All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

We got on the van and descended into Waipi'o Valley. At the entrance of the steep slope, the guide offered a prayer before we entered the valley.

There are breathtaking views that are not visible from the observation deck.

I was moved by the guide's love for their hometown.

I think it would be better to do a little research beforehand.

バンに乗って
ワイピオ渓谷の中に降りて行きます
急斜面の入り口で
ガイドさんが祈りを捧げてから
渓谷に入りました

展望台からは見えない
最高の景色が広かっています

ガイドさんの地元愛に
感動しました

事前に少し勉強して行くと
より良いかと思います

My two friends and teenage son went on this sunset sail and had an absolutely beautiful time. The sunset colors were stunning, and dolphins played along the bow of the boat as we were underway. It was magical! Crew was great. Drinks were yummy. It was a great thing to do on our last night in Hawaii. Highly recommend.

The location is a 15-minute walk from Ocean Tower, and it takes about 15 minutes by tram as well. Check-in for general seating is on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 16:45, so we lined up at 16:00 and were the first ones there. Premium seats are prioritized in the front, while general seating is in the back blocks. The show runs roughly until 20:30, and at the end, everyone can take photos. The meat at the buffet was delicious. Additionally, the American couple at the neighboring table kindly struck up a conversation with us, which made for a very enjoyable experience.

場所はオーシャンタワーから徒歩15分、トラムに乗車でも15分くらいかかります。先着順16:45チェックイン(一般席)との事で、16：00に並んで1番乗りでした。席はプレミアムシートは優先的に前側、一般席はそれよりも後ろのブロックになります。ざっくり20：30までショーがあり、最後には写真撮影も各自出来ます。ビュッフェの肉が美味しかったです。また、私たちはとなりの席のアメリカのご夫婦が優しく話しかけてくれ、とても楽しい気分でした。

We had an outstanding tour with Forest. He was incredibly knowledgeable about this amazing valley. The entire experience was well worth the cost!

The best part is the guide took excellent pictures of everyone with the sunset and stars.

Very knowledgeable and answered all questions. Was very considerate and made sure all were ok during the trip.

Setup the telescope very well - we could see the rings of Saturn very clearly.

Great fun and experience. The crew were exceptional. They were very professional and knowledgeable.

Our guide, Koki, did a fabulous job with the Sunset photos for each of us at the summit and also a great job getting everyone's photo with the stars. He was an excellent driver and went slowly on the bumpy gravel part of the drive.

Because Koki's Japanese dialect is not something most English speaking people understand, he needs to speak more slowly and distinctly. I had a great deal of trouble understanding him - seems like I could only catch 4 out of every 10 words, and that is not something I expected on this tour. Granted, out of the 10 people, there were 2 Japanese men and Koki spent a lot of time on the way home speaking only to them in Japanese.

So, I had very mixed feelings about this tour. I come to Hawaii at least a couple times a year and I would definitely ask more questions about the guide and his speaking and understanding ability before I take my nest tour.

This was our third time on the Hani Olani catamaran, sunset cruise with our cousins. Each time has been a great experience. It’s great being barefoot on the deck of the catamaran makes serve drinks and food. The crew are always really nice and accommodating making us feel comfortable and treating us like royalty. It’s so beautiful to be out at sea and watch the sunset. It’s such a great surrounding. We highly recommend this excursion and most likely will do it again when we come back to the Big Island

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).