All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

This is my second time, but the first time it was guided in Japanese. Recently, it seems that there are fewer Japanese tourists, so it's only in English now. I wish I had studied English a bit more before participating. (laughs)

2回目ですが、初回は日本語で案内だったのですが、最近は日本人観光客が減ったので、英語のみのようです。
もう少し、英語を勉強してから参加すれば良かったです。(笑)

Beginners can experience this activity at their own level alongside other participants. For over an hour, you will ride slowly while enjoying views of the ocean from Kohala Mountain and Hills, and interacting with the horses. It's truly enjoyable.

I think Japanese visitors might get confused during the initial check-in. This is because the parking gate is closed, and you have to open it yourself and close it again. There is no guidance for this.

初心者でもレベルに合わせ、他の参加者と一緒に体験できます。1時間以上、コハラ山・丘を海を見ながら、そして馬と話しながらゆっくりと乗馬します。本当に楽しいです。

最初の受付は日本の方は迷うと思います。なぜなら駐車場のゲートが閉まっていて、自分で開けてまた閉めなけばなりません。その案内はありません。

The sunset was beautiful, and the stars were lovely. Since it was a half moon, the sky was bright, and while the Milky Way wasn't very clear, it was visible. It was a precious experience, and the guide was great too.

夕日も素敵、星もきれい。半月だったので、空が明るく、天の川ははっきりとはしませんでしたが、見えました。貴重な体験でしたガイドさんも良かったです。

We took this tour with Jason. It was amazing. Jason, a local, was fantastic. He was personable, engaging, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the tour, and Hawaiian culture and lifestyle. The views speak for themselves and are breathtaking.
Highly recommend this excursion to anyone who is interested in views, astronomy, and something different to do, when on vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and look forward to the next time.

We had a wonderful time at the luau, met nice people at our table as well. Was a little disappointed with the food as I was expecting a more traditionally cooked food. The entertainment was first class.
Overall we had a wonderful time and would do it again.

The sunset above the sea of clouds was amazing!
The starry sky was also wonderful.
They lend you jackets and other items, so it wasn't as cold as I expected.

雲海の上からの夕陽最高でした！
満天の星も素晴らしかったです。
ジャケットなど貸してくれるので思ったほど寒くはありませんでした。

Enrich your life by learning sustainability by a local resident living in the valley of the kings. The all terrain vehicle takes you steeply down to the valley to your taro fields and exotic tropical homesteads that only locals reside. This experience is a must!

It was truly amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it until the sunset, and afterwards, I also enjoyed stargazing. I could clearly see Saturn through the scope, and our guide, Sho, was entertaining. I had a great day. I want to participate again when I come back to the Big Island!

ホント最高でした。夕陽が沈むまでたっぷり堪能させてくれ、その後星空観察も堪能させて頂きました。スコープで土星もしっかりと見え、ガイドのショウちゃんも面白く、１日楽しませて頂きました。またハワイ島に来た時は参加したい！

The sunset disappearing into the sea of clouds was amazing. They had warm clothing available, and the hot cocoa was a nice touch. They also explained the constellations, and we enjoyed stargazing. It's rare to have the opportunity to drive to a place above the sea of clouds like this. I had seen the sea of clouds and sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji, but my wife has some mobility issues, so I couldn't show her that view. Here, we could drive to the summit, so I was glad I could show her a similar view. However, we were lucky that the weather was good the whole time; I wonder what would have happened if it hadn't been. That's just a matter of luck.

雲海に消えていく夕陽は最高。防寒具も揃っているし、あったかいココアもついていてとても良かった。星座の説明もしてくれてスターゲージングも楽しめた。 雲海の上に車で行ける機会はここを逃すとなかなか無いのではないかな。 自分は富士山の山頂から雲海と日の出を見た事あったけど、妻は足が少し不自由でその景色を見せてあげる事が出来なかった。ここは山頂まで車でいけるから似たような景色を見せてあげることができて良かった。 ただ、運良く天気がずっと良かったけどそうでなかったらどうなっていたか。 こればかりは運次第。

My husband, who experienced snorkeling for the first time, ranked the experience at Kealakekua Bay as the most enjoyable activity. Although he wasn't confident in swimming, he was able to borrow a float and easily swim to see the fish. It was great that there was no stress involved. I enjoyed diving from the second floor of the boat. Even though it was a jump into the sea from a height of 5 meters, it required courage. It became a wonderful memory for our sixtieth wedding anniversary trip. Thank you for your hospitality.

シュノーケリング初体験の主人が楽しかったアクティビティとして今回のケアラケクア湾の体験を一番にあげました。泳ぐのが苦手な主人でしたが浮き輪を借りてスイスイと魚達のいるところまで見に行く事ができました。ストレスがかからず良かったです。私は船の二階からのダイブを楽しみました。５mはある高さから海に飛び込むとはいえ勇気が必要でした。還暦夫婦の海外旅行の良い思い出となりました。お世話になりました。

The weather forecast for November 5th predicted continuous rain, and it seems that Mauna Kea, at an elevation of 4,200 meters, was experiencing snowfall. Later, I learned from the guide that there was a possibility of being closed until 3 PM that day, and the tour itself could have been canceled. The summit had a snowy landscape, making for a wonderful sunset and starry sky tour that was quite different from my previous experience.

11月5日天気予報は連日の雨、ましてや標高4,200Mのマウナケアは降雪続きだったそうで、後からガイドさんに伺ったら当日15時までクローズドの可能性があって、ツアーそのものがキャンセルになるところだったそうです。山頂は雪景色で前回とはかなり趣の違う素晴らしいサンセット&星空ツアーでした。

Due to the snow and rain the day before, the summit was closed until 12 PM on the day of departure. It opened just after 12:30 PM, and when I arrived at the meeting point, I met only the guide, George (English), along with 9 other participants, including 2 young women from English-speaking countries. However, the language barrier was manageable; gestures worked well, and we could use translation apps on our phones.

On the way to the sunset, it was raining until we reached the Onizuka Visitor Center, but as we ascended towards the summit, the clouds cleared, and we were able to enjoy the sunset after the snowfall. However, due to the thin air, I felt a bit lightheaded and could only walk slowly. Nevertheless, guide George made sure to engage everyone, taking photos and even building a three-tiered snowman. During the stargazing, he was busy taking pictures and packing up the telescope and tripod in the cold, dark environment, which was impressive. He also prioritized safety while driving.

Thank you for the amazing sunset and stargazing experience. Great job, George!

前日までの雪雨で出発当日お昼PM12時までは山頂まではクローズPM12時30分過ぎにオープンになり待ち合わせ場所に行くとガイドのジョージさん（英語）のみと合流、参加メンバーは9名内２名が英語圏?の若い女性2名　しかし言葉の壁はどうにかなるもの、身振り手振りでOKだし、携帯の翻訳でなんとかなります。
サンセットの方は、オニヅカビジターセンターまでは雨が降ってましたが、山頂までの道を上がって行くに従い、雲が晴れ雪が降った後のサンセットを楽しむ事が出来ました。しかし空気が薄いせいか、頭がボーっとしてゆっくりしか歩く事が出来ませんでした。しかし、ガイドのジョージさんは全員に声かけをして写真をパチリ、パチリ、3段の雪だるまも作ってくれました。星空観察でも、パチリ、パチリと寒くて、なかなか動けない真っ暗の中天体望遠鏡を片付けたり、写真の三脚を片付けたり、良く、動いていて、感心しました。車の運転も安全第一で任務を遂行していました。
最高のサンセットと星空観測　ありがとうございました。ジョージ、good jobでした。

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was mystical, and I felt my heart healed as I watched it for a long time. The mountaintop is cold, so it's better to dress warmly. During the star tour, I was thrilled to have a detailed explanation of the constellations and to also see the Milky Way.

雲海に沈むサンセットは、神秘的でした、ずっと見ていて心が癒されました。山頂は寒いので暖かくした方が良いですね。星ツアーでは、星座を詳しく説明いただき、またどせいも見る事が出来感激しました。

During the reservation, I heard that the Japanese guidance was difficult, but Shoutarou was the driver and guide.

He was interesting, hardworking, kind, and fluent in Japanese.

The best!

Thank you very much.

予約時、日本語案内が難しいと聞きましたが、ショウタロウさんがドライバー&ガイドでした。

面白いし、一生懸命で優しく日本語も堪能でした。

最高〜

ありがとうございました。

I was helped by the Japanese staff.
It was my first time interacting with dolphins.
They were very cute and I was smiling the whole time.
Since such experiences are rare, if you have the chance to interact with them, I recommend doing it even if it's expensive.
I was able to spend a happy time.
Thank you very much! ♪

日本人スタッフがおられたので助かりました。
イルカとの触れ合いは初めてでした。
とっても可愛く終始笑顔でした。
こんな体験はなかなか出来ないので触れ合う機会があれば、高くても体験して欲しいです。
幸せな時間を過ごすことができました。
有り難うございました♪

At the summit of Mauna Kea, I felt a bit unwell due to the thin air, but the sunset was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. The driver's broken Japanese explanations were also nice. I was able to take a lot of photos, and it became a fun memory.

マウナケア山頂では、空気が薄いせいか少し体調不良を感じましたが、サンセットは素晴らしくエンジョイできました。ドライバーの片言の日本語説明もあり、よかったです。写真もたくさん撮影でき、楽しい思い出となりました。

While flying over the vast skies of the Big Island, the lack of changing scenery was a bit disappointing, but I enjoyed the views of Kilauea Volcano and the coastline. I had hoped to see lava around Kilauea Volcano, but unfortunately, that didn't happen.

ハワイ島の広大な上空をフライトしている時は、風景の変化も乏しく、少し期待外れのところもありましたが、キラウエア火山、海岸線等では、楽しめました。キラウエア火山周辺では、溶岩等が見えることも期待していましたが、残念でした。

Our group thoroughly enjoyed the luau. The whole production was amazing. The musicians and dancers were incredibly talented. The host of the show, Hoku was a wonderful personality. The food of the buffet was delicious. There was so much to try featuring different cuisines. All around, we are happy to have chosen this luau. The only thing that would make it better, would be an ocean view.

I wanted to visit Mauna Kea, so I chose the Big Island as my first destination in Hawaii.

Regarding the starry sky, it was a bit disappointing that the moon was close to full, making it hard to see, but the view of the sunset and the array of telescopes was spectacular and wonderful.

Additionally, the tour description mentioned only an English guide, but our guide, Shota, was able to speak Japanese as well, which was very helpful as he provided guidance in both English and Japanese.

He also took some lovely photos, creating great memories.

Next time, I plan to check the lunar cycle carefully before visiting again! Thank you very much!

マウナケア山に訪れてみたく、今回初のハワイの行き先としてハワイ島を選びました。
星空については月が満月に近く、月明かりにて見えずらい点が残念ではありましたがサンセットと研究用の望遠鏡が並んでいる景色が壮観で素晴らしかったです。
また、ツアー説明には英語ガイドのみで記載がありましたが、ガイドのショウタさんが日本語もお話しできるとのことで英語と日本語両方でガイドをいただき大変助かりました。
素敵な写真も撮影いただき、とても良い思い出です。
次回は月の周期もしっかり確認した上で、再訪したいと思います！
またよろしくお願いいたします。

Words cannot describe how amazing this crew is on their ship! They are very knowledgeable. Loved the experience and would 100% go on another trip with them in the future. You will not be disappointed!!!

My husband, daughter and I attended this luau. I've been to several luaus and this one had the best food, great entertainment and an amazing Fire dancer. We all enjoyed ourselves. Great service, tasty food and wonderful show.

Gorgeous, unimaginably beautiful views. Very interesting and informative guided tour. Strenuous though, they warned us about the low oxygen and a couple people were visibly feeling ill. "Dinner" was hot but not very good (heavily salted vegetable lasagne).

My husband, adult daughter, and I had a spectacular time on this excursion. Our driver/guide/astronomy guru, Maka, was the lynch-pin of the whole experience. After seeing the beautiful sunset at the top, we scurried down to set up for our tour of the night sky. Maka has significant knowledge, a great sense of humor, and an amazing telescope! We all want a laser pointer now!! Fortunately, the three of us experienced only giddiness as an effect of the altitude…the three of us were silly and laughed so much. What a great memory! We had rented a Jeep for our week on the Big Island. Someone had suggested we were wasting our money going on a tour, rather than driving ourselves. But, though the tour was not inexpensive, it was worth every penny for the experience! Highly recommend!!

The weather was nice, with views of the ocean and waterfalls, and I enjoyed the increasingly long zip line while having a banana. I was worried about not being able to speak English, but they were very kind and made me feel at ease. I believe that even those who don't speak English can participate. The seventh zip line had a rainbow over the waterfall, which was amazing! Moreover, the landing spot was also interesting. It might have been a coincidence, but the other participants from California and other countries were all friendly and the tour had a great atmosphere.

お天気も良く、海や滝が見えて、バナナをいただきながら、だんだん長くなるジップラインを楽しめました。
英語ができないので心配していましたが、優しく対応してくださるので安心です。英語のできない方も参加可能だと、私的には思います。
7本目のジップラインは滝に虹がかかっていて、最高‼️でした。その上、着地地点も面白かったですよ。
たまたまかもしれませんが、カリフォルニアや他国から参加の他の方も、皆さん優しくて和やかで、雰囲気の良いツアーでした。

The ups and downs of the hills, unique to four-wheel drive, were thrilling and enjoyable, and the view of Waipi'o Valley and the ocean from the slopes was absolutely wonderful. The horses also came over to the car and let us pet them. Experiencing crossing the river and seeing the taro planting were great highlights of the tour.

四輪駆動ならではの坂道のアップダウンが、スリルに満ちて面白ろく坂道の途中から見えるワイピオ渓谷と海が最高に素敵でした。馬も車に寄ってきて触らせてくれました。川を渡る経験も、タロ芋を植えるのもみせてもらって、大正解のツアーでした。

This hike adventure was awesome! The views at different stops along the way were just amazing. Our Guide Jon was great! He was a knowledgeable about so many things such as the local birds, plants and history of the area. Entering a lava tube that was hundreds of years old was interesting, and fun. Jon made sure our group remained safe and also had fun along the way. One has to experience this activity to really appreciate it! I would definitely recommend this activity.

I have visited the Big Island multiple times and had seen the starry sky from the slopes of Mauna Kea, so I thought there might not be anything particularly new. However, I was very moved by the sea of clouds and the sunset from the summit! I had no issues with altitude sickness, and even though I was lightly dressed in September, the warm clothing provided was more than enough. The warm cocoa was appreciated, and the sandwiches were very delicious as well. I was able to take many photos of the sunset and the starry sky, creating precious memories. The attached photo was taken with a compact digital camera that has a starry sky shooting mode that I brought along. I hope to participate in other tours again someday.

ハワイ島には複数回訪れたことがあり、マウナケア中腹からの星空を観たこともあったため、そんなに目新しいいことはないかもしれないと思いつつ参加しましたが、山頂からの雲海、夕陽にとても感動しました！高山病は全く問題なく、9月で薄着でしたが貸していただける防寒着だけで充分でした。暖かいココアもありがたかったですが、サンドイッチもとても美味しかったです。夕陽、星空とたくさん写真を撮ってもらえて、貴重な思い出になりました。添付の写真は持参した星空撮影モードがあるコンパクトデジカメで撮影したものです。またいつか他のツアーにも参加させていただきたいと思います。

Came over from Oahu, and loved every ounce of what we saw. Def coming to BI next!

Kona water is so clear we had wonderful views during this trip.

There were 13 participants, including 10 travelers from the mainland United States and us, but the guide made an effort to speak Japanese when talking to us, which showed consideration and allowed us to enjoy the tour.

アメリカ本土からの旅行者10人と私たちとで13人の参加でしたが案内のドライバーが私たちと話す時には極力日本語を使ってくれ、気遣いが感じられ、楽しくツアーをすることが出来ました。