All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

It was a nice day today!

First, we were at the last hotel for pickup, and I ended up sitting in the back row. This remained unchanged until the end, which was puzzling. Usually, in such tours, you would expect to change seats for the return trip, and I thought the last pickup location would be the first drop-off, so I assumed I would sit in the front. Moreover, there was clearly an elderly person with us, which was a disappointing point.

The weather was great all the way to Mauna Kea. The lunch was a bento box with miso soup, and it was delicious. The cocoa after the meal was also a nice touch. It was cold up there, so I borrowed a jacket and pants to wear on the bus as we headed to the summit. (Honestly, it was a bit sad for the elderly person to sit in the back of the cramped bus.)

After overcoming rough roads, we finally reached the summit!!

Or so I thought, but the ranger told us to turn back... Why? It turned out the wind was strong, it was getting colder, and the road was freezing. We hurriedly took photos at the summit and began our descent. While that was understandable, I was waiting to take sunset photos somewhere, but to my surprise, we had already descended to 2000 meters and it was already sunset. We couldn't even take a photo of the Earth's shadow with just a brief explanation.

Then we climbed back up to Mauna Kea for stargazing. The stargazing itself was good.

I thought this tour title should be canceled, and I wondered if we would receive a ticket to retry within two years, but I was told that we wouldn't receive one after going to Mauna Kea. But we didn't get to see the sunset, did we?

What was even more disappointing was that we could download the photos taken after the tour, but another vehicle from the same company had taken photos of the sunset and the Earth's shadow... Our group had none, and the other photos taken were also lacking.

When I participated in a similar tour of the Grand Circle before, the guides were very knowledgeable about photography and took great pictures, so I might have had high expectations. However, the photography skills this time were disappointing.

Since this was a well-regarded Japanese company, I might have expected too much, but I believe that having better care prepared for situations where the sunset couldn't be captured would enhance overall satisfaction and make it more acceptable. I hope for improvements.

今日はいい天気！という日に参加しました。

まず最後のピックアップのホテルだったのですが、
最後列に座ることに。そしてこれは最後まで変わらなかったのは
なぞでした。
通常こういうツアーだといきと帰りは座る場所を変えたりすると
思いますし、普通最後のピックアップ場所は、最初のドロップオフなので
一番前に座るのかと思ってました。
しかもどう考えても最高齢者が一緒にいたのですが、、これは残念ポイント。

とってもいい天気でオニヅカまで。
お弁当は幕の内弁当とお味噌汁で、おいしかったです。
食後のココアもうれしかった。
ここで寒いので上着とズボンを貸していただき、
着用してバスにのって山頂を目指します。
（狭いバスの中、最高齢者が後ろに座るのは正直ちょっとかわいそうです）

悪路を超えてようやく頂上！！

と思ったら、レンジャーが戻れ、と、、、、。
なぜ？と思ったら風がつよくてさらに寒くなり道路が凍結するから。
とのこと。
頂上の写真をあわただしくとって下山。
それは仕方ないのですが、
どこかでサンセットの写真をとるのかとまっていたら、
まさかの2000メートルまで下がった上にすでに日没。
地球の影も簡単に説明だけで写真撮影できず。

そして再度星空観測のため、オニヅカまでのぼりました。
星空観測自体はよかったです。

これはツアータイトル不催行だな、と思って、よくここで書かれている
二年以内に再チャレンジの券をもらえるのかと思ったら、
オニヅカまでいったらもらえないとのこと。
でもサンセットみれてないのに？と思いました。

さらに残念だったのは、
写真をとっていただいたものを
ツアー後、ダウンロードさせてもらえるのですが、
もう一台行った同じ会社の車は、日没も地球の影も一緒に写真を
とっている、、、、。
私たちのグループはないうえに、他のとった写真もいまひとつ。

以前グランドサークルのこういうツアーに参加したときは
写真の撮り方もとてもガイドさんたちは詳しくて、
本当に上手にとってくださったので
それを期待していたのかもしれませんが、
写真の技術も残念でした。

日系で評判がいい会社だったので期待しすぎたのかもしれませんが、
もう少しサンセットがとれなかったときのケアを考えて用意しておく
ほうが、トータルの満足感もあがるし、納得できると思います。
改善を希望します。

Before participating in this tour, I was concerned about altitude sickness and the weather. To counter altitude sickness, we had dinner at the Onizuka Center, located at an elevation of about 2800m, which also helped with acclimatization. (The Hawaiian-style Japanese bento and warm miso soup were delicious!) After that, we headed towards the summit, and even after we set off, they kindly taught us how to breathe deeply, allowing us to avoid any symptoms of altitude sickness and enjoy the journey without issues.

Regarding the weather, it had been unstable recently, with stars sometimes visible and sometimes not, but fortunately, the day we participated was perfect! (In fact, the conditions were excellent!) Looking up from the base, there were clouds on the mountain, but apparently, this is a daily occurrence. When you think about it, we were climbing up to 4200m, which is quite high...

From the summit, we were able to see a beautiful sunset over the sea of clouds. After enjoying the sunset at the top, we descended a bit and did some stargazing. As it got darker, more and more stars appeared, and we even spotted 2 or 3 moving satellites during that time. The sunlight was reflecting well, and there was a breeze, making for excellent conditions. I've heard that the summer night sky is even more amazing, but I can't imagine how much more beautiful it could be than what we experienced! The guide used a pointer to explain things in a fun and engaging way, allowing us to learn more about astronomy.

While weather can be unpredictable, it turned out to be the best moment for us.

このツアー参加前に気になった事は高山病と天気について。
高山病対策は途中の標高2800m付近のオニヅカセンターにて高地順応を兼ね夕飯のお弁当を食べました。(このハワイアンチックな和風弁当＆温かい味噌汁は美味でした！)その後、山頂へ向かい出発してからも、丁寧に深呼吸の仕方を教えてもらい、道中高山病の症状も出ず問題なく過ごせました。
天気についても、ここ最近は不安定な天気で星空が見えたり見えなかったり、との事でしたが、私達が参加した日は幸いなことに問題ありませんでした。(と言うか、絶好のコンディション！)麓から上を見上げると山に雲が掛かっていますが、これは毎日のことらしい。考えてみれば、それよりも高い4200mまで登るんですよね。。
山頂からは雲海から沈む大変キレイな夕日が臨めました。山頂でサンセット堪能後、少し下に降りそこから天体観測。暗くなるにつれて星がどんどん多くなり、その最中に動く人工衛星も2〜3機確認できました。今日は太陽の反射光もよくあたり風もありで、絶好のコンディションだったようです。夏場の星空はもっとスゴいとのことですが、これ以上の星空ってどうなっちゃうの？？という程キレイな星空でした。夜空についてもポインターを使い面白おかしく説明していただき、天体について改めて学ぶ事が出来ました。
天候の運不運もあるのでしょうが、私達にとって最高のひと時となりました。

Our driver and tour guide was outstanding. We learned a great deal about volcanoes and stars.
There were so many highlights to this trip: excellent veggie lasagne, watched a beautiful sunset from above the clouds, and telescope star gazing. This was one of the highlights of our trip.

Sea kayaking typically accommodates two people per kayak. Since you paddle about 4 miles at a decent speed, I think less powerful individuals, like women, might get quite tired.

The cliff jump from a height of 10 meters (optional) was an unexpected experience, but the other activities like exploring the caves (just a little way into the entrance) and snorkeling (only for 10 minutes, close to shore and not particularly rich in fish) felt somewhat lackluster.

It was disappointing that we couldn't take any photos because we were told not to bring anything that could get wet, including smartphones, which were collected in a storage box. I think it would have been nice if the guide could have taken some photos for us.

シーカヤックは基本一艇に二人で乗ります。それなりのスピードでトータル4マイルほど漕ぐので非力な女性などはそれなりに疲れると思います。
10ｍの高さからのクリフジャンプ(希望者のみ)は予想外の体験でしたがその他の洞窟(入り口付近にちょっと入るだけ)やシュノーケリング(10分間のみ、岸からも近く特に魚影が濃い訳でもなくどこでも体験出来る内容)は中途半端な感じはしました。
濡れて困るものは一切持って行くなという事でスマホなども保管箱に回収されてしまったので何も写真が撮れなかったのが残念です。であればせめてガイドが写真を撮ってくれても良いと思います。

The food was great and so was the entertainment. This luau was highly recommended to us by a bunch of people after we booked it so it was good to know we made a good choice and they were right.

We did a morning tour. The service and attention to the customers was stellar. The ability of seeing humpback whales so close to shore was amazing. The tour surpassed my expectations.
I highly recommend it for adults and children.

Gemma from Miami Florida

As the reviews mentioned, everything was in English, but it's a tour where you hardly need to converse, so I think even those who are not confident can participate. I mentioned that I was a beginner, but we got into the kayak and suddenly paddled out to sea. Surprisingly, it was quite stable, and there was no risk of capsizing in the ocean. The sea cave was a bit different from what I imagined, but paddling out into the vast ocean was a fun experience. After snorkeling, the guide passed us pineapples, snacks, and drinks via the kayak. It was fun to connect the kayaks with a rope and pass the bag around. On the way back, we ended up drifting away from the group, and the guide tied a rope to my kayak and pulled me back. I applied sunscreen, but since the weather was nice, I recommend bringing it on the kayak and reapplying it several times.

口コミ通りすべて英語でしたが、ほぼ会話の必要のないツアーですので
自信のない方も参加可能かと思います。
初心者と伝えましたが、とりあえずカヤックに乗り込みいきなり海に漕ぎ出しました。
意外と安定感があり海でも転覆するようなことはありません。
シーケーブは想像とちょっと違いましたが、とにかく大海原へのカヤック漕ぎは楽しい経験となりました。
シュノーケリングの後は、ガイドさんがパイナップルやスナック、ドリンクをカヤックつてで渡してくれます。カヤックをロープでつないでみんなで袋を回していく感じで楽しいです。
戻る時には群れからどんどん離れてしまい、ガイドさんのカヤックにロープにつないでひっぱってくれました。
日焼け止めを塗ってましたが、天気がよくカヤックに持ち込み何度か塗りなおすことをお勧めします。

The arrangements were smooth. The pick-up and drop-off after arrival were also seamless, making it a great value and very convenient. I will definitely use this service again next time.

手配までもスムーズです。到着後もスムーズに送迎してもらえるので料金もお得で大変便利でした。次回もまた利用させて頂きます。

We participated as a family of three with our 12-year-old son. The headwind was strong and it was tough, but it was a very enjoyable experience. There weren't many types of fish while snorkeling, but overall, we were very satisfied!

12歳の息子と夫婦の3人で参加しました。
向かい風が強く、ハードでしたが、
とても楽しい体験でした。
シュノーケルはお魚の種類はあまり多くはありませんでしたが、でも、総合的に大満足です！

The leis were gorgeous & they lasted all week. I loved seeing my group of 6 all receive them as soon as we were out of the gate area at the airport.

The sunset and the starry sky were truly wonderful. The guide took photos with a professional camera, and I received beautiful pictures later that I could never have captured with my amateur digital camera. It was the best service.

サンセットも星空も、本当に素晴らしかったです。
ガイドの方が本格的なカメラで写真を撮ってくださり、素人のデジカメでは撮れないようなきれいな写真を後でいただけました。最高のサービスでした。

This was one for the books for my wife, and I. You need to know how to swim and snorkel. The Manta Rays were swimming all around us eating the plankton, it was very active during the 45 mins. One went inverted and swam about 1" from our chests. We recorded the footage with a GoPro! This is a bucket list adventure. I would recommend this to anyone!

On the way there, we encountered a whale, so it seems we didn't look for dolphins on the way back. The meeting point was supposed to be near the boat, but in reality, it was at a bench near the port's restroom, and I wouldn't have known where to go if someone from the same tour hadn't called out to me. The snorkeling was fun, and the staff were kind. They provided detailed explanations about the history and geography.

行きにクジラと遭遇したので帰りはイルカを探さなかったようです。
待ち合わせ場所が船の近くとなっていましたが実際は港のトイレの近くのベンチで同じツアーの人に声をかけてもらえなければ分からないところでした。
シュノーケルは楽しくスタッフの方たちも親切でした。歴史や地形について詳しく説明をしてくれました。

I participated alone at the recommendation of a friend, and everyone warmly welcomed me. I was anxious about meeting the dolphins, but I encountered a large group and was able to swim with them, which turned out to be a truly wonderful experience! I definitely want to come back again during summer vacation!

友人に勧められてひとりで参加しましたが、皆さまにあたたかく迎えて頂きました。イルカに会えるか不安でしたが、大群に遭遇して一緒に泳ぐことができてほんとに素晴らしい体験になりました！夏休みもまた是非来たいです♪

Outstanding performance!! Very entertaining and engaging!!

Participants can take photos, but there is a significant difference in the number of downloadable photos between those who have many and those who have few. Since we all paid the same fee, I was disappointed when I checked later.

参加者は写真を撮っていただけるんですが　ダウンロードできる写真の枚数が多い人と少ない人で違いすぎます。同じ料金を払っているのですから　後で確認した時に　がっかりしました。

As the only Japanese participant who didn't understand English that day, I approached the experience with a spirit of challenge. I was given a brochure with clear explanations in Japanese about the ship and the whales. While the staff were attentive with drinks and other services, I felt that there was a slight lack of effort in helping customers spot the whales. I was able to see a few jumps and blows faintly, but I thought the price for this activity was too high, even considering the cost of living.

この日の日本人参加者が、英語の分からない自分1人だったこともあり、どうなる事か…と、チャレンジ精神で臨みました。日本語で分かりやすく記載されている船内やクジラの説明のリーフレットを渡されました。係員の方々は、飲み物など、気を配ってくださいましたけれど、肝心なクジラをお客様に探して見てもらおうといった姿勢が若干欠けていたと感じました。
ジャンプやブローは何回かうっすらと見れましたが、このアクティビティ料金では（物価が高いとは言え）高すぎると思いました。

We’ve taken this cruise several times and love it every time! The food is excellent, the crew is so accommodating, the music is relaxing and Captain Rick is the best. The water was a little ruff so the crew waited on us hand and foot. Captain Rick was funny and went further out in the ocean to avoid a rain shower on the way back so everyone didn’t get soaked. Oh! And Boyd is full of history stories about the island. We strongly recommend this dinner cruise for everyone. There were 2 elderly people on the cruise and the crew got them on board and to their seat safely. We would rather take this cruise then go to a luau. Great job Body Glove!

Great lei, easy to find, helpful with directions! Definitely recommend!

I saw a whale flapping its tail right in front of me. I was satisfied because I got to see it up close multiple times. Along the way, I also encountered a pod of dolphins. The explanations were in English, but I was able to understand most of it.

目の前でクジラがしっぽをバタバタ。
何度も近くで見れたので、満足です。
途中、いるかの群れにも会いました。
説明は、英語でしだが、大体は、理解できました。

Since it was a nature tour, I participated with the understanding that it would be affected by the weather that day. I was able to enjoy the sunset, but the starry sky was obscured by clouds, and I could only observe about 20%. I was impressed by the tour company's consideration, as they mentioned that if the entire tour was unsatisfactory, they would provide a tour ticket valid for two years.

自然が相手のツアーなのでその日の天候で左右されると心ずもりして参加しました。夕日はしっかりと観賞できましたが、星空は雲がかかり20%程しか観察できませんでした。ツアーの全てが駄目な場合は2年間有効なツアー券を下さるとの事、ツアー会社の心配りに感心致しました。

The weather on the day was cloudy. According to the guide who picked us up, the situation was severe regarding whether we could enter the mountain. There were areas along the way where it rained heavily. After arriving at the Onizuka Visitor Center, we waited for the final decision while enjoying our lunch. The result was that the gate was closed, and we couldn't summit... In the end, we finished by watching the starry sky. It was disappointing, but I now have homework for my next trip to the Big Island.

当日の天気は曇り。ピックアップしてもらってからのガイドさんによると、入山できるか厳しい状況との事。途中、すごい雨も降るエリアがありました。オニヅカビジターセンターに到着してから、お弁当を頂きながら最終判断待ち。結果は、ゲートが締まり登頂できず・・・。最後は星空を見て終了でした。残念でしたが、次回のハワイ島での宿題ができました。

My trip to the Big Island always includes this snorkeling cruise.

First, we enjoyed a breakfast of fresh fruits and muffins. Along the way, we encountered whales and dolphins, and then headed to Captain Cook's destination. We had a fantastic time snorkeling in the beautiful sea and indulged in a BBQ lunch with hamburgers on board.

During snorkeling, even though I was in shallow water up to my knees, the current was strong, and I was swept away, becoming a feast for sea urchins. Thanks to my fins, I managed to protect the soles of my feet, but I ended up with 30 spines in my left ring finger, 20 in my right index finger, and countless others that I discovered later. I thought I had to remove them right there, so I endured the pain and pulled them out, somehow making it back to the boat. I was pushed back by the waves multiple times, leaving my knees and thighs covered in cuts and bruises, and I had significant bruising on my ribs, but the pain from the sea urchin stings was unbearable. My left ring finger swelled up black and was completely immobile, and even a light touch caused excruciating pain... the power of the sea urchin is terrifying.

The staff treated me with vinegar, which eased the intense pain a bit, but it was still an extraordinary level of discomfort. If you are careful about the current in shallow waters and the sea urchins, you can have a wonderful time!

ハワイ島の旅は、必ずこのシュノーケルクルーズに参加しています。
まずは新鮮なフルーツとマフィンの朝食。
途中、クジラやイルカにも出会え、その後キャプテンクックの目的地へ。
とってもきれいな海でシュノーケルを十分に楽しみ、船上BBQで、ハンバーガーのランチを堪能。
今回、シュノーケルをしている時に、膝下ぐらいしかない浅瀬にもかかわらず、潮の流れが強く、身体がどんどん流され、見事にウニの餌食…
足ヒレのお陰でなんとか足裏はガード出来ましたが、左手薬指に30本、右手人差し指に20本、その他後から傷口見たら数え切れないほどの長い針が刺さってしまいました。とにかくその場で抜かねば、と思い、痛みをこらえ抜き取り、なんとか船へ戻りました。何度も潮に押し戻されたので膝と太腿は切り傷にアザだらけ、肋骨は打撲とかなりの怪我でしたが、ウニに刺された部分がとにかく痛すぎでした。左手薬指は真っ黒に腫れ上がり全く曲げられず、ちょっと触るだけでも激痛…恐るべしウニパワー…
ヴィネガーが良いとのことで、スタッフが処置してくれ激痛が気持ち和らぎましたが、尋常ではない痛みでした。
浅瀬の潮の流れ、ウニにはくれぐれも気をつけさえすれば、素晴らしい時間が過ごせます‼︎

I was really glad to finally go on the Mauna Kea tour, and I was also blessed with great weather, experiencing the best sunset and a starry sky that took my breath away!

Regarding the tour content, aside from some road paving issues, the drive was smooth. The bento we had at the Onizuka Visitor Center was delicious, and the consideration for photo opportunities during the sunset and stargazing at the summit exceeded my expectations. The care provided was exceptional, and the enthusiasm of the staff member, Matsuchan, really shone through. This tour definitely ranks high among the optional tours I've experienced!

念願のマウナケア山ツアーに行けただけでも良かったですが、お天気にも恵まれ最高のサンセットと満天の星空観測を体験させていただき感謝感激でした！
ツアー内容に関しても、一部道路の舗装事情は別としてドライブもスムーズ、途中立ち寄ったオニズカビジターセンターで頂いたお弁当、山頂でのサンセットや☆観測の写真撮影や時間の配慮など、思った以上の厚いケアーとスタッフ松ちゃんさんの”熱さ”も伝わり、今まで経験したオプショナルツアーでもかなりポイントアップです！

The guides were amazing! So enthusiastic and wonderful with our 6 year old son. Full of so much knowledge about the mantas! We saw 3 manta rays, one of them swam right up so close it grazed my foot. Amazing, once in a lifetime bucket list for sure!! Really recommend this company!!

The meeting time was 7:30, but we were actually called to the boat around 8:00. I guess it's the laid-back Thai time… I was a bit disappointed since I woke up quite early.

The meeting place is very hard to find; it's the building on the beach adjacent to the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort. It feels more like a makeshift hut than a beach house.

The weather was great on the day, and we were able to see whales about 12 times. My mother, who joined me, seemed very satisfied! However, it was quite cold, so having a windbreaker or something similar would be a good idea.

The explanations were only in English, and there were no brochures or anything. They will say, "Look in the direction of the time!" in English, so please make sure to look quickly in that direction!!

When getting off the boat, you will get wet up to your knees, so I definitely recommend participating in a skirt or pants that can be rolled up!

7:30集合でしたが、実際に船に呼ばれたのは8:00〜でした。
南国タイムなのでしょうか…だいぶ早起きしたので、少し残念に思いました。

集合場所がとてもわかりづらいですが、ワイコロアビーチマリオットリゾートホテルに隣接しているビーチの建物です。
海の家というよりは、掘建て小屋のような感じです。

当日は天気も良く、12回ほど鯨を見ることができ、一緒に参加した母も大満足の様子でした！
なお、とても寒かったので、ウインドブレーカーなどあった方が良さそうです。

説明は英語のみで、特にパンフレットなどはありませんでした。
「○時の方向を見て！」と英語で言われるので、迅速にその方向を見てください！！

下船時、膝まで濡れますので必ずスカートやまくり上げられるパンツでの参加をオススメします！

We were blessed with great weather and were able to see the best sunset without any obstructions. The starry sky was also a breathtaking experience, truly one for a lifetime. It was especially magical to have the constellations pointed out and explained with a laser pointer. I would definitely like to participate again if the opportunity arises.

天候に恵まれて、遮るもののない最高のサンセットを見ることが出来ました。また星空も満天の世界で一生ものの体験が出来ました。特に星空の星座をレーザーポインターで指し示して解説するのはとても幻想的で良かったです。また機会があればぜひ参加したいと思いました

I was shivering from the cold until the manta ray appeared, but when it showed up and spun around in front of me multiple times, I was so excited that I forgot all about the cold! I'm really glad I participated. It was so cute, and I felt like I became friends with the manta ray!

マンタが出てくるまで寒くて震えてましたが、マンタが現れなんどもなんども目の前で回転してくれたときはとても興奮して寒さはぶっ飛びました！本当に参加してよかったです。とても可愛かったしマンタと仲良しになれた気がしました！

I was impressed by the location at the summit of Mauna Kea, where various observatories from different countries are located! The winds were so strong that I felt like I might be blown away, but I was able to see a very beautiful sunset. When we changed locations for stargazing, as night fell, the stars began to appear one after another, and the guide's fluent explanations made everything very easy to understand. This was a tour I really wanted to experience, so I felt very lucky to hear that it had not been able to take place the day before.

マウナケア山頂では各国の天文台などがあるロケーションに感激‼
飛ばされそうなほどの強風でしたが、とても綺麗なサンセットを見ることが出来ました。
場所を変えての星空観測も日が暮れるにつれて、星が続々と見えるようになり、ガイドさんの流暢な説明でとても分かりやすかったです。
是非とも体験したかったツアーでしたので、前日までは決行できなかったと聞きとてもラッキーでした。

The starry sky at Mauna Kea is truly beautiful. It's more beautiful than the word "beautiful" can express, but since I can't think of any other words right now, I'll just say it's beautiful. For those who haven't seen it, it's hard to convey, but when you see this, you can't help but think, "Are there really this many stars in the world?"

What I found to be the best part of this tour is that you can take photos with the starry sky at Mauna Kea. Capturing the night sky with a camera is really difficult, but on this tour, the guide provided a camera specifically for the stars, allowing us to take pictures with the stunning starry sky.

It was a tour that will be remembered both in records and in memory. The Orion and Sirius constellations that I usually see now shine brighter than ever. Thank you very much.

マウナケアの星空は本当にきれいです。
きれいという言葉以上にきれいなのですが、きれいと言う言葉以外、今は見当たらないのできれいと言います。
見た人以外にはなかなか伝わらないのですが、これを見ると
「星って世の中にこんなにあるの？」
と言う気持ちになります。
さらにこのツアーで1番いいと思ったのは、マウナケアの星空と一緒に写真が撮れることです。
星空をカメラに収める事は本当に難しいのですがこのツアーではガイドさんが星空専用のカメラを用意してくれて満点の星空と一緒に写真を撮ることができます。
記録と記憶に残るツアーでした。
このツアーで普段見ていたオリオン座とシリウス座が今まで以上に輝いて見えるようになりました。
本当にありがとうございます。