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Big Island
It was such a fabulous and unreal experience, the scared part left my body right when we started seeing the rays as they are so gentle!
The Volcano is absolutely stunning, and to see it from the air is a different view completely!
It was soooo much fun. Definitely we want to do it again. The tour guys were amazing too. They are so nice and polite and professional.
Show was great! Service did their best. I was not pleased with set up & quality of how things were presented & for food & drinks.
Sunset from the summit! This is a $ splurge, at least for us, but between the quirky Hawaiian history and mythology lesson plus solid science and general kind authenticity of our guide Addison; the "you'll never see a sunset quite like this one" moment; a humbling and breathtaking view looking out at the galaxy; and the luxury of being a passenger rather than a driver, with convenient pick-up and drop-off...totally worth it. Thanks for the highlight!
We thoroughly enjoyed the Grand Circle Island Tour. We had the opportunity to visit so many different parts of the island and experience the true beauty of the Big Island. The tour was well planned and Neil was an amazing host!
I definitely recommend that all visitors try this tour at least once!
I participated in this experience because I wanted children who were too young to join 17 years ago to have the same opportunity. Our guide, Shoyo (a Japanese), provided explanations about the Big Island during our travel time, making the journey to the summit of Mauna Kea enjoyable and engaging.
What awaited us there was an emotional panorama that you can never see anywhere else. Even though the sunset is something I've seen many times before, I couldn't help but feel deeply moved. It was a moment where I thought, "I'm glad to be alive, and I'm glad I came here."
Even after sunset, the natural show didn't end. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by a sky full of stars! I realized just how many stars there were. Tears naturally filled my eyes.
Experiencing the breathtaking panorama between the universe and Earth, the sunset at Mauna Kea is an activity that everyone should experience.
17年前に感動した体験を、当時幼くて参加できなかった子供達にも体験させたいと思い参加しました。
ガイドをしてくれたショウヨさん(日本人)は移動時間もハワイ島の解説などをしてくれ、退屈することもなくマウナケア頂上に到着。
そこで待っていたのは他では決して見ることが出来ない感動の大パノラマ。夕陽が沈むだけなのに、夕陽なんて何度もみているのに、何故こんなに感動するのか。生きてて良かった、ここに来て良かった、と思える瞬間でした。
日没の後も自然が織りなすショーは終わりません。気がつくと満天の星空！星ってこんなにあったのか⁉︎自然と涙が溢れてくる自分に気がつきます。
宇宙と地球のはざまで体験する大パノラマ、マウナケアのサンセットは是非体験すべきアクティビティです。
Translated by OpenAI
The guide during the journey, the sunset viewing, and the stargazing were all excellent.
In the case of Kailua-Kona, it took about an hour from the meeting point at Target to the visitor center, but I was kept entertained with various information about landmarks and recommended sightseeing spots along the way. The explanations were mainly in English, but since the driver and guide was Japanese, it seemed possible to have Q&A in Japanese as needed. The English was also relatively easy for Japanese speakers to understand, and I was able to grasp about half of it.
After acclimatizing to the altitude, we set off towards the summit, which involved quite a bit of off-road driving with some vibrations. We returned to paved roads after about 30 minutes, but those who are prone to motion sickness might need to take precautions.
The sunset from the summit was breathtaking. This is something I highly recommend experiencing in person. After the sunset, we took a little time for photography and then descended to a parking lot for stargazing. While enjoying warm cocoa, we had a guide for the constellations using a laser pointer and took photos with a DSLR. At this time, we joined another group on the tour, with one guide providing explanations in English and the other in Japanese.
Both the sunset and the starry sky were spectacular views that can only be seen on this tour, so I definitely recommend experiencing them in person.
Lastly, one point to note is that due to the high altitude, there seems to be a risk of altitude sickness. In our group, there were members who showed signs of altitude sickness after leaving the visitor center, so we returned to the visitor center for a moment. The guide seemed to anticipate such cases in advance, quickly preparing emergency oxygen tanks and coordinating with the guide in the passenger seat and the office members in the city for descent preparations. They appeared to have built some margin into the itinerary, and although we had to deal with irregularities, the remaining members were able to reach the summit with about 20 minutes to spare before sunset.
The main sunset and stargazing experience was a highly satisfying tour, and it was reassuring to have a skilled guide who could handle such irregular situations.
道中のガイド、サンセット鑑賞、星空観測、全て良かったです。
カイルアコナの場合、ターゲットでの集合からビジターセンターまで1時間ほどかかりましたが、道中の名所や観光のおすすめスポットなど様々な情報を教えてくださり退屈しませんでした。
基本的に英語での説明となりますが、ドライバー兼ガイドは日本の方でしたので必要に応じて日本語でのQAは可能そうでした。英語も比較的日本人にも伝わりやすいようにしてくれていたのか、半分程度は理解できました。
高地順応の後、山頂へ向けて出発するとなかなかのオフロードで振動がありました。30分ほどで抜けて舗装路に戻りますが、酔いやすい人は対策が必要かもしれません。
頂上からのサンセットは圧巻でした。これは是非とも実際に見ていただきたいです。
サンセット後は少しだけ撮影等の時間をとって少し下った駐車場で星空鑑賞をしました。暖かいココアをいただきながら、レーザーポインタを駆使した星座のガイドや一眼レフを使用した撮影を行なってくれます。このタイミングでは共同でツアーを行なっているグループと合同となり、片方のガイドが英語、もう片方のガイドが日本語での対応を行なってくれます。
サンセット、満天の星空ともにツアーの形ではここでしか見られない絶景かと思いましたので是非とも実際に見ていただきたいです。
最後に一点、やはり中々の高所のため高山病のリスクはあるようでした。
こちらのグループでもビジターセンターを抜けた後に高山病の兆候が見られたメンバーが居たため、いったんビジターセンターまで戻りました。
ガイドさんは事前にこういったケースを想定されているようで、非常用酸素ボンベをセットしたり、助手席のガイドおよび市街地のオフィスのメンバーと連携して下山の準備をするなど、テキパキと対応されていました。
ある程度行程にもマージンをとっているようで、イレギュラーな対応を挟みましたが残ったメンバーは日没まで20分程度の余裕を持って山頂へ到着することができました。
メインのサンセット・星空鑑賞もとても満足度の高いツアーでしたが、こういったイレギュラーな事態への対応も安心してお任せすることができる熟練ガイドがついてくれるツアーでした。
Translated by OpenAI
I signed up because I wanted to see a perfect starry sky. After gathering at the designated location, we got into the car and slowly climbed the mountain. Since the altitude is high, we gradually acclimated our bodies, but the sandwiches we had at the rest stop were incredibly delicious.
We arrived at the summit around 5 PM and waited for everyone to see the sunset. The sight of the sun setting into the sea of clouds was very beautiful and felt like it cleansed my soul.
From there, we moved a little to see the starry sky. Just as I was thinking that the stars were starting to appear, by around 8 PM, a perfect starry sky spread out before us in no time. At an altitude of 4,000 meters, there was nothing to obstruct the view, and the starry sky stretched all the way to the horizon. I could really feel that the Earth is round.
While enjoying warm hot chocolate, we all talked about how we had never seen such a beautiful starry sky and wondered what constellations we were looking at.
I was able to create a very wonderful memory. Thank you.
満点の星空を見たくて申し込みました。指定された場所で集合した後は、車に乗って、ゆっくり山を登っていきます。標高が高いので徐々に身体を慣らしながらいくのですが、途中休憩場所で頂いたサンドイッチはすごく美味しかったです。
17時ごろ山頂に着き、みんなで日が落ちるのを待ちます。雲海の中に日が落ちていく様子はとても綺麗で心が洗われるようでした。
そこから星空を見るため、少し移動します。星が出始めたなと思っているうちに、20時ごろには、あっという間に、満点の星空が広がっていました。標高が4,000mと高く遮るものが何もないため、地平線にまで星空が広がっています。地球は丸いんだと感じることができました。
あったかいホットチョコレートをいただきながら、みんなで「こんな綺麗な星空みたことない」「あれは何座だろう」と話したりしました。
とても素敵な思い出をつくることができました。ありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
After gathering at the designated store, we all got into a jeep and headed to the location. Waipi'o Valley can only be accessed by those recognized by the country, so tourists must join a tour to visit (although it can be viewed from the observation deck).
During the tour, we crossed rivers in the jeep, received explanations about the plants, and sometimes stopped to observe wildlife, allowing us to have various experiences. While Hawaii is strongly associated with the ocean, this trip made me realize that there are jungles like this as well.
指定のお店に集合した後、みんなでジープに乗って、現地に向かいます。
ワイピオ渓谷は、国で認められた人しか立ち入るかとができないので、旅行客はツアーに参加しないと行くことができません（展望台から見ることはできます）。
ツアー中は、ジープで川を渡ったたり、植物の説明を受けたり、時には立ち止まって、野性動物を見たり、と様々な経験をさせてもらいました。海のイメージが強いハワイですが、このようなジャングルもあるのだと感じることができる旅でした。
Translated by OpenAI
My 8 year old grandson was taught by Mitch how to snorkel so he could enjoy the manta rays. The grandkids
said it was awesome and I agree! It’s a must to do. The crew was extremely professional and safety conscious.
I participated in a helicopter tour of the Big Island! The pilot was Toshi, who recently became a grandfather and has semi-retired. I felt very lucky to meet Toshi on this trip!
From the moment we headed to the helicopter, my excitement soared, and it reached its peak during takeoff! I was moved by the breathtaking natural beauty of the Big Island spread out below me.
The landing and takeoff at the cliffs of Kohala Coast and the 365-meter drop of Punalu'u Falls were absolutely thrilling!
As I flew, reflecting on the history from the birth of the Big Island to the present, I was reminded of how short and precious life is.
It was truly priceless! I highly recommend it!
ビッグアイランドのヘリコプター遊覧ツアーに参加しました！パイロットはToshiさん、お孫さんが産まれて、セミリタイアされたとの事。今回、Toshiさんにお会い出来たのは、非常にラッキーでした！
ヘリに向かう時からテンションが上がり、テイクオフでMAXに到達！眼下に広がるビッグアイランドの大自然に感動しました(^^)
特にコハラ海岸の断崖絶壁と、落差365mのプナルルの滝へのランディング&テイクオフは迫力満点でした！
ビッグアイランドの誕生から今に至る迄の、歴史に思いを馳せながらのフライトは、人の一生が如何に短く、如何に大切か、改めて感じる事が出来ました！
正にプライスレス！！お勧めです(^^)
Translated by OpenAI
The outdoor riding at the very lovely farm was amazing! The horses were smart and gentle, and the friendly instructor provided freshly picked fruits and explained the nature around us, which made me very satisfied.
とても素敵なファームでの外乗、最高でした！
馬達は賢く穏やかでフレンドリーなインストラクターがもぎたてのフルーツをくれたり自然の説明をしてくれて大満足でした。
Translated by OpenAI
The pilot was Toshi Mochizuki! With his warm and passionate guidance, we discovered the true charm of the Big Island of Hawaii! Thank you so much, Toshi!
パイロットは望月トシさんでした！
彼のあたたかく、そして熱い案内で、わたし達はハワイ島の本当の魅力を知りました！トシさんホントにホントにありがとうございました！！
Translated by OpenAI
The site for the luau was gorgeous. The food was excellent. We couldn't see the show at all because we were in the back and had kids , although none of us could see it. We left early. We haven't gotten our pictures because we didn't get a chance to do it quick enough. The old method of bringing to the guests was better.
Francis was a really fun guide and took care of us really well, making sure we were all doing okay with the high elevation. Sunset was gorgeous, seeing the moon through an 80x telescope was really cool, watching the stars come out was great. If you have a choice, go during a new moon, we had about 70% moon and it created a lot of light pollution in the sky. The other guide (Tom?) was really good at pointing out all the main constellations, even naming some of them in various different languages since we had a mixed ethnic group. Very knowledgeable. Phenomenal, phenomenal tour.
Miles was great, made it safely to all areas. We are novice kayakers and did just fine out in the open ocean. Great experience!
I was never bored thanks to our guide, Shoyou, and the trainee, Victor, who shared fascinating stories about the history, cuisine, and highlights of the Big Island during our journey to Mauna Kea. Fortunately, we were the only Japanese speakers, so the explanations were in Japanese.
After arriving at Mauna Kea, we enjoyed great locations at the summit and under the starry sky, where we took wonderful photos. The constellation explanations were also excellent. Although the half-moon made the moonlight a bit distracting, we were able to capture stunning photos of the Milky Way, which was truly moving. The sandwich we had along the way was delicious as well. I was completely satisfied with everything. Thank you!
ガイドのショウヨウさんと見習い中のビクターさんに、マウナケアへの道中からハワイ島の歴史、グルメ、おすすめポイントなど興味深い話で退屈することがありませんでした。また幸いな事に日本人しかいなかったので説明も日本語でした。
マウナケア到着後も山頂、星空ともグッドロケーションで素敵な写真を撮っていただき、また星座解説もよかったです。当日は半月で月明かりが気になりましたが、天の川が映った写真を撮って頂き、感動ものでした。途中で食べたサンドイッチも美味しかった。全て満足です、ありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
They got us on early to get a great view with the clear morning skies! wonderful and safe flight
crystal clear waters, lots of reef and fish!! wonderful experience
This shuttle tour is absolutely amazing!! Our guide, Kaleo, was extremely, knowledgeable, courteous and funny! He and his family live in the Waipio Valley and his pride of the history of this historic place shines through! In the beginning of the tour he stops at the Sacred Rock and prayed in his native language for our safety. The ride is very steep and very rocky. Along the way, he stopped the vehicle and lucked chameleon off a bush and allowed each of us to hold it. What a treat! At the bottom of the valley we saw wild Spanish horses, Belladonna flowers, Sleeping Hibiscus and Kaleo explained the history of the Taro plants It was like stepping into Jurassic Park. We saw the most magnificent Hehelava Falls and the Kohala cliffs. We road through rivers also. This tour was one of our best adventures of our trip and one of our favorite memories. We felt very safe with Kaleo as he lives in the valley and travels the road daily. Mahalo Safari Shuttle Tours and A Hui Hou!
Was a great afternoon driving through the trails to the waterfall! We hit every MUD hole there was along the way! Then stopped for a snack, took some pics of how Muddy we were then walked down to the waterfall and jumped in the refreshing water! The guides we Absolutely amazing, told us all about the history of the land and waterfall. Shared with us other places to stop and see on our trek back across the island, VERY FRIENDLY and all did and absolute amazing job making our day AMAZING! We definitely recommend this excursion for anyone, they won't disappoint!!
Aloha Laura and Toni,
Thank you for your great review and for choosing Umauma. Glad you had a great time and enjoyed the mud.
Mahalo!
The Kealakekua Snorkel Tour is very well-organized. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the bay, which is incredibly beautiful. The staff on the boat are very friendly and provide support and assistance when needed. The coral and tropical fish in the bay are stunning, and it's very easy to observe the underwater scenery.
This was such an amazing experience that I hardly know where to begin.
I can't say enough about Jen, who was our guide. From the moment we met her at 7:30 am (she was early to pick up near our residence) until she dropped us back home ~12 hours later, she made the trip such a positive experience. She was very personable and easy for my husband and I to chat with us as we made the ~1.5 hr drive to pick up the rest of the passengers in Hilo.
She was constantly pointing out areas of interest and sharing background information and context so that we could fully appreciate the sights of the Volcano park.
The 3 mile hike was great, and it was so interesting to spend time on the caldera floor, although I will admit that the trek back up truly tested my stamina!
All in all, an amazing day!
This was an amazing experience taking us deep into the Waipio Valley. This shuttle is almost the only way to explore the Waipio Valley, which is something NOT to be missed in touring the Big Island of Hawaii.
Our driver (unfortunately forgot his name; were on the 1st morning tour on 5/9/24) was extremely proficient in navigating the exceedingly steep terrain and making us feel safe and calm. He pointed out areas of interest, and made frequent stops for us to get out of the van and take pictures.
We highly recommend this tour!
I participated in this tour because you can only reach the summit of Mauna Kea with a tour. We headed towards Mauna Kea while learning about Hawaii's history. We were fortunate with the weather, and the sunset was truly magnificent. It can be quite cold even in summer. They provide jackets and pants, but if you prefer your own, it might be a good idea to bring a winter down jacket and a hat. We also enjoyed the sandwiches included in the tour here (they were very delicious). After that, we did some stargazing a little below the summit. There were so many stars, it was astonishing. We even saw artificial satellites. Enjoying hot chocolate in the cold was really warming. The guide shared the photos they took via AirDrop. It was a wonderful tour.
マウナケアの山頂はツアーでないと行けないのでこのツアーに参加しました。
ハワイの歴史などを解説してくれながらマウナケアに向かいます。
天気に恵まれサンセットは本当に素晴らしいものでした。
夏でもかなり寒いです。上着、ズボンなどを用意してくれてますが自分のものが良いという方は真冬のダウン、帽子を用意した方がいいかも
ツアーに含まれるサンドウィッチもここで頂きました。(とても美味しいです)
その後山頂から少し下りたところで星空鑑賞。こんなに星があるのかと言うほどたくさんの星出会います。人工衛星も見れました。
寒いところにホットチョコレートをいただき本当にホットしました。
ガイドさんが撮ってくれた写真もairdrop でシェア。
素晴らしいツアーでした。
Translated by OpenAI
The sunset at the summit was a fantastic experience, slowly sinking below the cloud horizon among the observatories. It felt like a scene from Mars, and I spent a precious time that I couldn't find anywhere else. Thank you!
At Masashi Nature School, I caught a cold, so they accommodated my schedule change and pickup location, which was a great help. There were only two of us, but S, a second-generation Japanese, explained everything well, which was nice.
The starry sky on the new moon was somewhat obstructed by the light from the rental car tire repair in the parking lot, which was a disappointing accident. However, I was able to see some stars.
山頂サンセットは天文台群の間、雲平線にゆっくりと沈んで行く、幻想的な素晴らしい体験が出来ました。火星のような景色でもあり、他では得られない貴重な時間を過ごしました。有難う！
まさしネイチャースクールでは風邪引いたので日程変更、ピックアップ場所変更応じてくれて、助かりました。2人だけでしたが、日本人は2世のS君がバランスよく説明してくれたので、良かったです。
新月だった星空は、駐車場でレンタカーパンク修理のライトが邪魔で、残念なアクシデントでした。星はそこそこ見る事が出来ました。
Translated by OpenAI
I participated alone during my stay in Hilo. It was great to find a Mauna Kea tour departing from Hilo, as they are not easy to come by. The scenery while driving through Mauna Kea felt like I had arrived in another world. The sunset and the evening glow were wonderful. The starry sky was also breathtaking, with the Scorpius and the Southern Cross clearly visible. I'm not good at English, so I listened to the guide's talk while translating it with a translation app. It was a tour that nature lovers would absolutely enjoy.
ヒロに滞在中に一人で参加しました。
ヒロ発のマウナケアのツアーがなかなかなくて、
見つけられて良かったです。
マウナケアの懐を走っている時の景色は、
地球外に来たのではないかと思ってしまうような異空間でした。
また、サンセット、からの夕焼けは素晴らしかったです。
そして星空も、さそり座や南十字星が綺麗に見えて感動しました。
英語が苦手で、ガイドさんのトークは翻訳アプリで翻訳しながら聞いていました。
自然好きにはたまらないツアーでした。
Translated by OpenAI
This was my second time doing this and it was amazing both times! This time I took my 3-year-old grandson. He was excited up until it was time to get in the water. He started crying and wanting mommy and though she was there she wasn’t planning to get in the pool (I hadn’t paid for her). Anyways, the trainer saw how upset he was and asked him if he wanted to hear the dolphin fart. He stopped crying and watched as she proceeded to make the dolphin make a fart sound. She then offered to let him do it and he did which made him laugh. He then decided the dolphin was pretty cool and ended up petting her and feeding her too. It was so fun spending that time with him and I can’t wait to do it again when my granddaughter is old enough.
Aloha- we are so thrilled that you enjoyed the program so much that you have returned to share the experience with other generations. We love that! Also, happy that the trainer was able to break the ice with your grandson, so that he was able to become comfortable to enjoy it as you do. Mahalo. See you when you bring your granddaughter.
It feels like you can enjoy your meal while watching. The variety and amount of food and drinks are just right. With Alii Seat, you get priority entry and can grab the buffet first, and the staff at your table quickly ask for your drink orders and bring them to you. The show isn't flashy, but you can enjoy it casually while eating and drinking. If you don't understand English, you'll just have to enjoy the atmosphere.
食べながら見るという感じですが食べ物、飲み物の種類と量もちょうど良い感じです。
Alii Seatだと優先的に入れてブッフェも先に取れるし飲み物もテーブル担当の方が直ぐに聞いて持って来てくれます。
ショーは派手さはないですけど飲み食いしながら気楽に楽しめる感じです。
英語がわからなければ雰囲気で楽しむしかないですけど。
Translated by OpenAI
