All Reviews for Private Guided Tours

When we went to pick up, our names weren't on the list, but there just happened to be two seats available, so we were able to get on. They said something like, "Lucky you, there were seats available!" which shows they have no management at all. Plus, there weren't enough meals, so we couldn't eat. (laughs)
By the way, there’s no telescope rental. You just quickly look at the stars, take a quick photo, and that’s it. It feels like, where did the photos go? I wish I could get a refund.

ピックアップの際、私達の名前がなく、たまたま2席空いていたから乗れることに。たまたま空いててラッキーだね！みたいな事言われて、管理全くできてません。しかもご飯の数も足りず、食べれませんでした。笑
ちなみに望遠鏡の貸し出しなんてありません。さくっと星見て、さくっと写真とっておわり。
写真どこいったの？って感じです。返金してほしいくらいです。

Fortunately, all the participants were Japanese, so the Japanese guide provided detailed explanations and took beautiful photos. I was able to enjoy Mauna Kea, which I had wanted to visit once in a lifetime. The weather was bad on the ground, and I was worried, but as the guide said, once we got above the clouds, the new moon allowed us to see the stars clearly, and the wind was gentle, making for a comfortable tour without needing to wear pants.

The only disappointing thing was that I was told the snacks for a member who couldn't participate due to health issues were lost somewhere, so we couldn't hand them out.

幸運にも全員日本人参加者だった為、日本語ガイドさんが、詳しく説明してくれ、写真も綺麗に撮ってくれた。一生に一度行きたかった、マウナ・ケアを堪能できました。地上は天気が悪く、心配してましたがガイドさんのいう通り、雲の上に出れば新月で星も良く見えて、風も弱かったので、ズボンを履かないで快適なツアーでした。
一つだけ残念だったのは、体調不良で参加できなかったメンバーの軽食がどこかで無くなったのでお渡し出来ないと言われたのが残念です。

In late May, I participated in a sunset and stargazing tour at the summit of Mauna Kea, which was an incredibly valuable experience. Since there were many Japanese participants, our perfect bilingual guide, Sue, navigated in Japanese.

The local information that isn't found in guidebooks, the mysterious and magnificent scenery along the way, the unexpected cold despite being in a tropical location (and the warmth of the borrowed jackets), the delicious sandwiches we had at the summit, the breathtaking sunset, the ever-changing colors of the sky and clouds, the opening of the observatory and the start of the observations, and the view of the star-filled sky and constellations—all of these were truly wonderful and exceeded my expectations, providing a surprising and moving experience.

During the stargazing, when Sue pointed out the constellations and we were all gazing at them, a huge shooting star passed by, and everyone cheered together. That became an unforgettable memory.

Thank you so much, Sue (Stephan). The photos you took with professional skill are a wonderful record, and I am grateful.

５月下旬、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加し、大変貴重な体験をさせてもらいました。
日本人参加者が多い回だったので、完璧なバイリンガルガイドのスーさんが、日本語でナビゲートしてくださいました。
ガイドブックにはないローカルの情報、道中の不思議で雄大な景色、南国にもかかわらず体験する歯も噛み合わない寒さ（と貸してくださった防寒ジャケットの暖かさ⁠)、山頂で食べた美味しいサンドイッチ、息を飲むようなサンセット、刻々と変わる空と雲の色、天文台が開き観測を開始する様、満天の星と星座の見方、どれもこれも本当に素晴らしく、想像を遥かに上回る、驚きと感動体験でした。
星空観測中に、スーさんが指し示した星座を皆で眺めている時、大きな大きな星が流れ、参加者全員で歓声を上げたこと。忘れられない思い出になりました。
スーさんことステファンさん、本当にありがとうございました。
プロ並みの腕前で撮って頂いた写真は、素晴らしい記録になり感謝です。

The sunset above the clouds at the summit of Mauna Kea was truly magical. It was an unforgettable beauty. And the starry sky. At first, I told my son, "There aren't as many stars as I thought," but as it got completely dark, the sky was filled with stars! The guide's explanations were enjoyable, and I truly felt that it was a tour worth taking. Thank you very much.

マウナケア山頂雲の上のサンセットは、本当に幻想的でした。忘れられない美しさでした。
そして星空。最初「思ったほど星の量ないね」と
息子に言っていたのですが、完全に暗くなってくると
空が星で埋め尽くされていました！ガイドさんの説明も楽しく、行ってよかったなぁとこころからそう思えるツアーでした。ありがとうございました。

Standing at the summit of Mauna Kea at an altitude of 4,200 meters, I was able to wait for the sunset without any discomfort thanks to proper altitude acclimatization. The sight of the sun setting between the various observatories from around the world was magnificent. During the stargazing, the explanations about the seasons and constellations were very clear and refreshing. The sandwiches for dinner and the hot chocolate were also very delicious.

標高4200ｍのマウナケア山頂に立ちますが、高度順応が適切にされ違和感なくサンセットを待つことができました。
世界中の天文台が立ち並ぶ隙間に太陽が沈んでいく様子は素晴らしいです。
星空観測では、季節や星座についての説明がとても分かりやすく新鮮でした。
夕食のサンドウィッチもホットチョコレートもとてもおいしかったです。

On the day of my visit, the weather unexpectedly worsened, and I couldn't go beyond the Onizuka Visitor Center. I was disappointed that I couldn't fulfill my dream of coming to the Big Island, but I was happy to see the "Silversword" (Argyroxiphium sandwicense) near the visitor center, thanks to the staff's guidance. I hope to have the opportunity to visit the summit of Mauna Kea again.

当日、まさかの天候悪化で、オニヅカビジターセンターから先に行けませんでした。
ハワイ島に来た夢が果たせずがっかりでしたが、スタッフに教えてもらって、ビジターセンターの近くにある「シルバーソード（銀剣草）」を見ることができて、それは嬉しかったです。
また機会があれば、マウナケア山頂に行きたいと思います。

We had a great time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was excellent! He was friendly and informative the entire time. Even though we took the tour on an overcast night, there was so much to see and the views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!!

We had a blast! A very unique experience, especially if you enjoy sunsets, heights, and amazing views.

This was a great way to see a lot in one day. The ride was very comfortable, our driver was extremely knowledgeable and engaging and we saw and learned so much!

From local coffee to black sand beaches to wineries to lava flows to lava tunnels to a charming sunset, this tour is a entire day filled with memories. The guides were knowledgeable and so kind and accommodating, which we appreciate :)

This was my first tour on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the reservation process and pickup location on the day were very clear. Although I couldn't speak English, there were staff members who assisted in Japanese, and I was very satisfied with the service. Above all, I was deeply moved by the magnificent view and sunset from the summit. I didn't experience any altitude sickness, and I was able to have a wonderful time. During the stargazing, I enjoyed lying on the ground, amazed by the closeness and size of the countless stars. (laughs) I'm really glad I participated in this tour. When I come back to the Big Island, I would like to join other tours as well. Thank you very much.

初めてハワイ島で参加したツアーでしたが、予約や当日の送迎場所も分かりやすく、英語が話せなかったのですが、日本語で対応してくれるスタッフもいて、対応にはとても満足でした。そして何より山頂から見た壮大な景色とサンセットに大感動。心配していた高山病もなく、良いひとときを過ごすことが出来ました。星空観測では満天の星たちの近さと大きさに、道に寝転んで楽しみました。(笑)このツアーに参加して本当に良かったです。またハワイ島に来たときには他のツアーにも参加したいと思いました。ありがとうございました。

Not only does it cover so many aspects of the island, you have an excellent guide the full time that makes you understand each area you are stopping at and the history!!

Our guide, Stephan, was wonderful. Out of the 10 tour participants, 8 were Americans, but he provided a lot of explanations and support in Japanese. Stephan is also a photographer, and he took beautiful photos that looked like wedding pictures under a perfect starry sky! Thank you very much!

ガイドのステファンさんが素晴らしかったです。ツアー客10人中、8人はアメリカ人の方でしたが、日本語でたくさん説明&フォローしていただけました。ステファンさんは、さらに写真家で、
満点の星空のもとウェディングフォトのような素敵な写真を撮っていただきました！
ありがとうございました！

Just want to say that my husband and I really enjoyed our tour with Zachary he was very knowledgeable and attentive with everyone in our group! Thank you!

The van that arrived at the meeting place was labeled Hawaiian Eyes Tour, with no mention of the operating company, Masashi Nature School, which was confusing. There was no such information provided by VELTRA, but upon checking the Masashi Nature School's website, it clearly stated that the operating company is Hawaiian Eyes Tour. (I wish this had been communicated through VELTRA as well.)

On the day of the tour, there were ten guests, six of whom were Japanese. According to the guide, the number of Japanese customers has decreased due to the pandemic, so there are no longer Japanese language tours. The guide could speak some Japanese, but not enough to provide a full tour in that language, so the entire ride was in English.

That said, the sunset from the mountain top and stargazing were great experiences, and the guide made an effort to explain things in Japanese, which I personally appreciated. Additionally, I was grateful to receive the photos the guide took via AirDrop.

We were staying at a hotel in Waikoloa, so it was helpful that we were dropped off there on the way back. However, there were two Japanese guests from a hotel outside the Kona area who mistakenly thought they would be dropped off at their hotel and ended up getting off at the pickup location, Queens Marketplace. Considering that it's difficult to catch a taxi in that area and the return time was before 10 PM, I think it would be beneficial to offer a paid option for hotel drop-off.

　集合場所に来たバンが、催行社のマサシネイチャースクールとはどこにも書いてなくHawaiian Eyes Tourとなっていて戸惑った。
　VELTRAではそのような案内は全くなかったが、マサシネイチャースクールのHPを確認すると、しっかり催行会社がHawaiian Eyes Tourであると記載されていた。（VELTA経由でもしっかりそこは案内して欲しかった。）
　当日は、１０人の客で、うち日本人は６人いたが、ガイドさんによると、コロナ禍で日本人客が減ったから日本語ツアーは無くなったとのこと。
　ガイドさんも日本語はできるが案内するほどの語学力がない、ということで、行き帰りの車中はずっと英語だった。
　とはいえ、山頂の夕陽や星空観測等、ガイドさんが、日本語でも頑張って案内してくれて、個人的には非常に良かった。
　また、ガイドさんが撮ってくれた写真もAirDropでもらえたのもありがたかった。
　私たちは、ワイコロアのホテルに泊まっていたので帰りはホテルまで送ってもらって助かった。
　ただ、コナ地区外のホテルから参加していた日本人の親子２人組が、帰りホテルまで送ってもらえると勘違いしていて、結局ピックアップ場所のクイーンズマーケットプレイスで降りることになった。
　タクシーもなかなか捕まらない土地柄で、帰着時間が22時前になるということを考えると、有償でのホテルまでの送ってくれるオプションがあると良いのではないかと思った。

This tour was a great way to see the highlights of the entire Big Island. To start off, our tour guide, Christopher, was fantastic. He was exceptionally knowledgeable about the island, interesting to listen to, energetic, and willing to do anything needed to make our tour great. We started out being picked up at our resort in a very comfortable Mercedes van. We visited Kona Joes coffee farm where we had a good lunch. We toured the southern side of the island, and stopped at the Punalu’u Bake Shop to have excellent pastries. Next stop was the black sand beach where we watched the huge surf crashing into the rocky coast, and saw two very lazy green turtles sunning themselves on the beach. After that, we went to the Kilauea volcano crater to see it in the daytime. Wind and rain hampered this visit, so we went to dinner at a great resturant nearby. On the way, we stopped to tour the rain forest and walked through a lava tunnel. Both were great experiences. Finally, to top it all off, we say the lava eruptions at night at the crater. Fantastic experience...

We really enjoyed our full day tour filled with waterfalls, visiting volcanoes national park and capping it off with a stargazing tour at the end. Our guide was good but would have liked him to relate more of his stories to our grandaughter. When we did the stargazing, he was great. You could tell this was his passion.

It was the best experience of my life.
The stunning sunset and the starry sky!
There was only one other group of Japanese participants with us, but they followed up in Japanese, which made me so happy I could cry.
I also got to take a lot of wonderful photos.
If I have the chance again, I would definitely like to participate.
Thank you very much.

人生で最高の体験でした。
圧巻のサンセットと満点の天空！
日本人参加者は私たちともう一組だけでしたが、キチンと日本語でフォローしてくれて涙が出るほど嬉しかったです。
また素敵な写真を沢山撮ってもらいました。
また機会があったら是非参加したいです。
本当にありがとうございました。

There were about 20 participants on the day of the tour, but we were the only two Japanese people. Naturally, the guide spoke in English, but the guide, Syoyo, took the time to explain various things to us in Japanese, allowing us to have a very enjoyable time. We were also told about a popular hamburger place, and we went there right away to try it. It was as delicious as they said! Thank you so much for a wonderful time.

ツアー当日の参加者は20名ほどでしたが、日本人は私たち２人だけでした。
当然ガイドは英語になるのですが、それでもガイドのsyoyoさんは私たちだけに日本語で個別に色々説明してくれて、とても楽しい時間を過ごす事が出来ました。
評判のハンバーガー屋さんも教えてもらい、早速行って食べてみました。
評判通り、とても美味しかった！
素敵な時間を本当にありがとうございました。

We were blessed with wonderful sunsets and starry skies thanks to the weather and moon phase. The tour was primarily in English, but our guide Shoyo kindly explained everything in Japanese as well. Taking commemorative photos under the starry sky can be challenging for amateurs, but the guide took amazing pictures with his mirrorless camera. The sandwiches and warm drinks provided along the way were also very delicious.

We received information about nighttime Kilauea sightseeing, and we were able to enjoy the tour without any issues. We made the best memories on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you very much!

天候と月齢に恵まれて素晴らしいサンセットと星空を見ることができました。ツアーは英語主体でしたが、ガイドのShoyoさんが日本語でも丁寧に説明してくださいました。星空での記念撮影は素人には難しいですが、ガイドさんご自身のミラーレス一眼で素晴らしい写真を撮っていただきました。途中に提供していただける軽食のサンドイッチや温かい飲み物もとてもおいしかったです。

夜のキラウエア観光の情報も教えていただき、無事に観光することができました。ハワイ島で最高の思い出ができました。本当にありがとうございました。

Bundle up and enjoy one of the most unique experiences in Hawaii. The tour ran in a very timely fashion starting with the pickup time and getting to all the sites on site. Our guide was very informative but didn't overwhelm us with information either. The view of the sunset and stargazing just speak for themselves. Nothing short of spectacular and definitely a worthwhile experience.

Stefan was very kind and guided us thoroughly, taking many photos as well. I will definitely repeat this next time I come to the Big Island.

丁寧にステファンさんがガイドして頂き、写真も沢山撮影して頂きました。
次回ハワイ島へ来たらリピートします。

We had hoped the weather would clear, but, unfortunately, despite our tour guide’s best efforts to find some clearing, we were beaten by the weather. Our guide, Hunter, was extremely knowledgeable and tried really hard to wait for some sign of being able to observe anything, but had to cancel with no luck. I can imagine it would have been spectacular to see and hear the wealth of information he would have been able to provide if we could have seen it.

The sunset was partly obscured by clouds, but it was still a wonderful sky that made me forget the chilly atmosphere. And the starry sky was simply amazing, with so many stars that it was breathtaking. The explanations of the constellations were clear and enjoyable, which left me very satisfied. My son was also happy to learn how to take photos with a DSLR camera. Thank you very much. The sandwiches, which should not be forgotten, were delicious as well. I would love to participate again when I come back to the Big Island of Hawaii. Next time, I hope to catch the sunset perfectly!

サンセットは雲が出て余り見れなかったのですが
それでも幻想的な寒さを忘れる素敵な空でした。
そして何と言っても星空は素晴らしいあまりにも沢山の星達に圧巻でした。星座の説明もわかりやすく楽しく教えてくれて大満足です。
息子は一眼レフのカメラでの写真の撮り方も教えてもらえて喜んでいました。
本当にありがとうございました。
忘れては行けないサンドウィッチも美味しかった。
またハワイ島に来たら参加したいです。今度はサンセットもバッチリなときに！

The Mauna Kea sunset had a bit more clouds, and we couldn't see the stars due to the full moon, but we were able to witness the eruption of Mauna Loa up close. Thank you so much, Sue, for the wonderful images and videos!

マウナケアサンセットはやや雲多め、満月で⭐️は観えませんでしたが、マウナロアの噴火を間近で観ることができました。
素敵な画像や動画も頂き、スーさん本当にありがとうございました

Wow! This tour was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Our tour guide, Bryce, was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever met. He knew so much of the history and culture of Hawaii and told us so many in depth stories with a lot of detail. He also has extensive knowledge in almost every topic known to man and can easily talk about any topic for hours—literally! This tour was super long but so worth it. Bryce kept us entertained the whole time while driving from place to place. The volcano was spectacular to see in both the day and the night! In the day, you get to enjoy the vastness of the volcano and see all the steam vents. In the night—wow nothing will ever beat that experience—the most stars you will ever see in the night sky and the lava flow was unreal! So unbelievably cool. This really was the best tour we have ever been on—amazing sights, fun times, and extremely informative! Highly recommend!

We had a great time! The whole tour was packed with well thought out stops.
Our guide Chris was a wealth of information on the history and culture of the island. We could not have asked for a better guide. He was engaging, attentive and professional. He never tired of the countless questions we had.
The coffee farm was the perfect setting for a quick lunch. The views were absolutely beautiful!
The dinner was nice and cozy and gave us a chance to get to know our fellow riders.
The night sky was incredible! Living in a city, we forget what the night sky really looks like beyond the skyscrapers and light pollution. Thank you for a great and for us, a very memorable tour!

I was lucky to be in a small group for this tour so the guide was very flexible with the schedule and we had enough time to enjoy each place. Our guide was a very knowledgeable local man who knows a lot about Hawaiian history and how the different spots we visited have changed through time.
All the stops we made at the volcano's park were totally worth it but my favorite spot in this tour was the Akaka Falls, what a gorgeous place!!!

It was amazing. This sums it up perfectly.
I extended my trip to the Big Island specifically for this tour, and it was definitely worth it.
Since returning home, I have already recommended it to several acquaintances.

The guide took photos for us, which were shared for free on the spot. They were also very accommodating with photo requests.
The explanations during the tour were in English, but necessary information was also provided in Japanese, so I think it would be no problem even for those who are not good at English.

The sandwiches and hot cocoa we had along the way were very comforting.
Thank you, Shouyou.
The conversations during the ride back were also very enjoyable.

最高でした。この一言に尽きます。
このツアーに参加する事を目的にハワイ島まで足を伸ばしたのですが、その甲斐は十分にありました。
帰国後、もう何人もの知人に勧めています。

ガイドさんが撮影してくれた写真は、その場で無料で共有いただけました。撮影リクエストにも快く対応してくださいます。
道中での説明は英語でしたが、必要な情報は別途日本語でも説明があるので、英語が苦手でも全く問題ないと思います。

途中で頂いたサンドイッチやホットココアもとても沁みました。
Shouyouさん、ありがとうございました。
帰りの車中での会話もとても楽しかったです。

It was our first time on the Big Island, so my husband and I participated in two tours. Since it was our first time booking an overseas tour individually from Japan, we were a bit anxious, but we received email confirmations before departure, which made us feel at ease for the day.

On the day of the tour, we had a wonderful time at the summit of Mauna Kea with our guide, a bright young man named Stephan. There were 13 Japanese participants, so the entire tour was conducted in Japanese. It was very cold at the summit, but we were moved by the incredible sunset. We took many commemorative photos together, and enjoyed warm cocoa to warm up. We also got to see the moon and Saturn through a telescope. However, what surprised me even more was seeing satellites moving here and there! That was astonishing.

The next day, we had a knowledgeable young guide named Moana for the Kilauea Volcano. Since it was just the two of us, we were able to hear many interesting stories in Japanese. The bright red volcanic smoke from Kilauea was breathtaking. The starry sky at the foot of the mountain was also wonderful. That day, we saw the moon and Jupiter through a telescope, and took a lovely commemorative photo in front of the constellation Cassiopeia. We took many commemorative photos at each location we visited.

Participating in these tours over two days was a very meaningful and valuable experience for us. I would like to join this tour again in a different season. I am grateful to the two guides who took care of us. Thank you very much (ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈).

初めてのハワイ島でしたので、夫婦で2つのツアーに参加しました。
日本から初めて個人で海外ツアーの申し込みをしたので、不安でしたが出発前にメールの確認があり安心して当日を迎えることができました。
当日は明るい青年ステファンのガイドでマウナケア山頂とっても楽しかったです。
この日は日本人13名のツアーでしたので、全て日本語でガイドしていただきました。
山頂はとっても寒かったですが、素晴らしいサンセットを見ることができ感動。2人の記念写真もたくさん撮ってもらいました。そして暖かいココアにホッコリ。
天体望遠鏡で月・土星を見せてもらいました。
でも、それより驚いたのは衛星があちらこちらで動いてる！これには驚きました。
翌日は博識の青年モアナのガイドでキラウエア火山。
2人のみの参加でしたので、日本語でたくさんの興味深いお話を聞かせて頂きました。
キラウエアの真っ赤な噴煙は感動でした。
山麓の星空も素晴らしかったです。
この日は天台望遠鏡で月・木星を見せてもらいました。
そしてカシオペア座の前で素敵な記念写真。
行く先々でたくさんの記念写真を撮影してもらいました。

2日間に渡りこちらのツアーに参加させていただき、とても有意義で貴重な体験をすることが出来ました。
季節を変えて、またこのツアーに参加したいと思っています。
お世話になったガイドの2人に感謝。ありがとうございました(ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)