All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

It was written that the Kilauea Volcano tour lasts 50 minutes, so I applied for it. However, I couldn't see where the magma flows into the sea, and we returned to the airport in just 40 minutes. It felt disappointing to spend nearly 150,000 yen for this.

キラウエア火山50分と書いてあったのでたいまい出して申し込んだ。しかし、マグマが海に流れ込むところはみられず、たった40分で空港に戻ってきた。2人で15万円近く出してこれかよという感じであった。

The location, the food, and entertainment was amazing. Truly worth your time and money for this experience. Would go again. My family enjoyed this. The breeze off the water felt heavenly. Go you will not regret it.

Your in the bus for a long rides but the sights are all beautiful!

A really well planned day, we really wanted to stargaze so was super happy we got the day tour + the evening

After leaving the hotel, we had lunch at Punalu'u Bake Shop. There is a small shop and restrooms available. We enjoyed the lunch we ordered and then set off. At Black Sand Beach, we saw a few sea turtles. After that, we stopped by a Kona coffee shop, but there were no small souvenirs available, so we decided not to buy anything. They do offer various samples for tasting.

Finally, we entered the Volcano National Park. We took a short break at the Kīlauea Visitor Center. They informed us about souvenir magnets, restrooms, and smoking areas, so we took a moment to relax. We visited the Kilauea Overlook to see the crater. There was a bit of smoke rising, but there was no eruption. Apparently, it was impressive last year, and we were shown some videos. We enjoyed watching the steam vents releasing smoke for a bit. After that, we were guided to several spots within the national park. We ended with a break at Volcano House Hotel.

After that, there was supposed to be dinner and a night tour... but it didn't happen. We returned to the hotel, and it seems there are no night tours currently since there is no eruption. If you expect a night tour when booking this tour, you might be disappointed, so please be cautious. If you're hoping for a night experience, I think it's better to check in advance with a place that can accommodate you in Japanese. Overall, it was nice to get a general tour of Kīlauea Volcano.

ホテルを出発して、プナルウ ベイク ショップでランチ。
ちょっとした売店とトイレがあります。
頼んでいた昼食を頂き、出発。
黒砂海岸では、ウミガメが数匹いました。
その後、コナコーヒーのショップに寄りましたが、お土産用に小さいのが無く、購入を断念。
試飲では色々頂けます。

いよいよ、火山公園に突入。
キラウエア ビジターセンターでちょっと休憩。
お土産のマグネットと、トイレ、喫煙場所を教えて頂き、一服。
Kilauea Overlookで火口を観光。
ちょっと煙が上がってましたが、噴火はしていません。
昨年はすごかったらしく、動画で見せて頂きました。
スチーム・ベンツで煙が上がるのをちょっと鑑賞。
その後、火山公園内を数か所案内して頂きました。
最後にボルケーノ ハウス ホテルで休憩。

その後に、夕食と夜のツアー。。。？なし？
そのまま、ホテルに戻って終了。
いまは噴火していないからか、夜のツアーはありません。
それを期待して、このツアーを申し込むとがっかりしますので、ご注意を。
夜を期待するならば、日本語で対応可能な所に、事前に確認した方が良いと思います。
ただまあ、キラウエア火山をざっくりと回ることが出来たのは良かったです。

This tour was absolutely amazing! I would book this again in a heartbeat. The staff was great. The ride was great. The food was great. The drinks were great. I honestly can’t say great enough. They highly exceeded our expectations!

I also took on the sunset challenge following the sunrise.

Spending time at 4,205 meters while watching the sunset, along with views of Subaru and the sea of clouds, was a treasure.

It's a moment that makes me feel glad I came to the Big Island!

Unfortunately, the starry sky wasn't great, but I was still very satisfied.

The guide took wonderful photos, which became great memories as well.

Thank you very much.

I highly recommend it!

サンライズに続いてサンセットにも挑戦しました。

夕陽の沈むところを、4205メートルから
スバルや雲海を眺めながら過ごす時間は
宝物でした。

ハワイ島に来て良かった！
と思う瞬間ですね。

星空が、生憎でしたが
それでも大満足です。

ガイドさんがすてきな写真を
撮ってくれたので、それもいい思い出になりました。

ありがとうございました。

とてもおすすめします！

Horses are so loved here, and are so great with guests. We loved this excursion and would come back!

An experience like we never had before, the manta rays are gentle giants and the boat guides made our tour even more easy!

Really easy way to get to see so many fabulous spots around the Big Island without needing to drive and look at directions all day!!

A bit smaller than past luaus, but was right oceanside and staff really put it all out there for the show!

After making a reservation in Japan, head to the store counter at the designated time. It takes a bit of time to enter the tour's specified website and sign contracts in case of accidents. Since there are no Japanese speakers, it can be challenging if you don't understand some English (a translation device is also possible).

After that, you put on the gear, wear a helmet, and head up the mountain in a microbus. If you're wearing a baseball cap, you can wear it under the helmet, but other types are not allowed. Initially, you'll slide down a distance of about 20 meters to get accustomed to it after a safety briefing before starting.

From the second run onward, the distance gradually increases, and finally, you'll have a long run over the valley from a platform about 6 meters high. About ten people are accompanied by two guides, ensuring safety at all times. People of all ages, from children to the elderly, can safely enjoy the beautiful scenery.

日本で予約して、現地の予約時間にお店のカウンターへ。ツアーの指定したHPに入って、事故等が起きた場合の契約書などへのサインを行うのに、少し時間がかかります。日本語を話す人はいませんので、ある程度の英語を理解出来ないと苦しい。（翻訳機でも可能ですけど）。
そのあと、装具を身につけてヘルメットを被りマイクロバスで山の上の方へ向かう。野球帽ならばヘルメットの下に被れるけど、他のタイプはダメ。最初は20メートルくらいにのもので、スタート前の安全など講義後に慣れる意味で滑る。
2本目から徐々に距離が伸びていき、最後は6mくらいの高さの台から谷超えのロングラン。10名くらいに二人のガイドが同行して、常に安全を確保。子供から高齢者の方まで安全に綺麗でな、景色を楽しめます。

This was a local tour on the Big Island of Hawaii. The original plan was to drive to the summit (4,200 meters) to watch the sunset, and then observe the stars in the night sky at another location.

However, at the visitor center (2,800 meters), the area was covered in clouds, and the road was closed, preventing us from reaching the summit. I had heard that the summit of Mauna Kea is above the clouds and has low weather risks, but I realized there is a risk of road closures along the way.

After that, we were able to observe the stars from a lower area (1,800 meters). We could see Saturn, and the night sky was magnificent.

ハワイ本島での現地ツアーです。元々の予定は、車で山頂（4200メートル）に登り日の入りを見学、その後別の場所で夜空で星を観察というものでした。

ところが、途中のビジターセンター（2800メートル）で辺りが雲に覆われて道路が閉鎖され、山頂に行けませんでした。マウナケア山頂は雲の上にあり天候リスクが少ないと聞いていましたが、途中の道が閉鎖されるリスクを認識しました。

その後、少し下った広場（1800メートル）で夜空の星を観察出来ました。土星も見え、星空は素晴らしかったです。

I had a very enjoyable time with the dolphins. I had many opportunities to touch them. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to swim while holding onto the dolphin's dorsal fin. It was listed as one of the activities, so I thought I would definitely be able to experience it, but I couldn't.

とても楽しい時間をいるかと過ごせました。たくさん触る機会がありました。残念だったのはいるかの背びれにつかまって泳ぐことはできませんでした。アクティビティのひとつに書かれていたので、必ず体験できると思っていたのですができませんでした。

You can borrow winter clothing, but it is very cold. Wear long pants and sneakers. However, during sightseeing until sunset, you will be walking, seeing waterfalls, and entering caves, so it can get hot and you might sweat. Drinks are also available.

防寒服は貸してもらえますが、とても寒いです。
長ズボン、スニーカーで行くこと。
しかし、日没までの観光は、滝を見たり洞窟に入ったり歩くので暑くて汗をかきます。
飲み物も頂けます。

The sunset viewed from the summit was incredibly beautiful, and I couldn't take my eyes off the scenery as it sank into the sea of clouds! Also, I think opportunities to climb a mountain over 4000 meters are rare, so I'm glad I participated! Personally, I appreciated that there were places where we didn't have to hike. The photos taken by the guide turned out great, and I am very satisfied!

山頂から見る夕日はとても綺麗で、雲海の中に沈んでゆく景色から、目が離せませんでした！！また、4000m級の山に登る機会もなかなかないと思うので、参加してよかったです！登山しなくて良いところが、個人的に良いです。
ガイドの方が撮ってくれた写真も良い感じで、とても満足しています！

The observatories and sunset I saw at the summit were wonderful. It was my first time staying at 4000 meters, but thanks to the advice on acclimatization and the guide's handling, I was able to go without getting altitude sickness. The guide, Koki, was well-studied and very helpful.

For stargazing, we went to a parking lot quite a bit down from the summit. Even though the summit was perfectly clear with not a single cloud, when we descended, there were clouds, and I really wanted to gaze at the stars in a clear sky. It was disappointing.

As we drove down, I could clearly see that there were clouds, and I was surprised, thinking, "Why are we going to a place with clouds when there's no cloud here?" I felt sad that I had come all this way to see the stars in a once-in-a-lifetime place, only to not fulfill that purpose. The view with the naked eye was about as good as the starry sky in Nagano, but I did manage to capture something that looked like the Milky Way using my iPhone's stargazing mode.

頂上で見た天文台群と夕日は素晴らしいものでした。
人生初の4000m滞在でしたが、順応やガイドさんの対処方法のアドバイスもあり、高山病になることもなく行くことができました。
ガイドのKokiさんも良く勉強されていて、すごく参考になりました。
星空観察は車で頂上からかなり下りた駐車場で、せっかく頂上が雲一つ無い快晴だったのに、降りてきたところは雲がでていて、澄み切った空で星を眺めたかったです。残念でした。
車で降りていくときに明らかに雲がかかっているのが見えていて「ここは雲がないのに何で雲のあるところに行っちゃうの?」と驚きました。
折角はるばる人生でまたとないところに星空を見に来て、雲一つ無い快晴の場所にいたのに、目的が果たせず悲しくなりました。
肉眼では長野の星空くらいの見え方でしたが、一応アイフォンの星空モードで何とかの天の川らしいものは撮れました。

Todd, our guide, was great. Great driving up the steep dirt road. Great info about the geology, topography, observatories, constellations and more. Engaging, informative. All the other details too - nice sandwich, hot beverage and clothing for the cold. Did I forget to mention the views? Fantastic views of the sun setting into the Pacific and a clear night sky.

The whole family loved the experience and had a blast! Fun, informative and friendly staff. Would love to do it again.

About 15 minutes ago, I took an Uber to the meeting point, and the guide was waiting for us. In Hawaii, I was able to catch an Uber even at 6 AM without any issues. I think it's a good idea to check the app a bit before you head out. After dropping off valuables and a change of clothes, I put my phone in the waterproof bag and set off.

We arrived at the kayak launch area right away. I wore flip-flops, but since it's not a beach, I think marine shoes would be better. We boarded the kayak from the rocky area. From there, we kayaked for about an hour and a half, entering a cave along the way. After that, we snorkeled for about an hour. We were able to see large sea urchins and various fish while circling around. Since there was quite a bit of time, it might be good to have an underwater camera to take your own pictures.

We kayaked back for an hour, and that concluded the tour. There’s a shower or a water tap where you can wash off just a few minutes' walk from the kayak launch area. You can change clothes in the nearby restroom. The day before, when I confirmed over the phone, the guide mentioned that they would take pictures, but unfortunately, the guide had to be replaced due to health issues, so I couldn't get any photos. However, I really enjoyed experiencing the Hawaiian sea.

15分くらい前にUberで集合場所へ行くと、ガイドの方が待ってくれていました。
ハワイ島のUberは、6時台でも普通に捕まりました。
出る前に、ちょっとアプリで確認しつつ出発すると良いと思います。
貴重品や着替えなどの荷物を預けて、借りた防水バックに携帯を入れて出発。
すぐにカヤック乗り場です。
ビーチサンダルで行きましたが、ビーチではないので、マリンシューズに方が良いと思います。
岩場からカヤックに乗り込みます。
そっから、1時間半程度カヤック、途中に洞窟に入ったりします。
そこから1時間程度のシュノーケリング。
ぐるぐる回って、大きなウニや色々な魚を鑑賞出来ました。
結構時間があるので、自分で撮れる水中カメラがあると良いかも知れません。
戻りでカヤック1時間で、ツアー終了です。
カヤック乗り場から見える、歩いて数分の所にある港にシャワー？と言うか、浴びれる水道があるので、そこで体を洗えます。
着替えは、その近くのトイレで行う感じです。
前日、電話で確認した際は、ガイドの方が写真を撮ってくれるとの事でしたが、体調不良でガイドの方が交代したようで、残念ながら写真は取って貰えず。
ただ、ハワイの海を堪能出来たのは楽しかったです。

I arrived at the Onizuka Center around 4 PM and quickly received a sandwich and water for dinner. Even though the Onizuka Center is at an altitude of 2,800 meters, my climbing experience has taught me that appetite decreases at higher altitudes, so I ate quickly. There are restrooms available here, and I put on the down jacket I brought. They also offer rental of warm clothing, so I think it's better to dress warmly.

I stayed for about an hour before departing for the summit. The path is unpaved, so it’s bumpy. It seems you can go by private car, but it’s not covered by rental car insurance, and if you damage it, the charges can be exorbitant. Perhaps due to the altitude, I felt sleepy, but I was warned that sleeping could worsen altitude sickness, so it’s strictly prohibited.

At the summit, which is over 4,000 meters, I changed locations about three times and waited for about an hour for the sunset at the last spot. After waiting for the sunset, we descended and stopped at a parking lot along the way for stargazing and a photo session, which took about an hour. Each time we took photos, we had to wait for cars leaving the parking lot or passing on the road, which took time. During this, it was extremely cold at around 3,500 meters.

The descent felt longer as it was darker, and I took my time. After passing the Onizuka Center, we took a break for the restroom and to change clothes. By the time I returned to the hotel, it was 11 PM. Since the next day was early, I felt a bit rushed, but I decided to relax. I managed to cope with altitude sickness as advised, by not sleeping and taking deep breaths. Overall, it was quite a challenging tour, but it was a valuable and enjoyable experience.

16時過ぎくらいにオニヅカセンターに到着して、早々に夕食代りのサンドイッチと水を貰います。
オニヅカセンターでも標高2800メートルですが、登山経験で、より高所では食欲も無くなるので早々に頂きました。
ここはトイレもあり、持って行ったダウンを着込みました。
防寒着の貸し出しもやってくれていますので、厚めに着ておいた方が良いと思います。
しばらく、1時間程度滞在して、頂上へ出発。
道が舗装されてないので、ガタガタします。
自家用車でも行けるみたいですが、レンタカーの保険適用外で、壊すと半端なく高額請求されるようです。
高所の影響か、眠くなりますが、寝ると高山病が悪化するので寝るのは厳禁と注意されます。
4000メートルを超えた山頂では3箇所くらい場所を変えて滞在して、最後の場所で1時間くらい日没を待ちます。
日没を待ち下山、途中の駐車場に止まり、星空鑑賞と撮影会を行います。
それもなんだかんだと1時間くらい。
撮影の度に駐車場から出る車や、道路を通る車を待って撮影するので、時間が掛かります。
その間も激寒及び3500メートルくらいの標高。
下りの道の方が暗い中慎重に言っているのか、時間が掛かった感じがしました。
オニヅカセンターを越えて、しばらく行った先でトイレ休憩及び着替え。
ホテルに戻ったら、23時でした。
翌日が早かったので、ちょっと焦りましたが、諦めてゆったり構えてました。
高山病も教えられたとおりに、眠らずに、呼吸を深くで乗り切れました。
まあまあ、大変なツアーではありますが、貴重な経験で楽しかったです。

So from other reviews you know the lines are long, especially in the heat. Now they have water fountains, and it does move semi quickly. But it would make sense to have the vip's seated 1st, then the GA seats enter by sections.

This would help with standing in the sun for to long.

The show it self was fantastic! Very entertaining, and kept you wanting more.

My only gripe, is that I am diabetic, and needed to eat sooner than later, and since I was the last table to be sat, we were the last table to be approved to get up to the Buffet. Also there was no sugar free desserts. Other than that the foods I was able to eat was delicious and flavorful. But I did end up in the restroom for most of the evening once returned back to the room. Could have been that some foods were in the temp danger zone for to long.

Wonderful private charter experience. Captain Michael and Gretchen were wonderful - and so attentive. I highly recommend this company - one of the best experiences on the Big Island - don’t miss it.

God’s amazing creativity seen through volcanic activity and celestial bodies. Truly an experience you won’t forget. Maka was the best. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Be forewarned that if you have altitude problems, you may fell icky at the summit. Take it slowly. You’ll fell better when you descend.

Excellent tour of a nearly inaccessible and uniquely beautiful part of the Big Island. Our guide filled in historical notes - this was the first location for settlement on Hawaii nearly 2,000 years ago - an identified loacal vegetation and agricultural factors.

Guide was very informative and friendly. I recommend this trip.

6 members all different ages had so much fun and felt more comfortable then expected in the ocean during evening!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn't travel to Hawaii in 2020 and 2021, but I resumed my trips to Oahu in 2022 and 2023, and this time, it was my first trip to the Big Island in five years. As usual, I stayed at the Hilton resort in the Waikoloa area, but I felt that I couldn't truly experience the Big Island without seeing the traditional luau and hula Hawaiian show, which I also hadn't seen in five years. On the day of the event, it started drizzling, and as we transitioned from the first traditional hula show to dinner, the staff quickly distributed vinyl raincoats. By the time the Polynesian dancers' torch-lit group dance reached its peak, the rain had turned into a light mist, and most of the audience removed their raincoats. With the host's lively lead, the audience became one with the show and was filled with excitement. However, perhaps due to the rainy weather from the start, the program was moved up, and the audience participation hula was skipped, which was a bit disappointing.

コロナ禍で2020、2021年はハワイに行けなかったが、2022、2023年とオアフ島(ホノルル)で旅行を再開して、今回、5年ぶりのハワイ島旅行となった。いつもの様にワイコロア地区のヒルトンのリゾートに滞在したが、やはり伝統のルアウ＆フラ・ハワイアンショーを見ないとハワイ島に来た感じがしないと思い、これも5年ぶりの観覧となった。当日はスタートから小雨模様で、最初の伝統フラのショーから食事に切り替わる頃に、スタッフが手早くビニルのレインコートを配ってまわり、ポリネシアンダンサーのトーチを使った集団ダンスが佳境に入る頃には雨も細かい霧雨に変わり、観客の殆どがレインコートを脱ぎ去り、司会者の軽妙なリードで会場が一体となってショーに熱狂した。今回、スタートから雨模様のためか、プログラムの進行が全て前倒しで進められ、観客参加のフラがスキップされたりしたのが少々、残念であった。

I paddled quite a distance in a sea kayak. On the way, I encountered a pod of dolphins twice. They came so close that I could hear their breathing.
The guide got out of the canoe and led us through the waves of the cave, guiding our canoe into the cove. It was a sight that is not often seen.
On the way back, I encountered the pod of dolphins again, which was very lucky.
Snorkeling was also a lot of fun.

シーカヤックで結構な距離を漕ぎました。行く時にイルカの群れと2回遭遇。息遣いが聞こえるくらいまで近づいて来ました。
ガイドさんがカヌーから降りて、ケーブの波の合間に私達のカヌーをケープの中まで誘導してくれました。なかなか見られない光景を見ることができました。
帰りもイルカの群れに遭遇し、とてもラッキーでした。
シュノーケルもとても楽しかったです。

We expected a better guide around the park then just an app but the bikes were in good condition