All Reviews for Family & Accessible Travel

I wouldn't give this tour five stars...I give it as many stars as there are in the Mauna Kea sky! This tour was easily the highlight of our trip on the Big Island! We enjoyed every minute of it. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous, and to see it from such a high elevation was quite remarkable. I was glad that we had plenty of time before and after the sunset to walk around, take in the view, and get some good pictures.

The dinner was very good but if you don't like lasagna there's a microwave at VIS if you want to bring your own food.

The road to the summit is a bit bumpy, but that's to be expected since it's a volcano. So take motion sickness meds if you're prone to carsickness. And if you get cold easily, definitely bring layers! They provide parkas and gloves but you might also want to bring a hat or scarf and thick socks.

Throughout the tour, the guide provided a very entertaining and educational narrative. It's obvious that he's passionate about Mauna Kea and Hawaii. He's basically a walking encyclopedia of Hawaii and provided all kinds of interesting information about Mauna Kea's geology and history, and also talked about Hawaiian culture and why Mauna Kea is a sacred place. He also did an excellent job of guiding the stargazing and pointing out constellations, star clusters, and planets, most of which we got to see through a telescope. I think my favorite part of the stargazing was getting to see the Andromeda galaxy through the telescope.

If you're going to the Big Island, this tour is a must!

I signed up for whale watching for the first time. The guide spoke English and explained everything very clearly, so I was able to enjoy the time until we reached the point where we could see the whales without getting bored. We happened to encounter a mother and baby whale, and since they were right beneath the boat, I was lucky to see the whole thing. It was great that there were drinks available, including alcohol.

初めてホエールウォッチングに申し込みました。
英語のガイドでしたが、とても分かりやすく説明してくださって、クジラが見えるポイントまで飽きずに過ごせました。
たまたま親子のクジラにも遭遇出来て、船の真下にいたので、全体も見えてラッキーでした。
飲み物もアルコールがあって、とても良かったです。

It was my first time on a helicopter. I boarded it thanks to the opportunity provided by "Tōdai Ō." We were blessed with great weather, with no wind or clouds, making it a very elegant journey.
It was quite a distance from Kona, and the round trip was challenging. However, I highly recommend it as we got to see the crater from above, as well as the beautiful ocean and ʻōhiʻa lehua. It was an exhilarating two hours from start to finish.

人生初のヘリコプターでした。東大王がきっかけに搭乗しました。お天気に恵まれ、風も雲も無く、とても優雅な旅になりました。
コナから距離があり、往復は大変でした。ですが、火口を上空から眺めたり、綺麗な海やオヒアレフアを見れたり、おすすめです。終始大興奮の2時間でした。

This was my first time participating. In the end, I didn't get to see any manta rays... However, this company offers a free tour next time if you don't see manta rays. I participated in this tour on the Big Island, but since the company also has a branch on Oahu, I signed up for a snorkeling tour to see turtles there, which was really free. They provided transportation to and from the hotel, which was very accommodating. The entire crew was energetic and kept the participants entertained from start to finish. During snorkeling, I was able to observe turtles right in front of me, explore the seabed while free diving, and play on a waterslide and trampoline on the water—such a satisfying experience! They also provided warm drinks, which was helpful. The pineapple was super delicious. Chanel from the Oahu branch, it became a wonderful memory of Hawaii! Thank you. And to the crew on the Big Island, you were all handsome with your Kansai dialect! Thank you.

初参加です。
結果的にはマンタは見られなかったです・・・
がしかし、ここの会社はマンタが見られなかったら次回のツアーは無料。
今回はハワイ島での参加でしたがオアフ島にも会社があるので後日オアフ島でカメを見に行くシュノーケリングツアーへ参加申し込みして本当に無料。ホテルまで送迎してくれて至れり尽くせり。クルー全員元気が良くて参加者を最初から最後まで楽しませてくれました。シュノーケリングでは目の前でカメを観察できたり素潜りで海底を散策！？出来たり海の上での滑り台やトランポリンで遊んだり大満足！！温かい飲み物も出してくれて助かりました。パイナップル超美味しかったです。オアフ支社のシャネルちゃん、良きハワイの思い出になりました！ありがとう
そしてハワイ島のクルーの皆様、関西弁でイケメンさん！ありがとう

This Mauana Kea summit and stargazing tour was phenomenal. The first stop is at the visitor center around 9k feet elevation. Here you can look through a couple telescopes, walk through the museum, and you will be served your hot dinner (we had veggie lasagna and it was good). While you are here it is good to eat and drink alot of water so your body can acclimate to the higher altitudes ahead. Next stop is the summit up to almost 14k feet! The Vans they take up are heavy duty and they need to be because of the rocky road leading up the mountain. I would not reccomend taking a rental/personal vehicle up this mountain. The road is rocky, thin, and windy. The guides for this tour have been doing it for years and know the road well. On the way up the guides will give you some commentary about the mountain which is a cool little history lesson. At the top it is cold and the oxygen is thin, so be ready! They provide you with a winter coat and gloves but I recommend bringing your own hat. The views from the summit are outstanding. Watching the sun set from up there is really remarkable, and you can walk around to the 12 massive telescopes up there to take pictures. After the summit you will descend a couple thousand feet to the star gazing location. With no light pollution and at the high altitude it provides for the star gazing experience of a lifetime. I have never seen the sky lit up so brightly with constellations. The guides will break out a couple of heavy duty telescopes from the vans so you can get an even closer look. They will educate you about the constellations and give alot of really good information. Overall this is an impeccable tour and a must do if you are going to the Big Island!

We found this trip rather disappointing. It was supposed to last for an hour but we returned to the pier after 50 minutes. In the event we had probably seen all there was to see after 20 minutes. You see rather dull brown/grey coral, some small blue and yellow fish and some sea urchins - No wrays or sharks or anything unusual. In fact the guide started to describe the history of the buildings on the shoreline as we headed back. Not worth the money.

I have visited Oahu, Hawaii several times with friends. However, I wanted to see the volcano, so I participated alone for the first time. The flight I booked was canceled, but I was recommended another course and joined that instead. Due to the weather, I couldn't achieve my original goal, but I enjoyed the experience of riding in a helicopter and traveling alone. I was able to participate with peace of mind thanks to the prompt response I received. Thank you very much.

ハワイ、オアフ島は何度か友人と訪れています。
ただ、火山が見たくて一人初めて別行動で参加させて戴きました。申し込んだ便は中止になり別のコースをお勧めして戴き参加しました。天候の為当初の目的は果たせませんでしたが。ヘリコプターに乗れて一人旅を経験できて楽しかったです。敏速な対応をして頂き安心して参加出来ました。ありがとうございました。

It was the best time ever.
Our guide was super excited!
Seeing sea turtles, dolphins, and whales was a miracle.
Thank you for the most wonderful honeymoon!

最高な一時でした。
ガイドさんも大興奮‼︎
海亀イルカ鯨を全部見出来たのは奇跡でした。
最幸な新婚旅行をありがとうございました‍♂️

This is one of the best horseback riding experiences my boyfriend and I have ever had! The instructions on how to get to the location were very well written out so it was a breeze to find! Our instructors were fantastic! They are the type of people who love what they do and are incredibly passionate and it shows! We were very excited, so it was great to have the energy matched! The ride was absolutely breathtaking! The high mountains that surround the area are a wonderful sight to take in, great for photo ops as well. All of the horses are well behaved and a joy to be around. When we find ourselves back in the area we will definitely be stopping by again. If you tend to get carsick, you may want to take some motion sickness medication before the drive down to the valley. Its quite bumpy but totally worth it!

It was great to have a small group of seven participants. My husband, who doesn't speak English, said the English guide was easy to understand.

Crossing the river while looking at Waipi'o Valley and slowly riding on horseback through the great outdoors was the best!

Also, the bumpy and steep road from the meeting point to the horseback riding location felt like an attraction and was fun.

I highly recommend it!!

7名参加で、少人数で良かったです。英語が話せない主人も、分かりやすく伝わる英語ガイドだったと言っていました。

ワイピオ渓谷を見ながら川を渡ったり、大自然の中をゆっくりお馬さんの背に揺られながら進んで行くのは最高です！

また、集合場所から乗馬場所に4WDで向かう道中がデコボコ道の急な坂で、アトラクションのようで面白かったです。

是非おすすめします！！

This is a great way to see Waipio Valley. This was out first time, so it was a great introduction. Hector, our guide, was very knowledgeable, polite, and really helped make the tour great. We only had a short time to see Waipio Valley, and this was a perfect introduction. The value was great. We got to see a large portion of the valley, made several stops along the way along with some interpretive explanations, and saw a lot. I highly recommend this tour, either as one time to see Waipio Valley, or as an introduction before venturing out on your own.

A trip into Waipi’o Valley with Douglas as your guide is a time travel to another time. His family is of this place so Douglas understands and shares the insiders perspective, with the added bonus of having access to the valley past the “End of Country Road” sign. Also if you aren’t up for the knee pounding descent and lung busting climb in and out of the valley this is the way to go. Worth mentioning this tour does not go to the beach, It instead works it’s way toward the back of the valley. Definitely a worth while event.

Awesome trip. The driver was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained. I would highly recommend booking the tour as you get the history along with the beautiful sights. We were given alfalfa to feed the wild horses as well as some fresh coconut to eat

This tour was fun and informative. Hele, our guide, took the time to explain the history of the valley, what grows there and who lives there. He was friendly and personable. We didn’t feel rushed and enjoyed it very much! We are so glad we did it!

The meeting place was easy to find with the navigation guidance. It wasn't too difficult to locate. When I arrived 15 minutes early, one group had already completed their check-in. After that, we gathered for a tour of 12 people. There were two Japanese, including my wife. We traveled by 4WD to Waipi'o Valley, but the path down to the valley from the viewpoint was steep and narrow. Although there was a fence on the valley side, there was a risk of a serious accident if the driving went wrong. The elderly man sitting behind the driver was holding his head while the driver explained things. It was a bit scary. Once we descended into the valley, the view of Hi'ilawe Falls and the canyon from the bottom was breathtaking. After about 30 minutes, we arrived at the location with the stables, and the horseback riding tour began. We received an English lecture on how to ride a horse, and each person was assigned a horse. The horse commands were given through the reins, but I managed to understand. Finally, the tour began. The horses were well-trained and moved in a line. My wife, who was riding for the first time, had some trouble when the horse stopped to drink water while crossing a river, but the staff assisted her. Riding through the greenery of the valley and along the stream was refreshing and an extraordinary experience. The horseback riding experience lasted about an hour. After getting off the horse, my knees hurt, but my wife said she felt fine. I had riding experience 50 years ago, but even beginners should have no problem riding. I highly recommend it.

集合場所は、ナビの案内で行けました。そんなに判りにくくはありません。集合時間１５分前に着いたら１組が受付を済ませていました。その後、集まり１２名のツアーでした。日本人は妻と２名。４駆でワイピオ渓谷まで移動しましたが、展望台から下の渓谷に降りる路は傾斜がきつく且つ路幅も狭く谷側にフェンスはあるものの、運転を間違えれば崖下へ落下の大事故になるリスクがあります。運転席後ろの席の年配おじさんは、後ろを見て解説する運転手に頭をかかえていました。少し怖いです。渓谷に降り、谷底から見るヒイラヴェ滝と渓谷は絶景です。約３０分で厩舎のある場所に到着し、乗馬ツアー開始です。馬の乗り方について英語でレクチャーがあり、１人１人に馬をあてがわれます。馬の指示は手綱で行いますが、なんとか判りました。いよいよツアーです。馬もよく調教されていて、連なって進みます。乗馬初めての妻は河を渡る時、馬が水を飲み始め止まって困っていましたが、スタッフのフォローでことなし。渓谷の緑と渓流の中を馬で連なって進むのは気持ちよく、非日常の体験でした。１時間ほどの乗馬体験です。馬から降りたら膝が痛かった。妻はなんともないと言ってました。私は５０年前に乗馬経験がありましたが、未経験者でも問題なく乗れるでしょう。おすすめです。

I participated with my wife and daughter. I wasn't expecting much, but seeing the manta ray swim right in front of us was breathtaking. My wife and daughter said they were also moved by it. I recommended it to acquaintances, and they said they were impressed as well.

妻と娘の三人で参加しました。それほど期待していなかったのですが、マンタが目の前まで来て泳ぐ姿は圧巻でした。妻と娘も感動したと言ってました。知人にもお勧めしましたが、やはり感動したとのことでした。

Cavalos muito bem treinados para essa atividade. Lindos cenários pelo caminho.

The Catamaran ride was very smooth and comfortable. The crew was wonderful and very informative. Once in the water we had seen a large variety of fish and rays. I would highly recommend this adventure.

Great time getting close to beautiful humpback whales ! The tour was well organized, the boat was comfortable and perfect for viewing whales, and the crew was very informative, knowledgeable, and very attentive to everyone’s needs. Really great job !! My wife and I loved it !

The boat sways quite a bit, so at first, it's hard to walk, but during meal times, we anchor offshore, so you can relax. Moreover, at that time, a manta ray and many dolphins gathered around. I think they must have liked the singing. I can't remember the name, but there was a singer with the most beautiful voice singing live the whole time, and songs that felt very Hawaiian, which was truly soothing.
There was also a vegan menu, and the buffet was satisfying.

Most of the participants were from the mainland United States, and they were drinking and making a lot of noise, so even when I was trying to talk about history and the land, I couldn't hear it next to me. But overall, it was the best cruising experience. If you can't speak English, it might feel long and confusing as you won't know what's happening.

It was a bit disappointing that the sunset was partially hidden by clouds, but it was still a beautiful view. People who participated in the previous trip said they didn't encounter anything, so we were really lucky on our trip.

船はかなり揺れるので、最初は歩くのもやっとだけど、食事のときは沖で停泊するので落ち着いていただけます。しかも、この時、マンタが1匹と、イルカもたくさん集まってきました。きっと、歌声が好きだったんじゃないかと思いますお名前は覚えていないけど、最高に美しい声の歌手がずっと生歌を歌っていて、ハワイっぽい曲とか、本当に癒されました。
Veganメニューもあって、ビュッフェも満足でした。

参加者がほぼアメリカ本土から来た人たちばかりで、お酒飲んで大騒ぎするので、せっかく歴史や土地の話をしているのが隣に行っても聞こえないくらいだったけど、とにかく最高のcruisingでした。英語ができないと、何が起こってるか分らなく長く感じるかもしれないけど。

あとは、夕日が少し雲に隠れてしまったのが残念だけど、それでも美しい景色でした。前の便に参加した人たちは、何も出会えなかったそうで、私たちの便は本当に幸運に恵まれました。

I traveled for an hour and a half from Kona. It was my first time horseback riding, and I don't understand much English, but I chose this experience because I read that important points would be explained in Japanese as well.

The guide was friendly, and since we could bring our dog along, it was a comforting experience for our dog-loving family!

I wanted to feel the air of Waipi'o Valley, so the leisurely horseback riding time was the best. I thought it would have been even better if I had understood the explanations more clearly.

Some of the horses were a bit energetic, but it seemed like they assigned them based on the riders' experience levels.

コナから一時間半かけて行きました。
乗馬は初めて、英語もあまりわからないけど、他の方の体験談に重要なとこは日本語でも言ってくれると書いてあったので択びました。

ガイドさんはフレンドリーだし、わんちゃんも一緒に行くので犬好き我が家はそれも癒しでした！

ワイピオ渓谷の谷の空気を感じたかったのでゆったり乗馬しながらの時間は最高でした。
説明がわかったらもっと良かったかなと思いましたが。

馬によってはちょっと、元気な子もいましたが、慣れてる人に充てがわれてたので、経験度を見て選んでくれてるようです。

We participated as a family of four. The crew members were all friendly and attentive, making it a comfortable experience. The sunset was beautiful, and we were thrilled to encounter a pod of dolphins!

家族４人で参加しました。クルーの方々がみんな気さくで気がつき、快適でした。
サンセットも綺麗だったし、イルカの群れに遭遇して、感動しました！

On the day of the activity, the weather was nice, and we started a little earlier than planned at 7 AM. It was my first experience kayaking, but the guide was kind and taught us carefully, so I was able to paddle without any issues. The sunrise was beautiful, and it felt great. We also went to a cave, which was thrilling and a lot of fun. I would love to try it again if I have the chance.

当日、天候も良く、予定より少し早い7時からスタートしました。カヤックは初めての経験でしたが、ガイドさんに優しく丁寧に教えていただき、問題なく漕げました。朝日が綺麗で、気持ち良かった。洞窟にも行けました。そこはスリル満点で楽しかったです。また機会があれば乗ってみたいです。

The waves were high since the day before, so I couldn't meet the manta rays. It's a natural occurrence, so there's nothing I can do about it, but I would like to try again next time.

前日から波が高くてマンタに会うことができなかった。
自然の事なので仕方がないのですが、次回またチャレンジしたいと思います。

After the New Year, my wife and I participated in a tour to see manta rays on the Big Island. We set sail from the harbor in Kona in the evening and watched the sunset over the ocean near the airport before entering the water for snorkeling. The light illuminated the dark underwater world, creating a very magical atmosphere as we eagerly waited for the manta rays, but unfortunately, none appeared. Even though we were wearing wetsuits, it was cold at night when we got out, and our fleece jackets were very helpful.

We were informed that if we didn't see any manta rays, we could try again for free, so we later joined a dolphin watching tour on Oahu, where we were able to see dolphins while snorkeling and swim with sea turtles, which was great. Additionally, we were surprised to see two humpback whales breaching multiple times! Next time, I definitely want to see manta rays.

正月明けに、ハワイ島でマンタを見たくて家内と参加しました。
夕方コナのハーバーを出航し、空港の沖で海に沈む夕日を見てからシュノーケリングで海に入りました。暗い水中をライトが照らしてとても幻想的で、ワクワクしながらマンタを待ったのですが、結局一匹も現れませんでした。ウエットスーツを着ていても、上がると夜は寒くてフリースの防寒着が役に立ちました。
一匹も見れなかった時は無料で再チャレンジできるとの事で、私達は後日オアフ島のイルカを見るツアーに参加し、シュノーケリングで!イルカを見たり海亀と泳いだりできたので良かったです。さらにザトウクジラ2匹のブリーチングを何度も見れてビックリ!
次回は是非マンタを見たいですね。

I was really lucky to meet dolphins and whales. However, the waves were rough that day, and I got seasick... I recommend taking motion sickness medication.

イルカやくじらに会うこともできて本当にラッキーでした。
ただその日は波が荒く船酔いに…酔い止めお勧めします

We had a great time on this tour. We were able to see many different places on the island and our tour guide Awana had great knowledge of the island. The tour is a lot of driving but the van is decently comfortable and they have frequent stops to get out and stretch.

Unforgettable experience. Amazing views. Excellent services.

I learned how to surf in English and was able to catch waves right away, which was fun. They also took photos of me.
I recommend wearing a long-sleeve rash guard. I wore a short-sleeve one and ended up getting sunburned.

I signed a waiver at the office and learned about paddling and how to stand up.

Since we were supposed to travel to the lesson location individually, I was thinking of calling a taxi, but a family from LA who was participating in the lesson with me offered me a ride. They seemed to like Japan, and the dad was wearing a T-shirt with Japanese writing on it. I was lucky!

サーフィンを英語で教えてもらいながらしました。すぐ波に乗れて楽しかったです。写真も撮ってくれました。
ラッシュガードは長袖をおすすめします。私は半袖だったので、日焼けしてしまいました。

オフィスで誓約書にサインしたり、パドリングや立ち方を教わりました。

レッスン場所までの移動は各々でということだったので、TAXiを呼ぼうと思ったら、一緒にレッスンに参加していたLAのアメリカ人の御家族が乗せてくれました。日本のことが好きみたいで、パパさんは日本語が書かれていたTシャツを来てました。運が良かった！

My husband and I booked the Deluxe Circle Island Tour with Kailani Tours online @hawaiiactivities.com a few weeks before we left for our 20th anniversary on the Big Island. We loved our driver/tour guide Alana from the beginning...she was so personable, caring and knowledgeable (a former teacher). The Mercedes van was very comfortable for the 7 people on our tour and we were well provided for with plenty of water and snacks (even with my gluten free limitations). The tour was fabulous, from the Kona Joe coffee farm, lunch/tour at Volcanoes Natl Park, amazing Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, all the way to Rainbow Falls (yes, we saw a rainbow there) and beautiful Akaka Falls! It was great to see the highlights of the island at the beginning of our vacation to get the "lei" of the land so to speak, on the Big Island. This way the remainder of our trip could be spent leisurely exploring the Kohala Coast where we were staying. We highly recommend it to everyone!