All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

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。

All good. Hank was great. Zzzzxzzzzzzxxzxzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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.

We participated as a family, and on that day, it was just us. We were informed that the sea was in the best condition with no wind since the morning, and it was very reassuring that they spoke to us in Japanese. I had read in reviews that some people get seasick, so I took motion sickness medicine, but I ended up feeling sick myself. The kids were paddling slowly, and we couldn't reach our destination... However, after returning, we were able to snorkel and see beautiful fish, which made us very satisfied. Since it was an early morning plan, we were able to play at a nearby beach on our way back, making the day feel very long and enjoyable.

家族で参加したのですが、その日は、私達だけで、
朝から風もなく海はベストな状態と教えていただき、日本語で話していただけるので、とても安心でした。
口コミで、酔う事があると書き込みがあったので、酔い止めを飲んでたのですが、私が酔ってしまい、
子供たちの漕ぐスピードか遅くて、目的地までたどり着けませんでした…でも戻って来てからのシュノーケルでは、綺麗な魚も観れて、大満足でした。
早朝プランだったので、帰りに近くのビーチでも遊んで1日をとても長く使えて、良かったです。

It felt like a manta ray! However, my wife was very anxious, saying, "Entering the night sea and having a manta ray approach with its mouth wide open..." After talking with her about various things, she gathered her courage and finally participated!

Once we actually joined, her impression changed completely, and she was overjoyed, saying, "The manta ray is so cute, I'm so glad!" Our guide, Tori-chan, was wonderful! She was so energetic and taught us various things about manta rays, including their ecology, habits, and names, in a storytelling format. Most importantly, she explained, "Manta rays are very friendly and cute!" which eased our preconceived notions. The manta rays really came close to us repeatedly. My wife even got touched by one coming from the other side—how lucky! Thank you, Tori-chan! I definitely want to participate again.

マンタみたい～でも奥様は「夜の海に入るなんて～口を広げマンタが近づいてくるなんて～」ととても不安！そんな奥様といろいろ話して勇気を奮起いただき遂に参加しました‼
実際に参加してみたら、がらりと印象が変って「マンタとても可愛くってよかった～ね！」と大喜びでした。ガイドのトリちゃんが素晴らしかった！まず元気がもらえるし、紙芝居仕立てでマンタのこと生態・習性や名前がついているとかいろいろ教えてくれます。なんといっても「マンタはとても人懐こくってかわいいよ～！」って説明してくれて先入観ができて安心。マンタはホントにごく目の前をぐる～と何度も何度も寄ってきます。奥様には向こうから触ってきたって～うらやましい。トリちゃんありがと～！またぜひ参加したいです。

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.

I was deeply moved to encounter so many dolphins. My 7-year-old daughter went snorkeling for the first time, and thanks to the incredibly kind support from Daisuke and Keiko, we were able to have the best time. Our whole family was so touched that we can't express it in words. We are very grateful to Captain Nawata for all his help, to all the guides we met, and to the nature of the Big Island. Thank you for everything.

沢山のイルカに出会うことができとっても感動しました。7歳の娘は初めてのシュノーケルでしたが、ダイスケさんとけいこさんのとっても優しいサポートのお陰で最高の時間を過ごすことができました。
家族全員とにかく感動で、言葉では言い表すことができない位です。
船長の縄田さんにもとってもお世話になり、ガイドの皆さんに出会えたこと、ハワイ島の自然、全てに感謝申し上げます。

4 to 5 manta rays swirled right in front of me, and it was an incredible sight. I was surprised how close their bellies were!

4,5枚のマンタが次々と目の前をぐるぐるして大迫力でした。マンタのおなかが近すぎてビックリしましたよー

I was surprised that we could see them so closely. My parents, who are in their 60s and usually don't dive, were able to take on the challenge. If you're going to Hawaii Island, definitely give it a try!

あんなに近くにみれるとはびっくりです。普段潜らない60代の両親も挑戦することができました。ハワイ島にいくなら是非！！

I, who can hardly speak English, participated with my 67-year-old mother, who doesn't understand any English, and my 9-year-old son, along with five other beginners in horseback riding. They showed us a demonstration and explained key points in Japanese. My 9-year-old son was guided by the staff, and we slowly rode through the valley. There were eight participants and two guides, which gave us a sense of privacy, allowing us to enjoy ourselves without any hesitation. Next time, I would like to try riding on the mountain side. Everyone was satisfied. Thank you for providing us with a wonderful experience.

英語が殆ど出来ない私が、全く英語が分からない67才の母と9才の息子を筆頭に乗馬初心者5人を引き連れ参加しました(^o^)
実際に見本を見せてくれ、要所は日本語で説明もあり、9才の息子はガイドさんが手綱を引っ張り、渓谷の中をゆっくり回りました。参加者8名でガイドさんが2名、プライベート感もあり、気兼ねすること無く十分楽しめました。次回は、山側を回ってみたいです(^-^)皆、満足しておりました。素晴らしい体験をさせて頂きありがとうございました。

I was a bit worried about the 6:40 AM pickup, but I woke up well in the morning, basked in the sunlight, and was able to participate with a refreshing feeling. The pickup location was easy to find, and despite being a small group tour, we were lucky to have just our family. The guide was Japanese, which made it easy to follow along with confidence. It was unfortunate that we couldn't encounter the pod of dolphins that had come close the day before, but snorkeling in the clear sea was a lot of fun.

朝6：40のピックアップでちょっと心配でしたが、朝の目覚めも良く太陽のひかりを浴び、すがすがしい気持ちで参加することができました。
ピックアップ場所もわかりやすく、少人数のツアーにもかかわらず、自分たちの家族だけという運の良さ。ガイドも日本人で安心してついていくことができました。
前日はイルカの群れが近くまで来たそうですが、あいにく遭遇できなかったことは残念でしたが、澄んだ海の中でのシュノーケリング楽しかったです。

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。

My reason for coming to the Big Island was that I learned about this tour from the Dolphin University I attended on Oahu. This time, I finally got to participate, and I had high expectations.

The manta rays were truly enormous, coming so close with their mouths wide open that I thought they might bump into me. However, it was fascinating how they would spin around without hitting me.

It was an exhilarating experience and a lot of fun. I believe it was a rare opportunity to get so close to so many mantas. The boat ride to and from the point was thrilling as it went at high speed, which added to the enjoyment.

ハワイ島へ来るきっかけは、以前オアフで参加したイルカ大学でこのツアーを知ったことでした。この度、念願かない大いに期待して参加しました。
マンタは本当に大きくて、ぶつかるのではないかと思うほどすぐ近くまで大きな口を開けて近づいてきます。しかし、こちらには当たらずにくるりと回転するのが不思議でした。
大迫力で楽しかったです。たくさんのマンタにこんな接近できるなんて貴重な体験だったと思います。
ポイントへの往復のボートも猛スピードでスリルがあり楽しめました。

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。

I think it's a simple and good plan if your goal is to go snorkeling in a beautiful place. However, for those who only speak Japanese, it might be a bit challenging... They provide explanations about the lava caves along the way, but only in English.

きれいな場所でシュノーケリングするという目的ならシンプルで良いプランだと思います。ただ英語オンリーだったのまったくダメな人には・・・途中に溶岩洞窟の説明とかしてくれます、英語で(+_+)

This was my first experience with my family. Personally, it was my third time, but I’ll briefly outline the pros and cons.

First, the pros:
1. The marina is very close to the points, so the total travel time is short.
2. The boat is large and comfortable.
3. There was a child who gets seasick on board, but since the points are close, I think it was relatively easy for them.

Now, the cons:
1. The explanations are only in English, but I don’t think that will be a problem.
2. The journey is short, so you can’t enjoy the scenery of Kona town.

Depending on the timing, I think the LED lights were strong, and we had a relatively good number of sightings.

I plan to come back here next time as well.

家族連れでは初体験でした。
個人的には3度目でしたが簡単に長所と短所を書いておきます。

まず長所
1、マリーナからポイントまでが非常に近くに全行程の所要時間が短くて済む。
2、船が大きくて快適。
3、船酔いしやすい子が同船してましたがポイントまでが近いので比較的楽だと思います。

で短所
1、英語の説明しかないが困る事は無いと思う。
2、道中が短いのでコナの街の景色を眺める事が出来ない。

タイミングにもよると思いますがLEDのライトが強く比較的沢山来てくれたと思います。

次回からもここにしようと思います。

Highly recommend taking this tour! Kevin was awesome!!

Thank you very much for all your help this time. Thanks to you, the weather was great, and I was able to see the vast Big Island of Hawaii and the long-desired Kilauea Volcano from the sky. If I had to say, it would have been perfect to see a bit more volcanic activity, but I suppose we can't go against nature (laughs). However, I was satisfied as I could clearly see the lava flowing.

I was a bit concerned about the budget, but considering it as a once-in-a-lifetime memory, I don't think it was expensive at all.

このたびはいろいろお世話になりありがとうございました。おかげさまで天気もよく、広大なハワイ島と念願のキラウエア火山を空から観ることができました。敢えて言うならばもう少し活発な火山活動が観られたら最高でしたが、さすがに自然には逆らえませんね(苦笑)。でも溶岩が流れ出ている様子などはハッキリ見えたので満足しています。
予算的にはどうかなと思いましたが、一生の思い出と考えれば決して高くはないと思いますよ。

This was our first trip to Hawaii and we wanted to experience a luau. The fire dancers, food, and overall experience was amazing! We would definitely recommend this show to anyone visiting the area.

The sunset on the distant horizon viewed from the boat. Manta rays swimming right in front of me, gliding past my body multiple times. A kind guide and the boat captain. According to the guide, there were an unusually high number of manta rays this time. It was a wonderful experience.

ボートから眺める遥かな水平線上の夕日。体をかすめるように何度も目の前を泳ぐマンタ。やさしいガイドさんとボートの船長。ガイドさんの話によれば、今回は、滅多にないほどマンタが多かったとのこと。素晴らしい体験でした。

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。

I was able to see the manta rays, and at the end, one got really close to me—it was amazing! The sunset was beautiful too! 😊

マンタちゃんと見れました、最後にすごく近づいてきて最高でした‼︎
sunsetも綺麗でした(^｡^)

I was able to see the rarely seen bright red magma and a rainbow over the valley, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was an absolutely amazing flight.

なかなか見る事の出来ない真っ赤なマグマや谷にかかる虹などを見ることができ、一生に一度の体験ができました。とっても最高なフライトでした。

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 went to Manta University. The staff were friendly and kind, and I was able to participate in a relaxed manner. I saw several mantas, and they swam right by me multiple times, which was incredibly impressive! I'm glad I participated.

マンタ大学に行きました。
スタッフさんはフレンドリーで親切で、リラックスして参加できました。
マンタも何匹も見れて、しかも間近を何度も通っていって、すごい迫力でした！
参加して良かったです。

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>^_^<

I was able to enjoy kayaking and snorkeling with peace of mind, thanks to the careful consideration given to all participants. Thank you very much.

参加者全員にきめ細かく配慮していただき、安心してカヤック、シュノーケリングを楽しむことができました。ありがとうございました。

There are many fish in the shallow area. I was surprised when I was surrounded by yellow tangs.
It's also recommended for energetic kids to slide down from the boat's slide or jump off the diving board.
If you're not confident or worried about getting tired, you can wear a floatation belt around your torso for peace of mind.
Breakfast and lunch are enjoyable on the boat. The meat for the lunch burgers is freshly grilled on the boat and delicious.
I also got to see dolphins.

浅い方に魚がたくさん。キイロハギに囲まれた時はびっくり。
船から滑り台で滑り降りたり、ジャンプ台から飛び込んだり、元気なお子さんにもオススメです。
自信ない人、疲れるのが心配だあれば胴体に巻く浮きのようなベルトつければ安心。
朝食も昼食も船上で楽。お昼のハンバーガー用のお肉は船上焼きたてで美味しいです。
イルカにも会えました。