All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

On the day of the tour, the weather was great, and we could see the summit of Mauna Kea from the hotel in the morning. I was worried when clouds appeared along the way, but the summit was clear. Mauna Loa and Hualalai were also clearly visible. It was colder than I expected, so I was grateful for the warm clothing I rented. A few days earlier, I had seen Mauna Kea from Haleakalā on Maui, so it was fulfilling to see Haleakalā from Mauna Kea in return. When it got dark, I was able to see the Southern Cross, which I had longed to see during stargazing. The guide provided detailed explanations of constellations like Scorpius, Libra, Virgo, and Cancer, which was very educational. I appreciated the guide's stories and attentiveness. It was a very good tour.

当日は朝からマウナケア山頂がホテルから見える良い天気。
途中、雲が出て心配したが山頂は快晴。
マウナロア、フアラライもくっきりと見渡せる。
思ったよりも寒さが厳しく、借りた防寒着がありがたい。
数日前に登ったマウイ島のハレアカラからマウナケアが見えたので、
逆にマウナケアからハレアカラを見たいとの願いもかなった。
暗くなり星空観測では、念願の南十字星を見ることができた。
さそり座、てんびん座、おとめ座、かに座など星座を詳しく解説
してもらい、勉強になりました。
ガイドさんの話や気配りがうれしかったです。
大変良いツアーでした。

I participated in the morning session. It took about an hour and a half from Kona to reach the meeting place. We drove to the stable in the canyon and chose our horses. The instructions were 100% in English, so I had to pick up on the reins and precautions somewhat intuitively (laughs). The horses are well-trained, and the instructors are positioned at the front and back of the line, so I didn't feel particularly anxious. However, some horses would stop to eat grass or drink water and act freely, so I think it's important to take the lead.

By the way, what I found personally helpful to bring was a windbreaker. Depending on the timing (late April), I was caught in a sudden downpour that required an umbrella for about 10 minutes during the ride. I was unsure if it would be a nuisance, but I tied it around my waist and was able to quickly put it on while on the horse to shield myself from the rain, which turned out to be a great decision! They might provide raincoats if it rains from the start, but if it starts raining during the ride, each person will need to handle it on their own! Everyone was using insect repellent spray as well.

The instructors were all kind, explaining plants along the way and taking photos, which made for great memories. It's not often you get the chance to ride through such magnificent nature, and I'm glad I participated. I would love to do it again if I come back to the Big Island. Lastly, after horseback riding, I had a malasada at Tex Drive In near Honokaa, which I also recommend.

　午前の部に参加しました。
コナから1時間半程かかって集合場所に到着。渓谷にある馬屋まで車で移動し馬を選んでもらいます。
説明は100%英語なので手綱操作や注意事項は何となく察する感じで(笑)
馬はよく調教されてますしインストラクターの方が隊列の前後にいるので特に不安は感じませんが、馬によっては止まって草を食べたり水を飲んだり好き勝手に行動するので主導権を握る事が大事だと思います。
　ちなみに個人的に持って行って役立ったのがウインドブレーカーでした。
時期(4月末)によるのかもしれませんが、乗馬の最中に10分程普通に傘がいるレベルの通り雨に降られました。邪魔になるかな？と思いつつ腰に巻いていきましたが馬上でさっと羽織って雨をしのぐことができて大正解でした！
最初から雨の時はカッパをかしてくれる？かもしれませんが、途中で降った場合は各自で対応になります！
後は虫よけスプレーをみんな使っていました。
　インストラクターの方はみんな親切で途中で植物の説明をしてくれたり、写真を撮ってくれていい思い出になりましたし、雄大な自然の中を馬で散歩できる機会なんてそうそうないし参加して良かったです。
またハワイ島に来たらやってみたいです。
最後に、乗馬の後はホノカア近くのテックスドライブインでマラサダを食べましたがこちらもオススメです。

I signed up for horseback riding even though I couldn't speak English, thinking I could manage somehow. However, I found that I could hardly understand the explanations in English, and I only grasped the instructions through gestures. After quickly choosing a horse, we were off. I was really anxious, but the horse was well-trained and moved forward to some extent. At first, I was just trying to stay on, but gradually I was able to take in the scenery. However, at one point, the horse started eating grass, and when I tried to overtake another horse, I got scolded and almost fell off, desperately hanging on.

As I got more comfortable, I learned to control the horse so that it wouldn't get too close to others, and I started to find it cute. The freshness of the valley and my first horseback riding experience were thrilling yet enjoyable. I believe I can ride better next time. The time felt quite long, and my backside started to hurt a bit, and my legs were trembling afterward. I didn't have the chance to drink water during the ride because I couldn't let go of the reins. I took pictures with a camera hanging around my neck, using one hand. A guide did take a picture for me once.

初めての乗馬で英語が出来ないのに何とかなるかと申込みました。やはり英語の説明がほとんど理解出来ず、説明している時のジェスチャーのみで理解し、すぐ馬を選ばれて乗り込んだら出発です。すごーく不安でしたがそこは調教済のお馬さん、ある程度は進んでくれます。はじめは乗ってるだけで精一杯でしたが徐々に景色を観る余裕が。でも途中で草を食べ始めたり、他の馬を追い抜こうとして怒られ、ヒヒーンとなり落ちそうになって一生懸命捕まりました。
慣れてくると他の馬に近づき過ぎないようにコントロール出来るようになったりするので可愛く思えてきます。渓谷の清々しさと初めての乗馬はハラハラしつつ楽しかったです。次はもっと上手く乗れるはず。時間はけっこう長く感じました。少しお尻が痛くなり、終わった後は足もプルプルしました。手を離す余裕がなく途中で水を飲むことは私はありませんでした。写真も首にかけたカメラで片手で適当に撮る感じでした。一度ガイドさんが撮ってくれましたが。

Tour actually worked out better than expected. The tour vans are nice and new, the guides are nice and knowledgeable. You go right to the telescope summit and watch the sunrise followed by a great star gazing experience.

The lasagna ain't great but bring snacks and you'll have a great time

The staff really pumped up the atmosphere, making it a tour filled with laughter. I was completely satisfied just with the stargazing from the halfway point. I want to participate again!

スタッフの方がすごーっく盛り上げて下さって、笑いの絶えないツアーになりました。中腹からの星空観測だけで大満足でした。
また参加したいです。

On the day of the tour, the weather was gloomy and I wondered where Mauna Kea was, but when we reached the summit, it was clear, and we were able to enjoy a sunset with beautiful colors. By the time the stars began to appear, the thin clouds above had cleared, providing the best stargazing experience.

It was a tour where I could enjoy the sunset and the starry sky with my eyes, listen to the guide's explanations with my ears, and feel the cold at an altitude of 4,000 meters on my skin.

The guide's explanations and trivia on the way there and back were very helpful. There was a wealth of recommended information about the Big Island, and I wish I had participated in the tour on the first day.

ツアー当日はどんよりした天気でマウナケアはどこに山があるの？な感じでしたが、
山頂まで上がると晴れていて、夕焼け付きのサンセット見させてもらいました。
星空が見え始める頃には、上空にあった薄曇も晴れて最高の星空観察でした。

夕日と星空を目で見て楽しんで、ガイドさんの解説を耳で楽しんで、標高4000mの寒さを肌で感じらことのできるツアーでした。

行き帰りのガイドさんの説明やうんちくとても参考になりました。ハワイ島のオススメ情報盛りだくさんで、初日にツアー参加すればよかったかも。

The guide, Herald, was friendly and kept the group energized during the long drive. He shared a lot of local information about Hawaii. If you understand English, I think it's easier to participate than in a Japanese tour.

Although the weather in Kona was nice on the day of the tour, it rained as we got closer to Mauna Kea, and I was worried about the weather at the summit. However, when we arrived at the top, it was above the clouds, so there was no need to worry.

The summit of Mauna Kea was really cold. Even with a light down jacket and four layers underneath, plus a large down jacket they provided, I still felt cold. Despite the warnings about needing a jacket and long pants, some people didn't prepare, and it seemed quite cold, so they ended up spending most of the time on the bus, which was disappointing to see. (So, warm clothing is essential.)

There were parts where we joined other group tours, which made it hard to hear the explanations, and there were often car lights and white lights that are strictly prohibited for stargazing. However, I was able to see shooting stars multiple times, which was moving! I highly recommend it.

とにかくガイドのヘラルドがフレンドリーで、車の長い道のりもグループを盛り上げてくれました。ハワイのローカル情報もたくさん教えてくれました。英語が分かる方なら日本語ツアーより参加しやすいと思います。
当日はコナの天気は良かったもののマウナケアに近づくほど雨で、山頂の天気を心配しましたが、山頂に着くとそこは雲の上で心配無用でした。
マウナケアの山頂は本当に寒かったです。ライトダウンを着て4枚も着込んだ上に貸してくれる大きなダウンを着ても寒かったです。
あれだけ注意事項に上着必須、長ズボンと書いてあっても用意していない人もいて、かなり寒かったらしくバスの中でほとんどを過ごすこととなり、見ていて残念でした。(そのため、防寒具必須です)
ほかの団体ツアーと一緒になる部分もあり、説明が聞き取れなかったり、星を見るには厳禁の車のライトやホワイトライトが行き交うことも多かったですが、流れ星を何度も見ることができ、感動的でした！お勧めです。

I prepared for the cold by bringing a hoodie, a rash guard, and slacks, as it was mentioned in advance to dress in layers. I thought it would be just right to receive warm clothing at the 2,800-meter "Onizuka Visitor Center." However, when I reached the summit, it was quite windy and very cold! I borrowed gloves, but it was still chilly. I seriously wished I had a sweater. The view from the top was fantastic, possibly because the air was so clear. The sunset was beautiful. At night, since the moon wasn't out, I was able to observe many stars, and the guide explained the constellations using a laser pointer, which was a lot of fun. I was impressed by the guide's extensive knowledge!

What surprised me was that I could see the "Hubble Space Telescope" flying right above the tour! It became a great memory.

事前に「寒いので重ね着の用意を」と書いてあったので、パーカーとラッシュガード、スラックスを持って行きました。2,800メートルの「オニズカ・ビジターセンター」で防寒着をもらって丁度良いかな？なんて。頂上に着いたら風もあり寒いのなんのって！手袋も借りていましたが寒い。真面目にセーターが欲しかったです。頂上からの景色は空気もきれいなのでしょうかとても良かったです。夕日のきれいでした。夜の星も月が出ていなかったのでたくさん観測することができ、案内の方がレーザーポインターで星座を説明してくれてとても楽しかったです。案内の方の知識の凄いこと！感心しました。
そう！ビックリしたのは「ハッブル宇宙望遠鏡」が丁度ツアーの上を飛んでいるのが見えたことです！良い記念になりました。

I fully understood that the weather could affect our plans, but the island tour, including Kilauea, that I had booked the day before was canceled due to the eruption. I prayed to at least see Mauna Kea, and my prayers were answered.

Without suffering from altitude sickness, I witnessed a beautiful sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea. For some reason, I found myself in tears. Then, at a parking lot a little lower down, we enjoyed a starry sky. It was a luxurious time lying down together just to gaze at the stars. Kon-chan's explanations were easy to understand.

It was a perfect night with a sky full of stars, with no moon in sight. It was an experience I will never forget.

天気に左右されることは充分わかっていましたが、前日に予約していたキラウエアを含む島内観光が噴火によりツアー中止になり、マウナケア山だけでもなんとか見たい！の祈りが天に通じました。
高山病になることもなく、マウナケア山頂での美しい夕焼け。なぜか涙が出てしまいました。そして少し降りた駐車場での星空。みんなで寝転んで星空だけを見る贅沢な時間。konちゃんさんの説明わかりやすかったです。
月も出ていない絶好の満天の星空でした。
一生忘れない体験でした。

Thank you for the kind support and consideration from the guide, and especially for the detailed explanation of the constellations under the starry sky. I plan to study stars when I get home. I was truly moved by the Southern Cross!

ガイドさんの親切な対応、気配り、何より満天の星空の下、ガイドさんの丁寧な星座の説明。
有難うございました。
帰ったら星の勉強をしようと思います。
南十字には感動！

The tour was very interesting and Arthur our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the region. He answered all of our questions about the local environment as well as the history of the Hawaiian people.

It was cold at the summit and a sweatshirt should be worn if you cannot handle the cold even with the atlantic parka and gloves that is supplied.

The stargazing spot was incredibly clear and we could see hundreds of stars. We were also able to spot Venus, Jupiter, and several star systems through the telescopes provided.

The sunset from the summit was covered by clouds, so I couldn't see it well. I was hoping for a sky full of stars, but the clouds got in the way, and I couldn't see them properly. However, I was able to see the Southern Cross. It's a shame that the weather wasn't favorable.

山頂からの夕日は雲に覆われ十分にみることができませんでした。
満天の星空を期待していましたが雲が邪魔をして十分には見れませんでした。
ただ南十字星をみることができました。
天候に恵まれず、残念。

I went with my 10-year-old child, and we had a great time without any issues. There were two cheerful female guides who explained everything while we leisurely walked through the mountains for a full hour and a half. The dog at the reception leading the way was also very cute. It rained quite a bit along the way, but that felt nice in its own way. My experienced mother mentioned that she wanted to run at times, but she seemed very satisfied overall. Speaking a little English was not a problem at all.

10才の子供と、ちょっとのったことのある程度でしたが、全く問題ありませんでした。
女性のガイドさん二人で、陽気に説明をしてくれながらたっぷり一時間半のんびり山のなかを歩きます。受付にいたわんちゃんが先導しているのもとても可愛かったです。
途中結構な雨になりましたが、それはそれできもちが良かったです。
経験者の母は「走りたかった」とも思ったようですが、十分満足だったようです。
英語もちょっと話せる程度で全く問題ありませんでした。

Recently, the weather in Hawaii has been unusual, and it hasn't been good since February. Naturally, this time at Mauna Kea, we only made it to Onizuka. We missed the sunset and the Milky Way as well. Although I could have canceled the tour, I was told that I would receive a tour ticket valid for two years, so I participated. It will become invalid if I don't come to Hawaii within two years, so it gives me motivation. I will make a comeback within two years!

最近のハワイは異常気象で天気が2月から良くありません。当然今回のマウナケアもオニズカまででした。サンセットもダメ、天の川もだめでした。ツアーキャンセルもできましたが、2年間有効のツアー券がもらえるとの事で、参加しました。2年以内にハワイにこないと無効になりますので、励みになります。2年以内にリベンジします！

The first thing the hotel staff said upon our arrival was, "It was snowing in the morning, and the summit was closed. It's open now, but we don't know when it might close again." We set off with a bit of a resigned attitude. Normally in April, there's an 80% chance of reaching the summit, but this year, there's an 80% chance of not being able to. They mentioned that for the past few days, no one had been able to reach the summit. When we arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center, it was raining quite a bit, and we were fully in a resigned mode. After a while, the rain stopped, so we decided to eat our lunch outside. Then, gradually, it started to brighten up, and we were able to climb Mauna Kea! Although we couldn't see the bright red sunset like in the pictures, we were grateful to have made it to the summit.

For stargazing, they helped us find a good spot to see the stars. The explanations about the stars were easy to understand. We even saw shooting stars. What was unexpectedly delightful was that during the stargazing session, we were served cookies and tea, and the cookies were Mrs. Barry's cookies, which I had wanted to try! Thank you to our guides, Jin and Konno! It was a very satisfying tour.

The summit of Mauna Kea is cold. They lend you upper and lower wear, so I brought my own lightweight down jacket, high socks, and gloves that allow me to use my smartphone. They also lend gloves, but they are thick, making it inconvenient to operate the camera.

　ホテルにお迎えの第一声が、「午前中は雪が降っていて、山頂はクローズしてました。今は、開いてますが、いつクローズになるかわかりません。」ちょっとあきらめ模様で出発。通常4月は、山頂に登れるのが80％だが、今年は山頂に登れないのが、80％とのこと。この何日間は、山頂まで登れていないとのこと。オニヅカビジターセンターに着いて、結構雨が降っていてもうあきらめモード全開。しばらくしたらやんだので、外でお弁当を食べることに。そしたら、だんだん明るくなってきて、マウナケア登れました！写真でみるような真っ赤な夕焼けはみれなかったけど、登れたことに感謝しよう。
　星空観測は、見える所を探して見せてくれました。星の説明もわかりやすかったです。流れ星もみました。予想外にうれしかったのが、星空観測の際にクッキーと紅茶をいただいたのですが、そのクッキーが食べてみたかったミセスバリーズのクッキーでした！ガイドのジンさん、コンノさんお世話になりました！とても満足できるツアーでした。
　マウナケアの山頂は、寒いです。上下のウェアを貸してくれるので、自分で薄手のダウンとハイソックスの靴下とスマホができる手袋を持っていきました。手袋も貸してもらえますが、分厚いのでカメラの操作をするには不自由です。

Before participating, I had concerns about high altitudes, but thanks to the guide's advice, I didn't feel any symptoms of altitude sickness at all. Thank you very much.

参加前は高所に対して不安がありましたが、ガイドさんのアドバイスもあり、
全く高山病を感じることがありませんでした。
ありがとうございました。

It's a shame that we couldn't reach the summit due to the out-of-season snowfall, but our guide, Mr. Konno, worked hard and we were able to see a sky full of stars, achieving our main goal. On the way back, we also saw the starry sky by the roadside, and he showed us the Southern Cross, making it a wonderful memory.

季節外れの積雪で頂上に行けなかったのは残念ですが、ガイドのKonnoさんが頑張ってくださり満天の星空を見る事ができ、一番の目標が達成できました。帰る途中も道路脇でまたまた星空、南十字星も見せてくださって最高の思い出になりました。

The instructors were very kind, and the atmosphere was relaxed, making it enjoyable. There were few Japanese participants, and the event was primarily in English, but that was fun in its own way. The height of the zip line added to the grandeur of the experience, and I had a great time. I highly recommend it.

インストラクターの方々もとても親切で和やかな雰囲気で楽しむことが出来ました。日本人も少なく、英語主体での参加になりますが、それはそれで楽しかったです。ジップラインの高さもあり、とても雄大な感じを受けながら、楽しめました。お勧めですね。

Overall, very satisfied with the value of this trip. I have ziplined in Mexico and in Belize City, and this trip was very comparable in terms of value, excitement, and thrill.

The Hawaii zipline consisted of 7 lines, the first few were relatively short. Although short, breathtaking views. The last three were much longer, more scenic, and best of all, amazing view of a BEAUTIFUL waterfall! The day I went was very gloomy and did have some slight visibility issues due to fog, but the experience was amazing.

This was more expensive than my foreign ziplines, but as I mentioned, it was a great value for the experience relative to the other ziplines I have done.

Thinking back on what I could have paid for other Big Island adventures, no regrets on this trip and would ABSOLUTELY do this one again.

Lastly, the staff were great! Very expeditious, always safety first, and very friendly.

The weather that week was generally bad, and I heard that the view the day before we participated wasn't great either, which made me anxious. However, the guide's accurate predictions dispelled my worries. I was about to give up on stargazing after watching the sunset, but thanks to the guide's persistence, the sky gradually cleared up. At first, I couldn't see a single star, but before I knew it, there were so many that I couldn't count them all. It was truly an amazing tour filled with miracles!

その週は全体的に天候が悪く、私たちが参加した日の前日もあまり良い眺望ではなかったそうで、不安でしたが、ガイドのさんの読みの的確さに不安が払拭されました。夕日を見たあとの星空観測も諦めるところでしたが、ガイドさんがねばってくれたおかげで次第に空が晴れ、最初は一個も見えなかった星が気づいたら数えられないほど広がっていて、とても感動しました。本当に奇跡が連続した素敵なツアーでした！

First of all, the guide's talk was interesting. Although we couldn't reach the summit due to bad weather and had to settle for a sunset and stargazing at a different location, it was still a satisfying experience. On top of that, we received a free ticket for our next visit, which made us very happy! I would like to return to the Big Island and take this tour again!

まずガイドのトークが面白いこと。
そして、悪天候の為、山頂まで行けず、別の場所でのサンセット、星空観測となりましたが、それでも満足できる内容だったにも関わらず、次回来た際の無料券まで頂き、大満足でした！
またハワイ島へと足を伸ばし、こちらのツアーにお世話になりたいと思います！

When I got into the shuttle car, I wasn't sure if we would be able to see the sunset, but I was told that we could still climb to the summit. We ascended to the Onitsuka Center as planned, and while we were eating our lunch, the situation changed. Due to bad weather, the gate beyond that point was closed, and we were informed that we couldn't go to the summit today. Indeed, the fog was thick, and the visibility was poor, making it look dangerous for an amateur to drive any further. It was disappointing, but from there, the plan changed to the driver's original itinerary. We aimed for a spot where we could see the sunset, and those who opted out of the stargazing were taken back to the hotel, which seemed quite challenging.

Anyway, the distance we had to travel was long, and the car was going fast, which felt a bit scary for us since we weren't used to it. However, the driver was experienced, and the roads were wide with many straight stretches, so we managed to return to the hotel safely without encountering any particularly dangerous situations. It was very unfortunate that we couldn't reach the summit. We received a rain check, a re-participation ticket valid for two years, but since it's not easy for us to come back, I thought it would have been nice if we could get about half of our money back...

送迎の車に乗った時には、夕日が見えるかどうかはわからないが、一応山頂までは登っていけるとのことでした。予定通りにオニツカセンターまで登り、お弁当を食べている間に状況が変わりました。悪天候のため、そこから先のゲートがクローズされ、本日は山頂に行けないとのことでした。たしかにガスがかかって視界が悪く、この先を運転していくのは素人目に見ても危険な感じでした。残念でしたが、そこからは運転手兼ツアーガイドのオリジナルプランへの変更されました。夕日の見えるところを目指し、その後の星空観測を辞退する方をホテルに送り、大変そうでした。とにかく移動距離が長いので、車のスピードが速く、なれない我々には多少怖い感じがしました。が、そこは毎日運転していて大丈夫なのでしょう、道も広く、直線が多いので、とくに危ない目にも会わず無事にホテルまで帰ってくることができました。山頂まで登れなかったのは非常に残念でした。レインチェックという、2年間有効の再参加チケットをもらいましたが、なかなか来れないので、半額位返ってくるとよかったのになぁ。。。。って思いました。

The guide was very kind and provided various helpful information for the trip. The view from the summit and the starry sky were breathtaking. I highly recommend participating.

ガイドの方がとても親切で、旅に役立つ色々な情報も教えていただきました。
山頂からの景色と星空は、圧巻の一言。
参加をお勧めします。

The views of the sea and mountains were really great. It would have been even better if the guide had taken photos at the scenic spots. It felt good to be able to control the horse freely by holding the reins myself. At first, the horse seemed to mock me, but once I got used to it, it started to listen to me.

海や山の景色がすごくよかった。先導者が景色のいいところで写真を取ってくれるとなおよかった。自分で手綱をひいて自由に馬を操ることがができたのは気持ちよかった。なれるまでは馬に馬鹿にされたが慣れたらいうことを聞いてくれた。

In late March, my family of four participated in the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour. The 13-seater bus was fully booked with Japanese tourists. The ride to the Onizuka Visitor Center was smooth along the paved road. At the visitor center, we had a bento box and miso soup, put on our warm clothing, and then ascended the unpaved road all the way up to 4,200 meters. The summit was very cold, and the wind exceeded 20 meters per second. The landscape resembled Mars, providing an experience that you can't have in Japan. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't favorable, and we couldn't enjoy a clear starry sky, but our guide, Mr. Kono, searched various spots to show us the stars. We later revisited Mauna Kea State Park on another day with a rental car. That time, we were blessed with clear skies and were able to enjoy a number of stars that can't be seen in Japan. Thank you very much, Mr. Kono, for everything.

3月後半、家族4人でマウナケア山頂　サンセット＆星空ツアーに参加。13人乗りのバスは日本人で満席に。途中、オニズカビジターセンターまでは、舗装された道路で順調。ビジターセンターでお弁当に味噌汁、防寒着を着て、舗装されていない道路を登り、一路4200mまで。頂上はとても寒く、また風も風速20mを超える状況。また、風景も火星を思わせるような景観で日本では経験できない環境を体験することができました。あいにく天気には恵まれず、晴天の星空を楽しむことはできませんでしたが、何とか星空を見せようとガイドのコンノさんはいろんな場所を探してくれました。途中立ち寄っていただいたマウナケア州立公園には、別の日に自分たちでレンタカーで再訪。そのときは晴天に恵まれて、日本では見られない数の星を楽しむことができました。コンノさん、いろいろありがとうございました。

Mauna Kea was closed due to bad weather, so unfortunately, I couldn't reach the summit, but I was satisfied with the beautiful sunset along the beach and the starry sky afterward. At first, I considered joining a different English tour (which was cheaper), but I was glad to hear the explanations of the constellations in Japanese. Also, I was comforted by the miso soup that came with the bento (laughs). I saw a big rainbow after the rain, so overall, I was very satisfied. However, I still want to go up Mauna Kea, so I plan to go for a revenge trip during the dry season next time!

マウナケアは悪天候のため閉鎖されており、残念ながら頂上までは上がれませんでしたが、ビーチ沿いできれいな夕日、その後星空も見れたので、満足です。
最初は別の英語ツアーにしようかとも思っていたのですが（そっちのほうが安い）、星座の説明なんかは日本語で聞いてよかったです。
あとお弁当についていた味噌汁に癒されました（笑）。
雨上がりの大きな虹も見えましたし、総合的に大満足です。
でもやっぱりマウナケアには上りたいので、今度は乾季に、リベンジに行きたいと思います！

The weather was cloudy, and I could hardly see the starry sky... I also couldn't see the sunset (crying). The pickup was at 2 PM and the time commitment was long until 10:30 PM, which made me sad. I understood that it was dependent on the weather, but it would have been nice if there were other activities planned that could change things up.

曇りの天気で星空がほとんど見えず。。。
サンセットも見れませんでした（泣）
２時ピックアップ２２時３０分と拘束時間も長く悲しくなりました。
天候に左右されることは分かっていましたが、他に何か変わる
アクテュイビティが用意されていたら良かったのです。

I was a bit worried about whether we would be able to see the sunset and the starry sky due to the cloudy weather, but our guide, Matsuzaki-san, really lifted our spirits. The members I was with were also fun and had great energy, making the car ride enjoyable. Matsuzaki-san was incredibly friendly and provided detailed explanations, answering any questions with precision and humor, which made me feel that choosing this tour was a great decision.

We were able to see a beautiful sunset and starry sky, and I truly appreciated that Matsuzaki-san even taught my daughter how to use her camera. Thank you so much! I would love to participate again! The photos I downloaded after returning home were absolutely beautiful! Even if I couldn't take great pictures with my own camera, I felt reassured knowing that they would capture moments for us throughout the tour.

曇り気味で夕焼けや星空が観られるのか、少し不安でしたが
ガイドのマツザキさんがすごく盛り上げて下さり、ご一緒したメンバーも
ノリが良く楽しい方々で車内からウキウキでした。
すごくフレンドリーで丁寧な説明と、どんな質問にも的確にそして笑いを交えて答えてくれるマツザキさんは、このツアーを選んで良かったなと思える最重要ポイントです。
無事に綺麗な夕焼けや星空を見る事ができ、娘のカメラの使い方まで教えて下さり本当にありがとうございました。また参加したいです！
帰国してからダウンロードさせていただいた写真、とても綺麗でした！
自分のカメラでうまく撮れなくても、折々で撮影してくださるので安心です。

We signed up for a one-and-a-half-hour plan for beginners as a family. We drove to the ranch with a rental car. The sign is simple and easy to overlook. Since it's a one-way road, it’s difficult to make a U-turn if you miss it. In March, it was a bit chilly, and the weather was partly cloudy. When we mentioned our reservation name, they provided us with helmets, jumpers, and a waist pouch for valuables (free of charge). After a brief lesson on how to use the reins, we set off immediately under the guidance of the instructor. The highlands offered a refreshing feeling with a 360-degree view. If the weather had been good, we might have been able to see the ocean, but unfortunately, it was cloudy and obscured. The horses were calm and moved slowly while grazing along the way, so I think even beginners can participate with confidence. While Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is nice, the spacious grasslands are unique to the Big Island.

午前中の1時間半のプランで、初心者ばかりの家族で申し込みしました。牧場まではレンタカーで向かいました。目印の看板はシンプルで見落としがちです。一本道なので通り過ぎるとＵターンが難しいです。3月は少し肌寒く、天気は薄曇りでした。予約している名前を告げると、ヘルメットとジャンパーと貴重品を入れるウエストポーチを貸してくださり(無料）、簡単な手綱の使い方を教わると、インストラクターのお姉さんの引率で即出発です。360度見渡す限り高原で、清々しい気持ちになります。天気が良いと海まで見られたかもしれませんが、あいにくの曇り空で霞んでいて見えませんでした。馬は大人しく、途中草を食べながらゆっくり進みますので、初心者の方でも安心して参加できると思います。オアフ島のクアロアランチも良いですが、広々とした草原はハワイ島ならではないでしょうか。

The access to the summit was closed due to strong winds, resulting in the cancellation of the tour. Since it was a 2:30 PM tour, I feel like the whole day was wasted. I heard that the road had been closed for 3 to 4 days prior and was also closed from the morning of the day itself, so I wish I had been informed in advance via email or other means. If I had known, I could have chosen other activities.

強風で山頂行きが通行止めになり中止に。
2時半発のツアーなので、一日が無駄になった印象が残る。
前日まで３～４日通行止め、当日も朝から通行止めだったそうで、予めメール等で教えて欲しかった。
そうすれば、他のアクティビティを選択できたのに。