All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

Around 5 PM, we left the harbor and watched the sunset over the ocean. There were about four to five boats offshore. The wind was a bit strong, and the waves crashed violently against the Sheraton Hotel's pier. Feeling a little cold, I tightened my wetsuit up to my neck. Around 6 PM, enveloped in twilight, about 20 participants took turns entering the sea and gazing at the surface. Perhaps due to the weather, the manta rays were not appearing easily... Shortly after, they showed up in slightly deeper waters (3-5 meters?) and passed by. As my body temperature dropped and about 40-50 minutes had passed, suddenly, a manta ray performed a backflip right beneath me! I was moved by the manta's spirit! For those prone to seasickness, feeling cold, or afraid of the ocean, I think it's good to approach this experience with a bit of caution. That said, since it's nature, whether you get to see the manta rays beautifully is a matter of luck.

１７時頃港を出て沖で日が沈むのを眺めています。沖合には４－５隻のボート・船。風はやや強く、シェラトンホテルの岸壁に激しく波が打ち付けられます。少し寒いな、とも感じてウエットスーツを首元までしめます。薄闇につつまれる１８時ごろ（だったと思います）、２０人ほどの参加者が順繰りに海へ入り、海面をみつめます。天候のせいか、なかなかマンタは現れててくれません。。。それからほどなく少し深い（３－５ｍ？）ところに現れては、通りすぎていきます。体温も下がってきて、４０－５０分が過ぎるころ、いきなり自分のからだの真下あたりからバック転をしながら、マンタがサービスしてくれました！マンタの心意気に感動でした！船酔いする方、寒がりの方、海が怖い方、ちょっとだけ用心して臨むとよいと思います。とはいえ自然のことなので、マンタが綺麗に見えるかどうかは運次第です；

This time, I went to Hawaii for my honeymoon and booked this tour. It was an experience beyond my imagination. It was so wonderful that I forgot to take pictures. Wild dolphins swam around us, performing three flips, and it was so mystical and amazing that I thought I was dreaming. Our guide, Daisuke, and the captain were perfectly in sync, and they were incredibly knowledgeable about the ecosystem, providing detailed explanations to all our questions. They took us to the best spots to see the dolphins, and coincidentally, there were whales nearby that day, so we got to see not only dolphins but also whales. It was truly the best experience. I definitely want to participate again.

今回はハネムーンでハワイに行き、このツアーを予約させていただきました。
想像以上に素晴らしい体験ができました。
素晴らしすぎて写真を撮るのを忘れてしまいました。
野性のイルカが何頭も私達の周りを泳ぎ、3回転ジャンプをして見せてくれたり、これは夢なのかと思うくらい神秘的で素晴らしかったです。
ガイドのダイスケさんと船長さんの息もぴったりだし、生態についてもものすごく詳しいので何を聞いても詳しく説明してくれました。
イルカを見る場所のベストポジションに連れて行ってくれましたし、たまたまこの日は鯨が近くにいるとのことでイルカだけではなく鯨も見
せてくれました。
本当に最高の体験でした。
ぜひまた参加したいです。

Hands down the best tour on the Big Island. Brett was our tour guide and he was fantastic. Informative, funny, friendly, professional, he went above and beyond to make the experience amazing. Seeing the volcano at night is something everyone must do, but having a tour makes it much more enjoyable. This tour included seeing rainbow falls, Big Island Candy Co, lunch, and several spots at the Volcano National Park and a very nice dinner. 100% worth it.

On the day of the event, I went to the meeting place early in the morning, but the staff informed me that the cruise was canceled due to bad weather. I understood that the sea was rough and the wind was strong, so I accepted it and enjoyed a leisurely whale watching experience at Quay Bay. I would like to try again.

当日、朝早く集合場所へいきましたが、スタッフが今日は悪天候なのでクルーズは中止になったと連絡されました。海が荒れて風も強かったのでしょうがないと思いつつ、クアベイでゆっくりホエールウオッチングしてました。またトライしたいと思いました。

Most participants are elderly individuals who cannot engage in snorkeling or other marine sports. At the deepest point, we dive down to about 30 meters to see sunken ships and other sights on the seabed. There is also a Japanese audio guide available, so I don't think there will be any issues. If you request a pickup, you will arrive about an hour before the meeting time, and there will be an additional 45 minutes after the return. I think it would be efficient to enjoy some tea nearby or take a stroll around Kailua-Kona during this time. The hotel we stayed at only had high-end souvenir shops, and since we weren't planning to stop by Honolulu, it was great to be able to buy souvenirs all at once at the ABC Store inside the King Kamehameha Hotel.

参加者は、シュノーケルやその他のマリンスポーツができない御高齢の方がほとんどです。いちばん深いところでは、海底30メートルくらいまで潜ります。海底に沈んだ船なども見ることができます。日本語のイヤホンガイドもあり、困ることはほとんどないと思われます。送迎をお願いした場合、集合時間の一時間前くらいに着き、帰りもさらに45分ほど時間があります。この時間に、近くでお茶を飲んだりカイルア・コナの散策もしてしまうと効率が良いと思います。私たちが泊まったホテルには高級なお土産屋さんしかなく、ホノルルにも立ち寄る予定がなかったので、キングスカメカメハホテルの中のABCストアでまとめてお土産を購入でき、良かったです。

Our tour was AMAZING!! Our tour driver was Nathan or Nate. He was awsome!!
They pick you up at your hotel, which is super convenient! The tour group can fit up to 12 people. So it is nice and small. Our group was super fun and Nate was very informative and talked to us about everything and anything he could! The van is nice and clean and not to mention Eco friendly! It rained alittle, and they had raincoats for everyone just in case.They provide bento lunch for everyone. We actually had 2 vegans in our group and Nate was very caring and took them to a nearby grocery store, so they could pick up a few things to eat since they could not eat much from the bento. Nate not only took us to the places mentioned, but he also drove by a few other places he thought our group would like! He was AMAZING!! This tour was so much fun, the sights were beautiful and very informative!

I definitely saw it. The head, dorsal fin, and tail fin, among other things. However, I saw it jump from a distance after moving back a bit, and I thought I should have waited a little longer...

確かに見えましたがね。あたま、背びれ、尾ビレなど。でも、引き返し少し離れて遠目でジャンプした姿が見え、もう少し待ってればと、、、

After reading experiences about the smartphone tour and knowing it was a boat departing from Keauhou Bay, I thought it would be perfect for me since I easily get seasick and feel cold, so I made a reservation. However, on February 16, the day I made the reservation, I received an email via VELTRA at 9 AM notifying me that the tour was canceled due to bad weather. The message stated that I would receive a full refund, and there was a link below for rescheduling the reservation.

I quickly made a reservation for the following day, February 17, and soon received a confirmation reply through VELTRA. However, the next day, there were zero manta rays. When disembarking, I was told, "The office opens at 8 AM tomorrow, so please call." But the next day, I had a tour with Kona Brewing where I would be drinking, so I couldn't drive afterward, and I had to return home the following day.

In a bind, I sent a question email to the VELTRA representative who had sent me the cancellation email, but I received no reply. I had seen too many experiences on VELTRA and mistakenly thought that if I didn't see manta rays, I could try again anytime, similar to other tours. However, for this tour, the information about being able to retry within seven days if I didn't see manta rays only appeared if I opened the "View Details" section on my smartphone.

(There was also information in the Q&A about what to do if I didn't see manta rays, but I noticed it too late...) The guide might have explained the details about retrying when disembarking, but I couldn't understand because I'm not fluent in English. It's my own mistake, and there's nothing I can do about it, but I'm really disappointed that I didn't see any manta rays. Next time, I plan to choose a tour where I can retry anytime if I don't see manta rays.

スマホの体験談を読み、ケアウホウ湾から出る船とのことで、船酔いしやすく又寒がりの私にはこれだ！と思い、予約しましたが…。
予約をした２月16日は、VELTRA経由で朝９時にメールで天候不順で中止との連絡が。
金額は全額返金との文面、更にその下には日程を変更して予約する場合のリンクが貼られていました。
すぐに翌17日の予約を入れ、程なく予約確定の返事もVELTA経由で頂いたのですが…。
翌日決行するも、マンタはゼロ。
下船時『明日８時から事務所が開くので、電話してください』というような話をされましたが、翌日はコナブリューイングのツアーでお酒を飲むため、その後の運転はNG、そして次の日にはもう帰国せねばならず。
困り果て、中止メールを頂いたVERTRAの担当者さんに質問メールを入れましたが、返事はなく…。
VELTRAさんでツアーの体験談をいろいろ見すぎてしまったことで、マンタが見られなかった場合は、またいつでも挑戦可能という他のツアーの体験談と勘違いしてしまい、このツアーも再挑戦はいつでもOKなのだと思い込んでしまっていました。
このツアーは、スマホだと〔詳細を見る〕というところを開けないとマンタが見れなかった場合７日以内に再挑戦可能という文面が現れません。
（Q&Aにも、マンタに会えなかった場合のことが書いてありましたが、気づくのが遅かった…）
ガイドさんは、下船時に再挑戦に際しての詳しい話もされていたのかもしれませんが、英語が堪能ではないので、理解できず。
自分のミスで、仕方ないことですが、マンタが見られず、本当に残念です。
次回は、マンタに会えなかった場合は再挑戦がいつでもOKなところを選ぼうと思います。

Snorkelling in the night with manta rays was an awesome experience.
Everything was perfectly organized: Captain and "Mermaids" were professional, nice and helpful.
We did it with our two kids (8 and 11) and they loved it.
Big mantas swam a few cm from us: in many occasions it looked like it was better to keep the breath in order to avoid touching them!!
It was super-fun and safe.
I recommend this activity to everybody!!!!
Big thanks to the crew for the amazing memories we will bring with us forever

The weather was great, and I was thrilled to see multiple whales up close! I decided to remember the experience rather than just capture it on camera, so I would love to join again if I get the chance! I didn't understand English, but thanks to the friendly crew staff, I had a wonderful time!

天候もよく何度も、何頭も、ブリーチまで見ることができ感激しました！
カメラより目に焼き付けることにしたので、また出会いたくなったら、参加したいと思います！
英語はわからなかったけど、気さくなクルースタッフのおかげで十分に楽しめました！

I was skeptical about whether I could really see whales up close, but I was able to see them several times. The drinks and snacks on board were plentiful, but unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy them much because the boat was rocking quite a bit.

本当に近くでクジラが見れるのか、疑心暗鬼でしたが何度も近くでクジラを見る事が出来た。船内の飲み物やスナック類も充実していたが、船がかなり揺れていた為実際にはあまり飲むことが出来ずに残念だった。

I've always wanted to learn how to surf and Jason was totally awesome and fun to work with. Although there were high surf warnings and strong current warnings going on at the time, I nailed a perfect 10, according to him, on only my 5th wave. I later got 3 in a row, including standing up, surfing the wave, and laying back down again without falling in the blue water below. I quickly caught on to many of the trends, such as interpreting the waves and knowing when to go for it. The first thing to do with learning most any skill is to find patterns.

Jason called me a natural at it, and I believe it, given how quickly I learned and how enjoyable my experience was. It did take me a bit of time to get used to getting up to the standing position from laying down, but the classroom-like aspect of the first segment really helped with that.

I would say the hardest part about this whole thing was finding a parking space for where you'd be doing the actual surfing itself. If you're lucky, you could find parking along the street close by, but chances are, you'll need the parking lot that's close to around 700 feet away, but what's a little walking when you've got a lot of paddling to do? It's a nice warm up, at least, to prepare yourself.

I chose the one on one option mainly because I felt it was going to be a skill I wanted to use in other locations. Little did I know, it actually ensured I could do this as everyone but me canceled due to the surf conditions.

I parked my car as collateral, and the reception was inside the house. It seemed to be a popular tour, as there was another boat besides ours. As mentioned in other comments, everything is in English, so it might be more enjoyable if you can speak a little, but even if you don't understand at all, you'll manage. (The captain shares some history with us.) Suddenly, we sped off into the ocean. Since it was my first time, I was desperately hanging on to avoid being thrown off. If you get seasick, medication is a must. The view of the Big Island from the ocean is magnificent. It was the best. It was my first experience with snorkeling. They provided life jackets, which made me feel safe. We encountered sea turtles and rays. I also saw many beautiful fish. We encountered dolphins three times. They played with us, doing twist jumps right in front of us! It was truly fun. The captain gave us snacks on the boat, and they were delicious! Hawaiian chips with green chili flavor. After that, I went around supermarkets looking for them, but unfortunately, they weren't available.

Thanks to this, I had a very enjoyable time. I would love to visit again.

車を抵当に停めて受付けはハウス内でした。
人気のツアーのようで、私達の他にもう一隻。
他のコメントにもあるように、全て英語なので少しは話せた方が楽しめるかもしれませんが、全くわからなくても何とかなります。
（キャプテンが歴史を話してくれたりします）
いきなり猛スピードで沖へ爆走。
初参加だったので、必死に振り落とされないようにしがみ付いてました。
船酔いする方はお薬必須です。
沖から見るハワイ島は壮大。最高です。
シュノーケルも初体験。
しっかり救命胴衣を貸してくれて、安心。
海がめ、エイにも遭遇。
沢山の綺麗なお魚たちにも会えました。
イルカは3回も遭遇。遊んでくれたのか、私達の目の前でツイストジャンプ！
本当に楽しかったです。
船上でキャプテンがスナックをくれたのですが、それが美味しかった！
ハワイアンチップの青唐辛子味。
その後それを求めてスーパー巡りしましたが、残念ながら売ってなかった。。

お陰さまでとても楽しい時間でした。
また訪れたいとおもいます。

The guide explained at the meeting point, "We cannot go to the summit due to snow. You can cancel if you wish," but I decided to join as it was also a tour around the island. While observing several whale spouts at a viewing point, we received word that we could go to the summit, so our plans changed suddenly. I never expected to see and step on snow in Hawaii at the summit, where remnants of yesterday's snowfall remained! It was such a strange experience! We watched the sunset from the snowy summit and then descended, stopping for stargazing along the way. Unfortunately, there were clouds, but we managed to find some clear skies. From sea level to the summit at 4,205 meters, where the oxygen level is half that of the plains, the temperature dropped from 30 degrees to -2 degrees. It was a tour that offered a rare experience! The guide's dedicated support and enjoyable commentary made the tour even more fun.

ガイドさんから集合時に「積雪で山頂には行けません。キャンセル可能です」の説明がありましたが、島内ツアーを兼ねて参加しました。クジラが見れるポイントで数匹の潮吹きを観察していたら「山頂に行ける」との連絡があり急遽予定変更。昨日の雪が残る山頂でまさかハワイで雪を見て踏みしめるとは！何か不思議な経験です！雪の残る山頂からサンセットを見て下山し途中星空観測、生憎の雲でしたが晴れ間を見つけて出来ました。海抜0mから酸素が平地の半分になる4,205mの山頂、気温は30度からー2度、めったに体験できないツアーでした！ガイドさんの献身的なサポートと楽しい案内がツアーをより楽しくしてくれました。

It's been years since I've felt this moved. Our guide, M, carefully taught us about local gourmet food, traffic rules, and manners. The next day, we had a long drive to Hilo, so it was very helpful. M was fun to talk to and very considerate, making the bus ride relaxing. We had lunch at the Onizuka Center, and although I had no expectations, it was unexpectedly delicious (laughs). I had eaten a hearty lunch beforehand, so I wasn't hungry, which was a bit disappointing.

Then, it was time for the hike. I was so sleepy—just incredibly tired. M tried to keep us awake with conversation, but I was still drowsy. Somehow, we made it to the summit. "Is this Earth? Is this Hawaii?" I couldn't find the words. M became a guide because she participated in this tour. She said, "My life changed." While watching the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds with my wife, I cried. Somehow, the worries I had seemed small and insignificant when I saw that sunset. (Though once I return to Japan, I'll probably be back to worrying about little things again.)

After that, we moved down to stargaze. At first, there weren't many stars, and I thought, "Well, this is it." But gradually, more stars appeared, and before I knew it, I was looking at a sky sprinkled with stars, and I cried again. The sunset was amazing, but the starry sky was also heart-stirring. M carefully explained the constellations using a laser pointer. Along the way, the warm tea and biscuits were delicious too. Finally, after we got off the bus, M dashed back to deliver my forgotten sunglasses. I was moved that she took the time to check for lost items. I can't express how much I was touched. The other participants were also very well-mannered, making it a very comfortable experience. Next time, I want to go to Mauna Kea with Masashi.

こんなに、感動したのは何年ぶりだろう。ｶﾞｲﾄﾞの方（Mちゃん）は、地元のｸﾞﾙﾒや交通ﾙｰﾙ、ﾏﾅｰ等を丁寧に教えてくれた。翌日、ﾋﾛまでﾛﾝｸﾞﾄﾞﾗｲﾌﾞだったので参考になった。話が楽しく、思いやりのある方でﾊﾞｽの中もﾘﾗｯｸできた。ｵﾆｽﾞｶｾﾝﾀｰでお弁当を食べたが、全く期待していなかったが、予想外（笑い）に美味しかった。ﾗﾝﾁをしっかり食べてきて、おなかがすいてなかったので残念でした。
そして、いざ、登山。『眠い』とにかく眠い。Mちゃんがいろいろ眠気さましに、お話しするが眠い。
なんとか、山頂につきました。『ここ、地球？』『ここﾊﾜｲ？』言葉にならないです。Mちゃんがｶﾞｲﾄﾞさんに転職したのは、このﾂｱｰに参加したから。『人生かわりました』とのこと。雲海に沈みゆく夕陽を家内と見ながら、泣いてました。なんか、悩んでることなんか、このサンセットおみると、小さく、どうでもよいことののうに思えてきました。（日本に帰りしばらくするとまた、小さいことに悩む日々ですが）そのあと、下に移動して星空観賞。最初は、あまり星がなく、『まあ、こんなもんか』と思っていたら、徐々に星がでてきて、気が付けば、お星さまを振りまいた空を見、また涙。ｻﾝｾｯﾄも最高だったけど、星空も心揺さぶる。ﾚｰｻﾞｰﾎﾟｲﾝﾀｰを使いながら、丁寧に星座の説明をしてくれる。途中で暖かい紅茶とﾋﾞｽｹｯﾄも美味しかった。最後に、ﾊﾞｽを降た後、Mちゃんが猛ダッシュ、で『ｻﾝｸﾞﾗｽ！』と忘れ物と届けてくれた。ちゃんと忘れ物の確認してることに、ここでも感動。どれだけ、感動したんだろう。他の参加者の方も、ﾏﾅｰが良く、とても快適でした。今度は、ﾏｻｼでﾏｳﾅｹｱに行きたいですね。

This was a wonderful end very enlightening and historical luau.
This show was beautiful and colorful!
We appreciate the wonderful choices of foods and the special choice for my husband's vegetarian meal.
The locale was extra good next to the temple,ocean and the historical exhibits in the hotel.

I had an amazing time!! The big manta rays swam around, and I could watch them for a long time!! It would have been even better if I could have seen more, but I'm satisfied!! I hope that next time I come, I can see even more manta rays, so I give it 4 stars out of 5 ❤︎*.

すごい楽しかったです!!
おっきいマンタがグルグル泳いでくれて、ずーーっと見てられました!!
もっと沢山見れたらもっと良かったけど、満足です!!
また次来る時にはもっと沢山のマンタが見れるといいなという気持ちで星－1で❤︎*。

I was amazed to see so many dolphins up close, more than I had expected. It was truly a fun time! The guide was also fantastic!

思っていたよりたくさんのイルカをすぐ近くで見れて感動しました。本当に楽しい時間でした！ガイドさんも最高でした！

I was able to try multiple times to swim with the dolphins up close. Thanks to that, I was able to swim among a pod of dolphins. As a bonus, I even got to see a whale, which made me very satisfied. Daisuke truly conveyed his love for dolphins, and it felt like he understood their feelings as well. I'm a repeat visitor to the Big Island, and I will definitely be a repeat customer for this tour too!

本当に近くで一緒にイルカと泳げるまでなんどもトライして頂きました。お陰でイルカの群れの中で一緒に泳ぐことができました。
おまけで、クジラまで見させて頂いて大満足でした。
ダイスケさん、心からイルカを愛している方が伝わり、イルカの気持ちまで分かってるようでした。
ハワイ島リピーターですが、このツアーもリピーターになります！

Unfortunately, the summit was closed due to snow, so we had to give up on the sunset. However, we descended a bit and found a spot without clouds, where we were able to see the most amazing starry sky. This was all thanks to our fantastic guide. He helped us find the location and provided detailed explanations about the Orion constellation, the Andromeda Nebula, and various other constellations using a telescope. I owe a big thanks to JIN OTAKA from your group’s nature school and his great partner. Thank you!

I accidentally forgot to give a tip, so I called your company and arranged to leave it at the hotel front desk for Jin to pick up later, which relieved me. It would have been too regrettable not to do so after such a fun guiding experience. I highly recommend everyone to take advantage of this service!

残念だったのは山頂が雪でクローズでしたので夕日は断念。
すこし下山して雲がない場所を探していただき最高な星空を観ることができました。これには最高のガイドさんおかげでした。場所を探し望遠鏡でオリオン星座、アンドロメダ星雲いろいろな星座の説明など詳しく解説をしてもらいました。貴社グループのマサシのネイチャースクールのJIN　OTAKAさんと友達の名コンビのおかげでした。ありがとう！
うっかりしてチップを渡し忘れてしまったので御社に電話をしてホテルの
フロントに預けて仁さんにあとで取りに来てもらうようにしてホッとしました。そうしなくては申し訳ないぐらい楽しいガイドぶりでした。
皆さんも是非利用されるといいですよー。

Because it was a morning cruise, they made good on sighting whales. There were multiple sightings. The amount of time on the boat was good, because after the sightings, I could actually relax and just enjoy the rest of the boat ride. The refreshments were tremendous. The crew was very generous and informative. I know the crew couldn't get as close as I would have liked, because of regulations, but I sure would have liked to have closer pictures and more majestic surfacings. But, overall we were happy with the cruise.

Personally, this was my third time at the summit of Mauna Kea, after visiting 20 years ago and 8 years ago. The experience was similar, including hotel pickup and a break at the Onizuka Visitor Center. However, this time, the guide, Big JIN, was entertaining, making the sunset and stargazing enjoyable. Although it was said to feel like -20 degrees, the rental cold-weather gear provided was perfect. Additionally, there was a unique service for this tour where they later shared photos taken against the backdrop of the sunset at the summit and stunning starry sky photos that are difficult for travelers to capture online. If you're in Hawaii, the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

個人的には20年前、8年前、そして今回の3度目のマウナケア山頂でした。
ホテルピックアップから途中のオニズカ・ビジターセンターの休憩など内容は一緒でした。ただ今回は日本人（ビッグJINさん）のガイドが面白くて楽しくサンセット・星空観察が出来ました。体感温度ー20度と言われましたがレンタルしてくれる防寒着も完ぺきでした。また多分このツアー独自のサービスでしょうが山頂の夕日バックの写真や旅行者では撮りにくい満天の星空写真を後日ネットで配信するなどのサービスがついていました。
ハワイ島なら絶対外せないマウナケア山頂サンセット＆星空観測。おススメです。

I had a rare experience being able to see manta rays up close! They come quite close to you, which can be a little scary. I usually don't get seasick, but I started to feel queasy after floating in the water and looking down at the manta rays for a long time, so I went back up to the boat partway through. I think it's a good idea for those who are prone to motion sickness to take some medication. It gets chilly at night, so I also recommend preparing for the cold.

マンタを間近で見ることができて、貴重な体験ができました！マンタの方からかなり近づいて来るので、ちょっと怖いくらいです。
普段あまり酔ったりはしませんが、マンタを見るためにずっと下を向いて海に浮いて波に揺られていたことで、酔ってきたので途中でしたが船上に上がりました(･･;)
酔いやすい方は酔い止めを飲んだ方がいいと思います。夜は冷えるので、防寒対策もおススメします

We tried surfing for the first time as a couple with a combined age of 102 years, and we were able to ride the waves right away. The instructor was very kind and taught us patiently, which made it so much fun! ❣️
It was a bit disappointing that there were no photos available online afterward. Next time, I would like to check the photos first. I definitely want to do this again! ❣️

初めてサーフィンを夫婦の年齢合計102歳でやって、すぐ乗れました。付きっ切りで、優しく丁寧に教えてくれて、とっても楽しかったです❣️
後からネットで見れる写真がなかったのが残念でした。今度は最初に写真の確認したいです。
そして次回もお願いしたいです❣️

Due to the wind speed, I couldn't reach the summit, but I really enjoyed the sunset and the clear view of the stars that the guide showed us. I participated alone, but the guide was very considerate, and the other participants were also very kind, which made it enjoyable until the end! Thank you very much! I now have the goal of reaching the summit next time.

風速の関係で山頂に登ることはできませんでしたが、サンセットや、星がしっかり見える位置を案内してくれたのでとても楽しめました^ ^そして、1人で参加しましたが、ガイドさんも気にかけてくれたり、参加されてるお客様もとても優しく、最後まで楽しめました！
ありがとうございました^ ^
次は山頂に行くという目標までもできました。

Had a great time with our guide Kevin, he was helpful with instructions on how to paddle so you don't over work yourself, and how to control your kayak, also how to get in and out of the kayak safely. Has nice place for snorkeling with nice variety of wildlife .

Ultimately, we couldn't reach the summit of the mountain and had to stop at the Onizuka Center. Like others have shared in their experiences, I understand that it's a natural occurrence, but the $15 refund is simply too inadequate. If it had been a bit more, it would have eased my feelings. Additionally, my elderly mother was exhausted from being in the car for such a long time.

If the refund policy doesn't change or if there are no suggestions for leaving midway, I cannot recommend this to others.

There were other tour participants who mentioned they had to make a second attempt after not being able to go up the day before, and they felt like they wasted two days.

The only enjoyable part was listening to Mr. Jin, who guided the tour, share his knowledge in the car. He was very knowledgeable and spoke in detail about flowers, history, and volcanoes.

Aside from that, to be honest, nothing about this experience is worth the price. I just want to inform those who will participate in the future that not being able to go up is a disaster!

結果的に山の山頂まではいけず、オニズカセンターで
ストップとなりました。
他の方の体験談同様、自然のことなので仕方のないことだとは
思いますが15ドルという返金内容はあまりにもお粗末すぎます。
もう少し多ければ気持ちも軽減されたと思いますが、
長い間車に乗車して高齢の母を疲れさせてしまいました。

このまま返金内容が変わらないようだったり、途中離脱の
提案もないようですと他の方にはオススメできません。

他のツアー参加者には前日のぼれなくて再アタックだった方も
いたようで2日間を棒に振ったと仰っていました。

ツアーを案内してくださった仁さんのお話を車の中で聞けた
ことだけはとても楽しかったです。
とても博識な方で花や歴史、火山について詳しくお話してください
ました。

それ以外はハッキリいって何も値段と見合っていません。
これから参加される方にものぼれないと悲惨！
ということだけお知らせしておきます。。。

Pros:
-Fun, knowledgeable guides
-Comfortable boat
-Saw 8+ different whales, 16+ different sightings

Cons:
-Whales were pretty far away (200+ yds)

Overall:
-Highly recommend for first time whale watching.

What a wonderful tour to drive to the summit higher than Mount Fuji and observe the sunset and starry sky! Experienced staff will take you close to the summit of Mauna Kea while helping you acclimatize to the altitude to avoid altitude sickness. You can also see the Subaru Telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Hawaii up close, enjoying the sunset and taking photos in the clear air.

To avoid any issues with astronomical observation, you will descend from the summit within 30 minutes of sunset and stop at a suitable location for stargazing and photography of constellations. The low light pollution allows you to see many stars. This is undoubtedly a unique tour that I highly recommend for the Big Island.

There are regular restroom breaks on the way to the summit, and there are portable toilets at the summit. While some may have reservations about using portable toilets, a little patience is necessary. On the day I went, there was no wind and it wasn't too cold, but at an altitude of over 4200 meters, your body can get cold after a long stay, so I recommend bringing a compact down jacket and a hat.

Since only 200 people can reach the summit in a day, it's a good idea to make your tour reservation early.

富士山より高い山頂へ車で行き夕日と星空観測、なんとステキなツアーでしょう♪
慣れたスタッフが高山病にならないよう高度に順応させながらお客様をマウナケアの山頂近くへ連れて行ってくれます。
そして日本の誇る国立天文台ハワイ観測所すばる望遠鏡も間近に望み、澄んだ空気の中を沈んでゆく太陽を眺め写真撮影。
天文観測の障害とならないよう日没から30分以内に山頂を降り途中の星空観測に適した場所で星座の観測と写真撮影をしてくれます。
チリが少ない環境はとても多くの星を見ることが出来ます。
ハワイ島ならではのツアーであることは間違いなく是非お勧めします。

山頂に行くまでもこまめにトイレタイムが設けられ、山頂には簡易トイレが設置されています。簡易トイレは抵抗のある人もいるかと思いますが、そこはちょっと我慢も必要です。
行った日は風も無くそれほどの冷え込みでは無いとのことでしたが、やはり高度4200ｍ超えると長時間の滞在は体が冷えてきますので、自分でもコンパクトにしまえるダウンや帽子等用意される事をお勧めします。

1日に200人までしか登頂できないとのこと、早めのツアー予約も心掛けると良いかと思います。

The sea was really beautiful.

I could only catch a few words in English, but I managed. The crew was attentive and considerate.

Since it was the end of December, the water was very cold, and even though it was the afternoon session, I started to feel cold after snorkeling for 30 minutes.

If there had been a bit more variety in the drinks and food, it would have been five stars. (Juice, potato chips, rice crackers, oranges, pineapples.)

海は、本当にきれいでした。

英語は、単語しか聞き取れなかったけど、何とかなりました。
乗組員は、声をかけてくれ、気配りができていました。

１２月末だったので、水は、とても冷たく、
午後の部でしたが、３０分もシュノーケルしていたら寒くなってしましました。

飲み物と食べ物がもう少し様々なものがあったら、星５つです。
（ジュース、ポテトチップス。あられ、オレンジ、パイナップル）