All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

The sunset was amazing!
The stars were incredible!
It was my first time reaching the summit in February, and the conditions for stargazing were perfect, so I was blessed with great timing and weather.
The travel time is long, but Stefan's entertaining talk makes the journey enjoyable.
Stargazing, one of my goals on the Big Island... it's something you should see at least once in your lifetime!

サンセット最高！
星最高！
2月に入って山頂まで行けるのは初めてだったということと、
星を見るのに最高のコンディションだということで、タイミングと天気に恵まれました。
移動時間は長いのですがステファンのオモシロトークで道中も楽しませてくれます。
ハワイ島の目的のひとつだった星空観測・・・一生に一度は見るべきだ！

Definitely do this during your holiday! The sunset and scenery at Mauna Kea is out-of-this-world and impressive. The stargazing afterwards is fun, as well as amazing to see so many stars so brightly.
The tour was excellent too, with well-informed guides and an un-rushed feel. Dinner was decent too.

On the day of the tour, the weather was clear with a blue sky, but unfortunately, we couldn't reach the summit due to strong winds. However, we were able to see a beautiful sunset just below the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, and later, we enjoyed stargazing until the moon rose. Despite the challenging conditions of strong winds and the bright moon making it hard to see the stars, it was wonderful to look up at the night sky with the other participants, listen to interesting explanations, and enjoy warm tea and biscuits. Although it was disappointing not to reach the summit of Mauna Kea, I had a fantastic time and created lovely memories!

ツアー当日、天気は晴れで青空も広がっていたけれど、山頂が強風で残念ながら登ることができませんでした。しかし、オニヅカビジターズセンターの少し下あたりで綺麗な夕日をみて、その後月が上がるまで星空を見ることができました。強風だけじゃなく、月が明るくて星が見えずらいという悪条件が重なったものの、星空をツアーの参加者の方々と見上げて、面白い説明を聞いて、暖かい紅茶を飲んだりビスケットを食べたりと、最高でした。マウナケア山頂に登れなかったのは残念でしたが、非常に楽しめましたし、素敵な思い出になりました！

It was a very enjoyable tour. I was impressed by the enthusiastic guidance provided by our tour guide, Sue, who is a second-generation Japanese American. Additionally, the service of taking photos and uploading them online is a valuable service.

非常に楽しいツアーでした。担当してくれた日系二世のすーさんの熱心な案内には感激しました。また、写真に撮って、ネットにアップしてくれるサービスは価値あるサービスです。

Safe fun informative friendly also directed us to other local spots to visit . Had a great time .

We were picked up at the hotel and headed to the Onizuka Visitor Center (about 2800m above sea level). As we sped along the highway, we listened to our guide explain about the black cattle, sheep, and goats raised on a ranch on the Big Island. After joining up with other tour guests, we began our ascent up the mountain. About an hour and a half after the pickup, we arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center. We had dinner from our bento boxes and took a stroll around the area. I was amazed by the stunning silver color of the silversword (a native species of the Big Island, Mauna Kea Silver Sword), and since this is also a sacred site for Hawaiians, I discovered a prayer area (the original form of an altar), which piqued my interest. It was clear that prayers were directed toward the mountain.

Dressed in warm clothing, we got back in the vehicle. The car began to climb the bumpy mountain road that could only be navigated by a four-wheel drive. After about an hour of rough terrain, we reached the summit. As expected, at 4200m on Mauna Kea, we could see the sea of clouds far below. Due to the high altitude, it is said to be 99% clear. There are 13 observatories at the summit, one of which is the Subaru Telescope. I was informed that a 14th telescope is planned for construction, but due to regulations, they cannot build more than 13, so one will likely need to be dismantled.

As we were doing this, the sun began to set slowly. Gradually, the surroundings darkened, and the sun disappeared into the clouds. The orange light reflected on the edges of the clouds after the sun vanished was mystical, making one feel as if there were a sun god in this world. Just to the left, Venus began to shine brightly.

Once the sun set, stars gradually became visible in the sky. The faint path of the sun was also visible, and it started to get cold. I spotted Orion, Cassiopeia, and the North Star. That was the limit of my knowledge. Eventually, the guide used a laser pointer to ask the tour guests about their zodiac signs while introducing the constellations spread across the sky. The world of Greek mythology unfolded before us. We saw the Orion Nebula, Gemini, Aquarius, Libra, and even Subaru, although some constellations had already set. Unfortunately, my zodiac sign is not visible when Orion is out.

After the introduction to the constellations based on Greek mythology concluded, we got back into the four-wheel drive and began our descent.

ホテルでピックアップしてもらい、鬼塚ビジターセンター（海2800ｍ位）へ。ハワイ島の牧場で飼われている、黒牛や羊、ヤギをガイドさんの解説を聞きながら、ハイウエイを突っ走ります。途中で、他のツアー客と合流後、山を登り始めます。ピックアップから1時間半ほどで鬼塚ビジターセンターに到着。夕食の弁当を食べ、周りを散策。銀剣草（ハワイ島の固有種、Mauna Kea Silver sward）の見事な銀色に感激、またハワイアンの聖地でもあるので、祈りの場所（祭壇の原型）を発見し、興味津々。山に向かって祈っていたことが分かります。
防寒着を着込み、再び乗車。車は四輪駆動でなければ走れないでこぼこの山道を登り始めます。1時間ほどの悪路を踏破し、山頂に到着。さすが、4200ｍのマウナケア。雲海がはるか下に見えます。高高度なので99%晴れるとか。山頂には13天文台があり、そのうちの一つがスバル天文台であると説明を受けます。現在14基目を建設の予定ということでしたが、法律で13基以上建てられないので、１基は壊すようになるだろうとのこと。
そうこうしているうちに、太陽が沈み始めます。ゆっくりとゆっくりと。やがて周りが暗くなり、雲の中に太陽が消えていきます。太陽が消えた後の雲の端に映し出されるオレンジの光は神秘的であり、この世に太陽神がいると思わせます。そのすぐ左の方向に、低く金星ががんばって光りだしました。
　太陽が沈むと、天空にだんだんと星が見えてきます。うっすらと太陽の通る道も見え、寒くもなってきます。オリオン座、カシオペア座、北極星を見つけました。そこまでが私の知識の限界。やがてガイドさんが、レザーポインターを使い、誕生星座をツアー客に質問しながら、天空に広がる星座の紹介です。ギリシャ神話の世界が広がります。オリオン座の大星雲、双子座，水瓶座、双子座、天秤座、さらにはスバルなど、もちろん、既に沈んだ星座もあります。私の星座は、オリオンが出ているときは見えません。残念。
　ギリシャ神話に基づく星座の紹介が終わったところで、四駆に乗り込み下山を始めました。

I had a truly wonderful experience!
Receiving power from nature really changes your perspective on life.
The sea of clouds, the sunset, and the starry sky were just amazing!

I heard so many stories about the Big Island of Hawaii, and it made for a fantastic day.

I want to bring my kids, who are waiting for me in Tokyo, back here again!
But before that, if I get tired of life, I’ll come back again (laughs).

Thank you very much!

とっても素敵な経験をさせていただきました！
大自然からのパワーをいただいて人生観変わりますね。
雲海、サンセット、満点の星空☆
ホントに最高♪

たくさんのハワイ島のお話を聞かせていただいて、素敵な一日になりました。

東京で留守番してくれている子どもたちも連れてまた来たいです！
その前に人生に疲れたらまた来ます(笑)

ありがとうございました！

After reading Satomi Kobayashi's "Aloha Spirit," I was looking forward to experiencing horseback riding in Waipi'o Valley when I visited the Big Island! About half of the participants were Japanese, and the other half were from English-speaking countries. There were only Japanese among the Asian participants.

It was my first time horseback riding, and I was nervous, but it was a very kind and enjoyable experience. I walked through the river and felt that I would like to try horseback riding again. It was a great experience to feel the great nature of Waipi'o Valley up close.

小林聡美の『アロハ魂』を読んで、ハワイ島に行ったらワイピオ渓谷で乗馬体験をしよう！と楽しみにしていました｡
日本人参加者は半分、英語圏内の方が半分ぐらいでした。アジア系は日本人のみ｡

乗馬は初めてでドキドキでしたが、とても親切で楽しい時間でした。
川の中を歩いたりとまた乗馬をしてみたいと思いましたし、
ワイピオ渓谷の大自然を肌で感じれて良い経験でした。

It was a new moon, so I was amazed to see more stars than I had imagined. The explanations about the stars were clear and detailed, using a laser pointer, which made it interesting. I brought two Uniqlo Ultra Light Down jackets, but since they offered to lend ski wear, I thought I would be fine and only wore one. I regretted that at the summit because it was really cold with the strong wind. But overall, I was very satisfied!

新月だったこともあり、想像以上にたくさんの星が見られて感動でした。
星の説明もレーザーポインターを使いながら分かりやすく詳しくしてくださり、面白かったです。ユニクロのウルトラライトダウンを二枚持参しましたが、スキーウエアを貸してくださるので大丈夫かと思って、1枚だけしか着なかったことを山頂で後悔しました。風が強いと本当に寒いです。でも大満足でした！

I have experienced horseback riding in Hawaii several times, and here you can ride through the river, and the dogs that are kept here are adorable, which is irresistible for dog lovers ❤. However, mosquitoes attacked us while riding, so we got bitten a lot. My daughter (who might be under 18) didn't want to wear the helmet because it smelled bad, but the cuteness of the horses made up for it. I wore water shoes so that my shoes wouldn't get dirty. Next time, I will bring insect repellent as well.

ハワイでの乗馬体験は数回利用してますがこちらは川の中を乗馬したりこちらに飼われているワンコたちも愛らしくて犬好きにはたまらない❤
ただ、蚊が乗馬中に襲ってくるので刺されまくり、娘は（１８歳未満だったかな）はヘルメット着用がヘルメットが臭いので嫌がってましたが馬の可愛さでチャラになります。
靴は汚れてもいいようにウォーターシューズを履いていきました。次回は虫除けも持っていきます。

I was worried about the cold, but it turned out to be a warm and enjoyable tour. We stopped at various places to take photos, and at the summit, they took pictures of us in recommended poses, which was very kind. The weather was great that day, and the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was beautiful. The starry sky I had been looking forward to was also clearly visible, and we took plenty of time to enjoy the explanations of the constellations. It was moving to see the Milky Way and shooting stars. The lunch box (with miso soup) and the tea and cookies we had along the way were also great.

寒さが心配でしたがおもってたよりも温かく楽しいツアーとなりました。色々なところで車を止めて写真をとって頂いたり、山頂では、おすすめのポーズで写真をとってくれたり、とても親切でした。当日は、お天気もよく、雲海に沈む夕日がキレイでした。楽しみにしていた星空もくっきりキレイに見えて、たっぷりと時間をとって、星座の説明を楽しくして頂きました。天の川や流れ星も見れて感動です。お弁当（お味噌汁付き）も途中でいただく紅茶とクッキーもよかったです。

1) On the day I participated (January 2), I later heard at the hotel that there was a severe storm on the mountain, and all other companies had canceled their tours. While it's true that mountain weather can be unpredictable, I believe it was reckless to proceed with the tour. In the end, we ate our bento at the visitor center, couldn't go outside due to the heavy rain, and of course, we couldn't see the sunset. After that, we moved to a lower area where we could see stars through the gaps in the clouds, and we only looked at the moon through a telescope (even then, it was very windy). While I understand that weather is beyond control, if there was a storm on the mountain, I think the tour should have been canceled and refunds issued. I didn't join to see the moon from the side of a regular road.

2) When I changed the date, I realized I had made a mistake with the day of the week. When I called back to confirm, the man who answered said in a harsh tone, "It should be fine this time, right?" which left me feeling unpleasant.

3) On the day of the tour, I was told to arrive 50 minutes early, but in the end, the bus arrived 30 minutes later than the time given. The driver didn't offer any apology. It felt like the participation fee and time were completely wasted on this tour.

１）参加した日（１／２）は、山の上は大嵐で、他の会社のツアーは全部キャンセルだったと後からホテルで聞きました。山の天気は変わりやすいとは言え、ツアーを決行したのは無謀だったと思います。結局、ビジターセンターで弁当を食べ、大雨のため、外にも出られず、もちろん夕日も見られず、その後、雲間から星が見える低い所に移動し、望遠鏡で月を見ただけでした。（その時も強風。）天気のことは、しかたありませんが、山の上が嵐だったら、その日はツアーをキャンセルして返金するべきだったのではないでしょうか。普通の道路脇から月を見るために参加したのではありません。２）日にちを変更した時に曜日を間違えたことに気づき、確認のためにまたすぐ電話したら、対応した男性に「今度は大丈夫ですね？」と、きつい調子で言われ、不愉快な思いをしました。３）集合時間も当日、５０分早く来るように言われたのに、結局はバスが着いたのは言われた時間より３０分も後でした。運転手さんからは謝罪の一言も無し。参加費、時間が全く無駄になった気がしたツアーでした。

I traveled around the Big Island by rental car, but since you can't drive to the summit of Mauna Kea in a private vehicle, I joined this tour. The experience, including the guide's explanations, exceeded my expectations. It was my first time at an altitude of over 4000 meters, so I felt a bit of altitude sickness (nothing too serious though...). However, the view from the summit, the sunset, and the starry night sky were beyond imagination.

ハワイ島ではレンタカーで回ってましたが、マウナケア山頂まで自家用車でいけないのでこのツアーに参加しました。ガイドさんの説明も含めて予想以上のすばらしさでした。山頂では初めての4000m以上の高さなので私一人高山病ぎみでした(大した症状ではないですが。。)
でもその頂上から見る景色、サンセットそれと夜空の星は想像以上でした。

We have visited Hawaii many times, but this was our second time on the Big Island.
Renting a car for island sightseeing and experiencing the Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing were our top two priorities.
This time, we challenged ourselves with the Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing at an elevation of 4,200 meters.
The beauty of the scenery, the sunset, and the clarity of the stars are beyond words.
I definitely encourage everyone to give it a try.

私たちはハワイには何度も来ているのですが、ハワイ島は今回で２度目でした。
レンタカーを借りての島内観光とマウナケアサンセット＆星座観測はやりたい事の１，２でした。
今回は４２００メータ級のマウナケアサンセット＆星座観測にチャレンジしました。
景色と夕日の素晴らしさ、星の美しさとクリアさは言葉では言い表せません。
ぜひ、皆さんもチャレンジしてみてください。

I had heard that the oxygen was thin, but it was great! The guide was very kind and knowledgeable, and it was truly an impressive tour.

酸素が薄いといわれていたのですが、大乗でした！ガイドのかたがとっても親切で、物知りで本当に感動のツアーでした。

I was able to see a very beautiful sunset, and it was moving!! However, it was extremely cold. For stargazing, clouds rolled in, but they worked hard to find a spot where we could see the stars, and we managed to catch a glimpse. Masashi's guidance was also excellent, and it will definitely be one of my best memories on the Big Island. However, sunsets make me feel a bit lonely when the sun goes down, so perhaps a sunrise would have been even more moving. It’s early in the morning, but I thought I would like to go for a sunrise next time.

とてもキレイなサンセットがみれて、感動的でした!!ただ、めちゃめちゃ寒いです。星空観測は雲が出てしまったのですが、見れるところを一生懸命探してくださって、なんとか見れました。マサシさんのガイドもすごく良くて、ハワイ島で一番の思い出になること間違いなしです。ただ、サンセットは日が沈むと寂しい気持ちになるので、サンライズのほうが、もっと感動的だったかも。朝早いですが、次回はサンライズ行きたいなと思いました。

We were picked up at our hotel in Kona around 1 PM and took about two hours to reach the Onizuka Visitor Center via the hotel in Waikoloa. There, we had our lunch and spent an hour acclimatizing to the altitude before driving up to the summit of Mauna Kea again. The summit was very windy and cold, but we were deeply moved by the beautiful sunset and the sea of clouds. After that, we observed the starry sky at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, where the stars appeared very close, and we could even see satellites moving. It was a great experience of nature that you can't have in Tokyo. Our guide, Stephan, was also kind and a truly wonderful person.

13時頃にコナのホテルでピックアップ、ワイコロアのホテル経由で約2時間かけてオニズカビジターセンターに着きました。そこでお弁当を食べ体を標高に慣らすこと1時間、再度車でマウナケア頂上まで登りました。山頂は風が強く寒かったですが、きれいな日没と雲海を見ることが出来て大変感動しました。そのあとも標高3千数百メートルのところで星空観察、星がとても近く見え、人口衛星まで動いているのが確認できました。東京では体験できない大自然、とても良かったです。ガイドのステファンさんも親切で大変素晴らしい方でした。

It rains a lot on the mountain so it was postponed twice. We were looking for a more relaxed, free ride which they intimated but it was not quite what we were looking for. There were four other people, most of whom didn't know what they were doing. So maybe if it was just my daughter and I, it would have been better. The ranch is nice and if you're inexperienced and just looking for a mostly plodding experience, it's a good activity. Using VELTRA was a good experience. They have a very good system.

You can enjoy an hour and a half of horseback riding. The grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see! The instructions are in English, so if you don't understand English, it's better to read the instructions hanging on the wall before participating. There are hills, making it thrilling. While your horse is eating grass, the other horses move ahead, and you might find yourself trying to catch up with the group, which left me, as a beginner, exhausted by the end. You can really enjoy it to the point where you wonder if you still have to walk!

１時間半みっちり乗馬ができます。見渡す限りの草原！説明は英語なので英語がわからない人は事前に壁にかけてある説明書きを読んでから参加した方がよいです。坂があったりでスリル満天。自分のお馬さんが草を食べている間に他のお馬さんがどんどん進んでいくと、その群れに追いつこうと走り出したりするので、乗馬初心者の私は終わるころにはぐったり。まだ歩くのか・・・というぐらい満喫できます！

We had a great time zip lining! This was my second time zip lining (first time in Sonoma) and my husband's first time. Our amazing guides Brian and Nainoa helped make our day memorable and zip lining easy for everyone. One recommendation for anyone prone to mosquito bites: bring mosquito gel or something for your exposed arms/legs! I sprayed two layers of OFF on my legs and came out of the first two lines with about 14 bites on my legs. The company provides OFF spray for you to use before you head up the bumpy road to the first line, but it doesn't quite work. I recommend wearing pants/long sleeve clothes that breathes as well as using bug spray as it is very humid there. If you bring your smart phone, I'd recommend bringing something to wrap around your wrist. If you have a regular camera, you can strap it around your neck or wrist. They have water to drink as you go through the course, so no need to bring a bottle along.

The course has seven lines for you to travel on, with the first two being very beginner friendly through the banana trees. As you progress throughout the zip lines, they get longer and the terrain clears up a bit. The guides find wild fruit that is growing on the course and pick it for you to eat. We had apple bananas, two types of guava (one pink and one small, sweet yellow guava), tomatoes, and a sip of white ginger flower nectar. The last two lines are by far the best. Second to last, you travel over the river before the waterfall and is the last line where you can practice your "steering". The last line you just let gravity take you down as you take a nice long ride, with an amazing view of the waterfall, to the end of the course. When you reach the bottom of the line, they have more fresh fruit and sugar cane all cut up, ready to enjoy! We would definitely go back!

One thing is the equipment can get a little smelly. Not sure how much it gets wiped down (my harness smelled sour and helmet left me sweating brown stuff).

This is the best hawaiian experience ever…I have done this twice! Not the typical tour, a local hawaiian Mika, takes you on a personal tour, with local folklore about the menehunas, he shows the local fruit, plants, how the hawaiian grew the taro plant..and then we can eat and taste the local fruit. I ride horses, and have ridden many a tourist rides, all over my travels, but this my favorite, the spiritual Waipio Valley with a local guide. Local horses (and you ride by wild mustangs in the valley) amazing to see.! ,Even my co-worker, from NY who has never been on a horse, loved it and feeling so close to nature and the culture. I will go on this ride every time I come to Big Island!
My favorite Hawaiian experience..you feel very connected with the culture, and nature.

This was our first time zip-lining and we were little nervous. We ended up having a blast! The 2 zip line guides were so much fun. They knew all about the environment around us. We were able to try apple bananas right from the trees. They were delicious!The view from the last 2 lines were amazing. It is the best way to see the falls. We would definitely recommend the zip lining from skyline adventures.

Absolutely fantastic experience. I would totally recommend this. Tim and Nainoa were great, they made everyone feel at ease and were really personable. The ziplines were wicked and the views were awesome. Both Tim and Nainoa provided a lot of interesting facts and information about Hawaii's history, climate, geography and botany during the tours. With seven lines, each successively bigger, you get to experience the thrill of gliding through the air at incredible speeds. The last one is the best, as you zip along a line for a km and could reach 50 miles an hour (if you weigh a little bit ;)). But as I said, it's awesome. Totally recommend this experience.

We had a great time doing this zip line.... The guides Tim and Nainoa were great... not just for the zip line but for all the extra knowledge they shared with us about the surrounding area. The first couple zips got you warmed up for the rest of them... the last one was awesome and the view of the falls was just amazing... we got lots of great pictures and really enjoyed this zipline... we have been on zip lines in New Zealand and Costa Rica and this one was really nicely set up... and was very beautiful and well maintained with neat flowers and plants to see along the way.... Highly recommend this to all who want to try a zip line and this is a great way to see some amazing sceenery and the fresh fruit after wards was just what we needed... Tks Guys for a great time

That was fantastic experience, I really recommend it to everyone no matter what age are you.

Sunset, starry night sky!! It was an amazing tour. If you go to the Big Island, this is definitely a place you should visit, and it's better to go on a tour rather than individually. However, the cold was quite unusual.

サンセット、星降る夜空！！感動のツアーでした。ハワイ島に行ったら絶対に行って欲しいし、個人ではなくツアーで行くべきところです。でも寒さは尋常でなかったです。

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was absolutely amazing. Even after the sun set, the gradual change in the color of the sky was incredibly beautiful. The starry sky was also stunning, and since the moon was about a crescent, the moonlight didn't interfere much, allowing us to see a starry sky that felt like a planetarium in real life. While gazing absentmindedly, I was able to see quite a few shooting stars as well. This time, I couldn't make a reservation for the Japanese tour because they were fully booked, so I joined the English tour. I was a bit worried, but I could manage to understand simple English, so I enjoyed it without any problems!

雲海に沈む夕日はとにかく凄かったです。夕日が沈んだ後も徐々に空の色が変わっていくのがすごく綺麗でした。
星空も月が三日月くらいだったのでそれほど月あかりは邪魔にもならず、プラネタリウムを見ているような星空が生で見れました☆
ぼんやり眺めていると流星も結構見れましたよ。
今回は日本語ツアーがいっぱいで予約出来なかったので英語ツアーに参加しました。ちょっと心配でしたが、簡単な英語なら何とか理解できるので問題なく楽しめました！

Whilst reading this activity when planning my vacation to Hawaii I knew that going to the summit and doing some stargazing would be something not to be missed. I'm glad it did not disappoint! The sunset atop Mauna Kea is amazing with only clouds below us, and we were able to view a great deal of objects in the night sky. It does definitely get chilly up there, and even though they supply Parkas and gloves be sure to wear some heavy pants and thick covered in shoes (lest your toes succumb to frostbite!) I have recommended this tour to friends whom I know will be going to Hawaii in the next few years.

This was our first time zip lining and we were both a little nervous! We ended up having a blast! The 2 zip line guides were so much fun to be with. They made us feel safe and made sure we were having fun. They knew all about the environment around us. We were able to try apple bananas right from the trees. They were delicious! We liked that the course started out low to the ground and gradually became longer and higher. The view from the last 2 lines were amazing! The waterfalls were beautiful. It is the best way to see the falls. We would definitely recommend the zip lining from skyline adventures to our friends.

Since the Japanese tour was fully booked, I participated in the English tour. I couldn't understand the explanations about the stars clearly, but they let each person look through the telescope and used simple English. The sunset was amazing.

日本語ツアーがいっぱいだったため、英語ツアーで参加しました。
英語がわからなくて星の説明はハッキリわからなかったけれど、望遠鏡で1人1人星をのぞかせてくれたり簡単な英語を使ったりしてくれていました。
サンセットは素晴らしかったです