All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

I just returned from my dream trip to the Big Island of Hawaii! I stayed for three nights, but it wasn't enough. This time, I participated in a night snorkeling experience swimming with wild manta rays, which was featured on the TV show "Tabi Salad." I think most people have only seen manta rays in aquariums.

I boarded the boat of Manta University’s Night Division, filled with excitement. With the captain and a handsome Nisei staff member, we cruised the Hawaiian waters for about 20 minutes on a high-speed boat to our snorkeling point. While enjoying the sunset, the handsome staff member shared fascinating information about manta rays in fluent Japanese, and my anticipation grew knowing that this unique experience could only be had on the Big Island.

Finally, we changed into our wetsuits, put on fins and snorkels, and entered the water. Within five minutes, a manta ray appeared! I was thrilled to be so close! But what surpassed that excitement was when the manta ray began to flip right in front of me multiple times a few minutes later. Amazing! So cute!

I lost track of time as several manta rays continued to perform flips right before my eyes. On the way back, we cruised through the dark sea, gazing at the beautiful starry sky, still savoring the experience with the manta rays as we returned to the harbor.

If you visit the Big Island, I highly recommend participating in this unique tour that you can only experience here! Thank you to the kind and attentive crew!

憧れのハワイ島に行ってきました！　雄大で活動的なハワイ島
に三泊しましたが物足りませんでした。今回は、テレビ（旅サラダ）で
放映された 野生のマンタと泳ぐ！ナイト・シュノーケリング に参加
しました。ほとんどの方がマンタは水族館でしか見たことがないと思います。
創造を膨らませてマンタ大学夜学部のボートに乗りました。　キャプテンと
日系二世のイケ面君のスッタフで約２０分の高速ボートでハワイの海をクルーズ
ポイントに到着してサンセットを眺める間イケ面君の流暢な日本語でまだ知られ
てないマンタのことを教えてもらい、このハワイ島だけしかこのマンタの体験が
出来ないことに期待が膨らみました。
いよいよウエットスーツに着替えフィンとシュノーケルを付けて海に入りました。
５分もするとマンタが現れました！　手の届くほどの距離に感動！しかしその感動
を数倍超えるものが数分後に、マンタが目の前で何度も宙返りを繰り返します
すごい！カワイイ！
時間を忘れて何枚のマンタが現れ目の前で宙返りを繰り返してくれました。
帰りのボートは真っ暗な海のクルーズ、綺麗な星空を眺めマンタの余韻を
残し帰港。
ハワイ島に行かれたら是非このハワイ島でしか体験できないこのツアーに
参加してみては！
親切丁寧なクルーにありがとうです！

This was my first time on the Big Island, and I wanted to fully enjoy nature, so I joined this tour that a friend had recommended. Since the meeting point was at the port, I was initially quite anxious, but it turned out to be a compact port, and as soon as we entered the parking lot, our guide waved at us enthusiastically, making it easy to meet up without any issues.

Actually, both my spouse and I are quite large, but they provided wetsuits that fit us comfortably, and they were very clean and comfortable to wear. As soon as the boat departed, I imagined we would be quite far offshore, but it was actually a safe spot right along the coast next to the airport, where we could easily swim back to shore. The sun was still up for quite a while, so we got to enjoy some snorkeling and watched a beautiful sunset from the boat.

After that, we received a lecture on manta ray behavior and how to observe them until it got dark, and then it was finally time to get in the water. You might think it would be cold and scary to dive into the ocean at night, but it wasn't scary at all; we just jumped off the boat and held onto something that looked like a surfboard floating nearby. Once we were in the water, a huge manta ray swam right towards us! I was so excited!

We can't touch the manta rays to protect them, but they actually come close to us. They were coming to eat the plankton attracted to the light attached to the surfboard, so there were many completely natural manta rays swimming around without any feeding involved. Other tour boats were anchored nearby, and when I looked into the water, I saw beams of light everywhere, with many giant manta rays swimming gracefully around them. In fact, "flapping" would be a more accurate description. The sight was truly magical, like something out of this world!

After enjoying the experience, we got back on the boat and rinsed off with fresh water, feeling refreshed as we returned to the port. However, it did get cold on the way back. We didn't exert ourselves much while just floating in the water, but it got chilly on the return trip, so bringing a sweatshirt or hoodie that can handle saltwater would make the return much more comfortable. This tour seems to be a unique experience that can only be had on the Big Island, so I highly recommend it! It's sure to impress people of all ages.

今回、初めてのハワイ島でしたので、とことん自然を満喫しようと思い、以前友人が参加してオススメされたこのツアーに参加しました。
集合場所が港だったので、最初は凄い不安だったのですが、コンパクトな港で、しかも我々が港の駐車場に入った途端、ガイドさんが大きく手を振って頂いたので、全く問題無く簡単に合流出来ました。実は夫婦共々かなりの大柄体型なのですが、我々でも余裕で入るサイズのウェットスーツも用意されてあって、非常に清潔で着心地も良かったです。すぐに船が出発すると、相当の沖合と想像していましたが、なんとエアポートのすぐ横の海岸沿いで、泳いでもすぐに岸に辿り着けるような安心した場所でした。結構陽が長かったので、少しシュノーケリングで遊ばせてもらい、船の上で綺麗なサンセットを眺めました。その後、薄暗くなるまでマンタの習性や鑑賞方法などのレクチャーを受け、いよいよ水の中へ。夜に海に潜るのですから、「寒くて怖いのでは？」と思われるかも知れませんが、ドボ〜ンと船から降りて、すぐ横の浮かんでいるサーフボードみたいなものに捕まっているだけなので、全く怖くなかったです。海に入ったらもういきなり巨大なマンタが、我々めがけて泳いで来ました！　もう、大興奮してしまいました！　マンタを保護するために触ってはいけないのですが、マンタの方が触れて来ます。サーフボードに取り付けたライトに寄って来たプランクトンを食べに来ているので、何も餌付けなど一切してない、完全に天然のマンタが沢山泳いで来るのです。他のツアーの船も周囲に停泊しているので、海の中をのぞくと、光の柱があちこちに出来ていてその周りを沢山の巨大マンタが悠々と泳いでいます。というより羽ばたいているという表現の方が正確です。その光景はまさに幻想的で、この世のものとは思えない光景でした！　十分に鑑賞してから船にあがり真水のシャワーをかけてもらい、ある程度スッキリした状態で、港に戻る事が出来ました。ただ、帰りは、やはり寒かったです。水中でじーっとしているので、体力など全く使わないのですが、帰りは寒くなるので、塩水に触っても問題無いようなトレーナーやパーカーを持参すると帰りが凄い楽でしょう。　このツアーはハワイ島でしか体験出来ないらしいので、是非オススメします！　老若男女誰でも感動する事間違いないです。

I apologize for being late to the meeting time (>_<)
The crew's response was wonderful, and I was able to enjoy myself very much!
It's a reliable and trustworthy shop!
Thank you very much (*^^*)♪

集合時間に遅れてしまい大変ご迷惑をおかけしました(>_<)
クルーの対応も素晴らしくとても楽しむ事が出来ました！
安心信頼出来るショップです！
ありがとうございました(*^^*)♪

Although the weather was unfortunately not perfect, I was very comforted by the nice response from the crew and the great nature of Hawaii. (*^^*)♪

天候が惜しくも万全ではなく残念でしたが、クルーのナイスな対応とハワイの大自然にとても癒されました(*^^*)♪

I participated with my sister. Since it was our first time in Hawaii and our first time renting a car abroad, I was worried about whether we would make it to the meeting point after learning there was no pickup service. However, we arrived safely 20 minutes before the meeting time thanks to the easy-to-understand location and the straightforward route. We couldn't speak any English, but after reading everyone’s reviews, I thought we might manage somehow. On the day, however, all 11 other participants, aside from us, were from English-speaking countries, which made me realize the importance of English. Despite not understanding any English, the captain frequently checked in on us, and we had a very enjoyable time. During the snorkeling session, dolphins swam close to the boat. Unfortunately, we were on the boat when we came up from the water, so we couldn't swim with them, but we were able to see the dolphins up close. The boat was very fast, and an elderly lady who was riding with us became worried (even though I have a good build...) and made me move to a safer seat. Still, the angle between the boat and the water was almost 90 degrees! It was so much fun. Next time, I want to join during the whale watching season and master English so I can communicate with people from other countries. Thank you for the wonderful time.

姉と二人で参加しました。ハワイ島初上陸＆初海外レンタカーだった為ピックアップがないと知った時は無事集合場所に着けるか心配でしたが、とてもわかりやすい立地と運転しやすい道のりで集合時間20分前に無事到着できました。英語が全くできない私達皆さんの口コミを読ませて頂いていたので英語が出来なくてもなんとかなるかなぁと思いましたが、当日参加されていたのは私達を除く１１名はみなさん英語圏の方たちだった為やはり英語の大切さを実感させられた時間でした。しかし、英語が全く分からない私達ですが、キャプテンがたびたび大丈夫か？と声をかけてくださり、とても楽しい時間を過ごす事が出来ました。シュノーケルの時間にはイルカがボートの近くを泳いでいました。残念ながら私達は海から上がってボートにいる時だったので一緒に泳ぐことは出来ませんでしたがとても近くでイルカを見ることが出来ました。ボートはとてもスピードが速く一緒に同乗していたご高齢のご婦人に心配をされてしまい(私はとても体格がよいにも関わらず。。。)安全な席に移動させられてしまいましたが、それでも海面とボート角度がほぼ90度！とても楽しかったです。次回は、クジラが見える時期に、そして他の国の方たちとコミュニケーションが取れるように英語をマスターして参加したいです。楽しい時間をありがとうございました。

The day before, I was able to swim with dolphins, and on this day, I headed towards the mountain. Along the way, I felt uneasy about the weather due to rain and fog, but when the guide showed us real-time images of the summit area, it was clear, so I decided to trust that and continue. After two bathroom breaks, by the time we arrived at the Onizuka Center, the sun was beginning to set. Since we took a sufficient break here, I was able to avoid headaches from altitude sickness. Choosing a tour with a longer acclimatization time was the right decision. The bento lunch was also very delicious, and I appreciated the eco-friendly aspect of not using disposable containers or chopsticks.

From Onizuka, we went up a dirt road for a while, took commemorative photos in front of the Subaru Telescope, and then continued to the summit to watch the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds. After sunset, we descended a bit (to 3900m) for stargazing. Unfortunately, the moon was a bit bright as it was just past the first quarter, but I was still able to see an impressive number of stars for the first time. We even had fun taking photos of ourselves jumping as if we were invisible, not just observing.

Since our accommodation was at the southern end of the Kona area, the pickup was first and the drop-off was last, making it a long two-hour drive, but I enjoyed it so much that I lost track of time.

前日にイルカと泳ぐことができ、この日は山へ向かいました。途中、雨や霧で天候に不安を感じましたが、ガイドさんが山頂付近のリアルタイム画像を見せてくれるとよく晴れていたので、それを信じて向かいました。途中、2度のトイレ休憩の後、オニヅカセンターに着いた頃には日が傾き始め、ここで十分な休憩をとったため、いわゆる高山病による頭痛を起こさずに済みました。馴らし時間が長めのツアーを選んで正解でした。またお弁当もとても美味しく、しかも使い捨て容器、箸でなかったところにエコに配慮していることを感じました。
さてオニヅカからは暫くダートを上がり、すばる望遠鏡前で記念撮影、さらに山頂へと上がり雲海に沈む夕日を眺めました。日没後は少し降りて(3900m地点)で星空観察。あいにく半月を少し過ぎたくらいの月でしたのですこし明るかったのですが、それでも初めて見るくらいの数の星を見ることができました。ジャンプして透明人間写真を撮ってみたり、単なる観察だけでない楽しみもありましたね。
宿泊先がKona地区の南の端だったこともあり、迎えは最初、送りは最後でしたので、片道2時間のロングドライブでしたが、時間が経つのを忘れるくらい楽しめました。

My first visit to the summit of Mauna Kea was surprisingly challenging due to the thin air, which made it a bit hard to breathe (though I think this varies from person to person). Although the participants this time didn't use it, I heard that the guide is prepared with oxygen supplies, so there’s no need to worry.

I was very satisfied with the sunset view. For stargazing, the half-moon was directly overhead, which made it a bit difficult to see some stars, but the guide's thorough and entertaining explanations were very informative. On that day, it was unusually warm for Mauna Kea, with no wind, so I was able to enjoy the tour without too much difficulty.

Next time, I would like to participate in a sunrise and stargazing tour as well.

　初めてのマウナケア山頂は、思いのほか空気が薄く少し息苦しく感じました（個人差は有ると思います）。今回の参加の方々は使いませんでしたが、ガイドさんは酸素吸入の準備もしているそうですから心配ないでしょう。
　夕日はばっちり見ることが出来て大満足でした。星空観測は半月が真上にあり、星が見えにくい所があって少し残念でしたが、ガイドさんの丁寧で面白い説明がありとてもためになりました。当日はマウナケアにしては珍しいくらい暖かで風もないということで、あまりきつい思いもせずにツアーを楽しむことが出来ました。
　今度は、日の出＆星空観測のツアーも参加してみたいと思います。

As a precondition, I have a TOEIC score in the 300s, and this is my first self-arranged overseas trip (I've traveled abroad three times). Initially, I had booked a "Helicopter Tour with a Japanese Pilot" from another company, but I switched to this one because I was informed that a Japanese pilot was unavailable. Fortunately, I was assigned a Japanese pilot here.

To conclude, I was very satisfied. I'm glad I had the courage to choose the helicopter. I took the tour to see Kilauea Volcano, but I was impressed by the North Waipi'o Valley and the surrounding table mountain-like terrain. Kilauea has been in a state of calm since around 2013, so I couldn't see any eruptions. I chose the helicopter tour thinking I could still see lava even in a calm state, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

It's also nice that hotel pick-up is included depending on the plan. Arranging a taxi can be quite challenging for someone who doesn't speak English...

As a note, the only person who speaks Japanese is the pilot. The pick-up driver and the reception staff do not understand it at all. Still, I managed to communicate with gestures and my voucher. If you can speak English, you would probably enjoy it even more.

Before boarding the helicopter, you need to check in your luggage, so it's better to take out your camera and gum (for motion sickness). I think they asked in English if I had taken out my camera, which I understood, but I didn't grasp the intention and ended up forgetting to take out the gum.

After returning, I was able to take a commemorative photo with the pilot. It makes for a great memory.

前提条件として、私はTOEIC300点台で、自分手配の海外旅行初めてです（海外は３回目）。
当初、別会社の「日本語パイロットと行く～ヘリツアー」を予約していたのですが、日本人パイロットの都合が付かないと連絡があったのでこちらに切り替えました。こちらは幸運にも日本語パイロットに割り当ててもらえました。

結論から言うと、とても満足しました。勇気を出してヘリコプターにして良かったです。
キラウエア火山目的で乗りましたが、北部ワイピオ渓谷や、その周辺のテーブルマウンテン？状の地形に感動しました。キラウエアは2013年ごろから小康状態なので、噴火しているような場面は見れません。そう思って小康状態でも溶岩を見ることの出来るヘリを選択しましたが、嬉しい誤算でした。

こちらは、プランによってホテル送迎が付いているのも嬉しいです。
タクシー手配も、英語できない人間には難易度が高いので・・・。

注意として、日本語が通じるのは（日本語可能な）パイロットさんだけ。送迎運転手や、フロア受付の方には一切通じません。それでも、バウチャーもって身振り手振りで何とかなります（なりました）。英語ができれば私よりももっと楽しめるでしょう。
ヘリに乗る前に手荷物を預けるので、カメラやガム（酔い止め）は出しておいた方が良いです。（英語で、カメラは出したか？と聞いていたようで、それは分かったのですが、意図がわからず、ガム出しそびれました。）

帰着した後に、パイロットとの記念撮影を撮ってもらえました。
良い記念になります。

I participated with my in-laws and husband. The weather wasn't great on the day, but we were able to see a beautiful sunset at the summit. We also got to see the starry sky when the clouds cleared, and I was very moved to confirm the Milky Way. Our guide, Macchan, was bright and funny, which made it enjoyable for everyone. We took a lot of photos, and I was very happy to have starry sky pictures that I couldn't take myself. The winter clothing provided was also more substantial compared to other tour companies, so I would like to recommend this tour to others.

義父母と旦那と4人で参加しました。当日は天候が優れなかったのですが、頂上でのサンセットは綺麗に見ることが出来ました。星空も雲が切れたタイミングで見ることが出来、天の川も確認出来たのでとても感動しました。案内いただいた、まっちゃんが明るく面白く案内してくださるので皆で楽しめました。写真もたくさん撮っていただいて、自分では撮れない星空写真はとても嬉しかったです。防寒着も他のツアー会社と違って重装備でしたのでこちらのツアーを周りにオススメしたいです。

If you love the ocean and ocean wildlife, you will love this activity as a solo, couple or family. What a fun and exciting trip! Watching the Manta Rays was like watching an underwater ballet. I got some great video footage to capture the experience and to bring home. I did the snorkeling portion but I'm sure if you can scuba dive this would be even more fun! To top it off, they give you hot soup and hot chocolate afterwards! Great fun!

My wife and I were looking to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in a special way and this was the perfect activity to make memories. Our zipline guides, Micah and Rog, too great care of us and made the entire experience outstanding and really fun!

WHAT A GREAT TOUR AND SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS TO SEE! COULD HAVE DONE IT ALL DAY!

On April 28, I visited Mauna Kea for the first time in eight years. Last time, we reached the summit during the day, so this time, my husband and I participated to see the starry sky. Unfortunately, Mauna Kea was covered in clouds from below, which made me worry about how it would be, but our guide, Mino, cheerfully shared fun stories during the drive, easing my concerns.

The summit was indeed windy and cold, but the sunset was incredibly beautiful, and I felt it was worth participating. Additionally, the warm clothing provided made me feel comfortable and secure. Above all, I was impressed by Mino's detailed and easy-to-understand explanations about the stars. We also got to see the moon's craters and Saturn through a telescope, which was simply breathtaking.

I strongly want to participate again next time. Thank you, Mino!

4月28日に8年ぶりにマウナケアに行きました。
前回はお昼に登頂したので是非今回は満天の星を見ようと夫婦で参加させていただきました。
下から見るマウナケアは残念ながら雲がかかってどうなのかな…と心配になりましたが、ガイドのミノさんが道中の車の中で陽気に楽しい話をしてくれ大丈夫だと不安を吹き飛ばしてくれました。
本当に山頂は風もきつくて寒かったけど夕日はとてもきれいで参加してよかったなって実感しました。
また、準備していただいている防寒着も暖かく安心してすごせました。
何より、ミノさんの星に関する説明が詳しく分かり易くて感心しました、その他には望遠鏡で月のクレーター・土星を見せていただき、だたただ感動でした。
是非、次回にも参加したいな~と強く思いました。
ミノさん、ありがとうございました。

It's been five years since I visited Mauna Kea. The road to Mauna Kea has been newly constructed, making it easy to arrive. I was worried about the clouds from below, but the weather at the summit was perfect with no wind, and the sunset was incredibly beautiful. During the stargazing, I was able to see many shooting stars and even got to see Saturn, which was moving. It was very healing. Thank you very much.

5年ぶりのマウナケア。マウナケアまでの道は道路が新しくできてスムーズに到着できました。下から見ると雲が心配だったのですが山頂は風もなくとてもいいお天気、サンセットも最高に綺麗でした。星空観測は流れ星もいっぱい見れたし、土星も見せていただいて感動でした。とっても癒されました。ありがとうございました。

We participated as a family, including my 8-year-old daughter. Our tour guide, Daisuke, took great care of my daughter and ensured she had a wonderful experience swimming with the dolphins. Thanks to him, I was able to focus on swimming with the dolphins without worrying about anything else, even though I’m not a confident swimmer. We encountered a group of 17 dolphins. Each time they surfaced for air, I could see their eye patterns and skin texture incredibly clearly. I was truly moved by how close they swam to us.

Daisuke made sure that all participants were satisfied and allowed us to enjoy swimming with the dolphins, dropping us in the water 5 to 6 times. We had more fun than we imagined, and we even signed up for the night manta tour on the spot. This too was magical, as we got to see sparkling plankton and a large group of mantas up close, making it feel like a spacewalk.

Daisuke and Captain Nawata really made it enjoyable, and the time spent on the boat heading to the points became a wonderful memory.

I definitely want to participate again next time. My daughter was also very satisfied!

8歳の娘を含む家族で参加しました。ツアーガイドのダイスケさんは娘に付きっきりで面倒を見てくれて、娘にもしっかりイルカとの遊泳を体験させてくれました。おかげさまで、泳ぎに自信の無い私も自分の事だけに集中してイルカと泳ぐ事ができました。私達は17頭のイルカの群と遭遇しました。海中から息継ぎの度に海面に上がって来て、目のわまりの模様や、肌の質感が驚くほど鮮明に見えました。手が届くほど近くを泳ぐイルカの姿に、本当に感動しました。
参加メンバーが満足するまでキッチリ、イルカとの遊泳を楽しませてくれて、5〜6回もドロップしました。
想像以上に楽しませていただき、その場で夜のマンタツアーにも申し込みました。こちらも、ライティングされた海中でキラキラ光るプランクトンとホレホレの群れ、大きなマンタの舞いを至近距離で見られ、まるで宇宙遊泳のように幻想的でした。

ツアーガイドのダイスケさん、キャプテンの縄田船長が本当に楽しませてくれて、ボートでポイントに向かう間も素敵な思い出になりました。

次回も是非参加したいです。娘も大満足でした！

As marine activity lovers, we requested this experience with a feeling of "it seems fun," and in the end, we were completely satisfied and enjoyed ourselves.

First of all, the staff was friendly and quickly created a relaxed atmosphere. The boat ride truly felt like "ocean rafting," with thrilling speed and dynamic steering that made it feel like an amusement park.

We were lucky enough to encounter a "pod of dolphins" and thoroughly enjoyed dolphin watching. The snorkeling exceeded our expectations, allowing us to see an incredible variety of "tropical fish."

We are grateful to the staff who kept us entertained beyond the scheduled time, and this was definitely an activity we would love to "visit again."

マリンアクティビティ大好きの私たちは、「なんとなく楽しそう」という気持ちでリクエストしましたが、結果的には大満足でエンジョイ出来ました。
先ず、スタッフがフレンドリーで直ぐに和やかな雰囲気を作ってくれ、ボートでまさしく「オーシャンラフティング」満喫のスピードとダイナミック操船で遊園地気分。
運良くだと思いますが、「イルカの群れ」に遭遇してイルカウオッチングを堪能、シュノーケリングも想像以上の「熱帯魚」を見る事が出来ました。
予定時間を超えて飽きる事無くエンジョイさせてくれたスタッフに感謝と、是非、また「遊びに訪れたい」と思ったアクティビティでした。

I recently participated in this tour. I had no knowledge of manta rays at all before joining... but there were absolutely no problems! After getting on the boat, we received detailed explanations about the ecology of manta rays, Hawaiian language, and the Big Island. Of course, there was a Japanese guide with us, so I felt at ease. The captain was very cheerful and played the ukulele from the time we arrived until we started snorkeling. That moment during sunset was truly beautiful.

You can rent a wetsuit for $10 for snorkeling. Since you spend a long time in the water, I think this is essential. Plankton gathers under the lights, attracting the manta rays that come to feed. They are not being fed. During this time, many other fish also come, creating a scene straight out of The Little Mermaid. The manta rays come close enough to touch a little. They open their large mouths, allowing for a thorough observation, almost as if you could make a model of a manta ray.

I had an experience that exceeded my expectations. YOU MUST GO!

先日当ツアーに参加させて頂きました。マンタの知識は全くないままでの参加。。。しかし問題はまったくありません！ボートに乗ってからマンタの生態、ハワイ語について、ハワイ島について丁寧に説明して頂きました。もちろん日本語ガイドさんもついてくれているので安心です。船長はとっても陽気な方で、船が着いてからシュノーケル開始までウクレレをひいてくれました。サンセットタイムでのこの一時は本当に美しかったです。
シュノーケルでは10＄でウエットスーツをレンタルできます。水中に入っている時間が長いのでこれは必須だと思います。ライトに照らされプランクトンが集まり、それを食べにマンタ達が集まります。決して餌付けはしていません。その間は他の魚達も大勢来るので、正にリトルマーメイドの世界です。マンタは少し触れてくる位接近してきます。そして大きな口を開けるのでマンタの模型が作れるのでは、と思うほど隅々まで観察できます。
期待以上の経験ができました。YOU MUST GO！

I finally got to visit the place closest to the sky in Hawaii, which I had always wanted to go to. At 4,200 meters, higher than Mount Fuji, where there is still some snow, I witnessed the sunset... Watching the clouds change from orange to a fiery crimson, seeing the sun set and the colors shift from deep blue to black, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of nature. After that, I descended a bit for stargazing, and Mr. Konno's explanations of the stars and constellations were also wonderful!! The stars felt alive... I'm really glad I participated.

ハワイで一番空に近い場所、いつか行きたいと思っていたのが叶いました。4200mという富士山より高い所で、まだ雪も残っている所で、サンセットを見届ける・・・一刻，一刻雲がオレンジ色から燃えるような朱色にを変えて行くのを見、太陽が沈み、藍色から黒へと変わるのを見ていると自然の素晴らしさに圧倒される。その後、少し降りた所で星空観察、コンノさんの星、星座の説明がこれまた素晴らしい！！星が生きているよう・・・参加して本当に良かったです。

This time, I participated in the manta tour with Aloha Kona Tours and was so moved that I spontaneously joined the dolphin snorkeling as well.

I had previously participated in a tour to swim with dolphins in Oahu, but I had a bitter experience where the dolphins quickly swam away and I couldn't swim with them at all. I had given up on the idea of swimming with wild dolphins.

So, the experience of encountering dolphins, seeing them up close, and swimming together surpassed even the manta experience... I really got to swim close to the dolphins!

Our guide, Daisuke, diligently searched for points where dolphins were located, and thanks to his efforts, I was able to see many dolphins.

Just watching the dolphins swim close to Daisuke was healing. The dolphins were, of course, not scary at all, but I felt a bit anxious about diving in the deep sea without anything to hold onto, so I borrowed a float, which ended up being a bit of a hindrance.

I think I encountered a total of about 30 to 40 dolphins in the sea. I've heard that on lucky days, you can encounter over 100 dolphins?? I believe we swam in the sea for about 40 minutes.

Also, I was fortunate enough to see a whale. During that time, Daisuke really persevered (laughs) in searching for the whale.

Even after returning to Japan, I couldn't get the dolphins out of my mind. I definitely want to go meet the dolphins again! When I do, I hope to rely on your services again, so thank you in advance!

今回、アロハコナツアーズのマンタの方に参加し、感動しずぎて、急遽イルカシュノーケリングに参加しました。

私は、以前、オアフでイルカと泳ぐツアーに参加したことがあるのですが、イルカはすぐ逃げて全く一緒に泳げないという苦い経験があり、野生のイルカと泳ぐのは無理なんだろうなとあきらめていました。

なので、イルカに出会え、間近で見れ、一緒に泳ぐ感動はマンタを超えました・・・。
本当に近くでイルカと泳げたのですから！

ガイドのダイスケさんは、イルカのいるポイントを丁寧に何度も探してくれ、トライできたので、沢山のイルカを見ることができたと思います。

ダイスケさんに近づいてきて一緒に泳ぐイルカを見てるだけで、癒されました。
イルカは、もちろん全く怖くないですし、深い海に浮き輪等つかまるものがない中、潜るのはちょっと不安で、フロートを借りたのですが、結局邪魔になりました。


おそらく、合計、30～40匹位のイルカと海の中で遭遇できたのでしょうか。ラッキーな日は100匹以上のイルカに遭遇できる日もあるとか？？大体、海の中で泳ぐのは40分位だったと思います。

また、幸運にもクジラを見ることができました。その際も、ダイスケさんはかなりねばって（笑）クジラを探してくれました。

日本に帰ってからも、しばらくイルカが頭から離れませんでした。また、絶対イルカに会いに行きたいです！
その際は、お世話になると思いますので、よろしくお願いします！

We took the 2 hour Hawaii Experience tour and we were very pleased. The cost was not much more than the 50 minute volcano tour and we saw active lava tube, waterfalls, and a view of the island that we would have not experienced any other way. Our pilot Joel was very accommodating and made sure that the flight experience was enjoyed by everyone on board. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see all of the Big Island!!!!!!!

I was determined to participate since I was going to the Big Island of Hawaii.

The view of the sea of clouds and the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was amazing. The stargazing afterward was also enjoyable with very detailed explanations.

Additionally, the jacket rental and warm drink service were really nice. The guide's stories were interesting, and the time flew by.

ハワイ島に行くからには、絶対に参加すると決めてました。

マウナケア山の頂上からの雲海とサンセットは最高でした。
その後の星空鑑賞も、とても丁寧な解説で楽しめました。

他にも、上着のレンタルに暖かい飲み物のサービスと本当に良かったです。
ガイドさんのお話も面白く、あっという間の時間でした。

This is a passive activity where you float on the surface of the water while holding onto a bar, waiting for manta rays to appear. The impressive proximity of the manta rays, coming so close that it feels like they might collide with you, is truly captivating.

バーにつかまった状態で水面に浮き、ひたすらマンタが現れるのを待つ受動的なアクティビティです。
ぶつかりそうでぶつからない程近づいてくるマンタの迫力は見ごたえ十分です。

The horseback riding experience in nature is very pleasant and healing. The riding time is over an hour, making it a fulfilling tour that I would recommend. It seems that wearing a helmet during the ride is optional.

自然の中での乗馬体験はとても気持ちよく、癒されます。
乗馬時間も１時間超と充実しており、オススメできるツアーだと思います。
乗馬中のヘルメットはかぶらなくてもOKみたいです。

The trip was the best. The staff were very nice and helpful. They were eager to answer questions, and always tried to make the trip as pleasant as possible for every passengers. We were able to see corals, fishes, and ship wrecks. The introduction was very informational, and the best is that it had multiple languages choices.

I go to the Big Island every year because I want to swim with dolphins. This was my first time participating in this tour, and the instruction was thorough, and the staff was friendly, making it a lot of fun.

They also had solid safety measures in place, so I recommend this tour for beginners as well.

This time, as soon as we got out to sea, we encountered a pod of over 100 dolphins, and I was lucky enough to be surrounded by dolphins just by floating on the surface.

I would love to participate again if I have the chance.

毎年イルカと泳ぎたくてハワイ島に行きます。
こちらのツアーは初参加でしたが、
指導も丁寧だし、フレンドリーなスタッフで
とても楽しかったです。

安全対策もしっかりしていましたし、
初心者の方にもオススメのツアーです。



今回は海にでてすぐに、100頭以上の群れに会えて、
水面で浮いてるだけで周り中イルカに囲まれるという
ラッキーな状況でした。

また機会があれば参加したいです。

It was a very educational tour with a breathtaking view. I just expected astronomy but the tour guide knew a great deal about volcanos, geology and island plant and animal life as well. The guide was awesome and I love taking tours with someone as trained and passionate about his work as this guy was. The food was so-so but it was hot and ready. The bus was cramped but it got us there and had big windows for great viewing. Once at the top, the observatories were incredible to look at as they opened up for evening viewing. The view of the sunset was also breathtaking, and not just from the lack of oxygen on top of the mountain. Once we headed back down for stargazing, our guides did a great job of pointing out astronomy as we used there 11 inch telescopes. Very great tour and highly recommended!

Food was wonderful. The show teaches a lot about the first king of Hawaii. Great show. Will do again.

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

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.

In conclusion, I had a great time!
I'm not very good at English. My friend who joined me doesn't speak any English at all...
So I was quite anxious before going.
But when we arrived, we were given a consent form in Japanese!
I read it carefully and signed it. There was a section at the end about wearing a helmet, stating that if you don't wear it, they won't take responsibility in case of an accident, so I marked "yes" for wearing it. However, someone said, "What do you think? Adults usually don't wear it!" So I casually said, "Oh, then No!" and decided not to wear it.
The kids were wearing helmets, but no adults were, although I recommend wearing one if you're worried since it can be bumpy. However, there were no incidents of anyone falling off or almost falling off.

You can't take your belongings while riding, so I think it's best to leave everything except water and a compact camera in the rental car. We thought we could carry our backpacks, but we were told to "leave them!" and ended up placing them on a shelf in the stable.

The riding instructions are in English, but they also use some broken Japanese in between. I felt there was less to worry about than I expected.
While riding, once we started walking, the guide would shout instructions like "fumi! right! left!" if there was any concern. When they were shouting something in Japanese, I thought they were saying something to us and listened closely.

It was my first time riding. At first, my horse was quite restless, which made me anxious, but gradually we connected and were able to enjoy the ride.
It felt longer than I had anticipated.

I was thrilled to see a giant (bigger than a person's face!) bright blue frog climbing a tree!

I had a lot of fun!
However, the next day my butt was sore (laughs).

If I go to the Big Island again, I definitely want to participate again!

結論から言うと、とっても楽しかったです！
自分は英語があまり得意ではありません。一緒に参加した友達は英語全くできず…。
なので行く前はとても不安でいました。
でも行って受付で渡されるのは、日本語の同意書でした！
よく読んでサイン。最後のところにヘルメットについての同意があるのですが、
着用しないともし万が一の時の責任は負いませんよ、的なことが書いておるので、着用するに○をして提出したのですが「どうする？大人はあんまりしないかな！」って言われて、「あ、じゃぁNo！」って言ってあっさり着用しないことにしてしまいました。
お子さんはかぶってましたが、大人は誰もかぶっていませんでしたが、揺れるので心配な方は着用をお勧めします。でも、落馬した人も、しそうだった人もいませんでした。

荷物は持って乗馬できないので、水とコンパクトカメラ以外はレンタカーに置いて行くといいと思います。自分たちはリュックは背負えるだろうと持って行ったのですが、「置いて！」って言われて、馬小屋の棚に置いて行くことになりました。

乗馬の説明も、英語になりますが、合間合間で、片言の日本語を使って教えてくれます。
思ったより心配することはなかったなという印象です。
乗馬し、歩き始めてからも馬が「fumi!みぎ！ひだり！」などと心配な時はガイドさんが大きな声で指示してくれます。日本語で何か叫んでいるときは私たちに何か言ってるなって思って聞いてました。

乗馬も初めて。最初は自分の乗った馬がなかなか冷静になってくれず焦ったのですが、
次第に心を通わせられて(?)楽しく歩くことができました。
思っていたより時間が長く感じられました。

特大の(人の顔よりも大きい！)真っ青な蛙が木を登っていて、それを見れたのが最高にうれしかった！


とても楽しかったです！
ただ、翌日はお尻が筋肉痛です(笑)

次またハワイ島に行ったら、ぜひまた参加したいです！