All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

Wife and I attended the Luau on February 29th, which happens to be my wife's Birthday ( yes she is a leap year baby) The Hosts took time out to personally wish here happy Birthday and all attendees sang "happy Birthday to her. One of the Best birthday's she will have.

The guide had a wealth of knowledge and taught us about the Big Island, not just at Mauna Kea but also during the journey, which made it enjoyable throughout! It was unusually cold in March!

ガイドさんが色々な知識を持っていらっしゃって、マウナケアではもちろん移動中もハワイ島のことを教えてくださり、終始楽しかったです！3月異常に寒かったです！

They guide you through the nature and attractions of Hilo while taking you to a spot where you can see the starry sky at Mauna Kea. We visited many more points than what was mentioned in the tour details, and the guide was very clear and enjoyable, making the time fly by.

ヒロエリアの自然や見どころをガイドしながら、マウナケアの星空の見えるところに連れて行ってくれます。ツアー内容に書かれているより沢山のポイントに行き、ガイドもとてもわかりやすく楽しいのであっという間でした。

虹を見ることができなかったのは残念でしたが、子供たちはツアーを楽しんでいました。

It was a shame that we didn't see a rainbow, but the kids loved the tour.

We loved everything about this tour! The boat was comfortable and clean and there was plenty of room for our gear. The food was excellent. My husband and I are omnivores, but we thoroughly enjoyed the vegan lunch and breakfast! The snorkeling was so much fun and we were fortunate enough to have perfect weather. We brought our own snorkel equipment and fins, but the boat was equipped with all of that plus life vests, pool noodles, inner tubes, sun screen and anti fog spray for masks. Last, but most importantly, the crew was amazing. Everyone was so caring and helpful and made sure we felt comfortable and safe in the water and out. We will be sure to book with Fair Wind Cruises again when we travel to the Big Island.

We very were honored to be in the presence of such a beautiful and sacred place. The discussion of Waipi’o history and culture from someone who was raised in the valley was a special experience. Thank you for your hospitality!

While it may be a lack of research on my part, I would like to see a review of the tour promotion that prominently features nighttime photos of volcanic craters. It would be helpful to clearly inform participants that this is a tour where you generally won't see magma erupting from the volcano. Although it seems there is a note mentioning this, it only states that "it may not be visible," which gives the impression that it's a minor possibility. However, upon arriving at the site, it becomes clear that the chance of actually seeing it is quite rare and would be considered very lucky.

下調べ不足といえばそこまでだが、夜間の火山火口の写真を前面に出したツアー募集は見直して欲しい。基本的には火山からマグマが出るなんて見れないツアーということは通知しておいて欲しい。注意書きにその旨を書いているようだが、注意書きだけ見ると「見れない場合がある」程度の表記だか、現地に来ると「見れたら相当にラッキー」という確率の話。

On my first trip to the Big Island, I was looking forward to the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing. I knew it would be a full moon when I planned the trip, so my expectations were more focused on the sunset than the stars, and it did not disappoint—it was a breathtaking view. Our Japanese guide provided thorough explanations, making the drive to the summit enjoyable. Additionally, I appreciated being dropped off at the hotel instead of the designated drop-off point. The BLT sandwich for dinner was also very delicious.

初めてのハワイ島で、楽しみにしていたマウナケア山頂サンセット&星空観測。旅行を計画した時から満月なのはわかっていたので、星空よりサンセットへの期待が膨らんでいましたが、期待通りの絶景でした。日系のガイドさんが丁寧に色々説明していただき、山頂への車中も飽きることなく過ごせました。また、帰りは指定の降車場所でなくホテルまで送っていただき、ありがとうございました。夕食のBLTサンドもとても美味しくいただきました。

We are so happy that we took this tour! It was one of our favorite days of the vacation. Our tour guide, Omar, was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about Hawaiian culture and the history of the valley itself. It was beautiful.

Fun,educational tour for the entire family. Thank you Omar for a great trip

The purpose of going to the Big Island was to visit the summit of Mauna Kea, but I joined a tour based on the information that it would be better. The English-speaking guide was very kind and friendly, making it a fun experience. The weather was great, and I was able to encounter truly beautiful sights. I am grateful for the wonderful sunset. Regarding the starry sky, it was a full moon that day, so if there hadn't been a moon, we might have seen an even more amazing starry sky. However, the guide showed us the moon's surface through a telescope that clearly captured the craters, provided us with photos of the moon, and gave detailed explanations, allowing us to have a great time. Mauna Kea truly became a wonderful memory.

ハワイ島に行く目的はマウナケア山頂行くことが目的でしたが、ツアーに参加するほうが良いという情報で参加しました。イングリッシュガイドでしたが、
大変親切で、フレンドリーなガイドさんで楽しかったです。天候もよく、本当に良い光景にも巡り合うことができました。素晴らしいサンセットに感謝します。星空については、当日は満月でしたので、もし、月がなけれもっと素晴らしい星空が望めたかもしれません。しかし、ガイドさんが月のクレーターがばっちり写っている望遠鏡で月面を見せてくれたり、月の写真を提供いただいたり、詳しい説明をいただいたいたりして、よい時間を過ごせました。本当に良い思い出になるマウナケアでした。

I am 64 years old. I participated because I wanted to see manta rays. The sunset was beautiful and wonderful. However, diving from the boat took courage. Swimming from there to the manta spot was tough, and I had to be pulled by the staff member. It was difficult to float while holding onto the frame and breathing through the snorkel, so I started to observe from the center of the floating frame, which was enough for me. I wonder if I was the only one who felt exhausted. I hope that the enjoyment of watching (which lasted about 20 to 30 minutes) could be a bit easier from the start. I was lucky that I could lie on the frame, which allowed me to use both hands freely for filming, but it was a bit tough until I settled down.

64歳です。見たかったマンタなので参加しました。
夕陽も美しく素晴らしかったです。でも、船からのダイブは勇気がいりました。そこからマンタスポットまで泳いでの移動もしんどくてスタッフのお兄さんに引っ張ってもらいました。両手で枠につかまりながらシュノーケルで息をしながら浮いて見ているのが辛かったので途中から浮き枠に乗って枠の中央から観察させてもらいましたが、それで十分でした。しんどさを感じたのは私だけなのでしょうか。観る楽しさ(20〜30分だったのでしょうか)も、最初からもう少し楽に楽しめたらいいなと思います。私は枠に腹ばいで乗れたおかげで両手が自由に使えて撮影も余裕でできたのでラッキーでしたが、落ち着くまではちょっとしんどかったです。

This is my second time participating. The kids really wanted to go, so we chose the morning snorkeling. With breakfast and lunch included, we had a great time for two and a half hours. Thank you!

今回は２度目の参加となります。子供達が絶対に行きたいと希望したので朝からのシューノーケルにしました。朝食と昼食が付いて2時間半、たっぷりと楽しめました。ありがとうございます

For us it was a true Luau. Not just a Hawaiian show. From weaving headbands to teaching hula dancing. The show was very personable with audience interaction. Food was very good, brought out to the table instead of a buffet bar. It was an all day affair for us. Went to Waimea Falls first and spent some time there and then to the Luau. MC was great. Highly recommend. We stayed on the North Shore so it was very convenient!

I knew that the tour date was not suitable for stargazing due to the seasonal factors and being a few days after the full moon, but I had made my decision to participate after the travel date was set, so I was prepared for that. On the day of the tour, our guide was Stefan, who grew up in Japan, and he provided a fun experience. According to the guide, the moon's influence was not a problem since it was already a few days past the full moon and the moon would rise after the tour ended, but he was concerned about the clouds. I wished for no clouds in the sky, but unfortunately, my worries came true. However, there was just enough of a gap to see the sunset.

I understood that due to the timing, it was more likely that we wouldn't see the stars, but I was really looking forward to it, so it was truly disappointing.

For cold weather preparation, I wore: on top, a tank top + short-sleeve Heattech + a slightly thicker long-sleeve T-shirt + a light down jacket + a scarf around my neck; on the bottom, Heattech leggings + warm windproof pants with a boa lining (I also wore a long skirt that I had on from the start). I put on the warm clothing I brought with me at the Onizuka Visitor Center. It was a windless day at the summit, but it was still cold, and I borrowed a jacket from the guide. The jacket I borrowed was really warm and a great help. I also appreciated the warm cocoa service. My friend brought a hot pack, which was helpful too. I wished I had brought gloves. I recommend bringing gloves that allow you to touch your phone screen (like those without fingertips).

However, the restroom situation was a bit challenging. The guide advised us to use the facilities at the Onizuka Visitor Center, saying there were portable toilets at the summit, but they weren't clean. I made sure to go before the tour, but I tend to need the restroom frequently, and the cold made it worse. I was also told to drink water frequently to avoid altitude sickness, so I couldn't avoid hydration. I remember there were about four portable toilets at the summit, but when I peeked in because I couldn't hold it anymore, they were too dirty to use. So, the off-road return trip was really tough (laughs). This seemed to be a common occurrence, as the guide mentioned on the way back that it was hard to hold it on the off-road path. By the way, the restrooms at the Onizuka Visitor Center are flush toilets, so you can use them with peace of mind. However, since there were participants from other tour companies and the overall number of people was large, there was a long line for the women's restroom.

It was very disappointing not to see the beautiful sunset or the starry sky, but it was truly a valuable experience to reach a height higher than Mount Fuji, and the guide was a veteran, which was reassuring. I hope to join another tour with this company someday and see the sunset and the starry sky next time.

ツアー申込日が季節的なことと満月の数日後のため、星空ツアーに適していないことはわかっていたのですが、旅行日が決定した後に参加を決めたので、覚悟はしていました。当日のガイドさんは日本育ちのステファンさんで、楽しく案内してくださいました。ガイドさん曰く、月の影響については既に満月より数日過ぎていて、月が昇るのがツアーが終わった後の時間であるため問題はないこと、しかし雲が心配とのこと。どうか雲が空にかかっていませんように、とその願いも虚しく、心配が的中してしまいました。しかし、かろうじて隙間があり、そこから夕焼けは見ることができました。

時期的な問題もあったので、無理かもしれない可能性の方が高かいことは承知していたものの、もしかして。。。と、星空をとても楽しみにしていたので、本当に残念でした。

寒さ対策としては、上：タンクトップ＋半袖ヒートテック＋少々厚手の長Tシャツ＋ライトダウンジャケット＋ストールを首に巻く、下：ヒートテックのレギンス＋暖かいボア裏地付きの風を通さないタイプのズボン（最初からはいていた長いスカートもそのまま着ていました）で挑みました。オニヅカ・ビジターセンターで手荷物で持ってきた防寒着を着込みました。山頂でも風が全くない日でしたが、さすがに山頂は寒く、ガイドさんにジャケットをお借りしました。お借りしたジャケットが本当に暖かく、助かりました。温かいココアのサービスも嬉しかったです。友達が持ってきてくれたホッカイロも助かりました。手袋を持っていけばよかったなぁと思いました。携帯の画面が触れるような（指先がないタイプとか）手袋があったら持って行くことをお勧めします

ただ、トイレ事情がちょっと大変でした。ガイドさんからは、オニヅカビジターセンターで行っておいてくださいね、山頂にも簡易トイレがあるけど綺麗じゃないので。と案内があったので、ちゃんと行っておいたのですが、元々トイレに行く頻度が多い私も、寒いのせいで更にトイレが近くなります。そして、高山病にならないように、お水をちびちび頻繁に飲むようにと言われていたので、水分を取らないということもできませんでした。山頂の簡易トイレは４つほどあったように記憶していますが、トイレが我慢できそうになくて、使ってみようかと覗いてみたところ、汚くてどうしても使えませんでした。だから帰りのオフロードが本当に辛かった（笑）それはお馴染みの出来事のようで、ガイドさんも帰り道、オフロードの道がトイレ我慢してると辛いよね〜って話してました。ちなみに、オニヅカビジターセンターのトイレは水洗なので安心して使えます。しかし他のツアー会社の参加者もいますし、全体に人数が多いのもあって、女性トイレは長い列ができていました。

綺麗な夕陽も星空も見れなかったことは大変残念でしたが、富士山より高いところまで行けたことは本当に貴重な体験でしたし、ガイドさんもベテランの方で安心できました。いつか、またこちらの会社のツアーに参加して、次こそは夕陽と星空を見たいと思います。

It was great experience. We have don’t this tour many times. Saw lots of whales. Crew was friendly and helpful and informative. It was fun and enjoyed every minute.

We were very lucky to sail on a lovely evening with lots of whales surrounding us and they were quite active. The crew were great, we enjoyed the snacks and drinks. It was just about perfect, loved the boat, could have stayed out on the water for hours if allowed. Definitely will do again and recommend this cruise.

I was moved to see a starry sky like a planetarium! If possible, I strongly recommend going around the new moon when there is less light in the sky.

プラネタリウムみたいな星空が見れて感動しました！！
日程調整が可能であれば、空に明かりが少ない新月周辺で行くことを強くお勧めします。

Beautiful caves to explore on the Kona cliffsides!

First timers will experience an exhilaration rush of amazing views. Even if you are afraid of heights don’t be, the crew are professional experts to ease your worries. They know what they are doing (with a flare of joking) to take your nerves from reminding you you’re going to be hundred of feet up in the air. It’s worth it! You’ll appreciate the picturesque palm trees, streams and lastly the huge waterfall. This took my breath away but in a good way. Bring your camera for all the unforgettable shot. What you show all your social media friends and family will surely make them jealous. Love the experience highly recommended!

Are ready to try an adventure that is unique? Water activities are great but what about doing something at night, in the water and mysteriously fun? You must do this! A night time viewing of majestic Manta Rey fish! Oh boy, so fun. The day came, I drove down to the facility early (good thing I did, I got lost) and introduced myself to the host. Maybe her name was Iruka, but a very friendly girl greeted me and accommodated any questions I had. She offered a wetsuit fins and mask/snorkel combo however, I bought and brought my own (because I know what it means for things not to fit right). We took off on time with about 13-15 people out into the abyss. Light was shimmering off the water as the sun was setting down. Very beautiful to see it on a boat. We took a short ride to the spot where other boats were anchored and the crew pulled out a square like raft. It had special lights in the middle to draw fish and Manta Ray. The special lights draw the plankton towards the light and the fish eat it right away.

Everyone slowly dropped ourselves over the side and crew members helped us swim to the floating raft. We had to hold a small rope handle and given floating noodles to place under our feet to make everyone horizontal. This is to keep our feet from kicking underneath the raft and scaring the fish. This also kept everyone relaxed, well until we started seeing strange fish.

So much fun! The ride back was scary fun. Traveling through the dark without any lights but the moon illuminating on the water in front of us Wow! This is something you'll never forget. Highly Recommended.

Video https://youtu.be/t4VJHokd3DI

Although this is now the only way that you can visit the Waipio Valley it is so worth taking the guided tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the history and culture of the valley, and shared loads of local insights and stories which made this one of the best tours we have ever experienced

Decided to try this luau after researching luau options on the big island, and unfortunately it fell short of expectations.
There are three main areas I judge in a luau, and I'll expand on each category for this place; location/setting, food/drinks, and entertainment.
First the location setting. Although located at the Fairmont orchid resort, a beautiful and well kept property, the luau itself was "makeshift" utilizing cheap plastic chairs and tables and placed between the golf course and tennis courts, over a mile away from the coast with no sunset or real ocean view. Most other luau's I've been to are more like restaurants with permanent structures set right on the coast.
I had read rave reviews about the food, and while it too fell short of expectations - it wasn't all bad. I'll definitely give it credit for a large selection and variety, but the food was overall "meh." The poke, fish, shrimp and chicken were good but the beef and pork were awful. There was no actual hog roast; the pulled pork they served was clearly not from a recently dug up roasted pig - and it tasted disgusting; this was the biggest let down as you expect amazing pulled pork when you goto a luau. They lacked variety in drinks, so not much to choose from in terms of wine (only "red" or "white") or beers (a few cheap varieties in cans, no IPAs), and the mixed drinks were also limited in ingredients (for example, they couldn't make me an old fashion), but they had the basics to make most decent cocktails. My biggest complaint with the drinks is that the line was long and clearly a bottleneck only having 2 bartenders making drinks for the entire group. Other luaus I'd attended always had the basic drinks ready to go so you could grab a basic drink at anytime if you wanted.
As for the entertainment; also very meh. Not a big production (again, due to the "makeshift" nature of this luau), but it contained all the basic elements to not fall completely short.

Henry is a wonderful tour guide. He told us so many interesting things about Big Island culture, history, plants, geology, stars. He was great with the kids and took a good care of us all. The Rainbow fall was beautiful and the banyan tree nearby was insane! The star gazing was great even though the conditions were not the best (bright moon). For me the best experience of the tour was getting deep inside the cave - it was amazing, I had never seen anything like it.

My family did the sunset cruise and it was amazing! We got to watch the sunset in the water and got to see dolphins and look for whales before heading to the snorkeling spot. I have kids ages 12 and 9. While my 9 year old struggled a bit with the snorkel, my 12 year old had no problems at all. The crew was super fun and engaging, dancing to music and generally infecting the crowd with their great attitude. Snacks and drinks were provided as well as hot chocolate afterward. They also took videos for us and were happy to airdrop them to anyone that wanted them. I would definitely recommend this experience and this company!

I previously participated in whale watching on Oahu, but I hardly saw any whales at that time. This time, however, I was able to see them one after another from early on. On the way back, dolphins came around the boat and even showed us some jumps, making it the best whale watching experience ever.

以前にオアフ島でホエールウォッチングに参加しましたが、その時はほとんどクジラに会えなかったですが、今回は早い時間帯から次ぐから次に見ることができました。
帰りには、船の周りをイルカが来て、ジャンプまで見せてくれて、最高のホエールウォッチングになりました。

One of the best and most impressive tour we ever made!

The speed of the boat was fast, which was a bit scary, but thank you for the fun tour. I will never forget the sight of dolphins swimming right in front of us as we set sail. The explanations about the marine life surrounding the Big Island from the Japanese female guide were very educational.

ボートのスピードが速かったので少し怖かったですが、楽しいツアーをありがとうございました。出港してからすぐに目の前をイルカが泳いでいる光景は忘れられません。日本人女性ガイドさんからのハワイ島の周囲に生息する海洋生物の説明は大変勉強になりました。

Overall, it was a tour where I could truly feel the great nature of Hawaii, and I was very satisfied with the beautiful sunset and starry sky. Not only the sunset and starry sky, but I also enjoyed the scenery of mountains, the ocean, and the changing rocks and plants along the way. I definitely want to recommend this to friends going to the Big Island.

We gathered in Kona in the afternoon and traveled by van with our tour guide. The tour guide was an American who grew up in Japan and could speak both English and Japanese, so those who don't speak English can participate with peace of mind.

For stargazing, even those who can speak some English might not understand the explanations unless they are given in Japanese, as the details are quite technical, so I was really glad to have a guide who spoke Japanese.

I brought various jackets for warmth, but they also provided good quality cold-weather gear, so as long as I had thermal wear and a long-sleeve sweatshirt, it was no problem. At the summit, I didn't feel much of the thin air and was able to finish the tour without any issues.

とにかくハワイの大自然を感じられ、綺麗な夕日、綺麗な星空を見れて大満足なツアーでした。夕日と星空だけでなく、道中の山や海、場所によって変わる岩や植物などの景色もたくさん楽しめました。ハワイ島に行く友人には絶対お勧めしたい内容です。
午後にコナで集合し、ツアーガイドのバンで移動。
ツアーガイドは日本育ちのアメリカ人の方で、英語、日本語両方できるので、英語ができない方でも安心して参加できます。
星空観測なんかは英語がそこそこできる方でも、日本語で説明してもらわないと理解できないくらいマニアックな説明をしてくれるので、日本語できるガイドで本当に良かったです。
防寒対策でいろいろと上着持って行きましたが、防寒着もしっかりしたものを貸してもらえるので、上下ヒートテックと長袖スウェットくらいあれば問題無かったです。
山頂はあまり空気の薄さも感じず、特に何の問題も無くツアーを終えられました。

Had a great day on the water. Right out of the bay we experience whales breaching the water. Staff was well trained, everyone had their job and was on it. They were very helpful in and out of the water. Very knowledgable about the history of the bay and Capt. Cook. Breakfast and lunch was very good and served efficiently. Saw lots of species of fish on the coral reef at the Capt. Cook Monument. To finish the day we were entertained by Spinner Dolphins jumping out of the water. Highly recommend!