All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

We participated as a couple on August 21, 2012. Our guide was Shigeru Yamamoto, who provided clear explanations with helpful examples. The highlight was undoubtedly the sunset at the summit, along with the constellation explanations and telescope viewing. Watching the refreshing sunset while wearing a down jacket to keep warm was a heartwarming experience. One should not speak of Mauna Kea without witnessing this. The stars spread across the sky were breathtaking. The precise stars and constellations pointed out with a laser pointer, along with the clear explanations, were fantastic. We also got to see Saturn's rings through the telescope that was set up. Shigeru Yamamoto took great group photos of all participants against the backdrop of the starry sky, as well as individual photos, which were later available for free download online, making for a wonderful keepsake. This is the most highly recommended tour.

2012.8.21に夫婦で参加しました。ガイドは山本茂さんで、丁寧で例えを用いたわかりやすい解説をしてくれました。何と言っても素晴らしいのが、？山頂でのサンセット、？星座解説＆天体望遠鏡でした。？寒さ防ぐダウンジャケットを着て見る清々しいサンセットは心洗う感動でした。？これを見ずしてマウナケアをかたるべし。満天に広がる星。レイザーポインターで示す的確な星や星座は、わかりやすい解説とともに最高でした。設置した天体望遠鏡で土星の輪っかも見せてもらいました。満天に広がる星々をバックにした参加者全員の集合写真と個々のまとまりの参加者写真を山本茂ガイドがいいデジカメで撮ってくれて、後にウェブ上から無料ダウンロードできたのも良い記念になりました。最もイチオシのツアーです。

The day I attended, the sunset was particularly beautiful, and everyone participating was taking commemorative photos with the sunset in the background. The luau show was a bit more compact than I had expected, but it was truly a wonderful show, showcasing the performers' dedication. The meal also featured plenty of traditional Hawaiian dishes, which I was very satisfied with.

参加した日は夕日が特に美しく、参加していた方々みなが夕日をバックに記念撮影をされていました。予想していたより少しコンパクトなルアウショーでしたが、さすが身体を張って働いているだけあって、すばらしいショーでした。
食事もハワイの伝統的なメニューがたっぷりと用意されており満足しました。

I participated last September.
The weather looked ominous around Saddle Road, and I was worried, but the sunset at the summit was truly beautiful. The sun sank into the sea of clouds in an instant, and I wished I could have watched it a little longer.
During the stargazing afterward, there was unexpected rain... Still, I was moved when I briefly saw the Milky Way and the stars. Unfortunately, the rain didn't stop, so the stargazing was disappointing.
I definitely want to go back to the Big Island to see the beautiful starry sky again.

昨年9月に参加しました。
サドルロードあたりから、雲行きがあやしくお天気が心配でしたが、山頂に着いてからのサンセットは本当にきれいでした。夕日が雲海に沈んでいくのはあっという間で、もう少し長く眺めていたかったです。
その後の星空観測のときには、まさかの雨・・・。それでも、一瞬天の川や星が見えた時には感動しました。でもなかなか雨はやまずに星空観測は残念でした。
もう一度、きれいな星空を見るために必ずハワイ島に行きたいです。

Our 2 teenagers loved it. The experience is so much fun! The staff was friendly and curtious. I would definitely recommend this activity.

I hoped to be a Japanese pilot, but I ended up participating in an English tour without any mention of that. The scenery was wonderful, and I was moved, but since I was seated next to the pilot (the computer assigns seats based on weight), I kept seeing the pilot yawn, which made me nervous. When I asked, "Are you sleepy?" he replied, "No!" so I took his word for it. The first hour was over Kilauea, and the second hour was over Waipi'o Valley. There was a stop at Hilo Airport for a break. Anyway, I'm glad we arrived safely.

日本語パイロットを希望したのですが、全くそれに触れられることもなく、英語のツアー参加になりました。
素晴らしい景色で、感動しましたが、パイロットの方の横の席になったせいで（体重でコンピューターが、席を決めます）、パイロットのあくびが何度も目に入り、緊張しました。
「Are you sleepy～」と聞いたら、「No!」と言われたので、それを信じて乗っていました。
前半１時間は、キラウエア、後半１時間は、ワイピオ渓谷です。途中、ヒロ空港に立ち寄り休憩があります。
とにかく、無事に着いてよかった。

All the guides are advanced Japanese speakers, so there's no need to worry at all if you can't speak any English. After a very clear explanation of how to kayak, paddle, and some precautions, we headed straight to the sea. It was incredibly refreshing.

Everyone else in my group felt a bit seasick, but as soon as we started snorkeling, it seemed to go away. The guide suggested that when you're not feeling well, it's better to get into the water, and once I did, I felt much better right away. I was amazed by the power of nature.

Moreover, guides Kevin and Noni were attentive to our condition and well-being, which made it easy to participate with peace of mind. I think even elderly people can manage this activity without any issues.

The pineapple we ate on the kayak was incredibly delicious. I thought I had never tasted such a delicious fruit before. They also prepared juice, tea, and muffins.

I thought it would be difficult to take photos on the water, but the guide took pictures for us and sent them to our PCs after we returned home, all for free. It was such a delightful service. I must say, the photos turned out great.

This tour is full of hospitality. I highly recommend participating!

ガイドさんは皆、上級の日本語話者なので、英語が全くしゃべれなくても、全く心配いりません。カヤックの乗り方、こぎ方、注意事項をとてもわかりやすい説明の後、早速海へ。
素晴らしく爽快な気分になれました。
私以外、一緒に行った人皆、少し船酔いぎみでしたが、シュノーケルを始めた途端、治ったようです。気分が優れないときは、海に入った方が良いとガイドさんに言われ、入ったら、すぐに良くなったみたいです。大自然の力ってすごいなと思いました。
それに、ガイドのケビンさんも、ノニさんも、こちらの体調や様子をよく見てくださっていて、安心して参加できました。
高齢者の方でも十分いけると思います。
カヤックの上で食べたパイナップルは、最高に美味しかったです。こんなに美味しい果物は食べたことないと思ったほどです。他にも、ジュースやお茶やマフィンなど用意してありました。
海の上ではなかなか写真を撮れないと思っていましたが、ガイドさんが、ちゃんと撮って帰国後、PCに送ってくださいます。もちろん、無料で。とってもうれしいサービスです。自分で言うのもなんですが、かっこよく撮れてました。
ホスピタリティー溢れるツアーです。ぜひ、参加してみてください。

You can purchase a DVD featuring the scenery from the helicopter you boarded, but the picture quality (color reproduction) was poor, and the recorded date was completely wrong, which was very frustrating. It's disappointing, especially since the actual scenery was beautiful.

搭乗したヘリコプターからの景色を写したＤＶＤを購入できるのですが、画質（発色）が悪く、記録年月日も全く違うという非常に困ったものでした。
実際の景色がきれいであっただけに残念です。

My granddaughter (14 yrs old) and I did this kayak snorkeling trip last month (July 27, 2012) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! We had never kayaked before but had snorkled quite a few times over on Oahu. Our group of 11 included both experienced and novice kayakers. The guides (especially Brent) were helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and especially patient with us newbies. Water visibility was fantastic. We saw an abundance of different fish when we stopped to snorkel and were lucky enough to have a pod of dolphins come within 15 feet of us. That alone made the experience memorable. Water bottles were provided on the kayaks and when we stopped we snacked on drinks, chips and fresh delicious pineapple. I would strongly recommend wearing water shoes/sandals in order to be able to easily climb up to the lava cliff to make the jump. Would I do this snorkeling trip again? In a heartbeat!!!

Since it was summer, we were picked up at the hotel at 3:30 PM. We visited about five hotels in total.

On the way up Mauna Kea, we took breaks and took photos on the volcanic plateau while being jostled in the car, arriving at the Onizuka Center in an hour and a half.

There, we enjoyed a Japanese bento box, and I was impressed that it came with miso soup.

After that, we put on warm clothes, hats, and made our way to the summit. At the top, we received detailed explanations at the observation deck, took sunset photos, and had various commemorative pictures taken with a sign at the summit of Mauna Kea.

Afterward, we did some stargazing in a spot with little wind. The explanations were easy to understand, and we were able to take photos, creating unforgettable memories. Thank you very much.

I think those who participated in the Masashi Nature School (where staff took photos that can be viewed later) were quite lucky. I highly recommend it. I would like to use this service again the next time I visit the Big Island.

夏ということもあり、15:30にホテルへピックアップ。全部で５つほどのホテルを回りました。
マウナケアに登っている途中も、途中休憩をとったりしながら火山台地で写真を撮りつつ車に揺られ、1時間半でオニヅカセンターへ。

そこで日本食のお弁当をいただきました。お味噌汁つきで感動しました。

その後、温かい服を上下、帽子と身に着け、頂上へ。
頂上では、展望台の詳しい説明とともに、サンセットの写真、そしてマウナケア山頂のテロップを持って、記念写真などいろいろ写真をとっていただけました。

その後、少し下った風があまりない場所での天体観測。
わかりやすい説明、そして写真を撮っていただけ、一生モノの思い出ができました。ありがとうございました。

マサシネイチャースクールに参加された方（スタッフが撮った写真があとで見れるなど）はかなりラッキーだと思います。おすすめです。また次回ハワイ島に来た際は利用したいです。

This was our fourth trip to Hawaii as a couple, and it was our first time on the Big Island. I was really looking forward to seeing an authentic outdoor luau show for the first time as well. Overall, it was excellent.

I had checked reviews beforehand about the need to "line up before entering the venue," so after checking into our hotel (it was the night of our arrival, and we were staying at the King Kamehameha), we took care of the process right away. They gave us a paper with the reception time, but even though we arrived about 30 minutes early, there was quite a line! Most of the audience were Westerners, with only about 20% being Japanese. Normally, it seems that Japanese guests are seated together, which allows for taking photos and chatting, but we were seated at a table with only Westerners, with no Japanese guests at all...

We were seated at one of the end seats in the front row facing the stage, which was very calming. We could see the ocean and the Ahuena Heiau in the background, and we had a great view of the dancers' entrance scenes, which made us very satisfied.

I wanted to experience the traditional imu ceremony at least once, and it was good, but after experiencing it once, I think I'm okay with it... (The smell was quite strong since they steam the pig at high temperatures.)

The food was traditional and served buffet-style, so we could enjoy a variety of dishes. The drinks were all-you-can-drink, which was nice, but since our table was at the front, it was quite a trek to get to the drink station.

They also showcased dances from neighboring islands, which was great. As a fellow hula dancer, I was able to observe from various angles, and it was a good learning experience.

Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily during the show, and it ended quite a bit earlier than scheduled, which was a bit disappointing.

Overall, I was a bit anxious about not having any Japanese guests around, but we still had a great time, so it was very good.

夫婦でのハワイ旅行は、4度目にして、初めてのハワイ島でした。
また、屋外での、本格的なルアウショーを観るのも初めてでしたので、とても楽しみにしていました。
結果としては、◎でした。

「会場に入るまで並ぶ」というのを事前にクチコミでチェックしていたので、ホテルチェックイン後（到着日の夜だったのと、ちょうど宿泊先がキングカメハメハだったので）すぐに、手続きをしました。
受付時間を書いた紙をその場でくれたのですが、それでも、少し早めの30分前位に会場へ行ったにも関わらず、結構並んでいました！！
観覧客はほとんどが欧米人で、日本人は2割位だったかと思います。
また、通常は、日本人は日本人同士でテーブルセッティングしてくださるみたいですが（写真を撮り合ったり、お話したりできるから）、私達夫婦は、日本人がひとりもいない、欧米人のみのテーブルへ通されました・・・

ステージ側の前の方の、一番端の席だったため、とても落ち着き、バックには海とアフエナヘイアウ、ダンサーたちの登場シーンもよく見ることができ、とても満足でした。

伝統的なイムセレモニーは、一度は経験したかったので、よかったですが、一度経験すれば、もういいかな。。。
（豚さんを高温で蒸し焼きするので、匂いがかなりきつかったのです）

お食事は伝統的なもので、ビュッフェ式でしたので、いろいろ楽しめました。
ドリンクも飲み放題で、こちらもよかったのですが、テーブルが前の方だったので、その分、ドリンクの所へたどり着くまでが、とても遠かったです。

ハワイだけでなく、近隣の島々の踊りも織り交ぜながら、披露してくださいます。
同じフラダンサーとしては、いろいろな角度から、観させていただき、よい勉強になりました。

途中で雨がたくさん降ってきてしまい、時間よりもかなり早く終わってしまい、それが少し残念でした。

全体的には、日本人が周りにいなくて不安はありましたが(^^ゞ
それでも楽しめたので、とてもよかったです。

It was more disappointing than I imagined.

想像してる以上に、残念でした

My first snorkeling experience in Hawaii was a bit disappointing because it was a little cold, but the hamburgers and other food were really delicious, and the ocean was beautiful.

ハワイでのはじめてのシュノーケリング　少し寒くて残念でしたが、ハンバーガー等すごくおいしく海もきれいでよかったです

The pilot was very knowledgeable of the area and specifics around the volcanic activities as of late. All 4 of us fully enjoyed the flight! We got some great close-ups of the volcano and the remnants of the village that once was there. We didn't see as many waterfalls as I thought we would but it didn't take away from the trip. I would recomend this to any friend or family member.

As rumored, the power of seeing a manta up close was incredible.

One thing to note is to not forget your motion sickness medication. You might get seasick.

One point of concern is that for the first 30 minutes or so, you cruise around the bay before starting to prepare to see the mantas. It's unclear whether you're waiting in line because of many competing companies or for some other reason, but cruising around the bay at sunset was not interesting at all...

噂どおり、間近で見るマンタの迫力は凄い迫力でした。

注意点としては、酔い止めを忘れない事。
多分船酔いします。

気になった点として、最初の30分ぐらいは湾内を船で周回（クルーズ？）してからマンタを見る準備をはじめます。
競合他社が多い為に順番待ちをしているのか、何なのか不明ですが、陽が沈んだ湾内をクルーズしても何も面白くありませんでした…。

I heard that you can swim with dolphins, but I was not expecting to be able to swim so close to them, which was truly moving.

I think the small number of participants is also an appeal of this tour. If you're lucky, you might even swim with manta rays. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any manta rays, but we were completely satisfied with just the dolphins.

For those meeting on-site, the meeting location is a bit hard to find, so it's important to confirm it.

イルカと泳げると聞いてましたが、こんなに近くで泳げると思ってませんでしたので感動しました。

参加人数が少ないのも、こちらのツアーの魅力だと思います。運が良ければマンタとも泳げるそうです。私達は残念ながらマンタに会えませんでしたが、イルカだけで大満足でした。

現地集合する方は、集合場所が少し分かりづらいので要確認です。

Starry Sky Observation Tour I Joined Despite Worrying About the Cold

The constellations were so visible that I felt as if I were in outer space, and I was filled with childlike excitement. Especially, the Milky Way, which is not so clearly visible in Japan, made me feel romantic as I thought about how the stars Hikoboshi and Orihime could cross over. The moon looked like a crayon that I could almost touch, and there were countless stars to count. Each constellation observation was enjoyable thanks to the staff's easy-to-understand explanations, which made me forget about the cold. Next time I go, I will visit to see the seasonal constellations that I missed this time. Thank you for the wonderful time!

寒さを心配して参加した星空観測ツアー

宇宙空間に自分が居るのかと錯覚するほど、星座が見えて
子供に戻った気分で、おおはしゃぎ。
特に、日本ではあれほどくっきりと見えない天の川
彦星織姫も渡って行けるわとロマンチック気分になりました。
今にも手で触れそうな月のクレパス
数え上げたらきりがないほどです。
一つ一つの星座観察をスタッフさんの解りやすい説明で
楽しく観察でき寒さも吹き飛んでしまいました。
次回行く時は、今回見えなかった季節の星座を見に行きます。
楽しい時間を有難う御座いました。

We've been to Hawaii several times, but this is the first time we canoe surfed. This was such a fun activity, and since we purchased it on sale, the value was great! The men who guided us were so nice! They were so friendly and knowledgeable. Not only was it fun, but extremely interesting. They told us a lot of history about outrigger canoeing. The tour was supposed to be a half an hour, but lasted about an hour. Just a heads up you will paddle so there is a bit of exercise (nothing outlandish). Also, if you get sea sick you may want to take Dramamine, since you have to wait for waves just floating there. I would love to do this again!!

We participated as a family of three. The meeting place was a bit difficult to find, and we got lost, but we were able to enjoy a leisurely and ample horseback riding experience. There were forests and rivers, and we had a great time participating.

家族3人で参加しました。
集合場所が少しわかりにくく迷いましたが、乗馬はのんびりたっぷり体験出来ました。
森あり川あり楽しく参加できました。

There were other dolphin tours available, but the limited number of participants was a deciding factor for me. The staff were very accommodating, which made me feel secure participating in the tour. There was one child who joined with their mother, and I appreciated how well the staff interacted with the child.

I was able to see many dolphins up close (the staff were shouting from the boat, directing us to look this way and that. It's surprising how you might miss them even when you're right next to them), and it was a very enjoyable tour. I will definitely participate again when I visit the Big Island.

The staff seemed to almost forget to collect the fees from the participants on the day, so that might be why there were no snacks provided. However, we did receive juice. Well, that's not something I was primarily expecting, so it wasn't a problem at all, but I wanted to mention it for future reference.

I had a great time. Thank you very much.

他にもイルカのツアーはありましたが、定員の数が少ないというのも決め手でした。スタッフのみなさんの対応も大変よくて安心してツアーに参加できました。ひとり、お子さんがお母さんと参加していましたが、そのお子さんに対するスタッフさんの対応も気持ちがよくて私は好きでした。

たくさんのイルカを間近でみることができ（スタッフさんも海の中、船の上からこっち、あっち~と叫んでくださいます。そばにいても意外と気づかなかったりするものなんですね）とても楽しいツアーでした。ハワイ島に行ったらまたぜひ参加します。

当日参加の方の代金の回収すら忘れちゃいそうになってるスタッフさんだったのでその延長かもしれませんが、スナックはありませんでしたね。ジュースはいただきましたけれど。まあ、そこはメインで期待している部分ではないので全然問題ないですが一応記載事項でしたので今後のためにも書いておきます。

楽しかったです。ありがとうございました。

We had a great time on the waterfall tour!! Chris G. was an amazing guide. The waterfalls were not as impressive as I imagined, just OK. The wealth of information that was shared by Chris was great! He knew about the culture and plants like he was born there! We had also learned that he was a guide on the Zipline we were going to do in a couple of days. We didn't have him as a guide on the zipline but we did get to see him again. We want to come back soon and go on the kyak ditch tour! Thanks Chris for a wonderfull day!!!
Ken and Terry

This was the highlight of my stay on the Big Island. The staff were professional and knowledgeable about the stars, and I learned a lot. We joined another similar tour along the way, and from what I saw, the lunch here seemed to have better contents. It was also great that they didn't use disposable containers, making it eco-friendly. The stargazing was done in a unique location just for this tour, and I was able to see Saturn's rings through the telescope. I was thrilled that the staff even took a photo of Saturn for us. The guide mentioned that this tour had the latest return time, and they really took their time with us, making it worth participating. I highly recommend it!

今回のハワイ島滞在で一番のハイライトでした。スタッフの方々がプロフェッショナルで星空のことをよくご存じで、沢山学ぶことができました。同じようなツアーと途中で一緒になりましたが、ちらっと見たところでは、お弁当はこちらのほうが中身がよかったように思います。使い捨て容器でないところもエコでよかったです。星空観測は、このツアーだけの場所でゆったりとすることができ、天体望遠鏡で土星の輪も見えました。スタッフの方が土星の写真も撮ってくださって感激です。帰る時間はこのツアーが一番遅いんだよとガイドさんがおっしゃってましたが、本当にじっくり時間をとってくださって、参加した甲斐がありました。お勧めです！

We had a wonderful guide/driver. She really gave us a lot of information on the way up and at the site. It was nice to not drive or worry about packing warm weather gear. Well worth the money. And the meal was very good and filling.

Was Awesome!

It was a lot of fun to enjoy multiple activities on one optional tour. We had plenty of time for banana boating, dolphin watching, exploring historical sites, and snorkeling among coral and many fish, which left us very satisfied. Although there were no whales in August, many dolphins came close to the boat, making it feel like we could touch them. There were quite a few baby dolphins as well. We were the only Japanese people there, but there was a staff member named GEN who understood a bit of Japanese, so explanations about the caves were fine. Before departure, they provided us with a Japanese guidebook at the office, which helped us understand even though we aren't very good at English. It was surprising that even those who couldn't swim were able to snorkel with the staff's guidance. On the way out, we relaxed in the back seats of the boat, but on the return trip, for some reason, we ended up in the very front, speeding over the waves, which caused a lot of jolting and a roller coaster-like up-and-down motion that was tough on the back. My arms were exhausted from gripping the rope tightly. Everyone was cheering and having a great time. I had muscle soreness for a couple of days, but I want to go again to see the beautiful sea.

一つのオプショナルツアーで複数のアクティビティを満喫できるとてもたのしいものでした。バナナボート的、イルカウォッチング、旧跡めぐり的、珊瑚や多くの魚がいる素潜りなどそれぞれがたっぷりと時間とってくれて大満足でした。8月で鯨はいませんでしたが触れそうな感じにボートにたくさんのイルカが寄ってきます。赤ん坊連れのイルカもかなりいました。日本人は私たち夫婦だけでしたが、日本語が少し分かるスタッフGENちゃんがいたので洞窟等の説明も大丈夫でした。出発前に日本語の解説書をオフィスでくれましたので英語の得意でない私たちでも理解できました。泳げない人でもスタッフの指導でシュノーケリングできるようになったのはびっくりでした。ボートも行きは後ろの席でのんびりと、帰りは何故か一番前になって波の上を高速で行くもんだからガンガンと衝撃がキツいのとジェットコースターみたいな大きな上下動で腰にきます。腕もロープを必死でにぎるのでヘロヘロになった。みんなで声を出して大はしゃぎでした。二・三日筋肉痛でしたがまた行きたい、綺麗な海を見に。

I experienced kayaking for the first time. At first, I was scared, but once I got the hang of it, it was really fun. I didn't realize how much arm strength it would require.

I was moved when I encountered dolphins along the way (twice!!). Since I had only seen them in aquariums, it was truly wonderful to see wild dolphins up close.

It was also my first time snorkeling, and I was amazed by the beauty of the ocean. I was thrilled to see beautiful fish up close.

Kevin and Noni were both very kind and gentle. They took a lot of photos for us since we didn't bring a camera, and they even shared the data with us. They were incredibly helpful until the very end. Thank you!

初めてカヤックを経験しました。最初は怖かったけど、できるようになったら楽しかったです。
腕の力があんなにいるとは思いませんでした。
途中でイルカに会えて感動しました（２回も！！）
水族館でしか見たことがなかったので、野生のイルカを傍で見れて本当に良かったです。

シュノーケリングも初めてで、海の綺麗さに驚きました。
綺麗な魚を近くに見ることができ、大興奮でした。

ケビンさん、ノニさんお二人共とても親切で優しくて、
カメラを持って行っていなかった私たちの為に写真をたくさん撮ってくれて、データまで頂き、最後までとても親切でした。
ありがとうございました。

My husband and I enjoyed our afternoon/evening learning all about Mauna Kea and the journey up the mountain. Our tour guide was wonderful and knowledgeable.

I really enjoyed our evening at the Island Breeze Luau. I learned a lot about the culture and the food was good.

We had a great time. We were not sure what to expect. The staff was very friendly and full of information. We were able to see Manta Rays and Giant Turtles and many fish. Would recommend for 1st timers to the island. For repeat visitors, a longer boat ride would be recommended as our 30 minutes went by very quickly.

I was able to see dolphins jumping nearby many times.
I also enjoyed snorkeling.
The guide knows some basic Japanese words, so there is no danger, but the announcements are in fluent English at a normal speed.

すぐ近くでジャンプするイルカに何度も会えました。
シュノーケルも楽しみました。
ガイドが日本語の単語は知っている（最低限）ので危険はありませんが、アナウンスは普通のスピードの流ちょうな英語です。

I don't think you can see so many stars anywhere else in Japan. It was really cold, but both the sunset and the starry sky were incredibly beautiful.

Since I'm not very knowledgeable about stars, I think I only understood about half of the explanations in English. I couldn't book a Japanese tour, so I went with this one, but I wish I had studied a bit before going.

日本であんなに星がいっぱいみれることはないと思います。
すごく寒かったけど、サンセットも星空もすごくきれいでした。

星に詳しくないのもあり、英語での説明は半分ぐらいしか理解できてないと思います。
日本語のツアーが取れなかったので、こちらにしたのですが、行く前に少しは勉強していけばよかったと思うぐらいです。