All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

On June 6, 2008, I participated with four colleagues from work! When we saw the sunset, it was super cold! I thought, "Is this really Hawaii???" but they lent us jumpsuits, so we managed to get through it. (Personally, I think I should have worn more layers underneath...) After that, we went down a bit from the summit to see the starry sky, and it was just a sky full of stars☆★ They used a laser pointer to explain everything clearly. I saw the Milky Way for the first time and the Southern Cross! It was an overwhelming experience. Furthermore, our guide, Shinya, seemed to have a hobby for photography and took pictures of us with the stars in the background. This will be a treasure for a lifetime. Thank you so much!!

I truly believe it was the right choice to select this tour company! If I come back to the Big Island, I would love to join this tour again!! MAHALO!!

２００８年６月６日に会社の同僚４人で
参加しました！サンセットを見た時はめっちゃ！！
寒くてここハワイ？？？って思うぐらいでしたが、
ツナギを貸して頂いたので何とか凌ぐことが出来ました。
（個人的にはもう少し中に着込んで行くべきだと思いましたが・・）その後、山頂から少し降りて星空を見ましたが、これがもう満天の星空☆★レーザーポインターを使って分かりやすく説明していただきました。初めて見た天の川に、南十字星！感動の嵐。さらにガイドのしんやさんはカメラが趣味？らしく星をバックに写真を撮ってくれました。
これは一生の宝物になります。本当にありがとうございました！！

ここのツアー会社を選んで本当に正解！だったと思っています。またハワイ島に来ることがあればまたここのツアーに参加したいでーす！！MAHALO!!

This is the most amazing / moving / breathtaking / spectacular tour I've ever taken in my life... Growing up in a city, I've never seen a night sky like that before... i thought i was seeing a cloud, but turned out to be the Milky Way... there were literally millions of stars in the sky... made me feel that we are a part of this vast galaxy...

the drive to Mauna Kea was fun... Pat, the guide, even stopped our vehicle to see the owl by the road... I even got to see the state bird, Nene, at the Onizuka Space Center...

Mauna Kea is such a spritual place, and I will never forget the sunset.. Oh, you have to take a tour to go up to the summit since you need a permit... it's not like Haleakala on Maui where everyone can go..

Do this tour if you are going to be in the Big Island... I recommend everyone to do this tour... Just amazing!!!

This was my third time participating in the tour, and I enjoyed it every time with new discoveries! The conversations during the car ride were lively, and it was great to see everyone getting along in such a friendly atmosphere.

When we watched the sunset, a very cold wind was blowing, but I was really happy to be lent a warm long coat and a jumpsuit (which can withstand minus temperatures).

During the stargazing, I was able to see my birth constellation, and the thrill of looking at the moon through the telescope was breathtaking! I hope to see shooting stars next time. I would like to come back when we can see "Subaru."

Thank you to our guide, Shinya, for the fun tour and for taking beautiful photos. I would love to join Shinya's tour again. I look forward to it!

３回目のツアー参加でしたが、毎回新たなる発見があり楽しめました♪
　移動中の車内でのトークで盛り上がりお客さん同士も和気あいあいの和んだ雰囲気でよかったです。
夕日を見るときは、とても冷たい風が吹いていましたが
暖かいロングコートやツナギ（マイナス何度まで耐えれるという）を貸していただきとてもうれしかったです。
　星空観測は、自分の誕生星座が見れ、月を望遠鏡で見たときの感動は息をのむすごさでした☆
　できれば、流れ星が見れるよいいなーと思いました。
次回は、「すばる」が見れる時期に来たいと思います。

　ガイドの“しんや”さん楽しいツアー＆きれいな写真を撮ってもらってありがとうございました。
　また、しんやさんのツアーに参加したいと思います。その時はよろしくお願いします♪

I participated with my mother and daughter from the King Kamehameha Hotel on February 16! I wonder if Minorin remembers me? I'm really glad I joined this tour! Minorin's talk was fun, and we enjoyed the sunset from the summit, the horizon, the mountain shadows, and the stars, fully experiencing the nature of the Big Island! I was impressed by Minorin's incredible knowledge of stars, haha. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories!☆☆☆

２月１６日にキングカメハメハホテルから母娘で参加した者です！！みのりん覚えてるかなぁ？
このツアーに参加して本当によかったです！！みのりんのトークは楽しいし、山頂からの夕日や、地平線、山の影、星などハワイ島の自然を満喫しました！！みのりんの星の知識は半端ないと感心していました笑
素敵な思い出をどうもありがとうございました☆☆☆

WE had a great time. Learned alot. Our guide Gordon was wonderful.Full of information, my husband thought he had studied this in college and he had not.

MY WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND MYSELF TOOK THIS RIDE IN MID-APRIL '08. EVERYTHING WAS JUST LIKE IT WAS DESCRIBED. THE DRIVE IN AND OUT OF THE VALLEY WAS A TRIP IN ITSELF. THE TWO GUYS THAT LED THE TOUR WERE A BLAST! HELPFUL, CONSIDERATE, AND FUN. THE RIDE ITSELF WAS SO NICE SINCE IT WASN'T ENDLESS TIME IN THE BLAZING SUN. MOSTLY CROSSING STREAMS AND RIDING UNDER JUNGLE CANOPY. EVERYONE IN TOUR WAS ENJOYING THEIRSELVES, FROM NOVICE TO EXPERIENCED. DURATION OF RIDE WAS JUST RIGHT. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TRIP TO ANYONE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF OUR TRIP. GREAT FUN VALUE FOR DOLLAR. WE'LL DO AGAIN ON OUR NEXT TRIP.

On the day we participated, the weather was bad, and our guide Shinya told us that we didn't know what would happen. However, as we drove higher, it was clear above the clouds, and we were able to see a sky full of stars! I thought we would just be watching, but he used a laser pointer to explain things, which made me very satisfied. Also, the moment the sun was setting was truly moving.

The photos taken by Shinya, who has a hobby of photography, were all great, and I felt glad that I chose this tour.

I was worried about altitude sickness, but I was fine, only experiencing a slight headache on the way back.

私たちが参加した日は天候が悪くどうなるかわからないとガイドのしんやさんに言われましたが、車でどんどん登っていくと雲の上は晴れていて、満天の星を見ることができました！
ただずっと見ているだけだと思ったら､ﾚｰｻﾞｰﾎﾟｲﾝﾀｰを使って解説してくれたりして大満足です。
あと、日が沈んでいく時は感動の一言です。

写真が趣味というしんやさんが撮ってくれた物はどれも良く、このツアーを選んでよかったなあと思いました。

心配していた高山病も帰り少し頭痛がしたくらいで大丈夫でした。

As a first-time rider, this was a great experience! The horses were sweet and gentle, the leaders were patient and reassuring and we all had a blast. They helped ease us into trotting and even galloping-- all amongst lovely scenery. Highly recommended!

I participated with a friend on May 1, 2008!!

I had only been to the Big Island once as a child, so I was a bit anxious, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience.

My friend had just arrived from Japan and was tired, but thanks to our guide's lively talk, we had an enriching time right from the first day.

The sunset at Mauna Kea was truly spectacular. After taking a break for lunch, we positioned ourselves above the clouds. At that moment, I was so moved that my eyes became teary. At the summit, the beauty of the sunset left me speechless. How can I describe it... it felt like being close to God...

While other tours left one after another, our tour stayed a while longer, allowing us to enjoy the beautiful gradient of the sky after the sun had set. Even though it was May, there was still snow on the mountainside, and it was cold, but thanks to the incredibly warm overalls I borrowed, no one returned to the car for warmth, and we could fully enjoy the wonders of nature. I felt a bit sad to leave after spending so much time there.

As for the starry sky, our guide mentioned that the conditions weren't great due to clouds, but he tried to read the wind flow and move us to a better spot. For someone like me, who only knows the sky over Nagoya, it was a breathtaking sight filled with stars that made me unable to hold back my tears.

I became completely absorbed in the guide's explanations of the stars, even though I had no knowledge of constellations. As I followed the stars he pointed out with my eyes, it was truly magical!! My favorite was Canis Major. It was adorable.

This tour would be romantic for couples, fun and educational for families with children, and enjoyable for friends like us.

Above all, our guide Shinya's stories, enthusiasm, and tone of voice were fantastic. He was easy to understand and entertaining, while also being very professional. I would love to use this tour again with another friend next time.

I was really happy that he kindly answered questions about the Big Island beyond the tour. Thank you, Shinya!! Take care until we meet again~＾−＾☆

２００８年５月1日に女２人で参加しました！！

ハワイ島は子供も頃に１度つれられてきただけで初めてのようなもので不安でしたが素晴らしい体験が出来ました。

友達は日本からきたばかりで疲れていたにもかかわらず、ガイドさんの軽快なトークにのせられて初日から濃い時間を過ごせました

マウナケアの夕日は本当に素晴らしかったです。
途中、お弁当休憩をとった後くらいから雲の上に位置していきます。
この時点で私は感動のあまり目頭があつくなりました。
山頂でのサンセットではあまりの美しさに言葉がでませんでした。
なんとたとえたらいいでしょうか・・
神様の近くにいるような感じ・・・・かな。

ほかのツアーが次々と引き上げていく中、私たちのツアーだけがしばし留まり、日が落ちた後の素晴らしい空のグラデーションを堪能しました。
５月だというのに山肌には雪が残っており寒かったのですが、ものすごく暖かいつなぎのような服をお借りしたおかげでだれひとり車に暖をとりに戻る人もおらず、自然の神秘をこころゆくまで堪能することができました。
ずいぶんとそこにいたのに、立ち去るのがさみしいくらいでした。

星空は、ガイドさんの話では雲があるためコンディションはあまりよくないとのことでしたが、風の流れを読み移動を試みてくださって、普段名古屋の空しか知らないわたしにとっては流れる涙をとめることが出来ないほどの満天の星でした。

そしてガイドさんの星の説明に、まったく星座の知識のない私でも夢中になっていきました。
ガイドさんの指す星を目で追っていくとあら不思議！！
ほんとうにその形が浮かび上がってきます。
わたしのお気に入りは大犬座。かわいかったです。

このツアーはカップルで参加してもロマンティックだしお子様連れなら楽しくお勉強もできるかんじだし、私たちのような女同士でも満喫できるものだと思います。

なによりガイドのシンヤさんのお話やガッツや声のトーンなどが最高でした。
よく聞き取れておもしろく、またプロフェッショナルでもありました。
次回はまた別の友達とも利用したいです。

ツアー以外のハワイ島の質問にも快く答えてくださり本当に嬉しかったです。
シンヤさんありがとう!!
また会う日までお元気で~＾−＾☆

It was colder than I expected, but the starry sky was more amazing than I thought. I'm glad I participated.

思った以上に寒かったけど、思った以上に星空は凄かった。参加してよかったです。

I participated on April 16th. I considered other companies for the Mauna Kea summit tour, but I think choosing Nature School was the right decision.

Positive points: The guide, Mr. Yamamoto, was friendly and very knowledgeable. His explanations were very easy to understand.

The driving was safe, allowing us to feel secure throughout the ride.

They took us to more locations than any other tour, and we had plenty of opportunities for commemorative photos. (They took us all around Mauna Kea.)

They were the last to descend from Mauna Kea compared to other tours. (It seems there’s a rule from the observatory that we must descend within 30 minutes after sunset, but they stayed with us until the very end. It’s cold, and watching the sunset outside can be tough, but we could relax and enjoy it from inside the vehicle.)

The warm clothing provided seemed to be the best among other tours. (They had jackets and two types of full-body suits for women. The jackets were long enough to keep our feet warm.)

Stargazing was possible at the highest elevation compared to other tours. (Other tour companies had already descended, so there were no distracting car lights. We could see from a paved area, minimizing dust. Depending on the day, they might need to go lower due to wind conditions.)

I strongly recommend checking the moon phase before going. If the moon phase doesn’t align, it might be worth adjusting your travel dates for this tour in Hawaii. If you plan to take this tour, it’s quickest to ask on the Nature School website which day would be best for your visit to the Big Island.

It was amazing!!!!

４月１６日に参加いたしました。マウナケア山頂のツアーは他社もあり、検討しましたがネイチャースクールで大正解だったと思います。

良かった点・ガイドの「山本さん」が気さくで非常に物知り。説明も非常にわかりやすい。

安全運転で終始安心して乗ってられる。

どこのツアーよりも多くの場所を廻ってくれて度々、記念撮影が出来る。（マウナケア山では隅から隅まで廻ってくれました）

どこのツアーよりも一番最後にマウナケア山を下りてくれる。（日が沈んでから３０分以内に山頂は下りないといけないというルールが天文台からきているようですが、ギリギリまでいてくれます。寒くて、サンセットをずっと外で見るのは厳しいですが車内でのんびり見れます）

防寒具が他のツアーよりも一番暖かそう。（ジャケット、女全身ツナギ２種類ありました。ジャケットも裾が長く足元まで暖か）

天体観測がどこのツアーよりも一番標高が高いところで出来る。（他のツアー会社が既に下りているので、邪魔な車の光は一切無しです。舗装されているところで見れるので砂埃なども少ない。日によっては風などの影響で下に下りる事もあるようです。）

月齢を調べて行くことを強くお勧めいたします。月齢が合わないのならば、このツアーの為にハワイの旅行日をずらしてもいい位です。
もしこのツアーで行くのならば、ネイチャースクールのホームページで質問を受け付けていたので、自分のハワイ島へ行く日でどの日が一番いいですか？と質問するのが一番手っ取り早いです。

最高でした！！！！

This ride was so much fun! The staff was excellent and made the experience even better. Getting to ride in an area with streams, rivers and taro fields was such a meaningful experience for me. The horses were very well mannered and we are not great riders. I would recommend this adventure to anyone going to the Big Island.

the stargazing afterwards was fantastic
the guides were both fantastic

absolutely perfect!

Today, my favorite Orion constellation rose in the sky over Kawanishi. Every time I see Orion, I remember the Orion from Mauna Kea. That Orion, buried among the stars, was so unique! I had never seen such an Orion before! The moment I tilted my head back to gaze at the night sky, the voices of everyone's excitement echoed around us! It was truly a sight of gold, silver, and sand! Numerous satellites passed through the night sky. The Sirius we observed through the telescope sparkled brilliantly and was incredibly beautiful! The rings of Saturn were astonishingly vertical, which was a surprise! My 76-year-old mother still lights up with joy when she recalls that memory. Everyone who joined us was also very moved, and as the organizer, I feel a bit proud. After all, we were at 4,205 meters. When we arrived at the hotel, our water bottles were crumpled. I recommend the stargazing at Mauna Kea to anyone planning a trip to Hawaii, as well as those who aren't. The ocean in Hawaii is certainly wonderful, but Mauna Kea offered an even greater sense of awe and inspiration. The charming talk from the handsome guide was also very appealing. It's been two weeks since I returned from this trip, where I thought I might be done with Hawaii, and I'm already longing for that starry sky and sunset again.

今日も川西の空に大好きなオリオン座が上ってきました。そのオリオンを見るたびに、マウナケアのオリオンを思い出します。　一目でそれとは分からないくらい、星々に埋もれたあの！オリオンを！！あんなオリオン見たことない！　あの時、首を後ろに倒して夜空を見上げた途端、みんなの感激の声が響き渡りましたね！　まさに金・銀・砂子の☆☆☆！人工衛星がいくつも夜空を通り過ぎて行きました。望遠鏡で見せていただいた、シリウス。燦然とまばゆいばかりに煌いて美しいことこの上もなし！！土星の輪はナント、縦についていて、ビックリ！　76歳の母も一番の思い出と今でも目をきらきらさせて喜んでいます。ご一緒した皆さんもとても感激されて、企画した私はちょっと自慢です。なんたって4205ｍ。ホテルに着いたらペットボトルがへしゃげてました。ハワイ旅行を計画してる人はもちろん、していない人にもマウナケアの星空観測を勧めています。ハワイの海はもちろんとても素敵だけど、それ以上の感激と感動をマウナケアはプレゼントしてくれました。ハンサムな山ちゃんのトークもとても魅力的でした。ハワイももういいかなぁと思って行った今回の旅行から帰ってきて2週間。あの星空と夕陽がまた恋しくなってきました。

What a wonderful tour and an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide. We will never look at the stars in the same way. Don't miss this while on the Big Island, it's an awesome trip!

This is a great tour for families and friends. The staff is awesome, fun and friendly, beautiful view, safe ride.

A+A=A+ ALL THE WAY SUPER GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE WELL KEPT HORSE. FOR THE EXPERIENCED OR BEGENER RIDERS A MUST DO IF YOU RIDE OR WANT TOOOOOOOOOO

We booked this trip because Dan is very interested in astronomy. As we drove up to the summit we began to understand the magnificence of the view. The sunset was unbelievable and the experience unforgettable. When we came down the mountain to do our stargazing I saw the moon through the telescope as I have never seen it before. The detail of the craters was amazing. It was a beautiful evening and night. Thank you.

We were taken care of during our honeymoon trip.

Regarding the Big Island and the stars, our guide "Yamachan" was very knowledgeable, and I learned a lot while having a great time. It's no wonder they named it "Nature School."

Since I participated in late March, I would like to join again to see the summer night sky.

The summit of Mauna Kea is very cold, but the cold weather gear provided on this tour is the best in terms of warmth compared to other tours, and it was really great. I wonder if this is the only place that lends out coveralls?

新婚旅行でお世話になりました。

ハワイ島についても、星についてもガイドの「山ちゃん」は大変物知りで、非常に楽しみながら勉強させてもらいました。さすがは「ネイチャースクール」の名前を付けているだけあります。

3月下旬に参加したので、今度は夏の星空を見にまた参加したいと思います。

マウナケア山頂はとっても寒いですが、ここのツアーの防寒具は周りのツアーと比較しても1番防寒性に優れており、とってもよかったです。つなぎを貸してくれるのはここだけなのかな？？

This was my second time participating in this tour after seven years. Last time I saw the summer constellations, and this time I was able to see the winter constellations. The stars I viewed through the telescope were very beautiful, and since the stars and scenery are different each time, I think I could repeat it many times without getting bored. The guide, Yamachan, was also interesting, and I have been recommending this tour to my friends and family. I definitely want to participate again!

今回このツアーに参加するのは７年ぶりの２回目でした。
前回は夏の星座、今回は冬の星座が見れました。
望遠鏡を通して見た星もとてもきれいで、毎回見れる星や景色も違うので、何度リピートしても飽きないと思います。
ガイドの山ちゃんの話もおもしろく、友人や家族にもこのツアーを勧めています。
是非また参加したいです！！

Breath Taking Experience. Great Guide.

This was a wonderful, amazing tour! The sunset view from the summit of Mauna Kea is incomparable. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. The stargazing was also wonderful. I never saw the stars so clearly before. My tour guide was Buck, who gave us a great astronomy beginner's lesson. He also was very professional, and knowledgeable about other aspects such as the culture, history, and environmental ecology of the island. I highly recommend this trip to everyone. Bring gloves and a knitted cap--you will use them. The tour company will provide parkas. Cookies and hot chocolate before stargazing was a nice touch!

The horseback ride through the Waipio Valley was definitely very scenic. It's a beautiful area. My horse was a little temperamental, preferring to stop and chew on plants by the wayside every few feet. The guides were good with the horses but didn't provide much background or cultural information about the valley and its people. Overall, it's a great way to explore this beautiful, unique valley.

WOW! What a fun evening! We were reluctant to do this activity but it turned out be the most enjoyable of all of our adventures in Hawaii. You would never know you were in Hawaii atop this beautiful snow capped mountain. The sights are unbelievable and the sunset probably the best you will ever see. The staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating. This is a must do activity in Hawaii. You won稚 be disappointed.

The horses are very user friendly. You get to cross numerous streams, see water falls, and ride along jungly trails. The guides were great. They gave a nice riding lesson, took pictures for us, and kept us laughing with their humor. The trip ended with some wild fruit tasting and a scenic drive out of Waipio Valley.

A very good time.

I returned home yesterday, and I'm reminiscing by looking back at my photos. Although I was disappointed that my initial reservation for Mauna Kea on the 5th was canceled, we went ahead on the final day of our stay, the 8th. It was cold! The snow that fell until yesterday created a stunning winter wonderland in this "tropical country." However, while we were able to see the sunset, the cloudy sky made it impossible to see the stars.

Instead, we were able to clearly see the bright red river of lava flowing from Kilauea volcano through the telescope that was set up for us! This was a sight that would be impossible to see during the day and also not something you would encounter while hiking Kilauea, so it was incredibly moving. The staff were also surprised, saying, "I've never seen it this clearly before."

Satisfied with that, we set off on our way back, but suddenly veered off the main road at Highway 19 and stopped. Although it wasn't quite at the summit, we were treated to a breathtaking starry sky that would be impossible to see in Japan, and we received a light-hearted explanation of the Milky Way and constellations. It was my first experience confirming our zodiac signs, Cancer and Gemini, with my partner.

Thank you so much, Minoyan, for the extra direction and guidance!

　昨日帰国しましたが、写真を見返して思い出を反芻しています。
　マウナ･ケア行きは、当初予約の5日がキャンセルで残念でしたが、滞在最終日の8日は決行。寒い！昨日までの降雪で真っ白な「常夏の国の」銀世界は圧巻。ただし落日は観られたものの曇天で星空は無理でした。
　しかしその代わりに、セットしてもらった望遠鏡で、キラウエア火山から流れ出る真っ赤な溶岩の川が鮮明に！！！昼間は絶対に無理な、またキラウエア登山でもお目にかかれない光景だそうで大感動でした。スタッフの方も「こんなに鮮明に見えたのは初めてだ｣と驚いていたほどです。
　それで満足して帰途についたのですが、もう少しで19号線という場所で突然横道にそれて停車。山頂には及ばないらしいものの、日本では到底無理な満天の星空で、天の川や星座の解説を軽妙にしてもらいました。自分と連れ合いの、かに座・双子座の確認は初めての体験です。
　みのやん、エキストラの演出、本当に有難うございました。

Very Interesting. Beautiful area.

Great time with friendly hosts. Would recommend the trip to someone who is new to horses or has not seen the Waipio Valey before.

This tour was very unique, inspiring, breath-taking and accomodating. We highly recommend it to vacationers..especially if you enjoy the ourdoors and something unique. A great place full of awesome history and luscious greenery!

This time, I visited the Big Island for a wedding and honeymoon, and participated in a tour on November 8th.

I joined my husband's family, and the guide, Yamachan, was amazing with his attentiveness, humor, and knowledge about the stars... everything was just perfect! Thank you for an emotional experience that I could never have in Japan.

I will never forget the Milky Way we saw that night!! Next time, I definitely want to go see the summer constellations. When I do, I will be sure to request Yamachan as my guide! Thank you very much.

今回は結婚式、ハネムーンが目的でハワイ島を訪れ、11/8のツアーに参加しました。

夫の家族と参加しましたが、ガイドのやまちゃんの気配り、面白さ、星の詳しさ・・・などなど、最高でした！日本では決して味わえない、感動的な時間をありがとうございます。

あの時見た天の川は忘れません！！今度はぜひ夏の星座を見に行きたいと思います。その際はガイドの指名はもちろんやまちゃんで！ありがとうございました。