All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

I was worried about the weather being cloudy on the day and whether we would be able to observe the stars, but after arriving at the Onizuka Center, the clouds cleared, and we were able to see the sunset and Maui Island. As it got dark, the main stargazing experience was the best memory, something I can't experience in Japan. The outflow from Kilauea Volcano to the sea was also clearly visible. I brought my digital SLR and tripod, so I was able to take many photos of the stars (which can't be captured with a smartphone camera or digital camera). The driver will take some photos for you, so it's okay if you don't have a DSLR. I participated this time with my daughter, but next time I will join with my husband.

当日の天気は曇っていて星空観察ができるか心配しておりましたが、オニズカセンターに着きしばらくすると雲も流れ去り、サンセットもマウイ島も見る事ができました。暗くなりメインの星空観察は日本では体験できない位、最高の思い出です。キラウエア火山からの海への流出もはっきりと見えました。私はデジタル一眼レフと三脚持参でしたので、沢山の星を撮ることが、出来ました。（スマホのカメラやデジタルカメラでは撮影できないので。)
ドライバーさんが何枚かは撮影してくれますので、一眼レフ、お持ちでない方OKですよ。
今回は娘と参加しましたが、次回は主人と参加します。

I don't think I'll have the chance to encounter a pod of dolphins like this again in the future. So, I'm really glad I participated. The guide really goes all out to help us see as many as possible. If you're prone to seasickness, I recommend taking some motion sickness medication before joining.

いるかの群れにたくさん出会えるのが今後ないと思います。なので、参加できて本当によかったです。ガイドさん、たくさん会えるように体張って案内してくれます。船酔いしやすい方は酔い止め飲んできてから参加したほうがいいと思います。

the views from the top of Mauna Kea are breathtaking, despite the cold. Jeff, our host was the best tour guide, funny, friendly and veru knowledgeable of the the tour and the history of the sites. All along the tour he would explain the site you are crossing and the topography.
The star gazing experience is somehting cool for someone neer seen into space before.

Brownies and hot chocolate at the end of the tour is the epitpomy of a great evening.

Since it was almost a full moon and cloudy, I didn't have high expectations for the starry sky (laughs). Our tour guide, JIN, was very knowledgeable and provided explanations that I hadn't heard on other tours, which was very educational. I also appreciated how much he respected the Japanese community, which came through in his conversation. (After returning home, I reflected on their achievements as well.)

At the actual summit of Mauna Kea, both my husband and I experienced symptoms of altitude sickness, which was unexpected (but don't worry, it wasn't severe!). I realized we shouldn't underestimate it (though we got used to it quickly—maybe it's due to our age). My husband was thrilled to finally visit the location of the National Astronomical Observatory and the Subaru Telescope, which he had always admired. The sunset was incredibly beautiful with the contrast of the clouds and the sunset, making it the highlight of our trip.

Although the stargazing didn't turn out as hoped, we were able to take photos with the volcano thanks to JIN's photography skills. As expected! I would love to visit again during a new moon when the volcanic activity has calmed down.

ほぼ満月ということ、曇っていたので星空は元々期待せずに参加（笑）。
ツアーガイドのJINさんは博学で、前日別ツアーにはない説明もしてくださり、
とても勉強になりました。また日系の方々をとてもリスペクトされていることが、話から伝わってきて好感が持てました。（帰国後彼らの功績を私も振り返ってみました）
実際のマウナケア山頂は思いのほか高山病？的な症状に夫婦揃って罹り（でも
重症ではないですのでご安心を！）侮ってはいけないと思いました（でも、すぐに慣れました・年齢のせいかしら）。
主人はずっと憧れていた国立天文台・すばる望遠鏡の場所に来れたことに感動していました。サンセットは雲と夕日のコントラストでとても美しく、今回の旅での一番の記念になりました。
星空観測は残念な結果となりましたが、JINさんの撮影で火山と一緒に撮影することができました。さすが！
今度は、新月で火山噴火が落ち着いたころにまた訪れたいです。

What a fantastic tour, a lot more than expected. Very knowledgeable of all the coral and sea creatures. Not just for kids our party was 2 adults so we had fun too.

During my stay on the Big Island this time, I had to change my original plans due to the eruption of Kilauea volcano, but the manta night snorkeling I was able to fit in became my best memory.

The boat moves forward, chasing the sunset sinking into the horizon from the harbor. It's a large rubber boat, so we straddle the edge and enjoy the feeling of being on a banana boat. After about 10 minutes, we arrive at the snorkeling point.

There is a bright light installed under a large surfboard-shaped float, and while holding on, we waited… and after about 4 or 5 minutes, they came! Mantas started gathering around us! They were gracefully gliding and feeding right in front of us. We had to be careful not to bump into them as they were so close that we could see inside their mouths and gills clearly.

There were nearly 10 individuals. Out of the 40 minutes we spent underwater, 30 minutes were filled with a manta ballet show. I have seen mantas while diving before, but the proximity and density were on a completely different level. It was truly a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it!

今回のハワイ島滞在は、キラウエア火山の噴火で当初の予定を変更せざるおえなかったのですが、開いた時間に入れたマンタナイトシュノーケリングが一番の思い出になりました。
港から水平線に沈むサンセットを追いかけるように船は進みます。大きなゴムボートなので船縁にまたがり、バナナボート気分を楽しむこと10分程でポイントに着きます。
大きなサーフボード状の浮きの裏に明るいライトが設置してあり、つかまりながら待っていると…4,5分程で来ました来ましたマンタが集まってきました！
目の前でくるりくるりと舞いながら補食していました。あまりにも近くでマンタにぶつからないように注意が必要なほどで、口の中やエラの中までしっかり見えました。
個体数は10枚近くでしょうか。水中にいた40分のうち30分はマンタ乱舞ショーでした。
今までダイビングでマンタを見た事もありますが、近さと密度が段違いです。本当に良い経験になりました。オススメです！

It was my first time snorkeling, and being older, I was a bit worried. However, I was thrilled to encounter so many manta rays! They came to us in such numbers, and it was a wonderful experience.

シュノーケリングは初めてでその上、年配者でちょっと心配してましたが⁉️
沢山のマンタに出逢えて感激しました、‼️
私達のために、というほど沢山やって来てくれて、体験できてとても良かったです。

Great day out on the water. A time for the entire family, very friendly crew and the food was great.

The ocean is incredibly beautiful, and the crew members are truly kind! This is my second time on this tour, and I had the best experience.

海がとにかくキレイで、クルーの皆さんが本当に親切です！こちらのツアーはリピーターですが、最高な経験が出来ました。

It was a cloudy day... I arrived early and parked the rental car in the hotel parking lot to check in. There was a counter outside the hotel and a store located a bit deeper inside, which was a little confusing. When the time came, I boarded a contact boat with about 20 participants, including several Japanese people, and in a few minutes, we reached the submarine.

We quickly boarded and began our dive... I enjoyed about 40 minutes while watching the coral and the fish swimming around. We dove down to about 100 feet, or 30 meters, but it felt a bit dark, possibly due to the cloudy sky, and I felt a greater distance from the fish than I expected. It might have been more beautiful if it had been sunny.

At the counter, they put a sticker on the parking ticket to cover the fee. When I tried to pay with my card, it didn’t recognize it, and I panicked a bit as several cars lined up behind me, but I called and they opened it for me, so it all worked out.

当日は曇り空…早めに到着しホテルの駐車場にレンタカーを止めて受付。 ホテルの外のカウンターとホテル内の少し奥にある店舗があり、少し戸惑いました。 時間になると日本人数名を含む20名ほどの参加者と共に連絡用の船に乗り込み数分で潜水艦へ。
早速乗り込み潜水開始…サンゴやそこを泳ぐ魚を見ながら40分程楽しみました。100フィート、30メートル程まで潜りましたが、曇り空のせいか若干暗く感じたのと思っていたより魚と距離感を感じました。 晴れていればもっと綺麗だったのかもしれません。
カウンターで駐車券にステッカーを貼ってくれて料金をカバーしてくれます。2ドル足りずにカード支払いしようとしたらカードを認識せず…後ろに数台並び焦りましたが、電話して開けてもらい事なきを得ました。

I learned a lot of things I didn't know thanks to our guide, Jin's, knowledgeable explanations. The high-altitude clouds and the brightness of the moon made it difficult to see the stars, but I felt that if I climbed a mountain in Japan, I would be able to see a more starry sky. However, we did get to take commemorative photos with the red glow of the lava from Kilauea, which is 100 km away, falling into the sea in the background. The impact is different with a professional camera.

ガイドの仁さんの博学な説明で、知らなかったことを沢山学びました。高層雲がかかったのと、月が明るすぎて星の見え方は今ひとつ、日本でも山に登ればもっと満天の星空が見えるという感じでした。でも、100kmも離れたキラウエアの熔岩が海に落ちる所が赤く光っているのをバックに記念撮影して頂きました。プロのカメラだと迫力が違いますね。

The sunset at Mauna Kea was, of course, beautiful, but the guide's stories were interesting and fantastic. I was able to enjoy a perfect stargazing experience without any worries about altitude sickness, and I participated in great health. Thank you very much.

マウナケアのサンセットはもちろんですが、ガイドさんの話が面白く最高。　満点の星空観測もでき高山病の不安もなく絶好調な体調で参加できました。有難うございました。

Air accommodations were taken care of for us. Flights were good but there was confusion as to when the flights left. Very emotional day. Lots to see. There were 14 in our group. It was difficult to understand when and where we were meeting at different times throughout the day. It wasn't just us, many were confused. Hard to understand the guide. He was very nice. We were not able to see the Arizona Memorial up close because of the safety issue. No one's fault, we understood. We are glad we did take this trip.

The boat took off at an incredible speed, and I experienced a thrill that really got my adrenaline pumping. When we arrived at the spot, two manta rays swam right below us, circling for about 45 minutes—it was amazing!
However, don't underestimate the Hawaiian nights!
With wet bodies and the wind from the boat, the temperature dropped as the sun set, making the return trip very cold!
If you're participating, definitely bring something to keep warm!
It was a tour that my 75-year-old mother could also join.

出発してボートはすごいスピードで、スリルを味わい、テンションが、上がりました。ポイント到着して、マンタが2枚がすぐに私たちの下でグルグルと回ってくれて、約45分間最高でしたよ！
でも、夜のハワイを甘くみてはいけない！
濡れた体にボートの風、太陽が沈んで気温も下がり、帰りは非常に寒い！
参加される方は羽織る物を絶対に持って行きましょう！
75歳の母も参加できるツアーでした。

Two people in their 60s who don't usually exercise. Although I felt relieved to see other participants around the same age, the first time entering the water was tough and terrifying, and I quickly got back on the boat. However, from the second time on, I leaned on a float and drifted around, and with the guide's support, I was able to see many dolphins. It was really fun!

The guide named us after people who were young long ago. I received plenty of support and had a great time, for which I am grateful. The female captain also gave us lots of encouragement.

普段運動してない60代2人。同世代と思われる参加者もあって一安心したものの、1回目の入水は、しんどい、溺れる‥‥恐怖で早々にボートに上がりましたが、2回目からは浮き棒に寄りかかってプカプカと漂い、ガイドさんのフォローを得てイルカさんをたくさん見る事が出来ました。本当に楽しかった！！
昔若かった人達とは、当日のガイドさんからのネーミング。十分フォローして楽しませて頂いて、感謝。女性の船長さんからも沢山沢山エールをいただきました。

This was an awesome night as a family seeing the manta rays so closely. We really enjoyed it and will always remember it.

The dolphins were so close and the ocean was beautiful, far beyond what I experienced on the dolphin tour in Oahu. On this day, I was lucky enough to see both manta rays and tiger sharks☆ I could also hear the dolphins' voices, making it my best memory from the Big Island. Thank you so much, Daisuke and Hitomi (^ ^)

オアフ島のイルカツアーと比べものにならないくらいイルカちゃんが近くて海も綺麗でした。
この日は運がよくマンタもタイガーシャークも見れました☆
イルカちゃんの声も聞けてハワイ島での一番の思い出になりました。
ダイスケさん、ひとみさん本当にありがとうございました(^ ^)

I couldn't get through to the reconfirmation phone number, so I searched for the office on Google, but there was no office. A local person informed me that the office was no longer there. I immediately emailed VELTLA, and they took care of it, but the meeting time was also off by 30 minutes on the day of the tour.

However, the tour was absolutely wonderful. I believe kayaking is something you can only experience in Hawaii. I had a very fulfilling time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the stunning ocean. Thank you very much.

リコンファームの電話がつながらず、オフィスまで行こうをググって探しましたがオフィスは無く、ロコの方にもうそこにあったオフィスは無いですよと教えてもらいました。すぐにVELTLAさんにメールをして対処していただきましたが、当日も待ち合わせ時間が３０分違ってました。
しかしながらツアーはとても素晴らしかったです。カヤックを漕ぐなどという事はハワイでしかありえないと思います。とても充実した時間を過ごしました。美しい景色、美しい海を満喫しました。ありがとうございました。

A lot of kayaking and a little bit of snorkeling. Guide was good but area we snorkeled in was marginal at best.

On the day of the tour, the weather was great, and we could see the summit of Mauna Kea from the hotel in the morning. I was worried when clouds appeared along the way, but the summit was clear. Mauna Loa and Hualalai were also clearly visible. It was colder than I expected, so I was grateful for the warm clothing I rented. A few days earlier, I had seen Mauna Kea from Haleakalā on Maui, so it was fulfilling to see Haleakalā from Mauna Kea in return. When it got dark, I was able to see the Southern Cross, which I had longed to see during stargazing. The guide provided detailed explanations of constellations like Scorpius, Libra, Virgo, and Cancer, which was very educational. I appreciated the guide's stories and attentiveness. It was a very good tour.

当日は朝からマウナケア山頂がホテルから見える良い天気。
途中、雲が出て心配したが山頂は快晴。
マウナロア、フアラライもくっきりと見渡せる。
思ったよりも寒さが厳しく、借りた防寒着がありがたい。
数日前に登ったマウイ島のハレアカラからマウナケアが見えたので、
逆にマウナケアからハレアカラを見たいとの願いもかなった。
暗くなり星空観測では、念願の南十字星を見ることができた。
さそり座、てんびん座、おとめ座、かに座など星座を詳しく解説
してもらい、勉強になりました。
ガイドさんの話や気配りがうれしかったです。
大変良いツアーでした。

This was my first experience like this. Being rocked by the boat while watching the sunset and heading to a spot where manta rays are found was incredible. As it got darker and the sun set, I was a bit worried about the scary dark color of the sea, but when we arrived at the manta ray spot, there were many other tour boats with lights, so it was fine. Once we got into the water, after a while, the manta rays came and performed flips right next to us, providing an amazing experience. I definitely want to go see the manta rays again.

こんな体験は初めてです。船にゆられて、夕日を見ながらマンタのいる場所まで行くなんて。だんだん暗くなって夕日が落ちると怖い暗い海の色にちょっと心配でしたが、マンタの場所に来ると他のツアーの船も一杯で明かりもあったので大丈夫でした。そして海に入ると暫くしたら、マンタがやってきて何度も何度もスレスレに宙返りをしながらサービス満点でした。またマンタに会いに行きたいと思いました

This was an unforgettable once-in-a-a-lifetime experience! Definitely recommend swimming with the manta rays. It will be one of the most majestic experiences of wildlife you will ever have. A note we were unaware of: it seems essentially all ventures to swim with the mantas leave from a similar dock area and set anchor at essentially the same spot in the water--which is just a few hundred yards out from the dock.

I was moved when I saw the manta ray right in front of me. However, holding onto the glass boat and floating in the sea for a long time was quite tiring. It gets pretty cold at night. It's definitely better to rent a wetsuit, and when you return to the boat and take off the wetsuit, it gets quite chilly, so having a 100 yen store raincoat or a Uniqlo down jacket would be helpful.

マンタを目の前で見たときは感動しました。ただ、グラスボートにつかまって
ずっと海に浮いてるのも結構疲れた。夜なので結構寒いです。ウエットスーツは必ず借りた方が良いし船に戻ってウエットスーツを脱ぐとかなり冷えるので
100均のレインコート、ユニクロのダウン等があると助かります

Tour actually worked out better than expected. The tour vans are nice and new, the guides are nice and knowledgeable. You go right to the telescope summit and watch the sunrise followed by a great star gazing experience.

The lasagna ain't great but bring snacks and you'll have a great time

Had an amazing time on the manta ray snorkel. Definitely worth it. The manta rays get within inches from you, and the experience is unlike anything else. Crew and boat were also awesome. Ended up loving the snorkeling experience so much we went out on a day trip a day later which was also amazing!

It was great seeing these amazing creatures but this is not so much a see the great manta ray in nature as much as it is a highly commercialized, 'we've figured out how to give you a manta-ray petting zoo experience'. They boat you out, extend a floating ladder with lights (to attract plankton), and then have you float and hold onto the ladder as the rays swim below you. They do come very close to you (and may brush against you) as they eat the plankton. Pretty neat for the first several passes but since you are surrounded by other boats doing the same thing with their own floating ladder-like structures the rays will spend their time with whomever has the brightest lights. After about :30 minutes of this people start getting bored and getting back on the boats. It was fun and interesting and glad we did it but not really "swimming with the rays".

The staff really pumped up the atmosphere, making it a tour filled with laughter. I was completely satisfied just with the stargazing from the halfway point. I want to participate again!

スタッフの方がすごーっく盛り上げて下さって、笑いの絶えないツアーになりました。中腹からの星空観測だけで大満足でした。
また参加したいです。

On the day of the tour, the weather was gloomy and I wondered where Mauna Kea was, but when we reached the summit, it was clear, and we were able to enjoy a sunset with beautiful colors. By the time the stars began to appear, the thin clouds above had cleared, providing the best stargazing experience.

It was a tour where I could enjoy the sunset and the starry sky with my eyes, listen to the guide's explanations with my ears, and feel the cold at an altitude of 4,000 meters on my skin.

The guide's explanations and trivia on the way there and back were very helpful. There was a wealth of recommended information about the Big Island, and I wish I had participated in the tour on the first day.

ツアー当日はどんよりした天気でマウナケアはどこに山があるの？な感じでしたが、
山頂まで上がると晴れていて、夕焼け付きのサンセット見させてもらいました。
星空が見え始める頃には、上空にあった薄曇も晴れて最高の星空観察でした。

夕日と星空を目で見て楽しんで、ガイドさんの解説を耳で楽しんで、標高4000mの寒さを肌で感じらことのできるツアーでした。

行き帰りのガイドさんの説明やうんちくとても参考になりました。ハワイ島のオススメ情報盛りだくさんで、初日にツアー参加すればよかったかも。

The guide, Herald, was friendly and kept the group energized during the long drive. He shared a lot of local information about Hawaii. If you understand English, I think it's easier to participate than in a Japanese tour.

Although the weather in Kona was nice on the day of the tour, it rained as we got closer to Mauna Kea, and I was worried about the weather at the summit. However, when we arrived at the top, it was above the clouds, so there was no need to worry.

The summit of Mauna Kea was really cold. Even with a light down jacket and four layers underneath, plus a large down jacket they provided, I still felt cold. Despite the warnings about needing a jacket and long pants, some people didn't prepare, and it seemed quite cold, so they ended up spending most of the time on the bus, which was disappointing to see. (So, warm clothing is essential.)

There were parts where we joined other group tours, which made it hard to hear the explanations, and there were often car lights and white lights that are strictly prohibited for stargazing. However, I was able to see shooting stars multiple times, which was moving! I highly recommend it.

とにかくガイドのヘラルドがフレンドリーで、車の長い道のりもグループを盛り上げてくれました。ハワイのローカル情報もたくさん教えてくれました。英語が分かる方なら日本語ツアーより参加しやすいと思います。
当日はコナの天気は良かったもののマウナケアに近づくほど雨で、山頂の天気を心配しましたが、山頂に着くとそこは雲の上で心配無用でした。
マウナケアの山頂は本当に寒かったです。ライトダウンを着て4枚も着込んだ上に貸してくれる大きなダウンを着ても寒かったです。
あれだけ注意事項に上着必須、長ズボンと書いてあっても用意していない人もいて、かなり寒かったらしくバスの中でほとんどを過ごすこととなり、見ていて残念でした。(そのため、防寒具必須です)
ほかの団体ツアーと一緒になる部分もあり、説明が聞き取れなかったり、星を見るには厳禁の車のライトやホワイトライトが行き交うことも多かったですが、流れ星を何度も見ることができ、感動的でした！お勧めです。

I couldn't reconfirm using the phone number written on the voucher. If reconfirmation was necessary, I would have liked to know that before making the reservation. It's quite difficult for those who are not good at English.

On the day of the event, while I was being shown to my seat and went to get a drink, another staff member seated a different customer, which caused us to lose our seats. Again, my limited English made it hard to communicate with the staff. The staff, seeing the situation, called a Japanese staff member to help us explain, and we finally secured a seat, but it was at a different table. The person who originally had that seat was upset. (I couldn't understand what they were saying, but their gestures and tone indicated they were angry.) It seemed that they told the staff, and we ended up staying at that table, feeling quite uncomfortable.

We were looking forward to the show as a couple, but it was very disappointing. Moreover, the food was served by table, and it took a long time for it to come around, so we were almost last. When I went to get food, there was hardly anything left. There were no plates either. We could only get food until the show started, so we barely had anything to eat. I chose this for our last memory on the Big Island, but it turned into the worst memory. The show itself was good.

Please improve communication among staff regarding who was seated where. Well, I won't be using this service again.

とりあえずバウチャーに書かれた電話番号ではリコンファームが出来なかった。
そもそもリコンファームが必要ならば、予約前に分かるようにして欲しかった。英語が苦手な人にはかなり難易度が高い。

開催当日、席に案内され
ドリンクを取りに行ってる間に別のスタッフが別の客を席に通してしまい、私たちの席がなくなってしまった。
またここでも英語が苦手なのでスタッフに上手く伝わらない。スタッフが見かねて日本人スタッフに電話して電話をかわり私たちが説明してようやく席を確保されたが、そこはまた別の人の席で。
元々の席の人には怒られて。(何を言ってるかはよく分かりませんがジェスチャーと口調で怒ってるようでした。)その人がスタッフに言ったようで、私たちはこのままの席になりましたが、肩身の狭い思いをしました。
夫婦で楽しみにしてたショーだったのにもううんざり。
しかも料理はテーブルごとで、中々順番がまわってこずにほぼ最後。
料理を取りに行ったら、料理がほとんどない。皿もない。ショーが始まるまでしか料理は取りに行けないから、私たちはほぼ食べる事が出来ませんでした。
ハワイ島最終日に最後の思い出と選んだのに最悪の思い出になりました。
ショー自体は良かったです。
もっと、誰をどこの席に通したかとか、スタッフ同士で連携してください。
まあ、二度と利用しませんが。