All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

During my fourth visit to the Big Island, I participated in the long-awaited "Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour."

Since I was staying in Hilo, I started by inquiring whether it was possible to meet at the Onizuka Visitor Center when making my reservation. They kindly responded to my inquiry in Japanese, and I successfully completed my booking.

On the day of the tour, I arrived at the center (elevation 2800m) two hours before the meeting time by rental car and acclimatized by exploring the surrounding area.

From the center, I switched to the tour vehicle and joined others who had come from various hotels in Kona. I was fortunate to sit in the front seat, and we set off for the summit. I was surprised by the off-road conditions, but the tour guide and driver provided explanations in both English and Japanese, and before I knew it, we reached the summit (4200m) with its observation points. There were already many tourists there, but we were able to enjoy the sunset in a spacious area, and the guide took commemorative photos for us. The wind and remaining snow made the perceived temperature around -5 degrees, but I managed to cope with my down jacket and gloves.

After the sunset, we descended to the parking lot at 3600m for stargazing. As it got darker, the number of visible stars increased dramatically, creating a series of breathtaking moments. Here too, we received detailed explanations about constellations in Japanese, and the time flew by.

Additionally, the guide shared the photos taken at the summit and during stargazing via LINE, creating memorable keepsakes.

I highly recommend this tour, which allows you to experience a height 500 meters higher than Mount Fuji and enjoy the dual excitement of sunset and stargazing!

4回目のハワイ島訪問で、念願の「マウナケア山頂 サンセット＆星空観測ツアー」に参加しました。

ヒロ宿泊でしたので、申込時に、「オニヅカビジターセンター待ち合わせ」が可能かどうかの問い合わせからスタートしましたが、日本語のメールでの問い合わせにも親切にご対応いただき、無事に、申込完了。

当日も、待ち合わせ時間の2時間前には、センター（標高2800ｍ）にレンタカーで到着し、周辺の散策などで、高度順応。

センターからは、ツアーの車に乗り換えて、コナの各ホテルから来られた方々と同行。助手席という特等席に乗せていただき、山頂へ出発。
予想以上のオフロードに驚きながらも、ツアーガイド 兼 ドライバーの方が運転しながら英語と日本語で説明をしただき、あっという間に展望台群のある山頂(4200m)に。
既に、多くの観光客がいましたが、広いスペースでサンセットを楽しむことができ、ガイドの方が記念の写真も撮っていただきました。
残雪と強風で体感気温は「-５度」くらいでしたが、持参していたダウンや手袋で何とか凌げました。

サンセット後は、3600mの駐車場まで下りてからの星空観測。
暗くなるに従い、刻々と観える星の数が倍増していき、感動の連続。
ここでも、日本語で星座などの詳しい説明をしていただき、あっという間の時間でした。

さらに、山頂と星空観測で撮っていただいた写真をその場で、LINEで共有していただき、思い出深い写真になりました。

是非、富士山より500ｍも高いところを体験でき、サンセットと星空観測の２つの感動を得られるツアーをお勧めいたします！

The explanation in English only: The whales' spouts and dorsal fins were only visible a few times from a distance, and contrary to expectations, the satisfaction level was somewhat lacking. However, the view from the boat was excellent.

英語のみの解説、鯨は潮吹きと背びれが数回遥か彼方にしか見えず、期待に反して満足度はもう一つでした。船上からの眺めは最高でした。　

The summit of Mauna Kea at 4205m, the sunset from there, the Subaru Telescope, and stargazing were all amazing. The guide spoke English in the car, but the explanations for the astronomical observations were in Japanese, which deepened my understanding. I highly recommend it if you have the chance. Thank you.

4205mのマウナケア山頂、そこからのサンセット、スバル望遠鏡、星空観測、すべて最高でした。
ガイドは車中は英語ですが、天体観測は日本語で説明されていて理解が深まりました。
チャンスがあるなら是非おすすめします、ありがとう。

We really enjoyed this tour. It is a long one so be prepared. But they keep you hydrated and fed. I loved the black sand beach, and the sea turtles and the stop along the shore the most. But all of the events were really fun. They packed so much into one day. it was a great tour and we had a lot of fun. The picnic, the stop at the bakery, and the dinner, you were all excellent quality as well.

It was a wonderful flight. My youngest daughter first time in one. We were lucky and saw a whale

The tour was well-organized, and our guide was knowledgeable and personable.

We had the best time
Tour guide was so knowledgeable and friendly
We learned so much about Hawaii and the big Island and astronomy
On the way we learned so much

Tour guide was exceptional
- always told us what was coming
- very organised
- everything was like clockwork

Everything was high quality and expert in every way

I can think of nothing to improve

The trip was fantastic and Ray was super informative. It was a beautiful night and we got to see a lot of stars and planets and the moon rising as well. It was spectacular and a must try for everyone! We thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it!! Also loved the hot chocolate touch at the end because it was quite cold on the slopes. The pickup and drop off was on time. The one thing that could have been better in my opinion was the food options and I also wished we had stopped somewhere to see the spectacular sunset. Apart from that, we really enjoyed it

There was a bit of swell until we reached the snorkeling point, but since it was a catamaran, we were able to go without much rocking. The crew was also friendly, and we had a great time.

シュノーケルポイントまで、うねりが少しありましたが、双胴船だったから揺れずにいけました。クルーも親切で楽しい時間を過ごせました。

Took this tour 6 years ago and had the most amazing experience. So I had to do it again. This tour offers the best of Big Island because you get to see Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls. We saw lots of turtles at black sand beach and an actual rainbow at Rainbow Falls! Our guide Brent was very informative and helpful.

We had 6 adults and 2 toddlers, this was the perfect activity for all of us to do. Short enough, interesting and interactive.

The weather on December 2 suddenly turned bad in the afternoon. I was looking forward to it, but my spirits dropped thinking I wouldn't be able to see the sunset or the starry sky. However, the clouds moved, and sunlight broke through the gaps, which was lucky. The sea of clouds was also wonderful. And the starry sky was perfect. Even though I'm not good at English, there were many Japanese travelers on the same bus, so I felt comfortable participating with the foreign guide.

12月2日の天気は午後から急に悪天候。
楽しみにしてたが、夕陽も星空も見れないかとテンションはだだ下がり。
でも、雲が流れ隙間から夕陽が差し、ラッキー。雲海もすばらしい。
そして、星空もバッチリ。英語が苦手な私も同じバスの日本人旅行者の方も大勢いらして外人ガイドでも安心して参加できた。

At the foot of the mountain, I was worried because it was raining in some areas, but at the visitor center halfway up, the weather improved, and it was clear from the midpoint onward. I recommend bringing a warm drink. Above the visitor center, the road became unpaved, and it felt like the car was struggling to climb the mountain, but after a while, we reached the summit.

At the summit, various observatories from different countries were lined up, and it felt like we were one step closer to space. With some time before sunset, I enjoyed the magnificent view from the top. It was definitely worth adjusting my schedule to participate. After a while, the grand show of sunset began, and the colors of the ground and sky near the summit gradually changed, creating an emotional experience as if watching a scene from a movie. The sea of clouds was also visible, making for the perfect situation. The scenery was even more breathtaking than the photos in the brochure. As it got darker, stars began to appear one by one, and their numbers quickly increased, transforming the scene into a completely different world from before sunset. The summit was colder than I expected, and I wore a down jacket suitable for winter, but it was still chilly. I recommend being well-prepared for the cold. The air pressure was low, and the air was thin, so I think those with respiratory issues or who are not in good health should reconsider participating. I truly felt the thinness of the air.

After sunset, I did some stargazing a little below the summit. The sky was filled with stars, creating a wonderful celestial show. I learned how to identify constellations and participated in observations with a telescope. It was moving to see the rings of Saturn through the telescope.

Although it was a bit of a long day starting in the early afternoon, I believe it was definitely worth participating. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

　山麓では一部雨も降っていて心配しましたが、食事休憩した中腹のビジターセンターでは天気も良くなり、中腹以降は快晴でした。暖かい飲み物を持参するのを推奨します。ビジターセンターより上は未舗装になり、車が懸命に山を登っている感じになり、しばらくすると山頂に到着しました。
　山頂には各国の天文台が並んでいて、宇宙に一歩近づいた感じでした。日の入りまで少し時間があり、山頂からの壮大な景色を堪能しました。スケジュール調整をして参加した価値が充分にありました。しばらくすると、日没の壮大なショーが始まり、山頂近くの地面や空の色が徐々に変わり、映画のワンシーンを観ている状態で、感動的でした。雲海も見えて最高のシチュエーションでした。景色はパンフレットの写真以上で、圧巻でした。暗くなると星がポツポツ見え出して、その数があっと言う間に増えて、日没前とは全くの別世界になりました。山頂は思っていたよりも寒く、真冬の格好でダウンジャケットも着ましたがそれでも寒かったです。寒さ対策は十分にしておくことをおすすめします。気圧も低く、空気も薄いので呼吸器系統の弱い人や体調が万全でない人の参加は見合わせた方がいいと思います。空気の薄さを実感しました。
　日没後に山頂から少し下った場所で星空観察をしました。満天の星で素晴らしい天体ショーでした。星座の見方を教えてもらい、望遠鏡での観察にも参加しました。その中で土星の輪が見えたのは感動的でした。
　午後早めの時間帯からの少し長丁場でしたが、参加する価値は十分にあると思います。感動をありがとうございました。

It was a great days long adventures around the island. I would highly recommend it!

I was a bit worried about going to an elevation higher than Mount Fuji without any prior experience in mountain climbing, but thanks to the wonderful support of our articulate guide, we were able to reach the summit safely. We drove almost all the way to the top and enjoyed the sunset. The stargazing afterward was easy to understand, and having hot cocoa under the starry sky was the best.

山登りなど国内でも経験がないまま富士山より高い標高に行くというのは少し心配していましたが、お話上手なガイドさんの素晴らしいサポートのおかげで、無事に山頂まで辿り着けました。徒歩はほぼなく車で山頂まで登り、サンセット。そのあとの星空観測もわかりやすく、星空の下でのホットココアが最高でした。

We had such a great time! The crew was so nice. We had a great snorkel day, saw lots of fish. The water activities were a great bonus. The slide and platform were fun too! We went as a couple but great for families/children also. Had pastries and yogurt for breakfast, burgers for lunch, and cash bar open the entire time. I do wish for the price at least 1 drink could be included, but it was still a great time. We even saw some dolphins following our boat shortly before docking at the end

I was not sure what to expect but I was very pleased with this experience. The crew was very pleasant, patient and knowledgable. They were very patient with some older guests and made sure they were safe and comfortable.
We ended up meeting several other boats so we had a lot of plankton for the Manta. Those beautiful fish did not disappoint! Although touching the manta is prohibited, they come close enough to touch! Bring your underwater camera for some great pictures and video memories!

Booked the day before our arrival which was a mistake as have to pay an extra fee for short notice.

Even then the order is not guaranteed.

But it got confirmed and there was a nice man waiting for us by the baggage belt.

He welcomed us to the Island (Big Island) and wished me a Happy Birthday as this was part of our request and then presented out Leis.

We put the flowers in the fridge when we arrived at put location and on leaving the island, scattered the petals in the sea by the turtles near Waikola.

Happy with the service provided, but book early to avoid having the extra fee.

We had an amazing experience and time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was deeply knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The tour started on time and went out perfect. They provided mitts and coats which kept us warm along with hot chocolate. It was a great evening with no clouds. The views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!

This was on my bucket list. My guide was very informative. He took pictures, individual and group pictures of us during sunset and during the stargazing event. Be prepared to bounce around on the dirt road to the summit. Totally enjoyed the hot cocoa and BLT sandwich that was provided.

The tour was very well organized and very well planned. I felt I saw so much and learned a lot about the culture and history of the island. Jim was full of interesting information and made the trip memorable Fun group.

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds from 4200m is exceptional. You can truly feel the Earth. Observing Jupiter's Galilean moons for the first time was also moving. The guide's explanations and support were wonderful, making it a highly satisfying tour.

4200mからの雲海に沈むサンセットは格別です。地球を感じます。木星のガリレオ衛星の観測も初めて、感動しました。ガイドさんも説明や対応も素晴らしく、満足度の高いツアーです。

I searched for a tour to experience the great nature of the Big Island for the first time and participated in the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour. At first, I didn't have high expectations for climbing the mountain to see the sunset and the stars. I also read reviews mentioning that the explanations were only in English, making it difficult for those without strong English skills to understand. Additionally, although I don't have high blood pressure, I was concerned about climbing over 4,000 meters at the age of 67.

In conclusion, it was an amazing experience. While I did feel a bit breathless at the summit, it wasn't an issue if I walked slowly. The detailed explanations of the summit's viewpoint, the breathtaking sunset as it gradually darkened, and even I, with barely passing vision for my driver's license renewal, could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The detailed explanations of the constellations were also impressive. I hadn't seen the Milky Way in about 50 years, and it was truly moving.

This experience was made even more special thanks to the attentive service from the staff at Masashi Nature. Our guide was a Japanese person named SHOYO. His extensive knowledge, excellent explanations, and thoughtful attention created a very comfortable environment.

There were about 12 people on the tour, and my wife and I were the only Japanese participants. The explanations on the bus were in English, but they were not difficult to understand. Additionally, when we got off the bus, they provided a summary of the key points in Japanese. Outside the bus, the explanations were given in a mix of English and Japanese, making them very clear and detailed.

The photos of the sunset and the one with my wife under the Milky Way are wonderful treasures of memories. If I plan another tour in Hawaii, I will choose a Masashi Nature tour where I won't struggle with the language.

Lastly, thank you, SHOYO. I appreciate it.

初めてのハワイ島で大自然を感じることができるツアーを探し、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加しました。
最初は、山に登って夕焼けを見る、星空を見ることにそれほどの期待を持っていませんでした。また、口コミには英語だけでの説明で英語力がないとよくわからないとの感想もありました。さらに、私は高血圧ではないのですが、67歳の高齢で4000m以上の山登りはいかがかとも思っていました。
結論は、とても素晴らしい経験をすることができました。確かに山頂では少し息苦しい感覚はありましたが、ゆっくり歩けば気になることはありません。さらに、山頂の世界の展望台の詳細な説明、徐々に暮れてくる感動的な夕焼け。そして、運転免許更新に必要な視力ギリギリの私でも肉眼で見える天の川。また、星座の詳細な説明。天の川を見たのは50年前くらいで、感動的でした。
この感動もマサシネイチャーのスタッフの丁寧な対応があったからです。私らの担当は、日本人のSHOYOさんでした。彼の博学な知識と説明のうまさ、細かな気配りがとても居心地のいい環境を作ってくれました。
12人ほどのツアーでした。日本人は私と妻の2名だけでした。バス内の説明は英語でしたが、それほどわかりにくい英語ではありませんでした。また、バスから降りた際にバス内の説明のポイントだけを日本語で説明してくれました。また、バスの外では、英語と日本語と交えて説明をしていただき、とても分かりやすくかつ詳細なものでした。
夕焼けの写真、天の川の下の妻との写真も思い出としてとても素晴らしい宝物をいただけました。
次回、ハワイでツアーを計画するのであれば、日本語に苦労しないマサシネイチャーのツアーを選択すると思います。
最後にSHOYOさん、ありがとう。感謝しています。

On full moon days, the difficulty of seeing manta rays increases. It seems that strong lights are used to attract plankton, which in turn draws in the manta rays. However, during a full moon, the plankton disperses, making it harder to gather the manta rays.

Perhaps due to some misfortune, there was a powerful light installed on the ocean floor during the manta diving, and the manta rays were swimming near the bottom. In the light leaking from the ocean floor, I could see the shadows of the manta rays.

Next time, I want to challenge myself during the new moon. I would like to visit the Big Island of Hawaii again, aiming for the new moon period instead of the full moon.

満月の日は、マンタを見る難易度が上がるとのことです。
強いライトでプランクトンを集め、それをエサにマンタが集まるため、満月ではプランクトンが散開してマンタを集める難易度が上がるらしいです。

不運は重なるのか、マンタダイビングで海底に強力なライトが設置されていたこともあり、マンタはずっと海底で泳いでおり、
海底から漏れる光の中に、マンタの影が見えました。

今度は新月にチャレンジしたいです。
ハワイ島は、満月よりも新月の期間を狙って、また行きたいです

I participated thinking it would be my last chance since the age limit for the tour is 70. The guide was very kind and explained everything in detail, and the photos they took were fantastic. I'm 70, and I want to participate again next year!

ツアー参加可能の年齢が70歳までということで、最後のチャンスと思い参加しました。ガイドさんもとても親切で丁寧に説明してくれて、撮影してくれた写真も最高でした。70歳、来年も参加したい！

The guide was great and shared loads of interesting facts and stories about history, nature, culture, language, habits and astronomy. His knowledge and captivating way of presenting things were amazing. I also highly appreciate his deep respect towards the Hawaiian culture.
The trip was organized very professionally. The warm parkas were also highly appreciated.

I highly recommend this service.

At first, I was worried about the weather because the mountain in front was hidden by clouds, but Mauna Kea was clear above the clouds, and it was a beautiful day! I enjoyed the best sunset and a lovely starry sky!

Our guide was an American named Tat, who occasionally spoke Japanese. It seemed he was working with another guide from the same tour company, who was also American but spoke Japanese fluently.

They prepared two telescopes for us, allowing us to observe Jupiter and Saturn. Then, they took a picture of the Milky Way and shared the photos with us via AirDrop. It was a wonderful experience with a great team!

初めは手前の山が雲に隠れていたので天気を心配していましたが、マウナケアは雲の上で晴れていました、快晴でした！最高のサンセットと、素敵な星空を堪能できました！
タットさんというアメリカの方がガイドさんでしたが、日本語も時折り話してくれます。同じツアー会社の方と一緒にツアーをされているようで、そちらのガイドさんはアメリカの方ですが日本語バリバリでした。
２人で望遠鏡を２つ用意してくれて、木星と土星をそれぞれ観賞できました。それから天の川の写真を撮ってくれてエアドロップで写真をいただきました。とても良いコンビで素敵なツアーを体験しました！

The kayak was stable, and I got used to paddling as I went along. The course goes from Keauhou Bay to the underwater cave in the next cove. We headed out far enough that the sea turned a deep blue. We made several stops along the way for breaks and hydration. The water was calm with no waves, and dolphins were jumping around. According to the guide, the baby dolphins were practicing their jumps. I felt lucky. Due to the wind, snorkeling was limited to about 20 minutes in Keauhou Bay, and I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting to see many more tropical fish. In Big Island, where Japanese is hardly spoken, it was a relief to have conversations in Japanese with our guide, Noni. I highly recommend participating in this experience.

カヤックは安定感があり漕ぐほどに慣れてきました。ケアホウ湾を出て次の入江にある海中洞窟までがコースです。海が濃い青に変わるくらい沖に出ます。途中何度か休憩と水分補給をしながら進みます。波もなく穏やかでイルカが飛び跳ねていました。ガイドによれば子イルカがジャンプの練習をしているとのこと。ラッキーでした。シュノーケリングは風のためケアホウ湾の中で20分ほどで、もっと沢山の南の海のお魚達を期待していたので少し残念でした。日本語が殆ど通じないビッグアイランドでガイドのノニさんと日本語での会話はそれだけでほっとしました。是非参加されることをお勧めします。

I participated alone as the only Japanese person, and there were no other Japanese participants that day. It was a tour with two vans, and my guide in my van only spoke English. However, the guide in the other van was fluent in Japanese, so they kindly took the time to explain the stars to me one-on-one, paying attention to the details, which was very thoughtful. The guide's talk in the van was in English, but they clearly explained the efforts of the local Hawaiians to preserve Hawaiian culture and the importance of conveying such information to tourists. I was grateful to hear valuable stories from a local person. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

日本人一人での参加で、他の参加者にも日本人はいない日でしたが、バン二台でのツアーで、私の車のガイドさんは英語しか話せなかったのですが、もう一つの車のガイドさんが日本語ペラペラだからと、わざわざそちらの方がマンツーマンで星の説明をしてくださり、細かいことも気にかけてくださり、とても親切でした。車内でのガイドさんの話も、英語でしたが、地元のハワイアンの人々がハワイアン文化を守るためにしていることや、そういった内容も観光客に伝える必要性もわかりやすく話してくれて、貴重な現地の方のお話が聞けてありがたかったです。素晴らしい体験をありがとうございました。

The six if us had a great time with Drew who kept us entertained while ensuring we understood the historical and cultural importance of many of the sites we visited. The dad jokes were appreciated over the course of the day travelling from Kona to Hilo and points in-between. The consensus highlight was the swim in the waterfall pool. Even the weather cooperated. Fabulous day! Mahalo Drew!