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

We spotted dolphins just five minutes after departing! What a wonderful start. I watched brave foreigners diving into the sea while enjoying snorkeling with my son. The inside of the boat was very clean! The restroom was cleaner than those in nearby hotels! Moreover, I was impressed to see the staff constantly moving and working diligently. Good job! On the way back, we encountered whales, making it an even more enjoyable memory.

出港して5分としないうちにイルカ出没‼︎なんと素晴らしいスタート。息子とシュノーケルを楽しみながら海へダイブの勇敢な外国人の方々を眺めました。船内はとても綺麗‼︎トイレはその辺のホテルより綺麗‼︎しかもスタッフの方々は常に動き、きめ細かくお仕事していたのを見て感動しました。good job‼︎
帰りにはクジラ出没し、更に楽しい想い出になりました。

Today, I participated in a dolphin tour. I believe there are many companies offering dolphin tours on the Big Island, but I heard that Mr. Nata was the first to start a dolphin tour there. Mr. Nata, Mr. Daisuke, and Ms. Chiho from Aloha Kona Tours provided an absolutely wonderful experience. For example, it seems that with other companies, you only get about three chances to go into the water, but the team at Aloha Kona Tours has a strong enthusiasm to show you the dolphins! They quickly spotted a pod of dolphins with the naked eye, got us into the water swiftly, and today we were able to enter the ocean five times. Each time, the dolphins came very close, and there were so many of them; it was an indescribable experience. My 6-year-old daughter was well taken care of, allowing us parents to focus on watching. It was so amazing that I understand why some people become repeat customers. Today, I was lucky to be with veteran guests, and after it was over, I really understood the desire to return. I am already eager to come back, and I plan to bring my friends' families with me next year. Next time, I would like to request not only dolphins but also manta rays and Mauna Kea with Aloha Kona Tours. Thank you for the wonderful memories!

本日イルカのツアーに参加しました。ハワイ島でイルカのツアーは何社もあると思いますが、縄田さんがハワイ島ではじめてイルカのツアーを始めたそうです。アロハコナツアーズの縄田さん、ダイスケさん、ちほさんは本当に素晴らしい体験をさせてくれました。例えば他社では3本位しか海におりるチャンスはないようですが、アロハコナツアーズの皆さんは見せたい！という熱意がとても強く、肉眼で素早くイルカの群を見つけ、素早く海に降り、今日は5回も海に入れてくれました。どの回もすごく近くにイルカが来て、群の数もとても多く、言葉にならない体験をしました。6歳の娘にもバッチリ付き添ってもらっていたので、私達親は自分が見ることに集中できました。本当にすばらしいのでリピーターになってしまう方もいるそうで、本日は運良くベテランのお客様とご一緒させて頂きました。終わった後、リピートしてしまう気持ちがよくわかりました。私も既にリピートする気まんまんなので、来年は友達家族も連れてまた来たいと思っています。次回はイルカだけでなく、マンタとマウナケアもアロハコナツアーズでお願いしたいです。良い思い出をありがとうございました！

It seems it was too early for whale watching. The participants seemed to mainly enjoy the sunset and the meal on the sea. The driver for the pick-up, the receptionist, and the captain were all very pleasant. I would like to try again around March when the whales are out.

ホエールウォッチングには　早かったようです。
参加者は　洋上の夕日と食事を楽しむのが　主のようでした。
送迎のドライバー　受付の女性　船長　感じがよかったです。
クジラが出る　3月頃再挑戦したいですね。

My daughter and I did this tour in Nov and thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff on the cruise were very friendly. Thoroughly guide through out the cruise. Food was absolutely amazing and so was the cocktails. Music was also fantastic. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and guided us throughout the cruise. Had a fantastic time. Highly recommended.

Daisuke, who jokingly said, "I'm a dolphin otaku, so I know everything about dolphins!" was indeed telling the truth! We encountered a pod right after we set sail. He seemed to really understand the dolphins, pointing out where they were and when they would jump. It felt like a dream to swim with countless dolphins. In the end, we had such a fulfilling experience that we reluctantly had to wrap it up due to time constraints. Since they are wild dolphins, it might have been lucky to see so many, but I believe Daisuke's guiding skills played a significant role as well! Thank you very much.

「僕はイルカオタクだから~。イルカちゃんのことは何でもわかるよー♪」と冗談気に話していたダイスケさん。本当でした! 出港してからすぐに群れに遭遇。あそこにいるから、ここでジャンプするから、などなど、イルカの声を聞いては、本当に理解していた様でビックリ。数え切れないほどのイルカちゃん達と泳げて、何だか夢の中にいた様な…。最後は時間切れで渋々切り上げるほどの充実ぶりでした。野生のイルカなので、沢山会えるのはラッキーだったのかもしれませんが、ダイスケさんのガイド力も大きかったと思います! ありがとうございました。

Fabulous!!! But many got sea sickness!!
Food was awesome

As soon as we set off, we met a turtle, and within ten minutes, we dove at a point filled with dolphins both to the side and directly below us, which was quite an adrenaline rush. When I turned to the side, a mother and baby dolphin swam by slowly, as if saying, "Hello." Our guide, Dai-chan, advised us in the car that it’s good to be aware with our "third eye," which made the experience feel quite mystical with the dolphins. I would love to experience this again in Kona.

出発して、すぐに亀さんに会い、１０分もしないうちにポイントでダイブ、横も、真下もいるかだらけで、かなりアドレナリンでました。ふと横を向いたら、親子のイルカさんが、「こんにちは」と言ってくれてるような視線でゆっくりと泳いでいきました。ガイドのダイちゃんが、第三の目で意識するといいですよと、迎えの車のなかでアドバイスをくれたので、なんだか、不思議な気分をイルカさんと過ごした感じです。また、コナで体験したいです。

I participated in a dolphin tour for the first time. The weather was great, and on the day we joined, we were able to see so many dolphins in just one dive. A mother and baby dolphin swam right in front of us, and they were so cute.

There were so many dolphins that I didn't know where to look; it was really busy (laughs). I was so moved by the number of dolphins, even more than I expected.

After the tour, we were given information about a beach where we could see sea turtles, and we were able to meet them safely, making up for last year's experience. Thank you very much!

We participated as a group of three, and all three of us said we want to join again. It was a very satisfying tour, and I'm really glad we participated. Thank you for your great support, Mr. Nawata and Mr. Daisuke. Thank you!

初めてイルカツアーに参加しました。
天候にも恵まれ、私たちが参加した日は一回のダイブで本当にたくさんのイルカに会う事ができました。目の前をイルカの親子が通ったり、本当に可愛かったです。
あまりにたくさんのイルカがいたので、どっちを見たらいいのか、すごく忙しかったです（笑）。予想以上のイルカにすごく感動しました。
ツアーが終わってからも、ウミガメに会えるビーチを教えていただき、無事ウミガメにも会え、去年のリベンジができました。ありがとうございました！
今回３人で参加させていただいたのですが、３人ともまた参加したいねと言うくらい、
大満足のツアーで、本当に参加してよかったです。
縄田さん、ダイスケさん、大変お世話になりました。ありがとうございました。

I participated in a tour for my honeymoon. A wonderful guide who cares about dolphins and the ocean took us accurately to the dolphin point. I was truly moved to see wild dolphins up close! It was reassuring even for those who aren't great swimmers! I would love to join again! Also, the restaurant and the point where we could see sea turtles, which the guide recommended, were fantastic. Thank you very much!

ハネムーンでツアーに参加させていただきました。イルカと海を大切にしている素敵なガイドさんがイルカのポイントまで的確に連れて行ってくれました。自然のイルカを間近で見られて本当に感動しました！泳ぎが得意じゃなくても安心でした！また参加したいです！そして、ガイドさんに教えていただいたレストランと海ガメが見れるポイントも素晴らしかったです。ありがとうございました！

Since I was a child, I dreamed of swimming with wild dolphins, and that dream came true on the Big Island of Hawaii!!!!

When Daisuke said, "I think you'll meet them soon today," I was so excited that I felt like jumping up right there. Since they are wild dolphins, I knew that whether I would actually see them was uncertain, but still, I was filled with the desire to meet them.

It had been a long time since I last snorkeled, and I was a bit anxious about whether I could breathe properly underwater. When I first entered the sea, I felt a bit flustered, but once I felt the reassurance of Daisuke being right beside me and providing solid support, all my fear and anxiety quickly disappeared.

And soon after we got into the water, we encountered dolphins!!! I was so excited to see the dolphins swimming slowly. I couldn't help but tense up. However, Daisuke told me that the most important thing was to completely relax, so from the second half of our time, I swam with the dolphins multiple times, feeling relaxed and at ease.

Of course, since they are wild dolphins, their swimming speed varies at different times. But I think that’s part of the fun of being with wild dolphins.

Anyway, the dolphins are just too cute. I could even hear the sound of dolphins "quee-quee" underwater. It was so moving!!!!

Above all, I was amazed by Daisuke's incredible ability to love and understand dolphins, catching their presence even when they were out of sight. When he said, "Get ready to enter the water," we were able to encounter dolphins just as he said. It felt like magic.

It seemed like Daisuke could really communicate with the dolphins, as they always came close to him and danced together. I realized that love truly gets conveyed. The dolphins looked like they were having fun swimming with Daisuke, and of course, he radiated happiness. And we participants felt it too. It was a space filled with love and happiness. I felt the healing power of the dolphins deeply, and Daisuke's aura naturally energized me. When we got out of the water, I felt warm-hearted thanks to the captain's kindness in helping us up from the boat. It was a tour filled with laughter and excitement.

In the end, we encountered a scene where the captain quickly spotted a boat that had engine trouble and called out to help with the rescue. Daisuke's words, "It's normal to help each other in times of trouble," reminded me of something so obvious yet so important. I am filled with gratitude that we were able to meet so many dolphins thanks to guides like Daisuke and the captain.

I want to refer to the method Daisuke taught me for surely realizing dreams and continue to pursue my dreams one by one. I hope to swim with the dolphins again someday under Daisuke's guidance.

Thank you so much, Daisuke, the captain, and all the participants who shared such a happy time with me!

I wholeheartedly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to swim with dolphins on the Big Island!

小さい頃から、野生のイルカと泳ぎたいと夢をみていたけど、
ハワイ島で、その夢が叶いました！！！！

ダイスケさんから、「今日はすぐに出会えると思うよ～」と言われた時、
もう嬉しくてその場で飛び上がりそうに。
野生のイルカだから、本当に会えるかはその時にしか分からないというのは
念頭に置きながらも、でもやっぱり、会いたい気持でいっぱい。

シュノーケリングは小さいころやった以来で、
海の中で呼吸ちゃんと出来るかなぁという不安で、最初海に入った時は
ちょっと焦り気味だったんだけど、ダイスケさんがそばにいてくれて、しっかり
フォローしてくれる安心感を感じてからは、怖さや不安なんてすぐに吹っ飛んでいました。

そして、海に出てから早々にイルカと遭遇！！！
ゆっくりと泳いでくれるイルカたちに、もう興奮MAX。
つい力がはいっちゃう。
でも、ダイスケさんに一番大切なことは、力を完全に抜くことだと言われたので、
後半からは、力を抜きリラックスした気持でイルカと何回も一緒に泳ぎました。

当然、野生のイルカ達なので、泳ぐスピードはその時々違う。
でも、だからこそ野生のイルカなんだなぁと感じれることも楽しさの１つな気がします。

とにかく、イルカちゃん可愛すぎる～。
ちゃんと海の中で、「キューキュー」と泣くイルカの声も聞こえます。
感動！！！！

そして、何よりイルカを愛し、イルカのことを知り尽くし、
姿が見えないのにイルカの存在をすぐにキャッチするダイスケさんの凄さに圧巻。
はい、海に入る準備して～と言われて入るとダイスケさんの言った通りに
イルカに遭遇することができる。もう魔法にかかったみたい。

ダイスケさん、本当にイルカと会話出来るみたいで、ダイスケさんのそばにはいつも
イルカが寄ってきて、一緒にダンス♪
愛する心は、ちゃんと伝わるんだなぁと実感しました。
イルカちゃんも、ダイスケさんと泳げて楽しそう♪ダイスケさんももちろん
HAPPYオーラ全開♪そして私たち参加者も。
愛とHAPPYしかない空間。
イルカの癒し力を心から感じ、ダイスケさんのオーラに自然とこっちまで元気になって、
海からあがる時、船上から手を伸ばしてあがるの手助けしてくれるキャプテンの優しさに
心が温かくなり、もうずっと笑いっぱなし、興奮しっぱなしのツアーでした。

最後、エンジントラブルで海の上で動けなくなった船をキャプテンがすかさず見つけて、
声を掛け、救助活動といった場面にも遭遇。
ダイスケさんの「困った時は助け合うのが普通だからね」といった言葉に、
当たり前の事なんだけど、再度その大切なことを再認識させられました。
こういうキャプテンや、ダイスケさんがガイドしてくれるツアーだから、
今回たくさんのイルカちゃんたちに出会えたんだろうなぁと感謝の気持でいっぱいです。

ダイスケさんが教えてくれた、夢を確実に叶えていく方法を参考に、
これからも１つ１つ夢を追っていきたいなぁと思います。
またいつか、ダイスケさんのガイドのもと、イルカちゃんたちと泳ぎたいな。

ダイスケさん、キャプテン、そして一緒にHAPPYな時間を共有させて頂いた参加者の方、
最高に幸せな時間をありがとうございました！！！！

ハワイ島でイルカと泳ぎたい方には、心からおすすめのツアーです☆

Good food, great entertainment, weather was perfect. We all had a great time.

I went on the night of the day I arrived in Hawaii Island after transferring from Kansai to Tokyo.
I was tired from the long journey and couldn't fight off my sleepiness, so I regretfully had to give up halfway through and couldn't see it until the end (>_<). It was disappointing (>_<).

However, the performances by the dancers and the band were wonderful and great (^_^).

The whole roasted pig was also amazing.

If the food had been a bit more substantial, it would have been even better, so I gave this rating.

関西から東京乗り継ぎ、オアフ→ハワイ島に到着した日の夜に行きました。
長旅で疲れてしまって、眠気に勝てず途中で断念、失礼ながら最後まで見られず(>_<)残念でした(>_<)

でも、ダンサー、バンドの方のパフォーマンスも素晴らしくて良かったです(^_^)

豚の丸焼きもすごかったです。

食事がもう少し充実していれば尚良かったので、この評価にさせていただきました。

We participated in the morning tour as a couple. Three days before the tour, I made a reconfirmation call from the front desk of our hotel (King Kamehameha), but we struggled to communicate (neither of us speaks much English), so we had to ask a hotel staff member to assist us.

On the day of the tour, we took a taxi to the meeting point, which cost about $30 (including tip). After checking in, we received some instructions from the tour guide in front of the boat, but since there was no roof, it was very hot, and I was worried about getting sunburned.

It took about an hour to reach the snorkeling spot. During that time, we could help ourselves to breakfast items like muffins, croissants, and fruits. After that, the tour staff came around to lend us fins, so we communicated our shoe sizes (in US sizes).

When we arrived at the Captain Cook Monument, there was a brief explanation before we started snorkeling. I brought anti-fog solution for my snorkeling mask from Japan, but there was some available on the boat as well.

The water was more transparent than I had imagined, and I was thrilled. There were various fish, and we swam while holding hands. Before participating, I was concerned about the depth of the ocean, but perhaps because we were wearing flotation devices, I didn't feel scared even when we went deeper.

After about an hour of swimming, we had lunch when we heard a signal of "ding ding ding." I think we were able to snorkel for almost another hour after lunch. The return boat was quite rocky, so I was glad I took motion sickness medication.

We chose seats on the first floor, so we didn't have to worry about the sun on the way there, and the breeze felt nice, but on the way back, it was cold because we were wet. The women's restroom on the boat had a broken lock, but it was clean.

On the way back, we encountered a pod of wild dolphins, and the boat stopped for a while to let us see them. We even got to see the dolphins jump. I would love to participate again.

午前のツアーに夫婦で参加しました。
ツアー３日前に宿泊ホテル（キングカメハメハ）のフロントからリコンファームの電話をかけましたが、上手く会話ができず（二人ともほとんど英語が話せません）、途中でホテルの人にかわってもらい対応してもらいました。
当日はタクシーで集合場所へ向かいました。※３０ドル（チップ込み）
チェックイン後、出航前に船の前でツアーの人から注意点等の説明をうけますが、屋根がない場所だったため、とても暑く日焼けが気になりました。
シュノーケリングスポットまでは約一時間。その間、マフィンやクロワッサン・フルーツなどの朝食がセルフで食べられます。そのあとフィンの貸し出しのためツアーの人たちがまわってきてくれますので、自分の足のサイズ（アメリカサイズ）を伝えます。
キャプテンクック記念碑の前につくと、また少し説明があった後シュノーケリングスタートです。日本からシュノーケリングマスクの曇り止め液をもっていきましたが、船内にもありました。
海の中は、想像以上に透明で感激しました。いろんな魚がいて、二人で手をつなぎながら泳ぎました。参加する前は海の深さが気になっていましたが、浮き具をつけていたためか、深めの方へ行っても怖さは感じませんでした。
一時間ほど泳ぐと「カンカンカン」という合図とともに昼食の時間になります。
食後も一時間弱はシュノーケリングできたと思います。
帰りの船は結構揺れたので、酔い止めを飲んでおいて良かったです。
私たちは１階の席にしたので、行きは日差しを気にする必要がなく風も気持ちよかったのですが、帰りは体が濡れているため寒かったです。船内の女子トイレは鍵が壊れていたけどキレイです。
帰りがけに野生のイルカの群れに遭遇し、しばらく船をとめてみせてくれました。イルカのジャンプもみれました。
また参加したいです。

Thank you to Jork our pilot for an amazing flight. After breakfast, me and my friends hit up the Volcanoes Winery for some wine tasting and then whipped through the Volcanoes National Park to get an idea of what we'd see from the sky before heading to the airport for our helicopter flight. The check-in was easy (I gained a few pounds from all the Hawaiian food I ate, but it was okay) and the ground crew was super friendly. Make sure you get a phone strap if you want to take pics with doors off, or you can't take your phone with you. I really didn't expect a lot but as soon as we were hovering over small lava ponds I cried a little bit. It was so epic - it looked like we were on another planet. The black lava landscape stretched to the horizon. It was cold up there but whenever we got over the bright orange lava spots you could actually feel the waves of warmth, so soothing! We finished with a fly over bubbling pots waterfalls and some of the towns. All the buildings and cars were so tiny and perfect like a miniature model city. Thanks again to Paradise Helicopters and HawaiiActivities.com. Definitely an unforgettable moment on the Big Island. Ah man!

We went on the dinner cruise our first night in Kona. The water was pretty choppy, myself and another woman became very sea sick from the beginning of the cruise. The crew were very concern and tried to make us as comfortable as they could. My husband and mom had a great time the enjoyed the food and entertainment.

My husband, mom and I went on the Fair Wind Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Sail. We had a great time the staff was awesome. The boat was very clean and beautiful. My mom is 75 and didn't snorkel but the crew was very nice and made sure she had everything she needed. When we return to Kona we will take this cruise again. The crew was very knowledgeable and made sure we knew everything we were seeing. The families with kids looked like they were having a great time especially on the high dive and slides. The area we went to was beautiful. We saw a shark hiding in the reef and many beautiful fish and coral. The food was great.

I recommend arriving early at the meeting place since seating is done in the order of arrival. Even if you get there early, there will be juice available, so you can drink and chat, and time will pass quickly. We were about five groups back, but we ended up with seats at the very front. There will be a commemorative photo taken before seating, but the sales will be in front of the restroom later, so you don't have to purchase it. We bought one for the memories, though (laughs). The food and drinks are plentiful. The show is enjoyable, and the staff is friendly. They also provide blankets for cold weather. Dressing up adds to the fun. Since it was fully booked, I think making a reservation early is a good idea. I believe even the lower class of Grey is sufficient.

並んだ順に着席するので、早めに集合場所へ行く事をお勧めします。
早く行っても、ジュースの用意があるので、飲んでおしゃべりしていると時間はすぐに過ぎます。
5組くらい前にいましたが、私達は一番前の席になりました。
着席前に記念撮影がありますが、販売は後ほどトイレ前なので、購入はしなくても大丈夫です。
私達は思い出に買いましたが（笑）
お食事も飲み物も充実しております。
ショウも楽しく、スタッフもフレンドリーです。
寒さ対策のひざ掛けも配布してくれます。
おしゃれをして参加すると楽しさ倍増です。
満席でしたので、早めの予約が良いと思います。
グレイどの高いクラスでなくても十分だと思います。

We had a great time! Staff was friendly and very interactive with guest, food was great and plentiful, entertainment was great, historical guide was informative and great to talk too! The boat wasn't packed with people like the other boats leaving the dock. We would definitely do the dinner cruise again. You get some spectacular sites from the cruise, even a dolphin side show. The captain stopped the Boat for dinner and we watched the spectacular sunset while eating. It was a great experience! I would highly recommend this dinner cruise.

I participated in my long-awaited first surfing experience. The weather was so nice that the waves were calm. There were only two participants, including myself, and with two instructors, it felt like a "private lesson."

Before heading to the beach, during the explanation, I was told, "I'll make sure you can ride the waves!" I wondered if I really could, and after about 15 minutes of indoor instruction, we headed to the beach!

Thanks to the instructors' teaching, I managed to ride the waves for a few meters on my first try! On the second try, I rode for several dozen meters! The instructor said, "Perfect! Now, let's wait for some good waves!" I felt like a surfer!

However, the weather was really too nice, and it was very hot while waiting for the waves. Of course, I got sunburned. I had a great time thanks to instructors Jacob and Jeff. I would love to request these two again next time!

念願だった初めてのサーフィンに参加しました。
当日は天気もよすぎたせいか、波が穏やかでした。
参加者は我々2人だけで、インストラクターは2名だったので、「個人レッスン」のように
教えて頂きました。
実際にビーチに行く前の説明では、「確実に波に乗れるように、教えるよ！」と言われ、ホントに乗れるかなと思いいつつ、約15分の室内での説明が終わり、いざ、ビーチへ！
インストラクターの教え方がよかったのか、1本目ではほんの数メートルでしたが、ホントに乗れました！！2本目では数十メートル！！
インストラクターからは、「完璧だね！さ～いい波を待とう！」と言われ、気分はサーファーです！！
ただ、天気が本当によすぎて、波を待つ間はすごく暑かったです。もちろん焼けました。
インストラクターのJACOBさんとJEFFさんのおかげで、ホントに楽しかったです。
次もこの2人を指名したいくらいです。

The snorkeling point had quite high waves, so families with small children seemed to have a tough time. After about three attempts, we encountered a lot of dolphins! It was truly moving ♡ While in the water, I could even hear the dolphins' calls, and I was very satisfied!! For those who get seasick, I think it's essential to take motion sickness medication. Also, since we were snorkeling in a place where we couldn't touch the bottom, they provided floaties for those who couldn't swim. I wouldn't recommend it for those who feel anxious.

結構波が高いポイントでシュノーケルだったので、小さなお子さん連れていたご家族は大変そうでした。
3回くらいアタックして、沢山のイルカに出会えました！とっても感激♡
海の中にいるとイルカの鳴き声も聞こえて、大満足でした！！
船酔いする方は必ず酔い止め必要かと思います。
あと、足がつかない場所でシュノーケルするので泳げない方には浮き輪貸してくれてました。不安な方にはオススメしないです。

My wife and I participated together. Before joining, I heard great things about Daisuke, and I thought if I was going to swim with dolphins, it had to be with him. After the tour, we all agreed it was "the best!" and it became a wonderful memory.

Before departure, they mentioned it would take about 40 to 50 minutes to reach the dolphin encounter point, but luckily, we encountered a pod of dolphins just 5 minutes after setting off! We quickly dove in and had the best time with the dolphins. Throughout the experience, I was very satisfied to feel Daisuke's passion for dolphins and his energy to share their charm! When I go to Hawaii again, I will definitely participate again!

嫁と二人で参加したました。
参加前にダイスケさんの評判を知りイルカと泳ぐならダイスケさんだと思い、
申し込みましたがツアーが終わった後には口を揃えて「最高だった！」と言える程、
素敵な思い出になりました。

出発前には「イルカと出会えるポイントまで40～50分程度」と言っていましたが、ラッキーなことに出発して5分でイルカの群れに遭遇！早速潜ってイルカとの最高の時間を過ごすことができました。終始ダイスケさんのイルカに対する想いと、その魅力を伝えたいというエネルギーに触れられ大満足です！ハワイに行く際には、また参加します！

Now being honest the weather was not good at Hilo, very wet and cloudy. But in spite of the weather the flight did go ahead. I do have to say doors off is definitely the way to go! We flew over several areas of coastline and lava flows and then headed up to the Puʻu ʻŌʻō, again the weather wasn't great but you could see the ground pretty well. Heading up the mountain we saw a small area of fresh lava but it was over in a flash and then we were heading back to Hilo.

Now I fully understand that when weather and visibility are not good you might not see everything but at no point did the pilot state what we would or would not see. Obviously the vent or flowing lava is the main part of the "show" and you keep waiting for that to appear. But it wasn't until a guest asked that we were told that we went as far as we could.

Feel the heat? No we certainly did not.

A word of warning for passengers with longer hair wear a beany or make sure your hair is tied back tight, due to the wind it ended up with my wife's hair being badly knotted around the headset.

Two stars - to be honest only for the fun aspect of the doors off.

It would have been so much better if we were kept informed of the visibility and weather (now on Hawai'i this might not be a normal issue) and what we would be able to see as opposed to not being told anything and not experiencing what the flight was all about and coming away with the slightly cheated feeling.

Would I go again - yes - but I would certainly be asking a lot of questions about the weather conditions, visibility and expected viewing. It is a lot of money to pay, and especially if you are not local to not "Feel the Heat" because why else would you fly "doors off"

In additional I have to say the staff at Paradise were very understanding when we raised our points.

The flight was amazing, but we did not fly from Hilo. When our scheduled time (from Hilo) arrived, the weather was below minimum at the volcano. This was very disappointing since Hilo weather was nice. But, Hawaii weather is very volatile.

We rescheduled for the next day as a "reserve flight" (needed more people to "confirm" the flight). Before the scheduled time, Paradise Helicopters called to say the flight was still only "reserved", but they had an opening in a different, circle the whole island, flight from Kona. They would upgrade me for no additional cost to take that one. We jumped at it.

The flight was amazing. We got to see the whole island, in addition to the volcano and real, live, flowing lava. Our pilot was Koji and he was awesome. The weather over the volcano was mixed, but he was able to navigate through the clouds enough to maintain the FAA rules for height and get us over the actual volcano caldera. Then, we headed for the current eruption points on the southern slopes and saw even more lava in the second vent. Moving further to the new lava fields, he located some live, flow lava. "WOW!!!" is all I can say.

The rest of the flight was great, too. Flying low up the valley on the north shore was wild. Seeing all the waterfalls was also terrific.

I was worried about whether I would encounter dolphins due to the bad weather the day before, but according to our guide Daisuke, we encountered around 200 dolphins. Every time I looked into the water, I saw dolphins. It became the best memory of my life!

It's a good idea to bring water when you board the boat.

前日が悪天候だったので、イルカに出会えるか心配でしたがガイドのダイスケさんがおっしゃるには２００頭ぐらいのイルカに出会えたとのことでした。
本当に海の中を覗く度にイルカたちに出会えました。
人生で最高の思い出になりました！

ボートに乗り込む時には水を持っていった方がいいです。

I am a complete beginner at snorkeling, but I was really immersed in it. I was amazed by the clarity of the water and the number of fish. There were a few moments of anxiety, but it was such a wonderful experience that it made up for everything.

I participated with my child. My child seemed a bit anxious and was looking around, wondering if there were any Japanese people, but there were quite a few Chinese people, and we were the only two Japanese. Everything was in English, so I couldn't understand anything and just followed the movements of those around me. Well, once you're in the water, there are no problems at all (*^-^*).

One little issue was that I made the reservation on my smartphone while traveling, but I had to bring a printed reservation instead of just showing the smartphone screen. I managed to get it printed at the hotel front desk, thanks to a kind front desk staff member who understood a little Japanese.

Also, regarding the snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, please make sure not to confuse the meeting point, which is at Keauhou Bay.

シュノーケルは超初心者ですが、すごい夢中になってシュノーケルしていました。水の透明度、魚の数にびっくりでした。少し不安な所がありましたが、それを全てチャラにするくらい素敵な経験をさせてもらいました。
子供と二人で参加しました。子供は心細かったみたいで｢日本人いないかなぁ｣とキヨロキヨロ周りを捜していましたが、中国の人は結構おられましたが、日本人は私たち二人だけでした。全て英語だったので、何も理解できませんでしたので、周りの人の動きを見ながら行動してました。まぁ海に入ればなんの問題もありませんが(*^-^*)
ちよっと困ったのは、旅行に出てからスマホで予約したのですが、スマホ画面ではなく、予約票を印刷して持って行かなければなりませんでした。ホテルのフロントでなんとかプリントして貰う事ができましたが、少し日本語が通じる親切なフロントマンのおかげです。
あと、ケアラケクア湾シュノーケルですが、集合はケアウホウ湾なので、つい間違わないようにして下さい。

This snorkeling trip was outstanding! Everything was provided and the crew was great! They made sure we all had a great time.

First luau and a great one to attend. The performers were fantastic and the food was outstanding! Due to weather this one was held indoors and the show was great even in the closed in area.

Fantastic! Beautiful place to snorkel! Crew was outstanding. We loved that everything was provided and the crew made sure we had an excellent time.

First helo ride ever and we had the doors off. It was fantastic! Our pilot Rob was great! Would definitely recommend this if you want a close up view of a volcano!

The clarity of the ocean was outstanding, and there were plenty of fish, which made it very enjoyable. Since it was a plan without transportation, I thought the directions to the parking lot and from the parking lot to the boat were a bit unclear, but it was manageable.

The explanations were in English, but they provided written instructions in Japanese regarding snorkeling precautions, so that was also manageable. The meeting point before the boat departs only has one restroom, so there might be a bit of a wait, but there is a restroom on the boat as well, so it's fine.

Once on the boat, you need to secure your preferred seating early if you want to enjoy your meal comfortably, so be cautious about that. In the morning, the muffins were delicious, and the lunch burgers were tasty too.

The explanation regarding the vests and floaties for snorkeling was, "Feel free to use what you like according to your level." In a previous tour I took in Oahu, wearing a life vest was mandatory, which made swimming difficult, so I appreciated this flexibility. I think if you're accustomed to snorkeling, a vest isn't necessary. If you wear fins, your body will float.

There was about an hour of free time upon arrival. Even with lunch in between, we had plenty of time to enjoy snorkeling, which was great. Before heading back, I was able to take a freshwater shower at the right timing, but if you miss that opportunity, there are no shower facilities nearby, so you have to go back to the hotel as is.

Still, I can truly recommend this for those who want to swim in a highly transparent ocean.

海の透明度が抜群で、魚も沢山いて、とても楽しめました。
送迎無しのプランでしたので、駐車場の場所と、駐車場から船までの場所の案内が、少しわかりづらかったかなとも思いましたが、まあ、何とかなります。
説明は英語のみですが、シュノーケリングの注意事項等は、日本語で書いた説明文を見せてくれますので、これも、何とかなります。
船が出るまでの待ち合わせ場所になっている所には、トイレが１つあるだけですので、ちょっと並んだりもしますが、船にもトイレはありますから、大丈夫。
船に乗ったら、自分たちの座りたい席は、早めにキープしないと、ゆっくり座って食事が出来なくなりますので、注意が必要です。
朝は、マフィンが美味しかった。ランチのハンバーガーも美味しかったです。
シュノーケリングの時のベストや浮き輪は、「自分のレベルに合わせて、好きな物を使って下さいね」という程度の説明。以前、オアフで利用したツアーは、ライフベスト必ず着用でしたので、泳ぎにくくて辛かったので、これは私達にはありがたいなと思いました。
シュノーケリングに慣れている人ならば、ベストは必要無いと思いました。フィンを付けていれば、身体は浮くので。
到着して１時間程度のフリータイム。ランチをはさんでもう１時間程度、たっぷりシュノーケリングが楽しめて、良かったです。
帰る前の船に上がるタイミングで真水のシャワーを浴びる事が出来ましたが、そのタイミングを逃すと、戻っても近くにシャワーの設備等がありませんので、そのままホテルまで戻るしかありません。
それでも、透明度の高い海で泳ぎたい方には、本当におすすめできます。