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Big Island
We really enjoyed our full day tour filled with waterfalls, visiting volcanoes national park and capping it off with a stargazing tour at the end. Our guide was good but would have liked him to relate more of his stories to our grandaughter. When we did the stargazing, he was great. You could tell this was his passion.
It was the best experience of my life.
The stunning sunset and the starry sky!
There was only one other group of Japanese participants with us, but they followed up in Japanese, which made me so happy I could cry.
I also got to take a lot of wonderful photos.
If I have the chance again, I would definitely like to participate.
Thank you very much.
人生で最高の体験でした。
圧巻のサンセットと満点の天空！
日本人参加者は私たちともう一組だけでしたが、キチンと日本語でフォローしてくれて涙が出るほど嬉しかったです。
また素敵な写真を沢山撮ってもらいました。
また機会があったら是非参加したいです。
本当にありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
My family included two children and two seniors; thus reserved this trip as it was less strenuous (lower altitude, shorter time). Thought we'd see some stars and hear some stories, and was worried whether my family members would find it interesting.
Actual experience threw my expectations out the window. We usually see stars in pictures, in a way that makes them feel abstract and unreal. The way James showed us the stars made them feel so real and close. And it was totally awesome not just for me, but for everyone! We did quite a few activities on the island, and this was easily the most memorable.
One piece of advice; it is very very cold up there. I wore my pajamas under my pants and the thick down jacket James gave me, but was still shivering after about an hour. Dress very warmly, cuz this is worth it!
There were about 20 participants on the day of the tour, but we were the only two Japanese people. Naturally, the guide spoke in English, but the guide, Syoyo, took the time to explain various things to us in Japanese, allowing us to have a very enjoyable time. We were also told about a popular hamburger place, and we went there right away to try it. It was as delicious as they said! Thank you so much for a wonderful time.
ツアー当日の参加者は20名ほどでしたが、日本人は私たち２人だけでした。
当然ガイドは英語になるのですが、それでもガイドのsyoyoさんは私たちだけに日本語で個別に色々説明してくれて、とても楽しい時間を過ごす事が出来ました。
評判のハンバーガー屋さんも教えてもらい、早速行って食べてみました。
評判通り、とても美味しかった！
素敵な時間を本当にありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
This trip was such a convenient way to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I think it can be a bit daunting when planning trips to the different islands for the first time especially considering location of places, terrain, the type of vehicle you may need, parking, and the length of the trip. So I would say this is a great way to get a taste for a bunch of different activities to do on the big island.
It will take about 13 hours to complete the whole trip and the temp will be warm during the day and cold at night so be prepared. Luckily the company does provide windbreakers and fleece jackets for the cooler temperatures. Our tour guide Aaron was great! He was very friendly and helpful. He is very knowledgeable about the history, environment, landscape, and so much more! Thanks so much for touring us around, Aaron. We appreciate it so much.
We were blessed with wonderful sunsets and starry skies thanks to the weather and moon phase. The tour was primarily in English, but our guide Shoyo kindly explained everything in Japanese as well. Taking commemorative photos under the starry sky can be challenging for amateurs, but the guide took amazing pictures with his mirrorless camera. The sandwiches and warm drinks provided along the way were also very delicious.
We received information about nighttime Kilauea sightseeing, and we were able to enjoy the tour without any issues. We made the best memories on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you very much!
天候と月齢に恵まれて素晴らしいサンセットと星空を見ることができました。ツアーは英語主体でしたが、ガイドのShoyoさんが日本語でも丁寧に説明してくださいました。星空での記念撮影は素人には難しいですが、ガイドさんご自身のミラーレス一眼で素晴らしい写真を撮っていただきました。途中に提供していただける軽食のサンドイッチや温かい飲み物もとてもおいしかったです。
夜のキラウエア観光の情報も教えていただき、無事に観光することができました。ハワイ島で最高の思い出ができました。本当にありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
Todd was great, he went out of his way to make it a great experience for us. He set up his own telescope for the group to get a good look at the stars and moon. He was very knowledgeable and extremely patient. We were also lucky enough to catch the eruption making the trip really great
Bundle up and enjoy one of the most unique experiences in Hawaii. The tour ran in a very timely fashion starting with the pickup time and getting to all the sites on site. Our guide was very informative but didn't overwhelm us with information either. The view of the sunset and stargazing just speak for themselves. Nothing short of spectacular and definitely a worthwhile experience.
Stefan was very kind and guided us thoroughly, taking many photos as well. I will definitely repeat this next time I come to the Big Island.
丁寧にステファンさんがガイドして頂き、写真も沢山撮影して頂きました。
次回ハワイ島へ来たらリピートします。
Translated by OpenAI
Travis was phenomenal. Knew so much about the island as well as space facts. Definitely worth the price and time.
We had hoped the weather would clear, but, unfortunately, despite our tour guide’s best efforts to find some clearing, we were beaten by the weather. Our guide, Hunter, was extremely knowledgeable and tried really hard to wait for some sign of being able to observe anything, but had to cancel with no luck. I can imagine it would have been spectacular to see and hear the wealth of information he would have been able to provide if we could have seen it.
You should definitely do this tour. This is the best stargazing tour! I was trying to book the other tours but because of our location it would of required us to drive across the island to meet up and then gather with others to ride together to stargaze. It was like a 7 or 8 hour tour. I chose this tour because we could pick a time slot and just meet and stargaze and the tour was only 2 hours AND with a photo. On our way it was pouring rain. We thought the tour would be canceled. But James sent us a new location. There was no rain and perfect place to be in awe of all of the stars we would be able to see. His knowledge of astronomy and his professional photography made the experience more memorable. I didn't think that much of the photo we would receive. But after getting the photo was was in awe!! We was not only able to learn so much about astronomy, but we was able to have the best souvenir of our experience!
The sunset was partly obscured by clouds, but it was still a wonderful sky that made me forget the chilly atmosphere. And the starry sky was simply amazing, with so many stars that it was breathtaking. The explanations of the constellations were clear and enjoyable, which left me very satisfied. My son was also happy to learn how to take photos with a DSLR camera. Thank you very much. The sandwiches, which should not be forgotten, were delicious as well. I would love to participate again when I come back to the Big Island of Hawaii. Next time, I hope to catch the sunset perfectly!
サンセットは雲が出て余り見れなかったのですが
それでも幻想的な寒さを忘れる素敵な空でした。
そして何と言っても星空は素晴らしいあまりにも沢山の星達に圧巻でした。星座の説明もわかりやすく楽しく教えてくれて大満足です。
息子は一眼レフのカメラでの写真の撮り方も教えてもらえて喜んでいました。
本当にありがとうございました。
忘れては行けないサンドウィッチも美味しかった。
またハワイ島に来たら参加したいです。今度はサンセットもバッチリなときに！
Translated by OpenAI
The Mauna Kea sunset had a bit more clouds, and we couldn't see the stars due to the full moon, but we were able to witness the eruption of Mauna Loa up close. Thank you so much, Sue, for the wonderful images and videos!
マウナケアサンセットはやや雲多め、満月で⭐️は観えませんでしたが、マウナロアの噴火を間近で観ることができました。
素敵な画像や動画も頂き、スーさん本当にありがとうございました
Translated by OpenAI
It was amazing. This sums it up perfectly.
I extended my trip to the Big Island specifically for this tour, and it was definitely worth it.
Since returning home, I have already recommended it to several acquaintances.
The guide took photos for us, which were shared for free on the spot. They were also very accommodating with photo requests.
The explanations during the tour were in English, but necessary information was also provided in Japanese, so I think it would be no problem even for those who are not good at English.
The sandwiches and hot cocoa we had along the way were very comforting.
Thank you, Shouyou.
The conversations during the ride back were also very enjoyable.
最高でした。この一言に尽きます。
このツアーに参加する事を目的にハワイ島まで足を伸ばしたのですが、その甲斐は十分にありました。
帰国後、もう何人もの知人に勧めています。
ガイドさんが撮影してくれた写真は、その場で無料で共有いただけました。撮影リクエストにも快く対応してくださいます。
道中での説明は英語でしたが、必要な情報は別途日本語でも説明があるので、英語が苦手でも全く問題ないと思います。
途中で頂いたサンドイッチやホットココアもとても沁みました。
Shouyouさん、ありがとうございました。
帰りの車中での会話もとても楽しかったです。
Translated by OpenAI
Arthur gave us an incredible experience. With his knowledge of geology and astrology plus history of island we learned more than we expected. We felt we could not have asked for more in the planetarium and stargazing. The telescope was an exception experience. I will be recommending your company.
It was our first time on the Big Island, so my husband and I participated in two tours. Since it was our first time booking an overseas tour individually from Japan, we were a bit anxious, but we received email confirmations before departure, which made us feel at ease for the day.
On the day of the tour, we had a wonderful time at the summit of Mauna Kea with our guide, a bright young man named Stephan. There were 13 Japanese participants, so the entire tour was conducted in Japanese. It was very cold at the summit, but we were moved by the incredible sunset. We took many commemorative photos together, and enjoyed warm cocoa to warm up. We also got to see the moon and Saturn through a telescope. However, what surprised me even more was seeing satellites moving here and there! That was astonishing.
The next day, we had a knowledgeable young guide named Moana for the Kilauea Volcano. Since it was just the two of us, we were able to hear many interesting stories in Japanese. The bright red volcanic smoke from Kilauea was breathtaking. The starry sky at the foot of the mountain was also wonderful. That day, we saw the moon and Jupiter through a telescope, and took a lovely commemorative photo in front of the constellation Cassiopeia. We took many commemorative photos at each location we visited.
Participating in these tours over two days was a very meaningful and valuable experience for us. I would like to join this tour again in a different season. I am grateful to the two guides who took care of us. Thank you very much (ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈).
初めてのハワイ島でしたので、夫婦で2つのツアーに参加しました。
日本から初めて個人で海外ツアーの申し込みをしたので、不安でしたが出発前にメールの確認があり安心して当日を迎えることができました。
当日は明るい青年ステファンのガイドでマウナケア山頂とっても楽しかったです。
この日は日本人13名のツアーでしたので、全て日本語でガイドしていただきました。
山頂はとっても寒かったですが、素晴らしいサンセットを見ることができ感動。2人の記念写真もたくさん撮ってもらいました。そして暖かいココアにホッコリ。
天体望遠鏡で月・土星を見せてもらいました。
でも、それより驚いたのは衛星があちらこちらで動いてる！これには驚きました。
翌日は博識の青年モアナのガイドでキラウエア火山。
2人のみの参加でしたので、日本語でたくさんの興味深いお話を聞かせて頂きました。
キラウエアの真っ赤な噴煙は感動でした。
山麓の星空も素晴らしかったです。
この日は天台望遠鏡で月・木星を見せてもらいました。
そしてカシオペア座の前で素敵な記念写真。
行く先々でたくさんの記念写真を撮影してもらいました。
2日間に渡りこちらのツアーに参加させていただき、とても有意義で貴重な体験をすることが出来ました。
季節を変えて、またこのツアーに参加したいと思っています。
お世話になったガイドの2人に感謝。ありがとうございました(ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)
Translated by OpenAI
It was nice and cold at the summit, but the provided clothes helped a lot. Guide was informative although not nice. The bus to the top is very old and has a poor seating arrangement of mostly rows of three, so couples will be separated. Additionally, if you are separated on the way up, the guide will specifically force you to be separated on the way down in order to preserve your initial seats.
I have an egg allergy and specifically requested egg free food, yet the sandwich I was provided had mayonnaise and I was left with no other options.
The summit was a nice tour but I would recommend a different company. The other buses we saw were much nicer.
Gorgeous stars holy goodness!!!! It is cold but they have some bundling clothes
Awesome evening all guided, pick up and drop off back near the hotel, very awesome tour
This tour was AMAZING from start to end. Yes this is a pricer tour to book; however, you truly get a ton for your money. This is a long event; we got picked up at 2pm and back around 10pm. The pickup location was very convenient right in Kona Town. You are provided a solid dinner, dessert, and hot beverages while stargazing. You get to sit back and relax during the drive and enjoy the wealth of knowledge from the tour guide. Speaking of, our tour guide Art was absolutely outstanding! He was knowledgeable, approachable, and entertaining. Also the star-gazing area is private to tours and had a high level telescope for easy viewing. We were fortunate enough to see a really big shooting star during our viewing. We were also provided super warm parkas which was great because it is quite chilly at the summit. I could go on and on about this tour but I would 100% book this again and personally recommend this specific tour to family and friends.
P.S. Did we say how amazing Art was?!
The tour was everything we hoped for. Fernando was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, religious significance of Mauna Kea and stargazing.
Well worth the money since getting up to the site is nearly impossible logistically for a rental car. More importantly, our guide, Gage, was so exceptionally knowledgeable on everything from astronomy to Hawaii geography.
Due to the decrease in Japanese tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were only two of us Japanese among about 20 people on the same tour (most were from the mainland United States). The guide was Japanese, but the explanations during the transfer were in English. However, they provided us with individual guidance in Japanese, so we were able to enjoy the experience without any issues. When watching the sunset from Mauna Kea, it was colder than I had imagined. They do lend out down jackets, but depending on the season, I recommend dressing warmly in advance.
The stargazing was amazing. As soon as we got off the van, I was moved by the breathtaking starry sky that I had never seen before. We were able to see Saturn through a telescope, and there were opportunities for photography as well. I'm really glad I participated. If you want to see the stars beautifully, I recommend checking the lunar phase before joining.
コロナ禍で日本人観光客が減少した為、同じツアーの役20人中日本人は私たち2人でした（他はアメリカ本土の方が多かったです）。ガイドの方は日本人ですが、移動中の説明は英語でした。私たちには個別に日本語でガイドしてくださったので、何も問題なく過ごすことが出来ました。マウナケア山からサンセットを見る際は、想像以上に寒かったです。ダウンを貸して頂けますが、時期によっては事前に厚着していく事をおすすめします。
そして、星空観測は最高でした。バンを降りた途端に今まで見たこと無い満点の星空に感動しました。望遠鏡では土星も見せていただき、写真撮影もありで、本当に参加して良かったです。星を綺麗に見たい場合は月齢を確認しての参加をお勧めします。
Translated by OpenAI
Stefan waited after others had left, and got us the most amazing photos and memories. Thank you to Stefan for caring for the guests.
It was a fantastic tour! From the ease of meeting the guide at a local pick up point, the his knowledge of the islands, the geography, and of course the telescopes and sky, to the use of parkas, pants and gloves... it was a wonderful experience! We went on an almost full moon night so only the brightest of stars were visible, but we were still able to see Saturn and Jupiter through their telescopes. Dress warm... and have a great time!
Stefan was a great guide and we loved how he made a concerted effort to make sure that we got some amazing photos with the sunset and stars.
First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Stefan Weich. I have participated in various tours in the past, but none have been as good as this one. I was impressed by the attentiveness and clear explanations. Above all, as a photographer, he took wonderful photos, which will be a great keepsake. Thank you very much.
先ずは、Mr.Stefan Weichに感謝しています、過去色々ツアーに参加しましたが、今回ほど良かったツアーは無かったです、気配り・明朗な説明等、感激しました、何よりも写真家でもあり、素晴らしい写真を撮って頂き、非常に記念に残ります、ありがとうございました。
Translated by OpenAI
Have done this tour 5 years ago with a different vendor. Was much better with other tour group but did not recall who it was when I booked this trip. Things I did not like about this tour:
1. Was not notified I could have been picked up in Kona. So we drove over an hour when we did not have to. Another couple drove all the way to the visitor center for the same reason 2. Dinner was marginal at best. 3. Star viewing from the visitor center parking lot?? Are you kidding me? Why? Light pollution, less clear skies..what a joke. I lay that blame on the tour guide, Maka. 4. Guide is not passionate about astronomy but he can be a good guide at times. Sadly, as the night wore on so did his personality. 5. Gloves were only proffered when a man complained. Hand them out with the coats.
Bottom line: do the tour but with a different group.
The original schedule had to be changed due to bad weather, and we had to turn back at the Onizuka Visitor Center, but I was very grateful for the option to reschedule to another day when there was availability. The sunset view from the summit was absolutely stunning and very impressive. Additionally, the stargazing tour at another location was not only beautiful because of the clear night sky, but the guide's explanations of the constellations were easy to understand and very helpful.
当初の日程は、悪天候のためにオニズカビジターセンターで引き返すことになりましたが、空きがあった別の日に振り替えてもらえた対応はとてもありがたかったです。
山頂から眺めるサンセットはとても素晴らしく、見ごたえがありました。また、別の場所に移動しての星空観測ツアーも、星空がきれいであることはもちろんですが、ガイドさんによる星座の説明がわかりやすくてよかったです。
Translated by OpenAI
