All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

A few years ago, I participated and had such a great time that this time I joined with my son and his girlfriend, making it a family of four. Last time it was in April, so the sea was cold and I felt chilly, but this time we were well-prepared for the cold (in July). Once again, many manta rays turned right in front of us, and I almost shouted with excitement. We’re not supposed to touch them, but the other three were so close that they ended up being touched by the manta rays. You can even see inside the manta's mouth. There’s also an explanation about manta ray ecology, which makes you feel like you understand the manta rays in front of you even better. Time really flew by, and it was a tour where I didn’t want to get out of the water. This is definitely something you should participate in.

数年前に参加して、とても楽しかったので、今度は初めて訪れる息子と彼女を伴って家族4人で参加しました。前回は4月だったため海が冷たく体が冷えたのですが、今回は防寒対策もバッチリした上で参加（7月）。今回もたくさんのマンタが目の前でターンしてくれて、声をあげそうになりました。タッチしてはいけないのですが、あまりに近すぎて、私以外の三人はマンタに触られたそうです。マンタの口の中まで見えます。マンタの生態についても説明があるので、目の前のマンタをより理解した気分になります。本当にあっという間に時間がたってしまい、海から上がりたくないと思うツアーです。これは、絶対に参加した方がいいです。

It's worth a visit.
They provided warm clothing, light snacks, and cocoa, and the guide actively encouraged us to take photos.
Additionally, the guide had extensive knowledge about the observatory and the night sky, and the explanations were very thorough, deepening our understanding.

行ってみる価値があります。
防寒着、軽食、ココア、も付いており、ガイドの方も積極的に写真撮影の声掛けをしてくださいました。
また、天文台と星空の知識が豊富でとても丁寧な説明で知識が深まりました。

I was moved!
The guide was bright, knowledgeable, and reliable, the scenery was wonderful, and the night sky was covered with unbelievable stars.
The sandwich at the summit and the cocoa under the starry sky were all so enjoyable.

感動した！
明るくて物知りで頼りになるガイドさん、素晴らしい景色、信じられないくらいの星に覆われた夜空。
山頂のサンドイッチも、星空の下のココアも、なにもかもが楽しかった。

I participated with my spouse and our 10-year-old son. The staff were cheerful and kind, and the Japanese staff member, Tamae, provided thorough explanations in advance. The descriptions from Trevor, Diego, and Scott on the way to the point were enjoyable, and we arrived at the point in no time.

Once we reached the point and entered the water, we immediately encountered manta rays. In fact, we saw three large manta rays! Watching the manta rays gracefully swim through the darkness was mystical and incredibly moving.

Although we are not allowed to touch them (as the bacteria from humans can cause illness in manta rays), they came so close that we could almost touch them. Being able to see manta rays up close was truly a rare experience.

After getting back on the boat and during our return to the port, we enjoyed hot cocoa and snacks, and the cocoa was delicious and warmed up our chilled bodies.

As we were leaving, a Japanese staff member gave me a sticker, saying, "I had fun today too." I also had a great time, and I really appreciated how much they cared about my wife, who got seasick. It became a wonderful memory. I heard that there's a 20% discount for the next visit, so I definitely want to come back!

夫婦と10歳の息子と参加しました。スタッフの方は明るく親切で、日本人スタッフのタマエさんも事前に丁寧に説明してくれます。
ポイントに着くまでのTrevor,Diego,Scottさん達の説明も楽しく、あっという間にポイントに到着しました。
ポイントに着いて海に入ったらすぐにマンタに会えました。しかも大きなマンタが3枚も！
暗闇の中を優雅に泳ぐマンタは神秘的でとても感動しました。
マンタには触ってはいけないのですが(人間の持っているバクテリアがマンタの体に付くと病気になってしまう可能性があるため)、触れそうなくらい近くまで来てくれて、こんなに近くでマンタを見れたのは本当に貴重な経験でした。
ボートに上がってから港に帰るまでの間にホットココアとスナックをいただき、ココアは冷えた体を温めてくれてとても美味しかったです。
帰り際に、日本人スタッフの方から「私も今日は楽しかったから」とステッカーを頂きました。こちらこそとても楽しかったですし、船酔いした妻のこともとても気にかけていただいたので、本当によい思い出になりました。次は20%オフとのことなので、ぜひまた来たいです。

Wonderful service, was greeted as described by baggage claim with a clearly marked sign. So friendly and personable, offered assistance for car rental shuttle and guidance around the island! Will definitely do this again. Mahalo!

Mantas came close to me multiple times, and I was extremely excited. They swam so close that it was almost surprising we didn't bump into each other.

マンタが何度も何枚も近づいてきてくれて大興奮でした。
ぶつからないのが不思議なくらいの距離まで何度も泳いでくれます。

Thanks to the knowledge of professional photographers regarding great shooting spots and techniques to prevent altitude sickness, I had a wonderful experience. The Japanese conversations in the car were entertaining, making the travel time fly by!

プロだからこそわかる撮影スポットや高山病を防ぐテクニックのおかげで素敵な体験ができました👐
車内の日本語トークが面白く、移動中もあっという間に過ぎてしまいました笑

We had a great morning kayak trip and Olivia was wonderful!! We loved her stories about the history of the area and learning more about Hawaii in general. Thanks especially for your breakfast tip on the Coffee Shack, what an awesome spot! It all made for a perfect morning, thank you Olivia!!

The tour included a visit to the Onizuka Visitor Center, sunset viewing at the summit, a tour of various observatories from around the world, stargazing at the best spots, and sandwiches. At the summit, a sea of clouds spread out, and the sunset behind the observatory painted the clouds in shades of crimson, which was incredibly beautiful. The countless stars filling the sky were a sight that could only be seen by coming this far, and it was truly moving. Additionally, our guide, Mr. Shoyou, was Japanese, so his explanations about the night sky were easy to understand, and he was supportive in every aspect. The rental of warm clothing was also very helpful.

オニヅカビジターセンターの見学、頂上でのサンセット鑑賞、各国の天文台の見学、ベストスポットでの星空観察とサンドイッチ付きと全て揃ったツアーでした。
頂上は雲海が広がり、天文台をバッグに沈む夕陽は雲を茜色に染まりとても美しかったです。今にも降り注いでくるかと思うほど空一面に広がった星の数々はここまで来ないと見られない光景で感動しました。また、ガイドのショウヨウさんは、日本人の方なので、星空の説明も分かりやすく、全ての面において心強かったです。防寒着のレンタルも助かりました。

We’ve been with family. Children 12 and 10 years old. All of us were so excited and totally happy with this experience!

We had an amazing time on the water kayaking, exploring caves, and snorkeling! Our guide Ryan was super helpful, patient, and very knowledgeable.

This cruise was outstanding! The crew was polite and attentive. The dinner was excellent! There was live music as well as someone giving us a little history of the island in between songs. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. We also were lucky enough to see the spinner dolphins put on a little chauffeur for us. We saw flying fish. Overall, it was an excellent experience!

I can't catch even a mahi-mahi, let alone a marlin. Wouldn't it be better to move the boat closer to where the baitfish are? Am I watching too much of "Ooma's Tuna Fishing" on TV? (laughs)

カジキどころかシイラすら釣れん
もっとナブラしてる付近に船移動させたら釣れるんと違うの？
“おおまのマグロ漁”TV見過ぎかな(笑)

This was by far the most memorable thing our family did on the Big Island, it’s got to be one of the most amazing things we’ve ever done together. Stop reading this review and go book your trip now. You won’t regret it.

Unfortunately, due to the weather, I couldn't see the sunset from the mountaintop, but I was able to see it a little lower down. The starry sky, of course, has a number of stars that can't be compared to those in Japan, but it wasn't different from the night sky visible from the hotel where I stayed. However, thanks to our guide, Shoyou, who diligently searched for spots to view the sunset and stars and provided detailed explanations, I was able to participate enjoyably.

あいにくのお天気で、夕陽は山頂から見れず、少し下ったところで見ることができました。
星空も、もちろん日本とは比にならない星の数ですが、宿泊先のホテルから見える夜空と変わりませんでした。
でも夕陽や星空の見えるところを一生懸命探して、詳しい説明もしてくださるガイドのショウヨウさんのおかげで、楽しく参加させていただけました。

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, we had a great time with our guide at the stargazing tour. Our highlights were the lava caves, watching the sunset as well as stargazing. The sky was unbelievable and we learned a ton with our very knowledgeable guide.

Highly recommend.

Pros: pig roast being done onsite, got to witness uncovering and presentation of the pig. (my son hated this portion!). menu and performances were both great! I liked different island nations being represented in music and dance and a little bit of story telling/history to tie it together. performance was good length and sunset was gorgeous! desserts and beverages were also delicious.

Cons: attempted to check in entire luau at one time slot. made for a lot of time waisted waiting in hotel lobby check in line. check in inside and then second check in outside felt redundant. we arrived at 5:22, email confirmation had suggested 5:30 check in, but spent several (20+ minutes) waiting to check in. by the time we arrived in luau area, we missed the 'activities' portion of the luau. we also missed the royal entrance of the luau show. we did however have great seats so first-come-first-seated wasn't an issue.

brief meet and greet with performers after the show felt rushed -- they were spread along exit sidewalk and available for a quick picture but were ushering us along immediately, without any chit chat -- which is a huge difference compared to other luaus.

professional photography of your party was an additional $25 for digital download. fresh lei's were an additional $10 each, which in my opinion were reasonably priced but I've had digital photography and leis included at other similarly-priced luaus.

having dined at this marriott the night before and spoken to several guests in the week it seems this particular marriott has become quite overpriced for the level of service and age of property it's become. it has an outstanding location, but is overpriced for the level of service or hospitality i've experienced at other similarly priced marriotts in the islands. pool and restaurants were crowded and bonvoy perks were lacking/zero. kids meals were reasonable, but got charged $10 each for kids scoop of vanilla icecream.

Captain and crew of Ocean Encounters 1 dove in ahead of guests, made a plan, and navigated us there. Honestly, we had a great viewing spot and several other boats' guests were eager to move into our spot upon our exiting. Boats are staggered and have a neighborly way of communicating where/when/how each group will be staggered but I would have been disappointed to be in one of the peripheral groups. These are wild animals, so no telling what each evening will look like, but was glad to have a captain who led the charge.

Tips: It is a bit of a rough ride for 20 mins out and approx 20 minutes back. If you are someone who suffers from carsickness or seasickness, highly recommend treating for that before you leave. We had 2 of 30 guests puking over the sides. I gave my carsick kiddo dramamine about an hour before-- no issues.

Do have inexperienced family members practice snorkeling ahead of tour so that they can spend the entire 45 minutes head down in the water enjoying the fish and rays and the learning is done in a pool or bay ahead of time. There were zero swimming skills necessary on this trip but knowing how to calmly enjoy breathing through a snorkel for an extended period was the difference between guests who really enjoyed and guests who didn't. There was a surfboard with handles that the group held on to, which was pulled into position by the guides.

Do warn your kiddos that these rays are HUGE. My youngest expected small 3-4 foot rays like we have in our aquarium and was initially very surprised (terrified) by the 12-15 wingspan on some of these beautiful creatures. They got right up in our personal bubble/faces/immediately underneath bellies and legs so do be ready for up-close amazing experience.

Do not bring a bunch of stuff/items as they end up dripped on and/or in the way. If the weather is warm all you need is shoes that are okay getting wet/dripped on, and a towel. They provided water and light packaged snacks on the return trip.

The guide was fluent in Japanese and talked about altitude sickness measures and various topics during the ride, which made me feel at ease and enjoy the experience. The weather was great, and it was the best experience. I want to go to Hawaii Island again! Next time, I want to join the sunrise tour! ☺︎

ガイドさんが日本語も堪能な方で、高山病の対策についてや車内でも色々とお話しをしてくれて安心して楽しめました。
天気も良く、最高の体験ができました。またハワイ島に行きたい！次はサンライズツアーに参加したいです☺︎

I signed up for the tour because there was only an English option, but it seems a certain number of Japanese participants gathered, and they held a Japanese tour for us. I was glad to receive explanations in Japanese about altitude sickness and the stars, which were quite specialized. Our guide, Sho-chan, was friendly and made it enjoyable. The timing for the sunset and stargazing was perfect, and I'm really glad I participated in the tour.

英語でのツアーしかなかったので申し込みましたが、日本人参加者が一定数集まったそうで日本人むけの日本語ツアーを開催してくださいました。高山病へのアテンションや星の説明など専門的な話を日本語で説明受けれてよかったです。ガイドのしょうちゃんはフレンドリーで楽しかったです。
サンセットの時間や星空観測などの時間配分も完璧でツアーで参加してよかったです。

Just got back from our tour, but if you're questioning of splurging, take these into consideration: these are based on my experience tonight.

1) liking the convenience of a tour guide driving to the summit. But if the sunset view is what you’re after- you can drive to the summit yourself. Everyone follows the rule of leaving the observatory after sunset. Totally understandable. STUNNNNING views. Keep in mind it’s gravel paved and quite treacherous at night- but doable.

2) huge upset: if stargazing is what you’re after- like me. I was disappointed that they only show THREE views through telescope. Three. That’s it. First was a cluster of random stars. Second, after math of a super nova. Third was millions of stars what believed to be pulled in by a black hole. Amazing stuff, but that’s all you get. I was reading other previous reviews and they seem to enjoy more bang for their buck. The tour guide did go over the constellations using a laser and showed some stars in the sky without needing the telescope- but if you’re wanting to see planets, stars up close, we were limited to three.

3) food was okay- salty lasagna. Just save some few bucks and bring your own food.

4) bundle up-long sleeve and pants, close toe shoes is a must. It gets cold at night. They do offer parkas and gloves.


Would I want to do this again? Not after tonight. It was overpriced for what they offer.

Sam was fantastic - really gave us all an exceptional tour of the night sky and was very knowledgable and great with the kids too!

Watching these huge sized manta rays glide beneath us was surreal! Best experience hands down.

I had been to the visitor center in the past, but this time I participated in the sunset and stargazing tour at the summit for the first time. In conclusion, I was very satisfied with my participation! I highly recommend it!

There were more participants than I expected, and we departed in two cars. The cars were divided between foreigners and Japanese participants, and our driver was Japanese, who communicated clearly and kept the conversation enjoyable throughout the trip. Despite the large number of people, I felt that the service was not lacking, and efforts were made to ensure everyone could enjoy the experience.

We brought down jackets, gloves, and hats, but they provided very warm rental gear, so I think it's fine if you don't bring anything. Each group had several photos taken, and they captured wonderful pictures for us. During the sunset, I felt the power with my whole body, and I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the starry sky shining all around.

I also got to see a very cute semicircular rainbow next to the summit of Mauna Kea. It was a tour filled with emotion, a gift from the snow goddess Poliahu. If you are going to the Big Island, I definitely recommend participating!

過去にビジターセンターまで行ったことはありましたが、今回初めて山頂でのサンセットと星空観測のツアーに参加しました。
結論、参加して大満足です！おすすめします！
参加人数が思ったより多く、車2台で出発。
車は外国の方と日本人とに分けられ、私たちのドライバーは日本の方で、とてもわかりやすく楽しくずっと話してくださいました。
人数が多いから…とサービスが手薄にならず、すべての人が楽しめるように工夫されていたと思います。
私たちはダウンや手袋、帽子は持参しましたが、とても暖かそうな防寒具の貸し出しがあるので何も持っていかなくても大丈夫だと思います。
写真もそれぞれのグループで何枚も撮影してくださり、素敵な写真を撮ってくださいました。
サンセットでは体全身でパワーを感じ、夜空一面に輝く星空には自然の雄大さに圧倒されました。
またマウナケア山頂の横にとてもかわいい半円の虹を見ることができました。
雪の女神ポリアフからの贈り物に、感動ばかりのツアーでした。
ぜひハワイ島に行かれるなら参加して欲しいです。

They were in plain sight with a fun and warm greeting. Everyone enjoyed the great surprise.

They were right at baggage claim in plain sight. Happy warm full greeting. Great Leis were beautiful.

I participated with my daughter. It was our first time seeing such a beautiful sunset, and we were both moved! The explanations during the stargazing were detailed and easy to understand. Above all, we were captivated by the dazzling stars that were out!

娘と参加しました
こんなに美しい日没を見たのは初めてでふたりで感動しました！
星観察でも詳しい説明なので分かりやすかったです
何よりもこんなに星が出ていたんだとキラキラまばゆい星に見惚れてしまいます！

Of course you can’t predict rain in Hawaii but you can have spots to seek cover. The event did pass out rain plastic but only once at the beginning and we did not get any.

Once the rain passed there was no attempt to wipe chairs so even if the rain stopped you were still soaked.

The hurried the show to see a quick fire dancer set but that was not that good.

Even without the rain you couldn’t see. The tables in rows made it difficult. The food was ok. The drinks didn’t not taste like any alcohol was in them just super sweet drinks. Overall I was not happy with the event.

We gathered at the Royal Kona Resort and set off. After about an hour and a half, we arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center, where we took a 30-minute break to acclimatize to the altitude. The Onizuka Visitor Center has souvenirs, explanations of the ecosystem on Mauna Kea, and insect specimens on display, so it’s not boring. After the break, we headed towards the summit, stopping at various observatories and photo spots along the way. Our guide, James, actively took photos and entertained us, making the journey very enjoyable. I participated with my family, and when one family member started feeling unwell on the way to the summit, he was very helpful in preparing oxygen for us. If you experience any symptoms like headaches or nausea, it's best to report it on the spot and ask to extend the break time at the Onizuka Visitor Center. After reaching the summit, we waited for the sunset while visiting the surrounding observatories. I think it’s a good idea to take photos at various locations while waiting. If you ask, James will take interesting photos with a special camera. The changing contrast of the sky, clouds, and sun during the sunset is beautiful. I felt that wearing sunglasses was essential to see it properly. After the sunset, we descended a bit while eating sandwiches in the car and observed the starry sky. The sandwiches were incredibly delicious. At the start of the stargazing, the sky was still bright and it was hard to see the stars, but as time passed, the sky gradually filled with stars, which was captivating, and I was moved by the vast starry sky. The only disappointment was that the moon was too bright to see the Milky Way this time. Our guide, Shotaro, prepared a simple telescope and showed us a beautiful moon that we usually can't see. He also explained the constellations, allowing us to enjoy the stargazing experience. At the end, he took photos with a camera that captures the stars well. After the stargazing, they can take you back to your accommodation for an additional fee, but generally, the tour concludes at the meeting point. Both the sunset and stargazing were wonderful experiences. The guides, James and Shotaro, were kind and attentive, making it an overall satisfying tour.

Royal Kona Resortで集合して出発。約1時間半かけてオニヅカビジターセンターに向かい、高山病に備えて30分ほど休憩。オニヅカビジターセンターには、お土産やマウナケア山における生態系の説明、虫の標本などが展示してあり退屈しない。休憩後は山頂へ向かいながら、ところどころ天文台やフォトスポットに駐車。ガイドのJamesは積極的に写真を撮ってくれたり楽しませようとしてくれて、非常におもしろい道中だった。私は家族で参加したが、山頂へ向かう途中で家族の1人が不調を訴えたときは酸素を吸えるように準備くれたため、とても助かった。少しでも頭痛・吐気などの不調があれば、オニヅカビジターセンターでの休憩時間を延ばしてもらうよう、その場で申告した方が良い。山頂到着後は周囲の天文台を周りながらサンセットまで待機。待機時に色々な場所で写真を撮るのが良いと思う。Jamesはお願いすれば、専用のカメラでおもしろい写真を撮ってくれた。サンセットの過程では、空と雲と太陽のコントラストが刻々と変化していく様が美しい。しっかりと見れるようにサングラスの着用は必須と感じた。サンセット後は車内でサンドイッチを食べながら少し下山して星空観測。このサンドイッチはやたらと美味しい。星空観測の開始時は空がまだ明るく星が見えにくかったが、時間が経つにつれて徐々に満天の星空になるのは見てて飽きず、見渡す限りの満天の星空には感動した。ただ今回は月が明るすぎて天の川が見えなかったことだけが残念だった。ガイドのShotaroは簡易な天体望遠鏡を準備しており、普段は見えない綺麗な月を見せてくれた。星座についても解説してくれたため、楽しみながら星空観測をすることができた。最後には星空が良く撮れるカメラで写真を撮ってくれる。星空観測終了後は、追加料金を払えば宿泊場所まで送ってくれるが、基本的には集合場所で解散。
サンセット、星空観測ともに素晴らしい体験だった。ガイドのJames、Shotaroも親切で気が利いていたため、全体的に満足なツアーだった。

At the summit, it was a windy day, and even though I borrowed ski wear, it was colder than I imagined, so I quickly got back into the car. At the observation point, cocoa was also served, and it wasn't that cold there. The staff explained the stars using a pointer, and since we had two guides, we could hear explanations in both English and Japanese, which made it very easy to understand. Since it was the day before the full moon, they mentioned that the stars weren't as clear as usual, but I was thrilled to see both the Southern Cross and the Big Dipper at the same time.

山頂は、風が強い日で、スキーウェアもお借りしましたが、想像以上の寒さですぐに車に乗り込んでしまいました。
観測地点では、ココアも配られ、そこまでは寒さではなかったです。
星の説明もポインターで指しながら、2台で登りましたのでそれぞれのスタッフから英語と日本語の両方で聞くことができとてもわかりやすかったです。
明日が満月という日だったのでいつもよりははっきり見えないとのことでしたが、南十字星と北斗七星を同時に見ることができて感激しました。