All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

We enjoyed the dinner cruise. The food was good, the entertainment enjoyable, and nice fellow travelers to visit with - all made for a nice evening. Cruising down the coast was a good was to see more of the island especially the Captain Cook monument. The only negative - the weather and unfortunately, no one has control over that.

I participated at the end of June 2017.
The sunset was very beautiful.
It was cold at the summit.
They lent me warm clothing, but since I'm sensitive to the cold, I brought extra layers to wear underneath.
The sun sets quickly, so it's better to use the restroom early.
The starry sky was visible three days after the new moon.
During a full moon, the light is so strong that the stars are hard to see.
The guide was cheerful and kept the atmosphere lively, so I didn't get bored during the drive.
They also took a lot of photos and provided them for free later on.

２０１７年６月末に参加しました。
夕日がとてもきれいでした。
山頂は寒かったです。
防寒具を貸してくれましたが、寒がりなので他に中に着るものを持参して着てました。
沈むときはあっという間に沈むのでトイレは早めに済ませたほうが良さそうです。
星空は新月の３日後でしたがよく見えました。
満月ですと光が強くて星がよく見えないようです。
ガイドの方が明るくて盛り上げてくれるので移動の車内でも飽きませんでした。
写真もたくさん撮ってくれて後日無料で提供してくれます。

At first, it was a bit scary, but I gradually got used to it and it was really refreshing. The Japanese staff were also very pleasant. I plan to come back to Hawaii Island next year, so I intend to use your services again. Thank you!

最初は少し怖かったですが、だんだん慣れてすごく爽快でした。日本人スタッフの方も感じ良かったです。来年もまたハワイ島来る予定ですので再度利用さてていただくつもりです。
ありがとうございました！

I couldn't go to the summit because it was closed, but from just above the Onizuka Center, I was able to see a sky full of stars. They explained the winter Milky Way and various stars, making it a very enjoyable tour.

山頂にはクローズで行けなかったですが、オニヅカセンターのちょっと上から、満天の星空を見ることが出来ました。
冬の天の川とか色々な星の説明をしてくれて、大変楽しいツアーでした。

Hands down the best tour on the Big Island. Brett was our tour guide and he was fantastic. Informative, funny, friendly, professional, he went above and beyond to make the experience amazing. Seeing the volcano at night is something everyone must do, but having a tour makes it much more enjoyable. This tour included seeing rainbow falls, Big Island Candy Co, lunch, and several spots at the Volcano National Park and a very nice dinner. 100% worth it.

Most participants are elderly individuals who cannot engage in snorkeling or other marine sports. At the deepest point, we dive down to about 30 meters to see sunken ships and other sights on the seabed. There is also a Japanese audio guide available, so I don't think there will be any issues. If you request a pickup, you will arrive about an hour before the meeting time, and there will be an additional 45 minutes after the return. I think it would be efficient to enjoy some tea nearby or take a stroll around Kailua-Kona during this time. The hotel we stayed at only had high-end souvenir shops, and since we weren't planning to stop by Honolulu, it was great to be able to buy souvenirs all at once at the ABC Store inside the King Kamehameha Hotel.

参加者は、シュノーケルやその他のマリンスポーツができない御高齢の方がほとんどです。いちばん深いところでは、海底30メートルくらいまで潜ります。海底に沈んだ船なども見ることができます。日本語のイヤホンガイドもあり、困ることはほとんどないと思われます。送迎をお願いした場合、集合時間の一時間前くらいに着き、帰りもさらに45分ほど時間があります。この時間に、近くでお茶を飲んだりカイルア・コナの散策もしてしまうと効率が良いと思います。私たちが泊まったホテルには高級なお土産屋さんしかなく、ホノルルにも立ち寄る予定がなかったので、キングスカメカメハホテルの中のABCストアでまとめてお土産を購入でき、良かったです。

Our tour was AMAZING!! Our tour driver was Nathan or Nate. He was awsome!!
They pick you up at your hotel, which is super convenient! The tour group can fit up to 12 people. So it is nice and small. Our group was super fun and Nate was very informative and talked to us about everything and anything he could! The van is nice and clean and not to mention Eco friendly! It rained alittle, and they had raincoats for everyone just in case.They provide bento lunch for everyone. We actually had 2 vegans in our group and Nate was very caring and took them to a nearby grocery store, so they could pick up a few things to eat since they could not eat much from the bento. Nate not only took us to the places mentioned, but he also drove by a few other places he thought our group would like! He was AMAZING!! This tour was so much fun, the sights were beautiful and very informative!

The guide explained at the meeting point, "We cannot go to the summit due to snow. You can cancel if you wish," but I decided to join as it was also a tour around the island. While observing several whale spouts at a viewing point, we received word that we could go to the summit, so our plans changed suddenly. I never expected to see and step on snow in Hawaii at the summit, where remnants of yesterday's snowfall remained! It was such a strange experience! We watched the sunset from the snowy summit and then descended, stopping for stargazing along the way. Unfortunately, there were clouds, but we managed to find some clear skies. From sea level to the summit at 4,205 meters, where the oxygen level is half that of the plains, the temperature dropped from 30 degrees to -2 degrees. It was a tour that offered a rare experience! The guide's dedicated support and enjoyable commentary made the tour even more fun.

ガイドさんから集合時に「積雪で山頂には行けません。キャンセル可能です」の説明がありましたが、島内ツアーを兼ねて参加しました。クジラが見れるポイントで数匹の潮吹きを観察していたら「山頂に行ける」との連絡があり急遽予定変更。昨日の雪が残る山頂でまさかハワイで雪を見て踏みしめるとは！何か不思議な経験です！雪の残る山頂からサンセットを見て下山し途中星空観測、生憎の雲でしたが晴れ間を見つけて出来ました。海抜0mから酸素が平地の半分になる4,205mの山頂、気温は30度からー2度、めったに体験できないツアーでした！ガイドさんの献身的なサポートと楽しい案内がツアーをより楽しくしてくれました。

It's been years since I've felt this moved. Our guide, M, carefully taught us about local gourmet food, traffic rules, and manners. The next day, we had a long drive to Hilo, so it was very helpful. M was fun to talk to and very considerate, making the bus ride relaxing. We had lunch at the Onizuka Center, and although I had no expectations, it was unexpectedly delicious (laughs). I had eaten a hearty lunch beforehand, so I wasn't hungry, which was a bit disappointing.

Then, it was time for the hike. I was so sleepy—just incredibly tired. M tried to keep us awake with conversation, but I was still drowsy. Somehow, we made it to the summit. "Is this Earth? Is this Hawaii?" I couldn't find the words. M became a guide because she participated in this tour. She said, "My life changed." While watching the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds with my wife, I cried. Somehow, the worries I had seemed small and insignificant when I saw that sunset. (Though once I return to Japan, I'll probably be back to worrying about little things again.)

After that, we moved down to stargaze. At first, there weren't many stars, and I thought, "Well, this is it." But gradually, more stars appeared, and before I knew it, I was looking at a sky sprinkled with stars, and I cried again. The sunset was amazing, but the starry sky was also heart-stirring. M carefully explained the constellations using a laser pointer. Along the way, the warm tea and biscuits were delicious too. Finally, after we got off the bus, M dashed back to deliver my forgotten sunglasses. I was moved that she took the time to check for lost items. I can't express how much I was touched. The other participants were also very well-mannered, making it a very comfortable experience. Next time, I want to go to Mauna Kea with Masashi.

こんなに、感動したのは何年ぶりだろう。ｶﾞｲﾄﾞの方（Mちゃん）は、地元のｸﾞﾙﾒや交通ﾙｰﾙ、ﾏﾅｰ等を丁寧に教えてくれた。翌日、ﾋﾛまでﾛﾝｸﾞﾄﾞﾗｲﾌﾞだったので参考になった。話が楽しく、思いやりのある方でﾊﾞｽの中もﾘﾗｯｸできた。ｵﾆｽﾞｶｾﾝﾀｰでお弁当を食べたが、全く期待していなかったが、予想外（笑い）に美味しかった。ﾗﾝﾁをしっかり食べてきて、おなかがすいてなかったので残念でした。
そして、いざ、登山。『眠い』とにかく眠い。Mちゃんがいろいろ眠気さましに、お話しするが眠い。
なんとか、山頂につきました。『ここ、地球？』『ここﾊﾜｲ？』言葉にならないです。Mちゃんがｶﾞｲﾄﾞさんに転職したのは、このﾂｱｰに参加したから。『人生かわりました』とのこと。雲海に沈みゆく夕陽を家内と見ながら、泣いてました。なんか、悩んでることなんか、このサンセットおみると、小さく、どうでもよいことののうに思えてきました。（日本に帰りしばらくするとまた、小さいことに悩む日々ですが）そのあと、下に移動して星空観賞。最初は、あまり星がなく、『まあ、こんなもんか』と思っていたら、徐々に星がでてきて、気が付けば、お星さまを振りまいた空を見、また涙。ｻﾝｾｯﾄも最高だったけど、星空も心揺さぶる。ﾚｰｻﾞｰﾎﾟｲﾝﾀｰを使いながら、丁寧に星座の説明をしてくれる。途中で暖かい紅茶とﾋﾞｽｹｯﾄも美味しかった。最後に、ﾊﾞｽを降た後、Mちゃんが猛ダッシュ、で『ｻﾝｸﾞﾗｽ！』と忘れ物と届けてくれた。ちゃんと忘れ物の確認してることに、ここでも感動。どれだけ、感動したんだろう。他の参加者の方も、ﾏﾅｰが良く、とても快適でした。今度は、ﾏｻｼでﾏｳﾅｹｱに行きたいですね。

This was a wonderful end very enlightening and historical luau.
This show was beautiful and colorful!
We appreciate the wonderful choices of foods and the special choice for my husband's vegetarian meal.
The locale was extra good next to the temple,ocean and the historical exhibits in the hotel.

The Body Glove Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise was an enjoyable experience. The guide was very knowledgable, and the captain was great.
And they give you free reef friendly sunscreen!

however, you don't really feel that you're 'in nature' if that's what you're looking for - it's a very large very fancy cruise ship - just be aware if you're looking for a more intimate experience!

Unfortunately, the summit was closed due to snow, so we had to give up on the sunset. However, we descended a bit and found a spot without clouds, where we were able to see the most amazing starry sky. This was all thanks to our fantastic guide. He helped us find the location and provided detailed explanations about the Orion constellation, the Andromeda Nebula, and various other constellations using a telescope. I owe a big thanks to JIN OTAKA from your group’s nature school and his great partner. Thank you!

I accidentally forgot to give a tip, so I called your company and arranged to leave it at the hotel front desk for Jin to pick up later, which relieved me. It would have been too regrettable not to do so after such a fun guiding experience. I highly recommend everyone to take advantage of this service!

残念だったのは山頂が雪でクローズでしたので夕日は断念。
すこし下山して雲がない場所を探していただき最高な星空を観ることができました。これには最高のガイドさんおかげでした。場所を探し望遠鏡でオリオン星座、アンドロメダ星雲いろいろな星座の説明など詳しく解説をしてもらいました。貴社グループのマサシのネイチャースクールのJIN　OTAKAさんと友達の名コンビのおかげでした。ありがとう！
うっかりしてチップを渡し忘れてしまったので御社に電話をしてホテルの
フロントに預けて仁さんにあとで取りに来てもらうようにしてホッとしました。そうしなくては申し訳ないぐらい楽しいガイドぶりでした。
皆さんも是非利用されるといいですよー。

Personally, this was my third time at the summit of Mauna Kea, after visiting 20 years ago and 8 years ago. The experience was similar, including hotel pickup and a break at the Onizuka Visitor Center. However, this time, the guide, Big JIN, was entertaining, making the sunset and stargazing enjoyable. Although it was said to feel like -20 degrees, the rental cold-weather gear provided was perfect. Additionally, there was a unique service for this tour where they later shared photos taken against the backdrop of the sunset at the summit and stunning starry sky photos that are difficult for travelers to capture online. If you're in Hawaii, the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

個人的には20年前、8年前、そして今回の3度目のマウナケア山頂でした。
ホテルピックアップから途中のオニズカ・ビジターセンターの休憩など内容は一緒でした。ただ今回は日本人（ビッグJINさん）のガイドが面白くて楽しくサンセット・星空観察が出来ました。体感温度ー20度と言われましたがレンタルしてくれる防寒着も完ぺきでした。また多分このツアー独自のサービスでしょうが山頂の夕日バックの写真や旅行者では撮りにくい満天の星空写真を後日ネットで配信するなどのサービスがついていました。
ハワイ島なら絶対外せないマウナケア山頂サンセット＆星空観測。おススメです。

Due to the wind speed, I couldn't reach the summit, but I really enjoyed the sunset and the clear view of the stars that the guide showed us. I participated alone, but the guide was very considerate, and the other participants were also very kind, which made it enjoyable until the end! Thank you very much! I now have the goal of reaching the summit next time.

風速の関係で山頂に登ることはできませんでしたが、サンセットや、星がしっかり見える位置を案内してくれたのでとても楽しめました^ ^そして、1人で参加しましたが、ガイドさんも気にかけてくれたり、参加されてるお客様もとても優しく、最後まで楽しめました！
ありがとうございました^ ^
次は山頂に行くという目標までもできました。

Ultimately, we couldn't reach the summit of the mountain and had to stop at the Onizuka Center. Like others have shared in their experiences, I understand that it's a natural occurrence, but the $15 refund is simply too inadequate. If it had been a bit more, it would have eased my feelings. Additionally, my elderly mother was exhausted from being in the car for such a long time.

If the refund policy doesn't change or if there are no suggestions for leaving midway, I cannot recommend this to others.

There were other tour participants who mentioned they had to make a second attempt after not being able to go up the day before, and they felt like they wasted two days.

The only enjoyable part was listening to Mr. Jin, who guided the tour, share his knowledge in the car. He was very knowledgeable and spoke in detail about flowers, history, and volcanoes.

Aside from that, to be honest, nothing about this experience is worth the price. I just want to inform those who will participate in the future that not being able to go up is a disaster!

結果的に山の山頂まではいけず、オニズカセンターで
ストップとなりました。
他の方の体験談同様、自然のことなので仕方のないことだとは
思いますが15ドルという返金内容はあまりにもお粗末すぎます。
もう少し多ければ気持ちも軽減されたと思いますが、
長い間車に乗車して高齢の母を疲れさせてしまいました。

このまま返金内容が変わらないようだったり、途中離脱の
提案もないようですと他の方にはオススメできません。

他のツアー参加者には前日のぼれなくて再アタックだった方も
いたようで2日間を棒に振ったと仰っていました。

ツアーを案内してくださった仁さんのお話を車の中で聞けた
ことだけはとても楽しかったです。
とても博識な方で花や歴史、火山について詳しくお話してください
ました。

それ以外はハッキリいって何も値段と見合っていません。
これから参加される方にものぼれないと悲惨！
ということだけお知らせしておきます。。。

What a wonderful tour to drive to the summit higher than Mount Fuji and observe the sunset and starry sky! Experienced staff will take you close to the summit of Mauna Kea while helping you acclimatize to the altitude to avoid altitude sickness. You can also see the Subaru Telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Hawaii up close, enjoying the sunset and taking photos in the clear air.

To avoid any issues with astronomical observation, you will descend from the summit within 30 minutes of sunset and stop at a suitable location for stargazing and photography of constellations. The low light pollution allows you to see many stars. This is undoubtedly a unique tour that I highly recommend for the Big Island.

There are regular restroom breaks on the way to the summit, and there are portable toilets at the summit. While some may have reservations about using portable toilets, a little patience is necessary. On the day I went, there was no wind and it wasn't too cold, but at an altitude of over 4200 meters, your body can get cold after a long stay, so I recommend bringing a compact down jacket and a hat.

Since only 200 people can reach the summit in a day, it's a good idea to make your tour reservation early.

富士山より高い山頂へ車で行き夕日と星空観測、なんとステキなツアーでしょう♪
慣れたスタッフが高山病にならないよう高度に順応させながらお客様をマウナケアの山頂近くへ連れて行ってくれます。
そして日本の誇る国立天文台ハワイ観測所すばる望遠鏡も間近に望み、澄んだ空気の中を沈んでゆく太陽を眺め写真撮影。
天文観測の障害とならないよう日没から30分以内に山頂を降り途中の星空観測に適した場所で星座の観測と写真撮影をしてくれます。
チリが少ない環境はとても多くの星を見ることが出来ます。
ハワイ島ならではのツアーであることは間違いなく是非お勧めします。

山頂に行くまでもこまめにトイレタイムが設けられ、山頂には簡易トイレが設置されています。簡易トイレは抵抗のある人もいるかと思いますが、そこはちょっと我慢も必要です。
行った日は風も無くそれほどの冷え込みでは無いとのことでしたが、やはり高度4200ｍ超えると長時間の滞在は体が冷えてきますので、自分でもコンパクトにしまえるダウンや帽子等用意される事をお勧めします。

1日に200人までしか登頂できないとのこと、早めのツアー予約も心掛けると良いかと思います。

From the amazing sunset to seeing lava jumping in the caldera to the unexpected rainbow at sunset, all of the scenery was beautiful. Our tour guide, Brett, was outstanding. He had fantastic knowledge of the island, answered everyone's questions, and was really funny/entertaining. His stories of Hawaiian folklore while driving between stops were great. Overall, the day was great! I would definitely recommend booking this tour.

Whales can be seen with a probability of over 90%. Even better was the view of Hawaii Island from the boat. It was beautiful, magnificent, and absolutely the best. The boat was well-equipped with meals, drinks, and restrooms, providing everything you could need.

クジラはほぼ90％以上の確率で見れるそうです。それ以上に良かったのは船からのハワイ島の眺め。綺麗で雄大で最高でした。船の設備も食事飲み物トイレ付きと至れりつくせり。

The sunset and starry sky were amazing. The guides were also polite, and I had a great time. If you go to the Big Island, you should definitely see the starry sky. I was impressed by the number of stars, which was beyond my imagination.

サンセットも星空も最高でした。ガイドの方々も丁寧で楽しい時間を過ごせました。星空は、ハワイ島に行ったら見た方が良いです。想像以上の星の量に感動です。

We had an experience beyond description. After watching the whale sufficiently, when the sailor turned on the music for a small party, the captain shouted for me to look for the noon direction and I saw a wonderful scene. Music was playing on the boat, a group of dolphins came from two o'clock, and a humpback whale made a wonderful vertical jump on the horizon. At that moment my friend and I felt we were in a dream. It was a fascinating and beautiful experience.

My first whale watch was a total success. It was a beautiful day. The staff was more than helpful and friendly. The information from the naturalist was engaging and helpful. We were fortunate enough to see spouts of water, breeching and a few beautiful tails. I would definitely do this again.

I was constantly moved by the beautiful sea of clouds, the sunset, and the starry sky. The explanation about the starry sky was also very enjoyable, and the cold didn't bother me at all. I'm really glad I participated.

とっても綺麗な雲海に夕日と星空に感動しっぱなし。星空説明もとても楽しく、寒さなんてへっちゃらです。参加してほんとよかった。

Due to the significant changes in altitude and climate experienced within just a few hours, participation is not recommended for those with health concerns. Even if you are healthy, be sure to listen carefully to the guide's instructions and adhere to the precautions. Doing so will ensure a wonderful experience. (^_-)-☆

数時間の間にかなりの標高差と気候の違いを体験するので、健康面で不安のある方の参加はお勧め出来ません。
健康であっても、ガイドさんの話をよく聞いて、注意事項は厳守しましょう。
そうすれば、素晴らしい体験ができますよ。(^_-)-☆

My daughter, who was previously too young due to age restrictions, was finally able to participate, and we joined the tour together. On the west coast of the Big Island, you can see a wonderful sunset from anywhere, so I thought we might not need to climb the mountain, but the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was indeed exceptional.

I was worried about car sickness since I heard there are unpaved parts on the road to the summit, but instead of car sickness, I ended up suffering from altitude sickness due to the lack of oxygen. However, our guide quickly provided oxygen from a tank, and we were able to enjoy the sunset and the starry sky without any issues. I was really glad to have joined a tour with a guide.

At the snow-covered summit of Mauna Kea, I was concerned about the cold, but the rental cold-weather gear from Masashi Nature School was as warm as the reviews said. For those who are sensitive to the cold, I recommend bringing something to cover your face, head, and ears, as well as heat-tech innerwear for warmth.

It was great to have explanations during the stargazing as well. Last time I visited, I did not join the summit tour and only did stargazing from the mountainside, but when it comes to viewing the stars, I saw about the same or even more this time (the stargazing after the summit tour had quite a bit of interference from headlights of cars coming down from the summit). So, if the focus is on stargazing, it might not be necessary to have the sunset from the summit, but experiencing a sunset at such a height, higher than Mount Fuji, is something you can't easily find elsewhere.

前回は年齢制限に引っかかっていた娘も参加できる年齢になり、親子で参加しました。ハワイ島西海岸ではどこからでも素晴らしい夕日がみられるので、山の上に登らなくても…と思いましたが、マウナケア山頂からの日の入りはやはり格別でした。
山頂までの道は舗装されていない部分もあるという事で車酔いを心配していましたが、車酔いよりも酸素が少ないために起きる高山病にかかってしまいました。しかし、ガイドさんがすぐに酸素ボンベで酸素補給をしてくださり、事なきを得て日の入り、星空を見ることができました。やはりガイドさんのいるツアーに参加してよかったと思いました。
雪の積もるマウナケア山頂、寒さを心配していましたがマサシネーチャーズスクールの貸出用防寒具は口コミ通り暖かかったので、寒がりな方は防寒具で隠せない顔・頭・耳をカバーするものやヒートテックインナーで防寒対策をしておけばよいと思います。
星空ウォッチングも解説していただいて見られたのがよかったです。
前回来た時には山頂ツアーではなく、山の中腹でのスターゲイジングでしたが、星空を見るという事でしたら同じくらいかそれ以上見えた（山頂ツアー後の星空ウォッチングは山頂から降りてくる車が多いのでヘッドライトに邪魔される時間が結構あるため）ので、星空…という事にフォーカスするのであれば山頂日の入りである必要はないのかもしれませんが、富士山以上の高さでの日の入りを見る体験は他ではなかなかできないと思います。

Our family really enjoyed this trip. The crew was informative, friendly and fun. The trip up the coast was beautiful and the music on the boat was quite nice.

I had been looking forward to going to the Big Island of Hawaii for so long, but the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was not special; it was just beautifully ordinary, really ordinary...

Maybe it's because the sunsets on the Big Island are beautiful no matter where you watch them from...

Perhaps I've experienced too many sunrises and sunsets during my travels, both abroad and domestically...

On the tour's website, it mentioned, "Using a reflecting telescope and a laser pointer, the guide will explain the constellations and stars," and I was really looking forward to seeing the stars and the moon through the reflecting telescope. However, there was no telescope set up at the location for viewing the constellations, and there was no explanation that there wouldn't be a reflecting telescope this time, which was quite disappointing.

In the car, I was seated in a three-person row with an unfamiliar elderly man and his adult daughter. The elderly man took up quite a bit of space, so I was in a half-sitting position the whole time... I didn't say anything to the elderly man about not moving in, so the driver wasn't at fault, but I thought it would be tough if someone with a larger build sat in the same row.

念願のハワイ島に行く前から凄い凄い期待し過ぎてしまっていたので、実際に観たマウナケア山頂からの夕陽はスペシャルでは無く、普通に綺麗だった、本当に普通に…

ハワイ島はどこから夕陽を観ても綺麗過ぎだからでしょうか…

沢山の海外旅行、国内旅行で朝日・夕陽を体験し過ぎてしまったのかもしれない…

ツアーのHPに「反射望遠鏡とレーザーペンを使ってガイドが星座と星の説明」とあり、「反射望遠鏡」で観る星や月を超楽しみにしていたのに星座を観る場所には反射望遠鏡の準備もされていなくて、今回は反射望遠鏡が無いと言う説明もなくて、Wでガックリ度が増しました(涙)
＿|￣|○

車の中では3人席で知らないお爺さんと成人した娘と私。お爺さんは1人でかなり座席を所有するので私はずっと半ケツ状態でした…
特に奥に詰めないお爺さんに注意もしなかったので担当のドライバーさんには責任はありませんが、かなり体格の良い方が同じ列の席に座ると大変だと思いました。

I participated in this tour as a solo traveler. At first, I considered driving to Mauna Kea by rental car, but since it was my first time on the Big Island, I felt a bit anxious and decided to join the tour instead. The adjustments for altitude, the provision of warm drinks and meals, the rental of cold-weather gear (thick clothing and gloves), and the stargazing were all things I couldn't have done alone, so I truly made wonderful memories by participating. I recommend that those who are sensitive to the cold bring their own cold-weather gear. I tend to get hot, but the down jacket and long-sleeve T-shirt I brought just in case were very helpful. The summit of Mauna Kea is colder than I imagined (laughs)! Thank you, Tomo, for your assistance. Thank you very much.

ひとり旅で参加させていただきました。最初はレンタカーでマウナケアへ行くことを考えておりましたが、初めてのハワイ島に不安もあったので、ツアーに参加することを決めました。気圧の調整や温かい飲み物・食事の提供、防寒着(上下の分厚いウエア＋手袋)の貸し出しや天体観測、一人ではできないことばかりでしたので、参加して本当にいい思い出作りができました。寒がりさんはご自分で防寒着を持参することをお勧めします。私は暑がりですが、念のため持って行ったダウンジャケットとロングTシャツが役に立ちました。マウナケアの頂上は想像以上に寒いです(笑)！　tomoさん、お世話になりました。ありがとうございました。

This tour cannot proceed to the summit if the weather turns bad, and you won't be able to see the stars. In other words, you'll end up spending time that has no meaning. In that case, the refund is $15. While nature can be unpredictable, this tour is quite risky. Moreover, it seems that the weather often gets rough during the year-end and New Year period.

Also, when there is moonlight, the stars are not very visible. When I participated, it was just after sunset, around the first quarter moon, which created poor conditions for stargazing. If you expect a sky full of stars, it's best to check whether the moon is out just after sunset.

There are a total of seven companies offering the Mauna Kea summit tour, five of which are Japanese companies, and the remaining two are American companies, so most of the tourists at the summit are either Japanese or from English-speaking countries. Due to the thin air, you may feel quite dizzy, but since most of the journey to the summit is by car, even those who are not confident in their physical strength can participate. Note that the summit can drop below freezing. While there is a rental service for cold-weather gear, you will need to prepare your own as well. Hand warmers may not get very warm due to the thin air.

Children under 12 are not recommended to participate due to the potential risk of accidents caused by oxygen deprivation. However, locals were seen enjoying sledding and skiing with quite small children...

このツアーは天気が悪くなると、山頂まで行くことができません。星空も見えません。つまり、何の意味もない時間を過ごすことになります。その場合の返金は１５ドル。自然はままならないものとはいえ、なかなかリスキーなツアーです。しかも毎年、年末年始は天候が荒れることが多いそうです。

また、月明かりがあると星があまりきれいに見えません。
私が参加したときは上弦の月をこえたあたり、つまり日没直後ちょうど南中する、星空観望には悪条件でした。満天の星空を期待するなら、日没直後に月が出ているか、調べておいたほうがいいでしょう。

マウナケア山頂ツアーは合計７社が催行しておりそのうち５社が日本の会社、残り２社はアメリカの会社ということで、山頂は日本人か英語圏の観光客がほとんど。酸素が薄いため、かなりふらつきますが、山頂まではほぼ車中なので、体力に自信のない人でも参加可能です。なお山頂は、氷点下になります。防寒着の貸出はありますが、自前でも防寒着を用意する必要があります。カイロも酸素が薄いため、あまり熱くなりません。

１２歳以下の子どもは、万が一にでも酸欠による事故が起きた時、障害が残る可能性があるため推奨されないそうです。ローカルは結構小さな子どもを連れて、ソリやスキーを楽しんでいましたが……。

It was more breathtaking than I had imagined! The bento was okay too! Next time, I definitely want to go see the sunrise. Nature is amazing!

想像してた以上に絶景でした✨お弁当もまぁまぁでしたし！次回は是非とも朝陽を見に行きたいです(^｡^)
自然はすごい❗️

This trip was solely for the purpose of this tour, and I was moved to be able to see the sunset and the starry sky! Thank you, Matsuzaki, for driving so hard despite the challenges of working with nature; I had a great time! I think it was lucky that we were able to reach the summit. It might be better to apply with that understanding during this season. Even just the drive along the expansive mountainside and the starry sky are worth participating for!

今回はこのツアーだけが目的の旅行でしたので、夕陽と星空を見る事が出来て感動しました！自然が相手のお仕事で大変なのに、一生懸命車を走らせていただきました松崎さん、ありがとうございました楽しかったです！
山頂へ行けたのはluckyだったのだと思います。この時期はそれを理解した上で申し込んだ方が良いかな？広陵とした山腹のドライブ、そして星空だけでも、参加する価値は有ります！