All Reviews for Teen Adventures (Ages 13-17)

The weather was probably nice, which allowed us to see quite a few dolphins up close. The tour guide, Daisuke, was very polite, kind, and full of energy. I consider myself someone who doesn't get easily moved, but I genuinely want to go on this tour again.

おそらく日もよかったのでしょうが、かなりのイルカを近くでみることができました。
ツアーガイドのダイスケさんも非常に丁寧、親切で、またエネルギーを感じる方でした。
そんなに簡単には感動しないタイプだと自己評価していますが、このツアーはまた行きたいと純水に思います。

I participated with my sister. At first, there were no manta rays at all, and I was worried about what would happen if it ended like this, but in the last 30 minutes, a lot of them gathered, and we were able to see them quite up close!! When we entered the water, we were handed floats, but I didn't understand the English instructions well and only figured it out by watching the people around me. It might be a bit tough if you're participating alone and don't understand English. Even though it was a reasonably priced tour, I was glad to see the manta rays. It seems like they gather due to the lights from the boat, and the other boats were much brighter, attracting a lot more manta rays. I might want to try that one next time.

妹と二人で参加しました。最初、マンタは全く現れず、このまま終わったらどうしようと不安になりましたが、最後30分くらいでいっぱい集まってきて、かなり間近で見れました!!海に入る際にフロートを渡されたのですが、英語がよくわからず、回りの人をみてやっと理解。。一人参加で英語がわからないとちょっとツラいかもです。リーズナブルなツアーでも、マンタを見れたのでよかったですが、船の明かりでマンタを集める仕組みのようで、他の船の方がものすごく明るくてマンタもよく集まってるみたいでした。次回はそっち乗りたいかも。。

The staff were kind and entertaining, which was great, but overall, the experience felt lacking. I participated in snorkeling for the first time in the Hawaiian islands, with many repeat visitors promoting it, so I had high expectations. However, there were few fish in terms of both quantity and variety, and I felt it wasn't worth the time and money spent. The waters in Okinawa and Asia are definitely much clearer and have more fish! Is this what Hawaii is like? I also had high hopes for the luxurious BBQ, but aside from snacks, the only real meal was a hamburger. The burger they grilled on-site was indeed delicious, but I felt that Americans have a rather limited diet during this trip. By the way, we were the only Japanese people there, and no one spoke Japanese at all.

スタッフの方々は親切で、なにかとおもしろく楽しませてくれてよかったのですが、全体的に内容がイマイチといった感じでした。ハワイの離島で初のシュノーケリング、リピーター多数というフレコミで、とても期待して参加したのですが、魚の数も種類も少なく、こんな時間とお金をかけてくるほどじゃないなと思ってしまいました。沖縄やアジアの海の方がだんぜんキレイで魚も多い！ハワイってこんなもんなの？という印象です。豪華ＢＢＱとあるのも期待したのですが、スナックを除けば食事らしい食事はハンバーガーだけ。その場で焼いてくれるバーガーは確かに美味しかったけど、アメリカ人って食生活が乏しいと感じる旅行でした。
ちなみに、日本人は私たちだけでした。日本語は全く通じません。

I couldn't fly on the reserved day due to the weather, so I rebooked for two days later, but again the weather was not good. It's sunny in Waikoloa, but the Hilo side was not. On both days, I had watched all the emergency evacuation and safety confirmation videos during the flight, but in the end, a staff member came out from the office and said, "I'm sorry."

Since it's nature, these things can happen. In the end, a Japanese pilot named TOSHI came out and said, "I'm really sorry this time. Please come again next time! We're waiting for you," and he handed me his business card with a refreshing greeting. I was very happy with this kind consideration. I hope to ride in TOSHI's helicopter next year for sure.

予約した日にお天気の関係で飛べず、再チャレンジで２日後に予約しましたが、またまたお天気がNGでダメでした。ワイコロアは晴天なんですけどね、ヒロ側がダメで。両日ともフライト中の緊急避難や安全確認のビデオも全部見終わっていたんですが、最後に事務所からスタッフの方が出てこられて「ごめんなさいね」と。
自然相手ですからこういうこともありますね。
最後に日本人パイロットのTOSHIさんが出てこられて「今回は本当に残念です。次の機会に是非来てくださいね！お待ちしています」と名刺を渡してくださって爽やかにご挨拶してくださいました。こういう心遣い、とても嬉しかったです。来年こそTOSHIさんのヘリに乗せていただきたいです。

From 8 AM to around 2 PM, you can leisurely enjoy the waters of Hawaii. I participated with my 7-year-old daughter (who had a rental life jacket and brought her own goggles), my mother (who had a rental float and a rental snorkeling set), and my father (who also had a rental snorkeling set). We were able to relax more than we expected.

The crew was cheerful, bright, and kind, and the onboard restroom was spacious and clean. For lunch, the crew cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the boat (with smoke billowing), and we could choose our favorites to put in buns. Since we were on a boat, it was a bit bumpy, but the open atmosphere made it enjoyable.

The boat doesn’t sway much, and the sea breeze is truly refreshing. However, if you're concerned about sunburn or are traveling with children, it’s better to line up a bit early to secure indoor seating on the first floor. It can get hot, though. About 30% of the seats are indoors on the first floor, while 70% are on the second floor (the central part has a vinyl roof for shade, but the first floor is more reliable). The first floor also has all the windows open, allowing the breeze in and providing a nice view. I think it would be good for the kids and mothers to have long-sleeve rash guards and UV hats that can get wet (my daughter got a sunburn on her scalp after just two hours of snorkeling).

We didn’t have any issues with English, but the crew explains everything in English, so if you feel anxious about that, it’s good to prepare yourself a bit. However, I think you can understand what’s happening by observing those around you. There were only a few Japanese participants.

The snorkeling area was calm, with almost no waves and high visibility, allowing us to see many fish. However, there were also people from other tours, which felt a bit crowded compared to the Hawaiian vibe.

I highly recommend it.

朝の８時から２時ぐらいまで、ゆっくりハワイの海を楽しめます。
７歳の娘（貸し出し用ライフジャケット＋持参ゴーグル）と母（貸し出し用浮き輪＋貸し出し用シュノーケルセット）と父（貸し出し用シュノーケルセット）での参加でしたが、思った以上にリラックスして参加できました。
クルーも陽気で明るく親切、船内のトイレも大きくきれいです。ランチのハンバーガーとホットドックも船上でクルーが調理してくれ（煙モクモク出てました）好きなものをパンに挟んでいただく形式です。船の上なので多少ガサガサしますが、開放的な雰囲気で楽しいです。
船はそんなに揺れませんし海風は本当に気持ち良いですが、日焼けに気を付けたい方やお子さん連れの方は１階の屋内の席を確保する為、少し早目に乗船の列に並んだ方が良いです。これが暑いんですけど。座席は３割が１階屋内、７割が２階（中央部分はビニールの屋根がついているので日よけにはなりますが、１階の方が確実です）。１階も窓全開なので風が入って景色も見えて気持ちいいですよ。でもお子さんとお母さんは長袖ラッシュガード＆お子さんは濡れても良いUV帽子があるといいと思います（娘は２時間のシュノーケリングであっという間に頭皮日焼けです）。
私たちは英語の心配はなかったので問題はなかったのですが、クルーは英語ですべてを説明しますので、ここに不安を感じる方は少し心の準備を。ただ、周りの方の動きを見ていれば何が起こっているかはわかると思いますが。日本人は２，３組の参加でした。
シュノーケリングポイントのエリアは波もないと言っていいぐらい穏やかで透明度も高く沢山の魚を見ることが出来ます。ただ、このツアー以外のツアーの人々も勿論いらして、ちょっとハワイの感覚からすると人口密度が高く感じますけれども。
お勧めです。

I stayed at the Sheraton Kona, and it was very close to the meeting point, just a 2-3 minute walk from the hotel entrance, which made me feel secure about participating.

Although the staff only spoke English, they were very kind, so I didn't feel particularly anxious about reconfirming over the phone on the day of the event. I was the only Japanese participant at that time, and most others seemed to be from the mainland United States. There were elderly individuals who needed canes to walk, as well as a few babies just a few months old, but everyone was enjoying themselves in their own way. They provide everything you need for snorkeling, such as fins, goggles, and flotation devices, so you can go hands-free without any issues.

The boat was larger than I expected, accommodating over 50 people. It had a diving platform and a slide, allowing for various ways to enjoy Kealakekua Bay.

Breakfast consisted of light items like muffins and fruit, while lunch was a style where you could assemble your own burger or hot dog with meat grilled on the boat. I had a burger, and it was delicious.

I debated between the afternoon course and the morning one, but the two-hour option flew by, so I recommend the longer morning course.

シェラトン・コナに滞在していましたが、集合場所までホテル玄関から徒歩2,3分ととても近く安心して参加できました。

英語のみですが、スタッフの方はとても親切なので電話のリコンファームも当日も特に不安を感じることはありません。このときの日本人参加者は私だけで、ほかはほとんどがアメリカ本土の方のようでした。歩くのに杖が必要な高齢の方もいらっしゃいましたし、生後数ヶ月の赤ちゃんもいましたが、みんな思い思いに楽しんでいました。フィンやゴーグル、浮き具などシュノーケリングに必要なものはすべて貸してくれますので手ぶらで問題ありません。

船は思ったより大きく、50人以上は乗っていました。飛び込み台や滑り台もついていて、ケアラケクア湾ではさまざまな遊び方をすることができます。

朝食はマフィンやフルーツなど軽いものですが、昼食は船の上で焼いてくれたお肉でバーガーかホットドッグを自分で盛り付けて食べるスタイルで、バーガーを食べましたがおいしかったです。

午後のコースと悩みましたが、2時間でもあっという間でしたので、午前の長いコースがおすすめです。

Amazing tour and very informative. A great way to see the whole island.

My Son, Daughter and Myself had a great time, our guides were funny, helpful and very personable. What can you say about finishing the day with a 3,350' run that lasts over a minute, WHOW! This is our second Hawaii Zip Line and I would recommend it as a bucket list for everyone.

If you're looking to enjoy the atmosphere, it might be fine, but the satisfaction level is low, so the cost performance isn't good. The talks between the shows were long, and if you don't understand English, you won't know what they're saying, so the show ended without understanding anything from start to finish.

The food portions were large, but there wasn't anything particularly delicious, and it rained during the event, so both the drinks and food got wet. They provided ponchos, but I didn't think it was a show worth seeing while wearing one.

On another day, I watched the show from the balcony of the Kinkame Hotel, and perhaps because the weather was nice, it seemed like they performed for a longer time than during our visit.

If someone asked me whether I would recommend it, I would not.

雰囲気を楽しむのであれば、よいのですが、満足度が低いのでコスパはよくないですね。ショーの合間のトークが長いので、英語がわからないと何を言っているのかわからず、最初から最後までわからないままショーが終わりました。
お料理も量は多目ですが、特別おいしいものがなく、途中雨がふりましたので、ドリンクもお料理も雨入りです。ポンチョが支給されましたが、ポンチョきてまで、見るショーとは思いませんでした。
別の日にキンカメホテルのバルコニーからショーを見てましたが、天気がよかったせいか、私たちの時よりも、長めにショーをしているように思われました。
人に勧めるかと聞かれたら、おすすめはしないです。

I was moved by the experience of rafting and being able to see dolphins up close! It's a rare opportunity in Japan to see them that closely, so I think it was a very valuable experience.

Also, diving into the sea to see fish and coral was, of course, impressive, but the sandwiches, snacks, and fruits we ate on the boat tasted exceptionally good! The boat sped through the sea and made turns! It was thrilling, and I had a lot of fun throughout the experience.

The guide was very kind and made it easy for us Japanese participants to understand by adding gestures.

At first, I was scared because of the speed, but the guide was so entertaining that it turned out to be a great experience. On the way to snorkeling, I was moved by how many dolphins we encountered. I even got to see them jump up close. Snorkeling was great too, as I saw many coral reefs and schools of fish.

Lunch was fulfilling, and the guide cut fresh pineapple and oranges right in front of us. On the way back, we went near an area where we could see various layers of earth and received explanations. I am very satisfied with the experience, which is something I can't do much in Japan.

ラフティングを体験して、
イルカにあんなに近くで見れたことに感動しました！日本ではなかなかあんなに近くで見れないのですごく貴重な体験だと思います。
あと、海にもぐって魚や、サンゴを見れたことはもちろん感動しましたが、船の上で食べるサンドイッチやお菓子、フルーツは格別に美味しく感じました！
船がすごいスピードで海をかけぬけたり
船が回ったり！すごくスリリングで終始楽しく過ごせました。
ガイドさんもすごく親切な方で日本人の私達にも丁寧にジェスチャーも加えて分かり易いように教えてくれました！
みなほ
体験してみて、初めはスピードが早くて怖かったけどガイドさんがおもしろくてとてもいい経験になりました。シュノーケリングに行く途中には、イルカにたくさん会えたので感動しました。間近でジャンプをしたところも見えました。シュノーケリングもサンゴ礁や魚の群れがたくさん見れてよかったです。お昼ご飯も充実していて、ガイドさんが目の前でパイナップルやオレンジを切ってくれました。帰りには色々な地層の見える土地の近くに行き、説明してもらいました。日本ではあまりできない経験が出来てとても満足しています
ひとみ

I was surprised to see manta rays swimming so close. They approached with such force, it was truly impressive. I even touched them a few times.

Also, the banana boat ride to the manta ray spot was a lot of fun, and the sunset viewed from the boat was incredibly beautiful, so there were other enjoyable experiences besides just the mantas.

I had a really great time. Thank you very much.

あんなに近くにマンタが泳いでいるのでびっくりしました。
すごい勢いでマンタが近づいてくいてくるので大迫力です。
何度か触れてしまったくらいでした。

また、マンタのスポットに行くまでのバナナボート気分や、
船から眺めた夕陽もすごく綺麗だったので、
マンタだけじゃない楽しみもありました。

本当に楽しかったです。
ありがとうございました。

We participated as a family of three, including our 10-year-old child. Last year's manta night snorkeling was so great that we decided to join Aloha Kona Tours again this year.

I have participated in a wild dolphin tour on Oahu before, but I could only see the dolphins far away and had given up on the idea of seeing them up close. However, believing in Daisuke's words from last year, this year I was finally able to meet many dolphins right beside us!

They also supported our tired child, allowing us to enjoy the dolphins with peace of mind. I would love to repeat this experience. Daisuke's photo collection is also wonderful and healing. Please definitely hold an exhibition in Kansai as well.

10歳の子供を含め家族３人で参加しました。昨年のマンタナイトシュノーケルがとても良かったので、今年もAloha Kona Toursさんに参加しようと決めていました。
野生のイルカをみるツアーはオアフ島で参加したことがありますが、はるか彼方にイルカの姿が見える程度でこんなものかと諦めていたのですが、昨年のダイスケさんの言葉を信じ、今年は念願かなってすぐそばでたくさんのイルカに会うことができました！
泳ぎ疲れた子供のサポートもして頂いたので、安心してイルカを楽しむことができました。
またリピートしたいと思います。
ダイスケさんの写真集もとても素敵で癒されます。関西でもぜひ個展を開いてください。

My husband and I had a lot of fun ! The team was really friendly and we had the perfect weather ! We will take the cruise again when we come back to the Big Island !

Both me and my friend are big fans of stargazing. Being from Europe, we're used to completely different night sky and it war really refreshing to see the other-side-of-the-world's sky as well. Also, because Mauna Kea Summit has one of the clearest sky in the world, it took the stargazing to whole another level. It was really amazing experience and worth every penny. Also the guides knew like.. everything about the stars, so it was pretty educational too. Oh and by the way - the sunset seen from above the clouds at the summit? Magnificent!

We participated with a friend because the monitor fee was applicable! Since we didn't rent a car during our stay, we took a taxi from Kailua-Kona and arrived at the meeting point, the harbor, for about $20.

There were about 20 participants, so we split into two boats for departure. There were no other Japanese participants, only Westerners. Everything was explained in English, but since there wasn't anything particularly special to do, I think it's fine if you don't speak much English. (They asked if we could speak English at the reception, so if you mention it there, you might receive written explanations. However, the tour is primarily in English.)

The tour itself lasted from around 10 AM to 1 PM, and we went around the Big Island on a high-speed boat. Along the way, we stopped at various points of interest, and the captain provided explanations. We were also told we could jump in when we spotted dolphins. When we found them, it was after the other dolphin tour groups had left, so we were able to see the dolphins up close and at a leisurely pace! We also spotted turtles and fish, and thoroughly enjoyed both rafting and snorkeling. By the way, lunch was just a sandwich, but after swimming, the sandwich and cola were incredibly delicious!

On the way back, our hotel happened to be right in front of the dock, so we were able to get dropped off there, saving on taxi fare. The staff were all very friendly, and overall, it was a satisfying tour.

モニター料金が適用されるということで、友人と二人で参加しました！滞在中レンタカーを借りていなかったため、カイルアコナからタクシーに乗りましたが20ドルくらいで集合場所のハーバーに到着。
参加者が20名くらいだったため、２隻に分かれて出発でした。他に日本人の参加者はおらず、欧米人のみ。説明等全て英語でしたが、何か特別なことをするわけではないので基本的にはそんなに英語が話せなくても問題ないかと思います。（英語が話せるか受付時に聞かれたのでそこで言えば説明書き等もらえるのかも知れません。が、基本的にはツアーは全編英語です。）
ツアー自体は10時～13時くらいまでで、ハワイ島の周りを高速ボートで回る感じです。途中いろんな見どころに寄って船長さんが解説をしてくれます。またイルカを見つけると飛び込んでいいとのこと、他のドルフィンツアーの人たちがいるところで一緒に潜るのに加え、帰り道に見つけた際にはツアーの人たちはもういない時間だったのでかなり近くでゆっくりイルカを見ることが出来ました！他にもカメを見かけたり、魚をみたり、ラフティングとシュノーケル、どちらも満喫できました。ちなみにランチはただのサンドイッチですが、泳ぎ疲れたあとのサンドイッチとコーラは最高においしかったです！
帰りはたまたま滞在しているホテルが船着き場の目の前だったので、そこで下ろしてもらうことができ、タクシー代も節約できました。
スタッフもみなさん親切で、全体的に満足のいくツアーでした。

Absolutely perfect day! Saw dolphins, snorkeled, good food, great staff.

The tour conductor was a couple, with a husband who spoke Japanese well and a Japanese wife. Since it was a tour just for our couple and our friends' couple, they adjusted to our pace. The kayak had a high backrest that provided good support for the waist, making it easy to paddle. It was wonderful to encounter cute dolphins. The wife took photos for us, and I look forward to them later.

ツアーコンダクターは日本語の上手なご主人と日本人の奥様のご夫婦でした。友人夫婦と私達夫婦だけのツアーでしたので、私達達のペースに合わせていただきました。カヤックの背当てが高く、しっかり腰をガードいてくれるカヤックでしたので、楽に漕ぐことができました。可愛いイルカと遭遇しとても良かったです。写真も奥様がとってくれて、後日楽しみです

My husband and I recently took this tour. I was honestly not expecting it to be interesting to me--I went because my husband wanted to see it. The tour of Pearl Harbor, the Arizona and Missouri was awesome. Very emotional--it was impossible not to feel the enormity of the lives lost-it is hard to describe the feelings I felt--sorrow, awe, humbled by the great service to all of us in the US. They vow never to forget and to always treat the memories with dignity and honor, and that's just what they do. I highly recommend the tour.
The rest of the tour, which involved the flight to Oahu and a bus tour of downtown Honolulu was great. We had a great bus driver who was both funny and very knowledgeable--so thoroughly enjoyed his narration of the tour as he drove us around.
One time after we got off the bus for a stop, we got confused and lost our way back--and were very relieved he waited for us before continuing on.
All around great experience!

English :
It was awesome to swim this close from the spinner dolphins! The friend I come with was like a kid, she loved it and she add a check on her bucket list. We swam many times along the dolphins, there were about thirty and more. We had delicious snacks on our way back to the harbor. A thing to do in a lifetime :)
Thanks again to the crew!

Français :
C'était vraiment super de nager si près des dauphins spinner ! Mon amie qui était avec était comme une enfant tellement elle a adoré. Elle a pu rayer un élément de sa bucket list. Nous avons nagé plusieurs fois aux côtés des dauphins, il y en avait beaucoup, environ une trentaine (au moins) ! Lors du retour à la marina, nous avons eu de délicieuses bouchées à déguster. Merci à l'équipage pour ce super moment !

I had an amazing time snorkeling for the very first time. Captain Dave was great, he made me feel very comfortable. I am definitely coming back the next time I visit The Big Island!

My second-grade daughter participated and was very happy, but there was an explanation in English until we could interact with the dolphins. It felt more like a discussion than an explanation. Also, the pool where we could interact with the dolphins seemed a bit deep, which was a bit tough for my short daughter.

小学2年の娘が参加しました喜んでおりましたがイルカと触れ合えるまで英語での説明がありました。説明というよりもディスカッションみたいでした。あとイルカと触れ合えるプールが少し深さがあるようで、背の低い娘にはちょっとしんどそうでした。

The tour operator only communicated in English, which made it difficult for me during the confirmation call. On the day of the tour, we departed from the pier in Kona, which was convenient since it was close to where I was staying. The glass-bottom boat was quite stable and comfortable, but there wasn't much variation in the fish or underwater scenery, so I honestly got a bit bored along the way. The staff were friendly and engaged in conversation, which was nice.

催行先が英語のみの対応なので、確認電話で苦労しました。当日はコナの桟橋からの出発でしたので、滞在先からすぐの場所でラクでした。グラスボートはあまり揺れがなく快適でしたが、あまり魚や海中の景色に変化が乏しかったので、正直途中で飽きてしまいました。スタッフの人はフレンドリーにいろいろ話しかけてくれて良かったです。

I participated in a tour with Mr. Nawata on July 23. For three years, I have wanted to join a dolphin tour every time I go to Hawaii, and I finally got the chance to participate.

At first, there were many other tour boats out at sea, and I thought the dolphins might avoid our boat, making it hard to see them. However, we entered the water for practice. After that, Mr. Nawata and the captain diligently searched for the best spots where the dolphins were, repeatedly going in and out of the water and moving the boat. In the second half, we were able to swim right next to a pod of dolphins! It was so moving!

I was impressed not only by the dolphins but also by Mr. Nawata and the captain's efforts to ensure that every participant got to see the dolphins up close. I realized I was more exhausted than I expected, which made me feel my age and the decline in my stamina. However, the potato chips we had after returning to the harbor were incredibly delicious (laughs).

It was a tour that left me deeply moved by the dolphins, the staff, and the Hawaiian sea. I would love to participate again next year if I can.

7/23に繩田さん同行のツアーに参加しました。
ハワイに行く度にイルカツアーに参加したいと思って早3年、やっと参加することができました。
前半は他のツアーの船が多く海に出ておりこれではイルカがツアーの船を避けてしまいなかなか見れないかもと思いましたが、とりあえず練習の為1回目の海に入りました。その後繩田さんとキャプテンが一生懸命イルカがいるベストポイントを探し回って下さり、何回か海へ入ってはあがって船で移動を繰り返し後半はイルカの群れが泳いでるそばで一緒に泳げました！感動です！
イルカはもちろんですが、参加者一人一人に気を使いなんとか参加者全員にイルカを間近で見せてあげたいという繩田さんとキャプテンの気持ちにも感動しました。
思ったより体力を消耗しあらためて体力の衰えと歳を感じてしまいましたが、その分港に戻った後頂いたポテチが最高においしかった（笑）
イルカとスタッフとハワイの海に感動した大満足のツアーでした。また来年できたら参加したいと思います。

My son had a fabulous morning surfing in Kona! We wished we had taken him earlier in the week, so that he could have gone a few times! His instructor was great and he loved it!

I participated with my husband and our first-grade daughter, making it a family of three. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Waikoloa and arrived in just under 40 minutes. We were told to look for the blue roof of the Honokohau Marina, and as soon as we entered the marina, we found several shops with blue roofs lined up on the right side. The tour shop was easily identifiable with the sign that read "CAPTAIN ZODIAC" (it was the shop at the far right).

When we joined, there were six of us in total: our family of three and three American girls. With Captain Colin and his assistant Paul, we set off with a total of eight people! First, we sped across the surface of the sea. The waves were relatively calm, so I didn’t experience the seasickness I was worried about; instead, it felt refreshing with the wind in my face!

After about five minutes of racing across the water, the boat suddenly slowed down. Captain Colin was looking around, and just as I was wondering what was happening, he shouted, "Dolphins!" When I looked in the direction he was pointing, I saw several dorsal fins surfacing and diving. There were dolphins jumping like in an aquarium, and even a baby dolphin! My daughter was so excited, shouting, "Dolphin! Dolphin!"

At that point, the captain stopped the boat and began preparing the snorkeling gear. My daughter was quite nervous since it was her first time snorkeling and going out to deep water on a boat. Honestly, I thought, "Snorkeling in such deep water?! No way!" But it seemed her curiosity about the wild dolphins won out. She put on her new snorkeling set (which we brought, although they provide rentals) and borrowed a long foam noodle from the captain to use as a float.

Then, with her dad holding her hand, she peered into the water and saw a school of dolphins swimming right below us. Overjoyed, she squealed, "Yay! Dolphins!" and pointed excitedly. I was also amazed; I never expected to see so many dolphins up close.

We then changed locations and enjoyed a total of three dolphin swims.

After that, we had about 30 minutes of free snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay. My daughter was scared of the urchins and almost returned to the boat, but when Captain Colin threw some cookies into the water, the fish came close, and she was thrilled. Thanks to that, she was able to continue snorkeling.

I was worried that my daughter might end up scared and not able to do anything during the tour, but thanks to Captain Colin's thoughtfulness and the dolphins and fish, both my daughter and husband had a great time!

I definitely want to participate again the next time we come to the Big Island.

P.S.
1. For those who will be participating, it might be a good idea to hand the captain your camera and ask him to take pictures while snorkeling.
2. I recommend reapplying sunscreen during the trip. Even though I thought I had applied a lot, I ended up getting really sunburned (crying).

夫と小1の娘と一緒に３人で参加しました。
ワイコロアのマリオットホテルに滞在しており、40分弱で到着しました。
ホノコハウマリーナの青い屋根が目印とのことでしたが、マリーナの入り口入ってすぐの右手側に、青い屋根の何軒かのお店が長屋のように連なっていました。このツアーのお店は、看板に「CAPTAIN　ZODIAC」と書いてあるのですぐにわかりました。（向かって一番右端のお店でした）

私たちが参加した時は、私たち家族３人とAmericanGirls３人の計６人。そこに、キャプテンコリンと、助手の？ポールを合わせて８名で出発！
まずは、ビュンビュン飛ぶように海面を走ります。比較的波がなく海面が穏やかだったので、懸念していた船酔いにはならず、逆に風を受けて爽快でした！

５分ほど？海面を走り急にボートがゆっくりに。。キャプテンコリンが何やら周りを見回しています。？？と思っていると、「ドルフィン！」と叫ぶので指さす方を見ると、何頭もの背びれが浮かんだり沈んだり。そのうち、水族館のようにクルリとジャンプをするイルカがいたり、ベビーイルカがいたり、娘も「イルカさん！イルカさん！」と大興奮。

そこで、キャプテンがボートを停め、シュノーケルギアを準備し始めました。娘は、シュノーケルも初めて、ボートで深い海に行くのも初めてということでかなり緊張をしており、正直「こんなに深い場所でシュノーケル?!無理だよーー」と思いましたが、娘は野生のイルカのジャンプを見て好奇心が勝った模様。新しいMyシュノーケルセット（貸してもらえますが、私たちは持参しました）を装着し、キャプテンに浮き輪代わりにヌードルというウレタン製の細長い棒を借りて、プカプカ。
その後、パパに手を引いて貰い海を覗き込むと、真下にイルカたちの群れが泳いでいます。歓喜のあまり海の中で「キャーキャ－イルカーーー！！」と指をさして喜ぶ娘。
私も、こんなに沢山のイルカ達がこんなに間近に見られるとは思ってもいなかったので、大感激でした。
その後場所を変え、計３回ドルフィンスイムを楽しみました。

その後はケアラケクア湾で３０分ほど自由にシュノーケル。娘はガンガゼを怖がり、ボートに帰りかけましたが、キャプテンコリンがクッキーを持ってきて海に投げると、近くまで魚が寄ってきてくれて大喜び。おかげでシュノーケルを続行することができました。

娘が怖がって何もできずに終わったらどうしよう？？と思いながらツアーを申し込みましたが、キャプテンコリンの気遣いとイルカや魚たちのおかげで娘・パパともども楽しむことができました！

次回ハワイ島に来た時にも是非参加したいです。

追記：
①これから参加される方は、シュノーケル時にキャプテンにカメラを渡し、撮影をお願いすると良いかもしれません。
②日焼け止めを途中で塗りなおすことをオススメします。かなり塗りたくって参加したはずなのに、真っっ黒に焼けてしまいました（泣）

We zoomed along in Captain Colin's rubber boat and first headed to the dolphin swimming spot. The ride was thrilling, with sharp turns that felt like a roller coaster, and we had a blast screaming with excitement.

Once we arrived, after a brief explanation, we jumped into the sea! There were over 100 dolphins swimming around. My first-grade daughter, who initially said, "I'm scared!" was soon cheering as she snorkeled among the dolphins.

This was my daughter's first snorkeling experience during our trip to Hawaii. She had only practiced snorkeling on the beach the day before, so I was worried. However, the dynamic sight of dolphins swimming right beneath her made her forget her fear, and she exclaimed, "I want to swim again!" In the end, she enjoyed dolphin swimming three times.

While it wasn't like the experiences at some hotels where you "swim with dolphins while touching them," the experience of swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat was incredibly exciting.

After that, we thrillingly moved to Kealakekua Bay, where we enjoyed a leisurely snorkeling session while observing tropical fish. We saw butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, and both my wife and daughter had a great time snorkeling.

My daughter seemed a bit scared of the sea urchins, but Captain Colin noticed her unease and joined her for snorkeling. He kindly pointed out fish to her and taught her the names of the fish in Hawaii, which helped her feel more at ease. As her fear faded, she was able to enjoy herself freely.

Unfortunately, we didn't spot any whales, but we did see little fish jumping around, likely because the whales were nearby. They said the whales were somewhere beneath the surface within a two-knot range.

On the way back, he shared stories about Pele along the coastline.

He explained everything in a way that was easy to understand, even for someone with my middle school-level English, and he was very kind to the children, which made me feel really reassured.

I truly felt that we had participated in a wonderful tour.

キャプテンコーリンの操縦するゴムボートでビュンビュン飛ばして、
まずはドルフィンスイミングの場所まで行きました。
途中は右へ左へとGをかけるような操船に、ジェットコースター気分できゃーきゃーと
楽しく乗りました。

現地に着いたら、簡単な説明の後に海へドボン！
そこには100頭を超えるイルカの群れがいました。
はじめは「怖い！」と言っていた小1の娘もイルカの群れに
シュノーケルを加えながら、歓声を上げます。

今回のハワイ旅行で初めてのシュノーケルをしている娘。
前日にビーチでシュノーケルの練習をしていただけなので、
心配していましたが、イルカが真下を通るようなダイナミックさに
恐さも忘れて、「もう一回泳ぐ！」と言って、
結果3回もドルフィンスイミングを楽しみました。

どこぞのホテルであるような「イルカを触りながら一緒に泳ぐ」というような
ものではありませんが、自然の姿のイルカと泳ぐ体験はとても刺激的だった模様。

その後、ケアラケクア湾までまたスリル満点で移動し、今度は熱帯魚を見ながらの
のんびりシュノーケリング。チョウチョウウオやエンゼルフィッシュ、アオブダイ
その他の南国系のお魚を見ながらののんびりシュノーケルを妻子共に楽しみました。

娘はウニが怖かったらしく、ちょっとおびえるような感じでした。
そうした様子を察したキャプテンコーリンが一緒にシュノーケルに来てくれて、
魚を見つけては娘に教えてくれたり、ハワイでのお魚の呼び方を教えてくれたり
と優しく接してくれました。すると、すっかり恐怖心の薄れた娘は自由自在に
楽しむことができました。

残念ながらクジラを目撃することはできませんでしたが、クジラが近くにいるせいで
ぴょんぴょん飛んでいる小魚を目撃。２ノットの範囲の海面下のどこかにいるらしい、
とのことでした。

帰りには、海岸沿いのラバ・チューブでのペレのお話などを説明してくれました。

中学生レベルの私の英語でも十分分るように説明してくれるし、子どもには優しく
接してくれるので本当に安心です。

良いツアーに参加できたなー、と心から思いました。

When we participated, there were about 10 participants in total. We all boarded one rubber boat and set off. My husband and I were the only Japanese people there, so all the communication and small talk were in English.

When I heard "rafting," I had imagined something like river rafting using a raft, but it seems I was mistaken. In reality, we sat on the edge of the boat (without wearing life jackets) and raced across the ocean at high speed. As someone who is not good with thrill rides, I was screaming my head off... Seeing me, the other foreigners burst into laughter.

It looked refreshing and enjoyable to race through the blue sea. Everyone except me... Following the advice to "just look at the sky and the distant scenery," I did gaze around, and while it was indeed beautiful, my fear overwhelmed all other emotions, and I reached my limit within 30 minutes.

When I told the captain, "I can't do this anymore," he asked, "There are still about 4 hours left!? Can you hang in there?" I couldn't bear the thought of enduring this fear for another 4 hours, so I asked to be dropped off nearby and retired... My time on the boat was just 40 minutes. I wanted to try snorkeling too, but I thought it would be rude to push myself and make my fellow passengers uncomfortable, so I gave up. My husband, who was enjoying himself, also got off with me, so I felt really sorry for him. The captain was very kind and arranged a taxi for us to the shore. All the fellow passengers were warm and kind, even though we stopped off early.

Although I retired, I got to see many wild dolphins up close, and the view of the Big Island while racing across the ocean was truly wonderful. It also became a story for our honeymoon.

If you're looking for thrills and want to enjoy the ocean around the Big Island, I definitely recommend it. However, for those who are not good with thrill rides or are easily scared, it might be a bit too intense.

私達が参加した時は、参加者が総勢10名ほどでした。
みんなでひとつのゴムボートに乗って出発します。
日本人は私達夫婦のみでした。なので、伝達事項や雑談なども全て英語でした。

「ラフティング」と聞いて、私はてっきりラフトを使った川下りのようなものをイメージしていたのですが、どうやら認識が間違っていたようでした。。
実際は、ボートのフチに座り(ライフジャケットも着用しません)、超高速で海を駆けまわるというものでした。
絶叫マシーンなどの類が大の苦手な私、一人大絶叫…。
そんな私を見て、他の外国人の皆様、爆笑…。笑

風を切って青い海を走るのは、爽快で気持ち良さそうでした。
私以外は…。
「空や遠く景色を見ていれば大丈夫だよ」というアドバイスに従い眺めていましたが、確かに本当に美しかったのですが、恐怖が全ての感情を占めていた私は開始30分で限界に達していました。

「もう無理です」とキャプテンに申し出ると、「あと4時間近くあるよ！？頑張れる？」と聞かれたので、この恐怖をあと4時間続けるのは耐えられなかったので、近くの沖で降ろしてもらってリタイアしました…。
乗船時間、わずか40分…。
シュノーケルもやりたかったけど、無理して体調不良になって同船者の皆様に迷惑を掛けたら申し訳ないと思い、断念しました。
楽しんでいた夫も一緒に降りてもらったので、夫にも申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいでした。
キャプテンの方には沖までタクシーを手配していただいたりと、本当に良くしていただきました。
同船者の皆様も、途中で沖に寄ったにも関わらず温かく見送って下さって、優しい方ばかりでした。

リタイアしたけれど、たくさんの野生イルカを間近で見られたし、海を走りながら臨むハワイ島の景色は本当に素晴らしかったです。
新婚旅行のネタのひとつにもなったし。笑

スリルと、ハワイ島の海を楽しみたい方は、ぜひおすすめです。
ただ、絶叫マシーンが苦手な方、怖がりな方には、ちょっとスリルがきついかもしれません。

What a great day on the Big Island. If you travel to Kona make sure to put this tour on your itinerary.
Our guide was Nickels and he was the most knowledgeable young man and very patient and pleasant too. He took us to all of the places you should see on the island and even managed an unscheduled stop to the southern most bakery in the US. Even our teenagers we're attentive and even asked questions. It's a long day(@ 12hours)but I didn't want it to end. We truly enjoyed this tour.

What a fun day. The crew was courteous and intent on everyone having fun. There were families on our trip with very young children and some grandparents on board too. Everyone was in the water whether snokling, scub or snuba diving or just relaxing in tubes. I also didn't hear any complaints about the food. Service was very efficient. Everyone was satisfied!!

We had a great time on the glass bottom boat. Only regret I wish we could have stayed all day looking underwater at the coral and the fish. Great crew and knew a lot about the different fish we were seeing. My grand children loved it. Good adventure for young and old. Relaxing and beautiful.