All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

The guide was outstanding. He is a geologist with a lot of experience. He provide
a lot of information on the volcano as well as information about the the big island in general. He helped us take pictures as well as provided answers to questions we asked. This was a great tour.

The trip took too long time for nothing, visiting some stores which mean wasting time & money! also you can't see that much Lava in the morning!!! only the smoke! The guide was too knowledge but talking a lot which cause me headache! Since the tour started till finished he was talking no relaxing! after we finish the park he took us to the mall for 45 min!! It's totally wasting time, I prefer to go by car alone and see a lot of sight rather than this tour!!

We enjoyed the Island Breeze Luau. We were seated with a great group of people and enjoyed talking with them.. The show was very well done. The fire dancer at the end was especially good. The food was very good and had a lot of choices on the buffet.

It was a great snorkeling experience. They did a great job all around. Seeing Dolphins is a guarantee. They hang out just off the coast on the way to and from the snorkeling location. The food they served was great and included (breakfast/lunch). They provide some drinks for free with the food. Any smoothies or alcoholic drinks you must pay for and there is a bar on the boat for that. They provide rash gaurds, towels, fins, snorkels, various floatation devices (noodles, boards, etc...). I did start feeling a little sea sick and missed out the last 15 min of water time before we headed back. So I would recommend taking some Dramamine if you get motion sickness.

The weather on the day was wonderful, and I had a truly amazing experience. I was deeply moved by the sunset sinking into a sea of clouds and the starry sky resembling a planetarium, with the Milky Way that words cannot express. Experiencing the great nature of the Big Island of Hawaii created a beautiful memory for me.

当日は天気にも恵まれてとても素敵な体験ができました。
見渡す限りの雲海に沈む太陽やプラネタリウムのような星空と天の川には言葉では表現できない位の感動を覚えました。
ハワイ島の大自然を体験できてとても素敵な思い出になりました。

This is an absolutely terrific tour and worth every penny. Our family has visited the Big Island many times but we learned so much from our energetic and knowledgable tour guide, Kevin. Absolutely adored the gorgeous candy facility stop on the way to the volcano. This store is beautiful and we ended up purchasing client gifts which were efficiently ordered and shipped back to the mainland. The dinner stop at the Kilauea Lodge was amazing. I ordered a Cosmopolitan cocktail which was presented just as chic and lovely as any found in a Five Star hotel bar. Good meal enjoyed in a cozy spot among new friends. Back to the night lava viewing at the volcano which was utterly amazing. The warm coats and flashlights provided by Veltra made the experience even more enjoyable.
Last but not least I must give kudlos to Kevin, our tour guide. This man has truly done his homework and is passionate about educating his guests about the gorgeous Island of Hawaii. Thank you, Kevin for making each and every one of us feel important.

GREAT TOUR!

The tour was great. They picked us up from the hotel on time, and then we headed to the summit of Mauna Kea. The break time at the Onizuka Center was just right, and we were able to spend more time at the summit than I expected, allowing us to see a beautiful sunset. My two daughters, who were with us, seemed to have no issues with altitude sickness, but my wife and I experienced slight dizziness and drowsiness after walking a bit. However, it wasn't a major problem at all.

The stargazing along the way wasn't as impressive since the moon was out, so I wouldn't say it was "the first time I've ever seen this!!", but the guide from another group (Mac-chan) provided excellent explanations, and we were able to see various constellations. Additionally, they took photos of us with the starry sky in the background using my camera, which made for a wonderful keepsake.

So far, everything was good. After the tour, I requested the download link for the photos taken by the guide, as indicated on the business card I received, but I haven't received any response at all. I've sent multiple messages, even changing the sending address, but still no reply. As a result, I can't download the photos we took, nor can I even view them.

This is quite disappointing.

ツアーは良かったです。定刻どおりホテルに迎えに来ていただいて、その後、マウナケア山頂に向かいました。オニズカセンターでの休憩時間も丁度よく、また、山頂での時間も思ったよりたくさん確保できて、きれいな夕陽を見ることができました。気になっていた高山病は、同行した娘二人は何の問題もなかったようですが、私や妻は少し歩いたりすると軽くめまいがしたり眠気が出たりしました。が、全然大きな問題ではなかったです。途中の星空観察は、月が出ていたので正直なところ「生まれて初めて見た！！」と言うほどではなかったですが、他グループのガイド（マッちゃん）の解説が素晴らしく、いろいろな星座を見ることができました。また、自分が持参したカメラで星空バックで撮影もしてくれて、大変良い記念になりました。
で、ですよ。ここまでは良いのです。
ツアーが終わった後、名刺をもらって書いてあるとおりガイドさんにとってもらった写真のダウンロード用PSWの連絡をお願いしたのですが、全然レスがありません。発信元のアドレスを変えたりして何度何度も送ったのですが、それでもレス無しなのです。ですので、とってもらった写真はダウンロードできないどころか、見ることもできません。
これはちょっと頂けないなあ。

Amidst the uncertain weather forecast, the clouds miraculously cleared, allowing us to enjoy a beautiful starry sky! The sunset was also incredibly beautiful. I felt like I was purified by the unique Sun Power of the Big Island.

微妙な天気の予想の中、奇跡的に雲が晴れ、綺麗な星空を堪能できました！サンセットも抜群の綺麗さ。ハワイ島独特のSun Powerを浴び、浄められたかな。

The sunset was wonderful. The guide's service spirit was also excellent, and I was able to take many lovely memory photos.

とにかくサンセットが良かった。ガイドさんのサービス精神も素晴らしく、素敵な思い出写真もたくさん撮ってもらうことができました。

It's the last one~
This time, I only went to Hawaii Island, but I was able to relax a lot.
I participated in a submarine tour, and it was a really great experience!

さいごです〜
今回、Hawaii island だけだったんですが、とても ゆっくり 出来ました。
潜水艦のツアーに参加してとても良い経験させていただきましたよ！

It was the best experience I've ever had under the starry sky. The Milky Way spread out right in front of me, and it felt like I was in a planetarium. It turned out to be a great summer vacation.

今まで見た星空で最高の体験が出来ました。天の川が目の前に広がり、まるでプラネタリウムにいるようでした。良い夏休みになりました。

Great time , interesting island history, great crew

We participated as a couple for the first time on the Big Island. The tour guide was experienced and seemed very familiar with the route, having guided every day. As we approached the summit, the thinning air caused some dizziness and headaches. They provided great support for that, and we were able to see very beautiful scenery and a starry sky, which made us very satisfied!

ハワイ島初めての夫婦で参加しました。ツアーガイドの方はさすが毎日ガイドしているだけあって、慣れた様子でした。山頂に近づくにつれて、空気が薄くなることによりめまいや頭痛がすることがあります。そちらのフォローもしっかりして頂き、とてもキレイな景色と星空を見ることが出来てとても満足です！

Last year, the weather was bad, and I had to give up on going to Mauna Kea. This year, I decided to try again. Thanks to waiting a year, the weather this time was perfect. The bento and miso soup at Mauna Kea were much appreciated. I was thrilled to see the endangered silversword plant. The scene with the Subaru telescope and the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea is something I will never forget. I realized I had dropped my camera at the summit while stargazing at the mid-level. When I consulted with the guide, Mr. Matsuzaki, he immediately discussed it with the security team, obtained permission to return to the summit, and went back after the stargazing to help me look for it. During that time, he turned off the car lights to be considerate of the observatories at the summit and drove in the faint light of the crescent moon. When he found my camera, I was moved to tears. I will never forget the song "Ryusei" by Kobukuro that was playing in the car at that moment. I also want to thank everyone in the tour for kindly accompanying me to the summit. I apologize for returning to the hotel late because of this. Lastly, Mr. Matsuzaki, thank you very much.

昨年は天気が悪く、オニヅカでクローズとのことで断念しました。今年こそと再チャレンジしました。1年間待ったおかげで、今回の天気は最高でした。オニヅカでの幕の内弁当と味噌汁はありがたかったです。絶滅危惧種のシルバー・スォードを見ることができ感激でした。マウナケアの山頂ではスバル望遠鏡と夕日のシーンは一生忘れることができません。中腹での星空観測の際にカメラを山頂に落としたことに気づきました。ガイドのMatsuzakiさんに相談すると、すぐに警備の方と協議していただき、山頂に戻る許可をとり、天体観測後に山頂に探しに戻ってくれました。その際、山頂の天文台群に配慮して車のライトを消し、三日月の僅かな光の中を運転され、その上、カメラを見つけてくれた際は、涙がでました。その時、車内で流れていたコブクロの「流星」は一生忘れないでしょう。参加したツアーの皆様方も快く山頂までつきあっていただき感謝しております。このため、ホテルへの帰りが遅くなってしまい申し訳ありませんでした。最後になりますが、Matsuzakiさん、本当にありがとうございました。

I was deeply moved by the experience of being able to drive to a higher point than Mount Fuji and the breathtaking views at the summit. I was also very satisfied with the tour conductor's explanations and attentiveness.

車で富士山より高いところに行ける感動と頂上での景観に大感動でした。また、ツアーコンダクターの解説、心配りにも大満足でした。

I've done 3 or 4 luaus in my day. This was the best. The service was top notch. I had one of the attendees watch my infant son while we went for food. My 4 year old daughter danced up a storm while watching the professional dancers and the other patrons where kind beyond belief.

Could not have gotten a better experience.

What a wonderful guided tour. Staff so helpful and fun to hang with. Perfect spot to just snorkel and watch fish and coral reef below. Enough time for snorkeling allowed. Would recommend to anyone.

The sunset from the summit was as beautiful as I had hoped. Thanks to the guide's advice, I was able to sit in a prime spot and enjoy the sunset comfortably and leisurely. After that, we moved to a different location for stargazing, which turned out to be another wonderful experience. Through the reflecting telescope, I was able to see Saturn. I was thrilled to see satellites and shooting stars with my own eyes, and I never expected to see the Milky Way so clearly. I also got to see the flames from the Kilauea crater. There were explanations about the constellations, which made it even more enjoyable. Fortunately, I was able to take many interesting photos, making for great memories. I believe this was an experience unique to participating in the tour.

山頂サンセットは期待通りの美しさでした。
ガイドさんのアドバイスで、特等席に座って楽にゆっくりと夕日鑑賞することが出来ました。
その後、場所を移動しての星空観測。これが、また素晴らしい体験となりました。
反射望遠鏡では土星を見せてもらいました。衛星や流れ星は肉眼で見ることが出来るし、天の川もあんなによく見えるものだとは思っていなかったので、うれしかったです。キラウエアの火口の炎も見られました。星座のことなども解説があったので、より楽しめたと思います。
ありがたいことに面白い写真もたくさん撮っていただき良い記念になりました。ツアーに参加したからこその体験が出来たと思います。

I was able to see the best view‼️ The weather was uncertain, but I was really glad to see a beautifully clear sunset.

最高の景色を見ることができました‼️
天気が不安でしたがばっちり綺麗なゆうひをみることができてよかったです。

The stargazing with guides Ishikawa and Big Jin was excellent, with clear and enjoyable explanations. The miso soup with the bento at the Onizuka Center was incredibly delicious, and I apologize that my child asked for seconds twice (^_^;). My younger child was starting to experience a bit of altitude sickness, but since we were taught how to handle it, we were able to see the beautiful sunset, which was truly moving. Thank you very much.

ガイドのIshikawaさんとBigJinさんの星空観測もバッチリでわかりやすく、楽しい解説で良かったです。オニヅカセンターでのお弁当のお味噌汁が最高に美味しくて、すみません子供がおかわりを2回もしてしまいました(^_^;)高山病も下の子が少しなりかけてましたが、対処法を教えてまらってたので、綺麗な夕日も見る事ができて感激です。ありがとうございました。

This year, I wanted to take my daughter to see the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea and the stargazing experience. Masashi Nature School provided us with warm clothing, hats, and gloves, and the bento and miso soup were delicious, with the cocoa after the meal being very tasty as well. The sunset was beautiful, and the explanation for the stargazing was easy to understand. There was also a service of tea and cookies, which was very comforting in the cold. Last year, when I participated in another tour, they only lent me a jacket, and that was after we arrived at the summit, so I had a cold and experienced altitude sickness. This time, the service was exceptional, and I am very grateful for Matsucchan's lively explanations and photography skills. My daughter was also very satisfied. I was moved by the Milky Way. From now on, I would like to ask Masashi Nature School for their services.

今年は娘を連れてきて、マウナケアケア山頂サンセットと星空観察は是非見せたかったものでした。マサシネイチャースクールさんは、上下防寒着と帽子、手袋まで貸してくださった上、お弁当や味噌汁も美味しく、食後のココアもとても美味しかった。サンセットは綺麗で、星空観察の説明もわかりやすく、紅茶とクッキーのサービスがあり、寒い中あったかいものがとても嬉しかった。昨年他のツアーで参加した時は、防寒着は上だけしか貸してくれず、それも山頂に着いてからだったので、寒くて高山病にかかってしまった経験のある私には、至れり尽くせりのサービスで、松っちゃんのノリのいい説明と写真撮影の技術にとても感謝しています。娘も大満足していました。ミルキーウエイには感動しました。これからは、マサシネイチャースクールにお願いしたいと思います。

We were lucky enough to see dolphins by chance, but I felt that encountering them depends on luck since we didn't forcefully search for or chase them. The boat swayed, but it was a large vessel, so I felt safe. The restrooms were clean, and the staff members were kind (they can communicate in English).

私たちは偶然イルカを見ることができましたが、無理にイルカを探したり追いかけたりすることをしないので、イルカに遭遇できるかは運次第かな？と感じました。
船は揺れますが、大きな船なので安心でした。トイレもキレイで、スタッフの方々も親切でした。(英語対応ですが)

I love the Big Island and have visited many times, but this was my first time participating in this tour, which I had been curious about. The bus slowly ascended towards the summit of Mauna Kea, and I could feel the thinning oxygen. During a break, we enjoyed a bento box and warm drinks, and after putting on our warm clothing, we finally reached the top! It felt like a different world! There were people snowboarding on the snow-covered mountain. And the sea of clouds spread out below us! The sun gradually set, and we were able to see a magnificent sunset. The surroundings were enveloped in the evening glow, and I could feel the mana in the sacred atmosphere. From there, the crescent moon and Venus appeared, and as it got darker, the night sky was filled with stars. I've never seen the Milky Way so clearly! The guide used a pointer to explain the constellations, making it easy to understand! There was also a service for warm drinks, and we could take commemorative photos with a high-performance camera against the starry sky. It was a wonderful service to be able to view and download the photos taken during the tour later on the web. I'm really glad I participated. I'm grateful for the amazing experience!

ハワイ島が大好きで、何度も訪れていましたが、このツアーは気になっていながらも初参加でした。
バスはゆっくりとマウナケアの山頂へ向けて登って行き、次第に酸素が薄くなるのが分かります。
途中の休憩でお弁当と温かい飲み物も頂き、防寒着を着用したらいよいよ頂上です～(^.^)
そこはまるで別世界！雪に覆われた山ではスノボーをしている人もいました。
そして眼下に広がる雲海！太陽が徐々に沈み、見事な夕陽を見ることができました♪
辺りは夕焼けに包まれ、神聖な空気の中にマナを感じることができます。
そこからは三日月と金星が現れ、暗くなるにつれて夜空は満点の星☆
こんなにはっきりと天の川を見たことはありません！
ガイドさんがポインターを使って星座を説明してくれるので分かりやすい！！
そこでは温かい飲み物のサービスと、星空をバックに高性能カメラで記念写真も撮って貰えます。
ツアー中に撮って貰った写真を後からWebで見れてダウンロードできるのは、とても嬉しいサービスですね♪
参加して本当に良かったです。素晴らしい体験ができて感謝です>^_^<

We were picked up in front of the condominium at 3 PM and headed to the summit after picking up four groups. The weather down below was sunny and cloudy, and as we climbed, the clouds thickened, making us uncertain if it was really clear. However, near the summit, it was perfectly clear, above the clouds.

I had heard that the sunrise was wonderful, but due to timing, we opted for the sunset, which was also quite magical and enjoyable. The altitude at the summit of Mauna Kea is a bit breathless, so it might be tough for those around middle school age.

After the sun set, we descended a bit for stargazing. Unfortunately, there were quite a few clouds, and the moon was too bright, which was a bit disappointing. However, there was a thorough explanation of the constellations, which was satisfying. We were able to return to the hotel by a little after 10 PM.

Overall, it was a satisfying activity. The time spent was long, from the afternoon to the evening, allowing us to enjoy the day. If you manage the time difference well, you might also be able to enjoy the sunrise.

午後3時にコンドミニアム前にお迎え、此処から4組をピックアップして山頂に向かいました。下での天候は晴れ、曇りで、登るにつれて雲が厚くなり、本当に晴れているのか不安でしたが、山頂付近は快晴、雲の上でした。
朝日が素晴らしいと聞いておりましたが、時間の問題で夕陽にしましたが、こちらもなかなか幻想的で良かったです。マウナケアの山頂は少々息が切れる高度ですので、中学生位まではきついかも。
日が沈んで少し下山して、星空観測。こちらは雲が少々多いのと、月が明る過ぎたので、ちょっと残念。でも丁寧な星座の説明もあり、満足。夜10時過ぎにはホテルに戻れました。
全体として満足のいくアクティビティでした。時間も午後～夜までと長く、一日楽しめました。時差を上手に使うと朝日も楽しめるかも知れないです。

I visited the Big Island of Hawaii on a mother-daughter trip because I wanted to show my 13-year-old daughter the great outdoors and the starry sky. Due to our fixed schedule, we were unable to see the starry sky as we had hoped, especially since it was the day after the full moon and July has long days. However, I was very moved by the sunset from the summit. I was also surprised to see the magma from Kilauea Volcano coloring the sea of clouds orange.

Our guide, Jin, was highly professional and made every effort to ensure we had the best tour possible under the limited circumstances. He secured the best spots at the summit, arranged for us to take photos with a rare moonbow on the way down, and even made a stop on the way back when the clouds cleared a bit to show us the starry sky. Overall, it was a very satisfying tour, and I would like to try to see the starry sky again.

13歳の娘に大自然と星空を見せたくて母子旅行でハワイ島を訪れました。
日程が動かせないこともあり、満月の翌日、また7月は日も長いこともあり、期待した星空は残念ながら見ることができませんでした。でも頂上から見るサンセットにはとても感動。キラウェア火山のマグマが雲海をオレンジに染めているのにも驚きました。
ガイドのジンさんはプロ意識が高く、限られた状況の中でもベストなツアーとなるよう努力してくださいました。頂上でのベストな場所確保、下山途中に珍しいムーンボーとの写真撮影、更に帰りに少し雲が晴れたところで途中停車し星空を見せてくださる等、総合的に大満足のツアーとなりました。星空はもう一度チャレンジしたいと思います。

Overall, I think it's a tour similar to what others have described. However, while the Milky Way can be seen during a new moon, it becomes quite difficult once it surpasses a half moon. Even if the moon is said to look beautiful, since stargazing is the main focus, it was a bit disappointing. I wish I had checked the moon phase before booking.

概ね他の方が書いている通りのツアーだと思います。ただ、新月なら天の川も見えるのでしょうが、半月を超えてくるとまず難しいのではないでしょうか。月が綺麗に見えるといわれても星空観測がメインですからちょっとつらいものがありました。月齢を調べて申し込めば良かったと思いました。

I wasn't very confident with vehicles, so I was a bit worried, but I thought it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to climb up to 4200 meters, so I decided to go for it. With a relaxed schedule that included photo opportunities, dinner, and bathroom breaks, we were able to reach the summit.

It felt quite strange to drive up to a summit of about 4200 meters. Even though I was wearing warm clothing, it was still cold (it seems it had been quite warm recently), and I felt the air was thin, so I was consciously breathing. From the summit, we were treated to a beautiful sunset, and I was able to get some wonderful photos with the sunset in the background. A little below the summit, we did some stargazing. Since it was three days before the full moon, the moon was too bright, and unfortunately, we couldn't see the Milky Way, but I was able to take some fantastic photos here as well, which made for great memories.

あまり乗り物が得意ではないので少し心配でしたが、4200mまで登ることなどこれからないかもしれないと思い、思い切って申込みました。途中写真撮影、夕食とトイレ休憩など、余裕のあるスケジュールで山頂まで行けました。
約4200ｍの山頂まで車で行くということでとても不思議な感じでした。車を降りると、防寒着は着ていても、やはり寒く（ここ最近ではかなり暖かかったようですが）、空気は薄く感じたので、意識して呼吸はしていました。山頂からはきれいな夕日、そして夕日をバックに素敵な写真を撮ってもらえました。山頂から少し降りたところで星空観察。満月の3日前ということで月がまぶしすぎ、残念ながら天の川など見ることができませんでしたが、ここでも幻想的な写真を撮ってもらいよい記念になりました。

The Mauna Kea summit tour is a must-do!!! This is my second trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, and I participated in a stargazing tour at the summit for the first time.

Not only is the beauty of the night sky breathtaking, but the sight of telescopes from around the world, including the Subaru Telescope, lined up in the red, barren landscape gives you the illusion of being in space.

However, there were some Japanese participants who did not follow proper etiquette. It seems that this land is very sacred to the people of the Big Island, so I hope everyone will respect the rules while participating.

マウナケア山頂ツアーは絶対に参加するべきです！！！
ハワイ島への旅行は今回が２回目で、初めて山頂での星空観測ツアーに参加しました。

星空の美しさもさることながら、すばる望遠鏡をはじめとする世界各国の望遠鏡群が赤土の無機質な空間に並ぶ風景は、まるで宇宙にいるかのような錯覚を覚えます。

ただ、一部の日本人でマナーを守れていない方がいらっしゃいました。ハワイ島の方々にとっては、とても神聖な土地のようですので、必ずマナーを守って参加いただきたいものです。

I was really anxious about getting altitude sickness, but along the way, our guide Matsuzaki kept us laughing with his entertaining talks, and I was able to go on with energy. The full moon made me wonder if I could see stars as beautifully as in Japan, but the sunset and the moon that felt within reach were indescribably beautiful. If I come to Hawaii Island again, I will definitely participate once more! It was truly wonderful. Thank you for the lovely time!

高山病になるのではと不安で仕方なかったですが、道中ガイドのマツザキさんが面白いトークでたくさん笑わせてくれて、元気に行ってこれました。満月で星は日本のきれいな場所で見れるかな？って程でしたが、夕日そして手が届きそうな月は、言葉で表せないほど美しかったです。ハワイ島に来たらまた必ず参加します！ホントに良かったです。素敵な時間をありがとうございました！

I wanted to see a beautiful starry sky, so I decided to join this tour. However, I was a bit anxious about whether I could climb up to 4,000 meters. Fortunately, there was time to acclimatize to the altitude, and I was able to breathe deeply, so I had no problems at all. The summit wasn't as cold as I had expected, and thanks to the warm gear provided, I was able to enjoy it to the fullest. After descending a bit, the starry sky we observed was also wonderful. I thought about how vast the universe is. There was a time when people traveled relying on the stars, and I felt a longing for such journeys. The Milky Way was clearly visible, and I was even able to see about four shooting stars, which made me feel happy. I'm really glad I participated in this tour.

綺麗な星空を観たいと思いこのツアーへの参加を思い立ちました。が、4,000ｍまで登って大丈夫なのかって不安もありました。途中で高所に慣れるための時間があったのと、深呼吸が上手く出来たので何の問題もありませんでした。山頂は思っていたほど寒くなく、最も貸していただいた防寒具があったのでその恩恵もありましたが、思う存分楽しむことが出来ました。それから少し下って観測した星空も素敵でした。宇宙は広いのだなあ～と思いました。星空を頼りに旅をしていた時代もあったのです。そのような旅にも憧れを感じてしまいました。天の川もはっきりと観えました。さらに、流れ星も4個ほど観測できたので幸せな気持ちになれました。このツアーに参加出来て本当に良かったです。