All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

First, we watched the sunset sinking into the sea from the boat before entering the water. That alone is worth seeing.
Then, when I actually jumped into the sea and held onto the float, I saw a manta ray swimming gracefully. With its mouth wide open... it was truly moving!
I was initially warned not to touch them, but there were moments when they passed so close that I was scared I might accidentally touch one. Although manta rays are not always visible, I was healed by watching them swim slowly with their bodies larger than mine.

まず、海に入る前に船上から海に沈む夕日を見学しました。それだけでも見る価値があります。
そして実際に海に飛び込み、フロートを握りしめていると‥マンタが悠々と泳いでいます。口を大きく開けて‥それは感動物です！！
触らないように、と最初に注意事項を説明されたのですが、本当に目の前ギリギリを通ることもあり触ってしまいそうで怖かったです。常にマンタが見える訳ではありませんが、自分より大きな身体をゆっくり動かし泳ぐマンタに癒されました。

Our captain was awesome so was our server Faith… captain Michael!

I participated in a night snorkeling tour with manta rays at Manta University, with transportation provided from Hilton and Kingsland. There was no Japanese interpreter, so I had to rely on observation to navigate the night sea. At first, the water was murky and I couldn't see anything, and it was cold, but I was thrilled when the manta rays appeared, illuminated by the lights. I managed to check in for the tour, snorkel in the night sea, and handle video streaming after disembarking, all through gestures, and I had a great experience even at over 60 years old.

ヒルトン、キンクスランドから送迎付きで、マンタ大学夜学部、野生野マンタナイトシュノーケリングツァーに参加。日本語通訳おらず、見よう見まねで夜の海へ。最初は水が濁って何も見えず、寒かったが、ライトに照らされたマンタの出現で感激。ツアーのチェックイン、夜の海でのシュノーケリング、下船後の動画配信等身振り手振りでなんとかこなし60過ぎていい体験をしました。

Everyone is posting only positive things, so I would like to share a negative experience. My wife and I, a couple in our 60s, participated in this trip. Both of us enjoy mountain climbing back home and climb mountains close to 3,000 meters every year, so we thought we would be fine at Mauna Kea, which is 4,205 meters high. However, after staying at the summit, my wife's condition quickly worsened; she began to experience numbness in her hands and feet and her complexion became poor. Fortunately, with oxygen provided by the staff, she improved, but she still felt the effects until the following morning.

Since we are climbing a significantly high mountain, I recommend considering the risk of altitude sickness before participating.

皆さん、良い事ばかりを投稿していますのであえてネガティブな投稿をさせていただきます。
家内と二人で参加した60代の夫婦です。二人とも本国では登山が趣味なため3,000メートル近い山に毎年登っており、今回のマウナケア4,205メートルでも大丈夫だと思っていました。ところが、頂上に滞在後家内の体調がみるみる悪くなり手足に痺れが出始め顔色も悪くなりました。幸いスタッフの方による酸素投与で良くなりましたが翌日の午前まではダメージがありました。
　かなり高度な山に登りますので高山病のリスクが必ずある事を考えて参加する事をお勧めします。

They arrived on time to pick us up. All the tour participants were Japanese, and they provided guidance in Japanese. The explanations were very easy to understand.

After acclimatizing at the Onizuka Center, we headed to the summit of Mauna Kea. It was quite cold at the summit, and although we brought our own cold weather gear, we borrowed some as well. There were a few clouds, but we were able to see a beautiful sunset. After watching the sunset, we did some stargazing at an altitude of about 3,500 meters. It was a bit cloudy, which made it hard to see, and that was a bit disappointing.

時間通りお迎えにきてくれました。ツアー参加者全員が日本人であり、日本語でのガイドをしてくれました。非常にわかりやすい説明でした。
オニズカセンターで、高地順応をした後、マウナケア山頂に向かいました。山頂はかなり寒く、防寒具を持っていってましたが、防寒具をおかりしました。少し雲がありましたが、きれいな夕日を見ることができました。夕日をみたあと、標高3500mくらいのところで、星空観測を行いました。若干、雲があり、見にくかったのが、残念でした。

My mother wanted to participate, and I hoped we could see at least a manta ray... but we were able to enjoy it to the fullest. Thank you to all the staff who were attentive to my elderly mother. Special thanks to Captain Trevor, Diego, Scott, and Tamae!

母が希望し、参加しました。少しでもマンタが見られたらいいな‥と思っていましたが、存分に楽しむことができました。高齢の母に細やかな気配りをしてくださった、スタッフの皆さん。Trevor船長はじめ、Diegoさん、Scottさん、Tamae さん、本当にありがとうございました！

Cousin Dave from Roberts Hawaii our tour guide was great, has an awesome sense of humour.
Visiting a Kona Coffee house, trying the different types of Kona coffee was educational. Also the macadamia fruit cake samples yummy .
The sacred refuge of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park so peaceful. Standing on the black sand beachfront beautiful.
Next stop was St Benedict’s Painted Church dating back to 1899, still standing and used for mass. Stunning.

Thanks to the Japanese guide, I was able to enjoy the experience without any difficulties! Although it was an 80% moon, the starry sky was beautiful, and at the summit, I witnessed the sunrise rising above the sea of clouds, which was a precious experience!

日本語ガイドのおかげで終始不自由なく過ごせました！80%の月でしたが、星空も綺麗に見え、頂上では雲海に登る太陽と朝焼けが見え、貴重な経験でした！

It was nice. The staff enjoyed educating on your surroundings The staff were very friendly and attentive. If you're looking for a fun time.... I wouldn't call it fun... nice and relaxing is what it was. We realized on this trip that this was geared more for kids and elderly.

beautiful colorful hawaiian fish, and awesome sea cave day!

I highly recommend this company and their tours for their service and convenience. Each member of the crew was attentive and full of advice, facts about the area, and all clearly loved their jobs. The dock was easy to get to, no walking for miles to find an out-of-the-way pickup location. Finally, the food was delicious and it was nice not to have to bring my own. Same with the snorkeling masks and the sunscreen.

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

My husband and I were looking for a romantic way to cap off our week in Hawaii, and this was the perfect cruise for us. We were looking for something “quintessentially” Hawaiian and what is more iconic than a sunset dinner cruise? We are also both big history buffs, so we booked this tour based on the descriptions about the knowledgeable captain and crew, and they did not disappoint! They were full of commentary and stories about their island, and very patient answering all of our stupid questions. Mahalo and aloha, wish we could stay there!

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

Pickup at the parking lot behind IGM.
The tour was conducted with just seven Japanese participants. We then met up with a couple at the Onizuka Center. The lively conversation led by Stephan, who grew up at Yokota Air Base in Japan and is known as "Suu-san," included fun chats, preparations for the tour, and important points to note, and before we knew it, we arrived at Onizuka S. We took a break to acclimatize to the altitude. Although the weather forecast looked questionable, we were hopeful since it was reported that the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea was visible yesterday despite the clouds.
As sunset approached, the weather turned ominous, and we waited in the car, but a snowstorm hit, leading to a recommendation from the ranger to descend. Along the way, we saw several broken-down vehicles, but with Stephan's never-give-up spirit (laughs), we stopped at a stargazing point to wait for a break in the clouds.
We observed Saturn and M87 through a telephoto lens, and with a DSLR, we captured images of Orion while enjoying sandwiches and cocoa.
We took photos of couples in the dark, and there was so much to enjoy. We headed back, hoping to see the sunset next time.
I felt lucky to enjoy the tour without language barriers since it was exclusively for Japanese participants.
I've already seen the sunrise, so next time I want to complete the sunset experience.
Thank you, Stephan!

IGMの裏手駐車場にてピックアップ。
日本人のみの7人で催行。さらにオニヅカセンターでカップル2人と合流。スーさんこと日本の横田基地育ちのステファンの軽快な日本語によるたのしいおしゃべり、ツアーに向けての心構え、注意点なども含めてのトークでオニヅカSまではアッという間に到着。高度順応も兼ねての休憩。天気予報は怪しかったが山頂に雲がかかっていた昨日もマウナケア山頂でのサンセットは見られたということで、期待して山頂へと向かう。
日没が近づくにつれ、雲行きが怪しくなり車内で待機したものの吹雪となり、レンジャーによる下山勧告。途中、何台かの故障車を観ながら移動、ステファンのネバギブ精神(笑）で途中の星空観測ポイントで晴れ間を待つ。
晴れ間からの土星、M87を望遠レンズで、オリオン座など目視、一眼レフでの撮影をしながらのサンドイッチとココアでの食事。
暗闇の中のカップルの撮影、、、いろいろ盛りだくさんあって、とてもたのしめました。今度は是非、夕日を見られたらと思いつつ帰路につきました。
日本人のみの催行で言葉に気兼ねなく楽しめてラッキーでした。
サンライズはクリア済なので次回はサンセットをコンプリートしたいです。
ステファン　ありがとう！

I saw manta rays swimming at the bottom about 3-4 times, but they didn't come as close as I had hoped. Since there was no shuttle service, I used Uber for the round trip, but I was worried if they would come to the dark port after the tour. The public restrooms are also unavailable at night, so I struggled to change. It's expected, but once the tour is over, the staff are indifferent. For those participating, make sure to prepare in advance!

底の方を泳ぐマンタを３－４回見ましたが、期待したほど近くには来ませんでした。送迎なしだったのでUberタクシーで往復しましたが、ツアー後の暗い港に来てもらえるか不安でした。公共トイレも夜は使えないので、着替えにも苦労しました。当たり前ですか、ツアー終わればスタッフは無関心。参加される方は事前準備を怠りなく！

What a great excursion. Yes, we saw whales!! Very friendly, accommodating, and organized crew. Captain Mike a true professional with a sense of humor-thank you. Very convenient beach boarding in A-Bay (Waikoloa Resort), which for us was so nice not having to drive down the coast. Cheers

Stay at King Kam so this evening was an easy evening on grounds. Show was really great, food was good too

great evening swimming with these giant gorgeous creatures, we got lucky with the abundance who came around to play!

Good food, good show. They kept things moving with no waiting. Still expensive though.

After a week in Hawaii, this one has proved to be the highlight of our trip. The boat ride was smooth and comfortable under the shade, especially later in the day. The captain and crew were so kind and helpful, one of the other passengers got seasick and they offered plenty of remedies (ginger candies‚ who knew). Shoutout to Jennifer and Bob who were great with the snorkeling and super knowledgeable about the fish and the area. If you are considering this tour do it!

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

It was much colder than I expected, and I couldn't stay in for even 30 minutes. But I was glad to see a lot of fish. I was also happy to see a whale.

思っていたよりとても寒くて３０分も入っていられませんでした。でもたくさん魚がみれて良かったです。クジラもみれて良かったです

Wife and I attended the Luau on February 29th, which happens to be my wife's Birthday ( yes she is a leap year baby) The Hosts took time out to personally wish here happy Birthday and all attendees sang "happy Birthday to her. One of the Best birthday's she will have.

The guide had a wealth of knowledge and taught us about the Big Island, not just at Mauna Kea but also during the journey, which made it enjoyable throughout! It was unusually cold in March!

ガイドさんが色々な知識を持っていらっしゃって、マウナケアではもちろん移動中もハワイ島のことを教えてくださり、終始楽しかったです！3月異常に寒かったです！

They guide you through the nature and attractions of Hilo while taking you to a spot where you can see the starry sky at Mauna Kea. We visited many more points than what was mentioned in the tour details, and the guide was very clear and enjoyable, making the time fly by.

ヒロエリアの自然や見どころをガイドしながら、マウナケアの星空の見えるところに連れて行ってくれます。ツアー内容に書かれているより沢山のポイントに行き、ガイドもとてもわかりやすく楽しいのであっという間でした。

We loved everything about this tour! The boat was comfortable and clean and there was plenty of room for our gear. The food was excellent. My husband and I are omnivores, but we thoroughly enjoyed the vegan lunch and breakfast! The snorkeling was so much fun and we were fortunate enough to have perfect weather. We brought our own snorkel equipment and fins, but the boat was equipped with all of that plus life vests, pool noodles, inner tubes, sun screen and anti fog spray for masks. Last, but most importantly, the crew was amazing. Everyone was so caring and helpful and made sure we felt comfortable and safe in the water and out. We will be sure to book with Fair Wind Cruises again when we travel to the Big Island.

While it may be a lack of research on my part, I would like to see a review of the tour promotion that prominently features nighttime photos of volcanic craters. It would be helpful to clearly inform participants that this is a tour where you generally won't see magma erupting from the volcano. Although it seems there is a note mentioning this, it only states that "it may not be visible," which gives the impression that it's a minor possibility. However, upon arriving at the site, it becomes clear that the chance of actually seeing it is quite rare and would be considered very lucky.

下調べ不足といえばそこまでだが、夜間の火山火口の写真を前面に出したツアー募集は見直して欲しい。基本的には火山からマグマが出るなんて見れないツアーということは通知しておいて欲しい。注意書きにその旨を書いているようだが、注意書きだけ見ると「見れない場合がある」程度の表記だか、現地に来ると「見れたら相当にラッキー」という確率の話。

On my first trip to the Big Island, I was looking forward to the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing. I knew it would be a full moon when I planned the trip, so my expectations were more focused on the sunset than the stars, and it did not disappoint—it was a breathtaking view. Our Japanese guide provided thorough explanations, making the drive to the summit enjoyable. Additionally, I appreciated being dropped off at the hotel instead of the designated drop-off point. The BLT sandwich for dinner was also very delicious.

初めてのハワイ島で、楽しみにしていたマウナケア山頂サンセット&星空観測。旅行を計画した時から満月なのはわかっていたので、星空よりサンセットへの期待が膨らんでいましたが、期待通りの絶景でした。日系のガイドさんが丁寧に色々説明していただき、山頂への車中も飽きることなく過ごせました。また、帰りは指定の降車場所でなくホテルまで送っていただき、ありがとうございました。夕食のBLTサンドもとても美味しくいただきました。

The purpose of going to the Big Island was to visit the summit of Mauna Kea, but I joined a tour based on the information that it would be better. The English-speaking guide was very kind and friendly, making it a fun experience. The weather was great, and I was able to encounter truly beautiful sights. I am grateful for the wonderful sunset. Regarding the starry sky, it was a full moon that day, so if there hadn't been a moon, we might have seen an even more amazing starry sky. However, the guide showed us the moon's surface through a telescope that clearly captured the craters, provided us with photos of the moon, and gave detailed explanations, allowing us to have a great time. Mauna Kea truly became a wonderful memory.

ハワイ島に行く目的はマウナケア山頂行くことが目的でしたが、ツアーに参加するほうが良いという情報で参加しました。イングリッシュガイドでしたが、
大変親切で、フレンドリーなガイドさんで楽しかったです。天候もよく、本当に良い光景にも巡り合うことができました。素晴らしいサンセットに感謝します。星空については、当日は満月でしたので、もし、月がなけれもっと素晴らしい星空が望めたかもしれません。しかし、ガイドさんが月のクレーターがばっちり写っている望遠鏡で月面を見せてくれたり、月の写真を提供いただいたり、詳しい説明をいただいたいたりして、よい時間を過ごせました。本当に良い思い出になるマウナケアでした。

I am 64 years old. I participated because I wanted to see manta rays. The sunset was beautiful and wonderful. However, diving from the boat took courage. Swimming from there to the manta spot was tough, and I had to be pulled by the staff member. It was difficult to float while holding onto the frame and breathing through the snorkel, so I started to observe from the center of the floating frame, which was enough for me. I wonder if I was the only one who felt exhausted. I hope that the enjoyment of watching (which lasted about 20 to 30 minutes) could be a bit easier from the start. I was lucky that I could lie on the frame, which allowed me to use both hands freely for filming, but it was a bit tough until I settled down.

64歳です。見たかったマンタなので参加しました。
夕陽も美しく素晴らしかったです。でも、船からのダイブは勇気がいりました。そこからマンタスポットまで泳いでの移動もしんどくてスタッフのお兄さんに引っ張ってもらいました。両手で枠につかまりながらシュノーケルで息をしながら浮いて見ているのが辛かったので途中から浮き枠に乗って枠の中央から観察させてもらいましたが、それで十分でした。しんどさを感じたのは私だけなのでしょうか。観る楽しさ(20〜30分だったのでしょうか)も、最初からもう少し楽に楽しめたらいいなと思います。私は枠に腹ばいで乗れたおかげで両手が自由に使えて撮影も余裕でできたのでラッキーでしたが、落ち着くまではちょっとしんどかったです。

This is my second time participating. The kids really wanted to go, so we chose the morning snorkeling. With breakfast and lunch included, we had a great time for two and a half hours. Thank you!

今回は２度目の参加となります。子供達が絶対に行きたいと希望したので朝からのシューノーケルにしました。朝食と昼食が付いて2時間半、たっぷりと楽しめました。ありがとうございます

I knew that the tour date was not suitable for stargazing due to the seasonal factors and being a few days after the full moon, but I had made my decision to participate after the travel date was set, so I was prepared for that. On the day of the tour, our guide was Stefan, who grew up in Japan, and he provided a fun experience. According to the guide, the moon's influence was not a problem since it was already a few days past the full moon and the moon would rise after the tour ended, but he was concerned about the clouds. I wished for no clouds in the sky, but unfortunately, my worries came true. However, there was just enough of a gap to see the sunset.

I understood that due to the timing, it was more likely that we wouldn't see the stars, but I was really looking forward to it, so it was truly disappointing.

For cold weather preparation, I wore: on top, a tank top + short-sleeve Heattech + a slightly thicker long-sleeve T-shirt + a light down jacket + a scarf around my neck; on the bottom, Heattech leggings + warm windproof pants with a boa lining (I also wore a long skirt that I had on from the start). I put on the warm clothing I brought with me at the Onizuka Visitor Center. It was a windless day at the summit, but it was still cold, and I borrowed a jacket from the guide. The jacket I borrowed was really warm and a great help. I also appreciated the warm cocoa service. My friend brought a hot pack, which was helpful too. I wished I had brought gloves. I recommend bringing gloves that allow you to touch your phone screen (like those without fingertips).

However, the restroom situation was a bit challenging. The guide advised us to use the facilities at the Onizuka Visitor Center, saying there were portable toilets at the summit, but they weren't clean. I made sure to go before the tour, but I tend to need the restroom frequently, and the cold made it worse. I was also told to drink water frequently to avoid altitude sickness, so I couldn't avoid hydration. I remember there were about four portable toilets at the summit, but when I peeked in because I couldn't hold it anymore, they were too dirty to use. So, the off-road return trip was really tough (laughs). This seemed to be a common occurrence, as the guide mentioned on the way back that it was hard to hold it on the off-road path. By the way, the restrooms at the Onizuka Visitor Center are flush toilets, so you can use them with peace of mind. However, since there were participants from other tour companies and the overall number of people was large, there was a long line for the women's restroom.

It was very disappointing not to see the beautiful sunset or the starry sky, but it was truly a valuable experience to reach a height higher than Mount Fuji, and the guide was a veteran, which was reassuring. I hope to join another tour with this company someday and see the sunset and the starry sky next time.

ツアー申込日が季節的なことと満月の数日後のため、星空ツアーに適していないことはわかっていたのですが、旅行日が決定した後に参加を決めたので、覚悟はしていました。当日のガイドさんは日本育ちのステファンさんで、楽しく案内してくださいました。ガイドさん曰く、月の影響については既に満月より数日過ぎていて、月が昇るのがツアーが終わった後の時間であるため問題はないこと、しかし雲が心配とのこと。どうか雲が空にかかっていませんように、とその願いも虚しく、心配が的中してしまいました。しかし、かろうじて隙間があり、そこから夕焼けは見ることができました。

時期的な問題もあったので、無理かもしれない可能性の方が高かいことは承知していたものの、もしかして。。。と、星空をとても楽しみにしていたので、本当に残念でした。

寒さ対策としては、上：タンクトップ＋半袖ヒートテック＋少々厚手の長Tシャツ＋ライトダウンジャケット＋ストールを首に巻く、下：ヒートテックのレギンス＋暖かいボア裏地付きの風を通さないタイプのズボン（最初からはいていた長いスカートもそのまま着ていました）で挑みました。オニヅカ・ビジターセンターで手荷物で持ってきた防寒着を着込みました。山頂でも風が全くない日でしたが、さすがに山頂は寒く、ガイドさんにジャケットをお借りしました。お借りしたジャケットが本当に暖かく、助かりました。温かいココアのサービスも嬉しかったです。友達が持ってきてくれたホッカイロも助かりました。手袋を持っていけばよかったなぁと思いました。携帯の画面が触れるような（指先がないタイプとか）手袋があったら持って行くことをお勧めします

ただ、トイレ事情がちょっと大変でした。ガイドさんからは、オニヅカビジターセンターで行っておいてくださいね、山頂にも簡易トイレがあるけど綺麗じゃないので。と案内があったので、ちゃんと行っておいたのですが、元々トイレに行く頻度が多い私も、寒いのせいで更にトイレが近くなります。そして、高山病にならないように、お水をちびちび頻繁に飲むようにと言われていたので、水分を取らないということもできませんでした。山頂の簡易トイレは４つほどあったように記憶していますが、トイレが我慢できそうになくて、使ってみようかと覗いてみたところ、汚くてどうしても使えませんでした。だから帰りのオフロードが本当に辛かった（笑）それはお馴染みの出来事のようで、ガイドさんも帰り道、オフロードの道がトイレ我慢してると辛いよね〜って話してました。ちなみに、オニヅカビジターセンターのトイレは水洗なので安心して使えます。しかし他のツアー会社の参加者もいますし、全体に人数が多いのもあって、女性トイレは長い列ができていました。

綺麗な夕陽も星空も見れなかったことは大変残念でしたが、富士山より高いところまで行けたことは本当に貴重な体験でしたし、ガイドさんもベテランの方で安心できました。いつか、またこちらの会社のツアーに参加して、次こそは夕陽と星空を見たいと思います。