All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

My husband and I recently went on a kayaking adventure and absolutely loved it!! The waters were sooo beautiful and the locations we visited were amazing! I even jumped off a 22ft cliff into the water!! The snorkeling was amazing and the two tour guides were simply wonderful - very experienced and helpful! This was really one of my favorite aspects of our trip.

I was extremely satisfied with this tour, which exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend participating in this tour when you visit the Big Island.

We departed from Honokohau Harbor on a 10-person rubber boat. The participants included four people from France, four from Canada, and two from Japan (us). I wasn't confident in my English, but everyone was considerate and spoke in easy-to-understand English, and they provided a printed guide in Japanese, so I was able to participate without feeling anxious.

The journey to Kealakekua Bay took about four and a half hours, during which we searched for whales and dolphins while moving along in the rubber boat. We were able to see both at quite close distances, and we also observed other marine creatures like flying fish and crabs.

Upon arriving at the bay, we went snorkeling. We snorkeled in the truly beautiful sea for about 40 minutes. The water was quite deep, but it was so clear that we could see the bottom, which was breathtaking.

I wasn't confident in my swimming skills, but they lent me a kickboard, so I was able to swim comfortably. On the way back, we saw lava caves and the town of Kailua.

Others who participated with us also said, "This is the best tour I've ever been on."

期待以上のツアーで大満足でした。
ハワイ島へ来た際には、ぜひこのツアーへの参加をお勧めします。
１０人乗りのゴムボートでホノコハウハーバーを出発。参加者はフランス４人、カナダ４人、私達（日本）２人でした。英語に自身がなかったのですが、皆さん気を遣ってくれて、分かりやすい英語で話してくれたり、日本語のガイドをプリントして渡してくれたので、気負いすることなく参加できました。
ケアラケクア湾を目指す４時間半の旅なのですが、行きはクジラやイルカを探しながらゴムボートで進みます。かなり至近距離で両方見れたし、他にもトビウオやカニなど海の生き物を観察しながら進みました。
湾に到着すると、シュノーケリングです。４０分程度本当に綺麗な海をシュノーケルしました。かなり深い海でしたが、底まで見えるくらい綺麗で、感動しました。
泳ぎに自身がなかったのですが、ビート板を貸してくれたので安心して泳げました。
帰りは溶岩の洞窟や、カイルアの街を見ながら戻ってきました。
一緒に参加した他の方も、「今まで参加した中で、ベストツアーだ」と言っていました。

The Body Glove boat is a very nice vessel, and I felt really excited the moment I saw it at the Kailua Pier. Once on board, we set off right away. The boat had a buffet with cupcakes, croissants, fruits, and soft drinks. The first floor had sofa seating, while the second floor was a deck, and we chose to sit on the first floor.

About five minutes after departure, the boat stopped. An announcement was made that we would be searching for whales. After about 20 minutes of anchoring, we spotted a whale spouting in the distance, and the boat hurried towards it. However, because the boat was large, we couldn't get too close, and by the time we arrived, the whale had already submerged.

It was a bit frustrating. Once a whale surfaces, it reportedly reappears after about 20 minutes, so we kept waiting, chasing, waiting again, and chasing again. While this might be good for families or beginners, we (in our 20s) found it to be a bit lacking in excitement.

ボディグローブ号はとても素敵な船で、カイルア桟橋で船を見た瞬間はとてもワクワクしました。
乗船すると、すぐに出発。船にはカップケーキやクロワッサン、フルーツやソフトドリンクなどがバイキング形式で置いてありました。１階はソファー席、２階はデッキになっており、私達は１階に座りました。
出発して５分ほどたつとすぐに船がストップ。ここで、鯨を探します。とのアナウンスが入りました。２０分ほど停泊すると遠くで鯨の潮吹きする姿を発見、急いでそちらへと船が進みます。
ですが、船が大きいため近くまでは寄れず、向かっている途中に鯨は潜ってしまい近づいた頃には見られませんでした。
少しもどかしい感じでした。鯨は１度海上に姿を現すと次は２０分後とのことで、２０分ほど待って、追いかける、また待って、追いかける。その繰り返しでした。
ファミリーや初心者の方には良いのかもしれませんが、私達（２０代）には物足りないと感じるアクティビティでした。

We participated as a family. The Body Glove boat was very clean, and the seats were spacious, which was great. We departed from Kailua Pier and after about 10 minutes, we stopped to look for whales. When we spotted a spout, we moved closer. This repeated for about two hours. It was nice to enjoy at a leisurely pace since we had children with us.

On the boat, there was an all-you-can-eat selection of pastries, cupcakes, and fruits, along with various drinks (soft drinks only). Alcoholic beverages started at $4. While searching for whales, we enjoyed eating and drinking on the sofa, and when a whale was spotted, there would be an announcement to go see it.

However, because the boat was large, even when we found a whale, we couldn't get too close, which was a bit disappointing. Along the way, we also encountered a pod of dolphins. The dolphins were friendly and came close, which was moving. I think it's a great experience for families with small children or older adults.

ファミリーで参加しました。
ボディグローブ号はとても綺麗で、座席もゆったりとしていて非常に良かったです。
カイルア桟橋を出発し、１０分くらいしたところで停泊し、クジラを探します。潮吹きしている場所を発見すると、そこへ移動。
２時間程度その繰り返しでした。子供がいたので、ゆったりと楽しめて良かったです。
船の中では、ペストリーやカップケーキ、フルーツが食べ放題で、飲み物も色々ありました。（ソフトドリンクのみ）アルコール類は＄４からでした。クジラを探している間は、ソファーでそれらを飲み食いして楽しみ、クジラが発見されたら館内放送が入るので、見に行く。といった感じです。
ただ、船が大きいためクジラを発見しても、あまり近くまでは寄れず、少し遠目で見る感じで残念でした。
途中イルカの群れにも会いました。イルカは人なつっこく、近くまで寄ってきてくれて、感動しました。
小さいお子さんのいるファミリーもしくは、年配の方には良いと思います。

Since we didn't have a rental car, we participated in this tour with transportation included. It took about 45 minutes to get from our hotel to the meeting point, and we were dropped off just before the port, so we needed to walk to the Body Glove boat. The crew was at the reception, and you can check in by saying your name. As mentioned in other posts, the crew does not understand Japanese at all. I also speak very little English, but they provide a Japanese sheet with important information and emergency signals, so it's okay if you don't understand the English explanations. Since I have poor eyesight, they lent me prescription snorkeling goggles. I didn't understand everything in English, but since I participated in January, it was whale watching season, not dolphin watching. It was a great deal because you could snorkel and see whales. Although the sea was calm, it was still open ocean, so those prone to seasickness should take precautions. They do provide emergency assistance, but I think you need to be capable of managing your own snorkeling. Regarding transportation, the pickup was over an hour after the cruise ended, so I think it's fine to explore the nearby shops. I believe this is an activity that offers a unique experience that can only be enjoyed on the Big Island.

当方レンタカーがなかった為送迎つきのこちらに参加いたしました。
滞在ホテルより集合場所までは４５分くらい、港の手前で下ろされるため、ボディーグローブ号まで歩いていく必要はあります。クルーが受付をしているので名前を言えばチェックインできます。投稿にあるとおりクルーに日本語はまったく通じません。当方も英語はほとんどしゃべれませんが、注意事項、危険時の合図などは日本語のシートを出してくれるので英語の説明がわからなくても大丈夫です。目が悪いのでめがねをかけていたら度つきの水中グラスも貸してくれました。また英語のためわからなかったのですが当方の参加した一月は鯨が来るシーズンのためイルカではなくホエールウオッチングでした。シュノーケリングもでき鯨も見れることでお得ではありました。穏やかとはいえ外洋なので波はあるので船酔いするかたは対策が必要です。また緊急時の対応はしてくれますが自己管理でシュノーケリングできる能力は必要とみます。送迎のほうですが迎えはクルージング終了後一時間以上もあったので周辺のお店を散策してもいいと思います。ビッグアイランドでしか味わえない体験ができるアクテビティだと思います。

On the Body Glove, for a while after departure, we watched people having breakfast with soft drinks and light snacks while we were already full and just had some water... When the engine stopped, we focused our eyes and there they were! We were able to see spouts and breaching clearly. We moved several times and were able to see them one after another; it really felt like there were so many whales coming to Hawaii. We had a wonderful half-day.

ボディーグローブ号、出港からしばらくはソフトドリンクと軽食で朝食をとる人たちを横目に満腹の我々はお水をいたただいてしばし・・・。エンジンがとまったので目をこらしていると、出てきました！潮吹き、ブリーチング、しっかり見ることが出来ました。何度も移動しながら次々と見られ、本当にたくさんの鯨がハワイにきているのが実感出来ました。
楽しい半日を過ごしました。

I walked excitedly to the Kailua Pier. I was really worried about whether we would see whales after boarding, but they appeared one after another, and I was thrilled. I was also able to see a mother and baby whale, and it was especially cute when the baby whale flicked its tail a couple of times while diving. It was a great experience. Thank you very much.

カイルア桟橋までわくわく歩きました。
乗船してからも本当に鯨が見えるのか心配でしたが、次々に現れ感激しました。
親子鯨も見ることが出来、特に赤ちゃん鯨が潜るときに尾を２，３回振るところがかわいかったです。
良い体験ができました。有り難うございました。

We participated as a family of four. I was shown a file with Japanese explanation materials for circulation, but it was quickly taken back for "safety reasons," so I could hardly read it. The entire explanation was in English and delivered very quickly, so I couldn't understand anything and just clung to the boat.

It was exciting when the dolphins came close or when we approached the lava cliffs, but other than that, it was boring. I found myself battling sleepiness while clinging to the boat.

For beginners, snorkeling might be fun. I had high expectations because there were many good reviews, but is this really worth the price? The cost performance leaves much to be desired.

家族4人で参加しました。
回覧用の日本語説明資料のファイルを見せてもらいましたが、「安全のため」と、
すぐに回収され、ほとんど読めず。全て英語の説明で、しかも早口なので、
全く理解できず、ただボートにしがみついていました。
イルカが寄って来た時や、溶岩の岸壁に近づいた時は盛り上がりますが、それ以外は退屈です。
ボートにしがみつきながら、睡魔と闘います。
シュノーケリングは、初心者の方は楽しいかも。
体験談によい情報ばかり載っていたので、期待していたのですが、これでこの金額？
コストパフォーマンスは、イマイチ感が拭えません。

The trip was just amazing! Our guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. Would go back and do this again! Can't believe the view! This is one of the few trips we will never forget!

We participated as a family this time. It was fun to feel like we were at an outdoor party. The show started with a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, and then the performance began on stage. Although we didn't have the best seats because a special group was celebrating a birthday, it was really nice to watch a traditional show in a tropical party atmosphere. Unfortunately, we had to wait in line to get drinks, which took some time, and the buffet-style meal had a set order for each table, making it difficult to eat, and there were few options, which was a bit disappointing for dinner. Next to us was a foreign family, but it seemed like they were seating Japanese guests close together. I think this dinner show is recommended for friends and families to enjoy the atmosphere and traditional performance while having fun together.

今回家族で参加しました。
野外パーティーに参加している雰囲気で楽しかったです。
ショーはハワイの伝統的な儀式から始まり、ステージでショーが始まりました。
誕生日を祝う特別なグループが参加していたため、ベストの席ではなかったけれど、
南国のパーティー気分の中で伝統的なショーを見るのはとてもよかったです。
残念ながら、飲み物をもらうのに並ばなくてはいけなくて、時間がかかったり、
ビュッフェスタイルの食事も、テーブルごとに順番があってなかなか食べられず、種類も少なく
ディナーとしては少々期待ハズレでした。
私たちの隣は、外国人ファミリーでしたが、日本人同士を近い席にしてくれている様子でした。
このディナーショーは友人同士や家族でワイワイ楽しみながら雰囲気と伝統的なショーを楽しむのがお勧めだと思います。

The whale watching season has just begun, and I was worried about whether I would be able to see any whales, but I was able to see about three spouting and their tails perfectly.

Along the way, a pod of dolphins passed by, and dolphins welcomed us at the port, which was also adorable.

The captain and the staff provided a lot of explanations, but since my English skills are lacking, I couldn't catch everything. If there are more people, it seems that a Japanese guide will accompany us, but with fewer people, we can freely use the deck of the boat, which is also appealing.

The view of the town of Kona, the airport, and the mountains from the sea was beautiful. If it's high season, I wonder if I could see more whales up close. Next time, I want to improve my English skills and participate again.

　ホエールウォッチングシーズンが始まったばかりで鯨を見ることが出来るか不安でしたが、ばっちり三頭ほど潮吹きや尻尾を見ることが出来ました。
　途中、イルカの群れが近くを通過、港でもイルカがお出迎え、これも可愛かったです。

　船長以下、スタッフの方がたくさん解説してくれていたのですが、英語力の無い私では全部は聞き取れませんでした。人数が多ければ日本語ガイドの方が付いてくれるようですが、少なければ少ないなりに船のデッキを自由に使えるので、これも捨てがたい。

　海から見えるコナの町、空港、山もきれいでした。
　ハイシーズンならもっとたくさん、そして近くで鯨を見ることが出来るかな。次回は英語力を高めてまた参加してみたいです。

I’m not very good at English, but that didn’t matter, I had a great time. There were 16 participants, and we were the only Japanese.

The guide explained things in simple English and gestures.

For lunch, we had very cold and delicious sandwiches on the boat.

We were able to see both dolphins and whales on the way. The dolphins came very close to the boat, and the whale splashed the water with its fin several times.

It was a lot of fun to see them circling around us. It’s great for little kids too~~ At the end, they let us drive the boat a little. Wiki wiki~~

Next time I go to the Big Island, I definitely want to join again.

英語が、ほとんど駄目な俺ですが、そんなことは関係なく楽しめました。参加者は１６人で、日本人は、自分達だけでした。
ガイドが、簡単な英語とジェスチャーで説明してくれます。

昼飯では、非常に冷えておいしいサンドイッチをボートの上で食べます。

イルカ、鯨、両方とも行きのボートで見れました。イルカは、ボートのすぐ近くまで来て、鯨は鰭で海を何度もたたいてくれました。

何度も、旋回してくれるのは非常に楽しめます。小さいお子さんもいいですよ~~最後のほうで、少しボートを運転させてくれます。ウィキウィキ~~

次回、ハワイ島に行ったらぜひまた参加したいです。

The staff provided a detailed explanation of the history of Hawaii Island in English, which was a great opportunity for my wife, who is currently learning English, to hear native speech. However, I was disappointed that I could hardly understand it. The Hawaiian cocktail "Mai Tai" served on board was fruity and had a pleasant taste.

I was very satisfied to be able to listen to live performances by musicians after purchasing a ukulele, as I had become fascinated with it. The pleasant breeze matched perfectly with the Hawaiian atmosphere.

The dinner included many local Hawaiian dishes and was delicious, but I felt that the variety was limited for the price. As the sun sets, the temperature drops significantly, so I recommend bringing a long-sleeved shirt.

　スタッフが英語でハワイ島の歴史を詳しく説明してくれ、英語学習中の家内にとっては、ネイティブの英語を聞く良い機会でした。しかし、私はほとんど聞き取れず残念でした。船内で振る舞われるハワイアンカクテル「マイタイ」は、フルーティで口当たりが良かったです。　
　私は、ウクレレに夢中でハワイのウクレレを購入してからツアーに参加しましたが、ミュージシャンの生の演奏を聴くことができて、とても満足でした。心地よい風にハワイアンがぴったりあっていました。
　ディナーの料理はハワイの郷土料理なども多くておいしかったのですが、値段の割には品数が少なかったと感じました。
　日が沈む頃になると随分気温が下がります。長袖を持って行かれることをお勧めします。

As soon as we boarded the boat, we were able to encounter a pod of dolphins! After that, we saw many more dolphins! There were dolphins surfing on the waves created by the boat, and we were thrilled to see their adorable appearances. The sea was incredibly beautiful, and the snorkeling spot was fantastic! We enjoyed ourselves without getting bored until the very end. This is a tour I would love to join again.

ボートに乗り込んですぐ、イルカの群れに会うことができました！その後もたくさんのイルカに！ボートが作る波でサーフィンをするイルカがいたり、とてもかわいらしい姿を見ることができ、感激でした。海がとてもきれいで、スノーケリングの場所もサイコウ！飽きることなく、最後まで楽しめました。また参加したいツアーです。

This time, I participated with my daughter. My wife passed this time because she gets seasick. We were handed a video camera and set sail.

As soon as we left the dock, we were welcomed by dolphins. My daughter was completely captivated. I felt the pressure to capture the moment on video, and I struggled greatly.

After a while, there was an announcement in English about spotting a spout (probably). No matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see it. My daughter seemed to find it and was overjoyed. Finally, I spotted it too, but as for the video and camera...

After that, we were able to see several spouts and even some jumps.

Upon returning to the port, I reported to my wife that we saw whales. As for the quality of the video and camera...

今回娘と二人で参加。
妻は、船酔いがするので今回はパス。
ビデオとカメラを渡され出港。

桟橋を外れすぐにいるかのお出迎え。
娘は、首ったけ。
ビデオをとらなくては、プレッシャーに弱いＰＡＰＡ大苦戦。

しばらくして潮吹を発見したとの英語のアナウンス（多分）。
目を皿にしても見えない。
娘は見つけたようで大喜び。
ようやくＰＡＰＡも発見するもビデオ・カメラは、、、。

その後数回にわたり潮吹きそしてジャンプも見られました。

帰港して妻に鯨見れたとの報告。
ビデオ・カメラの出来は、、、。

I boarded the ship on the morning of New Year's Day in 2010. I tried not to get my hopes up too much, knowing that it wasn't guaranteed to see them, so I was really happy when I did. We moved the ship to several spots, turned off the engine, and waited for the whales to appear, and I was able to see them multiple times. The tense, expectant atmosphere while waiting for the whales, the surprise and excitement when they finally appeared—it was thrilling. It seems that this year, the whales showed up earlier than usual, so I was very lucky.

2010年の元日の午前中に乗船しました。必ず見ることができるわけではない、と期待しすぎないようにしていたので、見ることができてすごくうれしかったです。何箇所か船を移動してはエンジンを切ってクジラが現れるのを待ち、何度も見ることができました。クジラを待つ間のしんとした期待のこもった空気、現れたときの驚き、感激。興奮しますよ。今年はクジラが現れのが早かったらしく、とてもラッキーだったそうです。

This was the only optional tour I booked during my first trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. Our guide, Shinya, really energized everyone on the bus, making it enjoyable and keeping us engaged. I was a bit worried about altitude sickness, but I managed to get through it without feeling too unwell.

The weather was surprisingly good for this time of year, and the temperature wasn't too low, allowing for great observations.

Recommendations:
- Dress warmly. They do provide outerwear, but it can still get cold after a long time, so it's best to go fully prepared, including a hat.
- Don't forget to bring water and some sweet snacks like chocolate. While water is provided, I think it's a good idea to bring your own as well.

I would love to participate again if I have the chance.

初めてのハワイ島旅行で、唯一申し込んだオプショナルツアーでした。
ガイドの「しんやさん」が、バスの中の皆を盛り上げてくれて、飽きずに楽しむことができました。高山病の配慮もしてくれて、ちょっと心配していたのですがそれ程不調にならずに過ごせました。
この時期にしては！？天気も良くて気温もそれ程低くなくいい状態での観測ができました。

おススメ
？暖かい格好をしていく事
　※上下防寒具は貸していただけますが、やっぱり長時間は寒いですので帽子も含めて完全防備で行ったほうがいいです。
？水分とチョコレートなどの甘いものの持参を忘れずに。
　※水はついていますが、持参していくといいと思います。

また機会があったら参加したいです。

This was my first visit to the Big Island for our honeymoon. My husband, who usually doesn't have many requests for trips, had one wish: he wanted to visit the mountain with the observatory if we were going to Hawaii! To fulfill that wish, I booked the Mauna Kea summit tour with Masashi.

As a result, my husband was extremely satisfied! Although he usually doesn't talk much, on the way back, he was sitting next to the guide and chatting away, which made me happy to see how much he enjoyed it. I believe this was all thanks to the guide, who took great care of the participants' health and provided warm clothing. Thank you very much!!!

The sunset at the summit and the stargazing a little further down were perfect for honeymooners, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

I had done my homework by reading experience reports (I wore Heattech and brought a fleece and scarf), so we were able to fully enjoy both activities. If you want to make the most of this tour, it's best to dress appropriately.

Dinner was around 4:30 PM, and we returned to the hotel around 9:30 to 10 PM, so I recommend preparing a light snack the day before.

Stargazing can vary depending on the season, time, and moon phase, so this is a tour I would love to visit again multiple times. Thank you!

ハネムーンで初めてのハワイ島訪問でした。
旅行に関してあまりリクエストのない夫でしたが、ハワイ島に行くなら天文台のある山に行きたい！という唯一の願いを叶えるため、マサシのマウナケア山頂ツアーに申し込みました。
結果、夫は大満足！
普段口数は少ないのに、帰りのバスではガイドさんの隣席でいろいろ話を聞いたりして、よっぽど楽しかったんだとこちらまで嬉しくなりました。
それも全て、参加者へのきっちりした体調管理や温かい防寒着を貸してくださったガイドさんのおかげだと思います。
ありがとうございました！！！
山頂での夕日、そして少し下へ降りての星空観測はムード満点でハネムーナーにもぴったりでした♪

体験談を読んだりして事前準備（ヒートテックを着込み、フリースとマフラーを持って行きました）をしっかりしていたので、どちらもたっぷり時間をかけて楽しめました。このツアーを堪能したい方は、万全の恰好で行ったほうがいいですよ。

晩ご飯のお弁当が４時半ごろ、ホテルに帰るのが９時半から１０時ごろとなるので、ちょっとした夜食を前日に用意しておくこともお勧めします。

星空観測は季節や時間、月齢などで見え方が変わるので、また何度も訪れたいと思うツアーでした。
ありがとうございました。

My first experience in the night sea was, as everyone has mentioned, mainly concerned with the cold. I prepared a rash guard and entered the water. At first, I only saw manta rays passing by two or three times, but in the end, a manta ray flipped in front of me multiple times, which was very satisfying. However, the cold can be quite challenging, so be prepared!

夜の海は初体験で、皆さんが書き込んでいる通り寒さだけが気がかりでした。ラッシュガードを用意して海に入りました。最初は２~３回マンタが通り過ぎるだけでしたが、最後には目の前をマンタが何回も宙返りをしてとても満足です。ただ、寒さは結構応えますので覚悟の上で！

The boat was going at an incredible speed, and I was desperately hanging on! As expected, I had muscle soreness the next day (laughs). But it was really fun!

I got to see the lava cliffs up close, and the impact was overwhelming! I don't think we could have gotten that close with a larger boat.

The diving spot had calm waves, and I was able to enjoy the corals and cute tropical fish. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I could dive deeper. However, they gave us plenty of time, and I was able to enjoy it to the fullest.

The fruit on the way back was delicious! I was also thrilled to encounter pods of dolphins and whales both going and coming back! It was my first experience seeing the shadow of a dolphin passing under the boat. I had heard about it, but wild dolphins are really friendly. It's an emotion you can't experience with regular sightseeing.

I couldn't understand most of the explanations since I don't speak English, but even with that, it was still fun.

ボートはすごいスピードで、しがみつくのに必死！
案の定、翌日は筋肉痛になってました（笑）
でも本当におもしろかった！

溶岩の断崖絶壁をすぐ近くで見られたので、迫力が半端ない！
大きな船だったら、あんな近くまで行けなかったと思います。

ダイビングスポットは波が静かで、サンゴやかわいい熱帯魚？を楽しむことができました。
深く潜れたらもっと楽しめただろうな、と思います。
でも、時間もたっぷりとってくれて、思う存分楽しめました。

帰りのフルーツもおいしかったー♪
行きも帰りも、イルカやクジラの群れに出会えたのも感激！
ボートの下をイルカの影が通って行くのは初めての経験でした。
話には聞いていましたが、野生のイルカでも本当にひとなつっこいんですね。
普通の観光では味わえない感動です。

英語がわからないので、せっかくの説明がほとんど理解できませんでしたが、それを差し引いてもおもしろかったです。

Around 7 AM, I left the Hilton Waikoloa Village and followed the map, arriving almost on time without getting lost.

I was a bit anxious since the instructions were only in English, but I was relieved to receive a Japanese instruction manual as well. Shortly after leaving the harbor, we encountered a pod of dolphins. I was thrilled as it was my first time seeing them. Later, we also encountered a pod of whales, and the sight of a whale spouting water is so vivid in my memory that it remains etched in my mind even after returning home.

While heading to the diving spot, we encountered pods multiple times while viewing the lava cliffs. There were few opportunities for photos, but I managed to capture some great shots of the whales and dolphins. The timing for diving was appropriate. The fish weren't as colorful as I expected, but I enjoyed it enough. The boat ride was thrilling; it was tiring for someone in their 60s like me, but it was fun. Additionally, the lava cliffs that can't be seen from land were impressive.

When boarding the boat, I didn't wear a life jacket, so I think it's safer to always wear one while on board.

朝７時ごろ、ワイコロアのヒルトン・キングスランドを出て、案内図通りに向かうとほぼ迷わずに時間通り到着した。

英語のみの説明だったので若干不安だったが、日本語の説明書もいただいたのでよかった。
港を出て間もなくイルカの群れに遭遇した。
初めて見たので感激した。
その後クジラの群れにも遭遇し、クジラが潮を吹くさまが帰国後の脳裏に焼き付いているくらい印象的だった。

溶岩の岸壁を見ながらダイビングスポットまで進む途中、何度も群れに遭遇。
シャッターチャンスは少なかったが、いいクジラやイルカの写真が撮れた。
ダイビングの時間の取り方も適切であった。
魚は思ったほどカラフルではなかったが、十分楽しめた。
ボートはスリル満点で、６０代の自分にとっては疲れたが楽しかった。
また、陸からは見られない溶岩の絶壁は迫力があった。

ボートに乗るときは救命道具をつけなかったので、救命道具は乗船中は常に身に着けていたほうが安心だと思う。

I participated in the tour on December 20th. That morning, an incredible thunderstorm suddenly appeared on the Big Island, bringing hail and knocking down trees, making it a very rare weather day.

Unfortunately, due to the storm, we experienced a phenomenon where 30 cm of snow fell in just 30 minutes, which led to road closures, preventing us from reaching the summit. However, thanks to our guide Shinya's entertaining Yoshimoto-style talk, we were able to enjoy the tour in the vehicle without a moment of silence and had a great time!

Of course, we also made sure to observe the starry sky from a high point on the mountain, where Shinya provided fascinating explanations of the countless stars.

Since we couldn't see a moonbow this time, I hope to challenge myself to spot one during my next visit to the Big Island, aiming for a full moon.

Shinya, please continue to provide fun tours with your Yoshimoto-style talks. I look forward to seeing beautiful photos as well!

12月20日のツアーに参加させていただきました。当日午前中は凄まじいサンダーストームが突如ハワイ島に出現し、ヒョウが降ったり、木がなぎ倒されたりで、大変珍しい気象の日でありました。

残念ながらそのストームにより30分で30cmもの雪が降る、という現象が発生し、ロードクローズとなってしまったため山頂まで行くことはできませんでしたが、ガイドのしんやさんの吉本トークでツアー車中に笑いが途切れることはなく大変楽しく過ごさせていただくことができました！
もちろん、目的の星空観測もできるだけ山の高い位置で、としっかり配慮していただいて満天の星を面白く解説していただけました。

今回はムーンボーは見ることができませんでしたから、次回ハワイ島を訪れる機会があったら満月の狙ってムーンボー確認に挑戦したいと思っています。

しんやさん、これからも吉本トークで楽しいツアーを続けてください。きれいな写真にも期待しています。

The guide and the boat driver were both native speakers and could not speak any Japanese. There were no Japanese participants, but if you have a basic level of English for simple everyday conversations, you can enjoy the experience without any issues.

However, I feel a bit disappointed that if the guide could speak a little more Japanese, we could have enjoyed it even more.

ガイドもボートのドライバもネイティブの方で日本語は全くできません。参加者にも日本人はいませんでしたが、簡単な日常会話が可能な程度の英語レベルであれば無理なく楽しめます。

ただ、ガイドさんがもう少し日本語が出来れば、私たちももう少し楽しめたかな、と残念に思います。

I was honestly worried about whether I would be able to see them in the wild, but I was able to see them up close, even more than I imagined, and it was incredibly moving.

I don't think I could ever see wild whales that close in my everyday life.

It was a very precious experience.

Although we were supposed to see whales, I was lucky to also spot dolphins.

The food on the boat was only mentioned as snacks and drinks in advance, but there were quite stylish light meals and drinks, and I was satisfied with the service.

It might be a good idea to check the meeting point and hotel location in advance. Depending on the situation, a shuttle service might be cheaper. We were far from the hotel and took a taxi, which ended up costing quite a bit...

That's the only regret I have.

However, I think the experience was so amazing that it overshadowed that, so I have no regrets.

I would definitely like to participate again when I go to Hawaii.

野生なので見れるかどうか、正直不安でしたが、想像以上に間近で見ることが出来て、凄く感動しました。

普段、見ることは全くない、野生のクジラをあんな間近で
見ることは出来ないと思います。

非常に貴重な体験でした。

クジラと言いつつ、ちゃっかり、イルカも見れてラッキーでした。

船内の食事も、スナックとドリンクとしか事前に書いて無かったのですが、結構お洒落な感じの軽食とドリンクがあって
サービス面でも満足しました。

集合場所とホテルの場所は事前にチェックしておいた方が良いかもです。場合によっては、送迎ありのほうが安くなる場合もあります。
自分らは、ホテルから遠く、タクシーで行ったのですが、相当な料金が掛かってしまいました。。。

それだけが悔やまれます。

が、そんな事も吹き飛ぶくらいの体験が出来たと思いますので後悔はないです。

また、ハワイに行った時には、ぜひ参加したいですね。

Had such a great time seeing lots of whales and learning lots about them too. Great crew, super friendly and very knowledgeable.

...about to this cruise. My children and I utterly loved this tour and I just want to thank the unforgettable crew members who made this trip a highlight of our vacation. From the moment we stepped onto the boat until we stepped off, it was an absolute pleasure.

Hearing my children's sounds of joy when they saw their first whale breach from the water is something that I will remember always.

I hope that everyone who goes to Hawaii gets a chance to participate in this tour since it was one of the best tours I went to when I was in the Big Island in Hawaii. The captain went on a great route in the water to see many places and we saw whales which was the best part of the day. If you go to Hawaii and the Bid Island, I say you should get to this tour. I want to go again!

TOTALLY AMAZING! When my friends and I saw this tour we were like, "Hmmm, whale watching? Sure why not!" and I am so glad that we decided to go. The boat was great, the view was priceless and seeing humpback whales jumping and slapping the water is something that I will never forget...ever. Like what a great memory to bring back home with me. Take this tour! You won't regret it!

Wish we brought the kids, they would have had a blast!! In any case it was our first time to the Big Island and this was a super good time. I'm guessing it's the same crew, but the afternoon sail crew was just lovely. Highly Recommended!!!

The rubber boat was smaller than I expected, but it was surprisingly fast! The seat on the rubber boat was hard (as expected), and I bounced around due to the momentum, desperately clinging to the rope. It was so much fun!! The muscle pain in my arms and shoulders the next day is also a good memory♪

Before we even left the bay, we encountered a pod of dolphins! They came so close, and I could see their shadows passing under the boat!! After that, we met several more pods of dolphins along the way and even saw them jumping*＾＾* The whales were small enough that I thought they were dolphins, but I was thrilled to see them spouting water and their tails!

At the snorkeling point, the water was incredibly clear, and I saw many fish like the yellow striped ones you see in aquariums, black fish with white spots, and schools of big and small fish. It felt like I was swimming in an aquarium. (In reality, I was just floating!)

The lava cliffs were also breathtaking! It was so much fun!

ゴムボートは思ったより小さくて、思った以上にすごいスピードでした！
座っていたゴムボートが硬かったので（当たり前）、勢いでボンボンはねてしまい、必死でロープにしがみついてました。すごく楽しかった！！
翌日腕と肩が筋肉痛になってたのもいい思い出です♪

湾を出ないうちから、イルカの群れに遭遇！
すごく近くまで来て、ボートの下を通っていく影が！！
その後も、途中で何度もイルカの群れに会い、ジャンプも見れましたよ*＾＾*
クジラは、イルカ？と思うくらい小さい種類のクジラでしたが、潮吹きや、尾っぽも見る事が出来て感動！

シュノーケリングポイントでは、とても透明な海の中、水族館で見るような黄色に縦じまの魚や、黒に白い点々の魚や、大きい魚、小さい魚の群れなど、沢山の魚がいました。
水族館の中で泳いでいるようで、感激しました。（実際は浮かんでいるだけでしたが）

溶岩の岸壁も迫力満点！
とっても楽しかったです！