All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

The perfect experience for first time visiting Kona! Loved the Coffee farm, black sand beach, and stargazing the most on this full-day excursion!

The sunset viewed from the boat and the manta rays tumbling far exceeded my expectations!!! I was very satisfied with the tour content!! However, the water temperature was surprisingly low, so I was freezing while watching the manta rays... You can rent a wetsuit for $10, but it only goes up to the knees, so it's still cold in the end. I still recommend renting a wetsuit. I didn't rent one, so I was cold the whole time. The hot chocolate after returning to the boat was soothing. Also, the toilet on the boat was out of order, so I couldn't use it. I was in pain wanting to go to the bathroom after snorkeling. It would have been perfect if the toilet had been fixed!!!!

船から見る夕日と予想を遥かに超えるマンタのタンブリング！！！ツアーの内容はとても満足です！！
ただ、意外と水温が低かったためマンタを見ながら凍えていました。。。10ドルでウェットスーツを借りることができますが、そのウェットスーツも膝上までしかないので結局寒いです。それでもウェットスーツを借りることをおすすめします。私は借りなかったのでずっと寒かったです。船に戻った後のホットチョコレートは体に沁みました。また、船に設置されているトイレが故障中のため使えず。シュノーケルが終わったあとずっとトイレに行きたくて辛かったです。トイレが直っていれば完璧でした！！！！

On the day I participated, a Japanese guide was in charge. While driving, he provided explanations in both English and Japanese. There were eight participants, half of whom were Japanese. At the summit, we were able to see a beautiful sunset. It was almost windless, so it wasn't too cold, but according to the guide, it had been very cold the day before due to strong winds, so it seems to vary by day. The stargazing was limited because it was close to a full moon, resulting in fewer stars. However, everyone, including the guide, was surprised by a fireball that suddenly appeared. It was an experience that happens once in a lifetime. It was a great tour.

私の参加した日は、日本人のガイドさんが担当してくれた。運転しながら、英語、日本語、交互の説明、参加者８名、内、半分が日本人だった。山頂では美しい日の入りを見ることができた。ほぼ無風だったのでそれほど寒くはなかったがガイドさん曰く前日は風が強く大変寒かったそうで、日によってまちまちのようだ。星空観測は満月に近いこともあって、星の数は少なかった。しかし突然現れた火球にガイドさん含めて皆ビックリ。一生に一度あるか否かの経験をした。良いツアーだった。

The entire experience start to finish was amazing. Wes was our guide and driver and took the time to explain what to expect and educate all of us on the island and the history of Hawai’i! I would recommend this tour to anybody who would like to enjoy the beautiful Mauna Kea! Wes also took the time to take photos of us at sunset and stargazing!

My husband and I had an amazing time with Fernando! He was an incredibly knowledgeable guide and made the trip very fun. If you have the opportunity to do the evening stargazing and sunset do so and request Fernando!

Our guide Gabe (I think that was his name - sorry if I’m mistaken!) was superb.

He picked us up near our condo and the van was very nice and spacious. We had 5 adults and were very comfortable.

The drive up he pointed out things of interest, answered any questions and was just overall very upbeat, fun and informative.

He was great up to this point but he crossed over to superb when my mom got altitude sickness. He was constantly checking on her, giving her sickness bags, anti-nausea meds and overall just very attentive.

He very professionally handled both her and the rest of the guests.

Will definitely book with this company and guide again.

We attended on Monday October 16. The 4 guys did such a fantastic job making it fun for all of us. It was a unique and exciting experience. I can not say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it and would even go so far as to say it is a MUST DO on the Big Island!!

This tour was the highlight of my families trip. The tour was amazing and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. He was happy to answer all of my children's questions.

Best time ever. The crew are all wonderful. The crew made the trip fun and educational. Lots of marine life.

My husband and I booked this tour for our honeymoon on the island. It was truly amazing to see the many fish and mantas in their natural habitat! I was that person who forgot their motion sickness meds. If you get motion sick/sea sick definitely take them so you can enjoy the whole experience without feeling queasy. If you come from colder climates you may not need wet suits. My husband and I didnt get them as we come from a cold climate and did fine temperature wise. The captain and his crew, Diego, were very knowledgeable and friendly. They also helped out a bunch when I wasn't feeling well. Would recommend this tour to anyone!

I was able to see about four waterfalls.

The scenery of Waipi'o Valley was also beautiful.

You can walk around the Botanical Garden in about an hour. It’s very worthwhile.

I swam in the waterfall pool. You can borrow a jacket for free, so even if you're not a good swimmer, you can still enjoy it. There is one place to change, but I couldn't use a shower.

Along the way, I was happy to receive water, juice, and snacks!

The guide was very friendly and a good person. Since I can't speak any English at all, I couldn't understand most of the explanations (I was prepared for that), but I think it’s a great tour for those who can understand. You can hear a lot of interesting stories!

I was glad that the weather was nice all day! ☀️

滝は4つくらい見れました。

ワイピオ渓谷の景色も素敵でした。

ボタニカルガーデンは1時間位で一周できます。見応えたっぷりです。

滝壺で泳ぎました。ジャケットが無料で借りれるので泳ぎが下手でも楽しめます。着替えるところ（一つ）はありますが、シャワーは使えませんでした。

道中、お水やジュース、お菓子もいただけるので嬉しかったです！

ガイドさんもとてもフレンドリーで良い人でした。私自身が英語が全くできないので説明がほぼ理解できませんでしたが（覚悟はしてました）理解できる人にとってはとっても良いツアーだと思います。色んな話が聞けます！

一日中天気に恵まれて良かったです☀️

This was definitely the highlight of our Hawaii trip. Will definitely try it again!!! 10/10 will recommend their service.

We are SO glad we booked this tour with Iruka; we had an absolutely incredible time with tour guides Trevor, Diego and Tamaya (so sorry if I'm misspelling your names or missing anyone) who were so knowledgable and accommodating. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island; a bunch of the rays got so close to us, we felt super safe and loved the hot chocolate afterwards!

We had a group of 4 and had an excellent afternoon. Our guide was very knowledgeable and warm and friendly. The van was comfy and had big windows for viewing scenery along the drive. The starts were amazing as was the sunset.

The meeting at the supermarket parking lot, the sunset at the summit of Onitsuka Center, and the stargazing upon returning to the foothills all went smoothly. Warm clothing was provided, so the cold was not an issue. Thank you for the explanations about the mountains and history in the car. The only concern I had was that the guide looked very sleepy during the drive back. Please make sure to rest well during the day to avoid any accidents. Thank you very much.

スーパーマーケットの駐車場の待ち合わせから山麓のOnitsuka center　頂上での夕焼け、山麓に帰っての天体観測、帰還と全てスムースに進みました。防寒服も用意され寒さも問題ありませんでした。車の中での山や歴史の説明もありがとうございました。帰りの運転でガイドさんがとても眠そうだったのが唯一気になった点です。事故なきよう昼間十分に休まれるようにしてください。ありがとうございました。

This was an outstanding dinner and show. Food was delicious and drinks were always being served. You never had to ask for drinks because there was always someone walking by with a tray full. The show was amazing and educational. The Dancers were incredible and the women were beautiful!
I highly recommend it!!

We always felt safe. The support was great. We were there with our 2 sons (4 and 11 years old). Everything worked great and everyone was very attentive. We were able to enjoy it completely as a family. Seeing the manta rays was an unforgettable experience.
Highly recommended!

I participated with my 2-year-old and 4-year-old children. The kids were able to see manta rays while my husband and I took turns. The conditions seemed good, and we were able to see more than five manta rays up close. I took some motion sickness medication just in case, but the kids didn't get seasick at all and had a great time. Thank you for taking photos with the sunset from the boat and for the hot chocolate. I brought warm clothing, so I wasn't cold at all, and everything was fine. I will definitely go again when I visit the Big Island! ♡

２歳と4歳の子供達と一緒に参加しました。
子供達は船上から、私と主人は交代でマンタを見せていただきました。
コンディションも良かったようで、間近に5枚以上のマンタを見る事ができました。
酔い止めは一応飲みましたが、子供達も全く酔う事なく、楽しめました。
船上から夕日と一緒に記念撮影していただいたり、ホットチョコレートをいただいたりありがとうございました。
防寒着も持って行ったので寒くもなく、大丈夫でした(^^)
またハワイ島に行った際には絶対行きますね♡

I never expected to see manta rays so close, which was a bit scary but also moving. The hot chocolate I had on the boat was also very delicious.

まさかこんなに近くでマンタが見られるとは思っていなかったので、少し怖さもありつつ、感動しました。
船で飲んだホットチョコレートもとても美味しかったです。

The food was ok. The entertainment was ok. I’ve been to a luau before and this time was just ok. It wasn’t worth the price.

The day of the tour was just one day before the full moon, and with 98% moonlight, it was too bright to see a perfect starry sky (I should have checked the lunar calendar in advance...). However, the sea of clouds below was breathtaking, and the sunset from the summit at an elevation of 4,207 meters was truly beautiful and very moving.

Our tour guide, Stephan, was very friendly and, despite being a tall foreigner, he grew up in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. He was very kind, took many photos for us, and even sent us some amazing starry sky pictures he had taken in the past via AirDrop. The vegetarian sandwich was also very delicious, and the cocoa he made for us at the summit was incredibly tasty and warming. Thank you for a wonderful experience and memories.

ツアー当日は満月の一日前で、月明かり98%ということで満点の星空を見るには明るすぎたのですが、(事前にちゃんと月齢カレンダーを確認すべきでした、、)雲を下に見る雲海は絶景で、標高4207mの山頂からのサンセットは本当に綺麗で、とても感動しました。
ツアーガイドのステファンさんはとても気さくで見た目は背の高い外人さんですが、バリバリの日本育ちとのことで、日本語ペラペラで、とても親切で写真もたくさん撮ってくれて、過去に撮影した素晴らしい星空の写真もAirDropで送ってくださいました。
ベジタリアンサンドイッチもとても美味しく、山頂で入れてくれたココアはとっても美味しくてあたたまりました。素敵な体験と思い出をありがとうございました。

Really enjoyed the dinner, we were nervous but it was soooo delicious!!

The crew was great, the manta turn out was amazing, and the boat ride is short (which is ideal for when you’re cold and ready to get warm again haha). We got lucky that it was a small group so there were plenty of options to sit and have a lovely view of the sunset while heading out. 10/10 would do again.

Watching the sunset from the boat before heading to the manta point was the best situation.
Seeing the manta up close was amazing!!
It's incredible to see them so near.

It gets a bit chilly when you come out of the water, so I recommend bringing something to wear.

マンタのポイントに行く前に、サンセットを船上からみて最高のシチュエーションでした。
マンタも間近に見れて感動!!
こんなに近くで見れるなんて最高です。

海から上がる頃には、少し肌寒いので、羽織る物を持って行かれる事をお勧めします。

MUST DO!

This was a great tour - really educational and fun. Be prepared for rain, you are in the rainforest and it rains a lot. Our guide came prepared with umbrellas and rain jackets, flashlights for the lava tube, water and snacks.
Andre, our tour guide was amazing, experienced and incredibly knowlegable of the volcanoes, land, plants and trees, Hawaiian culture, plus more, and the history of all mentioned. He made sure we were always entertained during the approx. 8 hour trip.
Would recommend shorts, closed toed shoes (sneakers fine) suntan lotion, somewhat water repellant light jacket (in case your tour does not provide).

Japanese tourists have returned to Hawaii. However, due to the pandemic, there are hardly any Japanese guides left, making the tours quite boring for those who struggle with English. On tours that showcase the rich nature, Pocketalk usually doesn't work, and we find ourselves tuning out the rapid-fire English explanations. Please rehire Japanese guides soon! We are only reluctantly signing up for English guides!

ハワイにも、日本人が戻ってきましたね。でも、日系のガイドさんはコロナ禍でほとんど居なくなってしまい、英語が苦手な日本人にはつまらないツアーばかりになりました。
豊かな自然が売りのツアーでは、たいていポケトークは機能せず、マシンガンの様な英語のガイドをしらけながら聞き流しています。
早く日系ガイドを再雇用してあげてください！
英語のガイドは、仕方なく申し込んでいるだけですよ！

It was very cool. Every one was very kind and accommodating. Guide was informative and pilot was very good. We saw a couple sharks and tons of other fish. Kids loved it! (12 and 10) Mahalo!

We couldn't have asked for a better trip. I especially appreciated the small group size - eight people - which meant that we were able to watch the mantas without getting in each other's way. My sister and I were at the end of the line, opposite each other. This meant that as the manta rays turned over and swam upside down just under the light board - only a few inches away from us - we could look right down their throats. I was amazed at how clean and empty their large mouths were. It was fascinating to see their gills from the inside as well as the outside.

It was wonderful to watch the mantas swim. They move so smoothly they hardly seem to be propelling themselves. The patterns on their backs fluoresce in the light, so they're easy to see.

We watched by lining up on either side of a board, holding on to it and floating stretched out away from it, with flotation devices like pool noodles under our ankles. This keeps our bodies away from the mantas, which is for their protection, not ours. (The mantas are harmless. No teeth, no sting. They eat plankton, not people!)

Two tips:

1. The staff had us put the pool noodles under our ankles, but in that location, it's easy to lose the noodle. Try putting it just below your knees instead. It's much easier to keep in place that way, and if your knees are at the surface, the rest of your legs will be also.

2. If you do lose your noodle, don't panic or kick. Keep your head down, relax, stay as flat as you can, and allow the water to support your body. Staff members will retrieve the noodle and slip it under your legs again. Kicking disturbs the mantas, and the stress is bad for them.

On the whole, I'm glad I went. It was a lovely day, the boat was comfortable, and food great. The trip included a plant-based breakfast and lunch, with Kona coffee and alcoholic drinks available for purchase. The boat stopped twice on the way out so our guide could explain what we were seeing along the shore.

All the staff members were delightful and took good care of us.

Unfortunately, Kealakekua Bay did not offer the variety of sea life I experienced in other Hawaiian locations. I wonder if the reef has been affected by global warming. My prior experiences were 20 years ago, so things may be different now.

My experience was complicated by the fact that the corrective face masks were only available in a medium, which was too large for me. Consequently, I had major water leakage and was unable to spend much time snorkeling. One of the staff explained that supply chain problems have limited the availability of corrective masks. That's a good reason for bringing your own!

My sister, who had her own mask, explored more widely and commented on the relative scarcity of sea life, although she did see one kind of fish that was new to her.

Nevertheless, the trip was fun. I enjoyed my run down the slide - my sister's dared me to do it!

A number of snorkeling tours go to Kealakekua Bay. I looked at the other tour boats there and concluded that ours was the best. All in all, it was a great way to spend the morning. (Did I mention that both breakfast and lunch were delicious?)

I had a bit of fear during the night snorkeling tour, but there was a Japanese female staff member who frequently checked in on us, which made me feel at ease to participate. I was thrilled to see twelve manta rays. The hot chocolate on the boat afterward was soothing. We also received wonderful underwater footage, creating lovely memories. Thank you very much.

ナイトシュノーケリングツアーで少し恐怖もありましたが、女性日本人スタッフの方がおられて、たびたび声をかけて下さるので安心して参加させていただきました。
マンタが１２まいも見ることができて感激しました。
終わってからの船の上でのホットチョコレートは身体にしみわたりました。
すばらしい水中での映像も頂いて、素敵な思い出になりました。
本当にありがとうございました。