All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

The weather and moon phase were favorable, making it enjoyable. To satisfy more serious astronomy fans, a more impressive telescope might be needed.

天候、月齢にも恵まれて楽しめました。
少し詳しい天文ファンにを満足させるには、もう少し立派な望遠鏡が必要かも。

Honestly, before going, I was worried about altitude sickness and hesitated. But I'm glad I went! They gave me advice on how to prevent altitude sickness (all of which were simple and easy to do), so I was able to participate with peace of mind. They also lend you warm clothing, but the perceived temperature can change depending on whether it's windy or not. Please be especially careful about your feet, as the wind can get in there.

正直、行く前は高山病とか心配して迷っていました。でも、行ってよかったです！高山病対策をアドバイスしてくれたり(どれも簡単で誰でもできることばかりです)で、安心して参加できました。防寒具も上下貸してくれますが、風があるかどうかで体感温度が変わります。特に足元は風が吹き込むので注意してくださいね。

The staff members and, of course, the dolphins were all amazing! On the day we were taken care of, there were an incredible number of dolphins, and we even saw whales. They mentioned that it’s not always like this, but for dolphin lovers and ocean enthusiasts, it’s a dream optional tour!!

スタッフの方々や、もちろんイルカも、どれを取っても最高でした！
お世話になった日はイルカがものすごい数でクジラも見れて、毎回こんな感じとは思わないで下さいねーとおっしゃってましたが…イルカ好き、海好きには夢のようなオプショナルツアーです！！

Unfortunately, we were unable to see any whales. I had read experiences beforehand and thought there would be plenty of soft drinks, fruits, and snacks available on the boat, but there was nothing to eat. The fruits disappeared in no time, and all that was left were broken chips. Soft drinks were unlimited.

残念ながらクジラを見ることはできませんでした。
事前に体験談を読んで、ソフトドリンク、フルーツや軽食などが船に豊富に用意されているように思っていましたが、口にするものは何もなかったです。
フルーツはあっという間になくなってしまい、あったのは割れたチップスだけでした。
ソフトドリンクは飲み放題です。

On December 30, we participated as a family of four. Two of us are children aged 9 and 11.
It was almost our first time riding horses, but the horses were well-trained, so we had no worries.
We took a walk in the valley floor of Waipi'o Valley, swaying on the backs of the horses. It was a place filled with rich water and greenery, exuding tranquility.

For your reference:
- We traveled to and from the valley floor by 4WD from the meeting point. This took quite a bit of time. The approximate schedule was: gather at 1:30 PM, move to the valley floor, start horseback riding at 2:15 PM, finish riding at 3:45 PM, and disperse at the meeting point at 4:15 PM.
- We were the only Japanese participants; everyone else was from the mainland United States.
- We planned to rent a car to get to the meeting point, but when we tried to make a reservation at the hotel after arriving on the Big Island, we were told there were no rental cars available until January 3.
We had no choice but to use a round-trip taxi, which cost over $400 from Kailua-Kona. We should have reserved a rental car from Japan.

12月30日に家族4人で参加しました。うち二人は9才、11才の子どもです。
4人ともほぼ初めての乗馬でしたが、馬はよく調教されていて不安なことはありませんでした。
ワイピオ渓谷の谷底を、馬の背に揺られながらの散歩です。豊かな水と緑が印象的な、静謐さをたたえた場所でした。

以下、参考になれば。
・集合場所〜ワイピオ渓谷の谷底を4WDで往復します。これにかなり時間がかかります。
おおよそのタイムスケジュールは、13:30集合で谷底へ移動、14:15から乗馬、15:45乗馬終了、16:15集合場所で解散。
・日本人は私たちだけで、他は全員アメリカ本土からの参加でした。
・私たちはレンタカーを借りて集合場所まで行くつもりでしたが、ハワイ島へ着いてからホテルで予約しようとしたら、1月3日までハワイ島ではレンタカーが1台もないと言われました。
仕方なく往復タクシーを使い、カイルア・コナから400ドル強かかりました。
レンタカーは日本から予約して行くべきでした。

I challenged myself to kayaking for the first time with a friend in a tandem kayak! This was my second time sea kayaking. No matter how hard we paddled, we weren't making much progress, and as we fell behind everyone else, the handsome guide connected a rope and towed us along! He continued to keep an eye on us, staying close but not too close as we struggled. We managed to complete the course somehow! Ah, it was so much fun!

初カヤックの友と2人乗りで挑戦！私は2回目のシーカヤック。
漕いでも漕いでも進まず、皆さんから遅れていたら、イケメンガイド君がロープをつないで曳航してくださいました❣️その後も遅れがちな私達を付かず離れずで気にしてくださり…。なんとか完漕できました‼️
あー、楽しかった‼︎

After paddling for about 30 minutes by sea kayak to the destination's shallow area, we entered the sea directly from the kayak to go snorkeling. The underwater visibility is very clear, and there are a decent variety and quantity of fish, so those who want to enjoy both kayaking and snorkeling should be satisfied. By the way, snorkeling is optional, and about 20% of participants did not go snorkeling. Since we paddle the kayak both ways, we don't progress while listening to the guide's explanations, so if you want to hear the guide's insights, it might be a good idea to actively engage in conversation.

The sea cave is not a long cave that extends for dozens of meters; it's about 3 to 5 meters in total length. When you enter the cave with the kayak, you get swept away more quickly by the waves when they return, so it's more about enjoying that experience. There is also a point where you can jump into the sea from a cliff about 5 meters high, so you can optionally jump from the cliff into the sea.

Before getting on the kayak, there is a briefing where they explain how to paddle. The explanation is all in English, but if you have experience paddling a boat, you should be able to understand the basic instructions in English. Additionally, there was one guide who could explain using very simple Japanese words necessary for kayaking (like left, right, stop, etc.).

Since everyone participating this time had kayaking experience, the pace of paddling was quite fast, but I believe the guide adjusts the pace based on the participants' skills and how many times they have kayaked before. Especially for those from Western countries, they tend to have good stamina, so if you're not confident in your physical strength, I recommend mentioning that during the briefing. During the briefing, you will be asked if you need a life jacket for kayaking. Since you will also use a life jacket while snorkeling, it's best to communicate your need for one during the briefing.

シーカヤックで片道30分ほど目的地の浅瀬に向かった後、海上で直接カヤックから海に入って、シュノーケリングをします。海中の透明度は非常にクリアで、魚の種類と量もそれなりにいるので、カヤックとシュノーケリングを同時に楽しみたい方は満足できるはずです。ちなみにシュノーケリングは任意で、参加した方の2割はシュノーケリングをしていませんでした。行きと帰りはカヤックを漕ぐので、ガイドの説明を横で聞きながら進むというわけではなく、ガイドから説明を聞きたい場合は積極的に話しかけたほうがいいかもしれません。海中洞窟（シーケーブ）は数十メートルも続くような洞窟ではなく、全長3~5m程度で、そこにカヤックで入ると波が戻る際に波の力でより早く流されるので、それを楽しむ程度です。また高さ5m程度の崖から海に飛び込むポイントもあるので、任意で崖から海に飛び込むことができます。
カヤックに乗る前にブリーフィングがありカヤックの漕ぎ方について説明があります。説明は全て英語ですが、ボートを漕いだことがある方なら基本的な説明は英語でも理解できると思います。また、カヤックの動作に必要なごくごく簡単な日本語の単語(左右、止まるなど)で説明することができるガイドが1人いました。
今回参加した全員がカヤックの経験者だったため、カヤックを漕ぐペースはかなり早めでしたが、ガイドが参加者のスキルやカヤックに乗ったことがある回数によってペースを合わせると思います。特に欧米の方は体力があるので、体力に自信がない方は、ブリーフィングの際にその旨を伝える事をお勧めします。ブリーフィングでカヤックに乗る際、ライフジャケットが必要か聞かれます。シュノーケリングをする際もライフジャケットを利用するので、シュノーケリングでライフジャケットが必要な方はブリーフィングの際に伝えた方がよいと思います。

I participated in the morning session. Although I had experience kayaking on rivers, this was my first time sea kayaking, but there was a thorough briefing before we entered the ocean. As soon as we got into the water, we encountered a pod of dolphins. It was a very lucky start to our trip. Along the way, some of the children got seasick, but one of the two guides accompanied us back to the bay, and after a short rest, we were able to enjoy snorkeling safely in the bay. They took many photos and sent them to us via email, which made for wonderful memories.

午前の回に参加しました。
川でのカヤック経験はあったものの、シーカヤックは初体験でしたが、海に入る前に丁寧なレクチャーがありました。
海に入るとすぐにイルカの群れに遭遇。とてもラッキーな船出でした。
途中子どもたちが船酔いになってしまいましたが、2枚のガイドさんのうちの1名の方が付き添って湾まで戻ってくれ、少し休んで無事湾の中でのシュノーケリングも楽しむことができました。
写真もたくさん撮ってくださり、メールで送ってくださったのでとても良い思い出になりました。

I drove to the Hiro area by rental car. I received an explanation on-site and got to ride in a helicopter. I was shown the bubbling of the volcano. I felt a bit nauseous at times, but it was okay.

ヒロ地区までレンタカーで行きました。
現地で説明を受けて、ヘリコプターに乗せてもらいました。
火山のボコボコも見せてもらいました。
多少酔いそうになりましたが、大丈夫でした。

My English skills were below the level of daily conversation, but I was able to enjoy the experience without any problems.

【Before Boarding the Boat】
At the scheduled time, a small bus came to pick us up at the hotel front. We were dropped off near the sea close to Waikoloa and were told, "Come back here when you're done. Also, please fill out the consent form over there before boarding the boat." We headed towards a beach house on the sand. After completing the electronic signature on a device that looked like a tablet, we waited for about 10 minutes until a small boat arrived, and we boarded it. We transferred from the small boat to a larger boat just before going out to sea. There were only two of us from Japan participating.

【Whale Watching Experience】
Seating on the boat was free. Since it was an English tour, I couldn't understand what was being said at all (laughs). The boat was also swaying, so when standing up to take pictures of the whales, everyone stood, so please make sure to hold onto the ropes or handrails tightly. Although it was far away, we were able to see the whales spouting water about 4 to 5 times and also witnessed a low jump of a whale arching its back. It was a precious experience where I could feel the great nature of Hawaii Island. The crew was a kind young man. He said, "You can almost see whales every day! Dolphins are occasional. There are more in Kona than here." I was shown a picture of the boat getting very close to a whale by the crew, and I was amazed at how impressive it was. Since it depends on luck whether you see whales or not, I thought, "There are lucky days like this." By the way, the two of us did not get seasick.

【After Whale Watching】
Around 9:30, we got off the boat and transferred to a small boat to return to the beach. We boarded the bus we took on the way there and safely arrived back at the hotel front, marking the end of the tour.

Since it was my first experience with whale watching, I’m glad I participated! While waiting for the whales, I also enjoyed cruising. I could see the mountains like Mauna Kea in the distance and the beautiful coastline, making for a graceful time.

日常会話レベル以下の英語力でしたが、特に問題なく楽しむことができました。

【船に乗るまで】
時間になったらホテルのフロントまで小型バスが迎えに来てくれました。
ワイコロアから程近い海に降ろされ「終わったらここに戻ってきてね。それと船に乗る前に同意書は向こうで書いてね。」と言われ、砂浜にある海の家(?)に向かいます。タブレットのような機械で電子サインを済ませ10分ほど待つと小さな船が来たので乗りました。
沖より少し手前で小さな船から大きな船に移ります。
日本人参加者は私達2人だけでした。

【ホエールウォッチング体験】
船の席は自由です。英語ツアーなので私は何を言っているかはちんぷんかんぷんでした（笑）。
また船は揺れるので立ち上がってクジラの写真を撮る際は、皆立つのでしっかりロープや手すりにつかまってください。
遠かったですが4〜5回クジラの潮吹きを見ることができ、クジラの反り返りの低いジャンプも見ることができました。ハワイ島の大自然を感じられた瞬間で貴重な体験でした。
クルーも親切なお兄ちゃんでした。「クジラは毎日ほぼ見れるよ！イルカはたまに。ここよりもコナの方がいるよ。」とのこと。クルーのお兄ちゃんに船でクジラに大接近してる画像を見せてもらい、大迫力すぎて驚きました。自然相手なのでクジラに会えるor会えないは運ですが、こういうラッキーな日もあるんだなぁと思いました。ちなみに、私達2人は船酔いせずに済みました。

【ホエールウォッチングを終えて】
9:30頃船から降りて、また小さい船に移動し砂浜へ戻ります。行きに乗ったバスに乗り込み、無事にホテルのフロントに到着し無事にツアー終了となりました☆

ホエールウォッチングは初めての経験だったので、参加してよかったです！またクジラを待ってる間はクルージングとして楽しみましたよ。遠くの方にマウナケア等の山が見えて美しい海岸も見ることができ優雅な時間でした。

All the tour guides were kind and very interesting! They shared a lot of love and knowledge about dolphins, which made it enjoyable on its own. They provided precise support to ensure we had a good encounter with the dolphins during the actual tour. It was really fun! I'm glad I chose this tour. I would like to book a tour here again when I go to Hawaii!

ツアーガイドの方がどの方も親切で、とっても面白い！
イルカに対する愛情と知識も沢山話していただいて、それだけでも楽しめました(^^)
実際のツアーでもイルカにしっかり遭遇できるように的確にサポートしてくださいます。
本当に楽しかったです！
このツアーにして良かった☆
またハワイに行くときはこちらでツアーを頼みたいと思います^_^

I was able to meet a lot of dolphins! ✨ Since I can't speak English, I felt reassured by the Japanese staff. Thank you very much! ✨

たくさんのイルカさん達に会わせてもらえました！✨英語が出来ないので、日本語スタッフの方々で安心できましたありがとうございました✨

Following the last time, I couldn't see the sunset among the clouds again this time. As for the starry sky, thanks to the staff's quick thinking, we were able to observe it a little at Mauna Kea Park, but the surrounding lights were a bit distracting.

前回に続き、今回も雲の中で夕日が見られなかった。星空に関してはスタッフの機転でマウナケアパークで少しだけ観測できましたが、周囲の明かりが気になりました。

The boat was quite fast and impressive. I was able to see colorful fish and manta rays. The staff was also friendly.

ボートは結構なスピードで迫力があります。色とりどりなな魚たちマンタが見られました。スタッフも親切でした。

As we slowly glided over the mirror-like surface of the sea, we witnessed the spouting of whales and their diving. On the way back, we were treated to a pod of dolphins. It was a moving experience to realize that life can offer such moments!

鏡のような海面をゆっくり走ると、クジラの潮吹き、ダイビングを見学。帰り道はイルカの群生というおまけ付き。人生にこんな時間があるのだと、感動！

I signed up because I wanted to see whales, but in the end, I couldn't see any. All I saw were a few small sharks and dolphins in the distance. Since both the sharks and dolphins were far away, it wasn't very exciting, and with nothing to see in the vast ocean, the nearly three-hour duration became quite boring. Considering it was a bit pricey for a cruise, I wonder if I can endure it...

クジラを見たくて申し込みしましたが…
結局クジラを見ることは出来ず。
遠いところに、何頭かの小さいサメと イルカだけ。サメもイルカも遠いところだったので、
感動もそれほどなく大海原の景色も
何も見えないと、3時間近い時間は飽きてきます。ちよっと高額なクルージングと思えば、
ガマンできますかね…。

It was amazing!!!! There were quite a few manta rays swirling around! I was about 10 cm away from them, and they were about 2 to 4 meters in size. It was truly moving! Just the best!

感動！！！！かなりのマンタ達がクルクルクルクルクルクル！！マンタとの距離が10cmくらいの間近で、マンタは2〜4m程の大きさで、感動でした！最高の一言です。

Great experience! Saw whales and dolphins...mission accomplished!

Super friendly staff and we had a wonderful time! Would recommend to anyone and everyone and would definitely go back when I have the chance! Despite the fact that it was raining the day we went (which actually made the experience more exhilarating, as the rain made us go even faster than normal) , the views were still incredible. The staff was patient and their energy made the experience more fun for everyone. By the end of the zipline I was ready to do it all over again!

We participated as a family of five, with ages ranging from 10 to over 50. Thanks to our captain, who was full of love for dolphins, we got to see so many dolphins and had an amazing time! The rental wetsuits were easy to put on and take off, which was great.

下は10歳、上は人生半世紀の家族5人で参加しました。イルカ愛に溢れる船長さんのおかげで、たくさんのイルカちゃん達に会えてめちゃくちゃ楽しかったです♬レンタルのウェットスーツは着脱しやすくてよかったです。

I could feel the guide's passion for marine life, including dolphins, and it was enjoyable. We had a perfect encounter with a pod of dolphins, and we even saw a whale as a bonus. My child got seasick, but they provided solid support.

イルカをはじめとする海の生き物に対するガイドの情熱が伝わってきて楽しめました。イルカの群れにバッチリ遭遇できたし、おまけにクジラもみられました。子供が船酔いしてしまいましたが、しっかりサポートしてくれました。

The experience was a let down as there was nothing special about it. The amount of money you pay for this is not worth it. However, the tour guides were very nice and enthusiastic.

The horseback riding in the jungle at the bottom of the valley, which would be very difficult for us to visit on our own, was amazing. The horses were all very gentle and listened well. There were plenty of wild fruits, and we splashed around in the river, making it a unique and enjoyable horseback riding experience.

自分たちではとても訪れるのは大変だろうという谷底のジャングルでの乗馬は最高でした。
馬はとてもみな大人しく、言うこともとてもよくきいてくれました。野生の果物もたくさんあり、川の中もじゃぶじゃぶ入っていき、ちょっと他ではない乗馬でなかなか良かったです。

While I understand that no one can truly guarantee seeing whales naturally, it's still a bit disappointing not to have seen any and the only reason Oceans Sports didn't get the full 5 stars. We appreciated the opportunity to try again another day but our demanding schedule didn't allow for it.

That being said, the crew was incredible fun and friendly and we very much enjoyed our "boating trip". The drinks were good and we got some incredible recommendations from the crew for lunch and other day-time activities. I would highly recommend this trip to others even with the off-chance of not seeing any whales.

I heard that the season had just started and the whales weren't very active, but we saw four splashes! One of them was quite close to us.
The front of the boat had a net, and the kids were lying down there, looking really comfortable! They were so relaxed that they fell into a deep sleep...

Since the guide spoke only in English, my kids and I didn't understand anything, but we still had a great time regardless!

まだシーズン始まったばかりで、クジラはあまり活発に動いてないと聞いていたのですが、4回スプラッシュ！その内1回はかなり近くで会うことができました。
船の先端が網になっていて、子供たちはそこに寝転がり、めちゃめちゃ気持ち良さそうでした！気持ちよすぎて爆睡してましたが…

ガイドは全て英語の為、私や子供には内容は全然分かりませんでしたが、分からなくてもとにかく楽しめました！

I was moved by the scenery that felt like it was not from Hawaii Island! The beautiful sunset and the explanation of the constellations in the starry sky were easy to understand. Thank you for the fun guide.

ハワイ島と思えない景色に感動！綺麗な夕日と星空の星座の説明も分かりやすくてよかった。
楽しいガイドありがとうございました。

Since it was my first time kayaking, I thought it would be nice to have a Japanese guide, so I signed up. Due to a cancellation in the group, I ended up having a one-on-one session with the guide, which turned out to be a lucky "VIP" experience for the day.

At first, I hurriedly paddled with my arms, but the guide advised me each time, saying, "It's okay to go slowly." I was able to feel the closeness of the sea, and the swaying of the waves and the view from the ocean felt completely different from what I had experienced on ships or boats before. I think I could enjoy the grandeur and openness of the sea even more. This time I was in a two-person kayak with the guide, but I want to challenge myself to a single kayak next time.

I also got to snorkel as much as I wanted, and I can't forget how delicious the pineapple we had while kayaking was.

If I were to suggest one improvement, it would be that the sign at the meeting point is small and hard to see for first-timers. Additionally, it was mentioned that the staff would be wearing yellow T-shirts, but in reality, it was another tour company wearing them, which caused me to mistakenly go there and almost be late.

初めてのシーカヤックだったので、日本語ガイドさんの説明がいいなぁ、と思い申し込みました。グループのキャンセルが出たため、ガイドさんとマンツーマンとなり「VIP」待遇のラッキーな一日でした。
カヤックの操作は慣れないうちは急いで腕で漕いでしまったのですが、ガイドさんが「ゆっくりでいいですよ～」とその都度アドバイスしてくれました。とにかく海(海面)が近くに感じることができ、波の揺れ、海からの景色もこれまで船舶やボートで体験したのとは全く違うように感じられました。海の雄大さや開放感をより楽しめると思います。今回はガイドさんと二人乗りのカヤックでしたが、次回は一人乗りにも挑戦したいです。
シュノーケリングも好きなだけやらせてもらい、その後にカヤックで食べたパイナップルの美味しさも忘れられません。
一点だけ改善するならば、初めての人には集合場所の看板が小さくてわかりにくいこと。また事前にスタッフは黄色のＴシャツを着ている、と説明が書いてあったが、実際は他の催行会社が着ていたので間違えてそちらに行ってしまい遅刻しそうになりました。

We were greeting by Lions almost immediately. He explained what was going to happen and when since we were early. The Captains came over later and introduced themselves after the boat was prepared. We all loaded and headed out.
We were told sightings were hit and miss, but lately had been good. Since I had been praying for multiple sightings I was expecting it to be a good night. We were not disappointed. Lions took our group right to the spot, among many others. He took care of us like the amateurs we were. He continuously checked that were were OK and whether we needed anything. Plus prepared us as to where to look when a ray was headed toward us.
By the end of the trip we had seen 3 different rays. Lions said that was the best night in months. Thank you Lions and Captains for a very memorable tour.

I was able to experience something that was on my dream list this time! I participated with friends, and the personality of our guide Masa and his sense of photography really boosted the tour's energy to the max!

In a separate group, we met our guide Shin at the Onizuka Center, and his explanations during the star tour were exceptional! He created an unexpected situation where we could actually see the rings of Saturn through a telescope, and I am just so grateful for that!

I heard that we can also visit the Subaru Telescope in Japan, so next time, I want to go inside the Subaru!

It was amazing! Thank you, Masa and Shin!

夢リストに入れてた事が今回、体験&体感出来ました！！ 友達と参加し、ガイドのマサさんの人柄と写真のセンスが更に、ツアーのテンションをマックスにしてくれました(^^)
別便で、オニヅカセンターで、合流したガイドのシンさんもスターツアーでの解説もまた格別で❗️思いがけない、天体望遠鏡で土星の輪まで確認出来る状況を作って頂き、ただただ感謝でした！！
日本のスバル天文台も見学できるそうなので、次回は、スバルの中に入って見たいと思います！！

最高でした！マサさん、シンさん！
ありがとうございました(^^)

I dressed quite warmly, but it was still cold. I definitely think you need hand warmers, a knit hat, and gloves! The sunset was a bit crowded with other tourists, but I was really glad to learn about places like the Subaru Observatory. During the stargazing, they even helped me with the settings on my camera, allowing me to take beautiful photos with my own camera. They also introduced the constellations, which was really fun. There was an overwhelming sense of emotion that words can't fully express. I want to do it again!

かなり防寒して行きましたがそれでも寒かったです。必ずカイロやニット帽、手袋は必要だと思います！
サンセットは他の観光客？の方々も結構いたので少し混雑していましたが、スバルの展望台なども教えて貰えてとてもよかったです！
星空観測では持参したカメラの設定まで教えていただけて、自分のカメラでも綺麗に撮影することができました。
星座の紹介などもしてもらえてすごくたのしかったです。
言葉では伝えきれない程の感動がありました。
またリピートしたいです！