Big Island
It was truly a valuable experience to visit Waipi'o Valley, which we couldn't have gone to on our own, and I definitely want to go again.
Since there was only an English tour, it was a bit challenging to interpret for my husband, but it was really a sacred area where we received a lot of energy.
The guide was also very kind, and I would love to participate again.
自分たちでは行けないワイピオ渓谷へ行けたのは本当に貴重な経験で絶対また行きたいです。
英語のツアーしかないので主人への通訳が少し大変でしたがほんとに神聖なエリアでたくさんパワーをもらいました。
ガイドさんもとっても親切で是非また参加したいです。
My hubby and I wanted to try this ATV experience since we enjoyed a similar one on Kauai the previous year and it did not disappoint!
Going through the trails and seeing the sites were completely beautiful. The private little waterfall/lagoon was also refreshing after being covered with the dust from the trail.
The one thing I would have liked is a bandana to cover the lower half of my face because the dust got all up in every crevice.
Hi Ann,
Thank you for your 5-Star review and your comment. We did sell bandannas at one point but I guess we sold out. We'll get on it! Thank you!
My husband and I booked this tour for our honeymoon on the island. It was truly amazing to see the many fish and mantas in their natural habitat! I was that person who forgot their motion sickness meds. If you get motion sick/sea sick definitely take them so you can enjoy the whole experience without feeling queasy. If you come from colder climates you may not need wet suits. My husband and I didnt get them as we come from a cold climate and did fine temperature wise. The captain and his crew, Diego, were very knowledgeable and friendly. They also helped out a bunch when I wasn't feeling well. Would recommend this tour to anyone!
Aloha! Thank you so much for joining our Manta Ray tour and for choosing Iruka! It makes us so happy to hear that our guests are loving their experience. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo!
The approximately three-hour lure show was captivating with wonderful dances and songs. I was deeply moved to be able to experience Hawaii's traditional culture up close. The staff were also very friendly and left a good impression.
During the show, tourists were invited to join in, and everyone was laughing at the comedic dances. It's a pity that there were so few Japanese participants among the attendees; I think there were only a few in the show I attended. I hope more Japanese people can feel comfortable participating (perhaps the pricing is a bit high).
I am also very pleased with the final photo, which turned out beautifully. If I come to the Big Island, I definitely want to participate again. Mahalo.
約3時間のルアーショー、素晴らしい踊りと歌に酔いしれてました。ハワイの伝統文化を舞台近くで鑑賞できて感動で一杯です。スタッフの皆さんも笑顔で対応されていて、印象も良かったです。
観光客をショーの間に入れて、コミックな踊りに皆さん笑いが広がってました。
参加者の中に、日本人が少ないのは残念です。私が参加したショーには、数名かなと思います。もっと日本人が気軽に参加できるようにと希望します(料金が高い設定かなと)
最後の写真も最高出来栄えで大変嬉しく思ってます。ハワイ島に来ましたら、是非参加したいと思います。マハロ。
I participated in the 1.5-hour morning course. It's about a 45-minute drive from the hotel in Waikoloa, and renting a car is the best option. The instructions are given in English, and they speak slowly and clearly.
First, there is an explanation of the flow of the activity, filling out documents, and safety precautions. After that, they provide a lecture on how to ride a horse, and they stay with you from start to finish.
At first, we walked slowly, and then we were able to pick up speed at good spots, which was really enjoyable. Riding through the grasslands, mountains, and along the sea while taking in the great outdoors was an amazing experience.
午前の1時間半コースに参加しました。ワイコロアのホテルから45分程度、レンタカーでの移動が最適です。
英語での案内で、ゆっくりと分かりやすく話してくれます。
最初に流れと書類記入、注意事項などの案内があり、その後乗馬の仕方についてレクチャーしてくれ、最初から最後まで一緒に付いてくれます。
最初はゆっくりと歩き、途中スピードを出して良いスポットでスピードを出して楽しめました。
草原、山、海と大自然を見ながらの乗馬は最高の体験でした。
I was able to see about four waterfalls.
The scenery of Waipi'o Valley was also beautiful.
You can walk around the Botanical Garden in about an hour. It’s very worthwhile.
I swam in the waterfall pool. You can borrow a jacket for free, so even if you're not a good swimmer, you can still enjoy it. There is one place to change, but I couldn't use a shower.
Along the way, I was happy to receive water, juice, and snacks!
The guide was very friendly and a good person. Since I can't speak any English at all, I couldn't understand most of the explanations (I was prepared for that), but I think it’s a great tour for those who can understand. You can hear a lot of interesting stories!
I was glad that the weather was nice all day! ☀️
滝は4つくらい見れました。
ワイピオ渓谷の景色も素敵でした。
ボタニカルガーデンは1時間位で一周できます。見応えたっぷりです。
滝壺で泳ぎました。ジャケットが無料で借りれるので泳ぎが下手でも楽しめます。着替えるところ(一つ)はありますが、シャワーは使えませんでした。
道中、お水やジュース、お菓子もいただけるので嬉しかったです!
ガイドさんもとてもフレンドリーで良い人でした。私自身が英語が全くできないので説明がほぼ理解できませんでしたが(覚悟はしてました)理解できる人にとってはとっても良いツアーだと思います。色んな話が聞けます!
一日中天気に恵まれて良かったです☀️
This was definitely the highlight of our Hawaii trip. Will definitely try it again!!! 10/10 will recommend their service.
We are SO glad we booked this tour with Iruka; we had an absolutely incredible time with tour guides Trevor, Diego and Tamaya (so sorry if I'm misspelling your names or missing anyone) who were so knowledgable and accommodating. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island; a bunch of the rays got so close to us, we felt super safe and loved the hot chocolate afterwards!
Aloha Kristen! Thank you so much for joining our Manta Ray tour and for sharing about your experience. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time with us. Please come back soon! Mahalo
We had a group of 4 and had an excellent afternoon. Our guide was very knowledgeable and warm and friendly. The van was comfy and had big windows for viewing scenery along the drive. The starts were amazing as was the sunset.
You need to check this out if you are not an experienced ATV rider, the tour guides are very patient and chill.
You will arrive to a beautiful area, check in, bet your gear and go over a few house rules. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO USE THE PROVIDED GOOGLES (not your sunglasses)! The road gets pretty dirt heavy and become difficult to see.
It's a short ride but they take you to a small water hole where you are given the opportunity to jump off the rock and into the water and afterwards a drive back.
Wear something that you can get dirty, do not wear white and do not bring items you do not want to get dirty. The dirt is like a clay color and sticks.
Our tours guides were great ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hey Stepheee,
Thanks for the review and great advise for future guests. Glad you had a great time!
We had the best pilot and best tour ever, amazing scenery
This stargazing experience was absolutely fantastic! James did an amazing job with explaining what we were seeing and keeping the group engaged. He was informative yet entertaining…and the pictures almost look unreal. As our family returned to the hotel, our kids raved about how much fun they had. Definitely an experience not to miss!
The meeting at the supermarket parking lot, the sunset at the summit of Onitsuka Center, and the stargazing upon returning to the foothills all went smoothly. Warm clothing was provided, so the cold was not an issue. Thank you for the explanations about the mountains and history in the car. The only concern I had was that the guide looked very sleepy during the drive back. Please make sure to rest well during the day to avoid any accidents. Thank you very much.
スーパーマーケットの駐車場の待ち合わせから山麓のOnitsuka center 頂上での夕焼け、山麓に帰っての天体観測、帰還と全てスムースに進みました。防寒服も用意され寒さも問題ありませんでした。車の中での山や歴史の説明もありがとうございました。帰りの運転でガイドさんがとても眠そうだったのが唯一気になった点です。事故なきよう昼間十分に休まれるようにしてください。ありがとうございました。
This was an outstanding dinner and show. Food was delicious and drinks were always being served. You never had to ask for drinks because there was always someone walking by with a tray full. The show was amazing and educational. The Dancers were incredible and the women were beautiful!
I highly recommend it!!
We always felt safe. The support was great. We were there with our 2 sons (4 and 11 years old). Everything worked great and everyone was very attentive. We were able to enjoy it completely as a family. Seeing the manta rays was an unforgettable experience.
Highly recommended!
Aloha Stefanie! Thank you so much for choosing Iruka and for sharing about your exciting experience. We are so happy that you enjoyed your time on our Manta Ray tour. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo
I participated with my 2-year-old and 4-year-old children. The kids were able to see manta rays while my husband and I took turns. The conditions seemed good, and we were able to see more than five manta rays up close. I took some motion sickness medication just in case, but the kids didn't get seasick at all and had a great time. Thank you for taking photos with the sunset from the boat and for the hot chocolate. I brought warm clothing, so I wasn't cold at all, and everything was fine. I will definitely go again when I visit the Big Island! ♡
2歳と4歳の子供達と一緒に参加しました。
子供達は船上から、私と主人は交代でマンタを見せていただきました。
コンディションも良かったようで、間近に5枚以上のマンタを見る事ができました。
酔い止めは一応飲みましたが、子供達も全く酔う事なく、楽しめました。
船上から夕日と一緒に記念撮影していただいたり、ホットチョコレートをいただいたりありがとうございました。
防寒着も持って行ったので寒くもなく、大丈夫でした(^^)
またハワイ島に行った際には絶対行きますね♡
Aloha Shiro☆,
Thank you for participating with your family at Manta University. You were well-prepared with motion sickness medication and warm clothing! I'm glad to hear that your whole family enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the day when your children grow up and can snorkel together with you.
We sincerely await your next participation.
Mahalo!
Aloha しろ☆様
この度はご家族でマンタ大学へご参加いただきありがとうございました。
酔い止めや防寒着など事前準備がバッチリでしたね!ご家族皆で楽しんでいただけたようで嬉しくおもいます。
お子様が大きくなって一緒にシュノーケルできる日も楽しみですね。
次回のご参加を心よりお待ちしております。
Mahalo!
My fiance(who i proposed there in the Luau)and i just love the party so so much!!! Everything were amazing! All the workers were so nice, incredible shows and tasteful food!!! We recommend 100% for everyone!
I never expected to see manta rays so close, which was a bit scary but also moving. The hot chocolate I had on the boat was also very delicious.
まさかこんなに近くでマンタが見られるとは思っていなかったので、少し怖さもありつつ、感動しました。
船で飲んだホットチョコレートもとても美味しかったです。
Aloha! Akane,
Thank you for participating in Manta University.
The hot chocolate after coming out of the sea is warming, isn't it?
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your encounter with the manta rays.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos of the sunset and the sea. The sunset truly conveys your emotions!
We sincerely look forward to your next participation.
Mahalo!
Aloha! あかね様
この度はマンタ大学へご参加いただきありがとうございました。
海から上がった後のホットチョコレート、温まりますね。
マンタとの出会いを楽しんでいただけたようで嬉しいです。
美しい夕日と海の写真を掲載くださりありがとうございます。あかね様の感動が伝わってくるような夕日です!
またのご参加を心よりお待ちしています。
Mahalo!
The food was ok. The entertainment was ok. I’ve been to a luau before and this time was just ok. It wasn’t worth the price.
The content of the show was very good!
The seasoning of the food was not as expected...
I was seated at the very back, but I could see well if I stood up in the back.
ショーの内容はとても良かったです!
ご飯の味付けは期待通りではなかったです、、
席が一番後ろでしたが、後ろで立てばよく見えました。
The day of the tour was just one day before the full moon, and with 98% moonlight, it was too bright to see a perfect starry sky (I should have checked the lunar calendar in advance...). However, the sea of clouds below was breathtaking, and the sunset from the summit at an elevation of 4,207 meters was truly beautiful and very moving.
Our tour guide, Stephan, was very friendly and, despite being a tall foreigner, he grew up in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. He was very kind, took many photos for us, and even sent us some amazing starry sky pictures he had taken in the past via AirDrop. The vegetarian sandwich was also very delicious, and the cocoa he made for us at the summit was incredibly tasty and warming. Thank you for a wonderful experience and memories.
ツアー当日は満月の一日前で、月明かり98%ということで満点の星空を見るには明るすぎたのですが、(事前にちゃんと月齢カレンダーを確認すべきでした、、)雲を下に見る雲海は絶景で、標高4207mの山頂からのサンセットは本当に綺麗で、とても感動しました。
ツアーガイドのステファンさんはとても気さくで見た目は背の高い外人さんですが、バリバリの日本育ちとのことで、日本語ペラペラで、とても親切で写真もたくさん撮ってくれて、過去に撮影した素晴らしい星空の写真もAirDropで送ってくださいました。
ベジタリアンサンドイッチもとても美味しく、山頂で入れてくれたココアはとっても美味しくてあたたまりました。素敵な体験と思い出をありがとうございました。
- Hawaiian History, Flowers, Trees, Birds, Fish & Tame Wild Horses - Fabulous Scenic Views
- Enjoyed The Delightful Pick Up Spot
Really enjoyed the dinner, we were nervous but it was soooo delicious!!
Mahalo for joining us and taking the time to share a kind review! We are so happy that you enjoyed dinner! Best wishes to you and yours!
The crew was great, the manta turn out was amazing, and the boat ride is short (which is ideal for when you’re cold and ready to get warm again haha). We got lucky that it was a small group so there were plenty of options to sit and have a lovely view of the sunset while heading out. 10/10 would do again.
Watching the sunset from the boat before heading to the manta point was the best situation.
Seeing the manta up close was amazing!!
It's incredible to see them so near.
It gets a bit chilly when you come out of the water, so I recommend bringing something to wear.
マンタのポイントに行く前に、サンセットを船上からみて最高のシチュエーションでした。
マンタも間近に見れて感動!!
こんなに近くで見れるなんて最高です。
海から上がる頃には、少し肌寒いので、羽織る物を持って行かれる事をお勧めします。
Aloha! Kazu,
Thank you for participating in Manta University. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the sunset and your encounter with the manta rays. We hope you'll join us again. We look forward to seeing you!
Mahalo!
Aloha! Kazu様
この度はマンタ大学へご参加くださりありがとうございました。
サンセットとマンタとの出会いを楽しんでいただけたようで嬉しく思います。
また是非ご参加くださいね。お待ちしております!
Mahalo!
MUST DO!
This was a great tour - really educational and fun. Be prepared for rain, you are in the rainforest and it rains a lot. Our guide came prepared with umbrellas and rain jackets, flashlights for the lava tube, water and snacks.
Andre, our tour guide was amazing, experienced and incredibly knowlegable of the volcanoes, land, plants and trees, Hawaiian culture, plus more, and the history of all mentioned. He made sure we were always entertained during the approx. 8 hour trip.
Would recommend shorts, closed toed shoes (sneakers fine) suntan lotion, somewhat water repellant light jacket (in case your tour does not provide).
The horse was very cute, and the view while riding was amazing, offering a panoramic view of the Big Island of Hawaii. It became an unforgettable experience.
お馬ちゃんがとっても可愛くて、乗馬中の景色もハワイ島が一望できて最高でした。忘れられない体験になりました。
Japanese tourists have returned to Hawaii. However, due to the pandemic, there are hardly any Japanese guides left, making the tours quite boring for those who struggle with English. On tours that showcase the rich nature, Pocketalk usually doesn't work, and we find ourselves tuning out the rapid-fire English explanations. Please rehire Japanese guides soon! We are only reluctantly signing up for English guides!
ハワイにも、日本人が戻ってきましたね。でも、日系のガイドさんはコロナ禍でほとんど居なくなってしまい、英語が苦手な日本人にはつまらないツアーばかりになりました。
豊かな自然が売りのツアーでは、たいていポケトークは機能せず、マシンガンの様な英語のガイドをしらけながら聞き流しています。
早く日系ガイドを再雇用してあげてください!
英語のガイドは、仕方なく申し込んでいるだけですよ!
It was very cool. Every one was very kind and accommodating. Guide was informative and pilot was very good. We saw a couple sharks and tons of other fish. Kids loved it! (12 and 10) Mahalo!
When I checked in a little before 9 AM, I was a bit confused because the parking gate was closed, but after checking in, I smoothly rented a helmet, boots, and a jacket, and it didn't take long for the guide to help me choose a horse and get mounted.
Riding along with the guide across the vast grounds during lunch was very refreshing. My horse was Oliver, who had stylish striped hair, and my wife rode Vodka, a chestnut horse; both were great horses.
Along the way, our guide Jessica took some photos for us, and we returned a little after 11 AM, slightly exceeding our scheduled time. It became a wonderful memory.
ちょっと早めの9時過ぎにチェックインした際にパーキングのゲートが閉まっていたので少し戸惑いましたが、受付後はスムーズにヘルメット、ブーツ、上着のレンタルを受けて、ガイドさんに馬を選んでもらって乗り込むところまではすぐでした。
ランチの広大な敷地をガイドに沿って馬と共に進むのはとても爽快でした。
私の馬は立髪がおしゃれにシマシマになったOliver、妻は栗毛のVodka、どちらもいい馬でした
途中ガイドのジェシカが写真を撮ってくれたりして
時間は予定より少し超過して11時過ぎに帰着となりました。
とても良い思い出になりました