All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

Due to the closure of the summit of Mauna Kea, I was shocked to find that the sunset viewing at the summit was canceled. However, the beautiful sunset and stargazing at around 2000 meters elevation were amazing. First, before the sunset viewing, our guide, Mr. Ishikawa, asked if we had a preferred spot, and he took us to the Aura Cave, a power spot, where we felt energized. Next, we visited Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, a place that is not easily accessible on your own. For the sunset, Mr. Ishikawa took us to his hidden spot. To our surprise, six turtles welcomed us before the sunset. With just four of us on the tour and six turtles, it was incredible. We received good luck from the turtles and then proceeded to stargaze.

It was wonderful. The sky was filled with stars, without a single cloud. I've never seen so many stars; the Milky Way was clearly visible, and I could have looked at the sky all night long. I believe this is definitely worth seeing. If I have the opportunity, I would love to go again.

マウナケア山頂閉鎖によるツアー変更により、マウナケア山頂での夕陽観賞が無くなりショックと思いきや、素晴らしい夕日と 標高2000m付近で星空観測は最高でした。まず、夕日鑑賞の前に、ガイドさんの石川さんがご希望の場所が有りますかのの質問があり、パワースポットのオーラの洞窟に連れて行って頂き、パワーを充満しました。次にプウコホラ・ヘイアウ国立歴史公園に行きました。なかなか個人では行けない場所です。サンセットの為に、石川さんの隠れポイントに連れて行って頂きました。なんと夕日が沈む前にカメさん６匹が我々を出迎えてくれました。ツアー４名にカメさん６匹で他には誰もいません。最高ですね。カメさん６匹の幸運をもらい星空観測です。
素晴らしかったです。雲一つなく満天の星空でした。これほどの星の数見たことがありません、天の川もはっきり見えます、ずーと一晩中でも空を見ていられます。これは見る価値があると思います。
機会があれば、ぜひまた行きたいです。

I chose the King Kamehameha Hotel because I wanted to see the show.
We were supposed to gather at 5:30, but by 5:00, there was a long line at the meeting place.
We sit in the order we lined up for the seats in the show venue.
We go to the grassy area to get dinner and drinks in order.
The venue is very close to the ocean, near the home of King Kamehameha. The breeze was refreshing.

◎本ショーを見学したくて、キングカメハメハホテルを選択しました。
◎五時半集合でしたが、５時には集合場所が、長蛇の列でした。
◎並んだ順番に、基本　ショー会場の席に座ります。
◎芝生エリアに、夕食と飲み物を、順番にとりに行きます。
◎会場は海が直ぐ近くで、カメハメハ王の家の近く。風が清々しかったです。

Staying at Royal Kona was very convenient. I lined up early after reading the reviews and was able to get a spot relatively close to the front. As it started, the sunset was beautiful, and I was captivated by the stunning view. The meal was served in a way where we went to get it in order of seating, so it wasn't too crowded. The taste was good as well. The song "Number One Day of Christmas" was amusing and stuck in my head, and my family and I found ourselves humming it.

ロイヤルコナに泊まっていたので、とても便利でした。クチコミを見て早めに並び、わりと前の方で見ることができました。
始まる頃に夕日が沈み、素晴らしい景色にうっとり。
食事は座席順に取りに行く形でしたのでそれほど混むこともなかったです。
味も良かったですよ。
ナンバーワンデイオブクリスマスの歌が面白くて、耳に残り、家族で口ずさんでました。

Verry good tour. Our guide was a geologist and provided a lot of information on the formation of the island chain and the volcanic activity and its aftermath.

I was hesitant to join the tour because I'm not a good swimmer, but I'm really glad I participated. I saw a lot of dolphins and experienced emotions I had never felt before. The guide was very supportive, which made me feel safe while swimming. When I later watched the video, I learned that there are many different types of dolphin sounds, which was also enjoyable. I definitely recommend it!

泳ぎが苦手なのでツアーの参加を迷いましたが、参加して本当に良かったです。
イルカを沢山見て経験したことのない感動がありましたし、ガイドさんも親身に居てくださるので安心して泳ぐことが出来ました。
後ほど動画を見返すと、イルカの鳴き声にも沢山の種類があるんだなぁと新たに知ることも楽しいので是非オススメです。

The beauty of big island speaks for itself, and it only gets better with an awesome tour guide! Brett was an exceptional tour guide. He is extremely knowledgeable, loves what he does, and it shows. I had a great time learning so much about the islands and volcanoes from him, and he's a great storyteller too! The black sand beach is beautiful, and the sunset from the volcano house is unforgettable. Probably the highlight of the tour was stargazing at the end. We got lucky with a gorgeous clear sky! There's a lot of driving so just relaxing in the van listening to Brett tell us about the islands while staring out at the scenery made for a great and laid back day. Just what I needed to end my vacation with before getting back to school. Thanks for teaching me so much! I highly recommend this tour, and will hopefully do it again when I come back with my family!

the boat ride to the snorkeling site was really good. saw dolphins and flying fish en route.
the snorkeling itself was good but not great. not a large variety of sea life. the water was very choppy. Crew were good and helpful. Food was really bad.

- I was really impressed by the attention to detail in various places; it was very thoughtful. I highly recommend this tour.
- The bento that came with the tour was delicious and completely different from those offered in other optional tours (which are often inedible). I mistakenly thought the provided bento would be unappetizing and ate beforehand, which was a waste.
- I participated in July and had heard it would be cold at the summit, so I prepared a down vest, earmuffs, and gloves. However, just layering the down jacket and long pants provided by the tour was sufficient.
- This time, it was a full moon, so the starry sky wasn't that great. I would like to participate again during a new moon.

・色んなところに細かな気配りがされていて、すごく気が利いてると感心しました。すごくお勧めできるツアーです。
・ツアーに付いてくるお弁当も他所のオプショナルツアーのそれ（食べれる代物で無い）とは違い普通に美味しく食べれる弁当でした。
（提供される弁当は、まともに食べれないと予想し直前に食べてきてしまい失敗。無駄でした。）
・7月の参加でしたが頂上は寒いと聞いていたので、ダウンベスト、耳当て、手袋を準備して行きましたが、ツアーで準備されているダウンジャケット、長ズボンを重ね着するだけで十分でした。
・今回は満月で明るく星空はいまいちでしたので、また新月の時に参加したいと思っています。

My husband and I and our two kids did the kayak tour and it was a lot of fun. It was a workout but the tour guides were very helpful and friendly. My kids are 15 and 9 and they both handled it well. We would recommend and probably do it again.

It was my son's and my first kayaking experience together. The instruction was thorough, and we had a lot of fun. It required more physical strength than I expected, and I gradually fell behind on the way back, but the sense of achievement when we reached the shore was wonderful. It became a great memory. Thank you very much!☆

息子と2人で初めてのカヤック体験でした。
丁寧に教えて頂き、楽しかったです。
思ったより体力必須で、帰りはだんだん追いつけなくなりましたが、岸に着いたときの達成感がまた良かったです。良い思い出になりました。
ありがとうこざいました☆

It was a day with high waves and quite murky water, but the dolphins seemed to be in a good mood, coming close multiple times, allowing us to see them both on the surface and underwater.

Also, the love that our guides, Ray and Daisuke, had for the dolphins was wonderful. They prioritized not making the dolphins uncomfortable, which I believe is a rule we must follow when interacting with wild dolphins.

Since the tour takes place in an area where you can't touch the bottom at all, you'll float in a wetsuit, and Ray and Daisuke provide maximum advice and support. However, to fully enjoy this tour, I think it would be more fun if you try snorkeling in shallow waters or have the guts to dive in without being able to touch the bottom.

Thank you to the dolphins who healed us, to Ray and Daisuke for the opportunity, and to everyone who participated! ✨

波が高く、結構水が濁っていた日でしたが、イルカの機嫌がよかったようで、何回も近くに来てくれてたくさん海面でも海中でも見ることができました。

また、ガイドのレイさんとダイスケさんのイルカに対する愛がとても素敵でした。イルカに嫌な思いをさせないことを最優先にする、それは私たちが野生のイルカと触れ合うにあたって守らなきゃいけないルールだなと思いました。

全く足なんてつかない海域でのツアーになるので、ウェットスーツで浮きますし、レイさんとダイスケさんが最大限のアドバイスとフォローもしてくださりますが、このツアーを楽しみ切るならシュノーケリングは浅瀬で楽しんで経験してみたり、足つかなくてもどんとこーいくらいのガッツがあるとより楽しいツアーになると思います。

癒してくれたイルカとその機会をくれたレイさん、ダイスケさん、一緒に参加した方たち、ありがとうございました✨

The day of the tour had low visibility and was a bit murky, but four manta rays approached us repeatedly, coming so close that they almost touched us, which made for a very satisfying experience. I was worried about whether we would see them since they are wild animals, but it turned out great. The guide was attentive, explaining the manta rays' ecology and checking on us regarding seasickness.

On the way back, similar to the outbound trip, the boat sped back in about 20 minutes, which was a bit chilly. It was reassuring to have two bath towels for drying off and as a windbreaker. I planned to change at a public restroom after the tour, but it was closed, so I couldn't change... I think it's best to prepare to absorb some water with a towel and wear something over it for the ride back.

参加日は、透明度があまり高くなく濁り気味な日でしたが、4枚のマンタが代わる代わる何回も接近して、目の前スレスレやマンタから触れてくるぐらい近くに来てくれたので大満足なツアーになりました。
野生相手なので、会えるかどうかを心配していましたがよかったです。
ガイドの方もマンタの生態の説明から、船酔いなどどうかも色々気にしてくださっていました。

帰りは行きと同様にビュンビュン船を飛ばして20分程度かけて帰ることもあり寒めです。体を拭く用とちょっと風除け用とバスタオル2枚あると安心でした。終わってから公衆トイレで着替えようと思ったら閉まっていて着替えられず…タオルである程度水を吸収させて上から羽織って帰るくらいの準備がいいように思います。

Two years ago, I was able to encounter manta rays in astonishing numbers, but unfortunately, this time we didn't see many. Additionally, the waves were high, which made my wife feel a bit seasick, which was also disappointing. However, since we are dealing with nature, there's not much we can do about that, and it reaffirmed that our previous experience was wonderful. I thought the staff's hospitality was good, and it would have been nice if we had a bit more luck.

一昨年参加時は驚くほどマンタに遭遇出来ましたが、今回は残念ながら、数は多く見れませんでした。
また、波も高かったので、妻は若干船酔い気味だったのも残念でした。
でも、自然を相手にしているので、この辺りはどうしようもないし、前回が素晴らしい体験だったのだと再確認出来ました。
スタッフの方のホスピタリティは良かったと思いますし、私たちにもう少しラッキーがあれば良かったかな。

Our tour guide knew so much about the island - history, weather, plants, animals, local favorite spots for food and fun, beaches, etc. I wish we had reserved the tour earlier in our stay so that we could take advantage of the tips he gave! We had plenty of time at each stop to really experience each of them - Kona coffee, lava tubes, black sand beaches, turtles, volcanoes, waterfalls and more! We had beautiful weather everywhere except Akaka Falls and the driver was equipped with rain jackets for everyone. I highly recommend this tour!

I had always been unable to make a reservation for just one person, but I finally got to participate. I was a bit worried since it was only in English, but as long as I understood how to use the rope, it was fine. Even if you don't understand English, you can generally figure things out by watching the guide's movements.

I had previous experience with horseback riding, so it felt familiar. Riding the horse is fun, and there are beautiful views, including entering the river, but it was just a U-turn in a place without anything special before heading back.

It was challenging since it was sudden, but it's also possible to walk there, so I thought I would try walking next time and take it slow.

一人のためなのかいつも予約できなかったが、やっと参加できた。英語のみなので若干心配だったが綱の使い方がわかれば大丈夫。英語がわからなくてもガイドの動かしかたを見ていれば大体分かる。
乗馬自体は別途経験済みだったのでいつも通りだった。馬に乗るのは楽しいしきれいな景色もあり川に入るとかはあるが、特別なものがないところでUターンして戻ってくるだけだった。
急なので大変だが歩いて行くことも可能なので、次回は歩いていってゆっくりしてみようと思った。

This was most definitely the highlight of my families trip, the scenery is beyond amazing. Nothing like i have EVER seen before and the horses are absolutely amazing. It was my kids and my husband’s first time riding and the horses were great for them! Actually made them fall in love with horseback riding just like I am! So thank you to the ranch for letting us experience that as a family! I would MOST DEFINITELY recommend doing this on your vacation or even if you live there and looking for something to do!

Our party of 7 had an absolutely fantastic adventure on our sea cave kayak and snorkeling trip. Devon, our guide, was really knowledgeable and very fun to be with. He was very helpful and made everyone feel very comfortable and at ease.

We had a great time kayaking (about 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back), swimming, snorkeling, and even jumping off of a cliff. The visit to the sea cave was also very neat.

We feel like we had 4 different excursions between the kayaking, cliff jumping, snorkeling and swimming, and the sea cave.

We would highly recommend this trip. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our 10 days in Kona.

It had been three years since I last saw the night sea, so I was nervous.

As explained on the boat, I was able to float surprisingly easily by holding onto a semicircular ring and resting my legs on a long foam stick. Thanks to that, I could wait for the manta rays while comfortably observing plankton and fish. It was breathtaking to see the manta rays swimming close to my body and spinning around!! If I could wish for anything, it would be to see them in a group.

I borrowed a wetsuit, so I wasn't cold in the water (wearing aqua shoes might have helped too). My husband said he felt cold. Changing back when we returned was easy since I brought a pareo (a square piece of cloth).

I am grateful to the staff for providing an experience that I couldn't have done on my own.

3年ぶりと夜の海だったので、緊張しました。

船上での説明通り、半円形のリングにつかまり発泡スチロールの細長い棒に脚を乗せていたので思いのほか楽に浮いていることができました。お蔭で、プランクトンや、魚を見ながら余裕をもってマンタを待つことができました。
マンタが私の体すれすれに泳いだり、回転する様は感動でした！！
欲を言えば、群れで来てほしかったです。

ウェットスーツを借りたので、水中は寒くなかったです（アクアシューズを履いていたのも良かったかもしれません）。
・・主人は寒いと言っていました。
帰ってきた時の着替えは、パレオ（四角い布）を持ってきたので楽でした。

自分だけではできない体験ができ、スタッフのみな様に感謝いたします。

Guides were thorough in instructions so all of us felt confident with our horses. We were helped on and off, which was appreciated. We were given the opportunity to cantor and gallop if we wished. The guides were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and fun! The green hills and cool breezes were lovely, did not use our jackets although the sun & wind were strong. They recommended a fun place, Fish and Hog, for lunch following the ride. I would recommend this ranch and ride.

We departed at dusk and were able to enjoy the sunset sinking into the sea from the boat. We also encountered four mantas, making it a very satisfying tour. While we were snorkeling and looking into the sea, the mantas approached us with their mouths open (to eat plankton), passing right in front of us multiple times and even spinning around. They came so close that we almost touched them, even though we shouldn't have. I think this is a rare experience.

夕暮れ時に出発し、ボートから海に沈むサンセット鑑賞もできましたし、マンタ4枚にも遭遇でき、大変満足なツアーでした。シュノーケルで海をのぞいている私達に、マンタが口を開けて(プランクトンを食べるため)向かってきたり、何度も目の前を通り過きたり、回転したりと、触ってはいけないのに、触ってしまうほど近くまでやってきました。なかなか出来ない体験だと思います。

I would like the group size to be a bit smaller. With 6 people in one group, it's already expensive at 3 minutes per person just by simple calculation. Also, the purchase of digital photos starts at $55 for 2 photos! After that, it's $22 per photo. Buying 4 photos costs $99, which is too high and quite shocking.

グループの人数をもう少し少なくしてほしい。1グループ6人で、単純計算しても一人当たり3分間で高い。またデジタル写真購入がなんと2枚からで55ドル！そのあとは1枚あたり22ドル。4枚購入して99ドル、高すぎで、呆れた。

The sunset was amazing! I love traveling to various places and watching sunrises and sunsets, but this was the BEST sunset. I don't think there will be a sunset that surpasses this one. The experienced staff took beautiful photos, and I really appreciate that they are available for download.

As for stargazing, since it was a full moon the next day, there may not have been a lot of stars visible. If I go again, I would like to choose a time around the new moon or when the moon is not out. They provided a lot of explanations about the constellations while observing Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon through a telescope.

夕日が最高でした！
色んな所旅行して、朝日と夕日を見るのが好きですが、BEST OF 夕日です。
たぶんこれを超える夕日は無いかと。
経験豊富なスタッフさんがキレイな写真を撮影して下さり、
ダウンロード可能なのも非常にありがたいです。

星空観察に関して言うと、翌日満月だったこともあり、星が沢山って訳ではなかったかもしれません。次回行くなら新月の時期か、その時間帯に月が出ていない時期を選びたいです。望遠鏡で木星、土星、月を観察して星座の説明もたくさんして下さりました。

By booking a premium seat, you can watch right in front of the stage. They also come to take your drink refill orders, which is convenient. The buffet food was delicious. The hula dance was wonderful, but the final dance by the man using fire was magnificent!

プレミアム席を申し込むと舞台の真ん前で観られます。ドリンクのお代わりの注文も取りに来てくれ楽チン。ビュッフェの食事も美味しかった。フラダンスも素晴らしいけど、最後の火を使う男性の舞踊が勇壮でした！

The scenery of the valley explored on horseback was very beautiful, and it was a fun experience with a bit of thrill. You can also see power spots. The guide speaks English and some broken Japanese. Contrary to appearances, they are very polite. Even beginner riders in the family were satisfied!

乗馬で巡る渓谷の風景はとても美しく、少しスリルも感じる楽しい経験でした。パワースポットも見れます。ガイドは英語と片言の日本語話せます。見かけによらず(?)丁寧です。乗馬初心者の家族も満足してます！

Several manta rays came right up to us, showing their bellies and dancing. It took about 30 minutes to reach the manta point after getting on the boat, and I was tired by the time we arrived due to the rain. You can see the mantas while snorkeling by holding onto the boat's rope. There are floats available, but you need to jump into the sea from the boat and swim back to it on your own. I was scared to jump in. The snorkeling lasted about 40 minutes. It was tiring because it was cold and raining. If you call out to the staff, you can return to the boat midway. On the way back, we were offered hot chocolate. It was physically challenging, but I’m grateful for the many mantas we saw and the hospitality of the Japanese staff.

何枚ものマンタがすぐそばまでやってきてくれて、おなかを見せてダンスをしてくれました。
船にのってから、マンタのポイントまでは30分程度あり、雨が降っていたこともあり、つくまでに疲れました。マンタはボートの綱に捕まってシュノーケリングしながら見ます。浮きはありますが、船から海に飛び込み、ボートまでは自力でいく必要があります。飛び込むのがこわかったです。シュノーケリングは、40分くらいあります。雨が降って寒かったので疲れました。スタッフの方に声をかけると途中で船に戻れます。
帰りの船では、ホットチョコレートをいただけました。
体力的にはつらかったけど、マンタがたくさん見られたのと、日本人スタッフの方のホスピタリティに感謝いたします。

The staff was great and made sure everyone had a great experience

That was such an amazing trip! Devon was awesome! We got to jump off a cliff, try a fresh Opihi, get some information about the island! Snorkel, and bond with our family. It really is beautiful and an amazing time. You get to see so much history of the island and it’s amazing! Our family highly recommends this!

Since it was my second time on a Segway, I was able to relax and enjoy the experience. The view of the ocean was beautiful, and we timed it perfectly for sunset. The guides were kind and took plenty of photos for us.

セグウェイが二度目だった為、リラックスして体験できました。海の景色もきれいでサンセットの時間にもちょうど良く間に合いました。写真も沢山撮影してくれ、親切なガイドさん達でした。

It was my first time doing sea kayaking and snorkeling, but it was fun. The ocean was very beautiful! Since we met at the location, if you're going by rental car, you need to secure a parking spot, but street parking was also possible.

シーカヤックもシュノーケリングも初めてでしたが、楽しかったです。海がとてもキレイでした！現地集合なので、レンタカーで行く場合は駐車場所を確保する必要がありますが路駐も可能でした。

The guide was a foreigner and very kind, and I was able to understand the explanations in English perfectly. Although the photos were paid, they took many for us.
There were 9 zip lines, and I really enjoyed it! I think it would have been even better if there were some longer ones.
The day we experienced it, the weather was nice, making for a pleasant tour.

外国人のガイドさんでしたがとても親切で、英語の説明でもちゃんと理解できました。写真も有料でしたが沢山撮影してくれました。
ジップラインは9本あり、満喫できました！長い距離のものもあると更に良かったなと思います。
体験した日は、天気が良く気持ちの良いツアーでした。