All Reviews for Top Big Island Sights & Attractions

I went to the meeting place, but I couldn't figure out where it was, so I was looking around. The instructor called out to me, and we were able to start the lesson safely.

They were very serious about the lesson.

集合場所に行ったけど、どこだがわからずキョロキョロしていると
インストラクターから声をかけてもらい無事レッスン開始。

とても真剣にレッスンをしてくれました。

Truly excellent. One of the most amazing experiences of our lives.

Excellent crew and hosts. Patient, clear, fun, looked after us beautifully.

And an awesome canoe!

Can’t reccomend enough. Well worth it.

The guide maintained just the right distance. I enjoyed listening to the stories in the car. They even asked if we wanted to take photos. Our pickup time was 1:30 PM, and it took quite a while until the last participant was picked up, but we had time for restroom breaks at each hotel and to look around the hotels, which was nice. It felt like we were driving around the Big Island, and that was enjoyable too. I was worried about altitude sickness since it was my first time climbing a high mountain, but I followed the guide's instructions and made it back safely. The sunset was cloudy, so we couldn't see a beautiful sunset, but the light from the sun and the clouds created a magical landscape. I was so happy and moved to be here. The starry sky was not visible at the summit due to clouds, so we saw it a little lower down the mountain. It was incredibly beautiful and clear, as if the clouds had never been there. The number of stars was amazing! We could see the Milky Way clearly! I was so moved. We even took photos with the Milky Way in the background, and I truly felt it was worth coming here. 😊

ガイドの方は丁度いい距離感でした。車内のお話も聞いていて楽しかったです。写真撮りますか？と自らお声掛けして下さいます。私達のピックアップの時間が1時30分で最後の参加者の方のピックアップまで結構かかりましたが、ホテルごとにトイレ休憩やホテル内を見れる時間があったのと、ハワイ島をドライブしているようでそれも楽しかったです。初めて高い山に登ったので高山病が心配でしたがガイドさんの指示に従って無事帰ってこれました。サンセットは雲があり綺麗な夕陽は見れませんでしたが、太陽の光と雲で幻想的な風景が見れました。ここに来れたことが嬉しくて感動しました。星空は山頂の方は雲で見えませんでしたので少し山を下ったところで見ました。先程まで雲に覆われていたのが嘘のように綺麗で澄んだ星空が見えました。星の数がすごい！天の川も普通に見える！感動しました。天の川を背景に写真も撮っていただき、本当に来て良かったと思いました(^^)

I visited the Big Island for the first time. I joined this tour because I really wanted to see Kilauea Volcano. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't see the bubbling red lava, but it was a very satisfying helicopter tour. I definitely want to participate again.

初めて訪れたハワイ島。
やっぱりキラウエア火山が見たくて今回のツアーに参加させて頂きました。
ドロドロしい赤い溶岩が見られなくてちょっと残念でしたが、かなり満足したヘリコプター遊覧でした。
またぜひ参加したいです。

I was looking forward to seeing the lava of Kilauea on the Big Island from an angle that can't be seen from the ground, but I was a bit disappointed as it was just smoke. However, when we entered Waipi'o Valley, it was breathtaking. I was very moved.

The pilot was also very nice.

As others in the group mentioned, we were hoping for a Japanese or Japanese-speaking pilot, but we had an English speaker instead. I think they should contact us in advance if they can't meet our request. If I had known, I would have chosen another company. It was a very good flight and the staff were great, so it was a bit disappointing to see that lack of transparency. Because of that, I am deducting one star.

地上からでは見られない角度からのハワイ島、ｷﾗｳｪｱの溶岩が楽しみだったのですが煙のみで少しがっかりでした。
でも、ﾜｲﾋﾟｵ渓谷に入って行ったときには圧巻。とても感激でした。
ﾊﾟｲﾛｯﾄの方もとても感じが良かったです。

ｸﾞﾙｰﾌﾟの他の方もおっしゃっていましたが、日本人もしくは日本語ﾊﾟｲﾛｯﾄ希望だったのに、English speakerの方でした。
希望に添えない場合には事前に連絡をすべきだと思います。
知っていれば他の会社にしました。
とてもいいﾌﾗｲﾄ、ｽﾀｯﾌだっただけに、少しｽﾞﾙさが見え残念でした。
その分、☆一つﾏｲﾅｽです。

First time and it was great fun.... step off the tower and away you go... I would do it again.... and again....

The reservation indicated a duration of 10 minutes, but the overall time was about 30 minutes. The time to touch the dolphin was 10 minutes, which was sufficient for a three-year-old.

The process involved receiving explanations with other reservation groups, using a stuffed dolphin to demonstrate how to interact with the dolphins and what to be cautious about, which sparked the children's interest in a fun way. After that, two family groups began interacting with the dolphins, gently touching their backs and feeding them fish. While taking photos, we were also able to see the dolphins jump at times.

Although my child was scared, they were able to pet the dolphin, and it seems to have left a memorable experience for them.

Since taking photos with your own camera is not allowed (smartphones are also prohibited), you will need to purchase photos, which are not cheap. They are about the same price as photos bought at an amusement park, or slightly higher. The cost varies depending on whether you buy all the image data or select a certain number of photos.

If you want to keep photo costs down, it might be a good idea to ask a family member who is not participating to take pictures from outside the area. I ended up purchasing about three photo files because there was no one to take pictures for me. It became a wonderful memory.

予約内容は10分との表記でしたが、全体時間は30分くらいの時間だったと思います。イルカを触る時間が10分なのですが、三歳児くらいであればその程度で十分でした。

流れは、他の予約グループと説明を受け、
イルカのさわり方や注意することをイルカの
ぬいぐるみを使いながら、楽しく子どもの興味を沸かせていました。
その後、家族のグループ2つでそれぞれイルカと触れ合い開始。背中を優しく触ったり、魚をあげたり。写真を撮っていただきながら、時にはイルカのジャンプも見ることができました。

子どもは恐がりながらも撫でることができ、頑張った思い出として残っているようです。

自分のカメラで撮影をすることはNGなため（スマホもダメ）写真を買うことになりますが、安くはありません。アミューズメントパークで買う写真と同じくらいか、少し上くらい。
画像データまたは写真を全てか、選択した枚数で金額が変わります。

写真代を抑えたいのであれば、例えば他の参加しない家族に撮影をお願いするなどして、外のエリアから撮ってもらうのも手だと思います。
私は、撮ってくれる人が居なかったため写真データを3枚ほど購入しました。
良い思い出となりました。

It was my first time in Waipi'o Valley, and it was also my first time horseback riding. The guide spoke only in English, but they used simple language, so I had a great time. I was able to slowly enjoy the valley's scenery from horseback, which is something you can't experience at hotels or beaches. It was so much fun!

ワイピオ渓谷も初めてなら、乗馬も初めてでした。
英語のみのガイドでしたが、簡単な英語を使ってくれたので、楽しく過ごせました。
ホテルやビーチでは体験できない渓谷の景観を、馬上からゆっくり楽しめました。
楽しかったです！

Whether you can see it or not all depends on luck. This time, fortunately, there were some clouds, but I was able to fully enjoy the sunset.

見られるか見られないか、すべては運によりますね。
今回は幸い多少の雲はありましたが、サンセットを満喫できました。

Despite the unfortunate weather with light rain, I was initially worried about the tour, but they provided us with rain gear, and the two hours flew by. I enjoyed the mystical Waipi'o Valley horseback riding!

I was happy that the guide chose horses that seemed to match well with each individual. Since I participated with six friends, it became a wonderful memory!

あいにくのお天気で小雨が降る中のツアーとなり最初は不安でしたが、雨具も貸していただき、あっという間の2時間。神秘的なワイピオ渓谷乗馬を楽しめました！

ガイドさんが個々に相性の良さそうな馬を選んでくれたのが嬉しかったです。友人6人で参加したので、とてもいい思い出になりました！

Great crew, got us to the spot off the airport, lots of other boats there, lights on and after a while Manta Rays showed up. The cool part was when a 10-12 foot wide one did 3 manta rolls right in our faces. It was too much to hope for but it happened.

The sunset from the boat was beautiful, and the feeling of speed on the boat was enjoyable. I also got to see a manta ray, so I have no complaints. If I had to say something, I should have been better prepared for seasickness and the cold. I reflect on that.

ボートからの夕日が綺麗だし、ボートのスピード感も楽しかった。マンタも見れたし、文句なしでした。
あえて言うなら、船酔いと寒さ対策をもうちょっとちゃんとするべきだった。反省。

It takes about 30 minutes by boat from the port to Manta Point while enjoying the sunset. We lowered LED surfboards around the point to attract plankton and the manta rays that feed on them... and they appeared! After confirming their presence, we entered the water and snorkeled around the surfboards to observe the mantas. They also lent us noodles (floating poles), and we spent about 45 minutes in the water. It was an exhilarating experience to see two mantas rolling right in front of us! On the way back to the port after snorkeling, it can be chilly with just a swimsuit due to the wind. It was a good decision to rent a wetsuit, even though there was an additional fee.

港からマンタポイントまで30分ほど、夕陽を見ながら船で移動します。
ポイント周辺でLED付きのサーフボードをおろして、プランクトンと、これを食むマンタを呼ぶことしばし...。現れてくれました！
姿を確認してから海へ入り、サーフボードの周りでシュノーケリングしながらマンタ見学。ヌードル(浮きポール)も貸していただいて、45分くらい海に入っていました。
2 枚のマンタがローリングを繰り返すのを目の前で見ることができ、大興奮の体験でした！
シュノーケル後に港に戻るときは風も受けるので水着だけでは寒いと思います。追加料金が必要ですが、ウェットスーツを借りて正解でした。

We took the Japanese tour since the english tour was sold out. Fortunately we were bilingual so there were no issues for us. Mr. Aoki the tour coordinator was very helpful. There might be few things that you just have to laugh about.

Sadly we weren’t able to see the sunrise because of weather issues but we got to see the star gazing perfectly!!

FYI not being avle to see doesnt happen often because this tour is known for being able to see more than 300 days/year.

Still waiting for our pics from the tour guide since they took the pictures for us! Will post all the pics when we recieve them

I went to a different location than the one which was thought.
I expected the manta was not seen only a little,but I think that nature is unavoidable because the opponent.
The staff are very friendly and made an effort.

We participated with two families. We were able to interact with dolphins, and the children were very happy. It was a valuable experience. They also take photos, so it's fine for everyone to join. Since towels are not provided, bringing your own is essential.

二家族で参加しました。イルカと触れ合うことが出来、子どもたちも大喜び。貴重な体験となりました。写真も撮ってくださるので、皆で参加しても問題ありません。タオルは無い為、持参必須です。

We participated in the tour starting at 2:00 PM. The morning tour is about $50 more expensive and includes breakfast and lunch, and if you want transportation included, it’s an additional $20. Since we went by rental car, it cost us about $100 each. I’ve been on lunch-inclusive tours a few times, but I don’t have a great impression of meals prepared on the boat! I think the morning tours attract more customers due to the wave height, but the snorkeling spots are calm, so it’s reassuring. This tour definitely requires English proficiency; if you're not confident, having a Japanese guide is a safer option. Everything on the boat is in English, including explanations and safety instructions, so you need to pay attention to avoid danger! We didn’t see any dolphins, but there were plenty of fish!

午後便で、14：00時からのツアーに参加、午前中のツアーは朝食とランチが付いて50ドル程高くなり、送迎付きだと 更に20ドル程高くなります、私達は、レンタカーで行ったので、一人100ドル程、ランチ付きのツアーは何回か行きましたが、所詮 舟の中で作る食事、あまり良いイメージがありませんので！午前にお客が偏るのは、やはり 波に高さだと思いますが、シュノーケルをするスポットは、波が無いので安心できます、このツアーは英語力は絶対必要で、自信の無い方は、日本語ガイド付きが安心です、船内は全て英語、説明 注意などなど、ちゃんと聞かないと、危険なので！イルカはみれませんでしたが、魚はたくさんいましたよ〜

There are several tour companies that offer sunset and stargazing tours at the summit of Mauna Kea, but I chose the tour from Mauna Kea Nature School. I believe a lot depends on the guide's skills, and I'm glad I made this choice. The guide's storytelling was excellent, making the half-day tour feel shorter. On the day of the tour, we were fortunate with the weather at the summit and were able to see a beautiful sunset and a stunning starry sky. Participating in this tour made me feel like I achieved half of my travel goals. I would join again.

マウナケア山頂サンセット＆スターゲイジングツアーを催行しているツアー会社は複数社あるようですが、私はマサシネイチャースクールのツアーを選びました。ガイドさんの力量によるところも多いとは思いますが、選んで良かったです。ツアー中の話術も巧みで半日間のツアーも短く感じれるようでした。当日は山頂の天気にも恵まれて綺麗なサンセットと綺麗な星空を見られましたし、このツアーに参加して今回の旅行の半分の目的が達せられた気分です。また参加します。

I came to the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time with three beautiful single women from Japan. Since all of us, including myself, love the ocean, we were determined to go snorkeling while in Hawaii. Because this was a quick trip, I wanted to enjoy the ocean efficiently without renting a car, so I looked for snorkeling tours and found this tour to swim with wild dolphins.

On the day of the tour, the weather was great, and we had a guide who was well-versed in the ocean and dolphin ecology. We had a wonderful time swimming with many dolphins. On our way out to sea, we encountered a very rare pilot whale, which was an exciting memory for all of us.

I definitely want to repeat this experience when I go back to the Big Island!

日本から独身の美女3人を引き連れて、初めてハワイ島に遊びに来ました。自分を含めて全員海が大好きなので、ハワイ島に来たら絶対にスノーケルをしようと思っていました。今回は弾丸旅行だったこともあり、レンタカーを借りずに効率的に海遊びをしたいと考え、ベルトラさんのスノーケリングツアーを探して、目に留まったのがこの野生のイルカと泳ぐツアーでした。

当日はお天気も良く、海やイルカの生態を知り尽くしているガイドさんにアテンドしていただき、本当にたくさんのイルカとともに楽しい時間を過ごすことが出来ました。船で沖まで出る途中に、すごくレアなゴンドウクジラに遭遇して、みんなで興奮したのも良い思い出になりました。

またハワイ島に行ったら絶対にリピートしたいと思います！

I was thrilled by the number of dolphins that exceeded my expectations.

The day we participated was incredibly lucky; since it was just my husband and me, we had a private tour and were able to set sail early. Within about five minutes of departure, we encountered a pod of dolphins, and we hardly moved the boat at all. We were able to stay in the water and watch the dolphins for a long time.

I was impressed by Daisuke and Kevin, who were in charge that day. Their overflowing love for the dolphins and their professionalism in entertaining the guests were truly remarkable.

There are many dolphin tours available, but I absolutely recommend the Aloha Kona Tour.

予想を上回るイルカの数に大興奮しました。

私たちが参加した日は、とてもラッキーな日で、主人と2人で貸切だったこともあり、早く出航することができたので、出航して5分ほどでイルカの群れに遭遇し、ボートで移動することはほとんどなく、ずっと海に入ってイルカを見ることができました。
この日担当して下さったダイスケさん、ケビンさん、2人のイルカへの溢れる愛情と参加したお客さまを楽しませることへのプロ意識の高さに感動しました。

イルカツアーはたくさんありますが、アロハコナツアーが絶対おすすめです。

We participated as a family of five across three generations, and the staff interacted cheerfully with the elderly without any signs of annoyance. It seems that even the parents, who don't understand English, were able to enjoy horseback riding. We were very satisfied as we rode for quite a long time. We would love to participate again if the opportunity arises.

家族三世代5人での参加でしたが、年寄り相手でも嫌な顔せずに明るく接してくれて英語のわからない親世代でも楽しく乗馬できたようです。かなり長い時間馬に乗るのでとても満足しました。また機会があれば参加したいです。

When you think of Kilauea Volcano, you imagine Halemaʻumaʻu Crater (the promotional images are actually from that location), but instead, you are shown a different crater. It's understandable with nature, but I didn't get to see any red lava at all. The pilot was friendly and cheerful, which was nice. Even though I knew it was exaggerated advertising, I was still quite disappointed.

キラウエア火山と言えばハレマウマウ火口だと想像します（実際にPR画像はその場所です）がその場所は行かずに違う火口を見せられます。自然相手では仕方ないのですが、全く赤い溶岩は見ることが出来ませんでした。パイロットはフレンドリーで明るい方でしたので好感持てました。誇大広告とはわかっていても、結構ガッカリします。

This was my second time participating (I joined at the request of my companion).
Last time it was cold, so I was fully prepared with tights, pants, and Heattech! It felt like summer in Hawaii, haha.
This time, it wasn't cold at all. I didn't need the tights...

There are differences depending on the time of year, and it seems that summer is definitely warmer (last time was in May and it was cold...).

No matter how many times I go, the bento and miso soup are consistently delicious!

And the views are amazing! The sunset and starry sky were beautiful no matter how many times I saw them.

２回目の参加でした（同行者の希望で参加）
前回が寒かったので、完全防備の
タイツにズボン、ヒートテック！で常夏のハワイ笑
今回は、全く寒くなかったです
タイツは要らなかったなぁ…

参加する時期によって差があり、
夏の時期のほうがやっぱり温かいそうです
（前回が５月で寒かった…）

何度いってもお弁当とお味噌汁は
安定の美味しさ！

そして、最高の景色！
夕焼け、星空は何度見てもきれいでした

Three years ago, when I participated, I encountered road closures and couldn't reach the summit, so I ended up watching the sunset and stargazing from a small hill along the way. This time, I joined to take revenge on that experience, and with the good weather and unusual clouds, the reflection of Mauna Kea and the shadows of the clouds on the opposite side of the sunset were truly enchanting.

3年前に参加した時は、現地の道路封鎖にあって、頂上までは行けずに
途中の小山で夕陽を見て星空観察となってしまいました。今回はそのリベンジをするべく参加しましたが好天と珍しい雲をみて、夕日と反対側に映った
マウナケアと雲の影が実に幻想的でした。

This was my second sunset and stargazing tour. Just like last time, we were blessed with good weather and had a wonderful time. The explanations about the stars were very clear and easy to understand.

二回目のサンセットと星空ツアーでした。
前回同様天候に恵まれ、ステキな時間を過ごせました。
星空は色々解説頂いたのでわかりやすかったです。

Before participating, I had some concerns…
- Would the restrooms be cramped and dirty?
- Would it be uncomfortable on the boat?

There were no problems at all!
The restrooms were about the size of those in a one-room apartment in Tokyo, and there were two of them, making them very easy to use.
The boat was spacious, and the distance between guests was just right.

About 30 minutes after departure, we had our first cruising and breakfast!
The sea was beautiful, and we went snorkeling in a spot where the depth was about 12 to 15 meters.
It was my first time snorkeling in a place where I couldn't touch the bottom, so I was a bit nervous.
For breakfast, there was a small buffet with bread, omelet, and yogurt loaded with fruits. The fruits were so delicious that I had seconds.

After staying there for about 40 minutes, we moved to the second snorkeling point for more snorkeling and lunch.
We even encountered sea turtles!!
For lunch, we had hamburgers, and we could choose our own toppings. It was incredibly delicious, and I was thrilled.

On the way back, we cruised under a completely clear blue sky and arrived on time.

I want to go again!

参加する前に心配だった点…
・トイレは狭くて汚くないか？
・船の上は窮屈じゃないか？

全然問題なかったです！
トイレは東京の1ルームアパートのトイレくらいの広さのものが2箇所に設置されていてとても使いやすかったです。
船の上も広く、他のお客さんとの距離も適度でした。

出発してから30分位いどうして最初のクルージング＆朝食！
海がきれいで底までが12～15mくらいのところでシュノーケリングをしました。
足が届かないところでのシュノーケリングは初めてだったのでドキドキしました。
朝ごはんはパン、卵焼き、フルーツたっぷりのヨーグルトなど、小さなビュッフェ形式でした。フルーツが美味しくておかわりしちゃいました。

そこで40分位滞在してから2個めのシュノーケリングポイントに移動して、シュノーケリング＆昼食
ウミガメにも出会えました！！
お昼のハンバーグ、トッピングを自分で選べました。すごく美味しくて感激しました。

帰りは雲ひとつない快晴の空の下をクルージング、定刻通り到着しました。

また行きたいです。

During the pickup, the guide informed us that the roads were closed due to snowfall and that cancellations were possible. On the way to the pickup, there were several groups who decided to cancel. We thought of this as an experience and continued on to the Onizuka Center. We waited while eating our lunch, hoping that the weather would clear up and the road would be reopened, but in the end, it was not.

After that, we hurriedly searched for a good spot to see the sunset and drove the van. Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset and starry sky. The photos taken can be downloaded later.

Finally, we received a re-participation ticket valid for one year. It seems we need to apply directly on the website rather than through here, but I definitely want to challenge this again next year. Also, I was happy to meet BigJin, who helped us on a previous tour, after eight years.

お迎えの時にガイドさんから、降雪のため道路封鎖中、キャンセルも可とお話しいただきました。ピックアップの途中、キャンセルされる方も幾組あり。私たちは、これも何かの経験だと思い、そのままオニヅカセンターまで行きました。きれいに晴れてこのまま閉鎖が解除されるといいなとお弁当を食べながら待っていましたが、結局解除されず。
そのあと、サンセットを見るために、大急ぎできれいに見られる場所を探してバンを走らせました。おかげで美しいサンセットと星空を見ることができました。撮っていただいた写真はあとからダウンロードできます。
最後に、1年以内有効の再参加チケットをいただきました。こちらからではなく、直接サイトに申し込む必要があるそうですが、ぜひ、来年チャレンジしたいと思います。
あと、以前のツアーでお世話になったBigJinさんと8年ぶりにお会いできて、それがうれしかったです。

Many people say sunset is better than sunrise, but sunrise is great, too.
Even though we were on the tour about two days before the full-moon (meaning moonlight is very bright and moon doesn't set until about 5 in the morning), we could enjoy the gorgeous stars in the sky with decent explanation of the stars.
Sunrise was also gorgeous. It was no doubt one of the most beautiful scenaries I have ever seen in my life. Although we were lucky enough to see both stars and sunrise in good weather and it is said that we mostly see clear sky at the peak of Mauna Kea, you may have to keep in mind weather is always a variable you can never tell.

Our guides were good, with a lot of experience and knowledge, trying to do their best to make the tour enjoyable.

If you are okay to go to bed early on the day before and can wake up at 1:30 in the morning, it will let you spend your time more wisely because you have a whole day even after you come back from the tour. (we came back to the hotel around 8:30 am)

Also be noted that the temperature up there is very low. Especially because the weater in Hawaii is hot and you need to face the near-freezing-point weather on the same day, make sure to prepare warm clothes yourself. The ski jackets and pants they lend you will not be enough.

I wasn't able to see the moment the sun set, but the sunset was magical, and I experienced a little rain. I saw lightning in the clouds at my feet, which was a precious experience. The starry sky was amazing and became a lifelong memory. I left something in the car. I called the company the next day, and they immediately checked the car for me. They informed me that it would be picked up at my hotel the following day. The staff's efforts to entertain and their prompt problem-solving actions are truly commendable.

夕日が沈む瞬間は見ることができませんでしたが、夕焼けは幻想的で少ない雨も体験でき、足元の雲の中で稲光が光り、貴重な体験をいたしました。星空は最高で一生涯の思い出になりました。車に忘れ物をしてしまいました。翌日会社に電話をしましたが、すぐ車内を見てくださり、翌日滞在先のホテルでピックアップがあるとのことで届けてくださいました。スタッフの人を楽しませる努力と即問題解決に対応する行動は激賞に値します。

I knew it was a full moon season, but I definitely want to go during a dark moon phase next time. It's a shame I couldn't schedule it due to work commitments. The experience met my expectations. Good job!

時期的に、満月だということがわかっていましたが、次回はぜひ暗い月齢時に
行きたい。　　　なかなか業務上予定がとれなくて残念
内容は、期待どおりでした。　　　Ｇｏｏｄ　Ｊｏｂ