All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

Love waterfalls? Love rain forests? Love riding horses (or have always wanted to try)? Want to learn more about the plants and animals and history of the area? Then this tour is the one for you!
We were hoping to go on the horseback ride through the Waipi'o Valley; however, it was booked. We think it was our lucky day. We have no doubt the Waipi'o Valley ride would have been wonderful, but on our tour--we got to swim in a waterfall! The two tour leaders, Jamie and Mylie, made sure we were each comfortable on our horse given our varying riding abilities. We rode for about 45 minutes as the guides told us about the plants we were seeing and a bit about the history of the area. It was wonderful dialogue. When we arrived at the waterfalls, there was a restroom and changing room. Jamie and Mylie got out kayaks and paddle boards for those who wanted it, but I just wanted to swim--it was wonderful. The two falls were strong, but I swam up along the side and behind it to sit behind it, watching the water pour down! We then had a photo op. on our horses with the falls in the background. We had a wonderful ride back--Jamie and Mylie were a wealth of information, kindness, and support! Fabulous day--my daughter's favorite of our 2 week vacation!

My cousin and I did the horseback ride to the waterfall adventure on 6/18/19 and had so much fun. I was really nervous to ride a horse because I have not done so since I was a child, however, the guide (I believe his name was Jamie), made me feel really comfortable and answered all of my questions. This was by far the best horseback riding experience I have had. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the local plants and Hawaiian history. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone!

We tried it with three people aged 68, 60, and 47. At first, we were nervous, but after sliding down twice, we started to feel more relaxed. The price is a bit on the higher side, but it might be fun.

68歳60歳47歳の３人でトライしてきました。
最初はドキドキでしたが、２本も滑れば‥余裕が出て来ます。
料金的には少し高めですが‥楽しいかも‥

The stargazing and sunset were beyond my expectations. I had heard it would be cold, but the warm clothing kept me comfortable, and I was able to enjoy the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea. The bento we had along the way was delightful, featuring white rice, fried white fish, and teriyaki chicken, along with some vegetables! The taro or sweet potato was delicious. And the miso soup was a bit salty for me!

After the sunset, the stargazing was amazing. Our guide, MASA, showed us Jupiter through the telescope, and the second guide (Yona-mitchi?!) explained the stars very well! I was surprised to see the Southern Cross. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't find out my own constellation.

Thank you for ensuring I didn't get altitude sickness and for bringing me back safely.

思っていた以上の星空とサンセットでした。寒いとは聞いて今したが、防寒具がとても暖かくマウナケアの山頂でも楽しんでサンセットを見ることができました。途中のお弁当も、久々に白いゴハンに白身のさかなのフライにチキンの照り焼きのような…と、お野菜！私は、タロ芋なのかお芋がサツマイモのようでおいしかったです。あと、お味噌汁！若干しょっぱかったかな！私には。
サンセットの後の星空観測は、ガイドのMASAさんが天体望遠鏡で木星を見せていただき２台目のガイドさん(よなみっちさん？！)が、星空の説明をしていただき良く分かりました！南十字星が見れたのがびっくりでした。私の星座も知りたかったのが、少し残念でした。

高山病にもならず無事に帰って来れてありがとうございました。

By far one of the highlights of our trip ,If you love nature and a good adventure this is the most magical and stunning place well worth it , the views are just breathtaking ,Jennifer is so amazing thanks a lot for the amazing experience it truly was magical 100% RECOMMENDED

I had a great time with a full two hours of horseback riding, which included a few thrilling moments (due to the horse's state of mind). The two female guides were charming and reliable. The only downside was the cleanliness of the shuttle car that took us to the riding area in the valley.

2時間たっぷりの乗馬時間で、少しハラハラするようなハプニング(馬の精神状態)もあり、とても楽しかったです。
ガイドの女性２人もチャーミングで頼りがいあり。
マイナス点は渓谷下の馬場へ送迎するシャトルカーの清潔度くらい。

I gathered at the port, which is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel in Kona! There were so few Japanese people that I felt a sense of relief in an environment where Japanese could be spoken.

At first, we had a hard time finding the dolphin spot and kept cruising around the Waikoloa area. Just when I started to worry, the boat stopped, and we entered the water!

When we dove in at the call of "Here they come!", a large number of dolphins swam towards us!!!! The dolphins, which I usually only see in the aquarium, swam towards us leisurely and happily.

They twirled around, jumped, and swam close together, and it was such a precious experience that was incredibly cute!!! Thank you, Lei and Aki, for sharing so many stories and for being such warm-hearted people. I had a wonderful time! Thank you very much!

コナのホテルから車で10分くらいの港に現地集合で行きました！探さないと日本人が見つからない位の少なさの中で、日本語が通じる環境に安心感、、^o^
最初はなかなかイルカのポイントが見つからず、ワイコロア周辺まで船で走り続け、心配になってきたところで船が止まり、海に入ります。！
来ましたよ〜！の声で海に潜ると、大量のイルカたちがこっちに向かってきました！！！！
普段は水族館のプールの中でしか見たことのないイルカたちが、のんびりと、楽しそうにこっちに向かって泳いできました。
くるくると回ったり、飛び跳ねたり、2頭で身体をくっつけて泳いだり、可愛くて可愛くて、とても貴重な体験をしました！！！
レイさん、アキさん、いろんな話を聞かせてもらい、とても柔らかい人柄で楽しく過ごせました。本当にありがとうございました！

Had an amazing time on this trail ride/waterfall swim!

The ride was lovely, perfect weather for both us and the horses, and the waterfall was beautiful! Very peaceful area, refreshing water, perfect way to cool off mid-ride! Our guide was wonderful! Not only did she get us to the waterfall before other groups, she taught us a bit about Hawaii and the nature on the trail, and best of all she clearly loves the horses and takes great care of them.

Great company, friendly and caring staff, wonderful experience. Highly recommend!

It was my first time riding in a helicopter, and I was very moved to see the Big Island from above. Since the pilot was not Japanese, it was a bit disappointing that there were many parts of the pilot's explanations that we couldn't understand, as we are not very good at English.

ヘリコプターに乗るのは初めてでしたがハワイ島を上空から観れてとても感動しました。日本人パイロットではなっかたので、英語があまり得意ではない私達はパイロットの説明が理解出来ない部分が多かったのが少し残念でした。

Not only did I get to see the full view of the Big Island, but I also felt the vibrant life of the island, as if I were watching a movie. The music added to the atmosphere and drew me in even more. It was wonderful how the pilot made sure that everyone could see well from either side. I would love to experience it again if I have the chance.

BIG islandの全貌がわかるだけでなく、島自体の生きている感じが脈々と伝わってきて、まさに映画を観ているようでした。
演出の音楽も気分を盛り上げ、さらに引き込まれました。
どちらのサイドに座ってもちゃんと見れるようにパイロットの細やかな配慮もステキでした。
機会があればまた体験したいです。

I participated in a 120-minute sunset tour. I was able to park my rental car in the parking lot behind Ali'i Sunset Plaza. It seems that parking is free for up to two hours.

When I entered the shop, I was warmly welcomed by the president (an American), the guide Nana (a Japanese), and Mama (an American). Since there were only the two of us participating, it turned out to be a private tour. The guide explained that the president would accompany us and take videos and photos for free!

I chose a helmet with a design I liked, practiced a bit, and then we set off! We visited not only the classic spots but also beautiful and unique places that weren't even in the guidebook. The guiding method involved going to the destination on a Segway, which was great because we weren't on the Segway the whole time, so it wasn't tiring.

Especially at Old Kona Airport, it was still spacious and felt like a runway, so we could ride the Segway freely! I couldn't help but shout like Hiroyuki Ariyoshi, "Riding the Segway feels great!"

I had plenty of time to ride the Segway, and it was wonderful to chat with the president and the guide. When we returned to the office, the president showed us the videos and photos he took. They were so beautifully captured that I couldn't believe they were taken with just one iPhone! Moreover, he said he would edit them even better and send them to us!

I think this will become the best memory! I'm glad I participated! Thank you!

120分のサンセットツアーに参加しました。
レンタカーは、アリイ・サンセットプラザの裏側の駐車場に止めれました。2時間以内は、フリーみたいです。
お店に入ると、社長さん（アメリカ人）とガイドのナナさん（日本人）とママさん（アメリカ人）が優しく迎えてくれました。参加したのは僕たち２人だけだったので貸切ツアーでした。ガイドさんから、社長さんが付き添って、動画や写真をフリーで撮ってくれると説明してもらいました！
自分の好きな柄のヘルメットを選んで、練習もそこそこで、早速出発！
定番の場所はもちろん、ガイドブックにも乗っていないきれいな場所や、珍しい場所へも行ってくれました。
ガイドの方法は、目的地までセグウェイで行って、ガイドしてくれる感じです。セグウェイに乗りっぱなしじゃないので疲れなくて良かったです。
特にオールドコナエアポートは、いまでも広くて、滑走路みたいになっているので、自由にセグウェイを乗りまくれました！
有吉弘行さんみたいに、「セグウェイ気持ちいい～」って叫んじゃいますねw
セグウェイの運転もたっぷり出来て、社長さんやガイドさんと楽しいおしゃべりも出来て最高でした。
事務所に戻ると社長さんが、撮った動画や写真を見せてくれました。
iPhone一台でこんなにプロ並み撮れるの？っていうぐらいキレイに撮れてました！
しかもさらに、もっとうまく編集して送ってくれるそうです！
最高の思い出になると思います！
参加して良かったです！
ありがとうございました！

Our tour had less light compared to other tours, and people around us mentioned that other places were gathering more plankton. I agree with that. We could only see the mantas from a distance at the neighboring tour, which lacked impact. Additionally, one of the participants was splashing their feet and making noise, which made it seem like the mantas didn't want to come closer. I wished the instructor had better control over the participants.

自分たちのツアーは、他のツアーに比べてライトの量が少なく他のところの方がプランクトンを集めているんじゃないかと周りの人が言ってました。私も同感です。となりのツアーのところに来ているマンタを遠くから見る事しか出来ず、迫力に欠けました。また、同じツアー参加者が、足をバタバタさせて騒ぐので、マンタも近づいてくれなかった様に感じます。インストラクターはもっと参加者をコントロールして欲しかったです。

I decided on this tour/adventure package because it’s something that really interests me. From the coffee, to the excellent bbq picnic, the solar view of the sun setting, and of course the stars! Todd was our guide and he was so professional and was beyond knowledgeable in each area of the tour. He made everyone feel comfortable and was very engaging. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone wishing to do something that feels laid back, but covers a lot of ground.

I participated alone, but the guide, Matsuzaki, was incredibly interesting and kind, making me feel comfortable throughout the tour. The sunset was simply breathtaking and wonderful beyond words.

一人参加でしたけど、とにかくガイドの松崎さんがものすごく面白く優しい方でツアー中居心地が良かったです。日没はもう圧巻としか言いようがない位素晴らしかったです。

This is a winter limited event, so I thought I had to go this time! There were hardly any Japanese people, and the explanations were in English, but I was able to enjoy the atmosphere! As for the whales, I was able to see their tails and spouts, although it was from quite a distance. I think there were quite a few of them. However, I couldn't see them as close as it was mentioned on the reservation site, so that was a bit different from my expectations.

冬季限定だしこれはもう今回行くしかない！…と思い参加しました。日本人はほとんどいなくて説明も英語でしたが、雰囲気で楽しめました！クジラはというと、かなり遠くからではありましたが尾びれや潮吹きを見ることができました。数も結構いたように思います。ただ、予約サイトにあるような近さでは見られなかったのでそこだけ期待と違っていたかな。

A friend recommended that I go up to nearly 4,000 meters on Mauna Kea, so I found this tour and joined. I was looking forward to enjoying the starry sky as we drove there, but due to an unexpected wildfire, we could only climb partway and had to turn back. Although I couldn't see the stars at the summit, the guide was very thoughtful and stopped the car at various points so we could admire the night sky. We were also able to see a beautiful sunset. It was extremely cold, but the guide lent me a cozy warm jacket, which was a lifesaver! I hope to be able to see the stars at the summit next time...

友人から「マウナケア4000メートル近くまで行くのがお勧め」と言われ、このツアーを見つけて参加しました。星空を楽しみに車で向かいましたが、まさかの山火事で途中までしか登れずUターンすることに…。山頂で星空を見ることはできませんでしたが、ガイドさんもいろいろ考えてくれて途中途中で車を止めながら星空を眺めることができました。それにサンセットはきれいにみることができました。めちゃくちゃ寒かったですが、ガイドさんがモコモコの防寒着を貸してくれたので助かりました！次回は山頂で見られますように…

This was purchased as a birthday gift for my sister. She has always been fascinated by volcanoes and it's been her lifelong dream to come to the island and see the volcano for herself. She was incredibly excited to have this tour. However, the day before it was scheduled, she received a call and was told that there had been a mistake when recording her reservation and they no longer had room for her on her scheduled date. They offered to move her reservation to a different day or to schedule her for the same day as her initial reservation for instead for the Epic Circle Island Volcano Journey. She chose to keep her originally scheduled day and do the Epic Circle Island Volcano Journey.

The woman who called was very apologetic and kind, let's face it, humans make mistakes sometimes, we've all done it. They did their very best to make it right. In the end, my sister said her experience was incredible and she was glad there had been a little bit of a mix up, because she thought the tour she went on was better (granted, that is based purely on the description of the originally scheduled tour).

Her guide was knowledgeable and told all kinds of stories about Pele and the island and recounted the history of the volcano. The lava tube they visited was unique and interesting and fascinated her.

Overall, it was a huge win and even in spite of the little problem I would definitely book again!

This time, we went to a point where we could encounter manta rays, but due to the rough sea conditions, the captain wisely decided to return to port. I hope we have another opportunity in the future. However, it was a good experience.

Upon arriving at Honokohau Harbor, we received explanations from a Japanese guide, and I put on a wetsuit for the first time and got ready for snorkeling. I was excited as it felt like the adventure was about to begin. There were about 20 participants, including foreign tourists. We took pictures in our wetsuits. Finally, we set sail. Along the way, we enjoyed the scenery after the sunset. The boat kicked up the rough waves, with sudden drops and rises, and everyone was letting out laughter mixed with screams? It felt just like a roller coaster.

When we reached the point, several boats were already shining their lights, aiming for the manta rays. Our captain carefully navigated the boat, observing the other vessels and communicating to gather information about the manta rays. Unfortunately, it seemed that there were very few manta rays today, and due to the rough waves, we were advised to return to port to avoid fatigue from being in the water.

The tour company had mentioned before departure that, due to the nature of the wild, they couldn't guarantee sightings at the point, so there were no complaints from anyone. However, they kindly explained that we could attempt again for free since we didn't see any manta rays, which I thought was very considerate of the tour company (even though they incurred costs for fuel, drinks, and snacks...). We had another schedule, so we couldn't attempt again this time, but I hope there will be a chance in the future. I am grateful to Veltra and the tour company, Dolphin Hawaii, for providing such a great experience.

今回はマンタと出会えるポイント迄行きましたが海の荒れ状況から船長の賢明なる判断で帰港せざる得なく、またの機会があればなぁと思っております。
でもいい経験が出来ました。
ホノウコウハーバーに到着し、日本人には日本人ガイドさんより説明を受け、初めてのウェットスーツを着てシュノーケリングを付けました。いよいよ始まるって感じでワクワクです。外人観光客も含め約２０名の参加者です。ウェットスーツ姿の写真を撮り合ってます。いよいよ出航です。途中、夕陽が沈んだ後の景色を見ながらの航行です。船は荒波を蹴り、急降下、急上昇あり、皆は笑いを伴う悲鳴？を発してます。まるでジェットコースターの気分。ポイントに着くと十数隻の船が既にライトを照らしマンタを狙っています。私たちの船長は慎重に船を進め他の船の様子を伺い連絡を取リあってマンタの情報を得ています。どうも本日はマンタの数も大変少なく波も荒い為、私たちが海に浸かることにより疲れが生じることから中止、帰港となりました。
催行会社としては出航する前から自然界のことだからポイントに行く迄見れる保証は出来ない旨、話されていたので誰からもクレームは出なかったです。
でも見れなかった代わりに再度の挑戦を無料で実施する旨、説明有り何て良心的な催行会社だろうと思いました(油代、飲料費、お菓子など費用は使っているのに・・・。）私たちは次のスケジュールもあり再挑戦を今回は出来ませんが何時かは分かりませんがもしチャンスがあればそれまでお預けです。ベルトラさん、催行会社のイルカ・ハワイ社にいい体験が出来、感謝しております。

I participated in the 2.5-hour course in the morning. The weather was great, and I had a wonderful time overlooking Maui. Along the way, I encountered wild pigs. My saddle loosened, and I fell off the horse, but that too is a good memory. There were 10 participants in total, including two Japanese families and a foreign mother and daughter, as well as a solo participant.

午前中の2.5Hコースに参加しました。天候にも恵まれて、マウイ島も見下ろしながら楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。途中、野生の豚にも出くわしました。鞍が緩み、落馬してしましましたがそれもいい思い出です。
日本人2家族と外国人の母娘、一人で参加の方あわせて10名参加の回でした。

The tour to Mauna Kea summit was majestic, and we have to thank our tour guide/driver for that. Besides holding an astronomy degree and being very knowledgeable in answering our questions, he kept us amused about the stars we were watching through a telescope. Great company, very comfortable vehicles, knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides, five star trip!

We were the only Japanese people with an English guide. I communicated to our guide, Emi, in English that I didn't understand the language and needed support before boarding. Throughout the trip, she frequently checked in on our health and meal preferences, which made us feel at ease. It was unfortunate that there were guides in the Captain Cook area that I couldn't understand due to the language barrier. However, I was able to enjoy snorkeling at my own pace and had a meaningful experience seeing various fish and corals in two different locations. The meals were served buffet-style, and the hamburger patties were grilled live! The location and delicious aroma were fantastic, and the food was very tasty. Breakfast is provided, but since we gathered at 9 AM and arrived at the first point after departure, I felt a bit nauseous from hunger... In fact, one guest had to return to the port and disembark before heading to the second point due to feeling unwell after entering the water. It might be better for participants to have a little something in their stomachs beforehand.

My mother, who is not fond of water, stayed on the boat the whole time, but she seemed captivated and said, "If they lend out floatation devices in places like this, I think I’ll try going into the sea next time." Emi's voice was very pleasant, making the cruise enjoyable. Since we were staying at the Sheraton Kona, it was also great that we could walk to the meeting point.

英語ガイドで日本人は我々だけ。ガイドのエミさんに「英語がわからないのでサポートをお願いします」とだけ英語で伝えて乗船。 全体にこまめに体調や食事の様子を伺いに声かけしてくださるので、安心して参加できました。キャプテンクックエリアのガイドなどがあったようですが、それが言葉の壁により理解できなかったのが残念。でも、シュノーケルも自分のペースで自由に楽しめるし、二箇所でさまざまな魚やサンゴを観ることができて有意義でした。食事はブッフェ形式。ハンバーガー用のハンバーグはライブグリル！ロケーションと美味しい匂いが最高！とても美味しかったです。朝食は出ますが、9時集合、出航後第1ポイントに着いてからなので、空腹で酔いそうに・・・実際、一度海に入り体調を崩して第2ポイントに向かう前に帰港し下船されたゲストが1名おられました。少しお腹に詰めてから参加される方が良いかもしれまん。
水が苦手な母はずっと船上でしたが、「こういう所で浮き具も貸してもらえるなら次は海に入ってみようと思う。」と海中を実際に見てみたいと魅了されたようです。ガイドのエミさんの声も大変耳心地よく気持ちよくクルーズできました。
シェラトンコナに宿泊していたので、徒歩で集合場所まで行けたのも良かったです。

First of all, it was very good. There is no doubt about that. Additionally, the snorkeling mask and wetsuit were both well-sized and of good quality and condition. When I participate in snorkeling abroad, I often receive large masks meant for foreigners that don't fit my face, leading to unpleasant experiences with seawater getting in. So, I brought my own, but my husband's borrowed one was much better and suitable for seeing manta rays. This allows for a worry-free experience. However, unfortunately, Japanese participants went in first, which caused their bodies to cool down quickly, and my husband ended up being the last to get back on the boat, unable to stop shivering. That was the most disappointing part.

まずは、とても良かったです。それは間違いありません。
それと、シュノーケリング用のマスクもウェットスーツも、きちんとサイズのあった物を選んでくれて、質も状態も良いものでした。
私は海外でのシュノーケリングに参加すると、顔のサイズに合わない外人向けの大きいマスクを渡され、何度も海水が入る嫌な思いをしたので自分用のを持っていったのですが、主人の借りた物の方がとてもよくて、マンタを見るのに適していました。これは、安心して参加して頂けます。
ただ、残念なことに。日本人が先に入ったのですが、そうすると体が冷えるのが早くなるのに、ボートに上がるのが最後になり、主人は体の震えが止まりませんでした。それが一番残念なことです。

To acclimate to the high altitude, we took two breaks that included meals, and on the way to the summit, we could see Mauna Loa from the car window, which was breathtaking!

Once we reached the summit, we took a commemorative photo with the sunset in the background. Unfortunately, there were some clouds that day, so the sunset wasn't as impressive, but when we descended a bit to the stargazing point, the night sky was beautifully clear. The guide explained about the stars, and I was delighted to see my birth month constellation.

We also saw artificial satellites, shooting stars, and through a telescope, we were able to view Jupiter and its four moons. I felt secure as we had warm clothing, including a jacket, pants, and gloves. It was a fantastic experience!

最初高地に慣れるため、2回食事を兼ねた休憩を取り、山頂へ、車窓にはマウナロアも見えて
感動！
山頂についてまず夕日をバックに記念撮影この日はあいにく雲があって夕日はいまいちでしたが、少し下って星空観測ポイントについたら、
星空がキレイにみえました、ガイドさんが星について説明をしてくれて自分の誕生月の星座もあり嬉しかったです。
人工衛生、流れ星、望遠鏡で木星と4個の衛星を見せてくれました。
防寒着もジャケットとズボンと手袋がついていたので安心でした。とても良かったです！

We saw the north star in the same sky with the southern cross. Had never seen the southern cross before. That was worth the trip. The great professional authoritative guides, wonderful telescopes and celestial education were all icing on the cake.

My first time on the Big Island and my first nature tour started with a lot of uncertainty, but my worries quickly disappeared, and I was overwhelmed with emotion! As soon as we began climbing Mauna Kea, we encountered beautiful rainbows at three different spots. We took regular breaks to acclimate our bodies and had an early dinner. The miso soup was a blessing. Everyone wore highly effective cold-weather gear as we made our way to the summit. The air was thin, so we took deep, long breaths one at a time. The breathtaking sunset was truly overwhelming. After about an hour of waiting, excited by the increasing number of stars, I saw a multitude of stars I had never seen before, each twinkling felt so close. The telescope showed us the bands of Jupiter and four planets clearly! The lecture about constellations and the movement of stars was easy to understand and great. On the way back, I became so sleepy that I nearly fell asleep until we arrived, but they kindly dropped me off at the entrance of my accommodation, providing excellent service until the very end. Thanks to the attentive care from our two guides, this tour filled with first-time experiences became a fun and worry-free time that flew by.

初めてのハワイ島、初めてのネイチャーツアー、わからないことだらけで出発しましたが、もう心配なんてすぐに吹っ飛び、感動の連続！マウナケアに登り始めてすぐ、３か所で美しい虹に出会えました。休憩をこまめに取りながら、体を慣らして、早めの夕食。お味噌汁がありがたい。防寒効果の高いウエアを全員が身に着けて山頂へ。空気が薄いので、ひと呼吸ずつ深く長く。で、ゆっくりと沈む美しいサンセセットに圧倒的感動。少しずつ増える星の数にワクワクしながら待つこと１時間ほどで、見たことのない星の数、一つ一つの輝きがとても近くに感じる。望遠鏡で見せてくれた木星の筋と惑星４つまでくっきり！星座についてのレクチャー、星の動き、わかりやすくてよかった。帰りは我慢できないほど眠くなったので、到着までほぼ爆睡してしまいましたが、宿泊先の入り口まで送っていただき、最後の最後まで至れり尽くせり。ガイドのお二人、細やかにケアしていただいたおかげで、初めてづくしのツアーで安心して楽しいあっという間の時間になりました。

Boat is well kitted out with good gear. Staff are on hand to help and provide support if required. Breakfast and lunch were perfect for a morning on the water. Even got to try paddle boarding without having to pay extra for hire

My family and I greatly enjoyed this experience! Even my in laws who just stayed on the boat and watched from above enjoyed the view. These creatures are majestic and beautiful! We saw 8 rays and almost all of them got within a foot of me! I would recommend doing this activity for anyone just remember to take motion sickness meds as sometimes the water is choppy....

My niece and I where visiting the Big Island during a very active period for Fissure 8 and our experience of an 'so up close you could feel it' was amazing!

The tour and the crew where fantastic and we really experienced what Mother Nature was throwing at the Big Island during that time. Was a once in a lifetime experience and one I highly recommend.

Every year during New Year's, I go to the Big Island (Waikoloa) and Oahu. My wife and I had our first submarine experience, and I couldn't believe we were diving more than 17 to 20 meters underwater. It was moving to see the ocean floor, coral reefs, various fish, and turtles. It was a wonderful experience.

There are four departures a day, but we chose the morning course with explanations and guidance in Japanese. Although the voice was a bit hard to hear, I was glad we chose the Japanese guidance. However, I was at the Atlantis office, and the explanations for the pier and boarding area were very unclear. I think it would have been better if there were signs or something similar.

毎年正月はハワイ島（ワイコロア）とオアフ島に行きます。妻と二人、初めての潜水艦体験で、海の中１７、２０メーター以上潜るとは信じられませんでした。海底、珊瑚礁、いろいろな魚、亀を見られたときは感動、感動。
素晴らしい体験でした。
１日４便ありますが、私たちは、午前中の日本語での説明、案内のコースを選びました。声が少々聞き取りにくかったですが、日本語での案内を選んで良かったと思いました。
ただ、アトランティスの事務所にいたのですが、桟橋と乗り場の説明がとてもわかりにくかったです。案内板等があれば良かったと思います。

The reason for meeting on-site was that it overlapped with other options we considered. The navigation system we borrowed kept saying to turn left onto a narrow forest road after entering Waipio! It looked like a path overgrown with grass. Since I had gone another route before, I ignored it and went through the town to the valley. (On the way back, it also instructed a right turn onto a suspicious forest road.) After that, once we got closer to the valley, we followed the signs and turned right to reach Artworks. Please be careful not to be misled by the navigation. The reception starts at 9 AM, so if you arrive early, there won't be any staff around, just the shopkeepers. There is road construction on the way here, causing traffic jams, but in the afternoon, it might take 10 to 15 minutes longer than in the morning (the worst is in the evening). They mentioned the construction would last for two years. It's not too serious, so there's no need to rush.

The horses had various personalities, which was interesting. Sometimes the English was fast, making it hard to catch everything, but we managed. The explanations were natural, especially about the trees, but they weren't very detailed, so I wondered if it would be more enjoyable with a Japanese guide, as my daughter, who is nearly native-level, remarked. Along the way, we crossed a small stream and encountered wild horses, making for a relaxed horseback riding experience. There's no need to worry. Just keep in mind that since you'll be on the horse for a long time, those with weak hips might find it uncomfortable later. Also, the helmet we borrowed could really use some Febreze! (laughs) Since it's a nature-filled activity, it's understandable. (laughs) Bring only the bare essentials. Also, it's better to avoid wearing new sneakers. We enjoyed a recommended lunch on the way back, making good use of our time.

現地集合にした理由は他のオプションで立ち寄ったところとかぶってしまうのでこれにしました。うちでお借りしたナビがワイピオに入ってから狭い林道に左折と言うのです！どう見ても草ぼうぼうで道？と言う感じ。一度別のオプションで行ったことがあるので、無視して町の中を通って渓谷へ行きました。（帰りも怪しい林道へ右折と指示）あとは渓谷近くなってから標識に従い右折していくとアートワークスへ行けました。皆さんはナビに惑わされないように進んでください。受付は９時からですので前についても係りの人がおらず、お店の方だけでした。ここヘ行く途中道路工事で渋滞していますが、午前よりは午後が１０から１５分かかるときがあります（ひどいのは夕方ですが）。工事は２年と言っていました。あまり大したことがないのであせらないでくだいね。
馬もいろいろな性格があって面白かったです。英語がはやくて聞き取れないこともありましたが、なんとかなりました。説明は自然、とりわけ樹木とかですが大した説明でないので、日本語ガイドさんだったらもっと楽しいのかな。とネイティブ並みの娘が呟いておりました。途中小川を横断したり野生の馬に出会ったり、のんびりした感じの乗馬です。心配はいりません。ただ馬にまたがるので、股関節が弱い方は長い時間なのであとでお辛くなるかな。それから、お借りしたヘルメットがファブリーズしてー！と言いたくなるほど。（泣）自然満喫アクティビティなんだから仕方ないですね。（笑）荷物は本当に最小限に。また運動靴は新しいのは避けたほうがいいですね。帰りにお勧めランチをしながら帰りました。時間を有効に使えて楽しかったです。