All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

It was disappointing that we couldn't reach the summit due to bad weather, but thanks to Tomo and Big Jin, it was a very enjoyable tour. I was deeply moved by their dedication in searching for a place where we could see the sunset and the starry sky. The warm outerwear they lent us was also a high-quality jacket.

To be honest, I wondered why Tomo was so determined to take photos of the night sky, but after seeing the wonderful pictures he captured, I understood that it was indeed worth the effort. Big Jin's explanations of the constellations were also excellent!

It became a very good memory. Thank you!

悪天候のため山頂に行けなかったのは残念でしたが、ともさんとビッグじんさんのお陰でとても楽しいツアーでした。
一生懸命夕日と星空を見える場所を探して連れて行ってくださり、そのお心意気に感激しました。貸して頂いた防寒着もとても暖かくて質の良いジャケットでした。
ともさんの執念の星空写真、正直なところどうしてそこまでと思ったのですが、撮って頂いた素晴らしい写真を見て、なるほど、必死で撮って頂くだけの価値があると納得致しました。
ビッグじんさんの星座解説も秀逸でした！！

とても良い思い出になりました。
ありがとうございました。

This tour was life changing for me! Such an awesome experience to really see the island and have someone guide you through it so you really understand what you're seeing and the history behind it.

Tour guide was Chris who was excellent. He has a real gift for this, and you can tell he is truly passionate and loves what he does. Makes the tour feel more real and less like show and tell or reading from a script. 10/10 highly recommended tour.

Tour provides you with all the comforts you need for the day so you're never hungry, cold, or unsure of where a clean bathroom is. Even had plugs for you to charge your phone although I had a portable charger with me that day which I recommend for any trip.

I participated in this tour on my first visit to the Big Island. They took us by car to a mountain over 4,000 meters high, where we enjoyed the sunset and stargazing. The guide was very hospitable and took a lot of photos for us.

Near the summit, there was even some snow, and I couldn't help but think, "Is this really Hawaii?!" It gets particularly cold at night. They provide rental cold-weather gear, gloves, and hats, but I was glad I brought my own hand warmer. I recommend bringing layers of clothing to ensure you're well-prepared for the cold.

初ハワイ島で、こちらのツアーに参加しました。
4000メートル以上の山に車で連れて行っていただき、サンセットと星空観測を満喫できました。
ガイドさんはホスピタリティ高く、写真もたくさん撮っていただきました。

山頂付近は雪もあり、これがハワイか！？と思うほどの寒さです。夜は特に寒くなります。貸し出し用防寒着、手袋、帽子がありますが、ホッカイロを持参して良かったと思いました。脱ぎ着できる服を持参して、寒さ対策を万全にして参加することをおすすめします。

Our guides made our 12 hours together seem too short and they went above and beyond to make our day the best ever. Both were extremely knowledgeable about virtually any Hawaiian subject. They picked us up precisely on time and we started our day. We were taken to a lava flow surrounded by mountains that went on as far as the eye could see. Just our first stop of seeing mother nature at its finest. We continued on to a park for a gourmet box lunch that was obviously freshly made and to get to know our tour mates better. The views and fresh air were wonderful. The Hawaiian gods of weather were certainly shining down on us. Off again for a tour around the quaint town of Hilo where we enjoyed the statue of King Kamehameha and a stop at a candy shop. We then went on to Rainbow Falls with its beautiful waterfall and scenery. We stopped along the way at steam vents from the volcano. Ladies, if you want a facial, that's the place to go. Volcano National Park was amazing. The Visitor Center had a great museum and showed us the history of the crater. This was just a preview as we would return later for a nighttime view. Leaving the crater we visited the naturally formed lava tube used in the filming of the rolling boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. The ferns at the park were also used as a backdrop for scenes from Jurassic Park. We were treated to dinner at the Kilauea Lodge in Volcano, Hawaii. Fabulous. After dinner we returned to the crater to view the night time glow and star gaze. We were able to get a glimpse of the lava pool where the level varies 100s of feet over a few days' time. Jim talked about the stars and pointed out several constellations. It was definitely a once in a lifetime view. Throughout the entire trip our hosts provided almost continuous commentary on the history, stories, customs, flora and fauna of Hawaii. A total 1st class experience and the highlight of our trip to Hawaii. We would definitely do this tour with them again. Mahalo!

One of the best tours in Hawaii. Our tour guide Adam was very knowledgeable and polite. We did the night viewing of the volcano tour with stargazing. During the entire trip our tour guide shared abundant histories about legends and culture from Hawaii. We stopped for lunch at a very beautiful place near Mauna Loa. Adam(tour guide) baked some delicious cookies for us too :) We covered Rainbow fall, Jagger Museum and the lava tube, out of which viewing the volcano at night was absolutely breath taking.The tour had included dinner at Kilauea Lodge(fine dining) by the volcano national park. Overall our experience with Kailani tours was amazing, we would definitely recommend this tour to all those who visit the Big Island.

The summit was so windy that I couldn't climb it, but they helped me find a spot to see the sunset through the rain clouds, and they didn't give up on showing me the stars either!
I'm really grateful to Macchan!
The journey was so much fun that I couldn't stop laughing!

I truly had a wonderfully satisfying day!
I want to try for a summit revenge next time, so I hope to have your support again then!

山頂は風がすごくて登れなかったけど、雨雲掻き分けてサンセット観れる場所を探してくれたり、星も諦めることなく見せてくれました！！
まっちゃんに感謝！！
道中も笑いが止まらないくらい面白かった！

本当に大満足の1日を過ごせました！
今度は山頂リベンジしたいので、その時はまたよろしくお願いします！

At first, I hesitated to choose this tour because it was a bit expensive, but I made the right decision.

The sunset and the starry sky were incredibly beautiful, and I was able to take photos with my DSLR as well as the guide's camera.

They provided a lot of explanations about the stars, and I ended up falling in love with them.

It's a tour that makes you want to come back to the Big Island of Hawaii.

最初は少し高いのでこのツアーにするか迷いましたが、これに決めて正解でした。

サンセットも星空も最高にキレイに見れたし、しかも自分の一眼レフやガイドさんのカメラでも写真を撮ってくれます。

星の説明もたくさんしてくれて星が好きになりました。

またハワイ島に来たくなる、そんなツアーです。

The sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea and the stargazing nearby were absolutely amazing. During the stargazing, the guide provided explanations about the stars, which were easy to understand. I was able to see stars that I can't see in Japan. Since the elevation is high, I was worried about altitude sickness, but it was good to have lunch at a lower elevation to acclimatize. Even so, I felt a bit uncomfortable after just a little movement. It gets cold at the summit, so make sure to prepare adequately with warm clothing like a sweatshirt.

マウナケア山頂でのサンセットと近くでの星空観測は最高に良かったです。星空観測では、ガイドさんが星の解説をしてくれて、わかりやすかったです。日本では見れない星も見れました。標高が高いので高山病が心配でしたが、中腹で高度順応をかねてお弁当を食べたのが良かったです。それでも少し動いただけで苦しくなりました。山頂は寒いのでトレーナーなどで防寒対策は万全に

The live music and Mai Tai were fantastic. Cute dolphins swam alongside the boat, and the big sun dove into the sea!

ライブの歌とマイタイでノリノリでした。可愛いイルカ達がボートに併走して、デッカイ太陽が海にダイブして行きました。！

The weather had been bad for about ten days leading up to the event, but on the day itself, it was clear and the sunset was incredibly beautiful, almost bringing me to tears. I knew that it was a full moon that day, so I wasn't expecting much from the starry sky, but it didn't quite turn out to be a sky full of stars. However, we were treated to a supermoon, which was very beautiful. On the way back, I even got to see a moonbow (a white rainbow), which is said to bring happiness.

Mauna Kea became my best memory from my trip to Hawaii. Our guide, Matsuzaki, was very enjoyable and provided great explanations, and he was very attentive, which made the experience even more exciting and fun.

前日まで10日間ほどお天気が悪かったそうですが、当日は快晴でサンセットが最高に綺麗で、感動で涙が出そうになりました。
星空は当日が満月だということをわかって参加していたので、期待していなかったのでよかったのですが、降るような星空というわけにはいきませんでした。でも代わりにスーパームーンということで、月が非常に綺麗でした。そして帰路、幸せになるという、月虹(白い虹）まで見ることができました。
マウナケア山がハワイ島へ行って一番の思い出になりました。
ガイドの松崎さん、ナチュラルハイ、とのことでとても楽しく説明していただき、そして豆に動いていただき、一層盛り上がり楽しい時間でした。

My childhood dream has come true. With our knowledgeable guide, Jin, and the wonderful people I met on the tour, I was able to celebrate an unforgettable silver wedding anniversary. Thank you very much.

子どもの頃からの夢が叶いました。知識豊富なガイドのジンさん、そしてツアーで出会った素敵な皆さん。
忘れられない銀婚式を祝うことが出来ました。ありがとうございました。

We feel extremely fortunate to have joined Kailani Tours with our tour guides Kawika and Kevin as our guides. Together they shared a wealth of knowledge and personal charm. They gave us the history, geology and volcanology of the Big Island of Hawaii. Both were engaging, humorous and attentive to our every need. They provided us with lunch and a sumptuous dinner. They shared many sites along the way all detailed with their particular history. The highlight was a spectacular visage of our living Mother Earth in her volcanic glory along with a clear and beautiful view of the stars in the night sky. Breathtaking is an understatement given the epiphany of our smallness in the universe. We thoroughly enjoyed this "not to be missed" experience shared with an intimate group of 14 - giving us more opportunities to learn from our guides. If you find yourself amongst the fortunate to have Kawika or Kevin for your guide, you are truly in for a treat! Can't thank you enough Kailani Tours for a job well done! Mahalo Nui Loa - Suzy and Betty

We did the night time volcano viewing tour with stargazing through Kailani Tours Hawaii. It also included lunch, Rainbow Falls, Lava Tube and Jaggar Museum. This was one the BEST tours that I have EVER been on! It was our driver, Kawika's, first day and Kevin was his "co-pilot". We were VERY fortunate to have the knowledge of 2 excellent tour guides that could bounce things off of each other. They were both VERY personable and friendly. They took special care to make sure we were well fed, had water, jackets, flashlights, hot chocolate and cookies! The lunch was excellent and the dinner was superb! The service at the restaurant was just as good as the service from Kawika and Kevin! We ended up having some extra time due to all the pick up's being in the same vicinity, so we were able to see a couple of little extra things in the Volcano National Park - not normal - so it made the day extra special. Kawika was extremely knowledgeable about the volcanic system and was great at explaining it to us. The volcano viewing at night was the most spectacular thing I have ever had the privilege of seeing on this Earth! The weather was perfect and the view was INCREDIBLE! Kawika and Kevin set up a great telescope to view the stars through and they were also able to take photos of the volcano through it with our phones! I HIGHLY recommend this tour and the tour company! You won't regret it!

This time, the weather and timing were perfect, and I was able to fully enjoy the starry sky for about an hour until sunset and moonrise. The view of the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was breathtaking. The sight of world-class universities and research institutions with their observatories lined up was also impressive. The guide's explanations were interesting and enjoyable, and I got some great photos taken using various techniques, which made for wonderful memories. Next time, I would like to see the summer sky.

今回は、天候もタイミングも良く、日没の時間と月の出までの約1時間で、星空を満喫することができました。マウナケア山頂からの夕日はの眺めは、感動しました。世界トップクラスの大学や、研究機関の天文台が連なって、建っている姿も圧巻でした。ガイドさんの解説は興味深くかつ楽しく、またテクニックを駆使した写真を取ってもらい、良い記念になりました。次回は夏の空を見てみたいと思いました。

The tour led by Kevin was great! He is very knowledgeable and humorous. The lunch spot had a great view of Mauna Loa. The scenery along the drive was like going through many different climates, which was amazing. The Big Islands Macadamia Nut factory was fun as I couldn’t stop eating various samples. It was nice meeting the King Kamehameha statue in Hilo. Dinners and drinks were delicious as we sat by the famous Friendship Fireplace in a historical lodge/restaurant, Kilauea Lodge by the Volcano National Park. The best part of the trip was revisiting the Mauna Loa Crater for live lava during nighttime. It was stunning! I wish I had taken the tour beginning of my vacation so I can decide where to go and explore more later. I strongly recommend this tour during the first few days of your vacation so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation.

It was cold. It was extremely cold. Even though it's Hawaii, it's better to prepare warm clothing without underestimating it. Of course, the tour company also provides warm clothing. The sunset had colors that are beyond words, and the starry sky was on a completely different level. The guide's explanation of the constellations was very easy to understand and enjoyable.

寒かった。めちゃくちゃ寒かったです。ハワイですが 舐めて掛からず防寒着は準備した方が良いです。もちろんツアー会社さんの方でも防寒着は用意してくれています。サンセットの言葉で表現出来ない素晴らしい色合い、そして星空って言っても桁違いの星空です。ガイドさんの星座案内もとてもわかりやすく楽しめました。

We participated as a couple because we wanted to see the Hawaiian honeycreepers in the forest. We left the hotel at 7 AM, and our guide was Gary. The other participants were a group of three elderly American women and one older American man, all enthusiastic birdwatchers.

The tour progressed enjoyably with initial introductions and Gary's knowledgeable and humorous talk. The materials distributed to participants explained well how the Hawaiian honeycreepers have evolved according to their environment.

In the clear, sunny air, we quickly spotted the Nene (Hawaiian goose) at the golf course just outside the hotel, and the Pueo (short-eared owl) running through the grass. Gary's sharp eyes also found the Pacific golden plover and the black-crowned night heron in the distance among the grass.

Around 9:30 AM, we finally had breakfast at the entrance of the Palila Reserve on Mauna Kea, and the bread itself was delicious, exceeding our expectations. We were able to see the yellow Palila and Amakihi well in the dry forest here.

In the afternoon, we moved along Saddle Road to the cloud forest of Mauna Loa. Climbing up the lava path in the forest, the sandwich lunch was also tasty. In this forest, we saw many red Apapane and the bright red Iiwi, which we had been most eager to see. The Elepaio also showed its cute appearance. After the Iiwi appeared, the light rain that had been falling intensified, so we put on our rain gear and descended. We also enjoyed beautiful introduced species like the red-billed leiothrix and the yellow-faced grassquit, returning to the hotel at 5 PM.

Gary, our guide, provided detailed explanations about the birds as well as Hawaii's history and environment, and we were able to see a significant number of the native birds we aimed to see. It was a very enjoyable day.

森でハワイミツスイを見たくて夫婦二人で参加しました。朝7時にホテルを出発、ガイドはゲイリー。他の参加者はアメリカ人老婦人3人グループと年配のアメリカ人男性1名で、皆熱心なバードウォッチャーでした。
初めの自己紹介とゲイリーの専門知識とユーモアを交えたトークで楽しくツアーは進んでいきました。参加者に配布された資料では、ハワイのミツスイ類が環境に応じて進化してきた様子がよく説明されてました。
晴れて澄んだ空気の中、ホテルを出てすぐのゴルフ場でネネ(ハワイガン)、草原を走ってプエオ（コミミズク）が順調に出ました。ゲイリーの鋭い目は、遠くの草の中のムナグロシャコやクロガオシャコも見つけます。
マウナケアのパリラ保護区の入り口で9時半頃にやっと朝食でしたが、パンそのものもおいしく、予想以上の内容でした。ここの乾燥林で黄色のパリラとアマキヒをしっかり見られました。
午後はサドルロードをマウナロアの雲霧林へ移動。森の中、溶岩の歩道を登っていき、森の中でのサンドイッチのランチもおいしかった。
この森では、赤いアパパネ多数と、最も見たかった真っ赤なイイウィも見られました。エレパイオも可愛い姿を見せました。イイウィが出た後、それまで小降りだった雨が激しくなってきたので、雨具を着込んで下山しました。その後もベニスズメやキマユカナリアなどきれいな移入種も楽しみ、午後5時にホテルに戻りました。
ガイドのゲイリーが、鳥はもちろん、ハワイの歴史や環境など詳しく説明してくれ、目的だった固有の鳥をかなり見ることができ、たいへん楽しい一日でした。

The road to the summit was closed... I was really looking forward to it, so it's disappointing. At the time of departure, they said we could cancel and get a refund due to the road closure, but since there was a possibility that the closure might be lifted and I didn't have any other plans, I decided to participate. In the end, the weather wasn't good, and the road remained closed, so I couldn't see the starry sky. However, I did get to see the sunset and a rainbow through a break in the clouds, which was nice. But considering it cost nearly 40,000 yen for two people, I think it might have been better to cancel after all. (^^;

山頂までの道が通行止め。。
楽しみにしていたのに残念でしたー。
出発時、通行止めということでキャンセルも出来るし返金するとのことでしたが
ひょっとして通行止め解除になるかも？で他の予定がなかったのもあり
悩みましたが参加してみました。
結局天気が良くなくて通行止めのままだったし星空も見れなかったけど
雲の切れ目から夕日とそこから虹も見れたのまぁよかったけど
ただ
日本円で２人で４万弱なのでそれ考えるとキャンセルしても良かったな～と（＾＾；

I wanted to see the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea again on our 25th wedding anniversary, which I booked (though it doesn't align with Japan time) since we visited the Big Island for our honeymoon 25 years ago.

We were staying at a B&B, so we were picked up at the entrance of Kona Mountain Coffee near the airport. The large van was fully booked with 13 people. Due to bad weather, the mountain had been closed for four days, and it was finally open again… everything about this trip felt lucky!

Our guide, JIN, who was quite big, kept us entertained with his lively talk in the van (laughs). Around 3:30 PM at the Onizuka Visitor Center, we had an early dinner with bento boxes, warm miso soup, and drinks, and put on our ski pants. We took photos at a beautiful spot with a sea of clouds, and everyone bundled up in their ski jackets as we headed to the summit.

The sea of clouds changes every day, so the way the sunset reflects varies, allowing us to see different sunsets each day. The clouds looked like snow! Without any wind, we felt truly lucky. As the sun gradually set, the surroundings turned orange… it was moving. I might have extended my life (laughs).

Once the sun set, we moved down in the van because the headlamps would interfere with the observation. We waited until it got darker, and warm drinks and cookies were distributed. The star explanations were given by another tour guide, Ishikawa.

Looking up at the sky made my neck a bit sore, but the starry sky was so overwhelming it felt like they were falling. JIN took many photos with his hobbyist telescope camera, being considerate since it was our silver wedding anniversary (the photos can be downloaded later with a password). The photos that can't be captured on a smartphone will become one of our precious memories.

We were dropped off at the meeting point around 9 PM, and since we were a bit hungry, we stopped by Subway to take out sandwiches on our way back to the accommodation.

Thank you, JIN! The next day, for our final dinner, we made a reservation at a restaurant you recommended where we could see the sunset! Please continue to help many people create wonderful memories!

25年前の新婚旅行で訪れたハワイ島でもう一度マウナケア山頂からの夕陽が見たくて25回目の結婚記念日（日本時間とはずれますが）に予約をしました
私たちはB&Bに宿泊していたので、飛行場近くのコナマウンテンコーヒー入口でピックアップしていただきました
大きなバンに13名満席でした
4日間悪天候の為山がクローズしていて、久しぶりのオープンとのこと…今回の旅行は何だか全てラッキー！
大きな大きな（身体がbig）ガイドのJINさんはバンの中でも軽快トークで飽きさせません（笑）
オニヅカビジターセンターで15:30頃早夕食のお弁当と温かい味噌汁、飲み物をとり、スキーウェアのパンツを履きます。雲海が綺麗なスポットで写真を撮り、スキーウェアの上着を着て全員モコモコギュウギュウ詰めで山頂へ
雲海は毎日出方が違うので、雲海の出方によって夕陽の映り方も違い、日々違う夕陽が見れるそうです
雲海がまるで雪のよう！風もなく本当にラッキー
だんだん陽が沈み、辺りがオレンジ色に…感動です
寿命が延びたかも（笑）
陽が沈むとヘッドライトが観測の妨げになるとかで、バンで下の方へ移動します。そこでもっと暗くなるまで待ちます。暖かい飲み物とクッキーが配られました
星の説明はもう1組のツアーガイドの石川さんが
空を見上げて少し首が痛くなりましたが、降ってくるかと思うくらいの星空でした
JINさんが趣味という望遠カメラでたくさんの写真を撮ってくれました。銀婚式ということで気を遣ってたくさん撮ってくれました（写真は後日パスワードを受け取りダウンロードできます）
スマホでは撮れないような写真はまた大切な思い出のひとつになります
集合場所に送り届けてもらったのが9時頃、さすがに小腹がすいたので、宿に戻る途中、サブウェイでサンドイッチをテイクアウトして帰りました

JINさん、ありがとうございました！
翌日最終日の夕食は教えていただいた夕陽が見れるレストランに予約をして行ってきました！
これからもたくさんの人達の素敵な思い出作り、頑張って下さい！

First of all, this is a fantastic trip. When we first booked the trip, we saw the 4.9 out of five rating and doubted. When we came back from the trip, all doubts were erased!

Our guide Kevin is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. We were picked up at our hotel at 12:05 noon. The lunch was served in the Mauna Lao Rest Area at 1pm. The quality of the lunch is totally out of expectations. Kevin told us they were picked up from a famous deli at 11:30 AM. No wonder it’s so good and fresh!

The Rainbow Fall in Hilo is the first highlight. We saw the rainbow as soon as we got there. It’s exactly the same as shown in the advertisement picture. Absolutely beautiful! Kevin specifically warned us not to climb on the rocks in the upper river because many people died falling into the pond under the waterfalls. We saw about 10 people on the rock that day. Two days later I saw a news that a young couple were seeing struggling in the upper River and disappeared. The lady was later found dead at the bottom of the waterfall and the guy was still missing. Very good advice from Kevin!

The highlight of all highlights is of course the view of the live volcano. The tour company’s arrangement it’s very smart. They let us view the volcano crater at sunset for about 30 minutes. Then, we were transported to a very nice restaurant nearby to enjoy a five course formal dinner. Again it is so good that it is totally out of expectation.

We were back to the volcano after dinner when it is dark and very few people there. We can see the lava glow very clearly. When Kevin set up his high quality binoculars on a stand, we can even see the lava splashed out of the crater like fireworks!

Overall, it worths all 5 stars. I would recommend this trip to anyone!

On the day I participated, I was lucky enough to see a beautiful sunset and starry sky! The summit of Mauna Kea was unimaginably cold, but I was able to manage thanks to the warm clothing they provided. Additionally, they took photos at each point, and there was a service to download them for free from a dedicated site, allowing us to get pictures with the starry sky in the background that we couldn't have taken ourselves! Depending on the weather on the day of participation, it seems that you might not be able to reach the summit or see the stars well, so I really feel lucky. If I could wish for something, I would be happier if the quality of the bento was a bit higher.

私が参加した日は運よくサンセットも星空もとってもきれいに見れました！マウナケアの山頂は想像を絶する寒さでしたが、防寒着を貸し出していただけたので我慢できました。また、ポイントごとに写真も撮っていただけて、無料で専用サイトからダウンロードできるサービスもあり、自分たちで撮影することのできない星空をバックにした写真なども撮っていただけました！参加日の天候によっては、山頂まで登れなかったり星空があまり見えなかったりするようなので、本当にラッキーだったなと思います。欲を言えば、お弁当のクオリティーがもう少し高いと嬉しいです。

Kailani tours on the big Island of Hawaii was wonderful! Our tour guide Kevin, was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and understanding and he took us to so many beautiful destinations on the island. The timing of the tour was perfect we had a beautiful lunch with an amazing view and the weather was great then he took us to see a beautiful waterfall at rainbow Falls and I actually saw a rainbow! We saw so many wonderful things on this tour. They took us out to a wonderful delicious dinner and after dinner we got to see the amazing volcano the red glow was magnificent. One of my favorite parts of the tour was when our tour guide Kevin offered to take an amazing photo that he captured in the dark from my cell phone. He was able to capture us and the red glow from the volcano behind us. True photographer status and that was just a bonus!! From what I recognized throughout the day on the tour is that there were a lot of other tour buses out there as well but I noticed that those tour guides were rushing their customers in and out of the van not giving them very much time to actually explore and learn about Hawaii. This is one thing that made Kailani tours and our tour guide Kevin stand out to me! Our tour guides patience with the group was excellent and he allowed us to really explore the land. The whole day I learned so many amazing things about Hawaii. Kailani tours made our Hawaii trip perfect. And I will cherish these memories forever. I highly recommend taking a Kailani tours if you’re ever on the big Island. I give them 5++ stars!! Thank you Kailani Tours of Hawaii.

I was hoping for a starry sky, but there were clouds, and even at an altitude of 3,000 meters, I realized it was difficult to see perfectly. It was my second time, and I was disappointed.

満天の星空を期待しましたが、雲があり3000メートールの高さでも、完璧にはなかなか見ることができないことを痛感しました。二度目だったのですが、残念〜

I participated in this tour on November 17, 2017, expecting a sky full of stars. Unfortunately, due to strong winds, we couldn't go to the observation deck at the summit of Mauna Kea, but our guides (Ishikawa and Matsuzaki) set up another viewing point on Mauna Kea, and we were able to enjoy a very satisfying stargazing experience. They set up a telescope so we could see Saturn and shared fun stories about the stars under the real night sky. The real Milky Way is truly moving. We also had the opportunity to take photos with the starry sky as a backdrop, which became a wonderful keepsake.

Once it was confirmed that we couldn't go to the observation deck, they efficiently moved us to another sunset point, and we were able to take photos at a great timing. Despite the many challenges posed by nature, I truly appreciate the sincere efforts of the guides to make our experience enjoyable. It was a truly wonderful experience. If I ever have the chance again, I would love to see that starry sky once more.

☆2017/11/17参加
今回は満天の星空を期待し、こちらのツアーに参加させて頂きました。残念ながら強風の為マウナケア山頂の展望台に行くことが出来ませんでしたが、ガイドのお二人が(イシカワさん、マツザキさん)マウナケアの別のポイントをセッティングして下さり、大満足の星空観測を堪能する事が出来ました。土星がみられるように天体望遠鏡をセットし、皆に見せて下さったり、本物の星空の下にて楽しい星のお話をして頂きました。本物のミルキーウェイは本当に感動的です。また、星空をバックに写真撮影もして頂きました。とても良い記念になりました。
展望台に登れない事が確定した時点で、手際よく別のサンセットポイントへ移動され、とても良いタイミングで写真撮影もしていただきました。
自然に左右される事も多い中、少しでも我々を楽しませようとして下さる、ガイドの方の誠意ある対応に、本当に感謝しております。
本当に素晴らしい体験でした。もしもいつか機会があれば、またあの星空を見たいなあと思ってしまいます。

We had a fantastic time with our Kailani tour of the Big Island that we booked through Veltra. I’ll go through each category of the trip one by one and leave my detailed thoughts:

GUIDE
Our guide, Kevin, was a former U.S. Navy electrical engineer and was quite knowledgeable about the island. He spoke on the microphone throughout the trip, always providing new and interesting information, but never repeating himself or sounding boring. I got the sense that he wasn’t just trying to fill space, but rather that he genuinely had lots of things to share about the island. I also appreciated how he had studied some Hawaiian and was able to translate a number of names and titles to us in English and explain the cultural and linguistic origins.

ITINERARY
I was stoked to get to see Volcanoes National Park because it was on my bucket list and it was beautiful. The guide provided night-time binoculars so we could see the magma spitting out of the volcano crater at night—truly spectacular. Plus, the itinerary was designed so that you avoid the large crowds at the volcano, making stops before and after it erupts. Hilo was nice but quick, so I’d say if you really want to explore the town of Hilo you should go on your own. This one makes a brief stop in Hilo but really just uses it as a jumping off point to explore the volcano.

FOOD
The lunch was pretty simple but fresh – sandwiches with turkey, hummus, and avocado in various varieties. The dinner is quite special though as the lodge is quite intimate, very cozy and offers great food.

TRANSPORT
The transport is a Mercedes 12 seater van with a co-pilot seat, then three rows of three and one row of four. Even if you get a middle seat it’s not bad, because the windows are essentially panoramic on the bus and they are extremely clean. The black leather interior was very comfortable and not one on our ride got carsick.

Overall I highly recommend this tour!

It was my first time watching a proper hula dance show, and the performance was wonderful and very enjoyable. Before the show, I was entertained by the performance of a whole roasted pig for the buffet, and Kamehameha the Great made an appearance on a raft, along with traditional games to enjoy.

However, I believe the plan included photography, but they asked for $20, so I ended up not purchasing it. I was also disappointed that the lei was not made of flowers.

きちんとしたフラダンスショーを見るのは初めてでしたが、踊りも素晴らしくてとても良かったです。ショーの前にはバイキングに出る豚の丸焼きのパフォーマンスや、カメハメハ大王がいかだに乗って登場したり、伝統的な遊びをしたりと楽しめました。
ただ、プランの中に写真撮影も含まれていたはずですが、お金を要求されて20ドルもしたので結局買いませんでした。レイも花ではなくて残念でした。

Trip was great captain Jon was funny/informative. Chelsea and Rachael were both awesome would definitely book again and look forward to seeing them all soon

Since retiring at 65, my dream has been to fulfill my childhood longing for space by visiting Mauna Kea.

I spent two years planning under the conditions of a new moon during the off-season, thoroughly researching direct flight tours to the Big Island, and spent two weeks online looking into Mauna Kea tours before choosing Masashi's tour.

After witnessing the splendid sunset with the Subaru Telescope proudly glowing red, I was able to see the starry sky a little further down. However, clouds started to appear after a while, which was a bit concerning, but as Mr. Otaka suggested, waiting paid off as the skies cleared beautifully.

Everyone says it’s like a planetarium, and I thought it couldn’t be that great, but it truly felt like a planetarium.

Additionally, the Leonids meteor shower coincided with our visit, providing the best conditions with occasional shooting stars and the Milky Way.

From the moment I got into the welcoming car, Mr. Otaka's high-energy tour began. I bombarded him with various questions during the ride, and he provided precise answers that were far superior to what I found in books or online, which greatly benefited my travels in the following days.

Thank you very much.

65歳でリタイアしてからの夢は、
少年のころからの宇宙への憧れを、
マウナケアに行って満たすことでした。

2年かけて新月でシーズンオフの条件で計画し、
ハワイ島直行便ツアーを調べつくし、
2週間ネットでマウナケアツアーを調べつくして、
マサシさんのツアーを選びました。

スバル天文台が誇らしげに赤く輝く極上の夕陽を見た後、
少し下った所で星空が見えました。
が、暫くして雲が出て来てやや危なかったですが、
大高さんの言う通りに待つときれいに晴れてきました。

皆さんまるでプラネタリウムと言うけれど、
そこまでは無いでしょうと思ってましたが、
本当にプラネタリウム見たいでした。

さらにしし座流星群も重なり、
時折の流れ星と天の川最高の条件でした。

迎えの車に乗った時から大高さんのハイなツアーが始まり、
車中で様々な質問を浴びせましたが、
本やネットとは別格の的確な答えをいただき
翌日以降の旅にとっても良かったです。

ありがとうございました。

My wife and I were celebrating our Honeymoon in Hawaii and were lucky enough to have a full day of entertainment with this tour! The Big Island can require a lot of driving time to get to see the numerous sights it has to offer. The tour we booked provided us with an experience I know we would not have gotten on our own. I cannot speak anymore highly of our awesome Tour Guide Jim Carey (I know and yes he has the same name). He made the whole experience that much more memorable by his genuine appreciation for Hawaiian culture. He was extremely knowledgeable about EVERYTHING which made the tour in depth and interactive. His added commentary was great while visiting the waterfalls and volcano. The day flew by and we were continuously more and more impressed with everything the tour offered. The provided lunch and dinner were both delicious. Every part of the day flowed very well and it was capped off by our last stop back at the volcano to stargaze. We were able to set up the telescope and see the lava erupting in the volcano! I definitely would recommend this tour to anyone and everyone and I can't thank our tour guide enough. Jim made the whole experience 10 times better! Thanks Jim!

After a self-guided drive and tour of the Haleakala volcano in Maui, I decided to let a professional do the drive from Kona to the Kilauea National Park. After reading many of the TRIP ADVISOR reviews (97% excellent), I felt confident this was the tour for my wife and I. It did not disappoint! I hate bus tours because it seems you spend half your day loading and unloading the 50+ passenger buses. Our 11 person tour allowed us to spend much longer times at each wonderful stop with no pressure. Our guide, Kevin Hasting, just said “Come back when you have seen enough.” Fantastic! In addition, Kevin had an encyclopedic knowledge of Hawaiian culture, lifestyle, history, geography, ecology, you name it. He was also an excellent storyteller between stops which made this tour a unique and personal adventure. Lastly, Kevin was so proficient at navigating the Eastern Coast, Hilo area and park that he was somehow able to adjust his routes and timing to avoid the many rain squalls and downpours common to this area. I cannot say enough about how great this tour is. Don’t drive yourself, you will miss so much. One piece of advice. Take some warm clothes with you as it gets cold at night at the high elevations. I carried a light windbreaker jacket, a hoodie, a knit cap and a pair of pullover slacks to put on at night. I ended up giving my hoodie to a fellow passenger to wear who was shivering. The tour does provide emergency blankets and jackets.