Big Island
The tour was wonderful , the crew engaging, helpful, humorous, and knowledgeable , the equipment was fine, thoughtful snacks/drinks provided, and of course then there were the rays.it was a dreamlike experience.
Aloha! We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing time on our Manta Ray tour. We love to hear about our guest's positive experiences. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo
The show was very entertaining and food was amazing! I would have liked the host to speak a little louder. The tables at the back could barely hear him. Otherwise, great experience.
MUST DO-Our family comes to Hawaii every summer and this is by far the most magical experience we've ever had on an excursion!!! There were four manta rays swimming around us-truly awe inspiring! Our kids are 16, 14, and 10...ALL LOVED IT and said it was the highlight of our trip! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Aloha Molly! Thank you for joining our tour and leaving such positive feedback! We are so glad that your family enjoyed your time with the manta rays. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo
I had a wonderful time in the beautiful weather of Hawaii Island!
We first went offshore to find dolphins, but unfortunately, we couldn't see any. However, it felt great to speed along in the rubber boat!
The snorkeling was also beautiful. I think there might be more variety of fish in places like Kerama in Okinawa. The water clarity was about 25 meters!
After snorkeling for about an hour, we returned while getting explanations about the lava caves along the coastline.
ハワイ島の最高の天気の中、素敵な時間を過ごせました!
最初にイルカを見つけに沖合に出ましたが、残念ながら会えませんでしたでもゴムボートでスピード出して進むのでとても気持ち良かったです!
シュノーケルも綺麗でした。沖縄のケラマとかの方が魚の種類は多いかな?透明度は25mくらいあったと思います!
小1時間シュノーケルした後に戻りながら海岸線の溶岩洞窟の説明などもしてくれました。
The weather was great, and I had a very fulfilling snorkeling experience. I've tried it in various places before, but having plenty of time to enjoy it at my own pace was really good.
天気にも恵まれ、とても充実したシュノーケリング体験ができました。今までいろんな場所で経験しましたが、たっぷりな時間で、ゆっくり自由に楽しめるのがGood でした
We went on the afternoon tour with 8 in our family ranging in age from 4 to 65. Most had no snorkeling experience. Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The crew were so friendly and helpful! We were impressed with their safety precautions, including all of the crew being certified lifeguards and were watching out for everyone the entire time we were in the water. The water was pristine and we saw so many varieties of fish and even saw an eel. The coral was beautiful, too.
The captain exchanged information with other captains and took a detour to an area where we might see dolphins. Sure enough, dolphins came to play around the boat, and we saw them jump twice. Communication is important in everything, isn't it? We also had a great time snorkeling and got to see plenty of yellow fish.
ハワイ島の船長さん同士の情報交換で、イルカに会えそうな海域に遠回りしてくれました。見事、イルカが船の周りに遊びに来てくれました。ジャンプも2回。
コミニケーションは、何事も大切ですね
シュノーケルも、黄色いお魚もいっぱいみれて良かったですよ。
They are a friendly crew, so please feel free to talk to them a lot!
フレンドリーなクルーたちですので、ぜひたくさん話しかけてください!
We booked this tour based on these reviews, it seems that these reviews were spot on. Our tour started when Tod picked us up on time and whisked us off to our island adventure. He was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to explain Hawaiian culture and pointed out things in our drive that were informative.
The stargazing portion of our tour was an incredibly unique and awe-inspiring experience. Tod was a knowledgeable guide and took us to a dark and remote location in Mauna Kea, perfect for stargazing. With the use of his personal high-quality telescope, binoculars and a powerful laser pointer, we were able to see constellations, planets, and even faint nebulae. Tod also shared interesting facts and stories about the night sky, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.
Tod even made the experience memorable by playing The Planets by Gustav Holst, its those little details, that made this tour the highlight of our Big Island Vacation.
Overall, this tour is a must-do for anyone who wants to see the stars in all their glory accompanied by our an amazing guide Tod.
Make sure to request him on your next stargazing adventure.
There was a Japanese guide. A Japanese woman kindly assisted me over the phone. Unfortunately, if you can't see a manta, you can participate for free next time. In fact, I was able to try again for free.
On June 10th at 18:00, we saw the best sunset, but we only caught a glimpse of one manta passing by in the distance. My husband didn't see any at all.
On June 13th at 21:00, I was allowed to try again for free, and I had the best encounter with 4 to 5 mantas that spun around right in front of me multiple times. It truly felt like a manta experience. Since it’s nature... the impact and emotion were different from just seeing mantas pass by in Ishigaki Island.
Even though I don't understand English, I could feel the excitement of the crew. Since it was dark in the sea, I felt reassured participating just by understanding Japanese.
日本人のガイドさんがいます。電話も日本人の女性が親切に対応してくれました。
残念ながらマンタに会えない時は、次回の参加は無料にして頂けます。実際、無料で再度チャレンジできました。
6/10 18:00からは最高の夕日は見れましたが、遠くに通り過ぎた1枚しか見れませんでした。主人は、全く見れてません。
6/13 21:00に無料で再チャレンジさせてもらい、4~5枚のマンタが目の前で何度もクルクル回転してくれる最高の出会いを見れました。これぞマンタという感じでした。自然相手なので。。。。。石垣島での通り過ぎるマンタを見るのとは、迫力、感動が違いました。
英語が解らない私でも、乗組員のスタッフの興奮が伝わりました。
暗い海なので、日本語がわかるだけで安心して参加できました。
Thank you for participating in the retry. I'm glad you were able to get a solid second chance to encounter the wild manta rays! Please join us again; we look forward to seeing you. MAHALO
リトライでのご参加ありがとうございました。
野性のマンタとの出会い、2度目のチャンスをしっかりゲットしていただけて良かったです!
またぜひこ参加ください、お待ちしています。
MAHALO
The boat ride was so much fun and such an adrenaline rush. The waters were beautiful and perfect temperature for swimming. The captain and crew were so friendly and had so much information about the land. Would definitely do it again and you get so much for the price!
This was a great hike with our guide Jennifer. She adjusted it to match my kids’ level of interest. She was well prepared with all the supplies including backpacks, snacks, rain gear and jackets. On our visit we got sun and rain and sun and rain. My kids’ were tired so we cut our hike short but it was just enough to have great introduction to the park, and the plants and history around it.
I had a great time horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, so I decided to try it again this time. Kualoa is quite touristy, and I felt comfortable using their services even though I don't understand English, but there was no one who spoke Japanese here, which made me a bit anxious and dizzy on the horse. However, the staff were enthusiastic and warm, so I was able to get through safely.
The horses are smart, so I mostly just had to sit there, but going downhill was a bit scary, and I tensed up, resulting in knee pain by the end. During the ride, we were told to put our water and phones in a special bag for safety. Also, since the wind was chilly, it was necessary to wear something over our clothes. I participated in a windbreaker, long pants, and sneakers.
It seemed that wearing a helmet was at my own risk, but I borrowed one. Hats can get blown away by the wind, startling both me and the horse, so wearing a helmet was the right choice. This time, I couldn't fully enjoy the magnificent scenery due to my nervousness and not understanding the instructions, but I definitely want to participate again. The photos taken by the staff along the way were wonderful and became great memories.
オアフ島のクアロア牧場での乗馬が楽しかったので今回挑戦しました。
クアロアは観光化されていて英語がわからなくても安心して利用できましたが、こちらは日本語が話せる方はいなかったので不安のあまり馬の上でくらくらしました。しかしスタッフの方が熱心で温かくフォローしてくださったのでなんとか安全に過ごすことができました。
馬が賢いのでほとんど乗っているだけで大丈夫でしたが、下りは少し怖くて力が入り、終了時は膝が痛かったです。
乗馬時は危険防止のため、水と携帯は専用のバッグにいれるように言われました。また、風がつめたいので、羽織るものも必要です。ウインドブレーカーに長ズボン、スニーカーで参加しました。
ヘルメットは自己責任らしかったでが、私はお借りしました。帽子は風で飛ばされて自分も馬もおどろくので、ヘルメットで正解でした。今回は説明がわからず、緊張したため雄大な景色を堪能できませんでしたが、もう一度ぜひ参加したいです。途中でスタッフの方が撮ってくださった写真は素晴らしく、とてもよい思い出になりました。
OMG not even sure how to translate to words the experience on this tour
everything went smooth since the pick up, the tour guide assigned to us has so much knowledge about the culture, and the places.
you get a meal which is delicious to start the day, the the views from the sunset never in my life had experience something like that
then the cherry on top the stars, this was a life experience like never before you can see even the space station crusing the skies.
do not hesitate on talking this tour you wont regret it
Great experience. Amazing stars and view of the sunset.
Scott and his partner did a great job. Wish they had regular ATVs instead of side by sides.
Great evening entertainment, with crowd participation, sing along and laughs. MC ‘Sam’ kept us entertained with jokes, songs and some interesting facts of Hawaii.
The grace of the dances made for a nice calming evening while the fire dances were mesmerising and a must see.
Great food and the free flow of drinks are always a welcome!
A Must if in Kona!!
Hands down one of the best experiences we’ve had! We were there over Mother’s Day weekend and he was AMAZING… we definitely felt like we made a friend.. he dropped so much knowledge about everything that we couldn’t have been happier to learn what they do there and hand feed the ducks! …Of course the ATV’s were cool and the land beautiful but he truly made our experience what it was and we are so grateful.. thank you!
People in bite me were very friendly and fun!
Highly recommend to join their tour!
We had a wonderful time on the sunset cruise. We had a one year old and three year old with us, and the whole family had a great time. The crew was amazing, the boat was clean, and the drinks were strong. My husband usually gets sea sick, but this was the first time he was completely fine. The boat is big and stable. The crew had several drink choices, snacks, and even brought out teriyaki rice bowls for everyone. They let my three year drive the boat, which made his whole trip. We’re definitely going again on this next time we’re on the Big Island.
The Luau itself it’s in a nice place, check in was quick. We did have to stand around in the hot sun for a bit.
Seating was a nightmare because the sun is literally right in your face and there’s no shade.
The food was bleh. It was cold and not too flavorful.
This was a very easy, cruise at a leisurely pace and get some awesome views ride. It was perfect for a family activity; this included one 17-yr old and a 12-yr old. Very friendly staff and small group ride was very enjoyable. Definitely recommended.
i really liked this luau! right near the water and very productive evening
It was an unforgettable and amazing experience to see the volcano's crater and valleys up close! The knowledgeable pilot (Kai) who spoke Japanese provided a very clear guide, which made it even more enjoyable. This is definitely a tour you should join!
火山の火口や谷の中を間近で見ることができて、忘れられない素晴らしい体験でした!
日本語の話せる知識豊富なパイロット(カイさん)のガイドも、とてもわかりやすく、より一層楽しめました。
絶対に参加した方がいいツアーです!
This was amazing! From our pick up point in Kona, our guide Kailikea (hope I spelled this right) was fantastic. He was so passionate about the trip and his home town it was so engaging. He's such a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable chap. I didn't expect to learn so much, but it was just the right level. 'Kea was clear about what to expect from the altitude and how to best manage it. We were lucky enough to see the Silversword plants by the visitor centre and then enjoyed our meal, included in the tour; veggie lasagne and chocolate brownie. It was a mixed journey up to the summit with some paved and some very bumpy roads but so worth the trip. We learned all about the different dishes and observatories and watched the beautiful sunset from the summit. We had to head lower for stargazing to avoid polluting the light by the observatories. We were awestruck by how many stars you could see, it was stunning. The powerful telescopes were set up and we were shown the visible planets and constellations/asterisms. Viewing the Edna carina nebula through the telescope was an incredible experience. I would 100% recommend this tour!
It was May 2nd, so the night sea was still cold. But the manta rays were so beautiful that I forgot about the cold! I saw just one, but it kept spinning right in front of me, so I could see its mouth wide open and observe its skin closely; it was almost within reach if I stretched out my hand. (If you touch them, you will be forced to return to the boat. I thought it was wonderful that there is a strong attitude of respecting them.) The mystical time continued, and I was so absorbed that I forgot about the cold.
It seems that the manta rays get startled and swim away if they see human feet in the water, so you need to keep your feet on the float while lying face down and kicking to stay afloat. It can be quite challenging until you get used to it, but the large "ロ" shaped float allows small children to sit on it and look through the opening. Since it’s not cold, and you don’t need to float, and the manta rays don’t swim away, I thought it was a good method (as children tend to splash their feet in the water). The Japanese guide was kind and attentive, moving around to help us, and he gave us all the photos he took for free. I even saw a seal in the pictures! (It seems there was actually a seal very close by. Guests are not allowed to let go of the float, so he went instead to take photos.)
5/2でしたのでまだ夜の海は寒かったです。でもそんなことを忘れるくらいマンタが美しかった!見られたのは1枚ですが、ずーーーっと目の前でクルクル回転してくれていたので、口の中も丸見え、肌感もしっかり観察でき、手を伸ばしたら触れるほどです。(もし触ったら強制的に船に戻されます。彼らを尊重する強い姿勢が素敵だと思いました)神秘的な時間が続き、寒いのも忘れて夢中で見入ってました。
人間の足が水中にあると驚いて逃げてしまうようで、フロートの上に足を乗せながら、うつ伏せに蹴伸びをした姿勢で浮き続ける必要があります。慣れるまで結構大変ですが、手でつかまってるロの字フロートは大きく、小さなお子さんはその上に乗っかって、ロの字の中から見てました。寒くなくて、浮く必要もなく、マンタも逃げないので、良い方法だと思いました(どうしてもお子さんは水中で足をバタバタさせてしまうので)。ガイドの日本人の方は親切で色々と気づいて動いて下さり、また撮った写真は無料で全部下さいます。見たらアザラシまで映ってました!(すぐ近くに実はアザラシが居たみたいです。ゲストはフロートから手を離してはいけないので見に行けませんが、代わりに行って写真を撮ってくださってました)
Aloha
Many people may think that night snorkeling is dark and scary in the ocean, but you can enjoy snorkeling in a beautifully enchanting atmosphere illuminated by blue lights.
Thank you for your consideration and cooperation regarding wildlife during the tour.
Mahalo
Aloha
ナイトシュノーケルは夜の海で暗くて怖いと思われる方も多いのですが、ブルーライトに照らされて美しく幻想的な雰囲気の中でのシュノーケルを楽しんでいただけます。
ツアー中、野生動物へのご配慮、ご協力ををいただきましてありがとうございます。
Mahalo
Tour was excellent, Aaron was a great host. Very informed, engaging. Had fun all along the way. We had plenty of time at all the stops to experience and enjoy. Made our 1st trip here an experience to remember. We are telling everyone if they come to the Island they need to take this tour.
In addition when we 1st booked, we were told that our location was around 90 minutes from the tour pickup. We chose to go ahead but very much appreciated the help and advice. Excellent service all around.
Ive always had a fear of horses but this activity helped get over my fear. The ladies were absolutely amazing in teaching us how to ride the horses and giving us a good laugh while on the ride. This activity gives you a different view of the land surrounding the waterfall. A must do when visiting for sure!
This is a great outfit to take you to see Manta Rays. The boat is a medium size so the group size is much smaller than the big boats. Crew are very professional and knowledgeable in the Manta Ray habits and behaviors. The boat ride to the site is short (<15 min) then it's into the water.
On our trip a single manta showed up after about 5 minutes in the water. As the sky darkened the plankton seemed to multiply and the show really began. The single ray made several passes within inches of our masks. Then another showed up and it was like a graceful dance being performed right beneath you. Another two rays showed up and things really got interesting. What fun watching that ballet!
Afterward, hot soup and warm drinks helped fuel the conversation with the other participants. A most delightful and memorable experience.
P. Burke
Beyond the Waipi'o Valley lookout, entry is restricted to tour participants only. As you descend the narrow, steep slope, you can overlook the Hi'ilawe Falls and taro fields, and wild horses even approached our vehicle. There are many rivers flowing, but there are no bridges, so crossing in a windowless four-wheel drive vehicle is exciting and fun. You can only get out of the car at one location.
ワイピオ渓谷展望台から先はツアー参加者以外は入場が制限されています。
細い急な坂を下っていくとヒイラヴェ滝やタロイモ畑を見渡せ、野生の馬も車に近づいてきてくれました。
たくさんの川が流れていますが、橋は架けられておらず窓ガラス無しの四輪駆動車で渡るとワクワクして楽しいです。
車から降りることができるのは1ヶ所だけでした。
This was an absolutely amazing experience. We booked this fantastic tour short notice and I'm so grateful there were a few time slots still available that worked with out schedule for us.
Our guide, James, is truly an expert astronomer and has a fantastic personality. To see first hand some of the astronomical wonders we've heard about and seen in books or online was breathtaking.
I would absolutely recommend the Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience as a must do when on the Big Island. In fact, I would do it again because what you see one night will be different on another night!