All Reviews for Family & Accessible Travel

I have brought my exchange students to the Big Island for 3 years and this was my first tour of Waipio. Kaleho our tour guy, being a life long local in the valley was filled with information about the history, biology and legends of this incredibly beautiful valley. So many stories and a safe comfortable tour. There is no glass in the windows in the 4 wheel drive passenger van so lots of airflow in the van. And he keeps a row empty between passengers. Everyone wears masks and sanitizes.
Also the store where you meet up has amazing art, books, music and incredible ice cream!

The ranch that this tour went through was absolutely breath taking and this experience surpassed any expectations I had. The views and the landscape were so amazing as well as the tour guide and other member on the ranch! The tour was so personable and he catered it so well for us. This was such an amazing adventure that everyone needs to experience!!!

We participated as a mother-daughter duo with no snorkeling experience. My mother is in her 60s. Initially, we joined with the mindset that just seeing dolphins from the boat would be enough, but once we set off, we were encouraged by our guide to go into the water. My mother, who can hardly swim, used a float, but the guide skillfully led us, and she was incredibly moved to see the dolphins from the best spot. I was impressed by the professionalism of the guide. Not only was the encounter rate with dolphins high, but the guide also kept track of the participants' names and how much they were enjoying themselves, even while wearing snorkeling gear. This was amidst many other tours. It was truly amazing. Although it was more active than other tours, the love for dolphins from our guide shone through. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves dolphins.

シュノーケリング経験のない母娘で参加しました。母は60代です。
当初は船の上からイルカを観れるだけでもという気持ちで参加しましたが、いざ出発するとガイドの方の勢いに後押しされ海の中へ。ろくに泳げない母は浮を借りながらですが、ガイドさんがしっかりと誘導してくれたので一番の特等席でイルカを観られたと大変感動していました。ガイドさんのプロの仕事はこういうものか。と感銘を受けました。イルカとの遭遇率のみならず、シュノーケリングを着けた上からでもツアー参加者の名前と楽しめているかをしっかりと把握してくれます。他ツアーが沢山入り混じる中でです。本当に凄い。他のツアーよりもアクティブでしたが、イルカを愛するガイドさんの愛が伝わってきました。イルカ好きには何度でもおすすめ出来ます。

The location of the office was difficult to find even with the navigation, but a juice shop along the way gave me detailed directions, so I was able to arrive. We descended a steep slope in a 4WD vehicle to the valley floor, rode friendly horses across the river in Waipi'o Valley, and passed through the forest. It was safe, and the saddle cushion was good, so my legs (groin) didn't hurt too much. However, the horses' speeds varied, and I couldn't keep up with the guide, so I missed out on some explanations in the second half, which was disappointing. I guess it's difficult to match the pace with horses...

事務所の場所がナビでも分かりにくかったですが　途中のジュース屋さんが詳しく教えてくれたので到着できました。急斜面を4駆で谷底に降りて　フレンドリーな馬たちに乗ってワイピオ渓谷の川をわたったり、森の中を抜けたり、安全にでき鞍のクッションがいいのかそんなに足（股間）も痛くなかったです。ただ馬の速度がまちまちでガイドさんについていけず、後半は離れてしまって説明が聞き取れず残念。馬さんなので歩調を合わせるのは難しいのかな・・・

We participated in the early morning plan. The guides taught us patiently, and even as a couple in our 50s who were kayaking for the first time, we were able to fully enjoy the waters of Hawaii. We didn't have the chance to look for dolphins, but we had a wonderful time snorkeling and seeing beautiful fish. The guide took various photos for us, and we received them later, which turned out to be a lovely collection of memories. Thank you very much.

早朝プランに参加しました。
カヤックが初めての５０代夫婦の私達に、丁寧に教えてくださり、私達でもカヤックでハワイの海を満喫することができました。
私達にイルカを探す余裕はありませんでしたが、シュノーケリングで綺麗な魚達を見ることができ、とても楽しい時間となりました。
ガイドさんが、いろいろな写真を撮ってくださり、あとで送ってもらえたので、沢山の写真が素敵な思い出となりました。
ありがとうございます。

The staff was generally kind and good, but I think the tour would be tough unless you have native-level English skills. Normally, drinks other than alcohol were all-you-can-drink, and chips were served. There were about 30 people, and there were no Japanese people at all.

普通に親切でいいスタッフでしたが、ツアー自体ネイティブ並みの英語力じゃないときついと思います。普通に、飲み物はアルコール以外は飲み放題でチップスが出ました。30人くらいいて日本人は一切いませんでした。

I saw a manta tour on a TV program about the Big Island of Hawaii. After seeing those impressive scenes, I thought I would definitely join a manta tour when I visited the Big Island. This time, I was greeted by a Japanese woman who provided clear guidance. The manta tour instructor was a handsome half-Japanese guy who spoke a mix of Gifu and Nagoya dialects. (He mentioned that his mother is from Nagoya and he lived in Japan until elementary school.) We took quite a boat ride from the port to the manta point, but we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset along the way. Once we arrived at the point, we quickly put on our masks and snorkels and jumped into the sea. Holding onto a square rubber boat about the size of two tatami mats, I peered into the water and saw small fish gathering around the light. After waiting for a while, a manta appeared at the seabed about 10 meters deep. The manta swam into the light, allowing us to see it well. After that, one or two more mantas passed by. One manta even swam close to our boat, and I was moved by its impressive presence. Even in Hawaii, March can be a bit chilly, so a wetsuit was necessary.

以前TV番組でハワイ島のマンタツアーを見ました。その迫力あるシーンを見てハワイ島に行ったら絶対マンタツアーに参加しようと思っていました。今回は」出迎えは日本人の女性で分かりやすく案内してくれました。マンターツアーのインストラクターは岐阜弁と名古屋弁が混ざったイントネーションの日本語を話すハーフのイケメンでした。（お母さんが名古屋出身で本人は小学校まで日本に住んでいたとのこと）港からマンタポイントまで結構船に乗りましたが途中きれいなサンセットを堪能することができました。ポイントに着くとマスクとシュノーケルを着けて直ぐに海に飛び込みました。２畳ほどの大きさのある正方形のゴムボートに掴り、海中を覗くとライトの光に小魚の群れが集まってきました。しばらく待っていると水深10メートルくらいの海底にマンタが１枚現れました。ライトの光が当たる場所にマンタが入りよく見ることが出来ました。その後も１枚２枚とマンタが通り過ぎて行きました。その中で私たちのボートの近くまでマンタが泳いで来て、その迫力に感動しました。ハワイと言えども３月は少し寒いので、ウエットスーツは必要でした。

Awesome awesome awesome. We had a volcano tour on 3/8/20 with Mike. He was the best. He was especially good with our very inquisitive grandson. He was knowledgeable also!!!! He was great great great!!!!

My husband and I participated with our 5-year-old child. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the snorkeling spot, but the waves are quite high, so I think it's essential for those who are prone to motion sickness to take anti-nausea medication. On the way to our destination, we even saw whales, which got our child very excited.

At first, our 5-year-old was scared of snorkeling, but there was a bodyboard-like device with a transparent section, and they enjoyed peeking through it. The sea was also very beautiful, and our family was extremely satisfied. This is definitely a tour we would like to participate in again.

夫、5歳の子どもと参加しました。
30〜40分かけてシュノーケリングスポットに行きますが、波がかなり高く乗り物酔いしやすい方は酔い止め薬必須だと思います。
目的地まで行く間も鯨が見えたりと子ども大興奮でした。
シュノーケリングは5歳の子どもは最初は怖がっていましたが、ボディーボードのようなものに乗って一部が透明になっているのでそこを覗きながら楽しんでいました。海もとても綺麗で家族で大変満足しています。
是非また参加したいツアーでした。

In early March, we participated in a sunset cruise departing from the beach right in front of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott. We were the only Japanese guests, but the cruise included simple snacks and two drinks with alcohol.

The female captain announced that we might see dolphins and whales today, so everyone focused on searching for them while enjoying the scenery. Soon, one person spotted a sea turtle, and just as we were excited about that, the captain informed us that a pod of dolphins was nearby, prompting all the passengers to start watching. Then we spotted a whale! Everyone got really excited, sharing sightings of dolphins and whales, and the first half of the cruise was filled with excitement over dolphin and whale watching rather than just enjoying the views.

In the second half, we enjoyed the stunning Waikoloa sunset accompanied by slow Hawaiian music, making it a very satisfying sunset cruise.

３月初めに宿泊先のワイコロアビーチマリオットの目の前のビーチから出発のサンセットクルーズに参加しました。日本人は私たち夫婦だけでしたが簡単なおつまみとアルコールを含む2ドリンクつき。

女性キャプテンからのアナウンスで今日はイルカや鯨も見えるかもとのことで皆景色を楽しみながらもそれらを探すのに集中。
すぐに一人がウミガメを発見し、喜んでいると今度はキャプテンからイルカの群れがすぐ近くにの見えるとのお知らせに乗客皆でウォッチング^_^
そして今度は鯨を発見！
皆さん、ハイテンションになり、あちこちに見えるイルカや鯨を発見しては教え合い、前半は景色を楽しむよりイルカ&ホエルウォッチングで大盛り上がりでした。

後半はスローなハワイアンミュージックをバックに素晴らしいワイコロアのサンセットが見られ大満足のサンセットクルーズでした。

We had a horseback riding experience in the morning as a family of three. It was everyone's first time, but we had a lot of fun. The blue sky and green scenery were amazing, and we spent about two hours on a spacious ranch. At times, we even trotted, which was thrilling, and my daughter enjoyed it as well. At higher altitudes, we entered the clouds, and the guide explained everything in clear English while being considerate of everyone's situation, which made us feel at ease. I recommend the 2.5-hour plan. It was a wonderful experience! I want to go again!

家族三人での朝からの乗馬体験。
全員初めてでしたが楽しかった。
青空とグリーンの景色が最高で広々とした牧場を2時間ほど。途中何度か駆け足で進んでみたりドキドキでしたが、娘も楽しんでいました。
標高の高いところでは雲の中に入って行ったり、ガイドのお姉さんがわかりやすい英語で説明してくれたり、みんなの状況を見ながら気遣ってくれたりと安心でもありました。2.5時間プランお薦めです。
素晴らしい体験！また行きたい！

This time, we participated in a tour just for the two of us, and we were very satisfied with the almost one-on-one guidance and instruction. We were able to enjoy the sunrise as well. Our guide was from the Kansai region, which made us feel a sense of familiarity, and we were able to relax and have a great time. Thank you very much.

今回は、二人だけでのツワー参加で、ほぼマンツーマンでの指導と案内で、
朝日も拝めて大満足でした。
ガイドさんが、関西出身の方だったので、親近感が有って、とてもリラックスして楽しく過ごすことが出来ました。
ありがとうございました。

We met at the hotel parking lot entrance on the day of the tour, and from there, we walked about 50 meters to the starting point for the canoe tour where we received explanations and did some stretching before getting into the canoe with only the essentials.

The waves were not completely calm, but they were manageable as we paddled along the left bank, passing by the hotel’s first-floor restaurant, heading towards the next cove with a cave. At the cave entrance, the waves were crashing back, and we maneuvered the canoe along the right bank. About 100 meters from the shoreline, we entered the water for snorkeling. The visibility was decent, and we spotted some yellowish sea urchins and rays. While swimming, we heard some commotion and saw dolphins—lots of them! There were even baby dolphins doing spin jumps. It was so much fun!

当日ホテル駐車場入口で待ち合わせ、そこから50m位でカヌーツアースタート場所で説明、ストレッチ、最低必要な物だけでカヌーに乗ります。
波は凪とはいかずまあまああり左岸沿いに進みホテル1階レストランを見ながら、次の入り江の洞窟に向かいます。洞窟入口は打ち寄せる波は吹き戻る、右岸沿いにカヌーを進め波打ち際より100m位でカヌーからシュノーケリングエントリー前日は雨もあり透明はまあまあ黄色いはぎ、ウニ、エイを追って泳ぐとカヌーがあり、なんか騒いでる''イルカ、イルカ''周りにイルカ、イルカの赤ちゃんがスピンジャンプ。楽しかったです！

I had always wanted to try kayaking after seeing it on TV. We even encountered dolphins along the way and managed to reach a cave, which was a lot of fun. The guide was always nearby, which made me feel safe. We took many photos, creating great memories. It was my first time snorkeling as well, but I got used to it quickly, and before I knew it, time flew by.

I read everyone's experiences before participating, so I didn't feel too confused. Thank you very much.

テレビで観て、やってみたかったカヤック。途中イルカに遭遇することもでき、洞窟までも何とかたどり着き、とても楽しかったです。ガイドさんがいつも近くで見守ってくれているので安心でした。写真も沢山撮ってもらいいい思い出になりました。シュノーケルも初めてでしたが、すぐに慣れることができあっという間に時間がたってしまいました。
参加する前に皆さんの体験談を読み込んでいったので、戸惑う事も少なかったです。ありがとうございました。

Five years ago, I used the shuttle service with my 10-year-old child and two others, and it was amazing! Two years ago, the tour was canceled due to rain during the shuttle service to the valley. This time, we requested to meet on-site, and after a 1.5-hour drive from Kailua Kona, we crossed off-road rivers while having conversations (in our hearts) with the wonderful horses, saw trumpet flowers, taro fields, and the mysterious valley. The horses were great; Waka would leave the line to eat grass, climb about 50 cm, and then eat more grass, trying to overtake the horse in front! I'm grateful for all of that Waka.

５年前に10才の子供を含め3人で送迎付きで利用して、感動！
2年前は雨模様で谷増水ツアー送迎中連絡で中止。
今回は現地集合をお願いしカイルアコナから1.5時間、良い子(馬たち)と会話(心で)しながらオフロードの川を渡ったり、トランペットフラワー、タロ芋水田、神秘の谷。馬は良い子Waka列を離れては草を食べ50cm位登りまた草、前の馬を追い越そうとする！そんなWakaすべてに感謝。

We had a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Daniel was excellent. Informative and witty. We highly recommend this complete island tour. The steam vents at Volcanos National Park highlighted the day!!.

Had a great time going out on the whale watching catamaran. Free drinks was a delight as well. Getting to see and hear the Mama and her calf was just wonderful!

Honestly, I only saw the manta rays twice, and both times they were far away for just a moment. There were no close encounters where they were feeding right in front of me, as described in the tour details. It seems that the weather on the day can also affect this, and since manta rays are natural creatures, it's not guaranteed that you'll see them every time.

Since I didn't see them, I was really grateful for the policy that allows a free retry next time.

Although I didn't see the manta rays, I was lucky enough to spot dolphins from the boat. They jumped and swam close to us, which was really fortunate. I definitely want to try for the manta rays again next time.

正直、マンタは2回しか見れませんでした。しかも遠くで一瞬。ツアー詳細に書いてあるような、目の前で餌を食べる瞬間や、触れそうなくらいの
接近はありませんでした。当日の天候等も影響するみたいで、マンタも自然のものなのでなかなか毎回見れるとは限らない・・という事ですね。
見れなかったので次回は無料でリトライさせてもらえる制度があり、とても助かりました。

マンタは見れませんでしたが、たまたま船上からイルカを見る事ができました。飛び跳ねたり泳いで近づいてくれたり、それはとてもラッキーでした。
また次回マンタチャレンジしたいと思います。

I was able to see whales not just once, but multiple times. I was very satisfied to see a mother and her calf as well.
During the cruise, snacks and soft drinks were provided for free. While sitting outside, the staff asked what drinks we wanted and brought them to us.

It was a stable day, so I didn't need any motion sickness medication. I drove to the location with a rental car, and it was easy to find; it's at a corner. You can park on the shoulder of the road.

1回だけでなく何度もクジラを見ることが出来ました。親子もみれて大変満足です。
クルーズの中ではスナック菓子やソフトドリンクが無料です。外で座っているとスタッフが欲しい飲み物を聞いてくれて持ってきてくれました。

酔い止めなどなくとも大丈夫な安定した日でした。
レンタカーで現地に向かいましたが場所はわかりやすく角です。車は路肩に止めます。

The weather was perfect, and I was moved by all the scenery. I was told that if things went well, I might see a whale, but I didn't get my hopes up. However, whales appeared! They jumped several times, which was also moving. The passengers on the boat cheered loudly. And then, the sunset—absolutely stunning. I recorded videos of the whales and the sunset. Even after returning home, it was amazing!

One slight disappointment was that although they mentioned light snacks, there were only some snack foods in paper cups. The rest was just conversation... This was our fault, but I was disappointed that I couldn't understand the crew's fun talk. Because of these two points, I couldn't say it was "the best!" I apologize for that.

That said, it was a series of moving experiences. I am grateful.

天候に恵まれすべての景色に感動。
うまくいけば鯨を見れるかも！と言われていたが、期待しないでいました。
が、鯨出没。何度もジャンプしてくれました。これまた感動。船上では乗客が大歓声。
そして、サンセット。　これまた最高。
鯨・サンセット　動画で撮影しましたよ。　
帰宅後見ても、最高！！

ちょいと残念なのが、軽食とあるが紙コップの中にスナック菓子があるだけ。
あとは会話が・・・
これは我々のせいですが、クルーの楽しそうなトークが理解出来ず残念。
この2点があった為『最高でした！』が押せませんでした。申し訳ありません。

とは言え、感動の連続。感謝しております。

This was my eighth time on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the helicopter tour allowed me to see the entire island, leading to new discoveries!

今回で8回目のハワイ島でしたが、ヘリツアーによりハワイ島全容を観ることができて新しい発見がありました！

The weather hadn't been very good until the day before, but we were blessed with great weather on the day itself, so I didn't experience any seasickness without taking any medication. We saw several whales in the distance, including their tails, backs, and spouts. Just when I thought that was all we would see, there was suddenly a series of breaches right in front of us! It was incredibly powerful, and all the passengers were very excited.

It was a satisfying whale watching experience.

前日まで天気があまり良くなかったのですが、
当日は天気に恵まれたので、薬など飲まなくても船酔いはなかったです。
くじらは、遠くで何頭も見れました。尾びれ、背中、潮吹きも。
こんなもんかな？って思っていたら、突然目の前での連続ブリーチング！！
すごい迫力で、乗客みんな大興奮でした。

満足できた、ホエールウオッチグでした。

staff were great, boat not over crowded, facilities & service was terrific

I realized last year that I had never done a sunset cruise while in Hawaii on past trips. After booking one for the first time last year it will always be on the list of things to do, whales or not. It is so beautiful and peaceful.

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, and clearly had the same passion for astronomy we did. He took fantastic romantic photos with the galaxy in the background, while explaining what it is we were looking at. It felt like being on another planet up on Mauna Kea! Would definitely recommend, it’s an unforgettable experience.

We participated as a couple. My husband is a good swimmer and has experience with kayaking, but I can't swim and was a beginner with kayaking, so I was very scared at first. However, the guide kindly taught us in Japanese, which made me feel at ease. When I paddled on the left side, my body tilted to the left, and I capsized three times. For some reason, I ended up falling into the sea alone, which was actually quite funny. For snorkeling, they lent us a boogie board, so it was easy and enjoyable. There were plenty of fish, and even though I can't swim, I had a great time. My husband has poor eyesight, so he bought prescription swimming goggles in Japan and borrowed a snorkel from the guide to enjoy himself. There are no shower facilities. We changed at the restroom on the first floor of the Sheraton before heading home. The meeting point is a bit hard to find. While there were some inconveniences, the positives far outweighed them, and we were very satisfied.

夫婦で参加しました。主人は泳ぎも得意ですし、カヤックもやったことがありましたが、私は泳げませんし、カヤック初心者で最初はとても怖かったです。でも、ガイドさんが日本語で丁寧に教えてくださったので安心しました。カヤックは私が左側を漕ぐときに体が左側に傾くようで３回も転覆してしまいました。なぜか私１人が海に落ちてしまったこともありそれが、それがまた面白かったです。シュノーケリングはビートバンを貸してくださったので楽々でした。お魚もたくさんいて泳げない私でも十分楽しめました。主人は視力が弱いので、日本で度付の水泳用ゴーグルを購入していき、現地でガイドさんからスノーケルを借りて楽しんでいました。シャワーを浴びるところはありません。シェラトン１階のお手洗いをお借りして着替えて帰りました。待ち合わせ場所はわかりにくいです。不便なこともありますが、良かったことの方が大きくて大満足でした。

So please we followed the recommendations from lovebigisland.com and selected this outfit for our Hawaii Horseback Riding! Jackie was a great guide and provided us with a well balanced experience of riding and education on the area. Not just your typical head to tail ride and I doubt we will ever have a ride of this caliber in terms of the views and overall experience. Well done Jackie!

I was able to see manta rays safely!
Two large manta rays came right under the light, and I was so excited!
Their swirling movements were very beautiful.
I was surprised when the underside of the manta touched my hand; it felt rough.

Thank you, guide Masami.
I’m very satisfied to have seen the manta rays. It became a great memory!

(I took motion sickness medication, so I was fine on the boat.
The return boat can get chilly, so having a thicker bath towel is reassuring.)

無事にマンタに会えました！
2枚の大きなマンタが光りの真下に来てくれて、
ドキドキ大興奮‼️
クルクルと泳ぐ姿が、とてもキレイでした。
マンタのお腹部分が、私の手に触れてビックリしました。ザラっとしてました。

ガイドのマサミさん、ありがとうございました。
マンタに会えて大満足です。良い思い出になりました！

(酔い止めを飲んだので船酔大丈夫でした。
帰りのボートは冷えるので、厚めのバスタオルが
あると安心です)

For my wife, who has difficulty walking, navigating uneven terrain is challenging, and even short distances can take time for able-bodied individuals. Therefore, instead of sightseeing by car, we chose the helicopter experience for the first time. Although it was disappointing that there was no lava flow, I was moved by the size of the crater when viewed from above. We also saw whales, and I am grateful to the pilot who helped us find them. I had requested a pilot who could speak Japanese, but since there were no other Japanese participants, it couldn't be helped. I was worried the day before due to strong winds that could have taken the steering wheel from me, but the ride was smooth and comfortable. My wife was also in high spirits. It was great to make effective use of our time.

足が不自由な家内にとっては、凸凹したところを歩いたりするのは困難で、健常者にとっては短い距離移動でも時間がかかったりするので、車での観光ではなく、初体験のヘリを選択しました。溶岩が流れていなかったのは残念でしたが、火口を上空から見ることが出来、その大きさに感動しました。また、鯨も見ることが出来ました。捜して下さったパイロットに感謝。日本語の出来るパイロットをリクエストしていましたが、他に日本人参加者がいなかったので仕方ありません。前日の午後は車のハンドルが取られる程の強風だったので心配しましたが揺れもなく快適。家内もハイテンションでした。時間が有効に使え良かったです。

The ship was larger than I expected. There was someone explaining over the speaker, but it was all in English, so I didn't understand it very well. There were hardly any Japanese guests. I was worried about seasickness, so I took some medication before heading out, but I didn't feel much rocking at all. I was able to see whales about four times, but of course, since we couldn't get too close, just watching from a distance lacked a bit of impact. However, being able to see them with the naked eye is only possible during this season, so I was really moved just to have had the chance to see them!

思っていた以上に大きい船でした。スピーカーで説明してくれている方がいたのですが、全て英語であまりよく分かりませんでした。日本人のお客さんもほとんどいませんでした。船酔いが不安だったので酔い止めを飲んで出掛けましたが、あまり揺れも感じずにすみました。4回ほどくじらを見ることができましたが、当然のことながら、あまり近くに寄ることもできないため、遠目に見るだけでは、やはり迫力には欠けます。しかし、肉眼で見られるのは、この時期だけですので、見ることができただけで感動でした！