $50 for three photos, and you could buy them starting from one photo (three photos had the best price).

息子の担当をしてくださった方はアメリカ人女性で、日本語が全く話せない方でした。
コミュニケーションがとれる程度の英語力がないと、お子さんは所在無いと思います。
ただ、最後のイルカ撮影時にチェンジした女性教官は日本語の指示が出せる方でした。
（スタッフの方々とざっくりお話した感じでは、この方だけが日本語が少し話せるようでした）
息子（充分な英語力有）はラグーンで泳げたし海の生き物も教えてもらえたのでとーっても楽しかった！と言っています。
英語が理解できれば、内容盛り沢山で価格に見合ったプログラムだと思いました。
私も子供の写真撮りまくりで大満足です。

以下、内容です。
小屋で円陣を組んで座り自己紹介。自分の名前と好きな動物について発表。
12種類の海洋生物が描かれたボードが配られ、解説してくれる。
↓
それらを見にラグーンへ移動。棒状のフロートに３，４人がつかまり、先生に引っ張られながらラグーンで観察（ライフジャケット装着）
↓
小屋に帰り、室内で小さな海洋生物を観察、触る。
↓
イルカプールの隅に移動。イルカプールに生息する魚が描かれたボードが配られ、それらを観察（まだプールには入らない）
↓
いよいよイルカプールに入りイルカとご対面。基本一人ずつ触り、その都度撮影。
（一人が触ってる時は他の子は触らないように指示されていたそうです）

プログラム終了後はイルカプールサイドの売店で写真が購入できます。
3枚で＄50程度、1枚から購入できたと思います（3枚が一番お得な価格設定）

We payed for the VIP package, and we're really glad we did. Ringside seats made the show amazing, but it wouldn't have been worth it from the nosebleeds. The food was great, with a broad selection anx generous portions. Whilst table service was provided by a delightful and industrious server, the buffet/bar were so easy access that it probably wasn't nescessary. A great show worth a watch.

I highly recommend this tour.

During the tour, they take photos with a DSLR camera. They capture a lot of moments, including posed shots and candid ones. This is included in the tour price. What impressed me the most was getting a photo taken with the stars! It's something I couldn't capture with my handheld digital camera, so it became a wonderful memory.

こちらのツアーはオススメです。

ツアー中、一眼レフで写真を撮ってくれます。ポーズしているところやオフショットまでほんとたくさん。それも料金はツアー代に含まれています。感動したのは星と一緒に撮ってもらったこと！手持ちのデジカメでは撮れないのでとても思い出になりました。

We participated in this tour for our honeymoon. We chose a tour that gathered at the meeting point, and although we arrived early at the port by rental car, we got lost because the port was so large (we had received a clear map in advance, but I forgot it at the hotel...) and ended up being over 15 minutes late to meet everyone! I felt really bad for making the tour group wait, but the staff welcomed us with smiles, which made me feel so relieved.

Once everything was ready, we finally set sail! The captain sped the boat up, and when I straddled the edge of the boat, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride! (Of course, you can also sit inside the boat). The sunset reflecting on the sparkling sea was incredibly beautiful.

Just as our excitement peaked, we arrived at Manta Point. There were many manta tour boats floating on the water, creating a very magical and beautiful scene. Then, we finally got to go into the water! The seawater was a bit warm, and since they provided us with wetsuits, I didn't feel cold at all.

We took out a small floating boat from the main boat and held onto it. I was a bit worried since I can't swim, but the staff assisted us, so there was no problem at all! We set up our snorkels and waited for the mantas while peering into the water.

And then!!! The long-awaited manta appeared! At first, we saw it swimming just below us, which was exciting enough, but then it turned and spun right in front of us! I was thrilled to see the manta so close that I could see its skeleton and gills! Unfortunately, that was the only time it came so close, but we saw several mantas swimming gracefully.

After getting back on the boat, we sped through the dark sea like a roller coaster again. Unlike the outbound trip, the lights from the land were so beautiful against the dark sea.

I was truly excited until the very end! Next time, I definitely want to join the dolphin tour on the Big Island! The staff were bright and fun, and I was very satisfied! Thank you!

新婚旅行で参加しました。
現地集合をするツアーにしたのですが、レンタカーで集合場所の港には早めについたものの、港が広くて迷ってしまい（ちゃんと分かり易い地図は予め頂いていたのですが、ホテルに忘れてきてしまって・・・）15分以上遅れてやっと合流できました！ツアーの方をみんな待たせてしまっていたので申し訳なさで緊張していたのですが、スタッフの方が笑顔で迎えてくれて、すごくほっとしました。
そして準備が整い、ついに出港！キャプテンが船をビューっと飛ばして、船のふちにまたがれば、まるでジェットコースターみたいにスリル満点！（船の中で座って乗る事ももちろんできます）。サンセットできらめく海がとても綺麗で素敵でした。
テンションが上がりきったところでマンタポイントに到着。
たくさんのマンタツアーのボートが海に浮いていて、とても幻想的で綺麗でうっとり。
そして待ちに待った海の中へ！
海水は少し温かめで、ウェットスーツも貸して頂けたので全く寒くなかったです。
船から小さな浮くボートのようなものをだし、そこにつかまります。私は泳げないので少し心配だったのですが、スタッフの方がアテンドしてくれたので全く問題ないです！
シュノーケルをセットして、水中をのぞきながらマンタを待ちます。
そしてそして！！！念願のマンタが！私達の浮いている下の方を泳いでいるのが最初は見え、それだけでも興奮したのに、次ぎは目の前でくるりと回転してくれたのです！骨格からえらの中まで見れるくらい目の前にいるマンタに大興奮！！残念ながらそこまで近くに来てくれたのはその一回でしたが、何枚かのマンタが優雅に泳いでいるのが見えました。
船に上がって、またジェットコースターのように暗い海を走ります。往路とは違い、暗い海から陸の光がとても綺麗でした。
最後まで本当に大興奮！今度はハワイ島イルカ高校にもぜひ参加したいと思います！
スタッフの方も明るく楽しくて、とても満足です！ありがとうございました！

This tour was absolutely awesome. Chris and Nick, our guides, were very knowledgeable and fun. They clearly pride themselves on what they do, which makes them stand out from the average. The meals were good, especially the beautiful dinner. We had the steak which was fantastic, and the service was perfect and so friendly. We saw beautiful sights all day, ending at the volcano which gave us a good show. Would do again in a heartbeat. Thanks guys!

It turned into a private tour for just one group in the afternoon. Due to the effects of the recent hurricane, there were some waves, and since there were two beginners over sixty, we didn't push ourselves with kayaking or snorkeling. Still, it was enjoyable to paddle and swim on our own, and we were able to see sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and beautiful fish. Kevin was fluent in Japanese and took a lot of photos for us. Afterward, we were able to change at a nearby restroom and took the trolley bus back to our hotel in Kona. Since there was no bus in the 4 PM slot, we waited at the Sheraton Hotel while having tea. If you're worried about seasickness, changing clothes, or managing money, it might be good to inquire beforehand. It's better not to rely too much on information from the internet. If I have another opportunity, I would like to join an early morning tour and enjoy kayaking and snorkeling to the fullest.

午後からの１グループだけのプライベートツアーになりました。先日来のハリケーンの影響？で少し波があり、還暦過ぎの初心者２人でしたから、カヤックもシュノーケリングも無理をしませんでした。それでも、自分で漕ぐ、泳ぐのが楽しくて、ウニやナマコ、きれいな魚をみることができました。ケビンさんは日本語が堪能で、写真もたくさんとってもらいました。終了後は、近くのトイレで着替えることもでき、トロリーバスに乗ってコナのホテルに帰りました。４時台のバスがなかったので、シェラトンホテルでお茶をして時間待ちしました。船酔い、着替え、金銭管理など不安なら問い合わせるとよいかもしれません。ネットの情報を信用しすぎないほうがよいです。また機会があったら、早朝からのツアーに参加して、ゆっくり、めいっぱい、カヤックとシュノーケリングを楽しみたいです。

As everyone has mentioned, we drove down a very steep slope in a 4WD vehicle to the valley bottom. Then, we finally got to ride the horses. The explanations were all in English, which made me a bit worried (or rather, I couldn't understand what was being said), but a Japanese person from the tour who lives in the U.S. helped by translating. Thank you very much! Their son, who looked to be around middle school age, was cute and considerate.

I was worried about whether I could get on the horse properly, but when I managed to do so, they said things like "As expected!" The horseback riding experience was something I had done several times before, and each time I ended up feeling stiff and tired, but this time I was able to enjoy it leisurely in nature.

The path was quite wild. While I felt safe riding the horse itself, we got to see waterfalls along the way and splashed through rivers, which is not something you get to experience often. I think the horseback riding experience in Waipi'o Valley is a recommended tour for nature lovers and those who want to ride horses. Even if you're not fluent in English, you can still enjoy it. However, you won't be able to hear the explanations along the way. It's not because it's in English; it's just that you can't hear when you're further away. So it might be the same in Japanese as well.

皆さんが書いているように、すごい急な坂道を４ＷＤの車で谷底へ。
そしてお待ちかねのお馬さんに乗ります。
説明は全部英語でされるのでなんとなく心配（というかなんといっているか聞き取れない）でしたが、一緒のツアーの在米の日本人の方が通訳をしてくれて助かりました。ありがとうございました。そしてその方の息子さんが中学生くらいなのにかわいくて気遣ってくれました。
うまく馬に乗り移れるか心配だった私がうまく乗り移れると「さすが～」とか言ってくれたりして・・
乗馬体験はなんどかしているいて、そのたびにかちんこちんで疲れるのですが、今回は自然の中でゆったりと楽しめました。
なにしろワイルドな道なんですよ。乗馬そのものは安心して乗れますが・・
途中では滝が見られたり、川をざばざば行ったりとなかなかできない体験ではないでしょうか？
ワイピオ渓谷の乗馬体験は自然派にも、乗馬をしたい人にもおすすめのツアーだと思います。
英語が堪能でなくても、十分楽しめますよ。ただし、道すがらの説明は聞こえません。英語だからではなく離れると聞こえないんです。なので日本語でも英語でも同じかもしれません。

It was a very short trip and we only saw 1 cave and a very small one. The guide was great, however due to the approaching hurricane he said that it was not save going further. I'm not an expert on weather, but the waters/wind did not change for the entire time we were there. If I would've known what it was going to be, I would've prefer they had cancelled the trip and we would have either planned for another day or received our refund.

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the Helicopter Tour - the staff were perfect, sights were great! It was a little foggy so we couldn't complete whole tour but were offered a refund which was very nice.

Thanks Again,

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the swim with the Manta Rays - the staff on the boat were perfect, snacks were provided and we saw lots of Manta Rays, the sunset was beautiful.

Thanks Again

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the Submarine Ride - the staff on the boat were very knowledgeable and we saw lots of cool things at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks Again

We didn't have the best start for our manta ray snorkeling - trouble checking in for our flight the day after stressed us a lot, so we were not really in the mood. But despite me getting pretty seasick, being in the water and experiencing these magnificent and majestic fish feeding was an amazing experince. I so much wanna do it again - but next time without being seasick :) Thanks to the crew and captain for being so nice to me

The moon was a thin crescent, so without being disturbed by the lights, I was able to fully enjoy the perfectly clear starry sky for the third time. My son and I said, "I wish Mom could have seen this," remembering my wife who passed away last year. I hope many people get to see this.

月が細い三日月だったので、あかりに邪魔されず、正に満天のクリアーな星空を3度目の参加で堪能することがて巻きました。息子と２人「お母さんにも見せたかったね」と昨年亡くなった妻を偲んだ次第です。是非多くの人に見てもらいたいとおもいます。

We visited Hawaii for our honeymoon, wanting to enjoy nature not only on Oahu but also on the Big Island. We participated in this popular tour and were very satisfied. We also joined the sunrise tour early in the morning, participating in both the sunrise and sunset tours in one day. I was unsure if it made sense to join similar tours twice, but I’m glad we did (it was quite physically demanding, though!). During the sunrise tour, there are fewer people at the summit of Mauna Kea, allowing us to quietly enjoy the starry sky and sunrise. Although it was dark and I was sleepy, making it hard to see the scenery around Mauna Kea during the sunrise tour, the sunset tour allowed us to enjoy the views at a leisurely pace. The fact that the sun sets and rises in different places, and the starry sky looks different, made it worthwhile to see both. Personally, I was very happy to have seen the starry sky twice!

新婚旅行でハワイを訪れ、オアフ島だけでなく、ハワイ島で自然を満喫したいという思いでハワイ島を訪れました。そして人気のあるこのツアーに参加しましたが、大満足でした。私達は早朝にサンライズツアーにも参加しており、一日にサンライズとサンセット両方のツアーに参加しました。二回も同じようなツアーに参加する意味があるのか疑問でしたが、両方のツアーに参加してよかったと思います（体力的に結構ハードですが笑）。サンライズツアーの時間帯ではマウナケア山頂に行く人が少ないため、静かに星空やサンライズを見ることができます。サンライズツアーでは暗くて眠くてあまりマウナケア周辺の景色を見ることができませんでしたが、サンセットツアーではゆっくり景色を楽しむことができます。そして太陽が沈む、出てくる場所が違う、星空の顔が違うということで二度見る価値はありました。個人的には星空を二回も見れたとことが大変よかったです！！

It was truly a precious experience to see the manta rays dancing right in front of me. The sunset over the ocean as seen from the boat was an unforgettable beauty. On the way back after seeing the manta rays, we rode the boat through the dark, speeding along like on a banana boat, which was exhilarating! There were also reliable Japanese staff present, so I felt safe participating. I give it a perfect score of 100, no, 150 points!!

マンタが目の前でぐるぐるとダンスするという、本当に貴重な体験でした。
ボートから見た海に沈む夕陽、忘れられない美しさです。
マンタを見た後戻るときにも、真っ暗闇をボートにまたがりバナナボート風で突っ走り、爽快！
頼りになる日本人スタッフもいらして、安心して参加できました。
100点、いや、150点！！です！！

We visited the Big Island for our honeymoon and participated in this tour with my wife. We were taught the basics of kayaking and then set out to sea! It was a fantastic location with a pleasant breeze, and we were able to paddle gracefully, which made us very satisfied! However, perhaps due to several days of sleep deprivation, my wife started to feel seasick about 20 minutes into paddling... We paddled quite a distance, so I was very happy, but for my wife, it was a time of endurance, haha. I have snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and I remember being very disappointed because the wind was strong and the water was murky, but the waters around the Big Island were incredibly clear, allowing us to see all the way to the bottom. There were plenty of fish swimming around, and there were corals as well, making for an amazing snorkeling experience. However, by the time I got back on the kayak, I was also feeling seasick... It was a very fun tour, but if you're prone to motion sickness, it might be a good idea to take some medication before participating.

新婚旅行でハワイ島を訪れ、このツアーに妻と二人で参加しました。カヤックの簡単な漕ぎ方を教えていただきいざ海へ！最高のロケーションと心地よい風の中優雅にカヤックを漕げて大満足！しかし、連日の睡眠不足がたたったか漕ぎ始めて20分ほどで妻が船酔いに・・・。結構な距離を漕ぎますので私は大満足だったのですが、妻にとっては我慢の時間帯でした笑私はオーストラリアのグレートバリアリーフでシュノーケリングしたことがありますが、風が強く海も濁っていてとても残念だった記憶があるのですが、ハワイ島の海はとても綺麗で海の底まではっきりと見え、魚もたくさん泳いでおり、さらにサンゴもいて感動のシュノーケリングになりました。ただ泳ぎ疲れてカヤックに乗ったころには私も船酔いに・・・。とても楽しかったツアーでしたが、酔いやすい方は酔い止めを飲まれて参加されたほうがいいかもしれません。

Beautiful views of Kohala mountains and ocean. Guides accessed the experience of the group and allowed cantering. Some how the 2.5 hr wasn't long enough. Glad we did this.

Since we are 64 and 63 years old, we arrived on the Big Island two days ago to consider our health, and we took it easy the day before climbing Mauna Kea.

We had a guide who provided information about the history of Hawaii Island and its unique flora and fauna, and we were able to enjoy overcoming the bumpy roads.

I was worried about altitude sickness, but by following the guide's specific advice like "Don't sleep here / Let's take care of the restroom / Put on gloves and a knit hat at this point," I had no issues.

I was able to remember and record things like the "flower of connection" and "silversword," which I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't participated in the tour.

The stargazing using the reflecting telescope next to the Onizuka Center was a wonderful lecture, and I recommend this tour even for those who are not interested in astronomy. The fact that we could download the photos taken by the guide also added to the value of the experience.

"We want to strengthen our legs and aim to see the lava flowing into the sea next time," we discussed as an elderly couple. If that opportunity arises, please let us know!

64歳＆63歳ですので体調を考慮して、2日前にビッグアイランドに到着し、マウナケア登頂前日もゆっくり過ごしました。
ハワイ島の歴史や固有動植物の案内があり、凸凹道も楽しく克服できました。
不安だった高山病ですが、ガイドさんの「ここでは寝ないでください／トイレを済ませましょう／手袋とニット帽はこの時点で」等、具体的なアドバイスに従うことで問題ありませんでした。

ツアーに参加しなければ目に入ることのなかった【縁結びの花】や【銀剣草】なども記憶と記録に残すことができました。

http://2016summer.jimdo.com/%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%97%E6%97%A5-%E3%82%B9%E3%83%90%E3%83%AB%E5%A4%A9%E6%96%87%E5%8F%B0/

オニヅカセンター横での反射望遠鏡を使った天体観測は素晴らしいレクチャーで、天体に興味がない人にもお勧めのツアーです。
ガイドさんが撮影して下さった写真をダウンロードできる点もお得感を倍増させます。

「足腰を鍛えて、次回は溶岩が海に流れ落ちるところを目指したいね。」
と話し合っている老夫婦です。そのチャンスがあればヨロシク！！

It was the first time for my husband and children to ride horses properly. After a brief explanation in English, each person was assigned a horse, and they quickly got on. From the moment they mounted, they held the reins themselves and started moving! At first, my sons were nervous, but after about 10 minutes, they seemed to be having a great time. They enjoyed the beautiful scenery while riding. Then, after about 30 to 40 minutes, when the instructor asked, "Do you want to try running?" they all nodded and started to run together! My eldest son enjoyed running several times afterward, while my younger son, who was scared, took his time walking, which was nice as everyone could progress at their own pace. After more than an hour and a half of riding, we finished, and it was interesting to see the contrasting feelings between the exhausted parents and the kids who wanted to ride even more. As a side note, it seemed beneficial for my sons, who are learning English, that everything was conducted in English.

ちゃんとした乗馬が初めての主人と子供たち。
英語での簡単な説明の後、一人に一頭の馬があてがわれ、早速乗ることに。
乗った瞬間から手綱を自分で持ち、移動開始！
始めはドキドキしていた息子たちは10分もすると楽しそうに。
素晴らしい景色を堪能しながらの楽しい乗馬を満喫していました。
そして30～40分して頃、「走ってみたい？」というインストラクターの一声に頷くと皆で一斉に走り始めることに！
走りを満喫する長男はその後も何度か走りに挑戦、怖いという次男はマイペースに歩き、と個々のペースで進めることもありがたかったです。
一時間半以上の乗馬の後に終了したが、くたくたの親ともっともっと乗っていたかった、ということもたちの感想が対照的でした。
補足ではありますが、英語を学習中の息子たちにとっては英語オンリーであることも良かったみたいです。