Page 12) Things to Do in Big Island in 2025 – Tours & Activities | HawaiiActivities.com

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here

All Reviews for Mauna Kea & Stargazing Tours in Big Island

Overall Rating

4.78 4.78 / 5

Reviews

385 reviews

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

summit

Reviewed by: Floyd Wilson

Trip was the best. Food was wonderful. Nate was super. Very knowledgeable. Learned so much. Thank you and we will tell all our friends.

Helpful
Rating:
Packages: Standard Package (until May 28th, 2015)
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2014/04/19
Activity Date: 2014/04/16

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Manua Kea Summit and Stargazing

Reviewed by: Neil Wright

As a family with teenagers this trip catered to our needs. Our trip up the mountain was very good and our stop at the visitors centre for our meal gave us a chance to acclimatize before moving onto the summit. We made it to the summit and saw a wonderful sunset before moving onto some stargazing. Our artic jackets were more than handy and we arrived back in Kona by 11pm.

Helpful
Rating:
Packages: Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner
Attended as: Families
Posted on: 2014/04/16
Activity Date: 2014/04/13

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Expected too Much

Reviewed by: JMC

Good organization but a rather long ride to the top. Stargazing was only so-so. I expected that we would see the stars through one of the observatories located at that top but instead, about 20 of us took turns looking through a kids reflective telescope. Not very exciting. Air is rare up there so be prepared for the possibility of altitude sickness.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2014/01/31

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Spectacular viewing!!

Reviewed by: George and Barbara

We had a great guide Jim. His knowledge of Hawaiian history, plants and wildlife was great. When we were at the Summit with the large world telescope buildings and when we did the viewing of the stars he was excellent there as well.

Highly Recommend this tour.

Helpful
Rating:
Packages: Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2014/01/23
Activity Date: 2014/01/15

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

There were many constellations. 多くの星座があったんだ

Reviewed by: 山田 紀子

Mauna Kea has been called the world's observatory. Nowadays, there are others, like the Hubble Space Telescope floating in space and those in Chile, South America. While in Japan, I knew there were many constellations from star charts, but I couldn't actually see them. When I went to the mountain and darkness fell, the first constellation I saw was Cassiopeia, with five stars visible at a very low position. That's right! This is Hawaii, around 20 degrees north latitude, so the circumpolar stars appear very low. The North Star is also at a height of 20 degrees, while where I live is at 35 degrees north latitude, so it appears at a height of 35 degrees. The Milky Way was clearly visible, and I was once again moved by how many stars there were. The Swan constellation was also clearly visible with the guide's explanation. On the way back in the car, looking east, I saw Orion about to rise from the mountain. The three stars in the middle were vertical to the mountain range. It is known that the three stars of Orion are at a 90-degree angle to the horizon when they rise and set, but this time, participating in this tour, I was able to confirm it for the first time. It was very cold, but there was a service for warm drinks, which was comforting.

マウナケア山は世界の天文台と呼ばれてきた。今ではその他、南米のチリや宇宙に浮いているハッブル望遠鏡もある。日本にいるときは星座早見盤では星座がたくさんあることは知っていたが、実際には見ることができなかった。山に行き、暗闇が訪れ、まず最初に見えたのが、カシオペア座、とても低い位置に5つの星が見えた。そうだ!ここはハワイ、北緯20度ぐらいだから周極性もとても低く見える。北極星も20度の高さ、わたしが住んでいるところは北緯35度だから35度高さに見える。銀河もくっきり見え、あらためて、こんなにも星があったんだ、と感動した。ハクチョウ座もガイドの説明で、きっちり見えた。帰りの車の中で、東の方向をみると、オリオン座が山から今にも登ろうとしていた。真ん中の三つ星が山並みと垂直になっていた。オリオン座の三つ星は、登るときと、沈む時には地平線と90度になることで知られていたが、今回、このツアーに参加して初めて、確認することができた。とても寒かったが、温かい飲み物のサービスがあり、ほっとさせられた。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Packages: ワイコロア地区プラン(2015年12月31日まで)
Attended as: Solo Travelers
Posted on: 2013/12/17
Activity Date: 2013/11/24

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Great Experience!

Reviewed by: William C

The temperature was colder than I expected but the viewing was spectacular!

Helpful
Rating:
Packages: Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner
Attended as: Solo Travelers
Posted on: 2013/12/11
Activity Date: 2013/11/15

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

The best 最高

Reviewed by: miyu

The Japanese tour was fully booked, so I joined this one. There was only one Japanese participant, but the guide was very considerate and tried to understand my broken English, which made it a lot of fun.

日本語ツアーが満杯だったので、こちらに参加しました。日本人一人参加でしたがつたない英語を理解しようとガイドさんが気遣ってくれてとても楽しかったです。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Packages: ワイコロア地区プラン(2015年12月31日まで)
Attended as: Solo Travelers
Posted on: 2013/10/17
Activity Date: 2013/10/13

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

Breathtaking views and valuable experiences 絶景と貴重な体験

Reviewed by: AKIKO

Since all the Japanese tours were fully booked, I was unsure of what to do, but since it was the purpose of my trip, I thought I would manage even though I didn't understand English, and I decided to participate alone. It's necessary to do some research in advance since you have to take a taxi to the meeting point. When I arrived, there were mostly Western couples of various ages. There were a few Japanese people as well, which made me feel a bit more at ease. We traveled by bus to the summit of Mauna Kea, but it gets quite cold along the way, so it's best to dress warmly. We had lunch at a spot where we set up a tent. After that, we continued on a bumpy road, and I was worried about not being able to see the stars due to the fog, but when we reached the top, it cleared up, and we could see the sunset. It was a sensation unlike anything I had experienced before. The oxygen was thin, so it would have been good to bring some candy. After the sun went down, we went to see the stars. The stars were huge and incredibly beautiful. Since it was an English tour, I couldn't understand the explanations at all, but please enjoy the scenery. It was too cold, so I returned to the bus (laughs). I was happy that the driver, Maka, was very kind and attentive. We returned around 11 PM, and it was helpful that they dropped me off at my hotel. It was a valuable experience, and I really enjoyed it.

日本語ツアーがどれも満員だった為、どうしようと思いましたが、今回の旅の目的だったので英語がわからなったかですが、何とかなるかなと1人でしたが思いきって参加しました。集合場所までタクシーでいかないといけないのであらかじめ下調べは必要です。着いてからは殆ど欧米のカップル(年齢はバラバラ)でした。日本人も何組かいたので少し安心しました。全てバスでマウナケアの山頂までいくのですが、途中かなり寒くなるので防寒対策は上下しっかりしていった方がいいです。途中テントを張ったとこでゴハンを食べます。その後は、ガタガタした道を進んでいくのですが霧で前が見えなく、星が見えるのか心配してましたが、頂上にいくと一気に晴れ夕焼けが見えます。今までに見た事のない感覚でした。酸素も薄くなるので飴など持っていった方がよかったです。日が沈んでから星を見に行きます。星が大きくすごくきれいでした。英語ツアーなので説明は全くわからなかったですが景色を堪能して下さい。寒すぎてバスに戻りましたが(笑)ドライバーのmakaさんがとても優しく気にかけてくれたので嬉しかったです。帰りは23時くらいですがホテルまてま送ってくれたので助かりました。貴重な体験ができすごくよかったです。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Packages: カイルアコナ地区プラン / 催行会社オフィス集合<2015年6月12日まで>
Attended as: Solo Travelers
Posted on: 2013/10/02
Activity Date: 2013/09/26

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Mauna Kea

Reviewed by: Kathy

It was a once in a lifetime experience. It's very cold up at the summit, but the sunset and stargazing were worth it. The only complaint I had was that the dinner (vegetable lasagna) was terrible.

Helpful
Rating:
Packages: Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2013/07/01
Activity Date: 2013/06/04

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Mauna Kea lived up to my expectatio

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

I expected this trip would be a magical chance to get to stand "on top of the world" and watch the sunset and see the stars. It was indeed spectacular. The stargazing portion was really geared towards people who are absolute astronomy beginners, so if youre an amateur astronomer you'll be a little disappointed that you don't get to see more. But the guides were great the whole time giving a great history of the Big Island ranging from botany to politics to Volcano development. Don't expect a very lively time, if you're there as an individual it's a quiet, lonely world up there. but would be great as an adventurous couple to see something totally out of the ordinary.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Posted on: 2013/01/31

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Great Trip on New Year's Eve

Reviewed by: Steve Frey

Our guide provided a trip filled with interesting history, fun facts, and a great stargazing discussion! Probably the best activity we did on our Big Island vacation.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Posted on: 2013/01/19

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

I had a different experience compared to the Japanese tour. 日本語ツアーとは違った体験ができました

Reviewed by: 匿名希望

The Japanese tour was fully booked, so my family participated in this one. The tour guide spoke English at a relentless speed, so I couldn't understand the detailed explanations, but I was very satisfied to see the sunset above the sea of clouds and an unexpectedly beautiful starry sky.

Many of the other participants were middle-aged individuals from the mainland United States, and everyone was very sociable, which made for an interesting experience in that sense.

There were meal options at a mountain lodge along the way, but I think everyone ended up eating chicken. At the top of the mountain, someone felt a bit unwell, but there were oxygen tanks available, so they recovered partway through. Since the travel was only by car, there was no physical activity at all.

During the stargazing, the explanations were thorough, but the cold really hit me. It's best to prepare as much warm clothing as possible. It might have been even better if I had studied the stars in advance. It was my first time seeing so many clear stars.

 日本語ツアーが満席だったので家族でこちらに参加しました。
 ツアーガイドさんは容赦ないスピードの英語でしたので詳しい説明は理解できませんでしたが、雲海の上の夕日と期待以上の満天の星空をみることができたのでとても満足しました。
 他の参加者はアメリカ本土の中年の方が多く、みなさんとても社交的でいろいろ話ができて、そういった意味でもおもしろい体験ができました。
 途中の山小屋のようなところでの食事は事前に選択肢がありましたが、結果的にみなチキンを食べていたと思います。
 山の上では、少し具合が悪くなった方がいましたが、酸素ボンベが準備してあったので途中から復活していました。車での移動だけなので運動量はまったくなかったです。
 天体観測のときは、じっくり説明をしてもらえるので理解できないこともあり寒さが身にしみました。できる限りの防寒具を用意していったほうがよいです。
 事前に星の勉強をしていけばもっとよかったかもしれません。あんなにたくさんのはっきりとした星を見たのは初めてです。
 
 

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Posted on: 2012/11/23

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Travel Agent

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

We had Nate as our tour guide, he did a wonderful job. We learned
about about the Hawaii, Observatories, and stars. He enjoys his job and it shows. Would recommend this tour to those in good health with no lung issues. It was amazing to be at 13,700+ feet.
Star gazing was fun with all the information presented.
Dinner was good. Would recommend this tour.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2012/11/18

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

The English tour is also enjoyable! 英語ツアーもまた楽し!

Reviewed by: Tatsuru

I believe that most of the Japanese participants in this tour were those who couldn't book a Japanese-language tour. I would like to share the details of the tour.

The tour began with participants being picked up in a large Land Cruiser, and the guide provided explanations through a microphone while driving. There were about 16 participants in total, and the vehicle was full. There was one young couple, but the rest were middle-aged couples from English-speaking countries. Among them, my spouse and I were the only Japanese. At the start of the tour, the guide introduced each participant, and we responded when our first names were called.

After about an hour, we stopped at a former ranch site for a break. There were portable toilets available. The main dishes, snacks, and drinks that we had selected during registration were distributed, and we enjoyed an early dinner around a table inside a tent. After that, we were handed bottled water and warm clothing (just jackets). We drove along a steep, bumpy road, enjoying views of the sea of clouds as we headed for the summit. We arrived at the top about an hour before sunset; it was drizzling below, but here it was beautifully clear. We visited the observatory from the outside, took photos, and watched the setting sun.

After it got dark, we moved to the mountainside, warmed up with the snacks and cocoa we were given, and finally began stargazing using lasers and telescopes. It was an hour of enjoying the starry sky and the Milky Way. Finally, we stopped at the Onizuka Visitor Center to use the restroom and buy souvenirs before heading home.

I had heard in advance that it would be quite cold, so I brought a lot of clothes, but it wasn't cold at all on the day of the tour. I think if you're going on a sunset tour from April to October, you don't need to worry too much about the cold. Also, no one in our tour group had any issues with altitude sickness. A flashlight was very helpful; each person should have one as a necessity.

The guide's English was fast-paced, almost like a DJ, making it difficult for us to catch everything. I believe there was an explanation of the overall schedule at the beginning of the tour, but I couldn't understand it. I managed to pick up on keywords and follow along with the group. For those taking an English tour, I think it would be helpful to study the English names of constellations and stars in advance to assist with comprehension.

こういうツアーに参加される日本人の方々は、ほとんどが日本語ツアーをとれなかったので、という方々だと思います。ツアーの様子をお伝え出来ればと思います。
ツアーの流れは大型のランドクルーザーで参加者をピックアップし、その後ガイド氏が、運転をしながら道中色々とマイクで説明をして進んで行きます。参加者は全部で16人位だったかと思います。満席でした。
一組だけ若いカップルがいましたが、後はみな英語圏の中年のカップルでした。その中で、日本人は我々夫婦だけでした。ツアーの始まりにガイドさんから一人一人参加者の紹介がありました。ファーストネームを呼ばれたら返事をします。

1時間ほどして、途中牧場跡地で車を降りて、休憩を取ります。仮設トイレもあります。申込時に選んでおいたメインディッシュ、お菓子、飲み物等が配られ、テントの中のテーブルを囲んでの早めの夕食です。その後、ボトルに入った水と防寒服(上着のみ)が手渡されます。急こう配のでこぼこ道を走り、途中雲海を眺めたりしながら山頂を目指します。サンセットの1時間ぐらい前に山頂に到着、下界は小雨でしたが、ここは綺麗に晴れていました。外観からの天文台見学をしたり、写真を撮ったりしながら、沈みゆく夕日を眺めました。

暗くなってから山の中腹に移動し、配られたお菓子とココアで暖まった後、いよいよレーザーと天体望遠鏡を使っての星空観測です。満天の星と天の川を堪能した1時間でした。最後に鬼塚ビジターセンターでトイレを済ませ、お土産を買って帰路につきました。
事前の情報ではかなり寒いように聞いたので、服をいっぱい持っていきましたが、当日は全然寒くありませんでした。4月~10月頃のサンセットツアーなら寒さには神経質にならなくても良いのではと思います。また、いわゆる高山病についても私たちのツアーでは全員問題ありませんでした。役に立ったのは懐中電灯です。1人1個は必需品です。
ガイドさんの英語は、ちょうどDJのようなノリで早口でした。我々の力では聞き取るのは難しかったです。ツアーの始めに全体のスケジュール説明もあったとは思いますが、わかりませんでした。
空気を感じ取って、かろうじてキーワードを聞き取り、何とか団体行動について行きました。英語ツアーの場合は、事前に星座や星について英語名を憶え勉強しておくと、聞き取りの手助けになろうかと思いま

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2012/11/06

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Good trip that could have perfect

Reviewed by: Larry

The food was not very good this time. I didn't get the choice I requested on their website (beef) and instead got cold/dry chicken. I went with Forest and Trails since I used them for this tour the last time I was on the Big Island. The last time we stopped near the Ranger station and were allowed to go in and look at the exhibits, this time we parked in a remote corner and were too far away. The views were amazing and well worth the little issues that came up.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families
Posted on: 2012/09/19

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Hawaii Eco Tour - Mauna Kea Summit

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

We had a wonderful guide/driver. She really gave us a lot of information on the way up and at the site. It was nice to not drive or worry about packing warm weather gear. Well worth the money. And the meal was very good and filling.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2012/08/14

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Great evening under the stars

Reviewed by: Lindsay

My husband and I enjoyed our afternoon/evening learning all about Mauna Kea and the journey up the mountain. Our tour guide was wonderful and knowledgeable.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2012/08/06

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

Shooting stars are flowing everywhere. 流れ星流れまくり

Reviewed by: 匿名希望

I don't think you can see so many stars anywhere else in Japan. It was really cold, but both the sunset and the starry sky were incredibly beautiful.

Since I'm not very knowledgeable about stars, I think I only understood about half of the explanations in English. I couldn't book a Japanese tour, so I went with this one, but I wish I had studied a bit before going.

日本であんなに星がいっぱいみれることはないと思います。
すごく寒かったけど、サンセットも星空もすごくきれいでした。

星に詳しくないのもあり、英語での説明は半分ぐらいしか理解できてないと思います。
日本語のツアーが取れなかったので、こちらにしたのですが、行く前に少しは勉強していけばよかったと思うぐらいです。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families
Posted on: 2012/07/30

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Expensive-drive if you can

Reviewed by: MEFDenver

My husband and I have driven in the mountains for 40 plus years but booked this because we were led to believe it was difficult to get a permit to go up to Mauna Kea Summit in a private vehicle. If you are used to altitude and drive in the mountains, don't pay for this. The meal was only so-so though I realize if you are not used to living at altitude you don't want a heavy meal when you do the ascent as you do not have the extra red blood cells most of us who live at 6,000+ feet carry. The guide was okay but on the highway he drove way too slow. It really was not worth the price to us. It would be great if it was the only way you would be at the summit as seeing the sunset there was awesome. Our driver led us to believe that rental car companies would not allow you to drive a rental car up it. But, when we returned our car to the airport to leave we found out that was not the case (at least with our company). There is part of the road that is unpaved but it was graded and r

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2012/07/23

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Breathtaking

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

This was my husband's favorite excursion. Our guide was very knowledgeable. The views from the summit are breathtaking and well worth the effort.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Posted on: 2012/07/01

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

It's amazing sky!!!

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Nearly 14000 fts above sea level. You will able to see very beautiful sky!!! The tour guide has wonderful knowledge about stars positions. It's worth it.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Posted on: 2012/04/04

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Great Idea!

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Loved the tour. The clouds dissipated in time for sunset and we had perfect timing for stargazing - got to actually see the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. The tour guide was knowledgeable and very personable. If I was going back to Hawaii, I would do this all over again. Highly recommended, as it is a once in a life time opportunity.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Posted on: 2011/12/22

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Saw the Most Stars Ever

Reviewed by: Tanya W

Overall, this was fun.The main guide was knowledgeable and really knew his constellations. One negative was they should have had the single guy sit by the guide and let my husband & I sit together.They both ended up yelling to each other across the aisle over me on the drive back.

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2011/11/04

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

It was the right choice compared to other tours. 他のツアーより正解でした

Reviewed by: 井上 美紀

Jon, our guide and driver, was very pleasant. Although the Fairmont Hotel was not on the list for drop-offs, he took us there. I was worried about transportation to the hotel late at night, but this unexpected service was a great help.

Additionally, for stargazing, even after the other group of Japanese participants finished early, he said that Jupiter would soon be rising and showed us Jupiter. Since only the English tour was available, it was a reluctant choice, but I was fortunate to have booked this one.

It was also cheaper than the tours aimed at Japanese participants, so I recommend this option for those who are considering it.

ガイド兼ドライバーの Jon さんが感じ良かった。
フェアモントホテルは帰りの送りの対象ではなかったのに送ってくれました。深夜のホテルまでの足を心配してましたが
思いがけないサービスに助かりました。

また星空観察も他の日本人のみのグループが早々と終了した後も、まもなく木星が登ってくるといって木星まで見せてくれました。英語ツアーしか残ってなかったのでやむをえず?の選択でしたが、ここを申し込んだことがかえって幸いしました。

日本人向けのツアーよりお安めでしたし、これからの方はこちらをお勧めします。

Reply from activity provider

Thank you for participating. I'm very glad to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful nature of the Big Island and created wonderful memories.

Regarding the hotel transfer for your return, there are some areas where we cannot provide transfers, but since it will be late at night, we will do our best to accommodate as many customers as possible. While I cannot guarantee it, please request a return transfer if needed.

We hope to see you again on the Big Island.

Mahalo!

参加していただきありがとうございました。ハワイ島の美しい自然を楽しんでいただき、素敵な思い出を作っていただいたようでとても嬉しいです。
帰りのホテル送迎については、送迎できないエリアのホテルもございますが夜遅くなるので出来る限りお客様を送迎できるよう努めています。確約できませんが、もし帰りの送迎が必要な場合はリクエストしてください。

またハワイ島に遊びにきてください。

マハロ!

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful 1
Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Posted on: 2011/09/30

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

It was wonderful! 素晴らしかった☆

Reviewed by: anyo

We participated as a couple on September 24, 2011. Since other Japanese tours were fully booked, we opted for this English-guided tour, and it turned out to be more enjoyable for my husband, who grew up in an English-speaking environment.

The sunset viewed from the summit of Mauna Kea was incredibly beautiful and elegant, almost otherworldly. The sea of clouds spread out below us, and the pink-hued scenery was a special sight that is hard to find in Japan. The summit is indeed at an altitude of 4,000 meters, so it felt a bit suffocating, but I didn't experience altitude sickness.

After the sunset, we descended to the visitor center for stargazing, where we saw an astonishing number of stars. We were overwhelmed by the sheer number of stars. It was truly moving, and we were also fortunate to see the Milky Way due to the season.

Although it's not a cheap tour, I believe that if it's your first trip to the Big Island, you should definitely go on this Mauna Kea summit and stargazing tour.

As for the English guide, he explained everything very well and showed us various stars through a telescope. We had a longer stargazing session compared to other Japanese guided tours, and ultimately, our tour was the last to stay at the visitor center.

If you decide to join this English tour, it might be less enjoyable if you don't speak any English at all. I understood about 60-70% of it, but since it was aimed at foreigners, there were some specialized terms that I didn't understand (laughs). My husband helped translate, which was a relief.

The guide, Joe, was considerate and reached out to the Japanese participants, so I think it would be worth trying for those who have some familiarity with English.

Make sure to prepare for the cold. We brought down jackets and hiking pants from Japan, and additionally, we had snowboard layer pants to wear underneath. Even so, I ended up layering with a jacket borrowed from the tour company (it was quite cold during the stargazing part as the sun set and it got chilly).

This tour did not include hotel pickup, so it was a bit of a hassle to gather at the tour company.

Overall, I think we participated in a very good tour. I would love to go again.

2011年9月24日に夫婦2人で参加しました。他の日本語ツアーが満席だったのでこの英語ガイドツアーにしましたが、小さい頃から英語圏で育った主人には、逆にこちらの外人向けツアーの方が自由がきいて楽しかったようです。

マウナケア山頂から眺める夕日は、この世のものとは思えないほど綺麗で優雅でした。雲海が眼下に広がり、桃色にそまる光景は、なかなか日本では見れない特別な景色でした。山頂はやはり4000m級の山なので、息苦しい感じがしましたが、高山病にはなりませんでした。
夕日のあと、visitor centerまで降りて、星空観察しましたが、とてつもないほどの星の数が見れました。あまりの星数に、夫婦で圧倒されてしまいました。本当に感動的でしたし、季節的にも天の川も見れて良かったです。

安くはないツアーですが、初めてのハワイ島旅行なら、このマウナケア山頂&星空観察ツアーだけは行ったほうが良いと思います。

肝心の英語ガイドですが、とてもよく説明してくれましたし、望遠鏡でさまざまな星を見せてくれました。他の日本語ガイドツアーより長く星空観察してくれて、結局私達のツアーが最後までvisitor centerに居ました。

この英語ツアーに参加する場合は、やはり英語がまったくできないと楽しさも半減してしまうかも知れません。私も6~7割くらい理解できましたが、やはり外人向けなので、星の詳しい内容など分からない専門用語もチラホラ(苦笑)主人が通訳してくれたので助かりましたが。
ガイドのJoeさんは、日本人にも心配りで声を掛けてくれてましたし、英語に多少なじみのある方ならトライしてみても良いかと思います。

防寒対策はしっかりした方がいいです。私達は日本からダウンジャケットや登山用ズボンを持っていき、さらにズボンの下に履くスノーボード用のレイヤーパンツを持っていきました。それでも、私は、ツアー会社から借りたジャケットを重ね着したくらいです。(星空ツアーの時が、日が沈み底冷えするので寒かったです)

このツアーはホテルピックアップ付きではなかったので、集合はツアー会社まで行くのが少々面倒でした。

総合的にみて、とても良いツアーに参加できたと思います。
また行ってみたいです。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2011/09/28

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

It was good. 良かったです

Reviewed by: トマト

I applied for this tour because other companies' Japanese guided tours were already fully booked on the desired date. There was no pickup from our hotel, so we had to make our way to the nearest pickup point, Waikoloa Village (which is not a problem if you have a rental car). When we arrived, there were several Japanese participants as well.

Along the way, we had a light meal in a tent at a former ranch site. The beef soup was delicious. After that, we took another restroom break at the visitor center. We made several stops for photo opportunities as we headed to the summit. They lend you proper warm clothing, but it was still quite cold. However, the sight of the sunset beyond the sea of clouds was majestic.

After sunset, we descended to the area near the visitor center to observe the starry sky. The guide provided various explanations, but it can be quite challenging to understand without a certain level of English proficiency. Nevertheless, the overwhelming beauty of the starry sky remains unchanged, so it's not a major issue. Overall, I think it was a great tour that offered an experience I wouldn't normally have.

参加希望日に他社の日本語ガイドツアーが既に一杯だったため、本ツアーに申し込みました。
我々の宿泊ホテルでのピックアップはない、とのことで最寄のピックアップポイントであるワイコロアビレッジまでは自力で移動(レンタカーのある方なら問題なし)。
行ってみると日本人の方も数組参加されていた。
途中、中腹の牧場跡地にてテント内での軽食。ビーフスープが美味。
その後ビジターセンターにて再びトイレ休憩。
そして数回写真撮影のためのストップを挟みつつ山頂へ。
しっかりした防寒着を貸して貰えるがそれでもかなりの寒さ。とはいえ雲海の彼方に夕日が沈んでいく光景は荘厳であった。
日没後ビジターセンター付近まで降りて満点の星空を観測。
ガイドさんが色々と解説してくれるのだが、ある程度英語力がないと理解するのはなかなかしんどい。でも圧倒的な星空の素晴らしさはなんら変わらないので大きな問題ではない。
全体的には普段できない経験ができて良いツアーだったと思う。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2011/09/25

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

Mauna Kea Sunset Tour マウナケアサンセットツアー

Reviewed by: 匿名希望

This was our second time participating, along with my aunt and uncle who joined for the first time. I was a bit anxious about the English tour, but the guide was kind, and it seemed that we were able to bond with the other two Japanese couples participating, as we cooperated with each other during the English tour.

Unfortunately, due to bad weather, we couldn't observe the stars, but later, through Alan1.net, we received a message from the tour company stating that they would refund half of the tour fee because we couldn't observe the stars due to the weather. I was surprised that they would offer a refund, as I didn't expect it. I appreciate their sincere response.

今回2度目の私たち夫婦と初めての叔母夫婦と参加しました。
英語のツアーで不安もありましたが、ガイドさんも親切で
また他に参加されていた日本人の方2組とも、かえって英語ツアーなので日本人同士協力して仲良くなれたような気がします。

残念ながら天候不良の為、星空は観察できませんでしたが、
後日Alan1.netさんを通して、ツアー会社から連絡があり、
天候不良で星空観察できなかったので、ツアーの代金の半額を返金してくださるとのこと。返金していただけるとは思っていなかったので驚きました。
誠意ある対応に感謝します。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Posted on: 2011/09/23

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

I was moved by the bright red sunset and countless stars! 真っ赤な夕日と無数の星に感動!

Reviewed by: 匿名希望

About ten days before my trip, I made several inquiries to book a tour, but since all the Japanese tours were fully booked, I decided to join this one.

I can't really recommend it for those who don't understand English at all, but if you're okay with explanations in English, I definitely encourage you to participate.

We met at the designated spot around 2 PM and traveled by car with the guide. There were about ten people in our group. We drove along Saddle Road for about two hours and took a break at the foot of Mauna Kea to prevent altitude sickness while having dinner. I heard that the Japanese tour provides bento boxes, but this tour offered corn bread and either beef or vegetable soup (a bit light, but tasty). After about an hour's break, we continued driving up.

We arrived at the summit just before sunset and had about 30 minutes to enjoy the view. The temperature felt below zero... it was quite cold, but they provided winter jackets and gloves, so it was manageable.

After the sunset, we descended a bit to stargaze. The stars are quite beautiful even with the naked eye, and the guide provided detailed explanations of the constellations using a telescope. We stood outside for nearly an hour and a half, so it was very cold. They also served hot cocoa and cookies, but I recommend bringing a hat and hand warmers if you're sensitive to the cold.

This tour, with its fiery sunset and countless stars, including many shooting stars, is something you can never experience in Japan, so I absolutely recommend it! If you're prone to altitude sickness or get motion sickness, please take medication beforehand.

旅行の10日ほど前に予約をしようといくつか問い合わせをしましたが、日本語のツアーが全ていっぱいだったためこちらに参加しました。
英語が全く分からない方にとってはあまりオススメはできませんが、説明が英語でも問題ない方は是非こちらに参加してみてください。
2時ごろ集合場所に車で行き、そこからガイドさんの車で移動。参加人数は1グループにつき10人ほど。
2時間ほどサドル・ロードをひたすら走り、マウナ・ケアの麓で夕食がてら高山病予防のため休憩。日本語のツアーはお弁当が出るそうですが、このツアーはコーン・ブレッドとビーフか野菜のスープ(少し物足りないですが美味しいです)。1時間ほど休憩して、また一気に車であがります。
頂上には太陽が沈む直前につき、30分くらい景色を眺める時間があります。体感温度は0度以下です・・・かなり寒いですが、ちゃんと冬用のジャケットと手袋を貸してくれるので大丈夫です。
夕日のあとは少し山を下って星を見ます。裸眼でもかなりキレイに見えますが、望遠鏡も使いながら星座の説明を詳しくしてくれます。1時間半近く外で立っているのでかなり寒いです。ホットココアとクッキーも出ますが、寒さに弱い人は帽子とホッカイロを持参することをオススメします。

燃えるような夕日と無数の星、流れ星もたくさん見えるこのツアーは日本では決して体験できないので絶対オススメです!高山病になりやすい方や乗り物酔いをする方は予め薬を飲んでから参加してください。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2011/09/23

マウナケア山頂 サンセット&星空観測ツアー <午後/天体望遠鏡/夕食付/英語ガイド> by ハワイフォレスト&トレイル

It was a wonderful view. 素晴らしい景色でした

Reviewed by: maki

As everyone mentioned, it was a wonderful sunset, just as the rumors said. It was my first time seeing so many stars, and I was truly moved. The Milky Way and shooting stars were beautifully visible.

I thought the 1:30 PM meeting time was early, but considering everyone's health, I understood the schedule after it was over. The beef stew for dinner was delicious, and it had an outdoor vibe, but it might be a bit tough for those who aren't fond of the outdoors.

We had dinner at 5 PM, and we returned after 11 PM, so it might be a good idea to bring some snacks for the night.

Also, it is really cold. Personally, I felt it was colder than winter in Japan, so please make sure to dress warmly.

皆さんのコメント通り、噂通りの素晴らしいサンセットでした。
あんな沢山の星を見たのも初めてですし、感動しっぱなしでした。
ミルキーウェイも流れ星も綺麗に見えました。

13:30の集合は早いのでは?と思ったのですが、体調の事を考えてのスケジュールだったので、終わってみてから納得しました。
夕ご飯のビーフシチューも美味しくて、アウトドアな感じで頂くのですが、アウトドアが苦手な方ならちょっと辛いかもしれません。。

17時にご飯を食べて、戻ってくるのが23時過ぎなので、何か夜食を用意して行かれた方が良いかもしれません。

あと、本当に寒いです。
個人的に日本の冬よりも寒い気がしましたので、本気で防寒して下さいね。

Translated by OpenAI
Show original Translate
Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Families
Posted on: 2011/09/21

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Do this!

Reviewed by: Kim&Geoff

We were on our honeymoon, looking for something to do, this was so unique! Who would of thought we would be in a parka in Hawaii! Pick this company! There were many up there, but these guys did it best, so thankful we paid a bit more and got an awesome experience. Staff was wonderful, thank you!

Helpful
Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Posted on: 2011/09/04
  Top Destinations

Hawaiian Islands

Big Island Categories