All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

This was such a breathtaking experience! Trevor and Diego were excellent captain and crew, with a great sense of humor too. They ensured I felt safe which was huge because I had never snorkeled before. I would recommend this company to anyone who asks, they provide everything you need including prescription goggles which was an amazing surprise. Diego also gave us manta ray facts as we were snorkeling and we loved it. The night began with a sunset boat ride, leading into the manta ray snorkel, and then a quick boat ride back to the harbor with snacks and hot cocoa. I will never forget this experience.

We were happy we got to see some mantas, it was so fun to have a night experience!

You hit it all and you do not need to drive and miss views along the way!

Staff was terrific at all levels; dock staff, wait staff, bar tenders, historian, musician, & Captain. Everyone was upbeat, personable, courteous, professional, and entertaining.
Food was excellent and the drinks were generous. The captain was very personable and entertaining. Mother-nature provided us with a pod of pilot whales to observe, while keeping a safe distance. Historian was fabulous, giving everyone a much better appreciation and respect for the Hawaiian culture. The music got everyone rocking and rolling with the motion of the boat. A great selection of songs that had the passengers engaged in song.
Can't say much more. We loved it, would do it again, and would highly recommend it to everyone. It was a 3 hour tour that was well worth it.

Excellent tour with SUPER tour guide, Kailikea! Full service , including tasty meal, excellent transportation, LOTS of very interesting information on Hawaii, the stars at night, Hawaiian Culture and History. Absolute recommendation to book with MKSA!!!

We had a blast and seeing the manta rays was amazing. We also saw a bristle worm, which was cool too. The team was fabulous and knowledgeable. We will do again next time we swing into Kona. We recommend this excursion 100%. You won’t be sorry. If you get seasick, take the anti nausea medicine first. It can be a bit harder on your stomach in the dark.

The speed of the speedboat was absolutely thrilling! I was desperately holding on during the ride. The sea breeze was pleasant, and it felt like an amusement park attraction. Although it was only in English, I had no worries. I highly recommend this for those looking for a unique snorkeling tour.

とにかく高速ボ－トのスピードが迫力満点！走行中は必死につかまってる状態でしたよ〜。海風が心地よく遊園地のアトラクション気分で楽しめました。英語ガイドだけでしたが不安はありませんでした。ひと味違うシュノ－ケリングツアーを求める方に是非おすすめします。

During our previous visit to the Big Island, my son was too young to join the Mauna Kea summit tour. Now that he is an adult, his dream came true, and we participated together with my husband. Although it was cold at the summit, they lent us down jackets, so it was no problem. With no wind and being the second day after the new moon, both the sunset and the starry sky were magnificent. It felt like we were on another planet. Our guide was half Japanese and had attended school in Japan until elementary school, so he was fluent in Japanese. He was very polite and kind, and he made the starry sky explanation enjoyable with a touch of humor. It was a wonderful experience.

以前にハワイ島を訪れたとき、息子はまだ小さかったので参加できなかったマウナケア山頂ツアー。そんな息子も成人となり、夢がかない主人と3人で参加しました。山頂は寒いもののダウンを貸していただいたので問題なし。風もなく新月から2日目ということもあり、夕日も星空も素晴らしかったです。地球以外の惑星にいるような気分でした。ガイドさんは日本人とのハーフの方で、小学校まで日本の学校に通っていたとのこと、日本語はご達者でした。そして、とても丁寧＆親切に対応していらっしゃり、星空解説もユーモアを取り入れながら楽しく聞かせていただきました。素晴らしい体験でした。

I couldn't book the same tour I wanted, so I chose this one with an English guide as a second option. My elementary school daughter also enjoyed it without much issue. For stargazing, I always book two sessions during the trip considering weather conditions, and since I had a Japanese explanation the day before, we were able to enjoy the stars. However, compared to a full-fledged stargazing tour, this part felt more like a bonus, with less explanation and no use of a telescope. There were new discoveries as well, as the places I visited for the first time and the Kīlauea crater had changed significantly due to the eruptions.

行きたかった同じようなツアーの予約が取れず、次善の策として英語ガイドでしたが選びました。小学生の娘もさほど問題なく楽しめました。星空観察は天候の問題などを考慮して旅行中いつも2回予約するのですが、前日に一度日本語の解説をしてもらっていたので、星空も楽しめました。ただ、本格的な星空観察ツアーに比べるとその部分は「おまけ」みたいな感じで説明も少なく、天体望遠鏡を使用することもありませんでした。初めて訪れた場所や、キラウエアの火口も噴火により依然とだいぶ変わっていたり、新しい発見がありました。

Great evening. Food was excellent and entertainment was even better. Loved the evening with my wife and friends! Venue was perfect with the scenic views.

Incredible tour but our Tour guide, Anson really brought the island and the tour to life. Honestly enjoyed the tour to the max but we would pay to just hang out with Anson again. Lol. I'm sure all the guides are great and extremely courteous.

All the jokes we made he would rebuttal and be involved all while still maintaining his poise and professionalism. It's the little things guys and this tour has it all. Thank you From the bottom of our hearts.

We had a lot of fun on the tour Ridge was amazing and gave us a lot of good local history and knowledge. If he didn't know the answer to a question he found it out for us. We'd highly recommend this tour to anybody looking for a great day on the island.

Good tour! Aaron was our guide and he did a perfect job! I only wish the volcano was erupting so we could see more activity. The meals were good, the views were good and we learned a lot.

The boat crew went out of their way to make sure each and every one of us was taken care of and having a good time. The mantas were surreal. This is something everyone needs to experience!

It takes about 20 to 30 minutes from the port to reach the spot beyond Kona Airport. Perhaps due to the strong winds, there were waves, and the impact on the boat was significant.

Several other boats gathered at the spot, and we all waited for the sunset. As soon as the sun went down, we jumped into the water, grabbed onto the float, and just floated. Manta rays appeared almost immediately. One after another, three of them swam right in front of us, opening their large mouths. The sheer power of it was breathtaking.

With the support of the crew, including Tamae, I felt safe participating. I highly recommend it.

港から2〜30分でコナ空港の先のスポットまで行きます。風の強い日だったためか波もありボートへの衝撃は大きかったです。
スポットには数隻の他の船も集まり、みんなで日没を待ちます。
陽が沈むとすぐに海に入ってフロートに捕まって、ただ浮いていればOK。本当にすぐにマンタが現れました。次々と現れてあっという間に3頭？匹？が大きく口を開け目の前をくるくると泳ぎます。あまりの迫力に声が出てしまうほど。
たまえさんをはじめクルーのみなさんのサポートもバッチリなので、安心して参加できました。おすすめです。

I never expected to see manta rays up close like this! They kept doing flips right in front of me over and over again! I was filming with my GoPro, and there were times when the manta's fin brushed against my hand, which is an experience you don't usually get! On the way to the manta spot, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset while being rocked by the boat, and I had such a wonderful time!

こんな間近にマンタが見えるとは思ってなかった！
ってぐらいすごい目の前を何度も何度もマンタは宙返りで来てくれました！
GoProで撮影していたのですが、手にマンタのひれがあたるときもあったりして、こんな体験普通はできないですよね！
マンタのスポットに行くまではボートに揺られながら、綺麗なサンセットも見れて、すごく素敵な時間を過ごせました！！

The full moon made the starry sky a bit disappointing, but my zodiac sign, Scorpio, was beautifully visible. The guide, Sue, was kind and it was an enjoyable observation event. I would like to participate again.

満月で星空はすこーし残念でしたが、私の星座蠍座は綺麗に観えました。ガイドのスーさんが親切で楽しい観察会でした。又参加したいと思います。

My partner and I went on this tour with Aaron. He was a fantastic tour guide, with lots of interesting tidbits about the history of the island and plenty of jokes. He also offered to take plenty of photos of us at all the stops. A huge thank you to him for remaining so cheerful and helpful after such a long day. If it was a long day for us, I can't imagine how long it was for him.

The tour was exactly what's stated in the description. We chose to do the tour in part because we weren't certain how to navigate Volcano National Park, and the tour offered highlights of the Park. After the tour though, I wish we had had more time on the island so we could explore Volcano National Park ourselves. Two hours wasn't nearly enough. If you're lucky (we unfortunately weren't), there will be lava at the Park. But don't worry, the volcanoes on Hawaii won't kill you, but bad tour guide jokes will (thank you for that one Aaron!).

Another highlight was Punalu'u Bake Shop. Try the pineapple malasadas: you won't regret it! I was initally hesitant because I'm not a fan of pineapple not in its raw form/juice, but the pineapple malasada was the best of those we ordered. I wish we got more. The passionfruit (lilikoi) and apple ones were also delicious.

After the bakery, we went to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. It's absolutely lovely and a nice chance to see the endangered Hawaiian sea turtles up close. It's also very picturesque. Just don't get too close to the waves or you'll get very wet.
We finished the tour with stargazing.

Overall, I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants a quick, yet interesting and surprisingly thorough, tour of the southern part of the Big Island. If/when we go back, we would book with Wasabi Tours again.

We were the only Japanese participants, and although we didn't understand the content of the conversation, it felt good to be part of an overseas tour.

For lunch, it was labeled as BBQ, but it was a small, cold hamburger that had been prepared in advance. Since this was one of the reasons we chose the tour, I wish they had made adjustments if there were any changes. I don't think the tour was bad, but I felt it was expensive in terms of cost performance.

日本人は私たちだけで、話の内容はわからないものの、海外のツアーに参加している感覚もよかったです。

昼食は、BBQと書いてあったのですが、作り置きの冷えた小さなハンバーガーで、昼食も選んだ理由だったので、変わったのであれば、修正しておいてほしかったです。
ツアーは悪くなかったと思うのですが、コスパとしては、高いと思いました。

This was a long tour, about 13 hours, and it was so informative and fun! Our guide Aaron was very safe, smart, and informative during our tour. We had a great time at the coffee plantation, black sands beach, a famous bakery, and at the volcano national park. Dinner was good and so was lunch they provided. We had a great and unforgettable time.

It was a once in a lifetime experience. The manta rays came right up to us and almost brushed up on us. It was so beautiful as well as seeing all the glowing plankton and other fish. the staff on the boat were friendly and informative. at the end they gave us hot chocolate and soup to warm us up. definitely recommend this company.

I encountered a view that was more wonderful than I had expected, and it was the best. Although the distance was considerable, which is unavoidable, the long drive by car was a bit of a drawback. However, the explanation in Japanese by a second-generation person from Yokosuka was incredibly clear. Since it was a nearly seven-hour tour, I suppose that's to be expected, but the cost... If I can get past that, I would love to go again.

思っていたよりも、素晴らしい景色に出会えて、最高でした。距離があり、仕方がないのですが、車での移動が長いのが玉に瑕、、、、
英語で説明！よありましたが、横須賀出身の２世の方の日本語の説明で、物凄くよくわかりました。
七時間近くのツアーなので、しょうがないのでしょうが、費用が、、、、、、、それさえクリアできれば、もう一で、行きたいです。

There were about 15 participants, and a guide was at the front and back. The gathering and dispersal felt casual, as we just came to the bay and then left, so I think it's good to come in swimsuits and leave in swimsuits. There were public restrooms nearby. If you have a certain level of English or some canoeing experience, you'll feel more comfortable participating. Also, the light snacks provided were small bags of snacks and about one can of juice. They lent out life jackets for children. The snorkeling masks were one size, so the kids used their own goggles. It was a beautiful bay with very clear blue water, and it was a wonderful half-day tour while feeling the nature of Hawaii. Thank you very much.

参加者が15名くらいで、先頭と後尾にガイドさんがついてくれました。集合も解散もラフな感じで湾の辺りに来て帰るという感じなので、水着で来て水着で帰るくらいの心構えだとよいかなーと思います。公衆トイレは近くにありました。ある程度英語ができる方、もしくは多少のカヌー経験者だと、より安心して参加できるかなと思います。また、軽食はスナック小袋とジュース1缶程度でした。
子ども用ライフジャケット貸し出ししてくれました。シュノーケルマスクはワンサイズだったので、子どもたちは持参のゴーグルを使用しました。
とても澄んだブルーの綺麗な湾で、ハワイの自然を感じながらのツアーで素晴らしい半日になりました。ありがとうございました。

I definitely recommend taking this tour. It’s very well paced so that you’re never stressed out or rushed, but never bored either. I loved learning Hawaiian history and fork lore expertly told by my tour guide Uncle Jim. I would request him if you can. The stops are great and it’s a really nice day trip. Hope you can do this and have fun!

Unfortunately, due to the strong winds from the hurricane, the path to the summit was closed on the day of the visit. However, there was a possibility that if negotiations were successful at the Onizuka Center, the path might be opened, so I went to the Onizuka Center. But the result was... it was indeed not possible.

That said, it was good that I was able to get to Onizuka! The tour fee was refunded later for the portion that I couldn't complete to the summit (not the full amount, but $200 out of $400). Well, we can't win against the forces of nature! This will be a lesson for next time!

運悪くハリケーンの影響で風が強く、当日は頂上への道が閉鎖されたとのこと。
ただ、万が一オニヅカセンターで交渉次第では？道が開けてもらえる可能性もあるということでオニヅカセンターまで行ってきました。
でも、結果は・・・やはりダメでした涙
とはいえ、オニヅカまででもいけたのは良かった！
ツアー代金は、頂上まで行けなかった分、後から返金されましたので(全額ではなく4／5の200ドル）まぁこればっっかり自然の力には勝てないということで仕方ありませんね！
次回の宿題になりましたｗ

I was worried about whether I would be able to see manta rays based on the reviews, but I did! They came surprisingly close, almost within reach of my hands and feet, so I had to be careful not to touch them at all. Since ocean accidents are scary, I chose a tour that provides explanations in Japanese. Fortunately, there wasn't much price difference for the manta tour, so I went with this one.

I had read in reviews that the boat ride from the port to the manta point was long, and that some people experienced seasickness or found the rocking of the boat difficult. However, since I have never had severe seasickness in the past, I thought that for those who enjoy being out in the sea breeze and taking in the ocean views (especially during sunset, which I think is a precious experience), a longer boat ride could actually be a lucky thing.

The Japanese tour guide was wonderfully attentive and a lovely person, and I really liked them as a person. The cocoa we had on the boat was also delicious.

What I wish I had brought were two bath towels—one for drying off and one to cover my legs—because while the water was a comfortable temperature in a wetsuit during the hot July weather, it was cold once we got back on the boat. I also recommend bringing a warm jacket or something to wrap around your neck and shoulders, as well as warmer clothes and underwear to change into after swimming, along with socks. It would be best to have a thermos to keep hot tea or something to drink on the way back.

Manta rays are adorable, and I recommend this tour for anyone who loves soothing sea creatures like dolphins. I would like to join this tour again next time.

口コミからマンタ見れるのか不安でしたが見れました。
しかも予想外に手や足で触れてしまいそうなくらい近くまで来てくれるので、こちらが一切触れないように体を気をつけないといけません。
海の事故はこわいので、日本語で説明してくださるツアーを選びました。幸いにマンタツアーで価格差はあまりなかったので、こちらにしました。
口コミでは港からマンタのいるポイントまでの乗船時間が長い、船酔いしたり揺れるのが辛い、というのも事前に見ていましたが、過去に酷い船酔いをしたことがなく、海風に当たりながら海の景色（ちょうどサンセットが観れる時間だと貴重な体験だと思います。あとイルカが私達の時は船と一緒に泳いでくれました。）を観るのが好きな人にはストレス発散効果もあり、船に乗る時間が長い方がラッキーではないか、と思いました。
添乗員の日本人の方は、気配りも素晴らしく素敵な人で、私は人として好きな方でしたし、船上でいただいたココアも美味しかったです。
持っていけばよかったと思うのは、7月の暑い時期ですが、海の中はウェットスーツを着てちょうどいい温度ですが、船に上がると寒かったので、バスタオルは拭く用と足に掛ける用の2枚、首や肩には暖かい上着や首に巻けるもの、ホテルに帰るまでに水着から着替える用の普段の服より温かい服装と下着、靴下です。
帰りにホットのお茶などを飲めるように保温水筒に入れておくとベストです。
マンタは可愛らしくて、イルカなどの海の癒し系の生き物が好きな方におすすめです。
次回参加する場合もこちらのツアーにしたいです。

After five years of waiting due to the opposition to the observatory expansion and COVID-19, I was finally able to participate in the sunset tour. The company advertised having Japanese-speaking guides, but due to the impact of COVID-19, it seems they laid off most of the Japanese guides because there were many domestic (U.S.) users. During my visit, the guide was an American with experience working at a U.S. military base, and aside from casual conversations near the Onizuka Center and confirming the meeting time, everything was in English. The explanations along the way, including stories about Hawaii's only Army training base, were all in English, but even with my limited English knowledge from middle school to university, I understood about half of it. Of course, the meeting time and important notes were explained in Japanese, but I felt the English explanations were sufficient.

For the stargazing, two vehicles were used in the parking lot between the summit and the center, with only two Japanese participants. We were divided into two groups for English and Japanese explanations, and one person who spoke Japanese provided dedicated explanations. The photos taken during that time, as well as the best photos that the guide had likely taken previously, were received directly through the Aiphone communication feature. Previously, we would receive them later via the website, but with Aiphone, we could do it on the spot by pairing our phones. It seems that those using phones with OS like Samsung might not know how to do this, so I wonder what they do? After returning to the meeting place and dispersing, I was given a ride to a nearby hotel. I was spared a 20-minute walk at night, but this was only because everyone else returned to their cars from the meeting place or were from nearby hotels, so it was just a coincidence that I got a ride. I heard that if Japanese tourists return, Japanese tours might resume.

The tour itself was fantastic, just like everyone else's experience, but I have two final points. The emergency toilet near the summit is very dirty, so it's better not to use it. Let's use the facilities at the Onizuka Center instead, as we will stop there after stargazing, which should take about three hours. Lastly, remember to give a tip when you get off the vehicle. A few years ago, during my first visit (at the time of the "B-class Gourmet Tour"), I completely forgot to tip because it was an all-Japanese tour, and that experience still gives me a bit of trauma. This time, I prepared three levels of tips in my pouch according to my satisfaction and handed them out at the end. If the explanations had been given in both English and Japanese twice, I would have given 20%, but this time I gave about 15%.

　天文台増設反対の封鎖とコロナ等で5年越しでサンセットツアーに参加できました。同社は日本語ガイドがあるのが売りでしたが、コロナの影響で景気のいい国内(米国)利用者が多くなったので、日系人のガイドをほとんどレイオフ?したみたいです。今回利用時は、在日米軍基地勤務経験がある米国人ガイドさんでしたが、オニヅカセンターや展望台付近の雑談や集合時間の確認以外はすべて英語でした。途中の説明は、ハワイ唯一の陸軍訓練基地の話など英語オンリーでの説明でしたが、特に英語は中学から大学までの勉強でしかしたことない私でも、半分くらいは分かりました。もちろん、集合時間、注意事項等は日本語で説明してくれましたが、先の英語の説明で十分わかりました。また、天体観測は、2台の車が、山頂からセンターの間の駐車場で行いましたが、日本人は２人だけで、英語と日本語の説明の二つのグループに分かれましたが、日本語が話せる1人が専属で説明してくれました。その時撮った写真や、以前ガイドさんが撮ったと思われるベストな写真は、Aiphoneの通信機能でそのまま受け取りました。以前は後日ホームページでの受け取りでしたが、Aiphoneだとその場で携帯付き合わせてできます。サムスン等のOSを使った携帯はやり方がわからないみたいなのでどうするんでしょう?集合場所に戻り解散してから近くのホテルまで送ってもらいました。夜道を20分ほど歩かなくて済みましたが、あくまで、他の方が全員集合場所から各自が車で帰ったり、直近のホテルの方だったので、たまたま、送ってもらうことが出来ました。日本人がまた戻ってきたら日本語ツアーが再開されるかもとのことです。ツアーの素晴らしさは申し分なく他の方と同じですが、最後に2点。山頂付近の緊急用トイレは非常に汚いので使用しない方が良いです。オニヅカセンターで済ませましょう。天体観測後にも寄るので、しょうみ3時間くらいでしょうか。最後にチップは降車時に渡しますので忘れないようにしましょう。私は、数年前、最初の利用の時(当時の「B級グルメツアー」)、完全に日本人だけのツアーでその快適さから錯覚してチップ忘れたことがあり、今も少しトラウマになっています。今回も満足度に合わせて3段階のチップをポーチに用意して、最後に渡しました。途中の説明が英語と日本語で2回してくれたなら20％渡したと思いますが、今回は約15％程度としました。

My child (a middle school student) wanted to participate, so our family joined in. We paddled about 2 km out into the bay. It was quite serious. We couldn't go through the cave, and since I was a beginner at kayaking, we just peeked around the entrance area. We also had some time to enjoy snorkeling.

子供(中学生)が参加したいとのことで、家族で参加しました。
湾の外を片道2kmぐらい進みました。結構本格的でした。
洞窟は通り抜けできず、カヤック初心者のため、入り口近辺で覗き込む感じでした。
シュノーケリングを楽しむ時間もありました。

Unfortunately, I couldn't see the dolphins, but I was able to meet a sea turtle while snorkeling. It was great to swim up close (you need to stay 3 meters away). I also received videos that were shared with me. Additionally, I was informed about other beaches where I could see sea turtles, and I was able to see them in person. Thank you very much.

イルカには残念ながら会えませんでしたが、シュノーケリングでウミガメに会えました。
間近で泳げて良かったです。(3mは離れる必要があります)
動画も撮って共有いただきました。
また、ウミガメに会える海岸も教えていただき、実際に見ることもできました。
ありがとうございました。

I arrived about 10 minutes ago and took a seat in the middle. It seemed that the seats in the front were reserved separately, so I couldn't choose those.
I used the hotel parking lot, and the staff took note of my number. I wonder if it was discounted? It was $5.
I enjoyed the show, and the food was delicious and representative of Hawaii. The sunset was also wonderful.
However, I felt that the number of dishes was a bit lacking considering the price.

10分前ぐらいに着き、真ん中ぐらいの席に着きました。前方の席は別予約の席となっているようで、選べませんでした。
ホテルの駐車場を利用しましたが、係の人が番号をメモを取っており、安くなったのか？5ドルでした。
ショーは楽しめましたし、料理もハワイらしいもので味は良かったと思います。夕日も素晴らしかったです。
ただ金額からすると品数が少なかったように思いました。