All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

I was really lucky to meet dolphins and whales. However, the waves were rough that day, and I got seasick... I recommend taking motion sickness medication.

イルカやくじらに会うこともできて本当にラッキーでした。
ただその日は波が荒く船酔いに…酔い止めお勧めします

We had a great time on this tour. We were able to see many different places on the island and our tour guide Awana had great knowledge of the island. The tour is a lot of driving but the van is decently comfortable and they have frequent stops to get out and stretch.

Climbing a mountain over 4000 meters for the first time made me anxious, especially since I had heard that the conditions at the summit can be very harsh. However, thanks to the attentive care of our guide, everyone was able to participate without any health issues. I truly felt reassured going with a guide who knows the mountains so well. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, we couldn't see the sunset from the summit, but we were able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the sunset a little lower down, which also gave us a chance to experience the power of nature. It seems that a snowy Mauna Kea is quite rare, so perhaps we were lucky in that regard. The starry sky was like a natural planetarium, and with the interesting explanations of the constellations, I could have gazed at it forever without getting bored. It became a memorable sight. Thank you to everyone at the nature school!

初めて4000m超の山に登ること、山の上はとても過酷な環境と聞いていたこともあり、不安がありましたが、ガイドの方のきめ細やかな心配りのお陰で、誰も体調を崩すことなく、参加することができました。やはり、山のことを知り尽くしているガイドさんと行くのが安心だなぁと思いました。残念ながら今回は悪天候のため、頂上では夕陽は見られませんでしたが、少し降りたところで夕焼けの絶景を見られましたし、自然の威力を体感する機会にもなりました。雪景色のマウナケア山はとても珍しいそうなので、逆にラッキーだったのかもしれません。星空はまさに天然のプラネタリウムで、面白い星座解説と共に、いつまで眺めていても飽きることがなく、思い出に残る風景となりました。ネイチャースクールの皆さま、ありがとうございました！

Unforgettable experience. Amazing views. Excellent services.

I learned how to surf in English and was able to catch waves right away, which was fun. They also took photos of me.
I recommend wearing a long-sleeve rash guard. I wore a short-sleeve one and ended up getting sunburned.

I signed a waiver at the office and learned about paddling and how to stand up.

Since we were supposed to travel to the lesson location individually, I was thinking of calling a taxi, but a family from LA who was participating in the lesson with me offered me a ride. They seemed to like Japan, and the dad was wearing a T-shirt with Japanese writing on it. I was lucky!

サーフィンを英語で教えてもらいながらしました。すぐ波に乗れて楽しかったです。写真も撮ってくれました。
ラッシュガードは長袖をおすすめします。私は半袖だったので、日焼けしてしまいました。

オフィスで誓約書にサインしたり、パドリングや立ち方を教わりました。

レッスン場所までの移動は各々でということだったので、TAXiを呼ぼうと思ったら、一緒にレッスンに参加していたLAのアメリカ人の御家族が乗せてくれました。日本のことが好きみたいで、パパさんは日本語が書かれていたTシャツを来てました。運が良かった！

The guide picked us up in the order of Kona → Waikoloa → Hapuna Beach, and since we were staying in Waikoloa, our meeting time was 1:45 PM. We arrived early at Hapuna Beach, so we spontaneously decided to go whale watching from the shore. We were able to see the whales spouting from a distance. Without the guide's assistance, we definitely wouldn't have noticed them. Even with the last-minute change, they were impressive.

After all 13 participants gathered, we set off for Mauna Kea Park. We were told that it was okay to sleep during the first half since we needed to stay awake for altitude sickness prevention later, but thanks to the lively conversation, I was too excited to sleep at all in the car. We arrived at Mauna Kea Park at 3:30 PM. It was at an elevation of 2,000 meters, and Mauna Kea towered high above us. The temperature had dropped, and it was a bit chilly.

After a restroom break, we set off again and arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center at an elevation of 2,800 meters around 4 PM. Here, we had an early lunch and another restroom break. The lunch consisted of a traditional Japanese bento with fried fish and karaage, and even though we had just eaten, we finished it all. The warm miso soup was delicious. As it gets colder as we ascend, I borrowed ski pants to complete my gear (it seems they make it hard to breathe at high altitudes). Normally, they stay for about an hour, but due to the rare good weather and snow at the summit, many people were heading up, so we departed after 4:30 PM to secure a spot for the sunset. By the way, snow at the summit is usually only present until January or February, and during that time, the weather can be unpredictable, making it difficult to reach the summit, which is why a guide who was off-duty also visited that day.

After leaving the Onizuka Visitor Center, we drove on a steep gravel road. Switching to four-wheel drive, the vehicle moved steadily forward. It would be impossible to reach this place by rental car on your own. As we continued, the vegetation gradually disappeared, the clouds came into view below us, and I felt as if the sun was getting closer.

We got out of the car at 3,800 meters, above the height of Mount Fuji. The first thing that caught our eyes was a vast expanse of snow. It felt surreal to have been at a hot beach in the morning and now be in a silver world. There was even a snowman that had arrived before us, and all the participants were thrilled. We rushed over to the snow, but being at high altitude, I quickly became out of breath and felt dizzy. I had to take deep breaths and try to move slowly. That said, there were some foreigners snowboarding and taking pictures in swimsuits...

After a while, we finally headed to the summit. Many people had already arrived at the top, but we managed to secure a position to view the sunset. It was quite cold, so I borrowed a ski jacket and gloves and put on the neck warmer I had brought. Until sunset, the guide took various photos for us.

Then came the sunset. Before the sun went down, the entire area was bathed in orange, and after it set, the sky transformed into a gradient of orange, green, and blue—a sight that words cannot describe. I felt it was a scene I would never see again, and I made sure to imprint it in my memory.

After the sunset, we had to descend from the summit, so we drove down to 3,500 meters for stargazing. Even after sunset, it was still bright for a while, and we could only see Venus. As night deepened, we began to see the first magnitude stars in order. After that, we were able to observe stars and the Milky Way that we could never see in the city. The guide was knowledgeable about constellations and explained them clearly. We took commemorative photos with the Milky Way and Orion in the background, and the stargazing session came to an end.

On the way back, we stopped at Mauna Kea Park for a restroom break and to collect our cold-weather gear. They dropped us off at our hotel, and we arri

ガイドさんがコナ→ワイコロア→ハプナビーチの順に迎えに来てくださって、ワイコロアに宿泊していた私たちは13時45分の集合でした。
ハプナビーチに早く到着したため、急遽陸からホエールウォッチングをすることに。遠めからですが、クジラの潮吹きを見ることができました。ガイドさんの案内なしだったら絶対に気づきませんでした。急遽な対応でもさすがです。

その後、参加者13名全員揃って、まずはマウナケアパークに向けて出発。
後半は高山病対策のため起きている必要はあるので前半は寝ていても構わないとのことでしたが、軽快なトークのおかげでまったく寝ることはなく車の中でワクワクしていました。
マウナケアパークには15時30分に到着。ここは標高2,000mでマウナケアが高くそびえ立っていました。気温も下がっていて若干ひんやり。

トイレ休憩後、再度出発し16時過ぎに標高2,800mのオニヅカビジターセンターへ到着。
ここでは少し早めのお弁当とトイレ休憩。お弁当は日本人が作った魚のフライ、唐揚げなどが入っているザ・日本のお弁当。お昼とったばかりなのに完食でした。温かいお味噌汁も美味しかったです。山頂に行くにつれて寒くなるため、スキー用のズボンを貸してもらい装備完了（高地で履くと息があがってしまうらしいです）。
通常は1時間くらい滞在するらしいのですが、この日は久しぶりの好天&山頂に雪があるということで山頂に向かう人が多くサンセットの場所確保のために16時30分すぎに出発しました。
ちなみに山頂に雪があるのは1月、2月くらいまでで、かつその時期は天候不順で山頂に登れないことも多いらしいので、この日は非番のガイドさんもプライベートで訪れていました。

オニヅカビジターセンターを出た後は、急角度の砂利道。四駆に切り替えて車はグングンと進んでいきます。レンタカーで自力で向かうのは絶対無理です。。
その後もグイグイ進み、次第に植物の姿が見えなくなり、雲も下に見るようになり、心なしか太陽も近くに感じるようになりました。

そして富士山越えの3,800mで下車。
日本のすばるを含め各国の天文台よりも先に目に入ってきたのは一面の雪景色。午前中は暑いビーチにいたのが嘘のような銀世界でした。
先に到着した雪ダルマもあり、参加者全員が大興奮。思わず雪のもとへと駆け寄りましたが、そこは高地。あっという間に息が切れて頭がクラクラしてきました。深呼吸してなるべく体をゆっくり動かさないといけないです。といいながら、スノボしたり水着で記念撮影している外国の方もいましたが、、、

しばらくしてから、ついに山頂へ向かいます。
すでに山頂は多くの人が到着していましたが、なんとか夕陽の見えるポジションを確保できました。かなり寒いのでスキー用の上着と手袋を借り、持ってきたネックウォーマーを装着。
日没まではガイドさんが色んな写真を撮ってくれました。

そしてサンセット。日が沈む前はあたり一面がオレンジ色に染まり、日が沈んだあとはオレンジと緑と青のグラデーションで言葉で説明できない光景でした。二度と見れない光景と思い、じっくりと目に焼きつけました。

サンセット後は山頂から降りないといけないため、3,500mまで車で下山して星空観察。
日没後もまだしばらく明るく、見えるのは金星くらい。夜が深くなってくるにつれ一等星から順に見えてきました。その後は都会では見ることができない星や天の川を観察することができました。
ガイドさんは星座のことも詳しく、分かりやすく説明してくれました。天の川やオリオン座をバックに記念撮影をして星空観察は終了。

帰りはマウナケアパークに立ち寄りトイレ休憩と防寒具の回収。ホテルまで送って下さり、22時前に到着しました。あっという間の8時間でした。

マウナケアの山頂に登れるようになったのは昨年末で、また3月には行けなくなるとのこと。ハワイ島に来たなら絶対に行くべきツアーだと思います。

My husband and I booked the Deluxe Circle Island Tour with Kailani Tours online @hawaiiactivities.com a few weeks before we left for our 20th anniversary on the Big Island. We loved our driver/tour guide Alana from the beginning...she was so personable, caring and knowledgeable (a former teacher). The Mercedes van was very comfortable for the 7 people on our tour and we were well provided for with plenty of water and snacks (even with my gluten free limitations). The tour was fabulous, from the Kona Joe coffee farm, lunch/tour at Volcanoes Natl Park, amazing Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, all the way to Rainbow Falls (yes, we saw a rainbow there) and beautiful Akaka Falls! It was great to see the highlights of the island at the beginning of our vacation to get the "lei" of the land so to speak, on the Big Island. This way the remainder of our trip could be spent leisurely exploring the Kohala Coast where we were staying. We highly recommend it to everyone!

Great crew! Great boat! Great time! A fun time! Thanks so much!

It was really great! I heard that the mountains were closed due to bad weather for about a week, so I was worried about the weather, but the sunset and stars were incredibly beautiful!

There was still snow on the mountain, and it seems that being able to enter the mountain in this condition is rare, making it a very valuable experience.

At the summit, it was snowing, and I couldn't see much of the observatory, but when I descended a bit, I was able to see a beautiful sunset.

After the sun went down, many stars came out, and the explanation about the stars was interesting. I was able to see many more stars than I could from the hotel. I'm glad I joined the tour!

I was worried about restrooms and altitude sickness, but there were breaks about once an hour, and they took measures against altitude sickness, which was reassuring.

I thought it was strange to need warm clothing in Hawaii, but I realized that the warm clothing provided with the tour is essential. If you're not good with the cold, hand warmers and other cold weather measures are a must.

I brought my camera thinking I might take some photos of the stars, but I regretted not properly preparing and bringing a tripod.

Next time I participate, I will make sure to prepare my camera properly.

Thank you to the guides. I had a lot of fun. The choice of music in the car was excellent!

すごく良かったです！
1週間ほど悪天候で山がcloseと聞いて天候が不安でしたが、サンセットも星もすごく綺麗に見えました！

山には雪が残っていて、この状態で山に入れるのは珍しいことらしく、とっても貴重な体験でした。

山頂はふぶいていて、天文台はあまり見ることができませんでしたが、少し降りると綺麗なサンセットが見れました。

日が暮れたあと、星もいっぱい出て、星の説明も面白かったです。
ホテルで見るよりすごくたくさんの星を見ることができました。
ツアーに参加して良かったです！

お手洗いや高山病を心配していましたが、１時間に1回ほど休憩があり、高山病対策もしてくださるので安心でした。

ハワイで防寒着なんてと思っていましたが、ツアーに付いている防寒着必須だなと思いました。
寒いのが苦手ならカイロとか防寒対策必須です。

星の写真を撮れたなら〜ぐらいでカメラを持って行ったのですが、ちゃんと事前準備と三脚を用意しておけば良かったと、反省。

次回参加するときはちゃんとカメラを準備しよーと思います。

ガイドの方々、ありがとうございました。
とても楽しかったです。
車内の曲のチョイス最高でした☆

There weren't many fish, and the colors were not very vibrant, which was a bit disappointing, but I had a good experience. Thank you.

魚があまりいなく、色もカラフルでなく若干残念でしたが、良い体験はできました。ありがとうございました・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

It seems that the weather is usually calm, but there happened to be strong winds, and the boat was rocking quite a bit, which made me feel seasick (I'm prone to motion sickness, and I had taken medication for it...). Everyone else seemed to be fine, though.

The sea breeze was very refreshing, and once we got further out, we could see the beautiful view of Mauna Kea. At first, we could only see it from a distance, but just before we returned, a whale came close to us, and it was an emotional moment. A foreign staff member was sending some kind of signal underwater to attract the whales. It was a precious experience!

普段は穏やからしいですが、たまたま風が強く、結構船が揺れて酔ってしまいました（私は酔いやすい方で酔い止めは飲んでいたのですが…）。他は皆さん大丈夫そうでした。
とても気持ちいい海風で、沖へ出ると、マウナケアの山の景色がきれいに見れました。
初めは少し遠目にしか見れませんでしたが、帰り間際に至近距離でクジラが来てくれて、感動しました。外国人スタッフの方が、クジラを呼び寄せる信号？みたいなのを海中で送ってくれてました。貴重な体験でした！

We did the ATV/waterfall Tour as a 4 rider with my husband and my 4 and 8 year old daughters. We wanted excitement and fully expected that to come with some dirt/mud. It did not disappoint! And thankfully they have warm showers available to clean up after. You have options to ride on a quad solo or in a Razor 4x4 vehicle with 2 or 4 passengers. There had been much rain which made challenges for the trails, but the guides worked it out and made sure it was a good time. Andres and Rudy (sorry if I didn’t spell that right) were great. They were very helpful with the small kids making sure they were safe. Due to the extensive and prolonged rain we weren’t able to play in the waterfall, which was a disappointment since that was something we were really looking forward too, but understandable. I wish we would have also done the zip lines and giant swing. Both Looked awesome! Next time for sure!

Tip: wear closed toed water shoes so they can be easily washed off and dried.

I only saw the whale twice, and it was just the tail and the spout. Also, the waves were a bit rough, and I felt sick; it was painful for two hours. One hour would have been enough.

くじらが2回しか見えませんでした。それもシッポと潮吹きだけでした。また、波が少し荒く、気分が悪くなり、2時間は苦痛でした。1時間でじゅうぶんでした。

It was a participation of two mothers and two two-year-old boys! Perhaps because both of them took motion sickness medication, they fell asleep and we couldn't see the good parts, but the mothers were able to catch glimpses even while being unable to move! The staff were also kind, bringing us drinks while we couldn't move.

Since it was early in the morning, we brought rice balls with us. The boat only had granola, so it was great to be able to eat the rice balls we brought during the waiting time. It gets really bumpy once we set off, so I think it's best to eat during the waiting time before boarding the boat.

母二人、二歳の男の子二人での参加でした！
二人とも酔い止めを飲んでいたせいか、寝てしまい、ちょうどいいところで見れませんでしたが、母達は動けない中でもちらっと見ることが出来ました！
スタッフの方も、動けない私たちに飲み物を持ってきてくれたりと親切でした。

朝早くだったので、おにぎりを持参していきました。
船上はグラノーラだけでしたので、待ち時間に持参したおにぎりを食べれて良かったです。
出発するとすごく揺れるので、集合してから船乗するまでの待ち時間に食するとベストだと思います。

I participated with a friend. We were the only Japanese people there, along with a Chinese couple and about ten American passengers. The guidance was conducted entirely in English. There were also floatation devices and life vests available for rent, so I think it's an activity that anyone who is unsure about swimming can enjoy with peace of mind.

After departing, we were first taken to a snorkeling spot to encounter dolphins. We stayed there for about an hour. Right after we arrived, we were able to encounter a large pod of dolphins, which was very moving. After snorkeling, there is a possibility of getting cold, so I recommend bringing a beach towel and a jacket that can get wet. Some people were wearing wetsuits.

After that, we moved to Masic Sands Beach and enjoyed another 30 minutes of snorkeling in a different atmosphere. There were some people who got seasick due to the waves and the boat's rocking, so I recommend taking motion sickness medication and getting plenty of sleep beforehand.

友人と2人で参加しました。
日本人は私たち2人だけで、他は中国系カップルと10人弱のアメリカ人の乗客とご一緒でした。
ガイダンスは全て英語での実施でした。
浮具やライフベストの貸し出しもあったので、泳ぎに不安のある方でも安心して楽しめるアクティビティかと思います。
出港後まずはイルカ遭遇のシュノーケリングスポットに連れて行っていただきました。
そこでの滞在時間はおおよそ1時間程度。
到着後直ぐに大きなイルカの群れと遭遇でき、とても感動的でした。
シュノーケリング後、体が冷える可能性もあるので、ビーチタオル、濡れても良い上着など持参するのをお勧めします。ウェットスーツを着ていらっしゃる方もいました。
その後は、Masic Sands Beach辺りに移動し、また違った雰囲気のシュノーケリングを30分程楽しめました。
波やボートの揺れで船酔いをしている方もいましたので、事前に酔い止め、十分な睡眠をお勧めします。

The tour was wonderful! Rob, our guide, was very knowledgeable and friendly. We had plenty of time at each of the stops, and really got to explore the island. The hikes in Volcanoes National Park were easy, and we got to see a variety of areas and sites. The waterfalls and black sand beach in the afternoon were beautiful. Absolutely loved the day and the tour!

The weather was clear and perfect, which lifted my spirits. About 15 boats participated, and I was the only one rowing solo. I managed to keep up on the way there, but got a bit tired on the return trip. Towards the end, I was moving slowly, and the instructor kindly pulled me along with a rope, for which I am grateful.

There were quite a few waves on the sea this time, but I was thrilled to enter a cave that I couldn't visit during the tour with Ariyoshi due to rough seas. On the way back, we went snorkeling in a cove, which was my first time in such deep water, and it was also an amazing experience.

Since we split into two groups, the first group probably had to wait quite a bit in this cove. Those who love snorkeling got to enjoy it for a longer time. During the waiting period, we were able to have some juice and snacks.

There were 4 to 5 instructors present, so those who had difficulties could safely return, and they guided us through the shallow areas, making it easy for older participants to join. The round trip was about 3 miles, taking just under an hour one way. It was a comfortable journey thanks to the nice weather.

快晴のいい天気で気分も最高でした。
15艇ほどが参加しましたが1人漕ぎは当方1艘で行きは付いて行きましたが、帰りは少し疲れたので最後にゆっくり進んでいるとインストラクターがロープで連結して引っ張ってくれました、感謝です。
今回も結構海面はうねりが有りましたが、有吉のツアーで海が荒れて行けなかった洞窟にも入れて感激しました。
帰りに入江でシュノーケリング、あんなに水深の有るところでは始めてでこれも感激。
2班に別れての行動だったので一班目はこの入江で結構またされたかな？シュノーケリングが好きな人は長く出来たけど。
待ち時間にはジュースやお菓子をいただけました。
インストラクターが4～5人付いていたので沈した人も安全に復帰でき、浅瀬も誘導してくれて、年配にも安心して参加できます。
往復3マイル、片道1時間弱かな？
いい天気だったので快適な旅でした。

I participated in a morning tour.
My spouse and I signed up, but it was a private tour!
Canoeing was more exhausting than I expected!
Additionally, the waves were a bit high, and I started to feel a little seasick...
At the snorkeling point, I was able to see a lot of fish.
On the way back, I was completely worn out from canoeing.
After that, we went to a popular café and made good use of our time.
I'm glad I participated!

早朝のツアーに参加しました。
夫婦で申し込みましたが、貸し切りでした！
カヌーは思っていた以上にしんどい！
さらに若干波も高く、少し船酔い気味に…。
シュノーケリングポイントではたくさんお魚が見れました。
帰りのカヌーはバテバテでした。
そのあとは、人気のカフェに行ったり、時間を有効活用できました。
参加してよかったです！

This tour is very good for aged people and Baby. Everyone can enjoy.

Two years ago, I participated in a tour swimming with dolphins on the Big Island of Hawaii and was moved by the many dolphins I saw. This time, I'm challenging myself with manta rays. There were four Japanese people, including myself (I participated alone), and about 15 foreigners in the mixed tour. The boat moves at an incredible speed. First, we enjoyed the sunset.

After that, we entered the sea where the mantas come. Then, we just floated and relaxed while waiting to encounter the mantas. After about 15 minutes of waiting, we encountered two small mantas. We then moved to another location and were able to see three large mantas as well. When I saw them, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

Since the boat moves quite fast and you just float and wait in the water, I think it's safer to take motion sickness medication even if you're not prone to seasickness.

I asked a couple of questions via email, such as, "Can I participate alone?" and "I'm joining another tour in the morning; will I make it in time for the pickup?" The responses were smooth and good, which is why I gave this rating.

2年前のハワイ島でイルカと泳ぐツアーに参加して、たくさんのイルカを見て感動〜。今回はマンタに挑戦です。日本人は私を入れて4名（私は一人で参加しました）外国の方が15名ぐらいの混在ツアーでした。ボートは凄いスピードで進みます。先ずは夕日を堪能。
その後マンタが来る海へ入ります。
あとはマンタに出会うまでひたすら脱力して浮かんでる状態。マンタを待つこと15分ぐらいで2枚の小さなマンタに遭遇。その後場所を移動して、大きなマンタも3枚見ることができました。見た時は思わず凄ーいと言ってしまいました。
船はかなりのスピードで進むのと、海中ではただひたすら浮いて待つので、酔いやすくない人でも酔い止めはのんでおいたほうが安心だと思います。

「一人で参加できますか？」「午前中に別のツアーに参加していますが、ピックアップ時間は間に合いますか？」など２,３度メールで質問しましたが、対応もスムーズで良かったので、この評価にしました。

The weather was nice, and it was a pleasant horseback ride! Even though my English listening skills are not very good, I had a great time! We crossed a river, encountered wild horses, and got a glimpse of the local people's lives; it was a satisfying ride on the long course! The journey to get there was also very thrilling (laughs). However, there was an office next to the meeting point, but it wasn't mentioned on the voucher, so it was a bit hard to find. Also, that was the last place with a restroom, which made me a little worried. Other than that, I was very satisfied!

お天気もよく、気持ちのよい乗馬でした♪
英語があんまり聞き取れないレベルでも、とても楽しめました！
川をわたったり、野生の馬に遭遇したり、現地の人の生活が垣間見れたり、ロングコースで満足のいくライドでした！
行くまでの行程もとてもスリリングでした(笑)
ただ、集合場所のとなりに事務所があったのですが、バウチャーには記載がなかったのでわかりずらかったかなと思います。あと、トイレもそこが最後だったのでちょっと心配になりました。
それ以外は大満足です！

It was really great. Actually, I went dolphin watching on Oahu, but I didn't see any dolphins at that time. However, before going to see the mantas on this tour, I was able to see them from the boat. Plus, we also saw whales! The boat was going really fast, and it was a lot of fun. I took motion sickness medication, so I was fine with the boat ride. The mantas were incredibly large, and I was super excited to see them up close. My husband brought an underwater camera, so we were able to take great photos. I thought it would be cold in December, so I prepared thoroughly, but it wasn't as cold as I expected. It was so much fun!

凄く良かったです。実はオアフ島でドルフィンウォッチングに行ったのですが、その時イルカは見れなかったのに、このツアーでマンタを見に行く前に船の上から見る事ができました。しかもクジラも見れました!船もビュンビュン高速で楽しかったです。酔い止めを飲んで行ったので船酔いも大丈夫でした。マンタはすっごく大きくて、大接近で大興奮しました。旦那君が水中カメラを持参したので、バッチリ写真に収める事が出来ました。12月なので寒いと思い万全の対策で行きましたが、思った程は寒くなかったです。凄く楽しかったです。

The total experience is awesome! We had a looong day without questions. But the guider made sure the tour was full of fun, stories and care, we didn't feel exhausted.
Started from the lava cave, which is cooler than I expected. Black beach is beautiful. The newly formed lava flow is stunning, also sad when we heard stories from local residents, sorry for their loss. Didn't spend much time in the national volcano park, but it was exactly what we needed, also good timing enjoying the sunset there. 3-courses dinner in the volcano house was perfect, with yummy food and wonderful view overlooking the whole crater. Last but not least, stunning stargazing with professional telescope. Sorry I'm terrible at remembering people's name, thanks very much, our lovely & kind & interesting driver & guider!

I could see a little bit of the whale's dorsal fin. However, when I compare the time spent swaying on the boat to the excitement of seeing it, it feels a bit tough. It might be different if I could see more whales or get closer to them.

くじらは背びれが少し見えました。
ただ、船に乗って揺れている時間と、見れた感動を比較すると、ちょっと厳しいかなー。
もっとクジラがたくさん見れるとか、近くに行けると違うかもしれないですが。

I visit the Big Island every year, but this was my first time kayaking. I challenged myself with my wife, who can't swim, and we were kindly taken care of by a Japanese guide. We had a great time kayaking. When we arrived at the snorkeling point, we jumped into the sea while still wearing our life jackets! Even my wife, who can't swim, was able to swim with many beautiful fish. It was wonderful!

毎年行くビッグアイランドですが、初めてのカヤック。泳げない妻とチャレンジ、日本語ガイドさんから親切に面倒見てもらい　カヤックをおもいっきり楽しみました。シュノーケルポイントに到着すると、ライフジャケットを身に着けたまま海へ！泳げない妻でも沢山の綺麗な魚たちと一緒にスイミング　よかったあ！

The sunset was very beautiful and amazing. However, the dinner on the cruise ship was disappointing, so my rating is a bit lower. I had dinner at another restaurant afterwards.

サンセットとても綺麗で最高でした。が、客船タイプディナーがお粗末で評価は少しがっかり。
また、別の店でディナーしました。

I thought we would go a bit further out to watch, but we started watching near the island. I expected to see whales as close as in the photos, but they were a bit far away, and we could only see their dorsal fins. I think there are hits and misses, but it's disappointing.

もう少し沖に出てウォッチするかと思ったら島の近くで待機してウォッチング開始。写真ほどのホェールを観れると思いきやちょっと遠い上に背鰭が見れる程度でした。当たり外れはあると思いますが残念です。

Snorkeling in the crystal-clear, calm waters of Kealakekua Bay was enjoyable for the kids as well. We were lucky enough to encounter a pod of dolphins, and they were playing chase with our boat. It was adorable!

The second deck of the boat offers fantastic views, but it sways quite a bit more up there. During the one-hour ride to the snorkeling spot, even passengers who usually don’t get seasick were feeling pretty worn out.

Lunch was a simple barbecue on board. It had an American-style flavor, but if you embrace that, it can be enjoyable. However, I was surprised that the soft drinks were only carbonated and that what was labeled as tropical fruit juice was actually a tropical cocktail (an alcoholic drink).

This tour has a predominantly English-speaking, mostly white crowd, so if you're feeling a bit weary of tours filled with only Japanese people and want to experience being abroad, I recommend it. Additionally, the snorkeling spot has calm waves, making it a good option for first-time snorkelers and families with children aged preschool and up.

透明度抜群の穏やかなケアラケクア湾でシュノーケリングは子供も楽しめました。我々は運良くイルカの群れに遭遇し、我々が乗っている船とイルカの集団が追いかけっこしていました。可愛かった！
船の2階デッキは見晴らし抜群ですが、船は2階の方が相当揺れます。シュノーケリング場所までの片道１時間で、普段は全く船酔いしない同乗者さえグッタリする程でした。
昼食は船内で行われた簡単なバーベキュー。アメリカンな大味ですが、それも含め楽しんでしまえばこっちのもの。ただ、表記されていた事から想像していたのと実際には違ったのはソフトドリンクは炭酸だけである事、トロピカルフルーツジュースではなくトロピカルカクテル(アルコールドリンク)だった事です。
英語オンリーの白人多めのツアーですから日本人ばかりのツアーにちょっと辟易して、海外に来たぞという気分を味わいたい方にはオススメです。
あと、シュノーケル場所は波が穏やかなのでシュノーケリング初体験者や幼稚園児以上の年齢のお子様がいらっしゃるご家族にもいいかもしれません。

Great experience all around. We arrived, check in process was super efficient and we got onto the boat and in the water on time. The crew was well coordinated and found the optimal spot for us to view some mantas.
We saw two total, one passing by several times and very closely (belly almost touching our light board).
Really special experience.
Thanks Sea Quest!

The overall experience was very good. This is our first Helicopter ride and it turned out to be an excellent one. Though we did not get to see real fire ( no active lava in Hawaii now), we could see the steaming volcano at close up. The pilot Steve was very good, answering all our queries with patience. The narrative was good throughout the trip. Overall 50 minutes was worth the money. I paid additional $100 for copilot seat which was on higher side. This is one reason why I rated 4-star and not 5-star.