All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

On the third day of my stay at Sheraton Kona Resort, I signed up for the morning kayak experience! The session was originally scheduled for 9 AM, but it was changed to 7 AM due to the wave conditions, so I walked a few minutes to the meeting point. It was just the two of us Japanese guests, and our guide Noni was very kind and thorough in his instructions, and off we went!

You can put your belongings in a waterproof bag that you can borrow, but I wouldn't recommend bringing too much. Paddling the canoe while basking in the morning sun is wonderful, but sunglasses and a hat are essential due to the strong sunlight.

Paddling a considerable distance uses a lot of energy, but the wide, beautiful ocean and the refreshing breeze of nature without any noise are very pleasant. Even those who can't swim can float around with a life jacket while snorkeling, and there are lots of cute black and yellow fish, which is very soothing.

I panicked for a moment when I looked up and couldn't see the canoe, so it's important to be careful not to get too absorbed (laughs). Along the way, Noni shared some pineapple and chocolate muffins with us. Food tastes even better when eaten on the water.

Finally, Noni had a wonderful system where he emailed us various photos he had taken during the tour. I highly recommend this tour!

シェラトンコナリゾートで滞在して3日目にカヤック体験午前の部に参加申し込みしました！
9時からの体験でしたが、波の状態をみて7時からに変更になり、徒歩数分で待ち合わせ場所へ。
日本人私たち2人だけの貸し切りで担当のノニさんが親切丁寧に教えてくださり、いざ出発！
持ち物はお借りした防水バックに入れられますが、あまり多くは持ち込めないかと…。朝日を浴びながらカヌーを漕いで日差しが強いのでサングラスと帽子は必須。
結構な距離を漕いで体力使いますが、広くて綺麗な海と騒音の無い大自然の風が心地よい。
シュノーケルもライフジャケットを着てるので泳げない人でもプカプカ浮きながら黒や黄色の可愛い魚が沢山いて、これまた癒されます。
顔を上げたときにカヌーが見当たらなくて一瞬焦り、夢中になりすぎるのも要注意(笑)
途中、ノニさんがパイナップルとチョコマフィンのお裾分け。海の上で食べるものは、より美味しく感じます。
最後、ノニさんがいつ撮ってたのか色々な写真をメールで送ってくれるシステムがとても素晴らしかった♪
是非オススメしたいツアーです！

Mike's guidance was excellent. I was very satisfied with the wild dolphins and snorkeling. By chance, we also had the boat to ourselves, which made for great memories. I want to go to the Big Island of Hawaii again.

マイクさんのガイド最高でした。野生のイルカ、シュノーケル大満足でした。たまたまボートも貸し切りになり、良い思い出になりました。またハワイ島行きたいです

My first time on the Big Island! For our 30th wedding anniversary, my husband chose this tour for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The view of the Big Island from the sky was amazing. The highlight of this tour is landing at a waterfall. The waterfall, which can only be accessed by helicopter, is breathtaking. I highly recommend experiencing the growing beauty of the Big Island.

初めてのハワイ島！結婚30年の記念に一生に一度の体験をってことで主人がこのツアーを選びました。空からのハワイ島は素晴らしかったです。このツアーの目玉は滝への上陸です。ヘリでしか行くことのできない滝は絶景です。成長してるハワイ島をぜひ体験してみて欲しいです。

I went to a luau show for the first time. I felt like I was able to experience Hawaii's traditional culture, as I got to see not only hula but also various types of performances. There was also an audience participation segment, so I was never bored and had a great time.

初めてルアウショーを観に行きました。フラだけでなく何種類もの演舞を見られて、ハワイの伝統文化に触れられた気がしました。途中に観客席参加型のショーも入っていて終始退屈することがなく、楽しく過ごせました。

What a marvelous adventure! This is my second time. The first time I did it with my local friend and my older grand daughter. It was stellar and why we opted do do it yet again. This time I brought my 2 grand girls (13 & 16). One is a good rider, one a beginner. Both of them had a marvelous time and had wonderful horses. I'm an advanced rider and loved my horse and the entire experience. The guides are a delight and taught me much I didn't know about the valley and it's contents and history, even though I already knew quite a bit. I can't say enough about how perfect the experience was. I'll do this ride again and again, every time I come to the island. I could not have been more pleased with everything about this adventure.

We participated as a pair. On the day of the event, we were guided by Daisuke and Ray.

We had four tries and were able to see many more dolphins than we expected, with some coming just a few meters away, which was truly moving! My companion couldn't swim, but they lent us a flotation device and helped pull us to a spot where we could see the dolphins, showing great care. Thanks to them, my companion was able to snorkel for the first time during this trip, and we are very grateful. Although my companion was initially scared, they felt reassured and able to participate thanks to the support from both of them. We would love to join again!

2名で参加しました。当日はDaisukeさん、Rayさんに案内していただきました。
計4回のトライで期待以上に沢山のイルカに会え、数メートル先に来てくれるイルカもおり、感動しました！
連れが泳げなかったのですが、浮棒を貸してくださり、イルカの見えるポイントに引っ張って連れて行ってくれたりと気にかけていただき今回の旅を通して唯一シュノーケリングすることができ大変感謝しています。最初は怖かったそうですが、お二人のサポートに安心して参加できたそうです。また参加したいです！

The staff was kind, and the horses were well-behaved. It seems that the horses have their own likes and dislikes, and the staff explained this to us. Finally, I got to eat naturally grown starfruit and mango, which were incredibly delicious.

スタッフも親切で馬もお利口さんです。馬も違う馬とも好き嫌いがあるみたいでスタッフも説明してくれました。最後に自然に生えているスターフルーツ、マンゴーを食べさせてもらったが最高においしかった。

We participated as a couple at the end of October. Once on board, we started with breakfast. The muffins and other simple offerings were all delicious, and there was a good selection of coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

The snorkeling itself was beautiful with plenty of fish, but compared to the remote islands of Okinawa, it was a bit disappointing. After snorkeling, lunch was also delicious and enjoyable.

Later, we got to see dolphins swimming alongside the boat, jumping multiple times, and then we had another snorkeling session. It was a fun-filled experience, and if we have the chance, we would love to participate again.

10月末に夫婦で参加しました。
乗船すると、まずは朝ごはん。シンプルながら用意されたマフィンなどはどれも美味しくコーヒー紅茶やソフトドリンクも充実してます。
シュノーケル自体は、魚がいっぱいで綺麗でしたがまあそれは、沖縄離島とかに比べちゃうと少し残念かな？
シュノーケルのあと、お昼も美味しかったし楽しかったです。
その後はイルカが船と併走して何度も何度もジャンプしたりするのを見られ、再びシュノーケルタイム。
盛りだくさんで楽しかったので、また行く事があれば参加したいです。

I had some anxiety about meeting on-site and only using English, but it was wonderful. The horseback riding was great, and the location at Waipi'o Valley was fantastic. The guides were cheerful, and they entertained us by picking mangoes along the way. There was plenty of time for horseback riding, and I highly recommend this lovely tour. The location seemed a bit difficult to find, but it was easy enough with a rental car and Google Maps.

現地集合で英語のみということで不安なところもありましたが、素晴らしかったです。乗馬はもちろん、ワイピオ渓谷というロケーションが最高でした。ガイドさんも陽気な方々で、途中マンゴをもぎ取りもてなしてくれるなど、とても楽しませてくれました。もちろん乗馬の時間も十分あり、素敵なツアーでおすすめです。場所は分かりにくそうでしたが、レンタカーでGoogle マップで十分でした。

We participated in the zip line experience without transportation. It was the first time for both a 66-year-old and a 51-year-old. The meeting place is easy to find, just off the main road, and the parking lot is spacious. We left all items that could fall, like rings, bracelets, and cameras, and moved to the course in a jeep. This was enjoyable in itself.

The first line was a short trial zip. It gradually got longer, and the last one was a couple's zip. I think it’s a well-thought-out course. The instructor takes photos (it would be nice if it were a bit cheaper). It was a refreshing experience that took us away from our daily lives.

参加したのは、送迎なしのジップラインのみ。
66歳と51歳の、初めての体験。
集合場所はメインの道路を曲がってすぐで分かりやすい。駐車場も広い。
指輪もブレスレットもカメラも、落としそうな物は全て預けて、ジープ(?)でコースに移動。これはこれで楽しい。
一本目は短いトライアル・ジップ。段々長くなり、最後はカップル・ジップ。良く考えられたコースだと思う。
インストラクターが写真を撮ってくれる(もう少し安いと良いのだけれどね)。
普段の生活から離れた、脳がスッキリする体験でした。

This horseback riding experience was so amazing! The guides were very experienced and there were experienced riders and first-timers in our group. Each participant was treated individually and to their level of comfort and experience! We rode through creeks and foliage and the slightest rainfall...it was a beautiful ride and gorgeous environment. The guides told us the history of the island and the Hawaiians who settled the valley...we also saw the wild horses along the way. Magical experience! 5-star!

The crew was fabulous, attentive and personable. Highly recommend, Captain was informative and friendly. Would definitely do this cruise again. Well worth the cost.

We were well informed of all the safety equipment on board in case of an emergency. We saw Dolphins on our cruise, which was also a highlight.

Ocean shores also has snorkeling trips which we will definitely be doing with them on our next trip.

It's natural, so there's nothing we can do about it, but even though we floated for 40 to 50 minutes, we only got to see them for a few seconds. The guide, Sean, said, "Did you see them? There were two, right? That's great!" but the truth is, there wasn't even time to take a photo. Plus, they were small. Is there a season when you can see large mantas or multiple mantas? In any case, it didn't feel like we really saw them. I was disappointed because I had the image of the whale sharks I saw in the Philippines in mind.

自然モノですから仕方ないのですが、40〜50分は浮かんでいたのに見れたのはほんの数秒でした。ガイドのショーンは「見れた? 二枚居たでしょ? 良かったね」と言っていたけれど、実際のところ写真を撮る暇もなかった。しかも小さい。大きなマンタ、はたまた何枚ものマンタを見れるシーズンがあるのでしょうか? いずれにせよ、見た感は無かった。フィリピンで見たジンベイザメのイメージがあったので、残念でした。

We participated as a family. The manta rays appeared right away, but they were a bit far away, so I thought, "Well, this is how it goes." However, as time passed, more and more came—five in total! (I hear manta rays are counted one by one.) They approached with their mouths open, almost as if I could be swallowed! It was incredibly moving!

What I regret the most is not having photos from that moment. I really hope there are rental options available for use on the day. If you're participating, it's definitely better to bring your own! You’ll be able to take some amazing pictures.

Thank you so much to all the staff. Mahalo!!

家族で参加しました。マンタはすぐ現れましたが、少し離れた所だったので、まあ、こんなもんかと思っていましたが、そのあと時間がたつにつれて、来るは　来るは5匹も出現!(マンタは１枚２枚と数えるそうですね)
口を開けて、近ずいてきて飲み込まれそうなほど!!　大感激でした!!
心残りは、そのときの写真がないことです。ぜひ、レンタルでも当日使用できるものがあるといいなと思いました。参加する方は、ぜったい持っていくほうが良いですよ！　ものすごい写真が撮れることでしょう。
スタッフの皆様、本当に有難うございました。マハロ!!

I was worried about my English skills and whether I would enjoy it, but it was fine. There was nothing difficult, and I just let the well-trained horses take me on a walk while enjoying the scenery and plants. I thought it would have been better if the course didn't have a U-turn, but it seems that's how it is. All the tours I passed by were similar.

If you have a rental car, you can easily arrive with the help of a GPS while driving. I was torn between a plan with Japanese language support and transportation, but I recommend this tour because of its low price. The staff arriving late at the meeting time can be seen as a charming aspect of the foreign experience.

英語力が心配で楽しめるかな？っていう不安がありましたが、大丈夫。
難しい事は何もなく、よく慣れているお馬さんにお任せで景色や植物を見て散歩してきました。コースがUターンじゃなければ尚よろしいと思ったのですが、仕方がないみたい。どのツアーも同じような感じですれ違いました。
レンタカーが有れば、カーナビの助けも借りてドライブしながら簡単に到着出来ました。
日本語・送迎付きプランと迷いましたが、料金格安のこちらのツアーはお勧めです。
集合時間にスタッフが遅れてくる所は外国人らしさのご愛嬌という事で。

The waves were really strong, and I got seasick. It's a shame I couldn't swim with the dolphins even though I encountered them. It was great that I could get on the boat with a wheelchair. I wasn't sure where the barbecue lunch was held.

波が凄く酔ってしまいました
イルカと遭遇できたのに一緒に泳げなかったのが残念でした。車椅子でも船に乗る事が出来たのは良かったです。バーベキューランチは何処で行って頂けていたのか？分かりませんでした。

The night sea is a bit scary, but I was able to see manta rays up close! They seemed smaller than I expected. I think it was along the coast near the airport. Mantas around Keauhou might be larger. However, it was a wonderful experience to see their bellies and mouths so clearly! The staff is friendly, but there is only one Japanese guide for the mixed tour with foreigners. Be careful after coming out of the water, as it gets cold! It's better to have a bath towel or something to wear.

夜の海はちょっと怖いけど、至近距離でマンタ見れました！思ってたよりマンタのサイズが小さいかな？空港から近い沿岸だったと思います。ケアウホウ付近のほうがマンタが大きいのかもしれないですね。でもお腹も口の中も丸見えで素晴らしい体験でした！
スタッフが親切ですが日本語ガイドさんは一人で外国人と混合ツアーです。海から上がったあとは寒いので要注意！バスタオル、羽織るものがあった方がいいです。

I participated in the afternoon tour. Since we drove down into the canyon, I was able to enjoy horseback riding in nature. Along the way, I encountered wild horses.

午後のツアーに参加しました。渓谷を車で降りるので、自然のなかで乗馬が楽しめました。
途中で野生の馬に遭遇凍ました。

I was so excited for my first tour swimming with dolphins! However, I’m not a great swimmer and hadn’t swum in about ten years, so I was a bit nervous wondering if I would be okay. But there was absolutely no problem at all.

Lucky for us, a large pod of dolphins came by multiple times, and I lost count of how many dives we did. Interestingly, no other boats were out that day, so it felt like we had Aloha Tours all to ourselves.

When we got really close to the dolphins, they didn’t seem to avoid us at all and showed such curious expressions; they were so cute! I was moved by the sight of dolphins playing with each other, a mother and her baby swimming together, their adorable sounds, and the beautiful bubbles created by their breathing sparkling through the curtain of light. It was a wonderful experience to be in such a beautiful, mysterious world, and the time spent with them became a cherished memory.

Also, Daisuke's bubble ring diving performance was amazing; he looked just like a dolphin! Lei was always cracking jokes, which kept the atmosphere lively and made it so much fun! Thank you so much for allowing us to meet the dolphins!!

初めてイルカと一緒に泳ぐツアーにワクワク！しかし泳ぎは得意じゃないし、もう１０年位は泳いでいなかったので（いきなり大丈夫か？）とドキドキでしたが全く問題なかったです。
ラッキーなことに何度もイルカの大群がやって来て何度ダイブしたか分からなくなる程でした。またこの日は何故か他の船が一隻も出港しておらず、アロハツアーズ貸切状態でした。

イルカ達と大接近した時も私達を避ける様子もなく、興味ありげな表情を見せてとても可愛かったです。イルカ同士がじゃれ合っている様子や親子で泳ぐ姿、可愛い鳴き声、そしてイルカの呼吸でできた美しい泡が、光のカーテンの中をキラキラと流れていく光景に感動しました。美しい神秘の世界にお邪魔させて頂き、共に過ごせた一時が幸せでとても良い思い出になりました。
また、ダイスケさんのバブルリング潜りのパフォーマンスも素晴らしく、まるでイルカのようでしたヨ！レイさんもジョークを飛ばして船上では常に盛り上がりとても楽しかったです！イルカちゃん達に会わせて頂き、本当にありがとうございました！！

It takes about 50 minutes by car from the hotel to the office, and then another 5 minutes by car to the harbor, so it was a bit nerve-wracking for us as it was our first time driving a rental car on the Big Island. The staff were all friendly, but there was no explanation after renting the GoPro, and we almost missed receiving our cards before disembarking. However, we enjoyed the two snorkeling sessions and the encounter with dolphins during sailing.

ホテルから車で50分程かかる事務所からハーバーまで更に車で5分かかるので、初めてハワイ島でレンタカーを運転する私達にはちょっと時間的にハラハラな集合でした。
スタッフの皆さんは気さくな方たちばかりでしたが、GoProをレンタルした後の説明がなく危うくカードを受け取れず下船するところでした。
でも2回のシュノーケルやセーリング中のイルカとの出会いは楽しめました。

This was a great helicopter ride over volcanoes, waterfalls, and the rain forest. The staff treated us great, including safety procedures. I can say I was nervous. However, the staff was assuring to me along with making sure all of us were safely seated. I highly recommend this excursion. It was a great day. Love, love, loved it. I would do this again.

Take the 'Plunge, have a go. An efficient team, supportive, knowledgeable and local. We, 4 of us, all enjoyed the experience, always felt safe. If you haven't experienced zip lining before (We all had) this was a great way to be introduced and build up to the longer and higher lines. Great views, a fun time.

Once in lifetime trip with my parents (both in 70s but fit). We went to the ranch (a little hard to find), drove down with the guides in a 4 wheeler......quite a drive. A very scenic but bumpy 30 minute ride to stables, another 30 minutes to get the whole party mounted up on horseback, and then a leisurely 2+ hours trek through magical lush green landscape, splashing through streams and seeing wild horses grazing, surrounded by towering cliffs and occasional waterfalls.

Only issue -- you won't really hear the guides once you start going. So do some reading up on Waipio vallyet beforehand, and then just enjoy what you are seeing. My mom has never been on horseback, my dad maybe 40 years ago, and they did just fine.

The Japanese pilot was very entertaining, providing a detailed explanation of the Kilauea volcano's crater. It was cloudy until we reached the town of Hilo, but it was sunny when we arrived at Waipi'o Valley. We had about a 30-minute break for landing at the waterfall. I'm glad I was able to experience something so unique in reality.

日本語パイロットで　とても楽しい機内　キラウエア火山の噴火口を詳しく説明、ヒロの町に行くまで曇ってましたが　ワイピオ渓谷に行くと晴れてて　滝への着陸で３０分位の休憩　なかなか体験出来ないことが　現実に体験出来て良かったです。

I participated with my 4.5-year-old child, and they provided us with kids' masks and boards with viewing windows, which allowed my daughter to enjoy herself.

There was a decent variety and number of fish, and although the visibility was okay, I appreciated that we weren't trying to catch fish with sausages. The slide and diving board required just the right amount of courage, which was great. The restrooms on the boat were also clean.

The speed of speaking in English was fast, but they provided important information on a paper written in Japanese, so I felt there were no issues at all. (My language skills are at a level where I can manage basic conversations in English.)

We received plenty of snacks and fruits, the timing was just right, and dolphins swam alongside us on the way back, so I think the affordable afternoon plan was a good choice.

4歳半の子どもと参加しましたが、キッズ用マスクや、覗き窓つきボードを貸していただき、娘も楽しむことができました。

そこそこの種類と数の魚、透明度でしたが、ソーセージで魚集めるようなこともしていなかったので、好感がもてました。
滑り台や飛び込み台は、ほどよい勇気が必要なレベルで良かったです。
船内のトイレも清潔でした。

英語を喋るスピードは早いですが、重要事項は日本語で書いた紙を渡してくれますので、全く問題ないと感じました。(私の語学力は、軽く英会話ができる程度です)

スナックやフルーツも沢山頂け、時間も適当、イルカも帰りに並走してくれたので、値段が安い午後プランで良かったかなと思います。

Wetsuits are available for $10 cash or credit payment. The boat moves quite fast, so if you're not confident, it's better to refrain from participating. At first, entering the water can be dark and a bit eerie. Mantas come in response to the lights. I think it's dangerous for people who aren't very accustomed to the sea, like dolphins. Mantas swim gracefully, so I recommend capturing videos.

ウエットスーツは10ドル現金かクレジット支払い
。舟移動結構飛ばしますので得意でない方は止めておいた方が無難です。入水初めは暗くて少し不気味。ライトに反応してマンタがやってくる
イルカもそうだがあんまり海に慣れていない人は危ないと思う。
マンタは優雅に泳ぐので動画おすすめ

Lovely staff, great experience - didn't get to see as many manta rays as I had wished though, but overall would recommend for anyone coming to Kona to have this experience! :)

It was amazing! Jamie and Elijah were wonderful guides! Such a magical way to experience the beauty of Hawaii! It was the perfect amount of time and the most beautiful scenery. Great for all ages! 10/10 recommend!

My family and I had a great morning! We kayaked, snorkeled, and cliff jumped! The guides were super encouraging, fun and knowledgeable. I only wish I had a water proof case for my phone because now I have no pictures of our awesome time! (They sell cases at the ABC stores)

Exceeded our expectations. Nice ride and crew was informative, helpful and very friendly. Snorkel area was amazing! Highly recommended