All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

We sailed south along the west coast of the Big Island to the Captain Cook landing site. While listening to explanations about the history of the Big Island, we were able to see the magnificent overall view of the island from the sea, which was quite enjoyable. Dinner was a set menu, including cocktails and soft drinks. When requesting a vegetarian meal at the time of reservation, we were served Thai curry. For appetizers, we had a green salad with strawberries, and for dessert, there was a wonderfully sweet chocolate tart cake. Hot coffee (Kona coffee) was also provided. After turning back at the Captain Cook landing site, we headed towards the departing port while witnessing the sunset offshore. Along the way, a family of dolphins came close, which was exciting even though it was for a short time. We also observed small fish, resembling flying fish, actively jumping around. Onboard, there was a live guitar performance, and we had a great time singing along to classic hits that any American would know. Depending on the weather, the boat might sway a bit, so those who are prone to seasickness might want to bring motion sickness medication.

ハワイ島西海岸沿いの沖合をキャプテンクック上陸点まで南下。ハワイ島の歴史に関する説明を聞きながら、西海岸沖の海上から雄大なハワイ島の全体像を見ることができ、これだけでもかなり楽しめます。夕食はセットメニューで、カクテルやソフトドリンクがついています。ベジタリアンミールを希望するときは予約時に選択すると、タイカレーが提供されました。前菜としてイチゴの入ったグリーンサラダ、デザートにはめいっぱい甘いチョコレートタルトケーキがでました。ホットコーヒー（コナコーヒー）も提供してくれます。キャプテンクック上陸点で折り返し、沖合でサンセットを見届けると出発した港に向けて航路を向けますが、途中でイルカの家族が近くまで来てくれて、短い時間でしたが盛り上がりました。アジサシ？のような小さな飛び魚のような魚が盛んに飛びながらおよいでいるのも観察できました。船上ではギターのライブ演奏があり、アメリカ人ならだれでも知っている往年のヒット曲で大いに盛り上がりました。天候によっては多少揺れると思いますので、船に弱い人は酔い止めを持って行った方がよいかもしれません。

I thought it was a long tour for the content, but once I participated, I understood the various measures against altitude sickness. I was able to experience an unexpectedly moving world. The stargazing event was also enjoyable. I forgot to give a tip to the driver! I'm sorry. I'll do it next time I come.

内容の割に長いツアーだな、と思いながら参加しました。
参加してみると、いろいろな高山病対策に納得。
予想外の感動的な世界を体験できました。
星空観察会も楽しかったです。
ドライバーさんにチップを渡すのを忘れてた！　ごめんなさい。また来た時に。

The guide in Japanese was easy to understand and wonderful. The content of the guide was clear and enjoyable. I also learned about the history of Hawaii.

日本語でのガイドが分かりやすく素晴らしかった。
ガイド内容も分かりやすく、楽しかったです。
ハワイの歴史も教えてもらえました。

It was a great experience where we could enjoy both the sunset and stargazing on one tour, and the driver's explanations and service were attentive.

一つのツアーでサンセットとスターゲイジングができ、ドライバーの方の説明や対応が細やかで、良い体験ができました。

The sunset and the starry sky were amazing.
I was very surprised by the cold weather, which was unexpected for Hawaii.
The Subaru Telescope at an altitude of 4,000 meters was impressive.

サンセットと満天の星空は最高でした。
ハワイとは思えない寒さで大変驚きました。
標高4,000Mの山頂にあるスバル天体望遠鏡は感動しました。

James who was the tour guide was very nice and thoughtful in providing anything we needed and gave a very informative details about Mauna Kea and the surrounding areas. He was also very helpful in pointing out specific constellations during the star gazing tour. He offered and took pictures of us with our phones. I really enjoyed the tour and highly recommend anyone who comes to The Big Island of Hawaii to take this tour and hopefully James will be assigned as your tour guide.

The sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was exceptional!
We were able to observe a starry sky so clear that we could see the Milky Way!
Thanks to the attentive Japanese guide during the journey and the observation, we had a wonderful time.

マウナケア山頂からのサンセットは、格別でした！
星空観測も天の川が見える程の満天の星空を観測できました！
道中や観測中の際も、丁寧な日本語ガイドのお陰で、とても楽しむことができました。

I was surprised to see manta rays so close. I saw several of them, and their graceful movements as they surfaced and spun around to eat were beautiful and magical. It felt like I was in a dream world, and I could have watched them forever.

The encounter rate with manta rays seems to vary by day, so I was lucky. This is my best memory from the Big Island.

I was comfortable since I was used to swimming and snorkeling, but for those who aren't confident in their stamina, it might be challenging after about 30 minutes.

マンタをこんな近くで見れるんだとびっくりでした。何匹も見れたし、何回も浮上してすぐそばで回転して餌を食べる姿は綺麗で幻想的。なんか夢の国にいるようでずっと見ていたかったぐらい。
　マンタの遭遇率は、日によるらしいので、ラッキーでした。ハワイ島で一番の思い出です。
　泳ぎとスノーケルで慣れていたので快適でしたが、体力に自信のないと30分ぐらいでしたが、大変かもしれません。

The last time it was canceled due to a hurricane, so this was my second attempt. I watched the sunset for about 20 minutes before it started, and it was truly beautiful with clear air and almost no clouds. At one moment, I even saw the green flash.

For stargazing, I booked on a day as close to the new moon as possible, so I was able to see the Milky Way, and with the telescope set up by the guide, I could observe Saturn and even Jupiter along with its moons. Although the number of visible constellations is limited by the season, I was surprised to see all 12 zodiac signs with the naked eye.

Moreover, the guide's vast knowledge, covering everything from the origins of constellations to information from various observatories around the world, was impressive. It was truly a satisfying experience, blessed with good weather and a knowledgeable guide.

前回はハリケーンでキャンセルとなり、２度目のトライでした。
サンセットの20分くらい前からずーっと見ていましたが、澄んだ空気の中、雲もほとんどなく、本当に美しいサンセットでした。瞬間的にはグリーンフラッシュも見えたほどです。
星空観測も、出来るだけ新月に近い日を選んで予約したので、天の川はもちろん、ガイドさんがセットして下さった望遠鏡では土星、そして木星は周りの衛星まで確認することが出来ました。また、季節的に数は限られるものの、12星座を肉眼で見られたのも驚きです。
そして、それらを説明して下さったガイドさんの膨大な知識量は、各国の天文台から星座の由来、成り立ちまで幅広くて驚きました。
天候とガイドさんに恵まれた、本当に満足出来る体験でした。

We traveled entirely by car, so my elderly parents (70 and 66 years old) were able to participate with peace of mind! The starry sky was beautifully visible, and the explanations in Japanese were very clear and made for a really enjoyable time. The cocoa in the cold was delicious too ❤︎ I was worried about the high altitude, but thanks to the acclimatization at the Onizuka Center, we were able to complete the entire program without any issues. Thank you so much for this valuable experience! I would love to participate again when my children are older and can join us!

移動は全て車なので、高齢の両親(70歳、66歳)も安心して参加させていただきました！
星空は綺麗に見える上に、日本語での説明もしていただいて、すごくわかりやすく楽しい時間になりました。寒い中のココアも美味しかったです❤︎
標高が高いので心配でしたが、オニヅカセンターでの慣らしもあり、無事に全工程を過ごせました。
貴重な体験を本当にありがとうございました！子供が大きくなって、一緒に行けるようになったらまた参加したいです！

This was such an amazing experience. I felt like I was on another planet and our guide James was such an awesome guy. I’m hoping to experience this again in the future soon

It was fun. Nice weather.
Food was disappointing. Chairs were not comfortable. Entertainment was great.

I chose a day that seemed to have good weather in advance and made a reservation, so I was able to see the best sunset and starry sky. I prepared for the cold, but the guide was very kind, so I wasn't cold at all. The sandwiches that were served along the way were tastier than I expected. The stories about constellations, the observatory, and when Mauna Loa erupted were very interesting. The guide was very gentlemanly and friendly, which was great. Thank you.

事前に天気の良さそうな日を選んで予約したので、最高の夕日と星空が見えました。
寒さ対策をしていきましたが、ガイドの方がとても優しくしてくださったので、全く寒くありませんでした。
途中出てくるサンドイッチは思った以上においしかった。
星座の話や観測所の話マウナロアが噴火したときの話はとても面白かった。ガイドの方はとても紳士的で友好的でとても良かったありがとう。

My two friends and teenage son went on this sunset sail and had an absolutely beautiful time. The sunset colors were stunning, and dolphins played along the bow of the boat as we were underway. It was magical! Crew was great. Drinks were yummy. It was a great thing to do on our last night in Hawaii. Highly recommend.

The best part is the guide took excellent pictures of everyone with the sunset and stars.

Very knowledgeable and answered all questions. Was very considerate and made sure all were ok during the trip.

Setup the telescope very well - we could see the rings of Saturn very clearly.

Our guide, Koki, did a fabulous job with the Sunset photos for each of us at the summit and also a great job getting everyone's photo with the stars. He was an excellent driver and went slowly on the bumpy gravel part of the drive.

Because Koki's Japanese dialect is not something most English speaking people understand, he needs to speak more slowly and distinctly. I had a great deal of trouble understanding him - seems like I could only catch 4 out of every 10 words, and that is not something I expected on this tour. Granted, out of the 10 people, there were 2 Japanese men and Koki spent a lot of time on the way home speaking only to them in Japanese.

So, I had very mixed feelings about this tour. I come to Hawaii at least a couple times a year and I would definitely ask more questions about the guide and his speaking and understanding ability before I take my nest tour.

This was our third time on the Hani Olani catamaran, sunset cruise with our cousins. Each time has been a great experience. It’s great being barefoot on the deck of the catamaran makes serve drinks and food. The crew are always really nice and accommodating making us feel comfortable and treating us like royalty. It’s so beautiful to be out at sea and watch the sunset. It’s such a great surrounding. We highly recommend this excursion and most likely will do it again when we come back to the Big Island

This is my second time, but the first time it was guided in Japanese. Recently, it seems that there are fewer Japanese tourists, so it's only in English now. I wish I had studied English a bit more before participating. (laughs)

2回目ですが、初回は日本語で案内だったのですが、最近は日本人観光客が減ったので、英語のみのようです。
もう少し、英語を勉強してから参加すれば良かったです。(笑)

The sunset was beautiful, and the stars were lovely. Since it was a half moon, the sky was bright, and while the Milky Way wasn't very clear, it was visible. It was a precious experience, and the guide was great too.

夕日も素敵、星もきれい。半月だったので、空が明るく、天の川ははっきりとはしませんでしたが、見えました。貴重な体験でしたガイドさんも良かったです。

We took this tour with Jason. It was amazing. Jason, a local, was fantastic. He was personable, engaging, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the tour, and Hawaiian culture and lifestyle. The views speak for themselves and are breathtaking.
Highly recommend this excursion to anyone who is interested in views, astronomy, and something different to do, when on vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and look forward to the next time.

We had a wonderful time at the luau, met nice people at our table as well. Was a little disappointed with the food as I was expecting a more traditionally cooked food. The entertainment was first class.
Overall we had a wonderful time and would do it again.

The sunset above the sea of clouds was amazing!
The starry sky was also wonderful.
They lend you jackets and other items, so it wasn't as cold as I expected.

雲海の上からの夕陽最高でした！
満天の星も素晴らしかったです。
ジャケットなど貸してくれるので思ったほど寒くはありませんでした。

It was truly amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it until the sunset, and afterwards, I also enjoyed stargazing. I could clearly see Saturn through the scope, and our guide, Sho, was entertaining. I had a great day. I want to participate again when I come back to the Big Island!

ホント最高でした。夕陽が沈むまでたっぷり堪能させてくれ、その後星空観察も堪能させて頂きました。スコープで土星もしっかりと見え、ガイドのショウちゃんも面白く、１日楽しませて頂きました。またハワイ島に来た時は参加したい！

The sunset disappearing into the sea of clouds was amazing. They had warm clothing available, and the hot cocoa was a nice touch. They also explained the constellations, and we enjoyed stargazing. It's rare to have the opportunity to drive to a place above the sea of clouds like this. I had seen the sea of clouds and sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji, but my wife has some mobility issues, so I couldn't show her that view. Here, we could drive to the summit, so I was glad I could show her a similar view. However, we were lucky that the weather was good the whole time; I wonder what would have happened if it hadn't been. That's just a matter of luck.

雲海に消えていく夕陽は最高。防寒具も揃っているし、あったかいココアもついていてとても良かった。星座の説明もしてくれてスターゲージングも楽しめた。 雲海の上に車で行ける機会はここを逃すとなかなか無いのではないかな。 自分は富士山の山頂から雲海と日の出を見た事あったけど、妻は足が少し不自由でその景色を見せてあげる事が出来なかった。ここは山頂まで車でいけるから似たような景色を見せてあげることができて良かった。 ただ、運良く天気がずっと良かったけどそうでなかったらどうなっていたか。 こればかりは運次第。

My husband, who experienced snorkeling for the first time, ranked the experience at Kealakekua Bay as the most enjoyable activity. Although he wasn't confident in swimming, he was able to borrow a float and easily swim to see the fish. It was great that there was no stress involved. I enjoyed diving from the second floor of the boat. Even though it was a jump into the sea from a height of 5 meters, it required courage. It became a wonderful memory for our sixtieth wedding anniversary trip. Thank you for your hospitality.

シュノーケリング初体験の主人が楽しかったアクティビティとして今回のケアラケクア湾の体験を一番にあげました。泳ぐのが苦手な主人でしたが浮き輪を借りてスイスイと魚達のいるところまで見に行く事ができました。ストレスがかからず良かったです。私は船の二階からのダイブを楽しみました。５mはある高さから海に飛び込むとはいえ勇気が必要でした。還暦夫婦の海外旅行の良い思い出となりました。お世話になりました。

The weather forecast for November 5th predicted continuous rain, and it seems that Mauna Kea, at an elevation of 4,200 meters, was experiencing snowfall. Later, I learned from the guide that there was a possibility of being closed until 3 PM that day, and the tour itself could have been canceled. The summit had a snowy landscape, making for a wonderful sunset and starry sky tour that was quite different from my previous experience.

11月5日天気予報は連日の雨、ましてや標高4,200Mのマウナケアは降雪続きだったそうで、後からガイドさんに伺ったら当日15時までクローズドの可能性があって、ツアーそのものがキャンセルになるところだったそうです。山頂は雪景色で前回とはかなり趣の違う素晴らしいサンセット&星空ツアーでした。

Due to the snow and rain the day before, the summit was closed until 12 PM on the day of departure. It opened just after 12:30 PM, and when I arrived at the meeting point, I met only the guide, George (English), along with 9 other participants, including 2 young women from English-speaking countries. However, the language barrier was manageable; gestures worked well, and we could use translation apps on our phones.

On the way to the sunset, it was raining until we reached the Onizuka Visitor Center, but as we ascended towards the summit, the clouds cleared, and we were able to enjoy the sunset after the snowfall. However, due to the thin air, I felt a bit lightheaded and could only walk slowly. Nevertheless, guide George made sure to engage everyone, taking photos and even building a three-tiered snowman. During the stargazing, he was busy taking pictures and packing up the telescope and tripod in the cold, dark environment, which was impressive. He also prioritized safety while driving.

Thank you for the amazing sunset and stargazing experience. Great job, George!

前日までの雪雨で出発当日お昼PM12時までは山頂まではクローズPM12時30分過ぎにオープンになり待ち合わせ場所に行くとガイドのジョージさん（英語）のみと合流、参加メンバーは9名内２名が英語圏?の若い女性2名　しかし言葉の壁はどうにかなるもの、身振り手振りでOKだし、携帯の翻訳でなんとかなります。
サンセットの方は、オニヅカビジターセンターまでは雨が降ってましたが、山頂までの道を上がって行くに従い、雲が晴れ雪が降った後のサンセットを楽しむ事が出来ました。しかし空気が薄いせいか、頭がボーっとしてゆっくりしか歩く事が出来ませんでした。しかし、ガイドのジョージさんは全員に声かけをして写真をパチリ、パチリ、3段の雪だるまも作ってくれました。星空観察でも、パチリ、パチリと寒くて、なかなか動けない真っ暗の中天体望遠鏡を片付けたり、写真の三脚を片付けたり、良く、動いていて、感心しました。車の運転も安全第一で任務を遂行していました。
最高のサンセットと星空観測　ありがとうございました。ジョージ、good jobでした。

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was mystical, and I felt my heart healed as I watched it for a long time. The mountaintop is cold, so it's better to dress warmly. During the star tour, I was thrilled to have a detailed explanation of the constellations and to also see the Milky Way.

雲海に沈むサンセットは、神秘的でした、ずっと見ていて心が癒されました。山頂は寒いので暖かくした方が良いですね。星ツアーでは、星座を詳しく説明いただき、またどせいも見る事が出来感激しました。

During the reservation, I heard that the Japanese guidance was difficult, but Shoutarou was the driver and guide.

He was interesting, hardworking, kind, and fluent in Japanese.

The best!

Thank you very much.

予約時、日本語案内が難しいと聞きましたが、ショウタロウさんがドライバー&ガイドでした。

面白いし、一生懸命で優しく日本語も堪能でした。

最高〜

ありがとうございました。

At the summit of Mauna Kea, I felt a bit unwell due to the thin air, but the sunset was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. The driver's broken Japanese explanations were also nice. I was able to take a lot of photos, and it became a fun memory.

マウナケア山頂では、空気が薄いせいか少し体調不良を感じましたが、サンセットは素晴らしくエンジョイできました。ドライバーの片言の日本語説明もあり、よかったです。写真もたくさん撮影でき、楽しい思い出となりました。