Big Island
The phone call for reconfirmation until the day before was a hassle. I don't understand why it's necessary when I've already paid with a credit card. Moreover, since I was planning to participate on the day of arrival, I had to call from Japan considering the time difference.
When I asked about the rain policy, they said that if it rains heavily, we would go under the roof. In the case of a storm, they would decide around 5 PM whether to cancel or not.
After reading other people's experiences, I was surprised to see a long line when I went to line up before 5 PM! Perhaps it was because it was the high season in late July. Registration started at 5:30 PM, and we got to wear shell leis for photos. You can upgrade to flower or nut leis for an additional fee. You can refuse the photo session.
Seating is based on the order of the line. If you pay about 20 dollars more, you can get a table at the very front.
The host talks a lot and sings as well. The English isn't too difficult, and you can still enjoy it even if you don't understand everything. There are hula lessons, traditional games, and stamp tattoos. They show you the whole roasted pig being pulled up, followed by a performance where the king lands from the sea. You're instructed to get your meal from the front tables. Drinks are all-you-can-drink (some are paid), but the bar is far away and inconvenient.
You can see dances from various Polynesian regions. The fire dance was the most exciting. I saw a similar show at Fish Eye in Guam, but the stage here is smaller overall, and there are fewer dancers. The fire dance only has one male performer.
I can tell they are trying to entertain us, but it was very long, and I ended up dozing off a bit.
At the end, you can take photos with the dancers using your phone or other devices. No one seemed to be tipping. The price of the show is much cheaper than in Waikiki, but since I haven't seen it in Waikiki, I can't compare the cost performance.
前日までのリコンファームの電話が面倒です。クレジットカードで支払い済みなのに、どうして必要なのかがわかりません。しかも、到着当日の参加を予定していたので、時差を考えて日本から電話しなくてはなりませんでした。
雨の場合を聞いたところ、かなり降ったら屋根の下に入ると言っていました。嵐の場合は5時頃に中止するかどうか決めるとのことでした。
他の方の体験談を拝見し、5時前に並びに行ったら、既に大行列でビックリ!!7月下旬のハイシーズンだったからでしょうか。5時半から受付が始まり、貝殻のレイをかけてもらって写真撮影。レイはお金を払えばお花や木の実のレイにアップグレードできます。写真撮影は拒否できます。
座席は並んだもの順で前からです。20ドルくらい多く払うと、最も前のテーブルになるようです。
ホストの方がしゃべるしゃべる。歌も歌う。そんなに難しい英語ではないし、分からなくても楽しめます。フラのレッスンや伝統ゲームに興じたり、スタンプタトゥーがあります。
豚の丸焼きを引き上げるのを見せてくれ、直後に王が海から上陸する演出。食事は前方テーブルからに取りにいくよう指示されます。飲み物は飲み放題ですが(一部有料)、バーが遠くて面倒です。
ここまでが長いこと!
ポリネシア各地の踊りを見せてもらえます。ファイアーダンスが一番盛り上がっていました。グアムのフィッシュアイでも同様のショーを見ましたが、こちらは全体的にステージが小さくダンサーの数は少ないです。ファイヤーダンスも男性が一人だけです。
色々と楽しませようとしてくださっているのは伝わるのですが、とても長いので、一部寝てしまいました。
最後はダンサーの方と手持ちの携帯などで写真を撮れます。特にチップを払っている人はいませんでした。ショーのお値段はワイキキよりずっと安いですが、ワイキキでは見ていないので、コスパ比較はできません。
I was able to see many beautiful fish! As a bonus, about ten dolphins came by, and we snorkeled together!! The staff were kind, and I had a great time! There were no other Japanese people besides us, but we enjoyed it enough!!
綺麗なおサカナがたくさん見れましたー
オマケに、イルカか10頭くらいやって来て、一緒にシュノーケリングしました!! w
スタッフの方達も親切で楽しく過ごせました!
日本人は、うちの他にはいませんでしたが…十分楽しめました!!
Husband and I throughly enjoyed the excursion! Our guide blew us away with his well rounded knowledge of the island, its geography and history. The coffee farm and meal were a special treat before an evening of stargazing.
Great crew very attentive kind and funny what a great way to see Dolphins in the wild you can stay with the group or get outside by yourself must do trip you and your family will love it. Bill
It was a fun time! The crew were funny and let my son steer the boat. Saw 4 sea turtles. Did it for my parents and 2 young sons to have a good time and they did. Highly recommend
We thoroughly enjoyed the Manta Ray excursion. The tour guide was great with telling us about the history of this tour and details about the behavior and nature of these Manta Rays. My daughter was most impressed. Although she’s 9yo and a good swimmer, she was still a little nervous about snorkeling at night and meeting these Manta Rays that could come inches to your face. However, the tour guide has made everyone felt safe and she was able to enjoy the magnificence of these gentle sea creatures. Highly recommended
Thank you for joining us and thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are happy to hear you and your family enjoyed the manta excursion. Aloha!
The tour that day consisted of just two people, including myself, who had snorkeling experience. I'm grateful they held the tour with the minimum number of participants.
First, we searched for dolphins off the coast of Kailua-Kona. There were many tour boats gathering around a pod of dolphins, and the sea was already filled with people! The waters off Kailua-Kona were as crowded as Takeshita Street! Amidst all this, Captain K skillfully predicted the dolphins' movements and dropped us in an area with fewer people.
By repeating the process of moving the boat, dropping us, surfacing, and moving again, we were able to chase the pod of dolphins more dynamically, doubling our chances! Dolphins surfaced right in front of us to breathe and passed by!
According to our guide, "Dolphins will avoid people if they're in a bad mood," but today we were lucky, and the dolphins didn't seem to mind people. It was a lucky day! I had a fantastic time on the tour! When I visit the Big Island again, I will definitely join another tour! Mahalo!
当日のツアーはシュノーケル経験のある方と私の2名でした。
ツアー最小挙行人数で開催してくれて感謝です。
まずはドルフィンを探してカイルアコナの沖へ
ポイントには沢山のツアーボートがドルフィンの群れを
追い集結しており、海には沢山の人が既にいる状態!
カイルアコナ沖が竹下通りのごとく人人人!
そん中船長のKさんうまくドルフィンの動きを予想して
あまり人混みのない海域で私たちをドロップさせてくれました。
船移動→ドロップ→上がってまた移動→ドロップ
と繰り返すことで機動的にドルフィンの群れを追うことで
チャンスが倍増!
すぐ目の前をドルフィンたちがブローのため浮上して通過して行く!
ガイドさん曰く「ドルフィンも機嫌が悪いと人を極端に避ける」そうで
今日は運が良くドルフィンたちも人を嫌がらない
ラッキーデイだね!と言っていただき
大満足なツアーを過ごせました!
またハワイ島を訪れる時はまたツアーに参加します!
Mahalo!
They booked me a spot I wasn't able to book directly through the company; and at a cheaper pricer!!
Excelllent trip. Microphone would of been nice. Hard to hear everything. I would still recommend this tour!
Mahalo for a great review! We have recently been researching hands-free microphones. Yes, it would be very helpful.
Jeannie Jewell
Kona Glassbottom Boat
One of the coolest things we’ve done. The Manta rays would get so close and were so graceful and gentle.
The crew, including Capt Mike Morgan, was awesome and ensured we had a fabulous time. I would rate this as a MUST DO on the big island! Experience of a lifetime!
Thank you for reviewing your trip with us. We are happy to know you enjoyed it. A Hui Hou!!
I have done dolphin snorkeling in places like Honolulu, Guam, and the Ogasawara Islands, but this was the first time I encountered so many dolphins. In the early morning, the water was very clear, and I could see dolphins from a distance, but after a while, the water became murky, making it a bit difficult to find them even when they said, "There are dolphins!" However, I got to see baby dolphins and a lot of dolphin jumps, which made me very satisfied. There was someone in the tour who was free diving, and I was really envious of them. When we were leaving, the captain sped off at an incredible speed, so be careful! (laughs)
ホノルルやグァム、小笠原などでイルカシュノーケルをしたことがありますが、
こんなにたくさんのイルカと会えたのは初めてです。
朝一番は海も透明度が高く遠くのイルカもたくさん見えましたが
少し時間がたつと海が濁ってきて「イルカいるよー」と言われても潜ってしまうとちょっと探しづらかったです。
でも赤ちゃんイルカも見れたし、イルカジャンプもたくさん見れて大満足でした。
ツアーの中で一人巣潜りされてる方がいらして本当に羨ましかったです。
帰る時、船長さんが恐ろしいスピードでぶっ飛ばすので要注意です(笑)
The meeting is at 15:30, and it takes about four hours in a relaxed manner. I didn't expect much from the food, and it turned out as I anticipated. However, if you can have a normal conversation in English, it might actually be quite interesting. We encountered dolphins, or rather, there was a dolphin show happening around the boat in a certain area of the sea.
15:30集合からダラダラと四時間程度かかります。食事も期待しないで行きましたが、やはり予想通りでした。ただ、英語で普通に会話出来れば案外面白いかも。
イルカには遭遇というか、航路上のある海域で、船のまわりでイルカショー状態でした。
I was very satisfied with this trip. The tour guide was very friendly, and despite my initial fear of water, the guide's efforts allowed me to enjoy the dolphin tour up close. I highly recommend this trip!!
此次的行程非常滿意,導遊人員非常親切,原本怕水的我,因導遊非盡力的導引之下,也讓我能近距離的享受海豚之旅。 此行程大大大推!!
You will board the submarine after going a little offshore from the dock. The interior of the submarine has two rows, both of which are by the windows, allowing you to observe the underwater scenery without any stress. My 4-year-old grandchild who accompanied me was also very excited. All the staff members are young and friendly. I especially recommend this experience for families with small children.
船着き場よりやや沖にでてから潜水艦に乗り込みます。潜水艦の内部は2列ですがいずれも窓側でそれぞれの窓からストレスなく海中(海底)の様子がうかがえます。同行した4歳の孫も大興奮でした。スタッフの皆さんもみな若くてフレンドリー。特にご小さいお子さんを連れたご家族の方におすすめできます。
As the reviews mentioned, it seems that there is a long line, so when I went to the front at 5 PM for the 5:30 PM reception, there was a long queue next to the front desk! Everyone was shouting something together, and I panicked thinking I was late, but it was still okay. I was seated about three rows from the front, which made it very easy to see, and the food was quite delicious. The atmosphere was friendly and lively, and I really enjoyed it.
口コミの通り並ぶようなので、1730受付のところ17時にフロントに行ったところフロント横に長蛇の列!なにやら掛け声をみんなで掛け合っていてやばい遅れてしまったと焦ったのですがまだ大丈夫。前から三列目ぐらいの席でとても見やすく、ご飯もなかなか美味しかったし、和気あいあいとしていてとてもいい雰囲気で楽しめました。
In the past, I watched a program where the hosts discovered and introduced the wonders of a certain world while answering quizzes. I saw footage of former synchronized swimmer Mikako Kotani swimming freely with dolphins, and I dreamed of swimming with dolphins like that. It was truly a happy time when that dream came true!
I was told not to touch them, but the dolphins came so close that it felt like they were about to bump into me. They swam alongside me, followed behind in a group, and suddenly one appeared right beneath me. I had so much fun playing with the dolphins! (*^^*)
The dolphins on the Big Island of Hawaii are said to be friendlier than those on other islands and will come close to you. So, if you're going to do a dolphin swim, I highly recommend the Big Island!
Also, I was lucky enough to see a manta ray! That seemed to be a stroke of luck. The tour guides were also dedicated to helping us find dolphins and ensuring we had a great time.
You can borrow a wetsuit, which is enough to keep you afloat, but if you're feeling anxious, you can also borrow a floating pole (a cylindrical float), so even if you're not a strong swimmer, you'll be fine. There was even a little boy, about three years old, who was entering the water with the guide's support. (Little ones must wear life jackets.)
When I posted about it on Facebook, someone immediately expressed interest in going, so I recommended this tour. When we come back to the Big Island, we will definitely participate in this tour again! Thank you so much! (*^^*)
昔、某世界のふしぎを発見・紹介しながら出演者がクイズに答える番組で、元シンクロ選手の小谷実可子さんがイルカと自由に泳いでる映像を観て、イルカと泳ぐことに憧れていました。
あんな風にイルカと泳げたらいいな、と思っていた状況が実現して、本当に幸せな時間でした!
触っちゃいけないと言われてましたが、イルカの方からぶつかりそうなくらい近くまで寄ってきて、横に並んで泳いだり、群れの後ろについて泳いだり、突然イルカが私の下から現れたりして、イルカに遊んでもらえて本当に楽しかったです(*^^*)
ハワイ島のイルカは他の島より人懐っこく、近くまで来てくれるそうです。なので、ドルフィンスイムをするなら、ハワイ島が一番オススメ!!
あと、ラッキーなことにマンタも観れました!それは運が良かったみたいです。
ツアーガイドの皆さんもイルカを探したり、先回りしたり、楽しめるように尽力してくださってました。
ウェットスーツを借りるので、それだけでも十分浮けますが、不安な人はフローティングポール(筒状の浮き具)を借りられるので泳ぎが得意でなくても大丈夫です。3歳くらいの男の子も、ガイドさんに支えてもらいながら海に入ってました。(ちっちゃい子はライフジャケット着用)
Facebookにあげたら、早速行きたい!という人がいたので、ここのツアーをオススメしました。
私達もまたハワイ島に来る時は、このツアーに参加します!
ありがとうございました!(*^^*)
This is a completely English tour, so it might be a bit challenging for those who cannot speak or understand English at all. The helicopter pilot will serve as the guide during the tour, but even if you can't catch everything they say, the views are so amazing that I think you can still enjoy it. Also, just a note, it departs from Hilo International Airport, so be aware of that.
At the time, there was an active volcanic eruption, and we were able to see everything from directly above the eruption to the ocean entry where the lava flows into the sea. Additionally, since there are no windows, you can even feel the heat from the eruption, making it a very exciting experience.
完全に英語のツアーなので、全く英語が喋れない、全く聞き取れない方の参加は少し厳しいかもしれません。ツアー中のヘリのパイロットがガイドをしてくれますが、それが聞き取れなくても景色が素晴らしいので、それはそれで楽しめると思います。また、そんな人はいないかもしれませんが、ヒロ国際空港発ですので注意が必要です。
ちょうど火山が噴火している状況でしたので、噴火しているまさにその上空から、その溶岩が海へ流れ込むオーシャンエントリーまで全てを見ることができました。また、窓が無いので噴火のその熱気まで感じることができ、とてもエキサイティングな体験でした。
I love the ocean, and I have had experiences swimming with turtles and dolphins while snorkeling in various places. Unfortunately, I can't dive because of my hearing issues. However, manta rays don't usually come close to the surface. I had given up on seeing them up close, but on this tour, they kept coming one after another! ♡
We surrounded the light with our snorkeling gear and observed them. It felt more like the manta rays were coming to eat the plankton gathered around the light rather than swimming alongside us. Still, they came so close that I had to dodge them! I could see right into their bellies.
There were probably 6 to 7 manta rays that kept circling around endlessly. I might have been lucky, but I really enjoyed it! You should definitely bring a GoPro. Also, I wasn't cold at all on the boat. However, since many Japanese people are sensitive to the cold, it might be a good idea to bring a towel or a sweatshirt just in case.
私は海が大好きで、いろいろなところでシュノーケリングをすることで亀やイルカと泳いだ経験はありました。耳が悪いので、ダイビングをすることができません。でも、マンタはなかなか水面までは来てくれません。なので、マンタをまじかで見ることは諦めていましたが、このツアーだと、次から次へと遊びに来てくれます♡
ライトの近くを囲んでシュノーケリルをつけて観察する感じで、一緒に泳ぐというよりは、マンタがライトに集まって来たプランクトンを食べに来てくれるという感じでした。それでも、マンタが自分でぶつかってくるほど近くに来てくれたので、こちらが避けないとならないほどでした。
マンタのお腹の中までよく見えます。
多分6-7枚のマンタがエンドレスで順繰り廻って来てくれる感じでした。運が良かったのかもしれないですが本当に楽しめました!
Go proは絶対持って行くべきです。
あと、船の上では私は全く寒くなかったです。
ただ、日本人は寒がりな人が多いので、タオルを呼びで1枚持って行く、もしくはトレーナーなどを持って行ってもいいのかもしれません。
ご親切なレビューありがとうございます。マンタを見るためのシュノーケリング旅行を楽しんでいただけて嬉しいです。
Thank you for your kind review. We are happy you enjoyed your snorkel trip to see the mantas.
I've been to various luaus, and this was the best. Really. My three-generation family ranges in age from 3 y/o to 70, and everyone had a great time. The 7 y/o was truly amazed by everything, which was delightful. The event was well organized, informative, and vastly entertaining. The food and beverages we're very good, high quality, and plentiful. No dishes ran out, and the selection was excellent. The arrival of the King and his court was fun. We enjoyed the extra touches, like the Hawaiians tattoos, and hula lesson. The dancers were excellent and engaging; we especially enjoyed those involving fire! I would definitely recommend this luau. I don't think there were any bad seats, and the view was glorious.
Rob was an excellent pilot. Everything was well organized and went smoothly. The view was awesome. Could have stayed up there all day.
If you want to see the volcano now, there's no choice but to take a helicopter! So I made a last-minute reservation, and it was absolutely the right decision! Since I rarely ride in helicopters, that alone was a thrilling experience. The pilot's explanations are all in English, but if you have some understanding of the history of the volcano, you can grasp it somewhat; I think it's better to have a little background knowledge. I was speechless seeing how the lava flow has engulfed farms and residential areas where people live. I can only hope that the damage does not spread any further... The pilot also explained the ocean entry that started a few days ago, and we circled around the crater multiple times, allowing us to experience the heat and smell of the lava. It was a tour where I felt the immense power of nature and learned about the power of the Big Island.
今、ボルケーノを見るならヘリしかない!って事で急遽申し込みしましたがコレが大正解!普段ヘリに乗る事なんてないので、それだけでもスリリングな体験です。パイロットの説明は全て英語ですが、今までのボルケーノの歴史がある程度分かっていると何となくでも理解出来ます、少し予備知識がある方が良いかと思います。農園そして人々が暮らしている住宅地が溶岩流に飲み込まれている様子に言葉が出ませんでした。これ以上被害が広がらない事を願うばかりです…パイロットは数日前に始まったオーシャンエントリーについても説明して下さいましたし、噴火口の周りは何度も旋回して下さるので溶岩の熱、ニオイも体験出来ます。自然の大きな力を感じ、ハワイ島のパワーを知る事が出来たツアーでした。
Overall, this was as a good luau experience. The show was excellent and the food was also excellent and plenty of variety. The setting is beautiful. The open bar was very good. There was not a lot of room, however, considering they were serving over 500 people (I overheard an organizer tell a waiter it was "515 people tonight"). The seating was a bit cramped. The ancillary activities (lei making for example) was fairly limited and not too well publicized. Those were the things that made our luau in Oahu truly special and yet we weren't able to take advantage of them since the supplies were limited.
Very organized and friendly staff. The restroom I used was very clean. The gears were clean. Excellent experience. If I have another chance to come back, I would definitely come back again!
With the help of the friendly Daisuke and Kevin, as well as the slightly shy but cheerful captain, we headed out to sea! At first, I was a bit nervous, but when we encountered dolphins, my excitement grew more and more. Watching Daisuke swim joyfully with the dolphins made me want to join in, but since I couldn't dive, it was impossible. However, I was truly moved to see the dolphins up close. Although I shouldn't reach out to touch them, they were so close that it felt like I could. The fun time flew by in an instant. The anxiety I felt before participating turned into smiles.
気さくでフレンドリーなダイスケさんやケビンさん、少しシャイだけれども陽気な船長さんに助けていただきながら海にGO!!
初めは少し、恐々でしたがイルカに遭遇しどんどんテンションも上がりました
楽しくイルカと泳ぐダイスケさんを見ていると自分も一緒に泳ぎたくなりますが…潜れないので無理でした。でもとても近くで見るイルカちゃんには、とても感動しました。手を伸ばして触ってはいけないのですが、触れそうなほど近くにイルカちゃんがいました。楽しい時間は、あっという間でした。参加する前の不安は、笑顔に変わっていました。
This was my second time flying over Kilauea Volcano by helicopter. The first time, I could only faintly see some orange from the crater, but this time, I could see the magma bubbling up during the eruption. In the tour guide's photos, it looks like they fly quite low, but in reality, they don't get too close to the crater, which was a bit disappointing.
ヘリコプターでのキラウェア火山の上空を飛ぶのは、2回目でした。一度目は 火口から微かにオレンジ色のものが見えただけでしたが
今回は、噴火をしててマグマがドロドロと吹き出している様子がみえました。ツアー案内の写真では、かなりの低空飛行をしてるように見えますが実際には、そんなに火口には近づいてくれなくて少し残念でした。
Honestly, I didn't expect to see so many dolphins. On this day, we were lucky and encountered a pod of dolphins right after we set sail. My wife was nervous about swimming, but the guide took the time to teach each person how to swim, which made her feel at ease to participate in the tour. Above all, we could feel the love that our guide, Daisuke, had for the dolphins. Thanks to him, we were able to swim with the dolphins together as a couple, creating the best memories. Thank you very much.
正直、こんなにもイルカに会えるとは思っていませんでした。この日はタイミングが良く、出港してすぐにイルカの群れと会う事ができました。
泳ぎに不安だった妻でしたが苦手な人に対して1人1人に泳ぎ方を教えてくれて、安心してツアーに参加する事ができました。
何よりもガイドのダイスケさんのイルカに対する愛を感じました。そのお陰で夫婦でイルカと一緒に泳ぐ事ができ最高の思い出になりました。ありがとうございました。
I participated in this tour for my honeymoon trip. There were other similar tours available, but I chose this one for three reasons: 1. a 95% chance of encountering dolphins, 2. many repeat customers, and most importantly, 3. it's suitable even for those who are not good swimmers!
If you're someone who wants to see dolphins but is a bit hesitant about swimming, I highly recommend this tour!
Even for someone like me who struggles with swimming, the guide provided excellent support, allowing me to enjoy the experience without worry. It was truly fun!
The guide was very knowledgeable about dolphins, and you could really feel the connection they had with them. I couldn't help but think that they might have been a dolphin in a past life! (laughs)
今回はハネムーン旅行で参加しました
。他にも似たようなツアーがありましたが、こちらを選んだ理由は1.イルカ遭遇率95% 、 2.リピーターが多い事、そして何より3.泳ぎが苦手な人でも大丈夫!とありましたので申し込みしました。
イルカは見たいけど泳ぎがちょっと、、、と思ってる方がいましたら是非こちらお薦めします!
泳ぎが苦手な私でも、安心して楽しめるようにガイドさんがしっかりフォローして下さって、本当に楽しかったです!
ガイドさん、イルカを熟知されてて、イルカと心を通わせてるのが伝わってきて、前世ではイルカだったんじゃないかな?と思わず考えてしまうほどでした。笑
I don't think I'll have the chance to encounter a pod of dolphins like this again in the future. So, I'm really glad I participated. The guide really goes all out to help us see as many as possible. If you're prone to seasickness, I recommend taking some motion sickness medication before joining.
いるかの群れにたくさん出会えるのが今後ないと思います。なので、参加できて本当によかったです。ガイドさん、たくさん会えるように体張って案内してくれます。船酔いしやすい方は酔い止め飲んできてから参加したほうがいいと思います。
The cool thing about this helicopter flight is that you get to see a lot of volcanoes national park in a relatively little amount of time. Especially since the lava wasn't flowing a lot that day, flying over the greyish lava wasteland made it a lot easier to spot minor lava flows (see picture).
Since it was raining that day, there was too much steam for us to fly directly over the caldera, but otherwise the flight was great. If conditions are stable, I definitely recommend a helicopter flight as the best way to see the volcano. There's a lot you can only see from up in the sky.
What a fantastic tour, a lot more than expected. Very knowledgeable of all the coral and sea creatures. Not just for kids our party was 2 adults so we had fun too.
Aloha Debbie! We are so happy that you had a fantastic tour! Yes it is fun for kids, but most definately for adults too. There is so much to see and learn. Thank you for the review.
Jeannie