All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

I received a notification from Alan the day before that there were too few participants for the scheduled date, but I was able to change the date and participate successfully.

I joined the afternoon tour, but it was cloudy that day, and the snorkeling time at Kealakekua Bay, which I was looking forward to, felt a bit dark underwater. If you can wake up early, I think the morning tour would have better weather conditions. Although I stayed in Kona, it often became cloudy in the afternoon even if it was sunny in the morning.

I was the only Japanese person on the tour, but they provided a Japanese-language pamphlet during boarding, so I could grasp the general idea, and the captain was friendly and chatted with us, so there were no problems at all.

The rafting was a bit nerve-wracking at first as I felt like I might be thrown off, but once I got used to it, it was fine. We were shown lava caves and blowholes in a rubber boat. On the way back, we had a brief encounter with dolphins, which was enjoyable.

申し込んだ日時の参加者が少なく実施出来ないとの連絡が、Alan1より前日に宿泊ホテルにありましたが、日時の変更をして頂き無事参加しました。
午後のツアーに参加しましたが、当日は曇りで楽しみにしていたケアラケクア湾でのシュノーケルの時間は少し海中が暗い感じでした。早起きできれば、午前のツアーの方が天気の状況は良いと思います。コナに滞在しましたが、午前中は晴れていても午後曇ってくることが多かったです。
日本人は私一人でしたが、乗船時に日本語の解説パンフをくれるので大体の感じは掴めますし、船長も気さくにお話ししてくれますので、全く問題ありません。
ラフティングは出だしは振り落とされそうで緊張しましたが、慣れれば問題ありません。ゴムボートで溶岩の入り江の洞窟や潮吹き岩を見せてもらいました。
帰りに短い時間でしたがイルカとも遭遇し楽しめました。

This time, I participated in the Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing tour.

The staff provided excellent service, and it was a lot of fun, but the literal sunset and starry sky were absolutely the best...

Watching the sunset sink into the sea of clouds far below, with Haleakalā and other landmarks in the distance, was breathtaking. After that, seeing the Earth's shadow on the opposite side and the countless stars visible from about 3,500 meters made me wonder where they had been hiding all this time.

It truly made me feel like a part of this planet, and I would definitely love to participate in this tour again if I have the chance.

今回はマウナケアサンセット＆星空観測のツアーに参加しました。

スタッフの方もサービス満点で楽しかったのですがなんといっても文字通りのサンセット・星空が最高でした。。。

ハレアカラなどをはるか下に見て雲海の中に沈んでいくサンセットは圧巻でしたがその後逆側にできる地球の影、そして３５００Ｍくらいで見た満天の星空はいままではどこに隠れていたのかって言ううくらいの星達。

間違いなく自分たちは地球号の一員なんだなと感じさせられ、機会があればぜひまた参加してみたいツアーでした。

One notable aspect of Masashi's tour is the abundance of warm clothing options tailored for those who are sensitive to the cold. While other tours seemed to only provide knee-length jackets, this tour also offered overalls with insulated pants, allowing us to lie on the ground during stargazing after sunset. That said, women who are particularly sensitive to the cold might feel more comfortable bringing their own thicker hoodies or lightweight down jackets. I also brought leg warmers. However, the gloves I borrowed were quite thin, and I wished they were a bit warmer.

Additionally, there was a service offering warm tea during stargazing, which was truly thoughtful. The explanation of the constellations was clear, using a laser pointer, and it made me realize that we, as Japanese, can only see a small part of the constellations. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Southern Cross, which I thought could only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. The guide, Mr. Yama, who explained the constellations, was very entertaining, making it a tour filled with laughter.

マサシのツアーの特筆すべき点は、やっぱり日本人の寒がりに対応した防寒着の充実でしょう。他のツアーでは、膝丈の上着だけのようでしたが、当ツアーでは、オーバーオールタイプの綿入りズボンも用意されており、日が落ちてからの星空観測でも地面に寝転べるほどでした。とはいえ、寒がりの女性はご自分でも分厚めのパーカーや薄手のダウン等準備されたほうが安心です。私は加えてレッグウォーマーも持っていきました。ただ、お借りした手袋は結構薄めで、もう少しあったかいといいなーと思いました。
加えて、星空観測中に暖かいお茶のサービスがあり、本当に至れり尽くせりでした。
星座の説明は、レーザーポイントを使ってわかりやすく、私達日本人は星座のほんの一部分しか見えてないのだなあと実感しました。南半球でしか見えないと思っていた南十字星を見ることができたのもうれしい驚きでした。星座の説明をしてくれた山さん？というガイドさんの話はとっても楽しく、笑い声の絶えないツアーでした。

I was a bit anxious about the English tour since I hardly understand English, but the captain was kind, and I had a very enjoyable time. I couldn't understand more than 90% of what was being said, which was a bit lonely, but I participated knowing that would be the case, so it can't be helped. They provide a Japanese paper with the initial talking points, so it might be helpful to read it well at the beginning.

I got to see wild dolphins, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and see lava caves. All of my wishes were fulfilled. Therefore, I am very satisfied. Thank you for the wonderful time.

英語がほぼ分からないので、英語ツアーに少し
不安は感じていたけど、キャプテンも優しく
とても楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。
話してる内容は９０％以上わからなかったので
そこが寂しかったけど、わかっていて参加したから
しょうがないですね。
最初に話す内容などを日本語の紙で渡してくれるので
最初によく読んでおくと分かりやすいかもしれません。
野生のイルカを見ること。
透明度の高い海でシュノーケルをすること。
溶岩の洞窟を見ること。
全て叶えてもらいました。
だからとても満足です。
楽しい時間をありがとうございました。

This is a great activity except if you're prone to motion-sickness then it is not for you. Two hours was way too long for us. I was doing well in the first hour when we were shown the volcanoes and mountains but in the second hour I could not keep my eyes open due to my motion sickness. And that sucked because in the second hour is when he shows you the beautiful valleys and waterfalls! Thank God my husband was able to record it for me but it still wasn't the same. I would recommend a 45-minute-1 hour tour but not the 2 hour tour.

We participated as a family.
This was our first time going whale watching.
Since there were few Japanese passengers, there were no staff who spoke Japanese on board.
As a result, all the announcements and explanations were in English.
I couldn't understand the detailed explanations, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whale watching.
With fewer passengers, we were able to move around to various positions on the boat, making the watching environment the best.
I was particularly moved by the sight of the whales breaching.
I couldn't help but scream in excitement.
However, since we were expecting to see the breaching right in front of us, it was disappointing that the moment happened quite far away.
Lastly, perhaps due to the bad weather, the catamaran rocked quite a bit. Even though I took motion sickness medication, I still got seasick.

家族で参加しました。
>
> ホエールウオッチングは、今回が初めてです。
>
> 日本人の乗船が少なかったため、日本語を話せるスタッフは乗船しません でした。
>
> そのため、全て英語の案内及び解説でした。
>
> 詳しい解説等は、理解できませんが、十分ホエールウォッチングは満喫できました。
>
> 乗船人数が少ないので、船のいろいろなポジションに移動できたのでウォッチング環境はベストでした。
>
> 特に、クジラのブリーチングの姿は感動しました。
>
> 思わず、絶叫してしまいました。
>
> しかし、クジラのブリーチングの姿を私たちの目の前で見れるものと期待していた分、ブリーチングの瞬間は、かなり遠くでの観測だったので、残念でした。
>
> 最後に、天候が悪かったせいか双胴船でもかなり揺れました。乗り物に弱 い私は酔い止めの薬を飲んでいても、船酔いしました。

On April 2nd, I participated with my family of four. It was the perfect day for stargazing, being the third day after the full moon. The clear sky without any clouds added to the excitement when we got off the bus; it was an indescribable feeling.

As the stars seemed to be falling around us, we received thorough explanations. My son had just finished his junior high school entrance exams, so he had retained a lot of knowledge about astronomy, making it a wonderful experience to connect theoretical knowledge with reality. We even got a good look at the rarely visible Cancer constellation.

We confirmed Saturn through the telescope, but it appeared small; the one we saw at the planetarium in Tokyo was larger (perhaps due to the telescope's precision???).

The sunset at Mauna Kea before that was also stunning, with oranges reflected in the clouds and the indescribable colors of the sun's afterimage... everything was wonderful. Additionally, our guide, O, provided a wealth of knowledge backed by data, and his modest yet friendly demeanor made for a truly great tour.

With all these three elements combined, it became an unforgettable Mauna Kea tour for us.

One disappointing aspect was that we had to wait 20 minutes during the tour pickup. This was not the guide's fault, but rather due to some participants not keeping time. Since it was a group activity and we were participating online, unexpected delays can cause anxiety. I encourage those who will participate in the future to keep time so that everyone can enjoy the experience comfortably.

　4月2日に、家族4人で参加しました。
　満月から3日目に当たる日のため、星を見るには最高の日和でした。また、雲のない絶好の空も重なり、バスを降り立ったときの感動は言い表せないほどのものです。
　まるで星が降ってくるようななか、丁寧に解説をしていただきました。ちょうど息子が中学受験を終えたばかりでしたので、天体の知識はばっちり残っており、机上の理論と現実の目が重なり何よりの収穫だったと思います。
　あまり見えないかに座もしっかり確認。

望遠鏡では土星を確認しましたがちいさく、東京の科学館の星空観察会で見せてもらったものの方が大きかったです。（たぶん望遠鏡の精度が落ちる？？？）

　その前にあったマウナケアの夕日も雲に反射したオレンジや、太陽の残像のなんともいえない色・・・どれもすばらしい。
　また、ガイドのOさんの、データーに裏づけされた知識量と、控えめ且つほどよい親しみで本当によいツアーとなりました。

　以上3拍子そろい、私たちにとって忘れられないマウナケアツアーとなりました。
　
ひとつだけ残念なこと、ツアーのピックアップ時に20分待たされたことです。ガイドさんのせいではなく、参加者の中の時間を守らないということですが、団体行動であること、インターネットで参加をしているので、不測の事態には不安がつのるので、これから参加される方は、ぜひ時間を守ってみんなが気持ちよく過ごせるよう協力しましょう。

The staff was great and tour was better than expected. We saw lots of turtles.

On April 1st, we participated as a family of four in the morning.

The weather was great, and the waves were calm, making it perfect for snorkeling. Since we stayed at the Waikoloa Marriott, we arrived at the meeting point, the Honokohau Harbor, in about 20 minutes. The check-in location was easy to find, and the process was smooth with the presentation of our virtual tickets.

Once we boarded the boat, we quickly spotted dolphins; a large pod of wild dolphins surrounded our boat. We were the only Japanese people there, but the American children were friendly, which created a great atmosphere. Everyone was friendly, and we had a fun cruise. The captain resembled Mariah Carey, and the boat moved at an incredible speed. We spotted a whale along the way, and it was thrilling to see it up close. The crew kindly searched for dolphins and whales, so we were never bored.

While snorkeling in the clear water, we saw many colorful tropical fish. This was my first time experiencing such beautiful water and snorkeling spots. There was plenty of time, and I highly recommend it.

We booked online and handled the arrangements ourselves, and everything went smoothly. The staff was quick to respond, and we were satisfied.

As others have mentioned, everything was in English, which was a bit disappointing. I understood the necessary information, but I couldn't catch the explanations about the sightseeing points, which was a shame. It’s a great tour, and I hope they can offer a tour for Japanese speakers in the future.

P.S. My two children (middle schoolers) are still saying they want to go again. I hope everyone enjoys it too!

　現地4月1日に朝に、家族4人で参加しました。

　お天気もよく、波も穏やかで絶好のシュノーケリング日和でした。ホテルはワイコロア・マリオットでしたので、集合場所のホノコウア桟橋まで20分ほどで到着しました。
　チェックイン場所もよくわかり、バーチャル券の提示で手続きもスムースでした。
　船に乗り込み、すぐイルかを発見、本当にたくさんの野生のイルカの群れが船を取り囲んでくれました。日本人はうちだけでしたが、アメリカ人の子供が人なっつこく雰囲気はよくなりました。皆さんフレンドリーで楽しくクルーズできます。船長さんはマライヤキャリー似のエンジェル。すごいスピードで進んでいきます。途中鯨を発見。すぐ近くで見ることができ感激。親切にイルカやくじらを探しながら進むので退屈しません。
　シュノーケルは透明な水の中、色とりどりの熱帯魚がたくさんいます。こんなにきれいな水や、シュノーケルポイントは初めてです。時間も十分ありお勧めです。

　今回インターネットで申し込み、自分たちで手続きしましたがうまく行きました。スタッフの対応も迅速で満足です。

　みなさんが書いているとおり、すべて英語なのでその点だけ残念。必要なことは理解できましたが、観光ポイントの説明が聞き取れず惜しいです。たいへんよいツアーなので、ぜひ日本人向けのツアーができること希望します。

　追伸・子供2人（中学生）はもう一度行きたいと今も行ってます。皆さんも楽しんでください。

I saw many comments about how wonderful the starry sky is, so I decided to participate and see it for myself. It was even more amazing than I expected, and I was truly moved. Above me was a sky full of stars, the Milky Way, and shooting stars, and I was able to see Saturn and the Pleiades through a telescope, which was breathtaking. The sunset from the summit was also fantastic. The sunrise I saw on Maui was also moving, so next time I definitely want to see it from the summit of Mauna Kea.

星空が素晴らしいとの書き込みが多くあったので、是非見てみたいと思い参加しました。期待以上の素晴らしさで感動しました。頭上には満天の星・天の川・流れ星などまた望遠鏡で土星・スバルと見られ感動しました。山頂のサンセットも素晴らしいかった。マウイ島で見たサンライズも感動的だったので次回は是非マウナケア山頂で見てみたいと思いました。

I would not recommend this activity unless you've already done most everything else on this island. Everyone we talked to after getting back was dis-appointed. It sure isn't what I thought. First the transportation isn't very convenient. Getting to and from the pick up points should be improved. Next on the way up the mountain we stopped at a gift/visitor shop. Thats where we had a cardboard box dinner in the van. Someone else said bring a sandwich. I also recomend that. Going on up the hill. The observatories we only got to see from the outside, and was just told about them. We did watch a nice sunset at 13,780 feet of elevation. It was a nice view although I like the sunsets over the beach better. After the sun went down we left and went down to about 7000 feet elevation and they set up 11inch Celestron telescopes. Nice telescopes, i have a friend who has one. We saw several stars and clusters ect. Beautiful clear sky. Chitchen-Itza ruins in Mexico was just a clear a

To start off with when we were making reservations transportation aparently wasn't available. Don't let them tell you that. They have vans and make pick-ups from the hotel we stayed in. We took the big island spectacular 2 hour. It was nice. The volcano part wasn't what i thought. I expected to see flowing lava. All you see is the top crust of past lava flows. Even the volcano vent wasn't what I thought it would be. The VOG was so thick thast about all you could see. A little let down. Although the 2nd part was the tropical rain forest. We had a nice ride along the ocean front. Went up the valleys and saw more waterfalls than I could keep track of. Pilot even sighted some whales and circled for us. Wind turbulance in some of the valleys made me tighten my seat belt a bit. Later I learned the pilot is a retired coast guard pilot. Wish I knew that going in, I would have been a bit more relaxed.

This was my first relaxing trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, where I felt the power of nature and the universe throughout my body.

It was a lucky day with a crescent moon perfect for stargazing, and I was breathless at the changing reds of nature during the sunset, the sea of clouds, and the white rainbow... And then, as soon as I got off the bus, I was greeted by a sky full of stars... I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!!"

Thanks to my hat, gloves, and warm clothing, I was able to lie on the ground and was moved to spot shooting stars...

Adapting to the high altitude of 4,200 meters was no problem at all, thanks to Mr. Ochi's guidance...

The silhouette photo of my profile looks like it was taken 40 years ago (?), and it became a wonderful memento! Thank you very much.

今回はじめての　ハワイ島のんびり旅行で　自然と　宇宙のパワーと　癒しを体中で　感じる旅でした。

　星をみるのに具合のいい三日月というラッキーデーと　雲海　白虹　　夕日の刻々と変わる自然の赤の変化に息をのむほど・・そして…・バスを降りたとたんの満点の星　星　星・・・思わずわーー！！

帽子　手袋防寒具のおかげで地面に　寝ころんで　流れ星を　見つけられた感動・・・・

４２００Ｍという高地への　順応も　越智さんの御指導で　まったく問題なし・・・

横顔のシルエット写真・・４０年前のようで（？）すごくいい記念になりました！！
ありがとうございました。

I was overwhelmed by the great nature of the Big Island of Hawaii.

ハワイ島の大自然に圧倒されました。

I definitely think you should participate in the Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. This tour allows you to observe the stars from a higher location than the Onizuka Center, so you can enjoy it without being with other tour guests, and you can clearly see the Milky Way, which I highly recommend.

Since we stayed at a B&B, we were supposed to be picked up at a designated supermarket, and after the tour, we were supposed to be the first ones dropped off. However, the guide mistakenly went to the hotel first, which delayed our return home by 30 minutes. I believe the other participants who were dropped off after us were delayed by over an hour.

We had been sightseeing around the island with a rental car before the tour, so I regretted not speaking up earlier when I noticed something was off. The tour itself was enjoyable, so it's unfortunate. The bento box with Japanese food and miso soup was delightful. It was also helpful that they provided pants for warmth, as we were the only ones with them. I'm glad I participated since you can't go to Mauna Kea on your own.

マウナケアのサンセットと星空ツアーには絶対に参加すべきだと思います。
こちらのツアーはオニヅカセンターよりも高い場所で星空を観察するので他のツアー客と一緒にならずに、ゆったりとでき、天の川もハッキリと見れてオススメです。
私達はＢ＆Ｂ宿泊だったので指定されたスーパーでピックアップしてもらい、ツアー後は最初に送ってもらえるはずだったのですが、ガイドさんが間違って先にホテルに行っていまい帰宅時間が３０分も遅くなりました。
私達の後に送ってもらう他の参加者さんは１時間以上も遅くなったと思います。
ツアー参加までにレンタカーで島内観光していたので途中でおかしいと思っていたので早めにアピールすべきだったと後悔･･･ツアー自体は楽しかったので残念です。
お弁当は和食にお味噌汁が嬉しかったです。
防寒着もズボンがあるのはこちらだけだったので助かりました。
マウナケアには個人では行けないので参加して良かったです。

I can't say enough good about this Luau. The food was good, the show was great. It was just a wonderful time.

Ron

We participated with our elementary school child, making three of us.
Snorkeling in a beautiful cove.
The kids were thrilled to jump into the sea from a slide on the boat.
For lunch, they grilled hamburgers right there, and we got to make our own burgers.
Freshly grilled was definitely delicious.
Since we could only play for a little over two hours, I wish we could have stayed a bit longer.

小学生の子供を連れて3人で参加しました。
きれいな入り江でのシュノーケル。
船から滑り台で海に飛び込めたりするので、子供は大喜びでした。
ランチは、その場でハンバーグをジュ―ジュ―焼いて、ハンバーガーを作ってくれます。
焼きたてはやっぱり美味しかったです。
時間的に2時間ちょっとしか遊べないので、もう少し長く滞在出来たら良かったと思います。

Perhaps it was the season of March, but we encountered a pod of mother and baby whales. Two and a half hours passed in the blink of an eye.

３月という季節がよかったせいかクジラの親子の群れに遭遇。２時間半があっという間に過ぎました。

This was my first time participating and I went alone. Before going, I was a bit anxious about attending by myself, but the guide, Mr. Yamamoto, was very entertaining, and the tour was fantastic! On the day of the tour, the rainbow was stunning, and since the stargazing was conducted at a location conveniently close to the summit, there were no clouds obscuring the stars at all. Mr. Yamamoto's knowledge about Hawaii is incredible! (By the way, he mentioned that people observing at the Onitsuka Center that day couldn't see well due to the clouds.) The sunset at the summit was different from other tours, as they provided us with warm clothing, gloves, and knit hats, which made me very satisfied. Next time, I definitely want to join this tour with friends and family.

初参加で一人参加でした。
行く前は1人で参加する事に少々不安でしたが、ガイドをしていただいた山本さんがとても面白く、ツアーは最高でした！
当日は虹が最高に見え天体観測もこちらのツアーだけは頂上に程よく近い場所で行った為に、雲で星が隠れるような事は一切無かったです。
しかし山本さんのハワイに関する知識はすごい！！
（ちなみにこの日オニツカセンターで観測された人は雲で良く見えなかったとしきりにおっしゃっていました。）
頂上でのサンセットは、他のツアーと違い、上下の防寒具や手袋・ニット帽まで貸し出ししていただいたので、大変満足です。
今度は友達や家族と是非このツアーに参加したいです。

I was looking for a tour to go snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay. I decided to join this tour, which seemed more active and enjoyable, as it offered rafting on a rubber boat and a high chance of encountering whales and dolphins!

There was one other Japanese couple (four of us in total), along with about ten other people. Just a few minutes after getting on the boat, we encountered a whale, which was a surprise since I was just hoping to catch a glimpse! After that, we were able to see the magnificent whales multiple times. There was even a moment when a whale appeared right in front of us, almost colliding with the boat, but that close encounter left a lasting impression and became the highlight of my trip.

As for snorkeling, I felt there were fewer colorful fish than I had imagined, but I was still satisfied just enjoying the atmosphere! On our way back, we also got to see dolphins jumping. The boat had a great sense of speed, making it a truly enjoyable time for active travelers. I think knowing English would enhance the experience even more.

On the day of the tour, there were some reservation mix-ups that caused inconvenience, but the staff handled everything with great care, and I am truly grateful to them. It was an incredibly satisfying tour! I highly recommend it to anyone going to the Big Island, and I hope to participate again someday with my children.

For those bringing a camera, I think it's best to be cautious (you might get splashed). I decided against bringing my DSLR and opted for a compact camera instead. However, there were people taking photos with DSLRs as well.

ケアラケクア湾でのシュノーケリングをしたくてツアーを探していました。
ゴムボートでのラフティングを楽しめる！クジラやイルカとの遭遇率も高い！と言う事で、大きな船ではなく、アクティブに楽しめそうなこちらのツアーに参加。

日本人は私達と同じ新婚カップルが１組（計4人）。他には10名程の方が一緒でした。ボートに乗って数分で、少しでも見えたらいいなーと思っていたクジラと遭遇！本当にビックリ。その後、何度も迂回しすばらしいクジラの姿を見ることができました。ボートにぶつかりそうなほど、目の前にクジラが現れるというハプニングもありましたが、この間近で見たクジラが目に焼きついていて、旅行中の一番の思い出になっています。

シュノーケリングは、想像よりもカラフルな魚は少なかったような気がしますが、雰囲気を楽しむだけでも充分満足！帰り際には、イルカが飛び跳ねる姿も見ることができました。とにかくボートはかなりのスピード感がありました。アクティブ派にとっては本当に気持ちの良い時間だと思います。英語が出来ると、より楽しめると思います。

当日は予約の手違い等で、大変ご迷惑をかけてしまいました。全て丁寧に対応してくださって、スタッフの方々には本当に感謝しています。本当に大満足のツアーでした！！ハワイ島へ行く方には是非お勧めしたいツアーです。そして、いつか子供を連れて参加したいと思いました。

◎カメラを持っていかれる方は、やはり気をつけたほうがいいと思います。（しぶきがかかります）私は一眼レフは断念し、コンデジにしました。でも、一眼レフ持って撮影している方もいましたよ。

I finally went to the stargazing event I had wanted to attend for a long time. It was absolutely wonderful!! The night sky was cold, but it felt like I was watching a planetarium show. The stars in Hawaii are beautiful, but the view from the mountaintop is something else entirely. I'm really glad I participated.

前々から行きたかった星空観測へ行ってきました。もうとてもよかったです！！星空は寒かったけどプラネタリウムを見ているようでした。ハワイ島は星がきれいに見えるけど、山頂から見る星空は別物です。本当に参加してよかったです。

February is said to be the best season for whale watching, but on the day I boarded, I was only able to catch a glimpse of them from a distance a few times, which was a bit disappointing. The cruise itself had a sense of openness and a nice atmosphere. I was also relieved that I didn't experience any seasickness and was able to relax during the trip.

2月は鯨のベストシーズンとのことでしたが、乗船した日は数回、遠目でようやく確認する位でしか見れなかったのがちょっと残念でした。
クルーズ自体は開放感があり、雰囲気もよかったです。
心配していた船酔いもなく、くつろいだ時間をすごすことができました。

Even someone like me, who isn't very good at English conversation, was able to enjoy it fully. I recommend arriving a little early and lining up in front of the entrance, as you can get a good spot closer to the front. The food is also plentiful. Towards the end, the sea breeze can feel quite cold, so it's a good idea to bring a jacket. I think couples should not be shy and dance together. On the first night after arriving in Hawaii, you might feel sleepy at first, but your energy will quickly rise, so I recommend seeing it in the first half.

あまり英会話が出来ない私でも、充分楽しむことが出来ました。少し早めに行き、入口前で並ぶと、結構、前の方で見れるのでお薦めいたします。料理も充実しています。最後の方は、海風が冷たく感じてくるので、上着を持参するといいですよ。ぜひカップルの方は恥ずかしがらずに、一緒踊るといいと思いますよ。ハワイ島着いた初日の夜は眠いかと思いまずか、一気にテンション上がるから、前半に見る事をお薦め致します。

Shortly after setting sail,
"Wait? Were they already here?"
Right next to the boat, there were three dolphins and two whales.
There was no time to eat snacks.

I wonder if the whales in Hawaii are not very cautious?
They didn't seem to leave the side of the boat, and for a while, they were waving their fins,
as if they were waving at us...

During the two-hour cruise, we encountered whales quite frequently.
It's said that once they dive, they can hold their breath for about 20 minutes.
We spotted them spouting water and moved quickly towards them.
We kept approaching and stopping the engine repeatedly...
That day, perhaps because we encountered so many whales,
by the end, everyone seemed to be getting a bit bored.
Those who participated the day before said they only saw one whale from a distance.

The weather was nice that day, and I think we were lucky,
but I’m really glad I got to see so many whales on this boat.

Personally, I was out on the deck so much that I got sunburned,
and before I knew it, I had taken over 100 pictures with my digital camera.
Chasing after the whales was such a fun time!

The view of the Big Island from the sea was also wonderful.

出航してまもなく
「えっ？もういたの？」
船のすぐ側に、いるかが３頭。くじらが２頭。
スナックフードを食べている暇もありません。

ハワイの鯨は警戒心が無いのかな？
船の側を離れる様子も無く、しばらくムナビレを振ったりして
その様子は、まるで手を振ってくれているかのよう・・・

その後も、2時間のクルーズの間、かなりの確率で
鯨に遭遇。
一度、海に沈むと20分は息が続くと言われる鯨さん。
潮を吹いているのを見つけては、高速で移動。
近づいては、エンジンを止めての繰り返し・・・
この日は、あまりにも、鯨に遭遇したせいか
最後の方には、皆さん、飽きてきたかも。
前日に、参加した方々は1回だけ遠くに観たそうです。

この日は、お天気もよく、きっと運も良かったのだとは
思いますが、たくさんの鯨に出会えて
この船に乗ってよかったです。

個人的には、日焼けするくらい甲板に出ずっぱりで
デジカメ画像は、気が付いたら100枚を越えていました。
夢中で鯨を追いかけた時間、楽しかったです！

海から見る、ハワイ島の風景も素敵でした。

I couldn't forget the beauty of the stars I saw on Maui, so I participated in hopes of seeing them on the Big Island as well... However, while the weather was nice, it turns out that seeing a sky full of stars depends on more than just the weather. That was disappointing. The sunset was beautiful.

以前、マウイ島で見た星の美しさが忘れられずハワイ島でも、と期待して参加しました。。。が、天気は良かったけれど、満天の星が見られるのはお天気だけではないのですね。それが残念でした。
サンセットはキレイでした。

Great scenry, great staff, well matched horses. Well worth the cost for a great trail ride.

We moved to the designated harbor by rental car. The location was easy to find, so we didn't get lost.
At the reception, we received a Japanese guide, and by reading through it, we understood the overall outline of the tour.
After that, we departed from the harbor. That day, besides the two of us Japanese, there were four American family members and two German couples, making a total of eight people.
We did a brief self-introduction when boarding (of course in English). The captain and another staff member spoke only English, so we couldn't catch most of the guide during the trip, but it wasn't a problem for participating. However, it was true that understanding English would make it more enjoyable, as others mentioned.
The small rubber boat runs at an incredible speed, so it shakes a lot. If you dislike this or get seasick, it would defeat the purpose of joining this tour. On the other hand, for those who enjoy this, the tour would be fantastic. We were in the latter group, so we had a great time.
Along the way, we were able to see many whales and dolphins, and snorkeling allowed us to see beautiful fish (though it was a bit cold…).
Overall, it was a wonderful tour for us. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy activities like the ones mentioned above.
Lastly, you can't go to the restroom during the tour, which lasts just over four hours, so I was a bit troubled by that…

レンタカーで指定されたハーバーまで移動。場所はわかりやすく迷うことはありませんでした。
受付で日本語のガイドをもらい、一通り読むことで、ツアー全体像がわかります。
その後、ハーバーから出発。その日は我々日本人２名以外は、アメリカ人ファミリー（？）４名とドイツ人（？）夫婦２名の計８名。
乗船時に簡単な自己紹介（もちろん英語）をしました。船長ともう一人のスタッフは英語オンリーのため、途中のガイドはほとんど聞きとれませんでしたが、参加する上での問題はありませんでした。ただ、英語がわかるともっと楽しくなるという他の方のご意見はもっともでした。
小さなゴムボートは物凄いスピードで走りますので揺れも凄いです。これが嫌いだったり船酔いしてしまうとこのツアーに参加する意味がなくなります。逆にこれが好きな人にとってこのツアーは最高でしょう。我々は後者でしたのでとても楽しめました。
途中、多くの鯨やイルカも見ることができましたし、シュノーケリングは綺麗な魚たちを見ることもできました（ちょっと寒かったけど…）。
全体的に我々にとってはすばらしいツアーでした。上記のようなアクティビティーが好きな方にはぜひお勧めします。
最後に、４時間ちょっとのツアー中トイレに行けませんので、私はちょっと困りました…。

If you're going to the Big Island, I definitely recommend visiting Mauna Kea. While Kilauea and the lava are impressive, the experience of watching the sunset and stargazing from the summit of Mauna Kea is truly moving. Seeing the sunset sink into the sea of clouds gives you chills. You can even see the shadow of the Earth. During stargazing, you can see an incredible number of stars like never before. They explain about artificial satellites, shooting stars, and your own constellations. If possible, it's good to check the moon phase before you go. It seems that a full moon can reduce visibility. You can find out the moon phase here: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/qpon/b/java103.htm. The bento from Masashi Nature School is just as good as other companies' bento, and they even include miso soup. Also, they are the only ones that provide warm clothing all the way down to pants. Other people looked cold. I definitely want to participate again next time.

ハワイ島に行かれる方、必ずマウナケアまで行かれたほうがいいと思いますよ。キラウエアや溶岩もすごいですが、感動といったらマウナケア山頂 サンセット＆星空観測です。あの雲海に沈む夕日を見ると感動で震えが出てきます。地球の影も見えました。星空観測も今まで見たこともないような数の星を見ることができます。人工衛星や流れ星、自分の星座といろいろ説明してくれます。できれば月齢を調べていくといいですよ。満月だと半減するそうです。月齢は（半角で打ってください） http://www.ne.jp/asahi/qpon/b/java103.htm　でわかります。マサシネイチャースクールのお弁当はほかの会社のお弁当と比べてもみそ汁もありまけてません。また防寒着もズボンまであるのはここだけでした。ほかのところの人たちは寒そうでした。また、次回も参加したいと思います。

I flew from Honolulu to Hilo early for trip which was scheduled for 8:30 AM. We were delayed starting by about one hour for other guests who took a later flight. My main reason for this tour was to see the volcano. Because of air quality, the observation area was closed. Because of cloud cover, we could not see the top of the volcano. We were able to visit the National Park Visitors Center which was worthwhile.

The tour guide was just fair. We visited several commercial sites.
He tried to make up for the closing of the observation area by stopping at other volcanoes in the park & a lava tube.

I just returned from the Big Island of Hawaii.
This time of year coincides with the arrival of humpback whales, so whether you join other ocean tours or a circumnavigation of the island, you can see the whales jumping.

However, this cruise features the whales, allowing you to see them jumping up close and watch several of them playing!

I found myself so captivated by the whales that I could only take distant photos, but my friend who was with me captured some great videos!

Since everyone on the cruise shares the goal of seeing the whales, conversations flow freely regardless of nationality.

As with any tour, I always believe that not being afraid to make mistakes and approaching others with a smile is the key to enjoying your travels.

Water, juice, snacks, and fruit are complimentary. Cocktails and alcoholic drinks can be enjoyed at the onboard bar.

ハワイ島から帰国したばかりです。
この時期はザトウクジラが来る時期にちょうどあたっていた
ということで、他の海のツアーに参加しても
島一周に参加してもクジラのジャンプは観る事ができます。

でも、このクルーズはクジラにフィーチャーしていくので
間近でクジラのジャンプ、数頭が遊んでいるところを
みることができますよ！

私はついクジラに見とれていて、写真は遠くに
ちょっと写っているようなものしかとれませんでしたが
一緒にいた友人は、ムービーでしっかりとってました！

参加者の目的はクジラをみることで一緒なので
クルーズ中は国籍関係なく話が盛り上がります。

どんなツアーでもそうですが、間違える事をおそれないで
自分から話しかけたり、笑顔でいることが
旅行を楽しくする秘訣だといつも思います。

水とジュース、おつまみやフルーツはフリー。
カクテルやアルコールドリンクは船内のバーで
楽しむことができます。