All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

The staff only speaks English and doesn't understand Japanese at all, but it works out somehow. The zip line above the waterfall is really beautiful. It gradually gets longer. The staff is young, but they work hard. It was disappointing that the photos, which were supposed to be sent via email, were not sent.

説明は英語だけ一切日本語わからないスタッフですが　なんとかなります。ここだけ　滝の上ジップしてすごく綺麗です。だんだん長いジップになります。スタッフも若いですけど一生懸命やってくれます。写真はメールで送るとのことでしたが　送られなかったのは残念でした。

When I arrived at the designated location, no one was there to greet me, and when I called the contact number on the voucher, I was told there was no such reservation. It took a while to figure it out from the reservation number, which was quite frustrating.
However, once I got on the boat, it was wonderful. The captain, who spoke Japanese, provided an enjoyable explanation, and I was able to admire the sunset.
My hat was blown away by the strong wind, but the staff and captain quickly helped retrieve it from the sea. I will cherish it as a keepsake.
Thank you very much.

指定された場所に行っても、誰も迎えに来ていなくて、バウチャーの連絡先に電話したら、そんな予約は入っていないと言われました。予約ナンバーから調べて、やっとわかる始末、これでは困ります。
ただ、船に乗ってからは素晴らしく、日本語も話すキャプテンの説明で楽しくサンセットを眺める事が出来ました。
強風で帽子が飛ばされたのですが、スタッフとキャプテンの機転の利いた対応で、海の中から拾い上げてもらいました。記念に大事にすることにします。
ありがとうございました。

It's easy to ride. Anyone can get on quickly, and it's not scary to ride on the road. I wanted to ride more. It feels like I can go anywhere with this. Two hours isn't enough. I don't get tired because I'm not walking.
The wind feels nice, and the view was amazing.

乗り方簡単です。誰でもすぐ乗れるし　道路走るのも怖くない。もっと乗っていたかった。これでどこでも行けそう。2時間でも足りない。歩かないから疲れない。
風も気持ちいいし　眺めも最高でした。

Disappointing. Few manta rays far away.
Arms were aching outstretched hanging onto raft. Crew was not very friendly. Snacks were unavailable and drinking water not there. Had to ask for a cup of water 2 or 3 times.
Regretable experience. Let down.

When we decided to go to the Big Island, we wanted to ride horses. So we rented a car and joined this tour. We were worried about whether we could drive there, but it was easy. This tour was wonderful, and we had a great time. We experienced things we can't experience in Japan (for example, cracking macadamia nuts and eating freshly picked mangoes) before riding horses.

Moreover, the cats and dogs raised on the farm were very friendly and cute. We had ridden horses at various locations many times before, but the horses at this farm were very calm. We enjoyed crossing the river and strolling through the forests while riding. We took many photos.

This adventure was awesome!!!!!! We want to join this tour again if we go to the Big Island.

By the way, we went to “Tex Drive In,” which the guide recommended. We ordered malasadas with no filling, chocolate, and custard cream. The malasadas at this restaurant were very delicious.

Mahalo!!

When we decided to go to Big Island, we want to ride horses. So we rented a car and we joined this tour. We worried that we can drive to go there, but we could go easily. This tour was wonderful and we had a great time. We experienced what we can’t experience in Japan( For example, cracking macadamia nuts and eating freshly picked mangoes) before riding horses.
Moreover, cats and dogs which raised on the farm were very friendly and pretty.
We had rides horses at various locations for many times before, but this farm’s horses were very quiet. We enjoyed crossing the river and strolling through the forests while we ride horses. We took many photos.
This adventure was awesome!!!!!!
We want to join this tour again, if we go to Big island.
By the way, “Tex drive in” where the guide recommends. We ordered malasadas no filling, chocolate and custard cream. This restaurant’s malasadas were very delicious.
Mahalo!!

Paddling the kayak was tiring, but I appreciated the assistance with the towing. I wish there had been cave exploration and other activities!

カヤックのパドリングが、疲れましたが、曳航していただき助かりました
洞窟探検等が無かったので、やってほしかったです！

I encountered a family of bottlenose dolphins, which are not commonly seen in Hawaii—only about once in twenty times! The guides took plenty of time to ensure everyone could definitely see them. I was with an elderly couple who didn’t have the stamina to swim, but the guide helped pull them along to see the dolphins. This is definitely a tour I want to repeat when I go back to Hawaii!

ハワイで通常見られるイルカではなく、20回に1回ぐらいしか見られないハンドウイルカの家族にあえました！！
全員が確実に見れるように時間もたっぷりかけてくれました。
泳ぐ体力がないご高齢の夫婦と一緒でしたが、ガイドの方が引っ張ってイルカを見せてあげていました。
またハワイに行ったら絶対にリピートしたいツアーです！

The weather was worrisome with many clouds, but the sky tour was amazing.
I wonder how the back four-seat area feels when you're in the middle?
Sitting in the front passenger seat made me feel like a pilot.

雲の多い心配な天気だったけれど、空の遊覧は最高でした。
後ろの4人席は中側になるとどーだろう？
助手席指定しての前席まん中は操縦者気分でした。

I was moved by the guide's polite and overly kind Japanese (with a little bit of English mixed in). The explanation of horseback riding was slow and easy to understand. Once I was on the horse, I could relax and trust the horse, while three dogs accompanied us around. It was the best experience! I rode for over an hour, and it was so much fun. The nature was amazing, and I was truly satisfied.

ガイドさんの丁寧で優しすぎる日本語（英語の中で少しだけ入る）に感動し、乗馬の説明もゆっくりと分かりやすく、乗ってからは人に慣れた馬に体を任せて、その周りには3匹の犬が一緒に回るなんて最高でした。
1時間以上も乗馬していて、楽しくて楽しくて本当に自然も最高で大満足でした

The round trip distance was longer than I expected, and I got tired from pedaling. However, the instructor was kind and taught me various things. Unfortunately, the sea was not as clear as I had hoped, and I didn't see many fish.

往復の距離が思ったより長くこぐのに疲れました。ただ、インストラクターの方は親切でいろいろ教えてもらいました。
残念なのは海が思っていたほど透明度が悪く、魚もあまり見えませんでした。

It was an English tour, so I didn't fully understand the precautions, but I managed somehow. The harness was secure, so I didn't feel any danger and had a great time. I was satisfied with being able to do nine zip lines. The suspension bridge was scarier. The price was on the higher side, but I thought it was worth it. The banana snack was delicious.

英語のツアーでしたので　注意事項がよくわからなかったのですが　何とかなりました
ハーネスは　しっかりしていましたので　全く危険は　感じなくて　楽しめました
ジップラインも　9本も出来て　満足しました
吊り橋の方が　怖かったです
値段は　高めでしたが　やって　良かったど思いました
おやつのバナナが美味しかったです

I was a bit nervous about the English tour, but it turned out to be manageable. First, we filled out a waiver at the meeting point and received explanations about safety before boarding the van to Waipi'o Valley. During the briefing, we were advised against bringing backpacks, as they could cause us to lose balance and fall off the horse. I left my things in the car and went hands-free. A bag that fits snugly against your body should be fine.

When we arrived at the horses, the instructor explained how to ride. After that, we were matched with our horses. There were about 15 participants, with 7-8 Japanese and 6-7 Americans, so it took around 20 minutes for everyone to get matched. I was one of the first to ride, and my horse was moving around a lot, eating grass, which was quite amusing.

Once we set off, we crossed rivers and walked along mountain paths. The guide explained the fruits growing along the roadside, which was interesting. The whole horseback riding experience lasted about two hours before we returned.

When participating, it's best to wear comfortable sneakers that you don't mind getting dirty, along with jeans or hiking pants and a shirt that can get wet. Since the horses tend to stick their heads under branches, wearing long sleeves can help prevent scrapes.

英語ツアーとのことで、ちょっと緊張しましたがどうにかなる感じでした。
最初に集合場所で誓約書的なものを記入し、危険に関する説明などを受けてバンに乗ってワイピオ渓谷へ向かいます。説明の中ではリュックサックなどはバランスを崩して落馬する可能性があるのであまりお勧めできないとのこと。私も車において手ぶらで行きました。ある程度体に密着するようなバッグなら大丈夫そうです。
馬のところに着いたら、インストラクターが乗り方を説明してくれます。そのあと各自に馬を引き合わせてくれて乗ります。参加したときは日本人7～8人、アメリカ人6～7人の15名くらいのメンバーだったので引き渡しに20分くらいかかった印象です。私は最初に乗ったので馬がアチコチ動き回って草を食べたりしてなかなか面白かったです。
出発してからは川を渡ったり、山道を歩いたり。
ガイドさんが道端に生っている果物を都度説明してくれて興味深かったです。
およそ２時間くらい乗馬して帰ってくる工程です。
参加するときはスニーカーなどの履きなれて汚れてもよい靴、濡れてもよいジーンズやハイキング用のズボンとシャツで行かれるとよいです。また馬が木の枝の下などに頭を突っ込むのでできれば長袖の方が擦り傷など付かなくてよいと思います。

I thought I would only be able to see the dolphins from a distance, but I was able to see them quite closely! I appreciated that the guide positioned himself in places where the dolphins were likely to come. He was also a friendly person.

The dolphins swam quite fast, and I felt like I was swimming more than just leisurely snorkeling. (laughs) My husband and I were used to snorkeling and good swimmers, so we could keep up, but others who participated seemed quite exhausted. Well, it's to be expected since they are wild.

I was satisfied because meeting the dolphins was the main goal, but considering the price, I felt the time was a bit short, so I would rate it minus one star. We probably spent about 45 minutes in the water, and we wrapped up shortly after 10 AM.

I fully understand that we shouldn't have long interactions with wild dolphins, but if there are areas nearby with coral and fish, I think it would be appropriate to include snorkeling there for the price.

もっと遠くからしか見えないと思っていましたが、なかなかの距離でイルカちゃんが見えました！
ガイドさんがイルカちゃんが来そうなところに先回りしてくれるのが有り難かったです。ガイドさんも気さくな方でした。

イルカちゃんは泳ぐのが結構早く、ゆっくりシュノーケリングというよりは随分水泳させられた気はします。笑
私達夫婦はシュノーケリングに慣れていたのと、泳ぐのも得意だったのでついていけましたが、一緒に参加されていた方は相当疲労困憊していました。。
野生なので、仕方ないですけどね。。

イルカちゃんに会うのが目的だったので満足していますが、お値段を考えると時間が短かったかな〜と思いマイナス1です。たぶん潜ったのは45分くらいかな？午前10時すぎには解散となりました。

野生イルカに長い時間接触すべきではないというのは重々理解していますが、近隣にサンゴやお魚がいるようなところがあれば、そこでのシュノーケリングもできると、お値段に相応かなと思いました。

Even if you can't speak English, they can explain things slowly with gestures, and the horses are well-trained, remembering where to walk and where to run. I felt safe riding them.

英語が話せなくても、説明は、手振りそぶりをゆっくりしてもらえますし、馬がよく調教されており、歩くところ走ってもよいところ、全部覚えていました。安心して乗せてもらえました。

We moved to the meeting point by rental car. There was no parking, so we had to park on the street. We were the only Japanese people there, and there seemed to be many elderly white people. I had heard there were two snorkeling points, but there was only one at Captain Cook, which was a bit disappointing. The staff were energetic and cheerful, and since the explanations were only in English, I couldn't understand anything, but they were very kind and friendly, which made me feel completely at ease. I didn't have high expectations for the meal since it was on the boat (sorry), but it turned out to be very delicious. The hamburgers had unlimited toppings, so I piled on as much as I wanted without hesitation. There were drinks available, but they were just okay. On the way back, we encountered a family of whales, and they kindly stopped the boat so we could observe them closely.

レンタカーで集合場所まで移動。駐車場がないので路駐になりました。日本人は私達だけ。白人のお年寄りが多い印象でした。２か所と聞いていたシュノーケルポイントはキャプテンクック１か所だけで、少し物足りなかったです。スタッフさんは元気で明るく、説明は英語だけでしたから全く理解はできませんでしたがとても優しくフレンドリーで感じが良くて、不安になることは一つもありませんでした。食事は船上ということもあり期待をしていなかったのですが(ごめんなさい)、これがとても美味しかった。ハンバーガーは自分で好きなだけトッピングできたので遠慮なくたくさん乗せました。飲み物はありますがいまいち。帰りにクジラの家族に遭遇し、わざわざ船を止めてくれたのでゆっくり見学できました。

My first time on the Big Island. When I think of the Big Island, I think of the night views and stargazing at Mauna Kea, so I decided to join the tour.

The actual tour was truly fulfilling, and the scenery at Mauna Kea as it transitioned from sunset to night was amazing. Additionally, the guide took a lot of photos, creating wonderful memories.

To prevent altitude sickness, we were encouraged to drink water during the bus ride, and music was played to help keep us awake, which showed great consideration.

I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

はじめてのハワイ島。ハワイ島といえば、マウナケア山での夜景や星空観測だと思っていたので参加しました。
実際のツアーは本当に充実していて、夕焼け時から夜にかわるマウナケアでの景色が素晴らしかったです。また、ガイドさんが写真をたくさん撮ってくれ、とても良い思い出ができました＾＾
高山病にならないように、バスでの移動中に水を飲んだり眠らないようにするために音楽をかけていただいたりと、とても気づかいの感じられるツアーでした！
皆さんにおススメできると思います！

During my first visit to the Big Island, I participated in two sightseeing tours and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the island. While searching for memorable activities, I discovered this sea kayaking tour. Indeed, the views from the water are something you can't fully appreciate without experiencing them firsthand. While on the water, I was welcomed by a pod of dolphins, which was a memorable experience. The photos taken during the tour also serve as wonderful memories.

今回、初訪問のビッグアイランドで、２つの観光ツアーに参加して、一通り島内観光を満喫したので、何か思い出に残るアクティビティを探していたところ、このシーカヤック ツアーを発見しました。やはり、陸上からだけではなく、海の上から眺める景色は、体験してみないとわからないものです。海上では、イルカの群れの歓迎を受けることが出来て、思い出深い経験でした。撮影していただいたツアー中の写真も、良い思い出として残っています。

I had gone kayaking once on a lake, but it was my first time in the ocean, so I was a bit worried. However, with the excellent guidance from Kevin and Noni, I was able to paddle smoothly without veering off course, and getting back into the kayak from the ocean was also seamless. I was thrilled to successfully navigate through the underwater cave as well. While enjoying the leisurely kayaking and snorkeling, with explanations about the surrounding scenery, I didn't even end up with sore muscles. It was the best experience!

湖で1回カヤックをしたことがありましたが、海では初めてで少し心配でした。でもKevinさんとノニさんの指導が良く、曲がらずに楽に漕げたし、海からカヤックに上がるのもスムーズに出来、海中洞窟からバックするのもうまく出来て、うれしかった。周りの景色の説明を受けながら、のんびりカヤックとシュノーケルが出来て、筋肉痛にもならずに、最高でした。

The show featuring the ethnic dances of the South Pacific was impressive. The buffet and all-you-can-drink options were just okay. However, I had heard it would end at 20:30, so I called for a ride at that time, but it actually finished just after 19:30, nearly an hour early.

ショーは南太平洋の民族舞踊が見ごたえありました。
ビュッフェと飲み放題はまぁまぁ。
ただ20:30と聞き帰りの車をその時間に呼んでいましたが、終了はなんと19:30すぎ。1時間近く早く終わってしまいました。

I experienced night marine sports for the first time. On the first attempt, we went out from the bay to the open sea, but the waves were high, so we had to turn back. Since there was availability the next day, I made a reservation on the spot.

The second time, the weather was good, and we set out safely. I had heard it could be cold, so I paid an extra fee to wear a wetsuit, which kept me warm until we reached the boat's anchoring point. While the other foreigners were in regular swimsuits, I personally felt it was a good decision to rent one.

After arriving at the anchoring point, we got off the boat and floated in the sea while the instructor pulled a float (something like two surfboards connected) to a spot where we could see manta rays. After waiting for a while, a manta ray appeared right in front of us and showed us its acrobatic flips. Illuminated by the blue light used to attract plankton in the dark night sea, the manta ray was incredibly beautiful and refreshing to behold (perhaps because I'm a beginner in marine sports).

The starry sky on the return boat ride was also lovely. The only slight disappointment was that the hot chocolate was very delicious, but the portion was small, so I couldn't have a second serving. I will definitely participate again next time.

夜のマリンスポーツを始めて体験しました。
1回目は湾から外海に出たものの波が高く引き返すことに。翌日に空きがあったのでその場で再予約してもらいました。
2回目は天気もよく無事に出向。寒い可能性もあると聞いていたため追加料金を払いウェットスーツを着ていたため船の停泊ポイント到着まで寒くなかったです。周りの外国人は普通の水着でしたが個人的には借りてよかったな。
船の停泊ポイント到着後、船から降り海の中でプカプカ浮きながらマンタがよく見えそうなポイントまでイントラクターが浮き輪？（サーフボードを２つくっつけたもののようなモノ）を引っ張って移動。しばらく待っているとマンタがわれわれの目の前に登場し宙返りする姿を見せてくれました。暗い夜の海の中、プランクトンを集めるための青いライトに照らされるマンタはとても美しく心が洗われました。（マリンスポーツ初心者だからでしょうか）
帰りの船から見る星空も素敵でした。
ちょっと残念なのはホットチョコレートがとっても美味しいのですが、量がすくないためお代わりができなかったことですかね。
次回も参加させて頂きます。

The instructor team was very friendly, and I was able to enjoy the activities. It's a shame that the waves were high and we couldn't enter the cave, but I would like to try again if I have the opportunity.

インストラクターのチームがとてもフレンドリーでアクティビティを楽しむことが出来ました。
波が高くて洞窟内には入れなかったのが残念ですが、また機会があれば挑戦したいです。

I was really excited about the adventure because I won’t scuba dive but I was able to see the beautiful scenery at the bottom of the ocean.
Kay was an amazing tour guide. She was so informed and kept us engaged in the whole activity.
This was worth every penny I recommend it.

I participated in the early morning plan. There were few people, and it was very good. It ends by 8:30, so I was able to schedule various activities afterward, making efficient use of my time, which was great.

早朝のプランで参加。人も少ないし、とてもよかった。
８時半には終わるので、その後の予定もいろいろと入れることができ、時間を効率的に使うこともできて、よかった。

On the morning of the same day, I went on a dolphin tour, but surprisingly, I couldn't encounter any dolphins (I did meet them during a revenge swim), which was nerve-wracking. However, I did get to see manta rays! They were flipping in the air at close range, and it was truly moving.

That said, the night sea is indeed cold, so warm clothing is necessary. I'm extremely sensitive to the cold, so I wore my own thin semi-dry suit and a borrowed wetsuit on top, which kept me comfortable throughout. However, many others looked quite cold.

The hot chocolate that our guide, Tamae, served as a complimentary treat was one of the best I've ever had in my life. I wonder how she makes it!

同日の朝にイルカツアーにいったらまさかのイルカ遭遇できずで（リベンジスイムで会えましたが）ドキドキでしたが、マンタには出会えました！至近距離で何匹も宙返りしてくれて感動ものでした。
ただ、やっぱり夜の海は寒いので防寒は必要です。自分は極度の寒がりなので自前の薄いセミドライスーツを着てその上に借りたウェットを着ていたので終始快適に過ごせましたが、寒そうな方が多かったです。
ガイドのたまえさんがサービスで振る舞ってくれたホットチョコレートが今までの人生で一番くらいのレベルで美味しかったです。あれはどうやってつくるんだろう～。

After reading the detail for this tour we were extremely disappointed with what we experienced. We were a party of 4 who were split over 2 different tours. We thought this was due to weight restrictions which we couldn't understand because we are all average but in hindsight realise it was because we all wanted doors off. The pilot was great gave lots of detail and interesting facts. The flight was wonderful experiencing doors off just unfortunate the tour has not been revised since the lava stopped flowing and you spend the majority of the flight flying over blacken ground which becomes boring very fast. We were looking forward to seeing the waterfalls but this was a quick fly over and back to base so felt let down with this also. We had another couple on our flight as did my sister on her flight and all eight of us were extremely disappointed with what our tour delivered for the cost. The company really need to change the itinery for this tour to make it an experience to remember as it obviously once was when the lava was flowing.

A one-hour cruise to the snorkeling point. If you get seasick, be sure to take precautions! The food, location, and the crew's coolness were all top-notch! We even got to meet dolphins at the end! If you're going snorkeling, I think it's better to go to beaches like Honaunau or Kahalu'u.

シュノーケリングポイントまで1時間のクルージング。船酔いする方は必ず対策を！
食事、ロケーション、クルーのカッコ良さは最高！
最後にイルカとも会えた！
シュノーケリングだったら、ホナウナウ、カハルウ等のビーチに行った方が良いと思う。

I booked a horseback riding tour in Waipi'o Valley at the request of my family. I was a bit anxious about the lack of transportation and that it was only in English, but I arrived without any issues using Google Maps for navigation, and I managed to communicate through gestures and simple words. Riding in the great outdoors, which we wouldn't have been able to do on our own, was truly amazing. The satisfaction exceeded my expectations, and if I have the chance to go again, I would love to join this tour once more!

家族の意向でワイピオ渓谷の乗馬を予約しました。
送迎がないことと英語のみということで少し不安でしたがGoogleマップのナビで問題なくたどり着き、ジェスチャーと簡単な単語で体験してきました。
自分たちではいけない大自然の中での乗馬は本当に最高でした。期待してた以上の満足度、行く機会があればまたこちらのツアーに参加したいです！

Although we ended up stargazing at an alternative location, we were able to enjoy it thoroughly. I hope to gaze at the stars from the summit of Mauna Kea again someday...

Also, the guide's explanations were very clear, and I was particularly impressed by their comment that "constellations are imagination."

代替地での星空観測になりましたが、充分に楽しむことができました。
いつかまた、マウナケア山頂から星空を眺めることができますように。。。

あと、ガイドの方の説明がとても解かりやすく、「星座は想像力」と話されていたのが印象に残っています。

Since my mother has difficulty walking, a tour that involves a lot of walking was not possible, so I signed up for this one. It takes about an hour and a half to drive from Waikoloa, but the road is almost straight, so I was able to get there without any mistakes using Google Maps. There are no doors, so the wind comes in strongly, making it quite cold. My mother seemed to really enjoy the best position next to the driver, as she could see both the front and the surroundings. We were also able to see how the lava flows into the sea while circling around the crater. Definitely worth it!

足が悪い母がいるので、がんがん歩くツアーは無理なので、こちらに申し込みました。ワイコロアからレンタカーで1時間半くらいですが、ほぼまっすぐの道なので、Google mapで間違いなくいけました。ドアなしなので、風はガンガン来ますので、寒いです。母は運転手のとなりのベストポジションで前も周りも見えてすごく楽しかったみたいです。火口もくるくる回ってくれて、海にどのように溶岩が流れていくかも見れました。価値あり！！

The tour was nice and Big Island is beautiful, but our tour guide gave an extensive history of Big Island which felt removed and disconnected from what we were seeing. The guide was asked multiple times from other people on the tour about things they had noticed during the tour but the guide was stuck on the historical narrative and refused to talk about "politics", yet the questions being asked were quite simple and relevant to what we were seeing. He was very knowledgeable but it made for a very tiring and boring ride. It would be great if he could break up the historical narrative with some more present-day information about Big Island.