All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

I couldn't see any dolphins, whales, or turtles, not even a shadow or a hint of their presence, and I felt no motivation to search for them. The first snorkeling spot had hardly any fish, yet we were made to swim there for a long time. The second snorkeling spot was really great, but I got cold and tired from the first spot, so I ended up spending less time at the second one, which was disappointing. The hot dog for lunch had a sickly red sausage that was surprisingly bad, and I couldn't eat it. It was the worst hot dog I've ever had; I always thought you couldn't make a hot dog taste bad no matter how you prepared it, so I was shocked. There were no pineapples. The boat was simpler than I expected and rocked a lot, making it uncomfortable to ride. I thought the quality for this price was terrible.

イルカもクジラもカメも影も形もみえず、気配さえ感じられず、なんとか探そうという気概も感じられず。一回目のシュノーケルスポットはたいして魚もいないのに長時間泳がされて、2回目のシュノーケルスポットはとてもよかったのに、一回目のシュノーケルスポットで冷えて疲れて2回目の方が短時間になってしまい物足りなかった。ランチのホットドッグが気持ち悪い赤い色のソーセージで、びっくりするほどまずく、食べられなかった。こんなにまずいホットドックはうまれて初めて、ホットドックなんてどう作ってもまずくはならないと思っていたので衝撃だった。パイナップルはなかった。船も思っていたより簡易的で揺れて乗り心地が悪かった。この値段でこの内容はひどすぎると思いました。

Sites we went to was brilliant, and transport was all ok

The driver-and-guide James has a rich knowledge of history of volcanoes and history of hawaii, and also provides expert guides on the stars.

I would not change one thing about this tour. It exceeded our expectations. the communication before the experience was excellent. Jason was an exceptional guide - so attentive! He is an expert in astronomy and Hawaiian history which we greatly enjoyed. He had a great telescope and a cool machine that takes pictures of celestial objects in the sky that he EVEN EMAILED TO US LATER! Just wow! The chicken stew was delicious too! An overall amazing, once in a lifetime experience. Thank you! Rita and Bob

I participated in an English-only tour because the Japanese-speaking reservations were fully booked. The experience itself was impressive, as there are many similar tours in the area, and manta rays regularly approached us. The staff was also very accommodating. However, the time spent floating in the sea was quite long, and it can be tough if you don't have the stamina to hold onto the float. My wife had to retire midway. There were no unnecessary services, so it was relatively inexpensive, and it might be a good option for those looking for this kind of experience.

日本語対応の予約がいっぱいだっだので、英語オンリーのツアーに参加しました。
体験自体は周辺にたくさんの同じようなツアーがあるため、マンタが定期的に近づいてきますので迫力がありました。スタッフも対応が良かったです。
ただ、結構海に浮かんでいる時間が長いのと、浮き輪に捕まっている体力が無いと厳しいです。嫁さんは途中でリタイヤしました。
余計なサービスもないので比較的安価でしたし、このような内容を希望する人はいいかもしれません。

3 manta rays out, so scary but so beautiful! a memory our kids will get to have forever!

Great day, we got lucky to get to see the current ruption! What a perfect experience.

I went to the Onizuka Visitor Center, but the tour was canceled due to strong winds. However, I learned that I could reschedule for a fee, so I tried again the next day‼️ I was able to reach the summit safely. This was my fourth time, and I think the reassurance of having a reliable guide each time is very important. I plan to bring different guests next time and will definitely ask for your services again. Thank you!

オニズカビジターセンターまで行って強風のためツアーが中止になりましたが、振替が有料ですが出来ることを知り翌日に再チャレンジ‼️
無事に山頂に行くことが出来ました。
今回で４回目になりますが毎回、しっかりとガイドしてくれる安心感は大事だと思います。
次回も違うゲストを連れてお願いすると思います。
ありがとうございました。

Kevin was fantastic! He gave us wonderful instruction and tips for the tandem kayak.
He also gave us amazing information on the island and ocean. Kevin provided all equipment and even water.
We had the best time snorkeling, cliff jumping and kayaking along the coast. We loved the sea cave stop.
Highly recommend- thanks Kevin :)

I went on the stargazing tour for the second time this time. It was a full moon, so there were slightly fewer visible stars than last time, but I was overwhelmed by the beautiful night sky. Despite the cold, the hot cocoa they prepared was exceptionally delicious. The sandwiches provided were also tasty. Thank you very much.

今回2回目の星空ツアーに行きました。
満月で、見える星の数が前回より少し少なかったですが美しい星空に圧倒されました。
かなり寒い中ホットココアを用意してくださって格別に美味しく感じました。
提供されたサンドイッチも美味しかったです。
ありがとうございました。

The Big Island is so beautiful and to wrap up at Mauna Kea- the perfect tour!!

The Big Island sunset is stuck in our brain, we wish to be back on the gorgeous Kona waters!

This is my third manta tour, and each one has been different. This time, I felt the most at ease. Having support from Japanese staff was really helpful. The moment the manta appeared was truly breathtaking. However, it was quite cold during this season, and the return trip to the port was chilly, so those planning to go should prepare accordingly.

マンタツアーは3回目ですがそれぞれちがうツアーで今回が一番安心できました
日本人のサポートがあるのは本当に助かります
マンタの出てくるポイントも本当にまじかに　現れ　感動の瞬間でした
ただ　時期的に寒く　港に着くまでの帰路は寒かったので行かれる方はそれなりの準備をしてくださいね

Brett was an excellent tour guide. Funny engaging and informative. It is a long day as the island is rather large. Greenwell Farms (coffee farm) was our first stop. Excellent coffee! Brett explained the growing and harvesting process, followed by tasting and souvenir purchases. Then on to the Punalu'u sweetbread bakery for treats. I lived the Lilikoi flavored pastry. Nice gift shop also. Next stop was Punalu'u black sand beach with a bonus sleeping turtle. Quick provided tasty lunch at a shady state park. Next into Volcano National Park. Brett has fantastic volcano pics. Kilauea was steeming and erupted hours later. Traveled down a large lava tube, very cool. Huge old lava fields. Next on to Rainbow falls and majestic Akaka falls on the East side of the island. On the North end, we visited Waipi'o lookout for sunset. It was along day, but excellent. Strongly recommend. Brett made the trip very enjoyable.

Booked this service to greet my daughter and family at the Kona Airport--their first visit--before we arrived. They were greeted by such a nice person and were so pleased with their leis!

Thank you!!

I saw many reviews mentioning that the weather is often bad in winter, but on January 3rd, when I participated, it was clear and we were able to reach the summit without any issues. The sunset seemed to fall into the clouds, but it was incredibly beautiful. Our guide, Sho-you, was entertaining during the journey and very considerate, making the travel time enjoyable.

As for stargazing, I thought it might be hard to see because the moon was bright, but we were able to see various constellations, and the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter looked stunning through the telescope. The guide's explanations about the night sky were very interesting for us!

The BLT sandwich we had at the summit was seasoned perfectly and tasted better than I had imagined (laughs). I haven't received the photos yet, but I'm sure they captured some wonderful moments.

The tour itself and the guide were fantastic, and we had a great time, but there was a slight disappointment. I was a bit late for the scheduled meeting time of 14:30, so I called to inform them, but the person who answered the phone (not the guide) was quite rude. In the end, we arrived almost on time, but when we got to the meeting place, the tour vehicle was not there... After several calls, it turned out that the meeting time we were given was incorrect, and it was actually 15:00. They did apologize, but I wondered if they had noticed it when I first called, it might have prevented any unpleasant feelings (the notification about the change in meeting time came later...).

Also, I had signed up for the English tour, but when we joined on the day, it turned out to be a Japanese tour. Since three out of four participants were Japanese, we ended up enjoying it, but I think it would have been better if we had been informed in advance about any changes.

So, while the tour itself deserves five stars, overall, I would rate it four stars.

冬は天気が悪い日が多いという口コミもたくさんみかけましたが、参加した1月3日は快晴で、問題なく山頂まで行けました。
夕日は雲の中に落ちる感じではありましたが、すごくきれいに見えました。
ガイドの翔陽さんの道中のトークもおもしろく、気配りも素敵な感じで、移動時間も楽しい時間を過ごせました。
星空観測も、月が明るい日だったので見えづらいかなと思いましたが星座もいろいろ見ることができ、望遠鏡で見た月、土星、木星もとてもきれいでした。ガイドさんの星空解説も、我々にとってはすごくおもしろかったです！
そして山頂でいただいたBLTサンド、塩がきいてて想像してたよりおいしかった（笑）
写真はまだいただいていないですが、きっと素敵なのを撮っていただけているはず。

ツアー自体もガイドさんもすばらしく、良い時間を過ごせたんですが、少しだけ残念だったことが。
通知されていた集合時間14：30に少しだけ遅れそうだったので電話連絡をしたのですが、電話口に出た方（ガイドさんとは別の方）の態度が大変横柄でした。結局ほぼ遅れずに到着できたんですが、待ち合わせの場所に行ってもツアーの車はおらず・・・何度か電話連絡して、結局我々に伝えられていた集合時間がまちがっていて、本当は15時だったことが判明。一応謝ってはいただいたんですが、最初に電話した時に気づいていただければいやな気持にならずに済んだのかな、と思いました（集合時間変更の通知は後から来ました・・・）。
また、英語ツアーで申し込んでいたんですが当日合流したら日本語のツアーになっていました。4人中3人は日本人だったので結果的には楽しめたんですが、変更がある場合は事前にご連絡いただけると良かったかなと思います。
ということで、ツアー自体は☆5つだったんですが、総合して☆４つにさせてもらいました。

My tour guide, James, was great! He was informative, kind, patient and made the experience fun. Seeing the sunset on a volcano summit and then stargazing afterwards is a bucket list thing that everyone should do! Unforgettable!!!

I found information online and on YouTube that some people drive to the summit of Mauna Kea by rental car, so I was hesitant about whether to join a tour, but it was definitely the right choice to participate.

First of all, even with a navigation system, it seems easy to get lost as it gets dark, and returning at midnight while tired from the trip makes it even more challenging. The parking space at the summit is also limited, so I believe joining a tour is the best option. I actually wanted to choose a Japanese tour, but it was fully booked, so I joined the English tour instead. However, when we observed the stars through the telescope, we were at the same location as the Japanese tour by VELTRA, so I was able to listen to the explanations from their tour guide.

The tour I participated in had three Americans and seven Japanese participants. On the way back, it seemed that the local Japanese guide had selected the music, as Japanese hit songs related to the sky (like Ayaka's "Mikazuki" and Checkers' "Hoshikuzu no Stage") were playing, and I secretly enjoyed it while everyone else was sleeping.

ネットやYouTubeでマウナケア山頂までレンタカーで行く方もいらっしゃるとの情報があったので、ツアーに参加するか迷いましたが、参加して正解でした。
まず、山頂まではナビがあったとしても暗くなってくると迷いそうですし、何しろ帰りは真夜中で旅の疲れもあり眠くなります・・・。頂上の駐車スペースも狭く、個人で行くよりツアー参加がベストな選択と思いました。本当は日本語ツアーを選択したかったのですが、定員オーバーで英語ツアーに参加しました。ただ、天体望遠鏡で星を観察する時は同じVELTRAさんの日本語ツアーと同じ場所だったのでそちらのツアーガイドさんの説明を聞くことができました。私が参加したツアーはアメリカ人３人日本人７人でした。帰りの車内ではおそらく現地の日本人ガイドさんが選曲されたのか？空にまつわる邦楽ヒットソング（絢香の三日月やチェッカーズの星屑のステージなどなど）が流れていて、みんなが寝ている間密かに楽しんでいました。

It was unfortunately a cloudy day, but thanks to the cheerful crew, my spirits were lifted. Even with my limited English, they understood me and responded kindly. The sea was cold, but it was beautiful and became an unforgettable memory.

あいにくの曇り空でしたが、陽気なクルーのおかげでテンションがあがりました。私のつたない英語でも、理解してくれて、優しく対応してもらいました。
海は冷たかったけど、美しくて忘れられない思い出になりました。、

The sunset and starry sky were amazing.
The sandwich I had at the summit was incredibly delicious.
The warm cocoa was also fantastic.

夕陽も星空も最高です
山頂で食べたサンドイッチが最高に美味しかったです。
あったかいココアも最高でした

Thank you for a wonderful experience, blessed by good weather! I was able to see a beautiful sunset and a sea of clouds, a sight that is hard to come by in life.

天候にも恵まれ、とても素晴らしい体験をありがとうございました！
綺麗な夕日と雲海で、人生でなかなか見ることができない光景を見ることができました。

Right after we set off, we spotted a pod of dolphins near the exit from the port. They even showed us some jumps. The snorkeling point seemed to be beginner-friendly since there were children, but the waves were quite rough, and there were only a few types of fish, so it wasn't a very impressive experience. As a result, some participants got seasick, and although it was a tour that included lunch, when I mentioned that I couldn't eat, nothing was provided, and the tour ended. I wasn't able to ask because my English isn't very good, but I wish they had at least asked if I wanted to take something back.

出発してすぐ、港からの出口付近にイルカの群れを発見。ジャンプも見せてくれました。シュノーケルは子供も居たので初心者向けのポイントだった様ですが、結構波が荒く、魚も数種類で感動体験とはいきませんでした。結果参加者は船酔いしてしまい、昼食付きのツアーでしたが今は食べられなそうと言ったら何も提供されないままツアー終了。英語が不慣れな事もあり聞けませんでしたが、せめて持ち帰るか？など聞いて欲しかったです。

We had a wonderful time with James! He explained things thoroughly! He did not try to rush us in any way, and took lots of nice pictures! I would highly recommend taking stargazing tour with Hawaiian eyes!

We took the tour on 12/24/2024. It was a full car but very friendly and nice guests together! The eruption was very stunning and the star gaze - wow!
Our guide James is very helpful patient and good at photo shooting as well. He can also speak a little Japanese. Parka jackets saved our lives for sure.
The overall trip experience was excellent. The sandwich was surprisingly good as well.

The tour guide's support was wonderful in every aspect, and I had a very meaningful experience. I hope to have the opportunity again.

ツアーガイドの方の対応があらゆる面で素晴らしく、とても有意義な体験をさせていただきました。また、機会がありましたらよろしくお願いいたします。

Host was really good, very polite and understanding.

The sandwiches were good, and the hot coco while stargazing, was delicious cherry on top of the whole experience.

The only issue I would complain about is the vehicle, because the space was really cramped up and it was a struggle to get in and out of the vehicle. Many from the back of the vehicle complained about the air conditioning, but I didn’t feel any discomfort, even though I was in the last row

The summit of Mauna Kea at 4,000 meters is absolutely amazing. Aside from the fact that the oxygen is 40% thinner than at sea level, it’s an incredible experience. This is my second time reaching the summit, and I over-prepared, thinking it would be just as cold as last time. However, I realized there is a significant difference between the January ascent and the September ascent, almost like winter and summer. I was lacking information, but I still had a wonderful experience.

なんと言っても、マウナケアー山頂4000ｍ級の登頂は最高です。酸素が下界より40％も薄いことを除けば、すごい体験です。今回で２回目の登頂になりますが、準備をし過ぎて、寒い寒いことだけが、前回の登頂で、今回も絶対寒いと思い、準備万端に出向きましたが、全回の１月登頂と、今回の９月登頂では、冬と夏ぐらいの違いがあるといううことがわかり、情報不足でした。でも素晴らしい体験ができました。

My husband and I had a great time in the tour. We were picked up on time and the guide made the trip to the summit entertaining and we learned many different things about Hawaii during that time.
The sunset at the summit is breathtaking and our guide was prepared to take pictures that he later shared with all of us!
It got cold after the sunset…. so be ready. The hot chocolate while stargazing was a very nice addition!

The stargazing tour allowed me to see so many stars with the naked eye that it felt like stardust was falling from the sky. The quality was extremely high, and I was very satisfied. (The photo was taken with my smartphone, so I could see about ten times more stars with my eyes.)

Additionally, the guide's explanations during the journey were clear and entertaining, providing quality entertainment throughout the day. (I was lucky that the bus I happened to be on was exclusively for Japanese guests, so I was able to receive the English tour in Japanese.)

Next time, I would love to join a tour of the recommended spots by the guide.

If I have the opportunity to come back to the Big Island, I would like to participate in the tour again. Thank you very much.

星空ツアーは星屑が空から降ってくるように感じるほどたくさんの星を肉眼で見ることができ、非常にクオリティが高く大満足でした。(写真はスマホで撮ったものなので肉眼では10倍くらい星が見えています。)

また、道中のガイドさんの案内がわかりやすく、かつ面白く1日を通して良質なエンターテイメントを提供していただきました。
(たまたま私の乗車したバスが日本人客のみのバスだったため本来英語のツアーを日本語で対応いただけたのはラッキーでした)

次回はぜひガイドのお兄さんのオススメスポットツアーがあれば参加したいくらいです。笑

またハワイ島に来る機会があればツアーに参加させていただきたいです。
ありがとうございました。

I was a bit disappointed because I thought more manta rays would gather in the light, but there were only a few. Next time, I want to see dolphins.

マンタが、もっと光に集まってくるかと思い数匹だったのでちょっとガッカリでした。
じかいは、イルカちゃんをみたいです。