All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

Took this tour 6 years ago and had the most amazing experience. So I had to do it again. This tour offers the best of Big Island because you get to see Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. We saw lots of turtles at black sand beach and an actual rainbow at Rainbow Falls! Our guide Brent was very informative and helpful.

An absolute must see. The tour guides are from Waipio, so it's a great opportunity to really learn and experience the history and beauty of the land.

An absolutely fabulous experience, feeling the wind while the endless lava fields pass by below our feet. Photos without glare, a dream!
High safety, perfect pax care, highly recommended to anyone.
Many thanks!

We had 6 adults and 2 toddlers, this was the perfect activity for all of us to do. Short enough, interesting and interactive.

The weather on December 2 suddenly turned bad in the afternoon. I was looking forward to it, but my spirits dropped thinking I wouldn't be able to see the sunset or the starry sky. However, the clouds moved, and sunlight broke through the gaps, which was lucky. The sea of clouds was also wonderful. And the starry sky was perfect. Even though I'm not good at English, there were many Japanese travelers on the same bus, so I felt comfortable participating with the foreign guide.

12月2日の天気は午後から急に悪天候。
楽しみにしてたが、夕陽も星空も見れないかとテンションはだだ下がり。
でも、雲が流れ隙間から夕陽が差し、ラッキー。雲海もすばらしい。
そして、星空もバッチリ。英語が苦手な私も同じバスの日本人旅行者の方も大勢いらして外人ガイドでも安心して参加できた。

We experienced this with four friends. Our friends sat in the front row next to the pilot, while my husband and I were in the back right side. Shortly after takeoff, we headed north from above the coastline of Waikoloa towards the Kohala Mountains. We were amazed by the beauty of Waikoloa where we were staying, and the view of Maui from the sea was also deeply moving. It was all of our first time on a helicopter, and I thought the fear would be overwhelming, but as we ascended along the mountain slopes, we were able to enjoy it with a moderate sense of tension. The beauty of Waipi'o Valley was stunning, and I wanted to land and explore, but since it was a short course this time, we just circled without landing. (Next time, I would like to have lunch there.) Lastly, the staff were kind, friendly, and we had a great time. (One of the female staff members looked just like my mother when she was younger, which made me laugh.)

友人夫婦４人で体験いたしました。
友人夫婦がパイロットさんの隣の前列、私たち夫婦は後ろの右側でした。
離陸直後、西側の海岸線のワイコロアの上空から、北上しコハラ山脈に向かいました。
宿泊しているワイコロアの綺麗さに驚き、また、海から眺めるマウイ島も
感慨ぶかいものがありました。
４人ともヘリに乗るのは初めてで、怖さが勝るかと思いましたが、山の傾斜に
沿って高度を上げていったので、適度な緊張感で楽しむ事が出来ました。
ワイピオの谷あいも美しく、着陸して楽しみたかったですが、今回は短時間のコースでしたので、着陸せずに周遊するだけでした。
（次回は、ランチでもしたいです。）
最後にスタッフの方々も優しく、親切で楽しい時間が過ごせました。
（スタッフの女性が若かりし頃の母親そっくりで、笑ってしまいました。）

At the foot of the mountain, I was worried because it was raining in some areas, but at the visitor center halfway up, the weather improved, and it was clear from the midpoint onward. I recommend bringing a warm drink. Above the visitor center, the road became unpaved, and it felt like the car was struggling to climb the mountain, but after a while, we reached the summit.

At the summit, various observatories from different countries were lined up, and it felt like we were one step closer to space. With some time before sunset, I enjoyed the magnificent view from the top. It was definitely worth adjusting my schedule to participate. After a while, the grand show of sunset began, and the colors of the ground and sky near the summit gradually changed, creating an emotional experience as if watching a scene from a movie. The sea of clouds was also visible, making for the perfect situation. The scenery was even more breathtaking than the photos in the brochure. As it got darker, stars began to appear one by one, and their numbers quickly increased, transforming the scene into a completely different world from before sunset. The summit was colder than I expected, and I wore a down jacket suitable for winter, but it was still chilly. I recommend being well-prepared for the cold. The air pressure was low, and the air was thin, so I think those with respiratory issues or who are not in good health should reconsider participating. I truly felt the thinness of the air.

After sunset, I did some stargazing a little below the summit. The sky was filled with stars, creating a wonderful celestial show. I learned how to identify constellations and participated in observations with a telescope. It was moving to see the rings of Saturn through the telescope.

Although it was a bit of a long day starting in the early afternoon, I believe it was definitely worth participating. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

　山麓では一部雨も降っていて心配しましたが、食事休憩した中腹のビジターセンターでは天気も良くなり、中腹以降は快晴でした。暖かい飲み物を持参するのを推奨します。ビジターセンターより上は未舗装になり、車が懸命に山を登っている感じになり、しばらくすると山頂に到着しました。
　山頂には各国の天文台が並んでいて、宇宙に一歩近づいた感じでした。日の入りまで少し時間があり、山頂からの壮大な景色を堪能しました。スケジュール調整をして参加した価値が充分にありました。しばらくすると、日没の壮大なショーが始まり、山頂近くの地面や空の色が徐々に変わり、映画のワンシーンを観ている状態で、感動的でした。雲海も見えて最高のシチュエーションでした。景色はパンフレットの写真以上で、圧巻でした。暗くなると星がポツポツ見え出して、その数があっと言う間に増えて、日没前とは全くの別世界になりました。山頂は思っていたよりも寒く、真冬の格好でダウンジャケットも着ましたがそれでも寒かったです。寒さ対策は十分にしておくことをおすすめします。気圧も低く、空気も薄いので呼吸器系統の弱い人や体調が万全でない人の参加は見合わせた方がいいと思います。空気の薄さを実感しました。
　日没後に山頂から少し下った場所で星空観察をしました。満天の星で素晴らしい天体ショーでした。星座の見方を教えてもらい、望遠鏡での観察にも参加しました。その中で土星の輪が見えたのは感動的でした。
　午後早めの時間帯からの少し長丁場でしたが、参加する価値は十分にあると思います。感動をありがとうございました。

It was a great days long adventures around the island. I would highly recommend it!

Amazing experience this is the best way to get into the vally and hear the story's from your guide I came back to the island to do just this and it did not disappoint.

Awesome trip down into the valley with incredible photo opportunities. Forest did an excellent job telling us the history and plant life even got to eat fresh passion fruit from a very nice local.

I was a bit worried about going to an elevation higher than Mount Fuji without any prior experience in mountain climbing, but thanks to the wonderful support of our articulate guide, we were able to reach the summit safely. We drove almost all the way to the top and enjoyed the sunset. The stargazing afterward was easy to understand, and having hot cocoa under the starry sky was the best.

山登りなど国内でも経験がないまま富士山より高い標高に行くというのは少し心配していましたが、お話上手なガイドさんの素晴らしいサポートのおかげで、無事に山頂まで辿り着けました。徒歩はほぼなく車で山頂まで登り、サンセット。そのあとの星空観測もわかりやすく、星空の下でのホットココアが最高でした。

Fun and exciting. Nice view of the ocean and beaches. Saw lots of fish, a green turtle, an eel, and amazing coral. Staff was very knowledgeable. Of the two glass bottom trips I took, this was by far my favorite. was the one with the most fish.

We had such a great time! The crew was so nice. We had a great snorkel day, saw lots of fish. The water activities were a great bonus. The slide and platform were fun too! We went as a couple but great for families/children also. Had pastries and yogurt for breakfast, burgers for lunch, and cash bar open the entire time. I do wish for the price at least 1 drink could be included, but it was still a great time. We even saw some dolphins following our boat shortly before docking at the end

I chose this show with my sister because we wanted to see something representative of Hawaii. We were surprised by the large number of participants and were guided by the staff, who were very accommodating. The wind was strong, which was surprising, but I felt it was a good choice to participate in such a vibrant show. I created wonderful memories. The drinks, food, and welcoming leis were lovely.

ハワイらしいショーが見たいと、妹と選んだショーでした。すごく沢山の参加者に驚きながらスタッフさんに案内され、その時の対応がとても良かった。風が強くてビックリでしたが　華やかなショーに参加できて、選んで良かったと思いました。素敵な思い出が出来ました。飲み物、食事、お出迎えのレイ素敵でした。

I was not sure what to expect but I was very pleased with this experience. The crew was very pleasant, patient and knowledgable. They were very patient with some older guests and made sure they were safe and comfortable.
We ended up meeting several other boats so we had a lot of plankton for the Manta. Those beautiful fish did not disappoint! Although touching the manta is prohibited, they come close enough to touch! Bring your underwater camera for some great pictures and video memories!

I participated in a 2.5-hour tour in the morning session. There were 12 participants from various countries, and we were the only Japanese attendees. The guides were two women.

I was anxious because I hardly speak English, but the guide, Jackie, was kind and spoke slowly using gestures, occasionally mixing in some Japanese to check on us. There was also a Japanese version of the consent form.

Based on our riding experience, we were able to choose a horse that suited us well. I rode Stormy, who has also been ridden by Jun Hasegawa! We started with a briefing, gave the horse some water, and then set off!

The horseback riding took place on a vast area where we walked and ran, and along the way, we saw Japanese wagyu and cedar trees, with the guide providing information. The weather and scenery were great, and it felt wonderful. Although the land was really expansive, the 2.5 hours flew by. If you're afraid of running, you can also go at a slow walk. There are spots along the way where you can take group photos with beautiful scenery.

When running, you kick the horse, and when stopping, you pull the reins. As long as you keep your heels down while riding, you should be fine.

It was truly a fulfilling 2.5 hours, an amazing experience that you can only have in a vast place like Hawaii Island. I definitely want to do it again.

I am grateful to the two guides, the other participants, and the horses. Thank you very much.

Additionally, the staff at Veltra were very courteous in handling time changes and schedule adjustments, which I appreciated.

午前の部の2.5時間のツアーに参加しました。
参加者は12名で多国籍で、日本人は私たちのみでした。ガイドさんは女性2名でした。

英語がほとんど話せないので不安でしたが、ガイドのジャッキーさんが親切で、ジェスチャーを使ってゆっくりと話してくれたり、時折日本語を混ぜて、気にかけてくださいました。同意書も日本語版がありました。

乗馬経験に合わせて、相性が良い馬を選んで貰えます。私は長谷川潤さんも乗ったことがある、ストーミーに乗りました！初めにレクチャーを受け、馬に水を飲ませて、出発です！

乗馬は、とても広大な土地で歩いたり、走ったり、途中和牛がいたり、杉の木があったりガイドもして貰えました。天気も景色も良くて、とても気持ちが良かったです。本当に広い土地でしたが、2.5時間があっという間でした。走るのが怖ければ、ゆっくり歩くこともできます。途中景色が良いスポットでグループ単位で写真撮影もして貰えます。

走らせる時は馬を蹴り、止まる時はロープを引っ張り、馬に乗っている時に踵を下にすることを気をつければ、ある程度大丈夫だと思います。

本当に充実した2.5時間で、ハワイ島のような広大な場所でしか体験できないような素晴らしい体験でした。また絶対にやりたいです。

ガイドのお二人と参加者の方とお馬に感謝です。ありがとうございました。

また、ベルトラの方が時間変更や日程調整などとても丁寧に対応してくださり、ありがたかったです。

It was almost magical, definitely a fun tour to a place you cannot go on your own. Waipoi valley is like going to a hidden paradise that only a few outsiders get to visit and I feel envigorated that I was one of them. I saw many people in regular vehicles at the view point over looking the valley but only residents and tour groups are allowed to enter the valley and if you request it you can get off the 4x4 van and walk to the beach and catch the next vehicle back for a small fee. Overall I very nice experience.

We had an amazing experience and time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was deeply knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The tour started on time and went out perfect. They provided mitts and coats which kept us warm along with hot chocolate. It was a great evening with no clouds. The views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!

Staff, dancers, food and everyone involved was amazing!

This was on my bucket list. My guide was very informative. He took pictures, individual and group pictures of us during sunset and during the stargazing event. Be prepared to bounce around on the dirt road to the summit. Totally enjoyed the hot cocoa and BLT sandwich that was provided.

The tour was very well organized and very well planned. I felt I saw so much and learned a lot about the culture and history of the island. Jim was full of interesting information and made the trip memorable Fun group.

From the moment of arrival the staff was friendly and very attentive (we did pay for the VIP section and it was worth it for the service). The were almost too many food choices to choose from and it was all very delicious. The host was engaging and entertaining, the music wonderful, and all the dancers were great. We enjoyed that they were telling stories in their dance, not just there for show. Overall it was a wonderful experience, the only negative I have is location because you can't see the ocean from the luau venue and it does help the ambience we feel.

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds from 4200m is exceptional. You can truly feel the Earth. Observing Jupiter's Galilean moons for the first time was also moving. The guide's explanations and support were wonderful, making it a highly satisfying tour.

4200mからの雲海に沈むサンセットは格別です。地球を感じます。木星のガリレオ衛星の観測も初めて、感動しました。ガイドさんも説明や対応も素晴らしく、満足度の高いツアーです。

I searched for a tour to experience the great nature of the Big Island for the first time and participated in the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour. At first, I didn't have high expectations for climbing the mountain to see the sunset and the stars. I also read reviews mentioning that the explanations were only in English, making it difficult for those without strong English skills to understand. Additionally, although I don't have high blood pressure, I was concerned about climbing over 4,000 meters at the age of 67.

In conclusion, it was an amazing experience. While I did feel a bit breathless at the summit, it wasn't an issue if I walked slowly. The detailed explanations of the summit's viewpoint, the breathtaking sunset as it gradually darkened, and even I, with barely passing vision for my driver's license renewal, could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The detailed explanations of the constellations were also impressive. I hadn't seen the Milky Way in about 50 years, and it was truly moving.

This experience was made even more special thanks to the attentive service from the staff at Masashi Nature. Our guide was a Japanese person named SHOYO. His extensive knowledge, excellent explanations, and thoughtful attention created a very comfortable environment.

There were about 12 people on the tour, and my wife and I were the only Japanese participants. The explanations on the bus were in English, but they were not difficult to understand. Additionally, when we got off the bus, they provided a summary of the key points in Japanese. Outside the bus, the explanations were given in a mix of English and Japanese, making them very clear and detailed.

The photos of the sunset and the one with my wife under the Milky Way are wonderful treasures of memories. If I plan another tour in Hawaii, I will choose a Masashi Nature tour where I won't struggle with the language.

Lastly, thank you, SHOYO. I appreciate it.

初めてのハワイ島で大自然を感じることができるツアーを探し、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加しました。
最初は、山に登って夕焼けを見る、星空を見ることにそれほどの期待を持っていませんでした。また、口コミには英語だけでの説明で英語力がないとよくわからないとの感想もありました。さらに、私は高血圧ではないのですが、67歳の高齢で4000m以上の山登りはいかがかとも思っていました。
結論は、とても素晴らしい経験をすることができました。確かに山頂では少し息苦しい感覚はありましたが、ゆっくり歩けば気になることはありません。さらに、山頂の世界の展望台の詳細な説明、徐々に暮れてくる感動的な夕焼け。そして、運転免許更新に必要な視力ギリギリの私でも肉眼で見える天の川。また、星座の詳細な説明。天の川を見たのは50年前くらいで、感動的でした。
この感動もマサシネイチャーのスタッフの丁寧な対応があったからです。私らの担当は、日本人のSHOYOさんでした。彼の博学な知識と説明のうまさ、細かな気配りがとても居心地のいい環境を作ってくれました。
12人ほどのツアーでした。日本人は私と妻の2名だけでした。バス内の説明は英語でしたが、それほどわかりにくい英語ではありませんでした。また、バスから降りた際にバス内の説明のポイントだけを日本語で説明してくれました。また、バスの外では、英語と日本語と交えて説明をしていただき、とても分かりやすくかつ詳細なものでした。
夕焼けの写真、天の川の下の妻との写真も思い出としてとても素晴らしい宝物をいただけました。
次回、ハワイでツアーを計画するのであれば、日本語に苦労しないマサシネイチャーのツアーを選択すると思います。
最後にSHOYOさん、ありがとう。感謝しています。

On full moon days, the difficulty of seeing manta rays increases. It seems that strong lights are used to attract plankton, which in turn draws in the manta rays. However, during a full moon, the plankton disperses, making it harder to gather the manta rays.

Perhaps due to some misfortune, there was a powerful light installed on the ocean floor during the manta diving, and the manta rays were swimming near the bottom. In the light leaking from the ocean floor, I could see the shadows of the manta rays.

Next time, I want to challenge myself during the new moon. I would like to visit the Big Island of Hawaii again, aiming for the new moon period instead of the full moon.

満月の日は、マンタを見る難易度が上がるとのことです。
強いライトでプランクトンを集め、それをエサにマンタが集まるため、満月ではプランクトンが散開してマンタを集める難易度が上がるらしいです。

不運は重なるのか、マンタダイビングで海底に強力なライトが設置されていたこともあり、マンタはずっと海底で泳いでおり、
海底から漏れる光の中に、マンタの影が見えました。

今度は新月にチャレンジしたいです。
ハワイ島は、満月よりも新月の期間を狙って、また行きたいです

I participated thinking it would be my last chance since the age limit for the tour is 70. The guide was very kind and explained everything in detail, and the photos they took were fantastic. I'm 70, and I want to participate again next year!

ツアー参加可能の年齢が70歳までということで、最後のチャンスと思い参加しました。ガイドさんもとても親切で丁寧に説明してくれて、撮影してくれた写真も最高でした。70歳、来年も参加したい！

The guide was great and shared loads of interesting facts and stories about history, nature, culture, language, habits and astronomy. His knowledge and captivating way of presenting things were amazing. I also highly appreciate his deep respect towards the Hawaiian culture.
The trip was organized very professionally. The warm parkas were also highly appreciated.

I highly recommend this service.

I like that it was short, and that we were able to get on the water, we saw many little fish and a turtle.
The staff was excellent!

The tour guide ( Dexter) from Polynesian Adventure Tour picked us up from the hotel on time. Very knowledgeable and very informative . He knows all the places and history of the Big Islands (Hilo). Patiently waiting for us to finish the tour. We really had a great time. We will use the Polynesian Adventure Group again.

My first horseback riding experience was taught with great care. I had a scary image of horseback riding, but the horses were well-trained, and I was able to enjoy the experience with peace of mind.

初乗馬、丁寧に教えてくれました。乗馬に怖いイメージがあったが、よく調教されており安心して体験できた。