All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

We participated as three siblings, and all of us were able to stand. The teachers were very kind and taught us well. Although none of us could speak much English, they used very simple words and gestures to communicate, so we didn't have any trouble.

姉弟三人で参加しましたが、全員立てました。
先生たちが、とても親切に教えてくれます。３人ともほとんど英語が話せませんが、ごく簡単な言葉やジェスチャーを交えて教えてくれるので、困りませんでした。

Looking at the participants, my husband and I were the only Japanese. The rest were all foreigners, including Americans, Germans, Poles, and Portuguese. Additionally, the guide was an American who couldn't speak Japanese. To top it off, we were asked to introduce ourselves in English in front of everyone at the beginning of the tour. However, since we came all the way to a foreign country, a tour like this, rather than one with only Japanese participants, was quite nice! I was able to catch a glimpse of how Americans think and their everyday habits. The trekking and birdwatching were truly immersive experiences, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making me feel how small humans are in the grand scheme of nature and the depth of the natural world. For those considering joining in the future, be sure to bring long sleeves and long pants, as well as rain gear and a hat to prepare for the temperature and rain. Also, I recommend wearing lightweight hiking boots instead of sneakers, and if possible, high-cut ones would be ideal. Additionally, the breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared by the guide were delicious and reminiscent of an American picnic, quite different from what we are used to in Japan.

参加者の顔ぶれを見ると、日本人は私たち夫婦だけ。あとはアメリカ人、ドイツ人、ポーランド人、ポルトガル人など外人ばかり。また、ガイドさんは日本語ができないアメリカ人。挙げ句の果てに、ツアーの最初にみんなの前で英語で自己紹介をさせられた。でも、せっかく外国に来たのだから日本人ばかりのツアーでなくこんなツアーもいい！アメリカ人の思考がどうなっているのか、日常的な対応（習慣）などを垣間見ることができた。肝心のトレッキングとバードウォッチングは、都会の喧騒から離れ、まさに自然の真っ只中に放り込まれ、自然の中では「なんて人間はちっぽけなんだろう」、とか「自然の奥深さ」を感じた。なお、これから参加を検討している方は、気温や雨に対応するため、長袖や長ズボンだけでなく、上下のレインウェアや帽子が必要です。また、スニーカーではなく、軽登山靴、さらにできればハイカットのものがあればいいと思います。そのほか、ガイドさんが用意してくれた朝ごはん、昼ごはん、おやつは日本の感覚とは違ってアメリカのピクニックのようなもので美味しかった。

I was extremely excited to see the manta rays coming up from the seabed to the surface. I had been told not to touch the manta rays, but they came so close that I found myself twisting my body to avoid touching them. The boat was rocking quite a bit, so I was glad I took motion sickness medication. The sunset on the way to the spot was incredibly beautiful. Also, the night sky was stunning on the return trip. I think it could be called a Manta & Sunset & Night View Tour!

マンタが海底から水面に上ってきて補色をする姿に大興奮でした。マンタに触れてはいけないと説明されていたけれどあまりにも至近距離まで近づいてきてくれていたので体をくねらせてマンタに触れない体勢でいたほどです。かなり船が揺れるので酔い止めを飲んでいて良かったと思いました。ポイントまで行く間にサンセットがもの凄く綺麗でした。また帰りの船中では夜空が美しかったです。マンタ＆サンセット＆夜景ツアーという名でもよいのでは笑　　　　　　　　　

From the first contact at the hotel front desk, our guide Matsuzaki welcomed us with incredible enthusiasm, and the car ride was so much fun. The views from the summit of Mauna Kea, the sunset, and the stargazing were all amazing! It was cloudy on the way, but the weather at the top of the mountain was perfect! The explanations about the constellations were delivered so well that I was completely absorbed. If I can come to Hawaii again, I would definitely want to visit the Big Island and participate in Masashi's nature school tour. It was a truly satisfying tour. Thank you very much!

ホテルのフロントでのファーストコンタクトからガイドのマツザキさんがものすごいハイテンションで迎えてくれて移動中の車内もすごく楽しかったです．マウナケアの山頂で見た風景やサンセット，そして星空観測もすべてが最高でした！道中は曇ってましたが，山の上はそんなこと関係なく最高の天気！星座の解説も話し方がすごい上手で聞き入ってしまいました．次またハワイに来れたら，絶対ハワイ島にも行って，マサシのネイチャースクールのツアーに参加したいと思えるくらい満足できたツアーでした．本当にありがとうございました．

Captain Steve was hilarious and Michael was a great assistant captain. Both Steve and Michael were entertaining and very knowledgeable about the southern part of the island of Hawaii. We saw dolphins, tons of colorful fish snorkeling, traveled to look inside sea cave and had more food than we needed! It was a truly amazing day on the ocean with Sea Quest!

First, we took a one-hour break at the Onizuka Visitor Center for acclimatization and changing clothes, during which we had an early dinner (the bento and rice were not great). After that, we set off towards the summit of Mauna Kea. We arrived a bit early and secured a fantastic viewpoint. Then, we simply waited for the sun to set. The sea of clouds formed beautifully, allowing us to see the best sunset.

Afterward, we descended a little to view the starry sky (stargazing at the summit is not possible). I was worried about the stars due to the clouds, but perhaps because of our good fortune, the clouds dispersed just right, and we were able to see a nearly perfect starry sky. The guide provided explanations of the constellations and took photos with the starry sky as a backdrop, making it a very satisfying tour. Depending on the weather, it can be amazing.

まずは、高地順応、着替えのためオニヅカビジターセンターで１時間休憩、その時に早めの夕食（お弁当、ご飯がまずかった）をとります。
その後、マウナケア山頂に向かって出発します。少し早めに着いて、絶好のびゅうポイントをゲット。あとはひたすら太陽が沈むのを待つばかり。雲海がうまい具合にでて、最高のサンセットを見ることができました。
その後、星空を見るために少し下ります（山頂での星空見学は出来ない）。雲が出ていた分だけ星空が心配でしたが、日頃の行いが良かったせいか、うまい具合に雲が散ってくれてほぼ満天の星空を見ることができました。ガイドの方が、星座の解説や星空をバックに写真撮影をしてくれて大満足のツアーでした。
天候次第ではありますが、当たるとスゴイです。

So much fun! The crew was wonderful and it was fun meeting people from all over.

I was hoping to see at least one, so I was really happy to see four! I heard that you can see even more during the summer, but one of the four danced right in front of me, spinning around multiple times, which was amazing!

一枚(1匹？1頭？)でも見れれば良いなあと思っていたので、4枚も見れて嬉しかったです！夏の間はもっとたくさんみれるそうですが、4枚のうち1枚の子が目の前でくるりくるりひらりひらりと何回転もしてくれたのがすごがった〜

A perfect size group for this expedition. Captain Steve was knowledgeable and interesting.

We arranged our dinner plans through Veltra for a great luau experience which was spectacular.
We came to Hawaii for our honeymoon.
Everyone at the luau were very friendly in greeting everyone and keeping us posted on the weather which ended up being nice vs pouring rain.
I hope we can come back again with our kids.

Was amazing experience easily the best dolphin swim I have ever done. We got to see a bit of the coast line and the guides were very friendly we would definitely come back again

I never imagined I could stand on a 4000m mountain, so I was moved by the scenery. The guide's explanations were great, and in a friendly atmosphere, I was able to enjoy both the sunset and the starry sky. The Milky Way was clearly visible, and I even saw a fireball at the end. Thank you very much.

4000mの山に自分が立てるなんて、これまで思ってもみなかったので、その景色に感動しました。ガイドさんの説明も上手で、和やかな雰囲気の中、サンセットも星空も楽しむことができました。天の川がはっきりとわかり、最後に火球まで。
ありがとうございました。

Wonderful luau!! Would highly recommend!! Came here with my brother who was visiting and we had a blast. Mahalo!

Kevin made the trip worthwhile. The seas were choppy, the wind was blowing, but the voyage was very worthwhile.. He took two very inexperienced kayakers and made a very safe and enjoyable trip out of it.

The dynamic nature of the Big Island of Hawaii allowed me to feel the vastness of the world, and I was filled with emotion at the beautiful sea of clouds and sunset! I am very happy to have had this experience in my life!

The Big Island is very vast, so I was glad to be taken to the scenic points safely, comfortably, and reliably on this tour. I was also very pleased to have beautiful photos taken not only with my camera but also with a high-performance camera! Additionally, I felt that one of the charms of the tour was being able to hear various stories about Hawaii's history and lifestyle in Japanese from the local guide♪

Since it was close to the full moon this time, I was worried that the starry sky might not be great, but during the full moon, seeing the moment the moon appeared and the big round moon was wonderful. I realized that there is a unique beauty every day, and the time I can go is the best! I was very satisfied to see the starry sky perfectly before the moon came out!!

Next time, I want to participate in other tours and learn more about the charms of the Big Island of Hawaii☆ I was captivated by the great nature! I definitely want to go back to the Big Island again!!!!

ハワイ島のダイナミックな大自然、世界の大きさを感じることが出来て、綺麗な雲海とサンセットには感動で胸がいっぱいになりました！！
人生の中でこの体験をすることができてとても幸せです！

とても広いハワイ島なので、こちらのツアーで安心・快適・確実に絶景ポイントに連れて行っていただけてよかったと思いました。マイカメラだけではなく、高性能な良いカメラで綺麗な写真を撮ってもらえたのもとても嬉しかったです！
また、現地在住のガイドさんからハワイの歴史・暮らし等、様々な話しを日本語で聞かせてもらえるのが、ツアーの魅力の１つだと感じます♪

今回は満月に近かった為、星空があんまりなのかなと不安でしたが、満月の時は満月の時で、月が顔を出す瞬間や大きなまん丸の月を見せてもらい、きっと毎日違った良さがあり、自分が行ける時が一番のベストなんだなと感じました！星空も月が出る前にバッチリと見る事ができ大満足でした！！

今度は他のツアーにも参加して、他のハワイ島の魅力を知りたいなと思いました☆
大自然に魅了されました！絶対にまたハワイ島に行きたいです！！！！

We liked it very much. The narratot, the history, the various outfits, the sincerity of all who performed. And yes, the food was good.

I had a wonderful time. The food was also very filling! However, since I am learning hula, I participated with the image of the best hula dancers in mind, so I felt a bit unsatisfied.

楽しいひと時を過ごしました。ご飯もボリューム満点！
ただ、フラを習っているので、最高のフラダンサー達をイメージして参加してしまったので、少し物足らない感じがしてしまいました。

The purpose of this trip to the Big Island was to see the night manta rays and Kilauea Volcano. First, we participated in the night manta experience. It included transportation, but I received a call the day before saying, "It has been moved up earlier than scheduled." When I arrived at the designated pickup location at the hotel, a Caucasian man informed me that it had been changed to "three hours later." I thought it was an inauspicious start, but we had a fun departure with the captain, who kept cracking jokes, and a Japanese-American girl (tall and slim like Sumire) who translated into English, though her Japanese was a bit shaky. Since I had studied abroad at a university in the U.S., I found the captain's English easier to understand. As for the manta rays, they gathered in droves to feed on the plankton attracted by the powerful LED lights. It was impressive to see the mantas circling vertically and feeding on the plankton, with about three of them at a time. There were two changes to the reservation, but I believe that if the outcome is good, everything is good. The recommendation for Manta University Night Division came from a diving instructor living in Honolulu, and it was the right choice.

今回のハワイ島行きは、ナイトマンタとキラウエア火山の鑑賞が目的でした。まず、ナイトマンタに参加しました。送迎付きでしたが、前日に電話がかかってきて「予定より早くなった」とのことでした。指定された時間にホテルのピックアップ場に行ったところ、白人男性が「３時間後」になったと再度変更。幸先悪いなと思っていましたが、冗談を次々と飛ばす船長さんと、英語を通訳する、少々日本語が怪しい日系の女の子（すみれさんのように長身でスリム）で楽しく出発しました。僕は米国の大学に留学していたので、船長さんの英語の方が分かりやすかったのですが(?)。肝心のマンタですが、強力なLEDに集まるプランクトンを捕食する為にマンタが次々と集まって来ました。垂直方向にぐるぐる回りプランクトンを捕食するマンタは、一度に3枚位で圧巻でした。予約の変更は2回ありましたが、結果良ければ全て良しと思っています。マンタ大学夜学部はホノルルに住んでいるダイビングのインストラクターのお勧めでしたが、正解でした。

It was amazing, the good was great and entertainment was excellent

Crew members were great, accommodated 6 toddlers very well! Friendly and professional. Great live music and guided tour. Food was excellent and we got to see a school of dolphins swim along with us! Would recommend for sure!

I was able to see the dances of each island in the Pacific, learning about their similarities and differences. There were also efforts made to ensure participants enjoyed themselves, such as celebrating birthdays and cheering together.
The meals offered a considerable variety, and even taking small portions resulted in quite a large amount. As mentioned in previous experiences, the order in which you go to get food is determined by your seating, so it’s not an all-you-can-eat situation from the start time. It might have been tough waiting and getting hungry (laughs).
If you don’t have the opportunity to see traditional shows (or have never eaten traditional cuisine) during your stay, I think this is a great option.

太平洋の島々のそれぞれの踊りを見せてくれて、似たところ違うところを知ることが出来ました。参加者の誕生日を祝ったり、一緒に掛け声をかけたりなど参加者が楽しむための工夫もされています。
食事は結構な種類があり、少しずつ取ってもかなり大量になります。前の体験談にもあるように席によって食事をとりにいく順番が決まっていますので、スタート時刻から食べ放題と言う訳ではありません。待っている間におなかへってツラかったかな（笑）。
滞在中に伝統的なショーを見る機会がない（または伝統料理を食べたことがない）なら、いいとおもいます。

We were able to see as many as five manta rays, which usually don't inhabit this area! The guide was also Japanese, which made us feel very comfortable! It was great!!

通常群では生息しないマンタがなんと5匹も見られました！
ガイドの方も日本人でとても安心！
よかったです！！

Setting sail on a cruiser while watching the sunset is a bit romantic. I was worried about the night sea, but with a wetsuit and a float to rest my feet, there was nothing to worry about. I was wondering if we would actually see a manta ray, but one appeared right away, and by the end, there were five. It was an experience like no other, with a large mouth open in front of me, showing its belly and doing flips.

夕日を見ながらクルーザーでの出航ちょっとロマンチックです。夜の海は心配でしたが、ウェットスーツと足を乗せる浮きがあり心配する事もなかったです。肝心のマンタ果たしてくるのか？と思っていましたが、直ぐに1枚現れ、最後には5枚が。目の前を大きな口を開け、腹を見せて宙返り、2度と経験できないような体験でした。

"Riding out into the bay" means we're already in the Pacific Ocean! While I was wondering if it was really okay, under the excellent guidance of our guide, we smoothly paddled the kayak and successfully tackled the challenge of exploring the caves. After the kayak tour, we returned to Keauhou Bay for snorkeling. I lost track of time as I became completely absorbed in snorkeling with the many fish swimming among the corals. If you look closely, there are people along the shore of Keauhou Bay, but in the middle of the bay, it was just the two of us, which made for an incredibly luxurious activity that left us very satisfied.

「湾の外に乗り出す」って、もうそこは太平洋！本当に大丈夫かななんて思いながらも、ガイドさんの見事な指導のもと、悠然とカヤックを進め、洞窟へのチャレンジも見事にこなしました。カヤックツアーの後はケアウホウ湾に戻ってシュノーケリング。サンゴの間に泳いでいるたくさんの魚と一緒に時間のたつのも忘れてシュノーケルに夢中になっていました。よく見ると、ケアウホウ湾の岸辺には人がいますが、ワンの真ん中はうちの夫婦二人の独占で、なんとも贅沢なアクティビティに大満足でした。

I was worried about altitude sickness, but thanks to the guide's advice, I was able to reach the summit safely. It was thrilling to go higher than Mount Fuji, and I got to see a wonderful sunset. The stargazing was also enjoyable, and the guide explained everything well. I want to go again in a different season to see a different night sky.

高山病が心配でしたがガイドの方のアドバイスで無事に山頂行けました。富士山よりも高いところに行ったのは感激で、素晴らしいサンセットが見れました。星空観測も楽しいガイドで良くわかりました。また違う季節に違う星空を見に行きたいです。

Very exciting to see the dolphins on our outing as well as the tropical fish below. The guide was very knowledgeable and provided lots of info on what we were seeing! Excellent outing.

It felt like a private tour since it was just the two of us. Our guide, Kevin, was very kind and great. However, the weather was not ideal, and it was disappointing that we couldn't enter the sea caves during the tour due to the rough waves. We also didn't see any dolphins... well, it can't be helped; it's due to the weather.

私達夫婦だけだったのでプライベートツアーみたいでした。
ガイドのケビンさんはとても親切で良かったです。
ただ、天候がイマイチで、波が荒く海中洞窟ツアーだったのに、入れなかったのが残念でした。
イルカも見えなかったし・・まあ、仕方ないですね、天候のせいですから。

I was able to see manta rays, and I was moved by that, but I suffered from seasickness. After we arrived at the point, it would have been better if they had let us into the water as soon as possible, but we had to wait for quite a while with the boat stopped, and during that time, many people started to feel unwell.

マンタは見られたし、それについては感動もしたけれど、とにかく船酔いで悩まされました。ポイントについた後、できるだけ早く海に入らせてくれればいいものを、船が止まった状態でかなりの時間待たなければならず、その間に気分が悪くなる人続出。

The manta rays were swimming really close by, and it was wonderful. I know they don't eat people, but it felt a bit scary, like they could. Haha.

マンタが本当にスレスレの所で泳いでいて、素敵でした。
食べないのは分かっていますが、食べられそうな感じがしてちょっと怖かったですけど。笑。

I had heard that the oxygen is thin, but I was surprised at how difficult it was to breathe at such a high altitude! I really felt the impact of being told repeatedly to "take deep breaths." Fortunately, we had good weather and it wasn't too cold. I was a bit worried because I had been lax with my cold weather gear, but the warm clothing I was lent was very light and kept me from feeling cold at all.

The sunset is beautiful no matter where you see it, but here at 4,200 meters! Watching the bright red sun setting above the sea of clouds was truly magnificent. Then, we descended to 3,400 meters for stargazing. I checked the moon phase, and it was the fifth day after the new moon, so we could see the Milky Way clearly in the star-filled sky. The explanations about the constellations were very thorough and easy to understand. I took a lot of photos. Thank you very much!

酸素が薄いとは言われてましたが　こんなにも高所が息苦しくなるものか！と驚きでした。何度も繰り返し　”深呼吸して下さいね”と言われた事が身に染みました。お天気に恵まれた事とあまり寒くならなかったのが幸いでした。防寒対策が少しおろそかだったので心配してたのですがお貸し頂いた防寒着がとても軽くて暖かくて寒さを感じる事はありませんでした。夕日は何処でみても綺麗だなぁと思うのですが　ここは4200メートル！そう雲海を下にして見る真っ赤に燃える太陽は本当に素晴らしかったです。そして高度3400メートルまで下りての星空観察。月齢を調べ、参加した日が新月から5日目？の三日月の夜だったので　満天の星空で天の川もくっきりと観られました。星座の説明なども　とても丁寧で解りやすかったです。写真もいっぱい撮って頂きました。有難うございました。