All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

The Luau itself it’s in a nice place, check in was quick. We did have to stand around in the hot sun for a bit.

Seating was a nightmare because the sun is literally right in your face and there’s no shade.

The food was bleh. It was cold and not too flavorful.

i really liked this luau! right near the water and very productive evening

In late May, I participated in a sunset and stargazing tour at the summit of Mauna Kea, which was an incredibly valuable experience. Since there were many Japanese participants, our perfect bilingual guide, Sue, navigated in Japanese.

The local information that isn't found in guidebooks, the mysterious and magnificent scenery along the way, the unexpected cold despite being in a tropical location (and the warmth of the borrowed jackets), the delicious sandwiches we had at the summit, the breathtaking sunset, the ever-changing colors of the sky and clouds, the opening of the observatory and the start of the observations, and the view of the star-filled sky and constellations—all of these were truly wonderful and exceeded my expectations, providing a surprising and moving experience.

During the stargazing, when Sue pointed out the constellations and we were all gazing at them, a huge shooting star passed by, and everyone cheered together. That became an unforgettable memory.

Thank you so much, Sue (Stephan). The photos you took with professional skill are a wonderful record, and I am grateful.

５月下旬、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加し、大変貴重な体験をさせてもらいました。
日本人参加者が多い回だったので、完璧なバイリンガルガイドのスーさんが、日本語でナビゲートしてくださいました。
ガイドブックにはないローカルの情報、道中の不思議で雄大な景色、南国にもかかわらず体験する歯も噛み合わない寒さ（と貸してくださった防寒ジャケットの暖かさ⁠)、山頂で食べた美味しいサンドイッチ、息を飲むようなサンセット、刻々と変わる空と雲の色、天文台が開き観測を開始する様、満天の星と星座の見方、どれもこれも本当に素晴らしく、想像を遥かに上回る、驚きと感動体験でした。
星空観測中に、スーさんが指し示した星座を皆で眺めている時、大きな大きな星が流れ、参加者全員で歓声を上げたこと。忘れられない思い出になりました。
スーさんことステファンさん、本当にありがとうございました。
プロ並みの腕前で撮って頂いた写真は、素晴らしい記録になり感謝です。

The sunset above the clouds at the summit of Mauna Kea was truly magical. It was an unforgettable beauty. And the starry sky. At first, I told my son, "There aren't as many stars as I thought," but as it got completely dark, the sky was filled with stars! The guide's explanations were enjoyable, and I truly felt that it was a tour worth taking. Thank you very much.

マウナケア山頂雲の上のサンセットは、本当に幻想的でした。忘れられない美しさでした。
そして星空。最初「思ったほど星の量ないね」と
息子に言っていたのですが、完全に暗くなってくると
空が星で埋め尽くされていました！ガイドさんの説明も楽しく、行ってよかったなぁとこころからそう思えるツアーでした。ありがとうございました。

It was an unforgettable and amazing experience to see the volcano's crater and valleys up close! The knowledgeable pilot (Kai) who spoke Japanese provided a very clear guide, which made it even more enjoyable. This is definitely a tour you should join!

火山の火口や谷の中を間近で見ることができて、忘れられない素晴らしい体験でした！
日本語の話せる知識豊富なパイロット(カイさん)のガイドも、とてもわかりやすく、より一層楽しめました。
絶対に参加した方がいいツアーです！

This was amazing! From our pick up point in Kona, our guide Kailikea (hope I spelled this right) was fantastic. He was so passionate about the trip and his home town it was so engaging. He's such a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable chap. I didn't expect to learn so much, but it was just the right level. 'Kea was clear about what to expect from the altitude and how to best manage it. We were lucky enough to see the Silversword plants by the visitor centre and then enjoyed our meal, included in the tour; veggie lasagne and chocolate brownie. It was a mixed journey up to the summit with some paved and some very bumpy roads but so worth the trip. We learned all about the different dishes and observatories and watched the beautiful sunset from the summit. We had to head lower for stargazing to avoid polluting the light by the observatories. We were awestruck by how many stars you could see, it was stunning. The powerful telescopes were set up and we were shown the visible planets and constellations/asterisms. Viewing the Edna carina nebula through the telescope was an incredible experience. I would 100% recommend this tour!

It was May 2nd, so the night sea was still cold. But the manta rays were so beautiful that I forgot about the cold! I saw just one, but it kept spinning right in front of me, so I could see its mouth wide open and observe its skin closely; it was almost within reach if I stretched out my hand. (If you touch them, you will be forced to return to the boat. I thought it was wonderful that there is a strong attitude of respecting them.) The mystical time continued, and I was so absorbed that I forgot about the cold.

It seems that the manta rays get startled and swim away if they see human feet in the water, so you need to keep your feet on the float while lying face down and kicking to stay afloat. It can be quite challenging until you get used to it, but the large "ロ" shaped float allows small children to sit on it and look through the opening. Since it’s not cold, and you don’t need to float, and the manta rays don’t swim away, I thought it was a good method (as children tend to splash their feet in the water). The Japanese guide was kind and attentive, moving around to help us, and he gave us all the photos he took for free. I even saw a seal in the pictures! (It seems there was actually a seal very close by. Guests are not allowed to let go of the float, so he went instead to take photos.)

5/2でしたのでまだ夜の海は寒かったです。でもそんなことを忘れるくらいマンタが美しかった！見られたのは1枚ですが、ずーーーっと目の前でクルクル回転してくれていたので、口の中も丸見え、肌感もしっかり観察でき、手を伸ばしたら触れるほどです。（もし触ったら強制的に船に戻されます。彼らを尊重する強い姿勢が素敵だと思いました）神秘的な時間が続き、寒いのも忘れて夢中で見入ってました。
人間の足が水中にあると驚いて逃げてしまうようで、フロートの上に足を乗せながら、うつ伏せに蹴伸びをした姿勢で浮き続ける必要があります。慣れるまで結構大変ですが、手でつかまってるロの字フロートは大きく、小さなお子さんはその上に乗っかって、ロの字の中から見てました。寒くなくて、浮く必要もなく、マンタも逃げないので、良い方法だと思いました（どうしてもお子さんは水中で足をバタバタさせてしまうので）。ガイドの日本人の方は親切で色々と気づいて動いて下さり、また撮った写真は無料で全部下さいます。見たらアザラシまで映ってました！（すぐ近くに実はアザラシが居たみたいです。ゲストはフロートから手を離してはいけないので見に行けませんが、代わりに行って写真を撮ってくださってました）

Tour was excellent, Aaron was a great host. Very informed, engaging. Had fun all along the way. We had plenty of time at all the stops to experience and enjoy. Made our 1st trip here an experience to remember. We are telling everyone if they come to the Island they need to take this tour.

In addition when we 1st booked, we were told that our location was around 90 minutes from the tour pickup. We chose to go ahead but very much appreciated the help and advice. Excellent service all around.

This is a great outfit to take you to see Manta Rays. The boat is a medium size so the group size is much smaller than the big boats. Crew are very professional and knowledgeable in the Manta Ray habits and behaviors. The boat ride to the site is short (<15 min) then it's into the water.

On our trip a single manta showed up after about 5 minutes in the water. As the sky darkened the plankton seemed to multiply and the show really began. The single ray made several passes within inches of our masks. Then another showed up and it was like a graceful dance being performed right beneath you. Another two rays showed up and things really got interesting. What fun watching that ballet!

Afterward, hot soup and warm drinks helped fuel the conversation with the other participants. A most delightful and memorable experience.

P. Burke

Standing at the summit of Mauna Kea at an altitude of 4,200 meters, I was able to wait for the sunset without any discomfort thanks to proper altitude acclimatization. The sight of the sun setting between the various observatories from around the world was magnificent. During the stargazing, the explanations about the seasons and constellations were very clear and refreshing. The sandwiches for dinner and the hot chocolate were also very delicious.

標高4200ｍのマウナケア山頂に立ちますが、高度順応が適切にされ違和感なくサンセットを待つことができました。
世界中の天文台が立ち並ぶ隙間に太陽が沈んでいく様子は素晴らしいです。
星空観測では、季節や星座についての説明がとても分かりやすく新鮮でした。
夕食のサンドウィッチもホットチョコレートもとてもおいしかったです。

Beyond the Waipi'o Valley lookout, entry is restricted to tour participants only. As you descend the narrow, steep slope, you can overlook the Hi'ilawe Falls and taro fields, and wild horses even approached our vehicle. There are many rivers flowing, but there are no bridges, so crossing in a windowless four-wheel drive vehicle is exciting and fun. You can only get out of the car at one location.

ワイピオ渓谷展望台から先はツアー参加者以外は入場が制限されています。
細い急な坂を下っていくとヒイラヴェ滝やタロイモ畑を見渡せ、野生の馬も車に近づいてきてくれました。
たくさんの川が流れていますが、橋は架けられておらず窓ガラス無しの四輪駆動車で渡るとワクワクして楽しいです。
車から降りることができるのは1ヶ所だけでした。

This was an absolutely amazing experience. We booked this fantastic tour short notice and I'm so grateful there were a few time slots still available that worked with out schedule for us.

Our guide, James, is truly an expert astronomer and has a fantastic personality. To see first hand some of the astronomical wonders we've heard about and seen in books or online was breathtaking.

I would absolutely recommend the Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience as a must do when on the Big Island. In fact, I would do it again because what you see one night will be different on another night!

The food was of better quality than other luaus. Restaurant quality. Luau itself was a bit impersonal. Entertainment was okay but not as inspirational as other luaus in the area. Too staged. Enjoy performances with more personality.

We participated as a family of three during Golden Week. We had given up on going down to Waipi'o Valley after learning that the road was closed for construction, but this tour allowed us to access the closed road (apparently due to a close relationship with local residents), and we descended into the valley in a 4WD vehicle.

Along the way, we saw waterfalls, crossed rivers, passed through fields, and encountered horses and geese, immersing ourselves in a stunning natural environment that made us forget we were in Hawaii. The scenery was very mystical and refreshing for the soul.

The guide was a very cheerful person, and unfortunately, I struggled with English and understood more than half of what was said, but they still explained things using gestures, picked flowers for us, and caught shrimp in the river, making it a fun experience. It seems they are involved in activities aimed at improving the lives of local residents.

Thanks to this tour, we were able to discover a world that cannot be seen just from the viewpoint of Waipi'o Valley. I'm glad I participated.

GWに家族3人で参加しました。
ワイピオ渓谷の道路が工事で閉鎖されたということが分かり下まで行くのを諦めていましたが、このツアーでは通行止めの道路を通れるようで(現地の住民と関係が深いらしく)、四駆に乗って渓谷を降りていきました。
途中滝を見たり川を渡ったり、畑を通ったり馬やガチョウがいたりと、ハワイにいることを忘れてしまうような山奥みたいな大自然に触れられました。
とても神秘的で心が洗われるような風景でした。
ガイドの方はとても陽気な人で、残念ながら英語の苦手な私は半分以上分かりませんでしたが、それでも身振り手振りを使って説明してくれて、花を摘んでくれたり川に入ってエビを捕まえてくれたりと、楽しませてくれました。どうやら現地の方の生活向上のために活動されている方のようです。
このツアーのおかげでワイピオ渓谷を展望台から見るだけでは分からない世界を知ることができました。
参加して良かったです。

The open-windowed van allowed me to feel the breeze and hear the pleasant sounds of birds chirping and the river flowing. I felt energized by the sacred atmosphere and enjoyed the informative and story-filled guide talk.

窓がオープンのワゴン車は風を感じられ、鳥のさえずりや川の流れる音が聞こえて心地よかったです。神聖な空気にパワーをいただき、情報とエピソードたっぷりのガイドトークが楽しめました。

On the day of my visit, the weather unexpectedly worsened, and I couldn't go beyond the Onizuka Visitor Center. I was disappointed that I couldn't fulfill my dream of coming to the Big Island, but I was happy to see the "Silversword" (Argyroxiphium sandwicense) near the visitor center, thanks to the staff's guidance. I hope to have the opportunity to visit the summit of Mauna Kea again.

当日、まさかの天候悪化で、オニヅカビジターセンターから先に行けませんでした。
ハワイ島に来た夢が果たせずがっかりでしたが、スタッフに教えてもらって、ビジターセンターの近くにある「シルバーソード（銀剣草）」を見ることができて、それは嬉しかったです。
また機会があれば、マウナケア山頂に行きたいと思います。

I was able to see a manta ray just at the last moment. Since I easily get seasick, I took some medicine before joining, and I was fine, but others were unfortunately getting sick. Also, it was colder than I expected. It's essential to have measures for warmth after coming out of the sea.

最後ギリギリにマンタに会えました。
船酔いしやすいので薬を飲んで参加したら、大丈夫でしたが、他の方はどうにももどしてらっしゃいました。
後、想像以上に寒いです。海からあがったあとの防寒対策必須です。

We had a great time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was excellent! He was friendly and informative the entire time. Even though we took the tour on an overcast night, there was so much to see and the views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!!

I joined the tour with my wife, and we were a bit nervous as we worried about altitude sickness before we joined. However, we did not need to worry too much. The guide was so professional, and he made us relax in the large van of Mercedes-Benz. In addition, the distributed dinner, hot lasagna and chocolate cake helped us get adjusted in the rest area before we were elevated to the summit. In astronomical observation, I was able to see two shooting stars. I strongly recommend this amazing tour if you come to the big island.

My wife and I had a great time listening to stories and information from our very knowledgeable driver, Forest. He made the whole experience enjoyable and I can’t say enough about him.

I wasn't very confident in my English, so I was a bit anxious, but the staff were friendly and the tour had a small number of participants, which was great.

The dolphins were lively. There is an island in Tokyo where you can swim with dolphins, but it was also nice to see them from outside.

Honestly, snorkeling is better in Okinawa.

英語が得意ではないので、少し不安でしたが、
スタッフの方もフレンドリーで人数も少ないツアー
なのでとても良かったです。

イルカ達はイキイキしていましたね。
東京ではイルカと泳げる島があるのですが、
外からイルカを見るのもまた良かったです。

シュノーケルは正直沖縄の方がいいですね＾＾；

Diego, Trevor, and Tamae were incredible! They were fun and upbeat and super helpful. We got in the water and we say more than a half dozen different manta rays swimming around right beneath us! It was an experience we’ll never forget!

This tour was worth every penny. We loved the ride to the summit, the star gazing, and the wealth of knowledge provided by our tour guide, Maka.

Great experience! This was a fun time on a very nice, new catamaran with a crew was friendly, knowledgeable and informative. Tho food was great and the snorkelling at the stop by Captain Cooks monument was awesome!

The tour guide was inviting and very knowledgeable. The food was actually quite decent. The views of the sunset from the top were sensational, and it was near seeing all the giant telescopes.

But the highlight for me by far was the stargazing after sunset. It was only 80% visibility and the moon was quite bright but I've never seen so many stars so clearly in my life. It was really a sight to behold. Maka (the tour guide) brought a telescope with him and we saw a number of cool things close up, such as a globular cluster, a star in portions
Orions belt, Venus, and the Moon.

Fernando was a great guide for our tour! We really enjoyed his commentaries and learned a lot from this trip. The sunset was amazing. The night sky was impressive, but cold. Bring winter clothes and layers if you can! They do provide a very warm parka. The dinner was yummy. Highly recommended!

This trip was great. Outstanding crew constantly catering to our every need and ensuring the best experience. Captain Trevor, first mate Diego and Joe and everyone else were so accommodating to all. Would love to come back and visit the mantas again!

We had a blast! A very unique experience, especially if you enjoy sunsets, heights, and amazing views.

I was moved to see whales up close! I was able to see whales not just once, but multiple times. I also encountered a pod of dolphins, which made me very satisfied. The cruising experience itself was pleasant, and it was truly a recommended tour.

クジラを近くで見ることができて感動しました！
一度だけではなく何度もクジラを見ることができました。
イルカの群れにも遭遇し、大満足です。
クルージング自体も気持ちよくて、本当におすすめのツアーでした。

One of the top 5 experiences of my life! A must do on the big island. Captains Trevor and Diego were helpful. Storm was coming in so water was choppy. Climbing out of the water was the hardest part.