All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

First timers will experience an exhilaration rush of amazing views. Even if you are afraid of heights don’t be, the crew are professional experts to ease your worries. They know what they are doing (with a flare of joking) to take your nerves from reminding you you’re going to be hundred of feet up in the air. It’s worth it! You’ll appreciate the picturesque palm trees, streams and lastly the huge waterfall. This took my breath away but in a good way. Bring your camera for all the unforgettable shot. What you show all your social media friends and family will surely make them jealous. Love the experience highly recommended!

Are ready to try an adventure that is unique? Water activities are great but what about doing something at night, in the water and mysteriously fun? You must do this! A night time viewing of majestic Manta Rey fish! Oh boy, so fun. The day came, I drove down to the facility early (good thing I did, I got lost) and introduced myself to the host. Maybe her name was Iruka, but a very friendly girl greeted me and accommodated any questions I had. She offered a wetsuit fins and mask/snorkel combo however, I bought and brought my own (because I know what it means for things not to fit right). We took off on time with about 13-15 people out into the abyss. Light was shimmering off the water as the sun was setting down. Very beautiful to see it on a boat. We took a short ride to the spot where other boats were anchored and the crew pulled out a square like raft. It had special lights in the middle to draw fish and Manta Ray. The special lights draw the plankton towards the light and the fish eat it right away.

Everyone slowly dropped ourselves over the side and crew members helped us swim to the floating raft. We had to hold a small rope handle and given floating noodles to place under our feet to make everyone horizontal. This is to keep our feet from kicking underneath the raft and scaring the fish. This also kept everyone relaxed, well until we started seeing strange fish.

So much fun! The ride back was scary fun. Traveling through the dark without any lights but the moon illuminating on the water in front of us Wow! This is something you'll never forget. Highly Recommended.

Video https://youtu.be/t4VJHokd3DI

Although this is now the only way that you can visit the Waipio Valley it is so worth taking the guided tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history and culture of the valley, and shared loads of local insights and stories which made this one of the best tours we have ever experienced

Decided to try this luau after researching luau options on the big island, and unfortunately it fell short of expectations.
There are three main areas I judge in a luau, and I'll expand on each category for this place; location/setting, food/drinks, and entertainment.
First the location setting. Although located at the Fairmont orchid resort, a beautiful and well kept property, the luau itself was "makeshift" utilizing cheap plastic chairs and tables and placed between the golf course and tennis courts, over a mile away from the coast with no sunset or real ocean view. Most other luau's I've been to are more like restaurants with permanent structures set right on the coast.
I had read rave reviews about the food, and while it too fell short of expectations - it wasn't all bad. I'll definitely give it credit for a large selection and variety, but the food was overall "meh." The poke, fish, shrimp and chicken were good but the beef and pork were awful. There was no actual hog roast; the pulled pork they served was clearly not from a recently dug up roasted pig - and it tasted disgusting; this was the biggest let down as you expect amazing pulled pork when you goto a luau. They lacked variety in drinks, so not much to choose from in terms of wine (only "red" or "white") or beers (a few cheap varieties in cans, no IPAs), and the mixed drinks were also limited in ingredients (for example, they couldn't make me an old fashion), but they had the basics to make most decent cocktails. My biggest complaint with the drinks is that the line was long and clearly a bottleneck only having 2 bartenders making drinks for the entire group. Other luaus I'd attended always had the basic drinks ready to go so you could grab a basic drink at anytime if you wanted.
As for the entertainment; also very meh. Not a big production (again, due to the "makeshift" nature of this luau), but it contained all the basic elements to not fall completely short.

Henry is a wonderful tour guide. He told us so many interesting things about Big Island culture, history, plants, geology, stars. He was great with the kids and took a good care of us all. The Rainbow fall was beautiful and the banyan tree nearby was insane! The star gazing was great even though the conditions were not the best (bright moon). For me the best experience of the tour was getting deep inside the cave - it was amazing, I had never seen anything like it.

My family did this experience. It’s quite a drive to get to this place. I did this with my husband and 2 kids (ages 12 & 9). The tour guides were really friendly and informative. They chose our horses for us based on weight and experience. The horses know where they’re going so there’s little for the rider to do. The waterfall was very cold, deep, and there’s quite a current! Be prepared if you want to swim (we did!). They have kayaks and paddle boards if you prefer not to swim. My kids loved this experience and have been asking for horseback lessons since we got back. Bring a long sleeve shirt or light jacket just in case- we were chilly!

My family did the sunset cruise and it was amazing! We got to watch the sunset in the water and got to see dolphins and look for whales before heading to the snorkeling spot. I have kids ages 12 and 9. While my 9 year old struggled a bit with the snorkel, my 12 year old had no problems at all. The crew was super fun and engaging, dancing to music and generally infecting the crowd with their great attitude. Snacks and drinks were provided as well as hot chocolate afterward. They also took videos for us and were happy to airdrop them to anyone that wanted them. I would definitely recommend this experience and this company!

I previously participated in whale watching on Oahu, but I hardly saw any whales at that time. This time, however, I was able to see them one after another from early on. On the way back, dolphins came around the boat and even showed us some jumps, making it the best whale watching experience ever.

以前にオアフ島でホエールウォッチングに参加しましたが、その時はほとんどクジラに会えなかったですが、今回は早い時間帯から次ぐから次に見ることができました。
帰りには、船の周りをイルカが来て、ジャンプまで見せてくれて、最高のホエールウォッチングになりました。

One of the best and most impressive tour we ever made!

The staff were all kind and fun, even though they spoke English. They chased after the whales over and over, and you could tell they were really trying to show us their bodies. Chips and drinks are available on the first floor, so it's fine to participate hands-free (a light jacket would be better). I think it's a good idea to take motion sickness medication beforehand.

英語だけどみんな優しくて楽しいスタッフさん達でした。
クジラを何度も何度も追いかけてくれて、どうにか体を見せようとしてくれているのが伝わります。
チップスやら飲み物は一階に置いてあるので手ぶら（薄い防寒があればベター）で参加で大丈夫です。
酔い止めは飲んで行ったほうがいいと思います。

The speed of the boat was fast, which was a bit scary, but thank you for the fun tour. I will never forget the sight of dolphins swimming right in front of us as we set sail. The explanations about the marine life surrounding the Big Island from the Japanese female guide were very educational.

ボートのスピードが速かったので少し怖かったですが、楽しいツアーをありがとうございました。出港してからすぐに目の前をイルカが泳いでいる光景は忘れられません。日本人女性ガイドさんからのハワイ島の周囲に生息する海洋生物の説明は大変勉強になりました。

Overall, it was a tour where I could truly feel the great nature of Hawaii, and I was very satisfied with the beautiful sunset and starry sky. Not only the sunset and starry sky, but I also enjoyed the scenery of mountains, the ocean, and the changing rocks and plants along the way. I definitely want to recommend this to friends going to the Big Island.

We gathered in Kona in the afternoon and traveled by van with our tour guide. The tour guide was an American who grew up in Japan and could speak both English and Japanese, so those who don't speak English can participate with peace of mind.

For stargazing, even those who can speak some English might not understand the explanations unless they are given in Japanese, as the details are quite technical, so I was really glad to have a guide who spoke Japanese.

I brought various jackets for warmth, but they also provided good quality cold-weather gear, so as long as I had thermal wear and a long-sleeve sweatshirt, it was no problem. At the summit, I didn't feel much of the thin air and was able to finish the tour without any issues.

とにかくハワイの大自然を感じられ、綺麗な夕日、綺麗な星空を見れて大満足なツアーでした。夕日と星空だけでなく、道中の山や海、場所によって変わる岩や植物などの景色もたくさん楽しめました。ハワイ島に行く友人には絶対お勧めしたい内容です。
午後にコナで集合し、ツアーガイドのバンで移動。
ツアーガイドは日本育ちのアメリカ人の方で、英語、日本語両方できるので、英語ができない方でも安心して参加できます。
星空観測なんかは英語がそこそこできる方でも、日本語で説明してもらわないと理解できないくらいマニアックな説明をしてくれるので、日本語できるガイドで本当に良かったです。
防寒対策でいろいろと上着持って行きましたが、防寒着もしっかりしたものを貸してもらえるので、上下ヒートテックと長袖スウェットくらいあれば問題無かったです。
山頂はあまり空気の薄さも感じず、特に何の問題も無くツアーを終えられました。

Had a great day on the water. Right out of the bay we experience whales breaching the water. Staff was well trained, everyone had their job and was on it. They were very helpful in and out of the water. Very knowledgable about the history of the bay and Capt. Cook. Breakfast and lunch was very good and served efficiently. Saw lots of species of fish on the coral reef at the Capt. Cook Monument. To finish the day we were entertained by Spinner Dolphins jumping out of the water. Highly recommend!

In this time of yen depreciation, I hesitated to join the activity tour, but I’m really glad I experienced it! It felt almost unbelievable, like I was in a dream… it was a graceful, powerful, and majestic time with the manta rays.

However, my whole family tried to take photos with our smartphones, but we were so focused on observing and getting into position that we ended up not capturing a single image, which I truly regret. It was the highlight of the trip, but the impact of that experience is something that words alone cannot convey.

For those considering participation, having good physical stamina will enhance your enjoyment, so I recommend not postponing and experiencing it as soon as possible. Also, be sure to prepare your health to avoid lack of sleep and to be ready for potential seasickness!

この円安のご時世、アクティビティツアー参加はとても迷ったのですが、本当に体験して良かったです！
なんだか信じられない、夢の中にいたような…優雅で、パワフルで、雄大なマンタとの時間でした。
　
ただ、家族全員スマホで撮影を試みたのですが、体勢を整えて観察するので精一杯になり、画像が一枚も撮れなかったのが本当に本当に心残りです。
この旅行のハイライトとなったのですが、あの迫力はみんなに言葉だけでは伝えきれないです。

参加を考えている方は、体力があった方がより楽しめるので、また今度にと先延ばしせず体験されることをお勧めします。
あと船酔いに備え、睡眠不足にならないよう体調整えての参加を！

Great trip with Tyler being our pilot. Not only was he a great pilot he was very knowledgable about the Big Island and about things a vacationer would not know. Saw many whales and spinner dolphins.. Circle Island tour was a great experience! Support staff was great and gave us all the information needed to make the trip great, but also safe!

I thought this horseback riding experience was a bit hard for complete beginners. The staff was very kind and interacted with us in a fun way, which made me very satisfied. However, the fact that it was only in English was a concern. I understood that there was no Japanese guide, but since we are dealing with animals, it's very important to have explanations that need to be conveyed clearly, and doing that entirely in English felt a bit off. While it's understandable that the guide is in English, I believe there should be a Japanese version of the instructions on how to ride and safety precautions, or at least an email sent in advance with that information.

Even though the staff explained things clearly, I think there might be instances where I could miss something if it's in English. It's not just about being careful for myself; we are dealing with living animals. Their mood can change, and they might get agitated over small things. I actually experienced that this time. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, and the horse is not to blame, but I hope this aspect can be improved.

今回の乗馬体験は、全くの乗馬初心者にはちょっとハードだったかなと思いました。スタッフの方はとても親切で、楽しく接してくれて大満足なんですが、まずは英語ガイドなこと。日本語ガイドがない事はわかっていたのですが、動物相手なので、とても重要なことの説明が必要なのに、それを全部英語でと言うのは、ちょっと違うかなと思いました。ガイドは英語でも仕方ないことですが、注意しなければいけない事、馬の乗り方の説明ガイドの日本語版は用意して欲しい、もしくは前もってメールで送るなどの配慮が必要だと思いました。
スタッフの方はわかりやすく説明はしてくれても、英語だと聞き逃したりがあるとおもいます。
自分だけが気をつけていればで済むことではないからです。相手は生きている動物なので。その時の気分や、ちょっとしたことで暴れてしまうこともあるからです。実際今回私はそうでした。大事にはいたりませんでしたし、馬に罪はないのでそれ以上どうと言う事はありませんが、その点は改善して欲しい事です。

This boat was by far the best option for whale watching. We took my 3 year old son for his birthday, so glad we chose this one. Our captain was determined to have everyone witness all of the amazing sights of whales in their natural habitat including, breaching, Mom and baby, whale tail waves, even the smell of anchovy whale breath! Will definitely be doing this one again! This was the highlight of our trip, an unforgettable experience! Mahalo Hawaii Nautical!

The sunset, starry sky, and observatory were all deeply moving and satisfying. In addition to that, the efficient sightseeing on the Big Island was excellent, and during the nearly 8-hour tour, they promptly answered individual questions in both English and Japanese (the languages available depend on the guide). Their witty responses matched the atmosphere perfectly, and I felt they had a wide breadth of knowledge and had studied extensively. My stay on the Big Island was very short, but it turned out to be a great experience. Regardless of changes in weather, season, or circumstances, I believe they can adapt to satisfy guests based on the situation at that time.

サンセット、星空、天体展望台は全て感慨深く満足のいく内容でした。それに加えて、ハワイ島の効率的な観光などはもちろんのこと、８時間弱に及ぶツアーの間は個々の質問などにも英語日本語ですぐにお答えいただいたり（可能言語は担当者によるとの事）、場の雰囲気に合わせたウィットに富んだ切り返しが絶妙で、知識の幅が広くものすごく勉強されているんだなと感じました。自分はとても短いハワイ島の滞在でしたが、大変良い経験となりました。天候や季節や状況が変わっても、その時の状況に合わせて満足させてもらえるのでないでしょうか。

On the day, it rained, and it was cold, making the conditions terrible. The woman in charge explained everything clearly and patiently, providing instructions on handling the bike and setting up the navigation for us, who do not understand English. I would like to try again on a nice day.

当日は雨が降り、寒くなりコンデションは最悪でした。
担当した女性の方は分かりやすく、英語のわからない私達にバイクの取り扱いの説明、ナビの設定など丁寧に説明してくれました。
天気の良い日に再度チャレンジしたい。

We had a private experience for just the two of us, and although we didn't get to see any dolphins, we had a great time learning about the Big Island. Thank you, Noni!

夫婦2人貸し切りで、ハワイ島の説明していただきなから、イルカには会えなかったけど、良い体験が出来ました。ノニさんありがとうございました。

Booked this with a group of six, and to our surprise, we got a last-minute upgrade apparently due to the cruise being overbooked: Our own private yacht with cocktails, beer, and dinner. We were greeted and wonderfully taken care of by two very friendly guys -- unfortunately, I cannot remember their names as this was a few weeks ago, though someone in my group did snag their card, so we will definitely hit them up when we return -- who indulged our desires to see some whales in addition to the sunset. The atmosphere was excellent, the mood was chill, and we indeed saw lots of whales and an amazing view of the sunset. Loved the experience!

A great time at Umauma Falls Zipline Tour & Waterfall Swim Adventure / 9 Zipline Tour.

Although it rained, it was a great time with my visiting friends. Our group had about seven total members, and we all felt included and enjoyed the adventure together. When the weather turned into rain, and the wind made the rain even more interesting... We all decided to make the most of it and enjoy the unique experience. Our Guides were friendly, informative, and humorous. They take safety seriously but they take the time to make sure you are having fun while being safe. Safety tip... "Keep your head and face to one side of the tether, or you'll get a knuckle sandwich." We will return on a sunny day to enjoy the waterfalls, but it was a great time for all, and the guides made it extra memorable.

Such an enjoyable experience!! Nearly all the food items were gluten free ( I have Celiac disease). The only suggestion I would make is to not put the gluten free dessert on the same plate as the glutinous items as there is chance of cross contamination. The wait staff were phenomenal. Our waiter Geno was on top of all our needs. The performers were out do this world and the musicians with equal talent. Loved the experience and encourage others to attend.

fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!

The Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour is amazing. The tour provides warm clothing for rent, so you can participate with peace of mind. There was plenty of time to enjoy the experience, and it was truly moving. The summit sunset and stargazing are wonderful. The tour includes dinner, and the sandwiches served for dinner are delicious and highly recommended.

マウナケア山頂サンセット&星空観測ツアー、最高です。防寒着の貸し出しありのツアーで安心して参加できます。
滞在時間も充分あり感動の時間を過ごせました。
山頂サンセット、星空観測素敵です。
夕食付きのツアーで夕食のサンドイッチも美味しくておすすめです。

I felt like I got to see all the best spots of Big Island on this 1 day tour!

Fabulous day, getting to get into the sea caves was the best!

Four years ago, I visited Waipi'o Valley and took photos from the observation deck. I joined this tour because it allows you to drive down to places that ordinary people can't access! The slope was steeper than I expected, and the driving was very slow and cautious. The guide spoke entirely in English, so I didn't understand anything, but the other foreign guests in the car were laughing and asking questions, so I think it was a good guide. It was fun to drive into the river and cross it; it felt like an attraction!

４年前に来た時は展望台から眺めて写真を撮ったワイピオ渓谷。こちらのツアーでは普通の人が行けない場所まで車で下って行けるとの事で参加しました！
思ってた以上に急斜面で、かなりゆっくり慎重に運転されてました。ガイドは完全に英語でしたので、私は全くわからずでしたが、車内の他の外国人の方は笑ったり質問したりしていたので、良いガイドさんだったと思います^_^河に車で入って横切ったりと、アトラクション的な感じもあったので、楽しかったです！

We’ve been to Waipio Valley several times but have never taken a guide-led tour, and it made a huge difference. The guide was charming, knowledgeable and experienced. We saw parts of the valley that we wouldn’t have been able to in the past, and certainly now that the valley is closed to non-residents. Highly recommend!

A most enjoyable experience! Once we spotted a spout in the distance, we motored to it for a wonderful mother-baby whale show! Only recommendation would be to improve the directions to get to the check-in location on the beach.