All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

We participated as a family of three, including our 10-year-old child. Last year's manta night snorkeling was so great that we decided to join Aloha Kona Tours again this year.

I have participated in a wild dolphin tour on Oahu before, but I could only see the dolphins far away and had given up on the idea of seeing them up close. However, believing in Daisuke's words from last year, this year I was finally able to meet many dolphins right beside us!

They also supported our tired child, allowing us to enjoy the dolphins with peace of mind. I would love to repeat this experience. Daisuke's photo collection is also wonderful and healing. Please definitely hold an exhibition in Kansai as well.

10歳の子供を含め家族３人で参加しました。昨年のマンタナイトシュノーケルがとても良かったので、今年もAloha Kona Toursさんに参加しようと決めていました。
野生のイルカをみるツアーはオアフ島で参加したことがありますが、はるか彼方にイルカの姿が見える程度でこんなものかと諦めていたのですが、昨年のダイスケさんの言葉を信じ、今年は念願かなってすぐそばでたくさんのイルカに会うことができました！
泳ぎ疲れた子供のサポートもして頂いたので、安心してイルカを楽しむことができました。
またリピートしたいと思います。
ダイスケさんの写真集もとても素敵で癒されます。関西でもぜひ個展を開いてください。

The original starry skies and stunning sunsets of the Big Island of Hawaii are, of course, remarkable, but I was very grateful and impressed by how well the guide company prepared everything for us to fully enjoy them. They made sure we had proper warm clothing to avoid the cold, and the guides were very attentive to prevent altitude sickness. The meals included in the tour were also substantial, allowing us to enjoy the wonderful starry skies and the sunset from the summit without any worries. Additionally, it wasn't just about being taken to the locations; the detailed explanations were very interesting and easy to understand. I would love to request a guide again when I visit the Big Island.

ハワイ島のもともとも星空、夕焼けのすばらしさはもちろんですが、それを余すところなく楽しめるようにガイド会社の方々がご準備いただけているのがとてもありがたく、また印象に残りました。
寒くないように防寒具をしっかりご準備いただいていましたし、高山病にならないようにガイドさんがたくさん気遣ってくださいました。ツアーに付いていた食事なども充実しており、おかげさまでなんの心配もなく、すばらしい星空と山頂からの夕焼けを満喫することができました。
また、ただ連れて行っていただけるだけでなく、詳しい説明がとても面白く分かりやすかったです。
またハワイ島に行く際はガイドをお願いできればと思いました。

My husband and I had a lot of fun ! The team was really friendly and we had the perfect weather ! We will take the cruise again when we come back to the Big Island !

Both me and my friend are big fans of stargazing. Being from Europe, we're used to completely different night sky and it war really refreshing to see the other-side-of-the-world's sky as well. Also, because Mauna Kea Summit has one of the clearest sky in the world, it took the stargazing to whole another level. It was really amazing experience and worth every penny. Also the guides knew like.. everything about the stars, so it was pretty educational too. Oh and by the way - the sunset seen from above the clouds at the summit? Magnificent!

We participated with a friend because the monitor fee was applicable! Since we didn't rent a car during our stay, we took a taxi from Kailua-Kona and arrived at the meeting point, the harbor, for about $20.

There were about 20 participants, so we split into two boats for departure. There were no other Japanese participants, only Westerners. Everything was explained in English, but since there wasn't anything particularly special to do, I think it's fine if you don't speak much English. (They asked if we could speak English at the reception, so if you mention it there, you might receive written explanations. However, the tour is primarily in English.)

The tour itself lasted from around 10 AM to 1 PM, and we went around the Big Island on a high-speed boat. Along the way, we stopped at various points of interest, and the captain provided explanations. We were also told we could jump in when we spotted dolphins. When we found them, it was after the other dolphin tour groups had left, so we were able to see the dolphins up close and at a leisurely pace! We also spotted turtles and fish, and thoroughly enjoyed both rafting and snorkeling. By the way, lunch was just a sandwich, but after swimming, the sandwich and cola were incredibly delicious!

On the way back, our hotel happened to be right in front of the dock, so we were able to get dropped off there, saving on taxi fare. The staff were all very friendly, and overall, it was a satisfying tour.

モニター料金が適用されるということで、友人と二人で参加しました！滞在中レンタカーを借りていなかったため、カイルアコナからタクシーに乗りましたが20ドルくらいで集合場所のハーバーに到着。
参加者が20名くらいだったため、２隻に分かれて出発でした。他に日本人の参加者はおらず、欧米人のみ。説明等全て英語でしたが、何か特別なことをするわけではないので基本的にはそんなに英語が話せなくても問題ないかと思います。（英語が話せるか受付時に聞かれたのでそこで言えば説明書き等もらえるのかも知れません。が、基本的にはツアーは全編英語です。）
ツアー自体は10時～13時くらいまでで、ハワイ島の周りを高速ボートで回る感じです。途中いろんな見どころに寄って船長さんが解説をしてくれます。またイルカを見つけると飛び込んでいいとのこと、他のドルフィンツアーの人たちがいるところで一緒に潜るのに加え、帰り道に見つけた際にはツアーの人たちはもういない時間だったのでかなり近くでゆっくりイルカを見ることが出来ました！他にもカメを見かけたり、魚をみたり、ラフティングとシュノーケル、どちらも満喫できました。ちなみにランチはただのサンドイッチですが、泳ぎ疲れたあとのサンドイッチとコーラは最高においしかったです！
帰りはたまたま滞在しているホテルが船着き場の目の前だったので、そこで下ろしてもらうことができ、タクシー代も節約できました。
スタッフもみなさん親切で、全体的に満足のいくツアーでした。

Absolutely perfect day! Saw dolphins, snorkeled, good food, great staff.

I was able to see a very beautiful starry sky. The guide was thorough, and it was enjoyable. I appreciated that the background music in the car was chosen to match the scene. They also took a lot of photos.

とても綺麗な星空が見られました。ガイドもしっかりしていて、楽しかったです。車中のBGMなどもその場面に合わせてチョイスしてくれているのは嬉しい演出でした。写真もたくさん撮ってくれました。

Unfortunately, due to the weather, the mountaintop was completely covered in clouds, and I could only confirm the appearance of Subaru and NASA. It was disappointing that the staff's prayers didn't reach us, but I hope for better luck next time.

生憎の天候で、山頂ではあたり一面雲がかかり、やっとスバルとNASAの外見だけは確認できました。スタッフの方の祈りも届かず、残念でしたが、次回に期待したいと思います。

They kindly taught me various things. I wish I had taken more photos. The stars were amazing. It's a memory I will never forget.

親切にいろいろ教えてくれました。写真もっと撮ってもらえばよかったなあ。
星最高。生涯忘れられない思い出です。

The tour conductor was a couple, with a husband who spoke Japanese well and a Japanese wife. Since it was a tour just for our couple and our friends' couple, they adjusted to our pace. The kayak had a high backrest that provided good support for the waist, making it easy to paddle. It was wonderful to encounter cute dolphins. The wife took photos for us, and I look forward to them later.

ツアーコンダクターは日本語の上手なご主人と日本人の奥様のご夫婦でした。友人夫婦と私達夫婦だけのツアーでしたので、私達達のペースに合わせていただきました。カヤックの背当てが高く、しっかり腰をガードいてくれるカヤックでしたので、楽に漕ぐことができました。可愛いイルカと遭遇しとても良かったです。写真も奥様がとってくれて、後日楽しみです

English :
It was awesome to swim this close from the spinner dolphins! The friend I come with was like a kid, she loved it and she add a check on her bucket list. We swam many times along the dolphins, there were about thirty and more. We had delicious snacks on our way back to the harbor. A thing to do in a lifetime :)
Thanks again to the crew!

Français :
C'était vraiment super de nager si près des dauphins spinner ! Mon amie qui était avec était comme une enfant tellement elle a adoré. Elle a pu rayer un élément de sa bucket list. Nous avons nagé plusieurs fois aux côtés des dauphins, il y en avait beaucoup, environ une trentaine (au moins) ! Lors du retour à la marina, nous avons eu de délicieuses bouchées à déguster. Merci à l'équipage pour ce super moment !

This was undoubtedly the best tour I would recommend on my first visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. The sunset and stargazing did not disappoint, although it was a bit unfortunate that the new moon made it too bright. However, the explanations of the constellations were clear and impressive. The UCC Coffee Farm, which we visited to pass the time, was also great.

初めてのハワイ島で一番おすすめのツアーといってもよい内容でした。期待を裏切らないサンセット＆星空観測でしたが唯一新月のため明るすぎて少し残念でしたが星座の説明もわかりやすく感激しました。時間つぶしのUCCコーヒー園もよかったです。

On the second day after arriving on the Big Island, I went to Mauna Kea. Leaving the hotel, I was overwhelmed by the majestic nature and terrain of the Big Island as I traveled along Daniel K. Inouye Highway and arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center. While having dinner, I observed plants like the silversword and changed into warm clothing before reaching the summit. Just before arriving, I felt some symptoms that seemed like mild altitude sickness, but I was a bit excited when I saw the group of observatories at the summit.

I took a lot of photos until we departed from the summit. The stargazing was not at the summit but at a parking area a little lower down. There were clouds in the night sky, so we did stargazing again around the Onizuka Center. I attempted to photograph the stars with a film SLR camera, using bulb mode set for star photography (10 to 20 minutes). While the exposure time was appropriate for the stars, surrounding light interfered, and I couldn't capture it well. I hope to challenge this again next year. This tour company allows the guide to take photos of the participants, which can be downloaded from the internet, and I was very pleased with this service. Since a regular digital camera cannot capture the stars, it became a great keepsake.

ハワイ島へ到着して2日目にマウナケアへ行きました、ホテルを出てハワイ島の雄大な自然、地形に圧倒されながら、ダニエル・INOUE ロードを通り、オニズカビジターセンタへ到着、夕食をとりながら、銀剣草等の植物を見て、防寒具に着替え後、山頂に到着、到着直前から少し高山病かな！と思われる症状、でも山頂の天文台群を見たときは少し興奮しました。
それから山頂出発まで写真を撮りまくりました。星空観測は山頂ではなく少し下の駐車場のような所でした、夜空には雲があり、オニズカセンターの周辺で再度星空観測をしました。
星空撮影はフィルム一眼レフカメラで挑戦、星空用に設定したバルブ撮影（10分から20分間）では時間が星空には適度な時間でしたが、周りの光が入りうまく取れませんでした。また来年での挑戦したいと思ってます。このツアー会社はガイドさんが³参加者を撮ってくれた写真をインターネットにからダウンロードさせてくれます、このサービスは非常に嬉しかった。ふつうのデジカメでは星空は取れないので良い記念になりました。

I had an amazing time snorkeling for the very first time. Captain Dave was great, he made me feel very comfortable. I am definitely coming back the next time I visit The Big Island!

My second-grade daughter participated and was very happy, but there was an explanation in English until we could interact with the dolphins. It felt more like a discussion than an explanation. Also, the pool where we could interact with the dolphins seemed a bit deep, which was a bit tough for my short daughter.

小学2年の娘が参加しました喜んでおりましたがイルカと触れ合えるまで英語での説明がありました。説明というよりもディスカッションみたいでした。あとイルカと触れ合えるプールが少し深さがあるようで、背の低い娘にはちょっとしんどそうでした。

The tour operator only communicated in English, which made it difficult for me during the confirmation call. On the day of the tour, we departed from the pier in Kona, which was convenient since it was close to where I was staying. The glass-bottom boat was quite stable and comfortable, but there wasn't much variation in the fish or underwater scenery, so I honestly got a bit bored along the way. The staff were friendly and engaged in conversation, which was nice.

催行先が英語のみの対応なので、確認電話で苦労しました。当日はコナの桟橋からの出発でしたので、滞在先からすぐの場所でラクでした。グラスボートはあまり揺れがなく快適でしたが、あまり魚や海中の景色に変化が乏しかったので、正直途中で飽きてしまいました。スタッフの人はフレンドリーにいろいろ話しかけてくれて良かったです。

I participated in a tour with Mr. Nawata on July 23. For three years, I have wanted to join a dolphin tour every time I go to Hawaii, and I finally got the chance to participate.

At first, there were many other tour boats out at sea, and I thought the dolphins might avoid our boat, making it hard to see them. However, we entered the water for practice. After that, Mr. Nawata and the captain diligently searched for the best spots where the dolphins were, repeatedly going in and out of the water and moving the boat. In the second half, we were able to swim right next to a pod of dolphins! It was so moving!

I was impressed not only by the dolphins but also by Mr. Nawata and the captain's efforts to ensure that every participant got to see the dolphins up close. I realized I was more exhausted than I expected, which made me feel my age and the decline in my stamina. However, the potato chips we had after returning to the harbor were incredibly delicious (laughs).

It was a tour that left me deeply moved by the dolphins, the staff, and the Hawaiian sea. I would love to participate again next year if I can.

7/23に繩田さん同行のツアーに参加しました。
ハワイに行く度にイルカツアーに参加したいと思って早3年、やっと参加することができました。
前半は他のツアーの船が多く海に出ておりこれではイルカがツアーの船を避けてしまいなかなか見れないかもと思いましたが、とりあえず練習の為1回目の海に入りました。その後繩田さんとキャプテンが一生懸命イルカがいるベストポイントを探し回って下さり、何回か海へ入ってはあがって船で移動を繰り返し後半はイルカの群れが泳いでるそばで一緒に泳げました！感動です！
イルカはもちろんですが、参加者一人一人に気を使いなんとか参加者全員にイルカを間近で見せてあげたいという繩田さんとキャプテンの気持ちにも感動しました。
思ったより体力を消耗しあらためて体力の衰えと歳を感じてしまいましたが、その分港に戻った後頂いたポテチが最高においしかった（笑）
イルカとスタッフとハワイの海に感動した大満足のツアーでした。また来年できたら参加したいと思います。

I chose this tour based on the experiences and reviews I read beforehand, and it was definitely the right choice! The saying "Seeing is believing" really holds true; participating in the tour allowed me to experience the atmosphere that can't be conveyed through reviews. The cool temperatures and thin air near the summit, which are hard to imagine in the coastal town of Kailua, became real for me only after climbing to 4,000 meters! The sky above the sea of clouds was clearer and bluer than I had imagined, and I could feel the sunlight hitting my skin directly, making it warm. Of course, one of the main events, the sunset viewing, was as beautiful as rumored. The sky afterward looked like a large canvas, with stunning gradients of red, orange, yellow, purple, blue, and white that captivated everyone watching. The other main event, stargazing, felt like watching a planetarium, thanks to our guide's fun and easy-to-understand explanations of constellations and stars. Additionally, we were able to observe Saturn and the moon through a telescope, and the guidance on astrophotography was greatly appreciated. Along the way, we also had the chance to observe rare alpine plants that we wouldn't normally see, and the explanations about the climate and terrain made the tour even more enriching. Overall, there were many moments to fully engage our senses, and my family and I were extremely satisfied. Next time, I definitely want to join the sunrise tour!

事前に読んだ体験談や口コミ情報を参考にこのツアーを選択しましたが、大正解！！「百聞は一見に如かず」とはよく言ったもので、実際に参加してみて、体験談や口コミ等では伝わってこないその場の空気感がたまらなくよかったです。海岸沿いのカイルアの街では想像しにくい「頂上付近の気温の低さや空気の薄さ」は、４０００ｍに登ってみて初めて実感に変わりました！また、雲海上の空は、想像よりも青く澄んでいましたし、日の光もストレートに攻めてくる感じで肌が熱くなるのを感じました。もちろん、メインイベントの一つである「夕日鑑賞」は、うわさ通りの美しさでした。その後の空は、大きなキャンバスのようで、赤、橙、黄、紫、青、白といった色彩が美しいグラデーションとなり、観る者達をうっとりとさせていました。もう一つのメインイベントである「星空観測」は、ガイドさんの楽しくてわかりやすい星座や星についての解説付きで、プラネタリウムを見ているようでした。さらに、天体望遠鏡で土星や月の観測をさせてくれたり、天体撮影の指導もしてくれたりと、大変ありがたかったです。そのほかにも、道すがら、普段見ることができない貴重な高山植物を観察させてくれたり、気候や地形についても解説してくれたりして、とにかくツアー中は、五感をフル活用する場面が多く家族共々大満足でした。今度は、せひサンライズのツアーに参加してみたいです。

My son had a fabulous morning surfing in Kona! We wished we had taken him earlier in the week, so that he could have gone a few times! His instructor was great and he loved it!

I participated with my husband and our first-grade daughter, making it a family of three. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Waikoloa and arrived in just under 40 minutes. We were told to look for the blue roof of the Honokohau Marina, and as soon as we entered the marina, we found several shops with blue roofs lined up on the right side. The tour shop was easily identifiable with the sign that read "CAPTAIN ZODIAC" (it was the shop at the far right).

When we joined, there were six of us in total: our family of three and three American girls. With Captain Colin and his assistant Paul, we set off with a total of eight people! First, we sped across the surface of the sea. The waves were relatively calm, so I didn’t experience the seasickness I was worried about; instead, it felt refreshing with the wind in my face!

After about five minutes of racing across the water, the boat suddenly slowed down. Captain Colin was looking around, and just as I was wondering what was happening, he shouted, "Dolphins!" When I looked in the direction he was pointing, I saw several dorsal fins surfacing and diving. There were dolphins jumping like in an aquarium, and even a baby dolphin! My daughter was so excited, shouting, "Dolphin! Dolphin!"

At that point, the captain stopped the boat and began preparing the snorkeling gear. My daughter was quite nervous since it was her first time snorkeling and going out to deep water on a boat. Honestly, I thought, "Snorkeling in such deep water?! No way!" But it seemed her curiosity about the wild dolphins won out. She put on her new snorkeling set (which we brought, although they provide rentals) and borrowed a long foam noodle from the captain to use as a float.

Then, with her dad holding her hand, she peered into the water and saw a school of dolphins swimming right below us. Overjoyed, she squealed, "Yay! Dolphins!" and pointed excitedly. I was also amazed; I never expected to see so many dolphins up close.

We then changed locations and enjoyed a total of three dolphin swims.

After that, we had about 30 minutes of free snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay. My daughter was scared of the urchins and almost returned to the boat, but when Captain Colin threw some cookies into the water, the fish came close, and she was thrilled. Thanks to that, she was able to continue snorkeling.

I was worried that my daughter might end up scared and not able to do anything during the tour, but thanks to Captain Colin's thoughtfulness and the dolphins and fish, both my daughter and husband had a great time!

I definitely want to participate again the next time we come to the Big Island.

P.S.
1. For those who will be participating, it might be a good idea to hand the captain your camera and ask him to take pictures while snorkeling.
2. I recommend reapplying sunscreen during the trip. Even though I thought I had applied a lot, I ended up getting really sunburned (crying).

夫と小1の娘と一緒に３人で参加しました。
ワイコロアのマリオットホテルに滞在しており、40分弱で到着しました。
ホノコハウマリーナの青い屋根が目印とのことでしたが、マリーナの入り口入ってすぐの右手側に、青い屋根の何軒かのお店が長屋のように連なっていました。このツアーのお店は、看板に「CAPTAIN　ZODIAC」と書いてあるのですぐにわかりました。（向かって一番右端のお店でした）

私たちが参加した時は、私たち家族３人とAmericanGirls３人の計６人。そこに、キャプテンコリンと、助手の？ポールを合わせて８名で出発！
まずは、ビュンビュン飛ぶように海面を走ります。比較的波がなく海面が穏やかだったので、懸念していた船酔いにはならず、逆に風を受けて爽快でした！

５分ほど？海面を走り急にボートがゆっくりに。。キャプテンコリンが何やら周りを見回しています。？？と思っていると、「ドルフィン！」と叫ぶので指さす方を見ると、何頭もの背びれが浮かんだり沈んだり。そのうち、水族館のようにクルリとジャンプをするイルカがいたり、ベビーイルカがいたり、娘も「イルカさん！イルカさん！」と大興奮。

そこで、キャプテンがボートを停め、シュノーケルギアを準備し始めました。娘は、シュノーケルも初めて、ボートで深い海に行くのも初めてということでかなり緊張をしており、正直「こんなに深い場所でシュノーケル?!無理だよーー」と思いましたが、娘は野生のイルカのジャンプを見て好奇心が勝った模様。新しいMyシュノーケルセット（貸してもらえますが、私たちは持参しました）を装着し、キャプテンに浮き輪代わりにヌードルというウレタン製の細長い棒を借りて、プカプカ。
その後、パパに手を引いて貰い海を覗き込むと、真下にイルカたちの群れが泳いでいます。歓喜のあまり海の中で「キャーキャ－イルカーーー！！」と指をさして喜ぶ娘。
私も、こんなに沢山のイルカ達がこんなに間近に見られるとは思ってもいなかったので、大感激でした。
その後場所を変え、計３回ドルフィンスイムを楽しみました。

その後はケアラケクア湾で３０分ほど自由にシュノーケル。娘はガンガゼを怖がり、ボートに帰りかけましたが、キャプテンコリンがクッキーを持ってきて海に投げると、近くまで魚が寄ってきてくれて大喜び。おかげでシュノーケルを続行することができました。

娘が怖がって何もできずに終わったらどうしよう？？と思いながらツアーを申し込みましたが、キャプテンコリンの気遣いとイルカや魚たちのおかげで娘・パパともども楽しむことができました！

次回ハワイ島に来た時にも是非参加したいです。

追記：
①これから参加される方は、シュノーケル時にキャプテンにカメラを渡し、撮影をお願いすると良いかもしれません。
②日焼け止めを途中で塗りなおすことをオススメします。かなり塗りたくって参加したはずなのに、真っっ黒に焼けてしまいました（泣）

We zoomed along in Captain Colin's rubber boat and first headed to the dolphin swimming spot. The ride was thrilling, with sharp turns that felt like a roller coaster, and we had a blast screaming with excitement.

Once we arrived, after a brief explanation, we jumped into the sea! There were over 100 dolphins swimming around. My first-grade daughter, who initially said, "I'm scared!" was soon cheering as she snorkeled among the dolphins.

This was my daughter's first snorkeling experience during our trip to Hawaii. She had only practiced snorkeling on the beach the day before, so I was worried. However, the dynamic sight of dolphins swimming right beneath her made her forget her fear, and she exclaimed, "I want to swim again!" In the end, she enjoyed dolphin swimming three times.

While it wasn't like the experiences at some hotels where you "swim with dolphins while touching them," the experience of swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat was incredibly exciting.

After that, we thrillingly moved to Kealakekua Bay, where we enjoyed a leisurely snorkeling session while observing tropical fish. We saw butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, and both my wife and daughter had a great time snorkeling.

My daughter seemed a bit scared of the sea urchins, but Captain Colin noticed her unease and joined her for snorkeling. He kindly pointed out fish to her and taught her the names of the fish in Hawaii, which helped her feel more at ease. As her fear faded, she was able to enjoy herself freely.

Unfortunately, we didn't spot any whales, but we did see little fish jumping around, likely because the whales were nearby. They said the whales were somewhere beneath the surface within a two-knot range.

On the way back, he shared stories about Pele along the coastline.

He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand, even for someone with my middle school-level English, and he was very kind to the children, which made me feel really reassured.

I truly felt that we had participated in a wonderful tour.

キャプテンコーリンの操縦するゴムボートでビュンビュン飛ばして、
まずはドルフィンスイミングの場所まで行きました。
途中は右へ左へとGをかけるような操船に、ジェットコースター気分できゃーきゃーと
楽しく乗りました。

現地に着いたら、簡単な説明の後に海へドボン！
そこには100頭を超えるイルカの群れがいました。
はじめは「怖い！」と言っていた小1の娘もイルカの群れに
シュノーケルを加えながら、歓声を上げます。

今回のハワイ旅行で初めてのシュノーケルをしている娘。
前日にビーチでシュノーケルの練習をしていただけなので、
心配していましたが、イルカが真下を通るようなダイナミックさに
恐さも忘れて、「もう一回泳ぐ！」と言って、
結果3回もドルフィンスイミングを楽しみました。

どこぞのホテルであるような「イルカを触りながら一緒に泳ぐ」というような
ものではありませんが、自然の姿のイルカと泳ぐ体験はとても刺激的だった模様。

その後、ケアラケクア湾までまたスリル満点で移動し、今度は熱帯魚を見ながらの
のんびりシュノーケリング。チョウチョウウオやエンゼルフィッシュ、アオブダイ
その他の南国系のお魚を見ながらののんびりシュノーケルを妻子共に楽しみました。

娘はウニが怖かったらしく、ちょっとおびえるような感じでした。
そうした様子を察したキャプテンコーリンが一緒にシュノーケルに来てくれて、
魚を見つけては娘に教えてくれたり、ハワイでのお魚の呼び方を教えてくれたり
と優しく接してくれました。すると、すっかり恐怖心の薄れた娘は自由自在に
楽しむことができました。

残念ながらクジラを目撃することはできませんでしたが、クジラが近くにいるせいで
ぴょんぴょん飛んでいる小魚を目撃。２ノットの範囲の海面下のどこかにいるらしい、
とのことでした。

帰りには、海岸沿いのラバ・チューブでのペレのお話などを説明してくれました。

中学生レベルの私の英語でも十分分るように説明してくれるし、子どもには優しく
接してくれるので本当に安心です。

良いツアーに参加できたなー、と心から思いました。

When we participated, there were about 10 participants in total. We all boarded one rubber boat and set off. My husband and I were the only Japanese people there, so all the communication and small talk were in English.

When I heard "rafting," I had imagined something like river rafting using a raft, but it seems I was mistaken. In reality, we sat on the edge of the boat (without wearing life jackets) and raced across the ocean at high speed. As someone who is not good with thrill rides, I was screaming my head off... Seeing me, the other foreigners burst into laughter.

It looked refreshing and enjoyable to race through the blue sea. Everyone except me... Following the advice to "just look at the sky and the distant scenery," I did gaze around, and while it was indeed beautiful, my fear overwhelmed all other emotions, and I reached my limit within 30 minutes.

When I told the captain, "I can't do this anymore," he asked, "There are still about 4 hours left!? Can you hang in there?" I couldn't bear the thought of enduring this fear for another 4 hours, so I asked to be dropped off nearby and retired... My time on the boat was just 40 minutes. I wanted to try snorkeling too, but I thought it would be rude to push myself and make my fellow passengers uncomfortable, so I gave up. My husband, who was enjoying himself, also got off with me, so I felt really sorry for him. The captain was very kind and arranged a taxi for us to the shore. All the fellow passengers were warm and kind, even though we stopped off early.

Although I retired, I got to see many wild dolphins up close, and the view of the Big Island while racing across the ocean was truly wonderful. It also became a story for our honeymoon.

If you're looking for thrills and want to enjoy the ocean around the Big Island, I definitely recommend it. However, for those who are not good with thrill rides or are easily scared, it might be a bit too intense.

私達が参加した時は、参加者が総勢10名ほどでした。
みんなでひとつのゴムボートに乗って出発します。
日本人は私達夫婦のみでした。なので、伝達事項や雑談なども全て英語でした。

「ラフティング」と聞いて、私はてっきりラフトを使った川下りのようなものをイメージしていたのですが、どうやら認識が間違っていたようでした。。
実際は、ボートのフチに座り(ライフジャケットも着用しません)、超高速で海を駆けまわるというものでした。
絶叫マシーンなどの類が大の苦手な私、一人大絶叫…。
そんな私を見て、他の外国人の皆様、爆笑…。笑

風を切って青い海を走るのは、爽快で気持ち良さそうでした。
私以外は…。
「空や遠く景色を見ていれば大丈夫だよ」というアドバイスに従い眺めていましたが、確かに本当に美しかったのですが、恐怖が全ての感情を占めていた私は開始30分で限界に達していました。

「もう無理です」とキャプテンに申し出ると、「あと4時間近くあるよ！？頑張れる？」と聞かれたので、この恐怖をあと4時間続けるのは耐えられなかったので、近くの沖で降ろしてもらってリタイアしました…。
乗船時間、わずか40分…。
シュノーケルもやりたかったけど、無理して体調不良になって同船者の皆様に迷惑を掛けたら申し訳ないと思い、断念しました。
楽しんでいた夫も一緒に降りてもらったので、夫にも申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいでした。
キャプテンの方には沖までタクシーを手配していただいたりと、本当に良くしていただきました。
同船者の皆様も、途中で沖に寄ったにも関わらず温かく見送って下さって、優しい方ばかりでした。

リタイアしたけれど、たくさんの野生イルカを間近で見られたし、海を走りながら臨むハワイ島の景色は本当に素晴らしかったです。
新婚旅行のネタのひとつにもなったし。笑

スリルと、ハワイ島の海を楽しみたい方は、ぜひおすすめです。
ただ、絶叫マシーンが苦手な方、怖がりな方には、ちょっとスリルがきついかもしれません。

It was a starry sky that felt like something you can only see in a planetarium in Japan. I was worried because the car was so comfortable that I became really sleepy.

日本ではプラネタリウムでしか見れないような満天の星空でした。車が心地よくてすごく眠くなってしまったのが心配でした。

Stargazing with my family. Mats was just the best!! He was so energetic and fun, like the Jungle Cruise guy from Disney. Since we gradually drove up, I didn't have to worry about oxygen shortage, and everything went smoothly. The bento with charcoal-grilled chicken was delicious. I was moved by Subaru, amazed by the green flash, and above all, I was captivated by the starry sky!! Next time, I want to join for the dawn!

家族で星空観測。とにかくマッツさんが最高!!
ディ●ニーのジャングルクルーズのお兄さんって感じでとにかくテンション高く面白たのしい。
車で徐々に登っていくので、心配していた酸素不足もなく、スムーズでした。
お弁当も炭火焼チキンがおいしかったです。
ずっと訪れたかったすばるに感動し、グリーンフラッシュに感動し、そして何よりも星空に感動しました!!次回は夜明けに参加したい!!

What a great day on the Big Island. If you travel to Kona make sure to put this tour on your itinerary.
Our guide was Nickels and he was the most knowledgeable young man and very patient and pleasant too. He took us to all of the places you should see on the island and even managed an unscheduled stop to the southern most bakery in the US. Even our teenagers we're attentive and even asked questions. It's a long day(@ 12hours)but I didn't want it to end. We truly enjoyed this tour.

What a fun day. The crew was courteous and intent on everyone having fun. There were families on our trip with very young children and some grandparents on board too. Everyone was in the water whether snokling, scub or snuba diving or just relaxing in tubes. I also didn't hear any complaints about the food. Service was very efficient. Everyone was satisfied!!

We had a great time on the glass bottom boat. Only regret I wish we could have stayed all day looking underwater at the coral and the fish. Great crew and knew a lot about the different fish we were seeing. My grand children loved it. Good adventure for young and old. Relaxing and beautiful.

This is my second time participating. I was so moved last time that I kept thinking about wanting to go again for about a year and a half. Finally, my wish has come true. I'm very satisfied again this time. Right after returning home, I'm already thinking about when I can go next (laughs). Since they are wild dolphins, each experience is different, so no matter how many times I go, I never get bored and always want to go again. Of course, the dolphins are amazing, but the team at Aloha Kona Tours is truly wonderful. You can really feel their love for the ocean and dolphins. This time, out of the eight participants, five were repeat visitors, so I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Thank you, Daisuke and Tsuyako. I will come again, so please take care of me!

２回目の参加です。
前回すごく感動してまたいつか行きたいと思い続けて約１年半。やっと念願叶いました。
今回も大満足。帰国してすぐ、次はいつ行けるかなと考えています（笑）
野生のイルカだから毎回違うので、何回行っても飽きることなく、また行きたいと思ってしまうんですよね。そして、イルカももちろん最高ですが、アロハコナツアーズのみなさんがほんとに素敵。本当に海・イルカが好きなんだな、と伝わってきます。今回は参加８人中５人がリピーターということで、この思いは私だけではないはず。
ダイスケさん・ツヤコさんありがとうございました。また行きますので、よろしくお願いします！

I was able to see a giant manta up close! The manta was so close that it almost touched my wetsuit, and it spun around slowly several times. The sight of its wide-open mouth was so impressive that I felt like I might get sucked in. I also participated in a dolphin tour in addition to this one, and both were amazing experiences!!

On the tour, we arrived at the manta spot by boat before sunset, and we were able to see a beautiful sunset as well. After sunset, we entered the water and waited for the manta to come while holding onto a bar with LED lights. First, a lot of plankton gathered, and then, after a while, a large manta appeared to eat the plankton. I was moved by the intensity that was different from an aquarium!! I’ll include a video I shot with my GoPro during the tour (the manta appears in the middle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAtyJxeQiUw).

Although the sea was dark, the captain was always watching from the boat, and since we were holding onto the bar, I was able to enjoy it with peace of mind.

The night sea can get cold even with a wetsuit, so it might be a good idea to bring a warm hoodie or light down jacket to wear after swimming. If you're worried about seasickness, it might be good to have some motion sickness medication as well.

The fantastical sight of the large mantas is still etched in my memory. My husband was also very surprised that something he had only dreamed of and thought could only be experienced through diving could be experienced while snorkeling! I’m really glad I participated in this tour on the Big Island.

巨大なマンタを本当に間近でみることができました！マンタは私のウエットスーツに触れそうなほどの距離で、何度かゆっくりと回転しました。マンタの大きく開いた口に吸い込まれるのではないかと思うほど大迫力でした。このツアーの他にイルカツアーにも参加しましたが、どちらも最高の体験でした！！

ツアーでは、日が沈む前に船でマンタのスポットに到着し、美しい夕陽もみることができました。日没後に海に入り、LEDライトがついたバーに掴まってマンタが来るのを待ちました。まず最初にたくさんのプランクトンが集まってきて、その後しばらくするとプランクトンを食べに大きなマンタが現れました。水族館とは違った迫力に感動しました！！このツアー中、Goproで撮影した動画（中盤にマンタが登場します。https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAtyJxeQiUw）を参考に載せておきます。

暗い海ですが、船長さんが常に船から見ていてくれますし、バーにつかまっているので、安心して楽しむことができました。

夜の海はウエットスーツを着ても冷えてくるので、泳いだ後に羽織れるよう暖かいパーカーかライトダウンなどを持っていくといいかもしれません。船酔いが心配な方は酔い止めもあるといいかと思います。

大きなマンタ達の幻想的な光景が今も目に焼き付いています。主人もこれまで夢にみていたこと、ダイビングでしかできないと思っていたことが、シュノーケルで体験できたことにとても驚いていました！ハワイ島でこのツアーに参加して本当によかったです。

We enjoyed the kayak and snorkel tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful, etc... The morning tour has an early start, but the bonus of the dolphins was well worth the effort.