All Reviews for Toddler-Friendly (Ages 2-4)

February 5

On my first overseas trip to Hawaii, I was greeted by Daisuke, a staff member with a bright smile. From the moment we started moving, he shared his love for dolphins and the charm of the Big Island, which got me excited. The fact that there are many whales too made me even more thrilled.

There were 11 Japanese participants, including repeat visitors, and everyone except us was from the Kansai region, making for a lively group.

With Captain Jesse at the helm, we felt the sea breeze and sped through the ocean, which was already an attraction in itself (laughs). Along the way, we encountered manta rays and whales while listening to Daisuke's stories about dolphins, and finally arrived at the dolphin point. We donned fins and snorkels (and wetsuits and floatation devices for those who needed them) and headed into the sea! Looking down, I could clearly see the ocean floor about 15 meters below, illuminated by the sunlight. What a beautiful world.

Following Daisuke's call, I swam toward him and saw many spinner dolphins swimming right beside us, which was such a close encounter! Just as I was soaking in that excitement, the dolphins suddenly made a U-turn and sped off in the opposite direction. After waiting a bit, three bottlenose dolphins appeared. According to Daisuke, the spinner dolphins fled when the "giant" dolphins arrived.

To my surprise, the bottlenose dolphins stayed at the ocean floor, seemingly playing with each other, allowing us to watch them slowly. Daisuke mentioned that such a sight is truly rare in Hawaiian waters. It was an amazing experience to have such a rare encounter.

I highly recommend this tour if you come to the Big Island. One thing to note is that practicing snorkeling in advance can enhance your enjoyment even more.

I will definitely repeat this experience!

２月５日

初めての海外とハワイ旅行、スタッフである朝晴れやかな笑顔のだいすけさんに迎えに来てもらえ、移動中からイルカ大好き&ハワイ島の魅力を教えてもらえ、ワクワク。
クジラも沢山いるね～ってことで更にワクワク。

リピーターを含めた11名の日本人、僕ら以外が全員関西の方だったので賑やかなメンバーとなりました。

船長のジェシーの運転で、海風を浴び、爽快に海を突き進む、もうこれだけでアトラクション(笑)
途中にマンタや鯨に出会いながら、だいすけさんのイルカの話を聞きながら、いよいよイルカポイントに到着。
フィンとシュノーケル(必要な人はウエットスーツと浮具)を纏いいざ海へ！
下を除くと15mくらいの海の底がはっきり見え、ふりそそぐ太陽の光。
なんて美しい世界。

こっちだよ～ だいすけさんの呼ぶ方へついていってみると、沢山のハシナガイルカが何頭も自分たちの横をすり抜けていく、こんな近くに来てくれるんだ～♪くらいに。そんな感動に浸っていると急にイルカがUターン。
ものすごいスピードで反対方向に向かっていきました。
少し待っていると、三頭のバンドウイルカ、だいすけさん曰く、ジャイアンイルカ、ハシナガイルカはジャイアンが来たら逃げていったんだそう。

そのバンドウイルカがなんと、海の底に留まって休憩、お互いにじゃれているように見えましたが、ゆっくりイルカの姿を眺めることができました｡
ハワイの海では本当に珍しい奇跡のようなことだそう。
こんなレア体験ができて最高でした。

ハワイ島に来たらこのツアーをオススメします。
注意点としては、シュノーケルを事前に練習しておけると、より楽しむことができると思います☺️

またリピートするぞ！

We intend to do this everywhere we travel now. We loved it that much.

My husband and I participated together. Although we didn't encounter the bridging we were expecting (it seems the encounter rate is not very high), we did see a mother and calf whale! (I wonder if they are more commonly seen around Maui??)

The transportation was smooth, and we were able to experience an activity early in the morning, which allowed us to make the most of the rest of the day. I think it was a great schedule. Everyone on board was calling out, "Which direction are they?" as we spotted the whales, enjoying the spouts and tail slaps. The tour captain explained the whales' ecology (in English) and answered various questions from the passengers, which was very educational. I would love to participate again someday and hopefully see the bridging!

夫と二人で参加しました。期待していたブリッジングには遭遇できませんでしたが（ただ遭遇率はあまり高くないとのこと）、親子クジラに出会えました！（マウイ島のほうがみられるんでしょうか？？）

送迎はスムーズで、朝一にひとつアクティビティを体験でき、そのあとの一日をたっぷり使えますしよいスケジュールだと思います。乗客みんなで「何時方向にいる！」と見つけあい、潮吹きやしっぽたたきを楽しみました。ツアー船長が（英語ですが）クジラの生態について説明してくれました。乗客のいろいろな質問にも答えてくれて、学びになりました。いつかまた参加して、ぜひブリッジングを見てみたいです！

This was our first trip to Hawaii with my husband and his parents. We made a reservation here to experience the Hawaiian atmosphere on our first day. It's a buffet style, and it gets a bit crowded at first, but it's manageable after a short wait. The ahi poke was delicious. There are two drink stations: one at the back of the buffet line and another to the right of the stage. If you go further back from the drink counter on the right side of the stage around sunset, you can see a wonderful sunset. (There are also ashtrays in that area.) Overall, I thought it was a bit pricey, so I gave it three stars. I felt it would cost around 10,000 yen based on my experience in Japan.

夫と夫の両親4人での初ハワイ。
初日にハワイらしさを味わおうとこちらを予約しました。
ブッフェ形式で、はじめは多少混みますが少し待てば大丈夫。
アヒポケが美味しかったです。
飲み物はブッフェ台の並び奥とステージに向かって右側と２箇所にありますが、夕陽が沈む頃にステージ右の飲み物カウンターの前をさらに奥に進むと素晴らしい夕陽が見られます。（そしてその辺りに灰皿もあります。）
全体的には少々お高いかな？と思ったので★３つ。
日本にいる時の感覚では１万円するかしないか位だと思いました。

Excellent trip. Saw dolphins, fun time snorkeling, helpful crew.

Excellent time. Good food, beautiful sunset, interesting history from speaker, outstanding live music.

Not a big boat and it was a bit cramped but we had a great time with the open bar. The pupus were limited to fruit, veggies, sweet rolls, and some ham and cheese rolls.

Note: You'll have to walk into the ocean for a few feet to board so be prepared to take off shoes.

Obviously the tour does not summon the whales at their leisure, but we saw honestly 10+ whales (maybe some of the same ones) over a period of an hour and a half and it was incredible. I have so many photos that I can’t wait to post on social. Regardless of actually seeing the whales, the tour was not only educational but it was a smooth ride, very fun and friendly and we even used a hydro microphone that picked up the whales talking to eachother around us. It was nothing I’ve ever heard before, they are so loud!! I would recommend the early trip for any older folks (we took my grandma who is 78) and/or any easily motion sick people. Overall completely worth the price and waking up “early” on vacation.

Since it was a last-minute booking, I couldn't reconfirm until the day before, but I was able to participate without any issues. It takes about 40-50 minutes to get from Keauhou to Kealakekua Bay. During that time, they distribute fins and masks. Many people were snorkeling while wearing floaties or floats (available for rent). Since I had a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old with me, we were able to borrow a large boogie board (with a window to see underwater). It was a bit chilly because the sun was behind the clouds, so we got back on the boat partway through, but we enjoyed watching foreign guests having fun on the slide until the end. On the way there, pretzels and juice were served in the galley on the first floor, and on the way back, fruit was added. The crew also came up to the second floor to distribute snacks. Even though our English wasn't great, the crew made an effort to communicate with us.

直近の申し込みだったためか、前日までのリコンファームができなかったのに問題なく参加できました。
ケアウホウを出港してケアラケクア湾まで4-50分かかります。その間にフィンとマスクを配ってくれます。
多くの人が浮き輪やフロート（貸し出し）を着けてシュノーケルしていました。4才と8才連れだったので、大きなビート板（水中みられる窓つき）を貸してもらえました。陽がかげっていたので寒かったため途中で船に上がりましたが、最後までスライダーを楽しむ外国人をみたり、それはそれで楽しめました。
行きの船ではプレッツェルとジュースが1階のギャレーで提供され、帰りにはフルーツが追加されます。クルーが2階にも配りに来てくれます。
英語がいまいちな我々にもクルーはややコミュニケーションをとろうとしてくれました。

This was THE COOLEST snorkel excursion. First they picked us up from our hotel, RAD. They have a marine biologist on board that taught us a lot about the creatures we'd be seeing and the ecosystem which was fascinating. The area they took us to was a gorgeous reef and we saw some amazing fish and sea creatures. The marine biologist was even diving for starfish that he showed everyone and let us pet while we were in the water. We got a good hour and a half of snorkeling and then it was time for a tasty sandwich bar lunch. On the way back was, yes what you've all been waiting for, an OPEN BAR. Those were the best drinks I got on the island. It was awesome, big shout out to the amazing crew.

I was worried because I have little experience with snorkeling, but I received great support and was able to participate with peace of mind. The swim guides seemed to constantly share information about the dolphins, and thanks to their judgment on where to take us, I was able to see many dolphins!

(If the dolphin sighting location is far away, I think it's good to have motion sickness medication for those who are concerned.)

Also, while on the boat, Daisuke, the swim guide, shared a lot of information about the dolphins and always let us know when dolphins were nearby, which made the waiting time enjoyable.

Additionally, we were lucky enough to encounter whales during the winter season, allowing us to experience both dolphin swimming and whale watching, which was a double delight!

There may be other dolphin swim tours, but this tour was satisfying in every aspect, including knowledge about dolphins, support, and the friendliness of the staff! If I have the opportunity to go to Hawaii again, I would love to do this again.

シュノーケリング等の経験が浅いので心配でしたが、しっかりとフォローしてもらい、安心して参加できました★
スイムガイドさん達も常にイルカの情報をシェアしあっているようで、ちゃんとイルカが見られる場所までその場その場の判断で連れてってくださったおかげでたくさんのイルカをみることができました！！＾＾
（イルカの出現場所によっては遠くなることもあるので心配な方は酔い止めがあるといいと思います）

また、船に乗っている間もスイムガイドのダイスケさんがイルカに関する情報を沢山お話ししてくださり、
常にイルカがあそこにいる！ということも教えてくれたので泳ぐまでの時間も楽しむことができました。

さらに冬季限定でクジラも運良く遭遇することができ、ホエールウォッチングもでき一石二鳥の感動を味わうことができました！

ドルフィンスイムツアーは他にもあるかもしれませんが、イルカに関する知識やサポート、スタッフさんの感じの良さ、全てにおいて満足できるツアーでした！！またハワイに行く機会があればお願いしたいです(^^)

As mentioned in the experience, when I went to the reception after 5 o'clock, there was a huge line. After the reception, there was the purchase of leis and photo taking, which seemed to take some time. The seating was full. Since the food was served from the front seats, I was nervous that there might not be any food left by the time it got to the back, but they kept replenishing it, so I was able to eat plenty. The dish with pork steamed in leaves and the dessert were delicious. The view of the harbor and Kona at sunset was amazing and beautiful!! The luau was packed with Kahiko, hula, Tahitian, and fire performances. However, my child got tired and fell asleep halfway through, but they were satisfied with the food. It was a lot of fun.

体験談にあったように、5時過ぎに受付にいったらすごい行列でした。受付の後にレイの購入と写真撮影があり、それに時間がかかっていたようです。
席は満席でした。ご飯が前の席から順にとのことで、後の席だったのでご飯がなくなるかとドキドキしましたが、どんどん足してくれていたので、たっぷり食べられました。豚を葉っぱで蒸した料理やデザートがおいしかったです。
夕暮れ時のハーバーとコナの景色が最高で素敵でした！！ルアウも、カヒコ、フラ、タヒチアン、ファイヤーものなど満載。ただ、子供は疲れて途中で寝てしまいましたが、子供もご飯は満足していました。楽しかったです。

The staff members and, of course, the dolphins were all amazing! On the day we were taken care of, there were an incredible number of dolphins, and we even saw whales. They mentioned that it’s not always like this, but for dolphin lovers and ocean enthusiasts, it’s a dream optional tour!!

スタッフの方々や、もちろんイルカも、どれを取っても最高でした！
お世話になった日はイルカがものすごい数でクジラも見れて、毎回こんな感じとは思わないで下さいねーとおっしゃってましたが…イルカ好き、海好きには夢のようなオプショナルツアーです！！

My English skills were below the level of daily conversation, but I was able to enjoy the experience without any problems.

【Before Boarding the Boat】
At the scheduled time, a small bus came to pick us up at the hotel front. We were dropped off near the sea close to Waikoloa and were told, "Come back here when you're done. Also, please fill out the consent form over there before boarding the boat." We headed towards a beach house on the sand. After completing the electronic signature on a device that looked like a tablet, we waited for about 10 minutes until a small boat arrived, and we boarded it. We transferred from the small boat to a larger boat just before going out to sea. There were only two of us from Japan participating.

【Whale Watching Experience】
Seating on the boat was free. Since it was an English tour, I couldn't understand what was being said at all (laughs). The boat was also swaying, so when standing up to take pictures of the whales, everyone stood, so please make sure to hold onto the ropes or handrails tightly. Although it was far away, we were able to see the whales spouting water about 4 to 5 times and also witnessed a low jump of a whale arching its back. It was a precious experience where I could feel the great nature of Hawaii Island. The crew was a kind young man. He said, "You can almost see whales every day! Dolphins are occasional. There are more in Kona than here." I was shown a picture of the boat getting very close to a whale by the crew, and I was amazed at how impressive it was. Since it depends on luck whether you see whales or not, I thought, "There are lucky days like this." By the way, the two of us did not get seasick.

【After Whale Watching】
Around 9:30, we got off the boat and transferred to a small boat to return to the beach. We boarded the bus we took on the way there and safely arrived back at the hotel front, marking the end of the tour.

Since it was my first experience with whale watching, I’m glad I participated! While waiting for the whales, I also enjoyed cruising. I could see the mountains like Mauna Kea in the distance and the beautiful coastline, making for a graceful time.

日常会話レベル以下の英語力でしたが、特に問題なく楽しむことができました。

【船に乗るまで】
時間になったらホテルのフロントまで小型バスが迎えに来てくれました。
ワイコロアから程近い海に降ろされ「終わったらここに戻ってきてね。それと船に乗る前に同意書は向こうで書いてね。」と言われ、砂浜にある海の家(?)に向かいます。タブレットのような機械で電子サインを済ませ10分ほど待つと小さな船が来たので乗りました。
沖より少し手前で小さな船から大きな船に移ります。
日本人参加者は私達2人だけでした。

【ホエールウォッチング体験】
船の席は自由です。英語ツアーなので私は何を言っているかはちんぷんかんぷんでした（笑）。
また船は揺れるので立ち上がってクジラの写真を撮る際は、皆立つのでしっかりロープや手すりにつかまってください。
遠かったですが4〜5回クジラの潮吹きを見ることができ、クジラの反り返りの低いジャンプも見ることができました。ハワイ島の大自然を感じられた瞬間で貴重な体験でした。
クルーも親切なお兄ちゃんでした。「クジラは毎日ほぼ見れるよ！イルカはたまに。ここよりもコナの方がいるよ。」とのこと。クルーのお兄ちゃんに船でクジラに大接近してる画像を見せてもらい、大迫力すぎて驚きました。自然相手なのでクジラに会えるor会えないは運ですが、こういうラッキーな日もあるんだなぁと思いました。ちなみに、私達2人は船酔いせずに済みました。

【ホエールウォッチングを終えて】
9:30頃船から降りて、また小さい船に移動し砂浜へ戻ります。行きに乗ったバスに乗り込み、無事にホテルのフロントに到着し無事にツアー終了となりました☆

ホエールウォッチングは初めての経験だったので、参加してよかったです！またクジラを待ってる間はクルージングとして楽しみましたよ。遠くの方にマウナケア等の山が見えて美しい海岸も見ることができ優雅な時間でした。

All the tour guides were kind and very interesting! They shared a lot of love and knowledge about dolphins, which made it enjoyable on its own. They provided precise support to ensure we had a good encounter with the dolphins during the actual tour. It was really fun! I'm glad I chose this tour. I would like to book a tour here again when I go to Hawaii!

ツアーガイドの方がどの方も親切で、とっても面白い！
イルカに対する愛情と知識も沢山話していただいて、それだけでも楽しめました(^^)
実際のツアーでもイルカにしっかり遭遇できるように的確にサポートしてくださいます。
本当に楽しかったです！
このツアーにして良かった☆
またハワイに行くときはこちらでツアーを頼みたいと思います^_^

I was able to meet a lot of dolphins! ✨ Since I can't speak English, I felt reassured by the Japanese staff. Thank you very much! ✨

たくさんのイルカさん達に会わせてもらえました！✨英語が出来ないので、日本語スタッフの方々で安心できましたありがとうございました✨

As we slowly glided over the mirror-like surface of the sea, we witnessed the spouting of whales and their diving. On the way back, we were treated to a pod of dolphins. It was a moving experience to realize that life can offer such moments!

鏡のような海面をゆっくり走ると、クジラの潮吹き、ダイビングを見学。帰り道はイルカの群生というおまけ付き。人生にこんな時間があるのだと、感動！

Great experience! Saw whales and dolphins...mission accomplished!

Super friendly staff and we had a wonderful time! Would recommend to anyone and everyone and would definitely go back when I have the chance! Despite the fact that it was raining the day we went (which actually made the experience more exhilarating, as the rain made us go even faster than normal) , the views were still incredible. The staff was patient and their energy made the experience more fun for everyone. By the end of the zipline I was ready to do it all over again!

We participated as a family of five, with ages ranging from 10 to over 50. Thanks to our captain, who was full of love for dolphins, we got to see so many dolphins and had an amazing time! The rental wetsuits were easy to put on and take off, which was great.

下は10歳、上は人生半世紀の家族5人で参加しました。イルカ愛に溢れる船長さんのおかげで、たくさんのイルカちゃん達に会えてめちゃくちゃ楽しかったです♬レンタルのウェットスーツは着脱しやすくてよかったです。

I could feel the guide's passion for marine life, including dolphins, and it was enjoyable. We had a perfect encounter with a pod of dolphins, and we even saw a whale as a bonus. My child got seasick, but they provided solid support.

イルカをはじめとする海の生き物に対するガイドの情熱が伝わってきて楽しめました。イルカの群れにバッチリ遭遇できたし、おまけにクジラもみられました。子供が船酔いしてしまいましたが、しっかりサポートしてくれました。

While I understand that no one can truly guarantee seeing whales naturally, it's still a bit disappointing not to have seen any and the only reason Oceans Sports didn't get the full 5 stars. We appreciated the opportunity to try again another day but our demanding schedule didn't allow for it.

That being said, the crew was incredible fun and friendly and we very much enjoyed our "boating trip". The drinks were good and we got some incredible recommendations from the crew for lunch and other day-time activities. I would highly recommend this trip to others even with the off-chance of not seeing any whales.

I heard that the season had just started and the whales weren't very active, but we saw four splashes! One of them was quite close to us.
The front of the boat had a net, and the kids were lying down there, looking really comfortable! They were so relaxed that they fell into a deep sleep...

Since the guide spoke only in English, my kids and I didn't understand anything, but we still had a great time regardless!

まだシーズン始まったばかりで、クジラはあまり活発に動いてないと聞いていたのですが、4回スプラッシュ！その内1回はかなり近くで会うことができました。
船の先端が網になっていて、子供たちはそこに寝転がり、めちゃめちゃ気持ち良さそうでした！気持ちよすぎて爆睡してましたが…

ガイドは全て英語の為、私や子供には内容は全然分かりませんでしたが、分からなくてもとにかく楽しめました！

An incredible number of dolphins beyond my imagination! The tour guide was very kind and entertaining, providing great support to ensure we encountered many dolphins, and we were able to swim freely! It became the best memory, and I would love to do it again!

想像を超えるイルカの数！でした。
ツアーガイドさんはとても親切で面白く、イルカとたくさん遭遇できるようしっかりサポートしてくださり、ガンガン泳がせてもらえました！
最高な思い出になり、またリピートさせて頂きたいとおもいます！

If you're planning on ziplining, or have any remote interest in it, do this tour it's so worth it! I had never been ziplining before, and I'm glad this was my first experience. It was a decently long excursion and had 9 separate lines which all offered unique and breathtaking views. Each line felt different, and our guides even taught us how to do tricks like going upside down. You start with tandem lines so you're going with a buddy, plus the guides are great at keeping everyone calm. Our zipline guides Scot, Ian, Maccai (sorry for any misspelling) really kept the party going. Literally, they brought radios with them and danced with us. Honestly they were as entertaining as the ziplining. They even prepared some fresh guava and citrus for us (which tasted AMAZING). We asked them for some local grub recommendations which were all great. Overall amazing experience!

As an aside, the property is so beautiful that alone is worth the money- take some time to walk around and stroll through the gardens after your tour. I also bought the video from them at the end, totally worth. Thanks for keeping us safe and showing us a fantastic time guys!

I absolutely recommend the self-guided walking tour if you're in the area. The property is huge- seriously you can explore for hours! There was a cute little farmers market happening with live music as well. Absolutely make a trip up to the Kamaee falls at the top of the property- the views were breathtaking. The hedge maze was fun and fairly challenging- it took us a good 30 minutes to get out. The gardens are a bit rugged at some parts which adds to their natural beauty- just be careful when traversing the river trails, they're narrow and slippery but worth the view. Also watch out for spider webs! Overall, really beautiful area of the island and worth spending some time in!

The meeting place was changed the day before the tour. It was quite far from Kailua, which was a hassle. Also, the whales didn't show up; they just floated in the sea. Since it was only in English, I think it would be quite boring if you didn't understand. The good point was that they gave us a voucher to participate for free next time. But I probably won't go again.

ツアーの前日に、集合場所が変更になりました。
かなり、カイルアからは遠くて、参りました。
また、ホエールは現れずただ海に浮かんでいただけでした。
英語しか無い日取りだったので、分からないとかなりつまらないと思います。
良い点は次回無料で参加できるvoucherをくれたこと。
でも、もう行かないかな。

I was a bit scared when they said there were no life jackets, but surprisingly, I floated just fine. I was so moved to see a pod of dolphins, and then… a big shark was slowly swimming along the bottom, and I was told to get back on the boat quickly. Wait, seriously? That silhouette was definitely a shark. It was huge. I heard that sharks eat dolphins.

So, I might have spent less time in the water, but I made it back safely, so it’s a good memory.

ライフジャケットなしって言われて、ちょっとびびったけど、意外と浮くので、なんとか。
イルカの群れに会えて感動と思ったら…大きなシャークが、水底をゆーっくり泳いでて、早く、ボートに上がってって。えっ、まじか。
確かにあのシルエットは、サメに間違いない。大きい。サメは、イルカ食べるらしい。
そんな感じで、水中にいる時間、少なめかも、だけど、無事帰れたので、良い思い出。

Our family attended the dinner cruise on Thanksgiving and we were not disappointed. The food and scenery were both excellent, and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer questions. The music was also very good, and there was even some dancing during the return trip. Would highly recommend this trip during your stay on the Big Island.

On the day of check-in at the hotel, I watched a show. I had a standard seat, but since I lined up right after the reception started, there were only about 15 people ahead of me, so I was guided to a spot near the front of the standard seating, and I could see the show well. However, I think the back of the standard seating is still a sufficient distance to see everything.

The meal was in buffet style, with options like meat dishes and poke. Alcohol was also available. The show lasted about two hours and was performed intermittently. After a long flight, I felt it was a bit too long for me, but the climax with the fire show was stunning and woke me up.

For those who find it troublesome and stressful to arrange meals on the first day of arrival, I think it would be a good idea to book this plan where you can eat to your heart's content while watching the show.

ホテルチェックイン当日にショーを観ました。
スタンダード席でしたが、受付開始時間直後に並んだところ15人ほどしか並んでいなかったので、スタンダード席の前の方に案内してもらえ、ショーがよく見えました。
ただ、スタンダード席後ろの方でも充分見える距離だと思います。
食事はビュッフェ形式で、肉料理やポケなどが食べられます。
アルコールも飲めます。
ショーは約2時間に渡って断続的に行われ、長時間フライト後でとても疲れていた私にとっては少し長すぎかなと思いましたが、クライマックスの火のショーは圧巻だったので目が覚めました。

到着初日に食事の手配をするのが面倒だし不安だなという方は、ショーを見ながらお腹いっぱい食べられるこのプランを予約しておくのもありだと思います。