All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

It was a great days long adventures around the island. I would highly recommend it!

I was a bit worried about going to an elevation higher than Mount Fuji without any prior experience in mountain climbing, but thanks to the wonderful support of our articulate guide, we were able to reach the summit safely. We drove almost all the way to the top and enjoyed the sunset. The stargazing afterward was easy to understand, and having hot cocoa under the starry sky was the best.

山登りなど国内でも経験がないまま富士山より高い標高に行くというのは少し心配していましたが、お話上手なガイドさんの素晴らしいサポートのおかげで、無事に山頂まで辿り着けました。徒歩はほぼなく車で山頂まで登り、サンセット。そのあとの星空観測もわかりやすく、星空の下でのホットココアが最高でした。

We had such a great time! The crew was so nice. We had a great snorkel day, saw lots of fish. The water activities were a great bonus. The slide and platform were fun too! We went as a couple but great for families/children also. Had pastries and yogurt for breakfast, burgers for lunch, and cash bar open the entire time. I do wish for the price at least 1 drink could be included, but it was still a great time. We even saw some dolphins following our boat shortly before docking at the end

We had an amazing experience and time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was deeply knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The tour started on time and went out perfect. They provided mitts and coats which kept us warm along with hot chocolate. It was a great evening with no clouds. The views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!

This was on my bucket list. My guide was very informative. He took pictures, individual and group pictures of us during sunset and during the stargazing event. Be prepared to bounce around on the dirt road to the summit. Totally enjoyed the hot cocoa and BLT sandwich that was provided.

The tour was very well organized and very well planned. I felt I saw so much and learned a lot about the culture and history of the island. Jim was full of interesting information and made the trip memorable Fun group.

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds from 4200m is exceptional. You can truly feel the Earth. Observing Jupiter's Galilean moons for the first time was also moving. The guide's explanations and support were wonderful, making it a highly satisfying tour.

4200mからの雲海に沈むサンセットは格別です。地球を感じます。木星のガリレオ衛星の観測も初めて、感動しました。ガイドさんも説明や対応も素晴らしく、満足度の高いツアーです。

I searched for a tour to experience the great nature of the Big Island for the first time and participated in the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour. At first, I didn't have high expectations for climbing the mountain to see the sunset and the stars. I also read reviews mentioning that the explanations were only in English, making it difficult for those without strong English skills to understand. Additionally, although I don't have high blood pressure, I was concerned about climbing over 4,000 meters at the age of 67.

In conclusion, it was an amazing experience. While I did feel a bit breathless at the summit, it wasn't an issue if I walked slowly. The detailed explanations of the summit's viewpoint, the breathtaking sunset as it gradually darkened, and even I, with barely passing vision for my driver's license renewal, could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The detailed explanations of the constellations were also impressive. I hadn't seen the Milky Way in about 50 years, and it was truly moving.

This experience was made even more special thanks to the attentive service from the staff at Masashi Nature. Our guide was a Japanese person named SHOYO. His extensive knowledge, excellent explanations, and thoughtful attention created a very comfortable environment.

There were about 12 people on the tour, and my wife and I were the only Japanese participants. The explanations on the bus were in English, but they were not difficult to understand. Additionally, when we got off the bus, they provided a summary of the key points in Japanese. Outside the bus, the explanations were given in a mix of English and Japanese, making them very clear and detailed.

The photos of the sunset and the one with my wife under the Milky Way are wonderful treasures of memories. If I plan another tour in Hawaii, I will choose a Masashi Nature tour where I won't struggle with the language.

Lastly, thank you, SHOYO. I appreciate it.

初めてのハワイ島で大自然を感じることができるツアーを探し、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加しました。
最初は、山に登って夕焼けを見る、星空を見ることにそれほどの期待を持っていませんでした。また、口コミには英語だけでの説明で英語力がないとよくわからないとの感想もありました。さらに、私は高血圧ではないのですが、67歳の高齢で4000m以上の山登りはいかがかとも思っていました。
結論は、とても素晴らしい経験をすることができました。確かに山頂では少し息苦しい感覚はありましたが、ゆっくり歩けば気になることはありません。さらに、山頂の世界の展望台の詳細な説明、徐々に暮れてくる感動的な夕焼け。そして、運転免許更新に必要な視力ギリギリの私でも肉眼で見える天の川。また、星座の詳細な説明。天の川を見たのは50年前くらいで、感動的でした。
この感動もマサシネイチャーのスタッフの丁寧な対応があったからです。私らの担当は、日本人のSHOYOさんでした。彼の博学な知識と説明のうまさ、細かな気配りがとても居心地のいい環境を作ってくれました。
12人ほどのツアーでした。日本人は私と妻の2名だけでした。バス内の説明は英語でしたが、それほどわかりにくい英語ではありませんでした。また、バスから降りた際にバス内の説明のポイントだけを日本語で説明してくれました。また、バスの外では、英語と日本語と交えて説明をしていただき、とても分かりやすくかつ詳細なものでした。
夕焼けの写真、天の川の下の妻との写真も思い出としてとても素晴らしい宝物をいただけました。
次回、ハワイでツアーを計画するのであれば、日本語に苦労しないマサシネイチャーのツアーを選択すると思います。
最後にSHOYOさん、ありがとう。感謝しています。

I participated thinking it would be my last chance since the age limit for the tour is 70. The guide was very kind and explained everything in detail, and the photos they took were fantastic. I'm 70, and I want to participate again next year!

ツアー参加可能の年齢が70歳までということで、最後のチャンスと思い参加しました。ガイドさんもとても親切で丁寧に説明してくれて、撮影してくれた写真も最高でした。70歳、来年も参加したい！

The tour guide ( Dexter) from Polynesian Adventure Tour picked us up from the hotel on time. Very knowledgeable and very informative . He knows all the places and history of the Big Islands (Hilo). Patiently waiting for us to finish the tour. We really had a great time. We will use the Polynesian Adventure Group again.

At first, I was worried about the weather because the mountain in front was hidden by clouds, but Mauna Kea was clear above the clouds, and it was a beautiful day! I enjoyed the best sunset and a lovely starry sky!

Our guide was an American named Tat, who occasionally spoke Japanese. It seemed he was working with another guide from the same tour company, who was also American but spoke Japanese fluently.

They prepared two telescopes for us, allowing us to observe Jupiter and Saturn. Then, they took a picture of the Milky Way and shared the photos with us via AirDrop. It was a wonderful experience with a great team!

初めは手前の山が雲に隠れていたので天気を心配していましたが、マウナケアは雲の上で晴れていました、快晴でした！最高のサンセットと、素敵な星空を堪能できました！
タットさんというアメリカの方がガイドさんでしたが、日本語も時折り話してくれます。同じツアー会社の方と一緒にツアーをされているようで、そちらのガイドさんはアメリカの方ですが日本語バリバリでした。
２人で望遠鏡を２つ用意してくれて、木星と土星をそれぞれ観賞できました。それから天の川の写真を撮ってくれてエアドロップで写真をいただきました。とても良いコンビで素敵なツアーを体験しました！

I participated alone as the only Japanese person, and there were no other Japanese participants that day. It was a tour with two vans, and my guide in my van only spoke English. However, the guide in the other van was fluent in Japanese, so they kindly took the time to explain the stars to me one-on-one, paying attention to the details, which was very thoughtful. The guide's talk in the van was in English, but they clearly explained the efforts of the local Hawaiians to preserve Hawaiian culture and the importance of conveying such information to tourists. I was grateful to hear valuable stories from a local person. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

日本人一人での参加で、他の参加者にも日本人はいない日でしたが、バン二台でのツアーで、私の車のガイドさんは英語しか話せなかったのですが、もう一つの車のガイドさんが日本語ペラペラだからと、わざわざそちらの方がマンツーマンで星の説明をしてくださり、細かいことも気にかけてくださり、とても親切でした。車内でのガイドさんの話も、英語でしたが、地元のハワイアンの人々がハワイアン文化を守るためにしていることや、そういった内容も観光客に伝える必要性もわかりやすく話してくれて、貴重な現地の方のお話が聞けてありがたかったです。素晴らしい体験をありがとうございました。

The perfect experience for first time visiting Kona! Loved the Coffee farm, black sand beach, and stargazing the most on this full-day excursion!

On the day I participated, a Japanese guide was in charge. While driving, he provided explanations in both English and Japanese. There were eight participants, half of whom were Japanese. At the summit, we were able to see a beautiful sunset. It was almost windless, so it wasn't too cold, but according to the guide, it had been very cold the day before due to strong winds, so it seems to vary by day. The stargazing was limited because it was close to a full moon, resulting in fewer stars. However, everyone, including the guide, was surprised by a fireball that suddenly appeared. It was an experience that happens once in a lifetime. It was a great tour.

私の参加した日は、日本人のガイドさんが担当してくれた。運転しながら、英語、日本語、交互の説明、参加者８名、内、半分が日本人だった。山頂では美しい日の入りを見ることができた。ほぼ無風だったのでそれほど寒くはなかったがガイドさん曰く前日は風が強く大変寒かったそうで、日によってまちまちのようだ。星空観測は満月に近いこともあって、星の数は少なかった。しかし突然現れた火球にガイドさん含めて皆ビックリ。一生に一度あるか否かの経験をした。良いツアーだった。

The entire experience start to finish was amazing. Wes was our guide and driver and took the time to explain what to expect and educate all of us on the island and the history of Hawai’i! I would recommend this tour to anybody who would like to enjoy the beautiful Mauna Kea! Wes also took the time to take photos of us at sunset and stargazing!

This tour was the highlight of my families trip. The tour was amazing and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. He was happy to answer all of my children's questions.

The meeting at the supermarket parking lot, the sunset at the summit of Onitsuka Center, and the stargazing upon returning to the foothills all went smoothly. Warm clothing was provided, so the cold was not an issue. Thank you for the explanations about the mountains and history in the car. The only concern I had was that the guide looked very sleepy during the drive back. Please make sure to rest well during the day to avoid any accidents. Thank you very much.

スーパーマーケットの駐車場の待ち合わせから山麓のOnitsuka center　頂上での夕焼け、山麓に帰っての天体観測、帰還と全てスムースに進みました。防寒服も用意され寒さも問題ありませんでした。車の中での山や歴史の説明もありがとうございました。帰りの運転でガイドさんがとても眠そうだったのが唯一気になった点です。事故なきよう昼間十分に休まれるようにしてください。ありがとうございました。

The food was ok. The entertainment was ok. I’ve been to a luau before and this time was just ok. It wasn’t worth the price.

The day of the tour was just one day before the full moon, and with 98% moonlight, it was too bright to see a perfect starry sky (I should have checked the lunar calendar in advance...). However, the sea of clouds below was breathtaking, and the sunset from the summit at an elevation of 4,207 meters was truly beautiful and very moving.

Our tour guide, Stephan, was very friendly and, despite being a tall foreigner, he grew up in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. He was very kind, took many photos for us, and even sent us some amazing starry sky pictures he had taken in the past via AirDrop. The vegetarian sandwich was also very delicious, and the cocoa he made for us at the summit was incredibly tasty and warming. Thank you for a wonderful experience and memories.

ツアー当日は満月の一日前で、月明かり98%ということで満点の星空を見るには明るすぎたのですが、(事前にちゃんと月齢カレンダーを確認すべきでした、、)雲を下に見る雲海は絶景で、標高4207mの山頂からのサンセットは本当に綺麗で、とても感動しました。
ツアーガイドのステファンさんはとても気さくで見た目は背の高い外人さんですが、バリバリの日本育ちとのことで、日本語ペラペラで、とても親切で写真もたくさん撮ってくれて、過去に撮影した素晴らしい星空の写真もAirDropで送ってくださいました。
ベジタリアンサンドイッチもとても美味しく、山頂で入れてくれたココアはとっても美味しくてあたたまりました。素敵な体験と思い出をありがとうございました。

Really enjoyed the dinner, we were nervous but it was soooo delicious!!

MUST DO!

This was a great tour - really educational and fun. Be prepared for rain, you are in the rainforest and it rains a lot. Our guide came prepared with umbrellas and rain jackets, flashlights for the lava tube, water and snacks.
Andre, our tour guide was amazing, experienced and incredibly knowlegable of the volcanoes, land, plants and trees, Hawaiian culture, plus more, and the history of all mentioned. He made sure we were always entertained during the approx. 8 hour trip.
Would recommend shorts, closed toed shoes (sneakers fine) suntan lotion, somewhat water repellant light jacket (in case your tour does not provide).

Japanese tourists have returned to Hawaii. However, due to the pandemic, there are hardly any Japanese guides left, making the tours quite boring for those who struggle with English. On tours that showcase the rich nature, Pocketalk usually doesn't work, and we find ourselves tuning out the rapid-fire English explanations. Please rehire Japanese guides soon! We are only reluctantly signing up for English guides!

ハワイにも、日本人が戻ってきましたね。でも、日系のガイドさんはコロナ禍でほとんど居なくなってしまい、英語が苦手な日本人にはつまらないツアーばかりになりました。
豊かな自然が売りのツアーでは、たいていポケトークは機能せず、マシンガンの様な英語のガイドをしらけながら聞き流しています。
早く日系ガイドを再雇用してあげてください！
英語のガイドは、仕方なく申し込んでいるだけですよ！

It was very cool. Every one was very kind and accommodating. Guide was informative and pilot was very good. We saw a couple sharks and tons of other fish. Kids loved it! (12 and 10) Mahalo!

You hit it all and you do not need to drive and miss views along the way!

Staff was terrific at all levels; dock staff, wait staff, bar tenders, historian, musician, & Captain. Everyone was upbeat, personable, courteous, professional, and entertaining.
Food was excellent and the drinks were generous. The captain was very personable and entertaining. Mother-nature provided us with a pod of pilot whales to observe, while keeping a safe distance. Historian was fabulous, giving everyone a much better appreciation and respect for the Hawaiian culture. The music got everyone rocking and rolling with the motion of the boat. A great selection of songs that had the passengers engaged in song.
Can't say much more. We loved it, would do it again, and would highly recommend it to everyone. It was a 3 hour tour that was well worth it.

During our previous visit to the Big Island, my son was too young to join the Mauna Kea summit tour. Now that he is an adult, his dream came true, and we participated together with my husband. Although it was cold at the summit, they lent us down jackets, so it was no problem. With no wind and being the second day after the new moon, both the sunset and the starry sky were magnificent. It felt like we were on another planet. Our guide was half Japanese and had attended school in Japan until elementary school, so he was fluent in Japanese. He was very polite and kind, and he made the starry sky explanation enjoyable with a touch of humor. It was a wonderful experience.

以前にハワイ島を訪れたとき、息子はまだ小さかったので参加できなかったマウナケア山頂ツアー。そんな息子も成人となり、夢がかない主人と3人で参加しました。山頂は寒いもののダウンを貸していただいたので問題なし。風もなく新月から2日目ということもあり、夕日も星空も素晴らしかったです。地球以外の惑星にいるような気分でした。ガイドさんは日本人とのハーフの方で、小学校まで日本の学校に通っていたとのこと、日本語はご達者でした。そして、とても丁寧＆親切に対応していらっしゃり、星空解説もユーモアを取り入れながら楽しく聞かせていただきました。素晴らしい体験でした。

I couldn't book the same tour I wanted, so I chose this one with an English guide as a second option. My elementary school daughter also enjoyed it without much issue. For stargazing, I always book two sessions during the trip considering weather conditions, and since I had a Japanese explanation the day before, we were able to enjoy the stars. However, compared to a full-fledged stargazing tour, this part felt more like a bonus, with less explanation and no use of a telescope. There were new discoveries as well, as the places I visited for the first time and the Kīlauea crater had changed significantly due to the eruptions.

行きたかった同じようなツアーの予約が取れず、次善の策として英語ガイドでしたが選びました。小学生の娘もさほど問題なく楽しめました。星空観察は天候の問題などを考慮して旅行中いつも2回予約するのですが、前日に一度日本語の解説をしてもらっていたので、星空も楽しめました。ただ、本格的な星空観察ツアーに比べるとその部分は「おまけ」みたいな感じで説明も少なく、天体望遠鏡を使用することもありませんでした。初めて訪れた場所や、キラウエアの火口も噴火により依然とだいぶ変わっていたり、新しい発見がありました。

Incredible tour but our Tour guide, Anson really brought the island and the tour to life. Honestly enjoyed the tour to the max but we would pay to just hang out with Anson again. Lol. I'm sure all the guides are great and extremely courteous.

All the jokes we made he would rebuttal and be involved all while still maintaining his poise and professionalism. It's the little things guys and this tour has it all. Thank you From the bottom of our hearts.

We had a lot of fun on the tour Ridge was amazing and gave us a lot of good local history and knowledge. If he didn't know the answer to a question he found it out for us. We'd highly recommend this tour to anybody looking for a great day on the island.

Good tour! Aaron was our guide and he did a perfect job! I only wish the volcano was erupting so we could see more activity. The meals were good, the views were good and we learned a lot.