All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

Arriving shortly before 6:30 p.m., we were greeted with welcoming smiles and thank-yous for choosing them.

During the 30-minute boat ride to the manta ray sighting, the crew offered us snacks and beverages. Captain ?Louie? showed us a beautiful sunset while waiting to "anchor" until another boat saw a manta ray (we liked it that he wanted to give us the best chance of seeing manta rays). I was feeling a little seasick by then. Once the boat stopped, the crew gave us helpful instructions.

As we jumped into the water, the staff provided help to any who needed guidance to the lighted raft. Not being the best swimmer, I was one who Tamae kindly guided.

Minutes after setup, we saw our first of 6-7 manta rays for the evening. The manta rays were amazing, even though they chose to stay close to the bottom of the ocean that evening!

During the experience, the raft kept bumping my head and shifting my mask (another in my party had the same experience, so the crew should try to avoid giving the corner spot of the raft to anyone), so I had to hold onto the raft rope with one hand and prevent the raft from bumping my head with the other. The combination of the boat ride and the raft bumping caused my motion sickness to literally erupt. Diego and Tamae compassionately led me toward the boat. Diego comforted me, saying not to worry, at least one person each trip became ill. Because I started feeling better, I was able to return to the raft for the last 10 minutes.

Climbing up the ladder into the boat wasn't the easiest thing to do, but both the captain and crew were there to help.

The ride back was breezy but not too cold with a towel wrapped around our shoulders. I'm also glad there was a small bucket for me to use with my motion sickness.

The entire crew was fantastic, helping us all to experience watching the manta rays! Tamae also offered free actual video footage of our adventure.

Thanks for our memorable experience!

My family was mesmerized by the port holes! Great sights from the safety of the boat!

Before departure, I was informed that there was a 90% chance of encountering them and a 60% chance of getting close, but I was truly moved when I was able to get so close that it felt like I was about to bump into a manta ray.

出発前、出会える確率９０％、近くに来る確率６０％と案内されていましたが、なんとマンタにぶつかりそうなぐらい近くもできてくれて感動しました。

It was my first time sea kayaking, but thanks to the staff's care, I had a great time. The snack during the break was freshly cut pineapple, which was perfect for recharging my energy on the way back. This time, I was tandem with my wife, but I think I can go solo next time. It depends on the weather, but I believe it's a fun activity.

初めてのシーカヤックでしたが、スタッフのケアのおかげて、とても楽しめました。
休憩のスナックが切りたてのパイナップル
帰りのエネルギー充填バッチリでした
今回は、妻とタンデムでしたが、次回はシングルで行けそうです。
天候次第なところがあるとおもいますが、楽しいアクティビティだと思います。

This was our family’s first trip to Hawaii and we had an amazing time!! This was the perfect event to close out our stay here!! AMAZING!

We had the best time with the Wahine Charters crew. They were very kind and welcoming! 10/10 recommend!

We had a lovely time at the Luau. We were celebrating my sons & his friend graduation from High School.

Clear bottom viewing which is awesome, our family loved the experience.

Yummy food and evening full of entertainment! Perfect on a Hawaii getaway

We loved this excursion! The Boat & staff were excellent! Snorkeling was amazing (tons of fish, turtle & an eel) & the boat with the slides & high dive were so fun for my kids!! This was our favorite hawaiin excursion!

It was a full moon, but the guide explained everything in a fun way, so even though it was cold, it was a very enjoyable tour and became a wonderful memory for our family trip. Next time, I would like to join during the new moon.

満月でしたが、案内の方も楽しく説明していただいたので寒かったけど大変楽しいツアーで家族旅行の素晴らしい思い出になりました。今度は新月に参加したいと思います。

This was my second time. I participated with my son for the first time, and he was also very impressed. I was satisfied with the fluent Japanese guidance from the guide. Out of the 11 participants, only 4 were Japanese, including us. They were very considerate in many ways. They also drove us back to the hotel. Thank you very much.

二度目となる今回でした。初めてとなる息子と参加しましたが、息子も大感激でした。ガイドさんからの流ちょうな日本語での案内で満足です。というのも、11人参加の内日本人は我々を含め、4人だけでした。
色々と気を使っていただきました。帰りもホテルまで送っていただきました。
ありがとうございました。

This is our second trip up the mountain with Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Sunset Adventure. We were so awed in 2015, we wanted to take it all in again. Of course, we never expected it to be even better than our first experience. Our host/driver/guide, Kea, was excellent! His knowledge of the land, the people, and the culture was extensive and well-delivered. We wanted to listen to him for hours more! Kea's respect and request, in Hawaiian, to visit the mountain was moving. It reminded us we were guests, and to honor those before us and where we were. Stepping out of the van for stargazing took our breath away. The stars are so brilliant. Kea had so much information to share on each of the selections he chose to show us through the mighty telescope. We saw Polaris, the Southern Cross, and the Milky Way all in the same sky. Quit searching and choose Kea with Mauna Kea Stargazing! Best in Class!

Really good water conditions, we got to see a good amount of the rays and the experience was breathtaking!

Drinks were good, food was yummy and lots of, and the crew was really joyful!

I was a bit anxious about the English tour, but thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Sue (nickname), who is half American and born in Japan, it was an incredibly fun tour. The guidance in the car, the sunset, and stargazing were truly amazing. I can't forget the BLT sandwich we had at the summit and the hot cocoa while watching the stars. Thank you very much!

英語ツアーと言うことで少し不安でしたが、日本産まれのアメリカ人とのハーフのスーさん（愛称）の素晴らしいホスピタリティのお陰で最高に楽しいツアーでした。車内での案内、サンセット、星空観測、本当に素晴らしかったです。山頂で食べたＢＬＴサンドウィッチ、星空を見ながらのホットココアも忘れらません。本当にありがとうございましたm(_ _)m

It was a wonderful sunset. I was also able to see Japan's Subaru. However, there was too much moonlight, and the starlight was a bit lacking. But later, I received photos via email, which became a wonderful keepsake. Mahalo! I recommend it.

素晴らしいｓｕｎｓｅｔでした。日本のスバルも見ることができました。ただ月の明かりが多くて、星の明かりが今ひとつでした。けど、あとからメールで写真を送っていただき、素晴らしい記念になりました。マハロ！おすすめします。　

On the day I participated, we were divided into a group of only Japanese participants and another group from other countries, so I was able to have a guide in Japanese. Even as a woman participating alone, I had a great time. Our driver and guide, Stefan, was fluent in Japanese and provided an enjoyable tour while also taking wonderful photos. Thank you, Sue.

The temperature, weather, and wind were all perfect that day, but since this is all dependent on nature, it's just luck. However, I've heard that there can be differences in weather stability depending on the season, so it would be good to research that before planning. Stargazing is not suitable when the moon is bright, so if you can choose your dates, I recommend planning around the moon phase.

We only observed a few stars through the telescope (just Venus on that day), so you might want to consider that as a bonus. However, there were plenty of explanations using a pointer, and I believe the beauty of the stars here is something you can't see anywhere else. It felt like a dream to be able to go up to 4,205 meters by car without experiencing altitude sickness. I'm glad I participated!

私が参加した日は、ちょうど日本人だけの車とその他の国の方の車に分かれたので、日本語でガイドをしていただけて、女性1人での参加でも、充分楽しめました。
ドライバー兼ガイドのステファンさんは、日本語ペラペラで楽しくガイドしてくださったり、素敵な写真を撮ってくださったりしました。
スーさん、ありがとうございました。

気温や天候や風も、この日はすべて良かったけれど、こればかりは自然相手なので運。ただ、季節によって、天気の安定、不安定に差があるそうなので、その辺は計画前に調べられると良いと思います。
星空観測は月が明るいと不向きなので、日程を選べる場合は、月齢を見て計画されると良いと思います。
望遠鏡で星を観るのは、ほんの一部（この日は金星のみ）でした。なので、これは おまけと考えた方がいいかも知れません。
でも、ポインターを使っての説明は沢山してくださるし、ここの星の美しさは他では見られないものだと思います。
こんな風に高山病になることなく、車で4205メートルまで行けることが夢のようでした。
参加して良かったです！

The tour was wonderful , the crew engaging, helpful, humorous, and knowledgeable , the equipment was fine, thoughtful snacks/drinks provided, and of course then there were the rays.it was a dreamlike experience.

The show was very entertaining and food was amazing! I would have liked the host to speak a little louder. The tables at the back could barely hear him. Otherwise, great experience.

MUST DO-Our family comes to Hawaii every summer and this is by far the most magical experience we've ever had on an excursion!!! There were four manta rays swimming around us-truly awe inspiring! Our kids are 16, 14, and 10...ALL LOVED IT and said it was the highlight of our trip! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I had a wonderful time in the beautiful weather of Hawaii Island!
We first went offshore to find dolphins, but unfortunately, we couldn't see any. However, it felt great to speed along in the rubber boat!
The snorkeling was also beautiful. I think there might be more variety of fish in places like Kerama in Okinawa. The water clarity was about 25 meters!
After snorkeling for about an hour, we returned while getting explanations about the lava caves along the coastline.

ハワイ島の最高の天気の中、素敵な時間を過ごせました！
最初にイルカを見つけに沖合に出ましたが、残念ながら会えませんでしたでもゴムボートでスピード出して進むのでとても気持ち良かったです！
シュノーケルも綺麗でした。沖縄のケラマとかの方が魚の種類は多いかな？透明度は25mくらいあったと思います！
小1時間シュノーケルした後に戻りながら海岸線の溶岩洞窟の説明などもしてくれました。

The weather was great, and I had a very fulfilling snorkeling experience. I've tried it in various places before, but having plenty of time to enjoy it at my own pace was really good.

天気にも恵まれ、とても充実したシュノーケリング体験ができました。今までいろんな場所で経験しましたが、たっぷりな時間で、ゆっくり自由に楽しめるのがGood でした

I participated in the tour with my parents in their 60s, so I was a bit anxious, but the guide was very attentive, taking care of everything from altitude sickness to restroom breaks.

Although the tour was primarily in English, the guide provided support in Japanese at key points, which made it very enjoyable! (Every time we got off the bus, he would casually explain things in Japanese, including information about restrooms, safety tips at the summit, and even jokes! ✨)

During the sunset, he took many wonderful family photos against the backdrop of the sea of clouds and the sunset, as well as some funny solo shots! He used a professional camera, so the starry sky looked incredibly beautiful (there was even a bonus of the faint red crater from the volcano that erupted a few days ago!). The photos were shared instantly via AirDrop!

Thanks to the stunning scenery and our guide Shotaro, I made some truly wonderful memories! Thank you so much! ✨

60代の父母を連れてのツアー参加でしたので、少し不安でしたが、ガイドさんが高山病のことはもちろんお手洗いのことも、こまめに気遣ってくださり、ケアしてくれました。
また英語ガイドのみとの事でしたが、要所で日本語でのフォローを入れてくださり、とても楽しめました！（車を降りるたびに日本語でドライブ中の説明のフォローやお手洗い情報、山頂での注意事項、ジョークまで気さくに日本語で話しかけて下さいます✨）

サンセットでは雲海と夕陽をバックに素敵な家族写真から面白いソロショットまでたくさん写真を撮ってくれます！
一眼のカメラで撮ってくれますので、星空がめちゃくちゃ綺麗に写ります（数日前に噴火したボルケーノの赤い火口もうっすら映るボーナス付きでした！）
写真はAirDropですぐに共有してくれます！

見たことのない景色はもちろん、ガイドのショウタロウさんのおかげでとても楽しい思い出が出来ました！本当にありがとうございました✨

We went on the afternoon tour with 8 in our family ranging in age from 4 to 65. Most had no snorkeling experience. Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The crew were so friendly and helpful! We were impressed with their safety precautions, including all of the crew being certified lifeguards and were watching out for everyone the entire time we were in the water. The water was pristine and we saw so many varieties of fish and even saw an eel. The coral was beautiful, too.

When we went to pick up, our names weren't on the list, but there just happened to be two seats available, so we were able to get on. They said something like, "Lucky you, there were seats available!" which shows they have no management at all. Plus, there weren't enough meals, so we couldn't eat. (laughs)
By the way, there’s no telescope rental. You just quickly look at the stars, take a quick photo, and that’s it. It feels like, where did the photos go? I wish I could get a refund.

ピックアップの際、私達の名前がなく、たまたま2席空いていたから乗れることに。たまたま空いててラッキーだね！みたいな事言われて、管理全くできてません。しかもご飯の数も足りず、食べれませんでした。笑
ちなみに望遠鏡の貸し出しなんてありません。さくっと星見て、さくっと写真とっておわり。
写真どこいったの？って感じです。返金してほしいくらいです。

The captain exchanged information with other captains and took a detour to an area where we might see dolphins. Sure enough, dolphins came to play around the boat, and we saw them jump twice. Communication is important in everything, isn't it? We also had a great time snorkeling and got to see plenty of yellow fish.

ハワイ島の船長さん同士の情報交換で、イルカに会えそうな海域に遠回りしてくれました。見事、イルカが船の周りに遊びに来てくれました。ジャンプも2回。
コミニケーションは、何事も大切ですね
シュノーケルも、黄色いお魚もいっぱいみれて良かったですよ。

We booked this tour based on these reviews, it seems that these reviews were spot on. Our tour started when Tod picked us up on time and whisked us off to our island adventure. He was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to explain Hawaiian culture and pointed out things in our drive that were informative.

The stargazing portion of our tour was an incredibly unique and awe-inspiring experience. Tod was a knowledgeable guide and took us to a dark and remote location in Mauna Kea, perfect for stargazing. With the use of his personal high-quality telescope, binoculars and a powerful laser pointer, we were able to see constellations, planets, and even faint nebulae. Tod also shared interesting facts and stories about the night sky, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.

Tod even made the experience memorable by playing The Planets by Gustav Holst, its those little details, that made this tour the highlight of our Big Island Vacation.

Overall, this tour is a must-do for anyone who wants to see the stars in all their glory accompanied by our an amazing guide Tod.
Make sure to request him on your next stargazing adventure.

There was a Japanese guide. A Japanese woman kindly assisted me over the phone. Unfortunately, if you can't see a manta, you can participate for free next time. In fact, I was able to try again for free.

On June 10th at 18:00, we saw the best sunset, but we only caught a glimpse of one manta passing by in the distance. My husband didn't see any at all.

On June 13th at 21:00, I was allowed to try again for free, and I had the best encounter with 4 to 5 mantas that spun around right in front of me multiple times. It truly felt like a manta experience. Since it’s nature... the impact and emotion were different from just seeing mantas pass by in Ishigaki Island.

Even though I don't understand English, I could feel the excitement of the crew. Since it was dark in the sea, I felt reassured participating just by understanding Japanese.

日本人のガイドさんがいます。電話も日本人の女性が親切に対応してくれました。
残念ながらマンタに会えない時は、次回の参加は無料にして頂けます。実際、無料で再度チャレンジできました。
6/10　18:00からは最高の夕日は見れましたが、遠くに通り過ぎた1枚しか見れませんでした。主人は、全く見れてません。
6/13　21:00に無料で再チャレンジさせてもらい、4～5枚のマンタが目の前で何度もクルクル回転してくれる最高の出会いを見れました。これぞマンタという感じでした。自然相手なので。。。。。石垣島での通り過ぎるマンタを見るのとは、迫力、感動が違いました。
英語が解らない私でも、乗組員のスタッフの興奮が伝わりました。
暗い海なので、日本語がわかるだけで安心して参加できました。

The boat ride was so much fun and such an adrenaline rush. The waters were beautiful and perfect temperature for swimming. The captain and crew were so friendly and had so much information about the land. Would definitely do it again and you get so much for the price!