All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

There isn't much to this tour that you couldn't do on your own. Both of the national parks were interesting, but my family and I would have loved to have more time to take them in. The bee farm was also cool - their employees were really enthusiastic and we enjoyed tasting all of the honey. However, the coffee tour was given by a coffee farm employee who seemed to not know much of what she was talking about. Our tour guide from the tour company was honestly the highlight of the tour - he was really knowledgeable and funny, and he definitely made the tour as fun as it could possibly be. However, it felt like he didn't have that much to work with.

The weather was wonderful, and I was able to see beautiful scenery. Along the way, we had various conversations, and I was also guided to a beach with white sand. I was able to download photos of the starry sky, and I am very satisfied.

There was one mistake. I was supposed to receive a discount for booking through the website, but since I booked one through this site, the discount was not applied. I tried to rebook, but unfortunately, I couldn't. It might be difficult due to the many reservations, but I would have greatly appreciated it if they could have accommodated me.

I made wonderful memories on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you very much.

天候に恵まれ、素敵な景色をみることができました。
道中もいろんなお話をしていただいたり、白砂の海岸へも案内していただけました。
満点の星空の写真もダウンロードでき、とても満足しています。

失敗したことが１つあります。
ホームページから予約すると割引が適用されるはずが、1つをこちらのサイトから予約したため適用していただけず、再予約を試みましたができずに残念でした。
たくさんの予約があるため難しいのかもしれませんが、対応していただけたらすごく有り難かったです。

ハワイ島の楽しい思い出ができました。ありがとうございました。

The weather was perfect, and both the sunset and starry sky were magnificent. I kept shouting in my heart, "I'm so glad to be alive! Thank you!" It's difficult to express this scenery in words to those who haven't seen it. I never expected to see the Southern Cross and the Milky Way so clearly. The rings of Saturn were also visible through the telescope! Under the starlight, part of the sea of clouds appeared orange, illuminated by the lava of Kilauea volcano, creating a fantastical scene. Using a laser pointer to explain the constellations in the star-filled sky was very clear, and I understood well how ancient people in Hawaii revered nature and lived while feeling the energy of the universe. Mr. Konno's lecture was so much fun. Thank you for the experience that far exceeded my imagination. I'm so glad I went!

最高の天気で夕日も星空も見事✨
生きてて良かった‼️ありがとう✨と心の中で何度
も叫んでました。この風景、見ていない人に言葉で表現しても伝える事は難しい無理かな❓
南十字星や天の川があんなにはっきり見られるとは思いませんでした。
土星の輪も望遠鏡ではっきり‼️
星の光の下で雲海の一部がオレンジ色に見えたキラウエア火山の溶岩の明かりも幻想的でした。
満天の星空でレーザーペンを使って星座の説明はわかりやすく、ハワイに伝わる神話に古代の人が自然を敬い宇宙のエネルギーを感じながら生きていたと言うのがよくわかりました。
コンノさんのレクチャー、とっても楽しかった
想像を遥かに超えた感動をありがとうございました。行って良かったぁ〜

This is by far the best dinner cruise on the Island ,music,dancing,and a fun time ,The food was outstanding ,the crew could not do enough for you ,this would be a first for me 10 out 10 ,and bonus seen dolpins again ,top sunset .
,
And CPt Cook site

This is a top day out .with a lovely Hawaii style breekie and lunch .,the best boat lots of room ,very professional done ,in a relaxed and fun filled day ,lots of Dolphins ,highly recommend

It was the most wonderful experience with my family. We went the morning program and the weather was great (not too sunny but not too cloudy). The staff crews and captain are wonderful to serve every single passenger. Ola, one of staff remembers our names and keep checking us often. Dolphins were waiting for our Body Grove boat and played with our boat both ways from/to the spot. The snorkeling was beautiful ever and the meals were also wonderful. My wife had a motion sickness and hard time to survive but all other four family members had life-long unforgettable memory. If you have motion sickness, better to prepare some medicine to prevent it. My kids enjoyed the high jumps. There are some waves. Thanks to Captain and all crews.

I took my 5-year-old daughter to this luau. She loved it! She referred to the fire dancer as David from Lilo and Stitch. The food was amazing, though it took a while to get to since it's buffet style and lots of people to feed. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Kona.

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。

Thanks to the guide's kind and easy-to-understand instructions, we were able to efficiently enjoy sea kayaking and snorkeling. The "two-hour early morning" session was just right for us beginners, especially since we didn't have much time in Kona and had just arrived. It also served as a great reference for when we went snorkeling on our own afterward. The guide also provided helpful information about other sightseeing options. Thank you very much!

ガイドさんの親切でわかりやすい案内でシーカヤックとシュノーケルを効率よく楽しむことができました。「早朝２時間」という内容が、コナ滞在時間があまりなく初心者の私たちにはちょうどよく、また到着直後でもあったのでその後自分たちでシュノーケルをするときの参考にすることもできました。このツアー以外の観光情報も教えてもらい、役に立ちました。ありがとうございました！

The highlight of my trip to Hawaii was this tour. All the participants were Japanese, and our guide was also Japanese. It was so enjoyable to hear various stories about the Big Island during the drive to the summit, and I was desperately taking notes.

The sunset over the sea of clouds from the summit of Mauna Kea was incredibly mystical. After that, we joined another tour group for stargazing at about 3,900 meters. The explanations about the stars using a laser pointer were very easy to understand. I want that laser pointer!

The sky was filled with stars, just like a planetarium, and I particularly enjoyed seeing the Southern Cross and Scorpius clearly. I was thrilled to see the Milky Way, shooting stars, and even satellites with my own eyes for the first time.

I was anxious about participating since I had no mountain climbing experience, but thanks to the frequent check-ins to prevent altitude sickness, no one fell ill. Just be careful when looking down and then quickly lifting your head, as it can make you feel dizzy.

They provide cold-weather gear, but if you're sensitive to the cold, it's a good idea to bring something like an ultra-light down jacket. Also, batteries drain quickly in cold conditions, so if you want to take a lot of photos, I recommend bringing a charger or spare batteries.

After returning to the hotel, I kept gazing at the constellations we learned about. I definitely want to participate again. Thank you!

ハワイ旅行で一番楽しみだったのがこちらのツアーでした。
参加者は全員日本の方々で、ガイドさんも日本の方でした。山頂まで登る間の車の中でハワイ島についての色んなお話をして下さったのがとても楽しくて、必死にメモをとっていました。
マウナケア山頂からみた、雲海に沈んでいく太陽はとても神秘的でした。
その後3900mほどまで下ったところでもう一つのツアーグループと合同で星空観測をしました。
レーザーポインターを使って星の説明して下さったのがとても分かりやすかったです。あのレーザーポインター欲しいです笑
まるでプラネタリウムのような満天の星で、特に南十字星とさそり座が綺麗に見えました。初めて肉眼で天の川や流れ星、人工衛星も見ることができ感激しました。
登山経験がないので参加するまで不安でしたが、高山病にならないようこまめに声をかけて下さったおかげで体調を崩す方は1人もいらっしゃいませんでした。ただトイレに行く時など、下を向いてすぐ顔をあげるとクラっとしてしまうことがあるので気をつけて下さい。
防寒着は貸してもらえますが、寒がりの方はウルトラライトダウンなどを用意しておくといいです。また、寒いところではバッテリーの消耗がとても早いため、写真をたくさん撮りたい方は充電器や替えのバッテリーを持っていくことをオススメします。
ホテルに戻ってからも、教えていただいた星座をずっと眺めていました。
また絶対参加したいです。ありがとうございました。

One of the highlights of our trip, so fun! Peena, Tim & crew were awesome. They moved things along nicely and were fun to be with. We saw some amazing Mantas, it was an experience we'll be talking about for a long time!

We arrived at the marina early, applied sunscreen thoroughly, and felt the excitement build. The captain was cheerful, and among the 15 people, there were four of us from Japan: my husband, our friends, and me. We held on tightly to the ropes as we set off, experiencing thrilling rafting that made us feel like we were being tossed into the rough waves. There were many young couples around us, but we, even at our age, enjoyed ourselves just as much as the older group celebrating their 70s. The snorkeling spot we reached was absolutely wonderful, and along the way, dolphins jumped around and followed our boat, which was quite entertaining. The pineapple and orange we had on the boat were incredibly sweet and unforgettable. On the way back, the captain explained about the lava caves and fault lines, and we were able to enter narrow areas that regular boats couldn't access, allowing us to enjoy some rare sights.

マリーナ迄早めにつき、日焼け止めローションを念入りに塗り、緊張感高まる。キャプテンは陽気な方で、15人中日本人は私達夫婦と友達夫婦の4人。しっかりとロープにつかまり出発、荒波に身を投げ出されそうになりながらスリル満点のラフティング。周りは若いカップルが多かったのですが我々アラカンどころか古希組も十分に楽しめました。着いたスノーケルの場所もとても素晴らしかったし、とちゅうでイルカがあちこちでジャンプしてボートについてきておもしろかった。ボートでいただいたパイナップルとオレンジの甘かった事、忘れられない美味しさです。帰り道溶岩の洞窟や、断層などの説明をしてくれたり、普通の船では行かれない狭い所にも入って行けて珍しい気色も堪能できました。

Two years ago, I was so impressed that I headed to the summit of Mauna Kea again this year. With the reliable Big Jin driving, the journey was enjoyable, and before I knew it, we arrived at the Onizuka Center for dinner time. The food was even more delicious than before, so I finished everything. I was happy to have miso soup and warm cocoa. The sunset was magnificent, and the colors of the sky were unforgettable. This time, the moon was in its first quarter, so it was a bit brighter, but I was able to see the craters on the moon and take pictures with the constellations, which made for great memories. The cold wasn't as harsh as I expected, which was a relief. I highly recommend this tour.

二年前に感激してからまた今年、再びマウナケアの山頂へ向かいました。
頼もしいビッグジンさん運転で出発、車中のお話も楽しくあっという間にオニヅカセンターに着き夕食タイム、以前より美味しくなっていたので完食。お味噌汁と温かいココアが嬉しかったです。日没は見事で、夕焼けも素晴らしかったです。あの空の色は忘れられません。今回は月が半月だったのですこし明るかったのですが、月面のクレーターを見せてもらったり星座と写真を撮ってもらって良い記念になりました。思ったより寒さも厳しくなくて助かりました。お薦めのツアーです。

I was moved by the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea! The shadow of Mauna Kea reflected in the sea of clouds before the sunset. And the sun sinking into the sea of clouds. The bustling surroundings suddenly became quiet, and there was the sunset. Applause from people from all over the world at the summit! I was simply overwhelmed by the breathtaking view and couldn't find the words. Is there anyone who can express such a wonderful sight in words? No, there isn't. And there's no need for flowery expressions. My heart knows… (The stargazing afterward was also amazing, and the guide explained the night sky well. The guide was consistently kind and attentive, taking many photos with my camera. For those who wanted, a password was sent to download the photos taken by the guide from the website, allowing us to obtain many photos for free. In another optional tour, downloading costs $20, so this was a very reasonable and excellent tour. Thank you, Masashi Nature School! Mahalo!)

マウナケア山頂でのサンセットに感動！サンセット前に見た雲海に映すマウナケア山の影。そして、雲海に沈む太陽。ざわついた廻りが一瞬静かになり、サンセット。頂上にいた世界中の人たちから拍手！頂上ならではの光景にただただ感動して言葉が出ません。こんな素晴らしい光景を言葉で表現できる人がいるでしょうか？いいえ、いません。そして、飾り立てた言葉の表現なんていりません。私の心が知っているから…。(その後のスターゲイジングも素晴らしく、星空をよく説明してくれました。ガイドさんは終始親切丁寧で、こまめに私のカメラで写真を撮ってくれました。希望者にはガイドさんが撮った写真を、ホームページからダウンロードできるパスワードが送られ、無料でたくさんの写真が入手できました。別のオプショナルツアーではダウンロードに20＄もかかるのがありますので、良心的で最高のツアーでした。ガイドさん、マサシネイチャースクールさん、ありがとうございました。Mahalo!）

I experienced a luau. The location was by the sea, with beautiful scenery, a great show, and delicious food. My husband also liked it and said it was good. It became a wonderful memory of the Big Island. The dancers were very nice and we were able to take pictures with them at the end, getting to see them up close. They were very pleasant and accommodating. It was great.

ルアウを体験しました。場所も海沿いで、綺麗な景色とショー、食事も美味しく良かったです。主人も気に入り、良かったと。ハワイ島の良い思い出になりました。ダンサーの方々も最後に一緒に写真を、撮る事が出来、間近で見る事が出来ました。すごく感じ良く対応してくださりました。良かったです。

I visited the Big Island for the first time to see manta rays. On the day of the tour, we were the only two Japanese participants, but our guide, Ali, provided thorough explanations, which made us feel at ease! As soon as we arrived at the port, we tried on our wetsuits. Since we wear them over our swimsuits, I recommend wearing easy-to-change clothes.

Once everyone gathered, we listened to the briefing and set off. The boat ride was incredibly thrilling and so much fun! When we reached the manta spot, we stopped the boat and waited. It was a bit wavy, so I took motion sickness medication beforehand, but I still felt a little nauseous… Luckily, I had some chewable motion sickness tablets with me, so I felt better quickly.

Finally, we entered the water and held onto a board with handles to go snorkeling and see the underwater world. We were told that there were only a few mantas that day, but one appeared right away! Although we couldn't see it up close, it was breathtaking.

After a while, fish started gathering around us, and it was adorable to see them nibbling right in front of us. Later, we spotted several mantas in the distance, but we couldn't see them up close. It was a bit disappointing not to see them feeding up close, as they seemed to be gathering around other boats.

However, holding onto the board and drifting on the water felt like swimming in the ocean, which was amazing. Even in June, it was a bit chilly, but the fun made me forget about the cold. On the way back, we got quite cold since we were wet. If you take off your rash guard, dry off with a beach towel, and put on a windbreaker, the cold is manageable.

Returning over the dark ocean while enjoying the night view was beautiful, and I was very satisfied. Thank you!

マンタが見たくて今回初めてハワイ島を訪れました。当日のツアーでは日本人私達は2人だけでしたがガイドのアリちゃんがきちんと説明してくれたので安心しました！港に着いてすぐウェットスーツを試着します。水着の上から着るので着替えやすい服装で行った方がいいと思います。
みなさん揃ったら説明を聞いて出発☆行きのボートはすごい迫力でめちゃめちゃ楽しかったです！マンタスポットに着いたら船を止めて待ちます。ここでユラユラするので酔い止めを飲んで行っていましたがちょっと酔いました…予備で噛んで飲める酔い止めを持参していたのですぐ良くなりました(^o^)いよいよ海に入りみんなで持ち手がついたボードにつかまってシュノーケリングで海の中を見ます。この日はマンタが少なくて2、3匹しか見えないと言われていましたがすぐ1匹現れてくれました！近くでは見えませんでしたが、感動です(ToT)
少し経つと魚がどんどん集まってきて目の前でパクパクしているのが可愛かったです♪その後遠目にマンタは何匹も見えましたが近くでは見えず。くるっと回ってエサを食べる姿が見えなかったので少し残念でした…他のボートの方に集まっているのかな？と感じました。
しかしボードにつかまって海の上で流されていると海の中を泳いでいるような感覚になり最高でした。6月でも少し寒かったですが、寒さも気にならないくらいに楽しい時間でした☆帰りは濡れているのでとても寒くなります。ラッシュガードを脱いでバスタオルで体を拭いてウインドブレーカーを着れば寒さは平気です♪真っ暗な海の上を夜景を見ながら帰るのはとても綺麗で、
満足出来ました。ありがとうございました。

It was my first time snorkeling, and also my first time entering deep water, but thanks to the staff who explained everything kindly and thoroughly, I was able to enjoy swimming with the dolphins!

It seems that the spots where you can encounter dolphins change depending on the day. I think it took about 30 minutes before we first met a dolphin, but after that, we were able to swim with them 4 to 5 times. The staff guided each participant to get as close to the dolphins as possible, and I felt like I could reach out and touch them as they swam so close!

That alone was satisfying, but by chance, we also encountered a seal, of which there are only seven on the Big Island! On our way back, we were able to see a manta ray up close as well!

The staff kept saying, "Since you've come all the way to the Big Island, I want you to make lots of memories," and they were always searching for more experiences for us.

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of the staff, I made the best memories, and I am very grateful! It seems that starting around September or October this year, there may be a possibility that swimming with dolphins will no longer be available, so please be sure to participate!

初めてのシュノーケリングで、しかも深い海に入ることも初めてでしたが、スタッフの皆さんが、優しく丁寧に説明してくださったので、楽しんでイルカと泳ぐことができました！
日によってイルカと出会えるスポットは違うようで、最初にイルカと出会えるまでは30分くらいかかったと思いますが、それからは4〜5回出会っては泳ぎを繰り返すことができました。イルカのなるべく近くに行けるようにと参加者それぞれを引っ張って誘導して下さったので、手を伸ばせば届くのではないかと思うくらい近くで泳ぐことができました！
それだけでも満足でしたが、偶然、ハワイ島に7頭しかいないアザラシにも遭遇！
また、帰る途中にはマンタも間近で見ることができました‼︎
「せっかくハワイ島に来たから、沢山思い出を作って欲しい」と言って、ずっと探して下さっていました。

スタッフ皆さんのお心遣いにより、最高の思い出ができ、とても感謝しています！
今年の9月？10月？ごろからは、イルカと一緒に泳げなくなる可能性があるようなので、是非参加してみてください♪

The day before and on the day itself, unfortunately, there was light rain. I assumed a Japanese person would come to pick me up, but it was someone else, so I didn't realize at first, haha. I figured it out because the back of the T-shirt had "Manta University" written on it. For those who will be using this service, please keep that in mind! Haha.

After doing a lot of searching and research, I decided to go with Manta University based on reviews and prior reputation, and it was definitely the right choice. I had an amazing experience!

It seems that Manta University is highly rated by other tour companies as well, as everyone I spoke to said, "That place is great!" when I mentioned their name. The website was a bit hard to navigate (it really is quite confusing), and I chose them because a Japanese person said there would be a restroom, but there wasn't one. They were complaining during the briefing before boarding the boat, but I wish they had done their homework. Since half of the participants were foreigners, I felt a bit embarrassed as a fellow Japanese person.

Just a heads up, the boat for the manta tour on the Big Island does not have a restroom! Haha. Please keep that in mind!

Before departure, they provide explanations and help you put on the wetsuits. You need to specify your size when booking, but they will lend you a properly fitting size on-site, so those who are worried can feel at ease.

The boat ride to and from the site is quite bumpy and you will get wet. It’s cold, but that’s to be expected when you’re speeding across the ocean! Haha. This was my third tour, and although I could only chat a little, I was used to talking with foreigners, so I had a great time throughout. There was a lovely elderly couple from America; the man was very kind to his wife, and I thought, "I want to be like that couple."

My wife can't swim and this was her first time in the ocean, so I was honestly a bit worried, but our guide, Toriama (Tori-chan), was very kind and attentive, so she was able to snorkel in the night sea with me until the end!

The manta rays were just amazing! I was so happy to see them! From the moment they appeared right in front of me to their graceful gliding, everything was incredible!! I felt like I came just to see the mantas, so it was the best experience ever!!

We talked about wanting to go see dolphins next! Manta University comes highly recommended.

P.S. Mantas appear to feed on plankton that gather around lights, and I saw other tour companies claiming their lights are stronger than others, but when I asked a knowledgeable friend in the marine world, it seems that doesn’t really matter, haha. Since we’re dealing with nature, there will be times when you can’t see them, and other times when many come. During my tour, three mantas showed up.

When choosing a tour company, I recommend considering whether they have Japanese guides, the level of care they provide, and the details of their services. Please avoid getting distracted by unclear services and the desire to have a better experience than others!

The Big Island is the best! I will definitely come back!

前日、当日は生憎の小雨模様でした。
日本人の方が迎えに来てくれると思い込んでいましたが、違ったので最初わかりませんでした笑
Tシャツの背中側の上にマンタ大学と書いてあったのでわかりました。
利用される方は参考にしてくださいね！笑

色々探したり調べて、口コミや前評判からマンタ大学さんにお願いしましたが、間違いありませんでしたよ。
最高な体験ができました！

マンタ大学さんは、他のツアー会社にも評価は高いようで、名前を出したら、あそこはいいですよ！と、どのツアーの方も仰っていました。
ホームページが見ずらかったのか(たしかにわかりづらいですよね)、日本の方がトイレ付きだから選んだのに。ないんなら他を選んでいた。と、船に乗る前の説明で文句を言っていましたが、ちゃんと下調べはして欲しいものです。海外の方が半数だったので、同じ日本人として、少し恥ずかしかったですね。

ハワイ島のマンタツアーの船にトイレはありませんよー！笑
参考にしてくださいね！笑

出発前に説明とウェットスーツの着用をしてくれます。申し込み時にサイズを言わなければいけませんが、現地にて自分にちゃんと合ったサイズのものを貸してくれるので、不安な方は安心してくださいね。

行き帰りの船はかなり揺れます。そして濡れます。
寒いです。そりゃ海の上を突っ走りますから、まぁ当然ですよね！笑
この時はもうツアー3回目で触り程度しか話せない2人ですが、海外の方とのおしゃべりも慣れていたので終始楽しかったです。
アメリカ出身の老夫婦が素敵でした。男性が奥さんにとても優しくあんな夫婦になりたいと思いました。

私の妻は泳げない&海も人生初。で、正直不安でしたがガイドのトリヤマさん(トリちゃん)が優しく、またちゃんと気にしてくれていたので、夜の海でのシュノも最後まで一緒にすることができました！

マンタは、もう最高でした！会えて幸せでした♫
目の前に、ヌーーッと現れるところから、ヒラリヒラリと舞う姿も、全てがヤバかったです！！
私はマンタに会いに来たようなモノだったので最高な体験ができました！！

次はイルカに通いたいと夫婦で話しましたよ♫
マンタ大学さんはオススメです。

追記
光に集まるプランクトンを食いにマンタが現れるのですが、他のツアー会社の説明に他者よりライトの光が強い！等を見かけましたが、ちゃんとした海の友人に聞いたところ、関係ないようです笑
自然世界を相手にしているので、見れない時もあるでしょう。また、たくさん来てくれる時もあるでしょう。私の時は、3枚のマンタちゃんが来てくれました。
ツアー会社を選ぶ際には、日本人ガイドがいるか。
ケアはどうか。サービス内容は。等で選考するのをオススメします。よくわからないサービスに目を奪われて、他人よりいい思いをしようという思いにかられない様にして選んでくださいね！

ハワイ島最高ー♫
また来ます、必ず！

I participated in the Manta University Night Dive.

The guide was Tori. She was a very considerate and great guide.

We boarded a boat and headed out to the Sheraton off Kailua-Kona. The boat was going at an amazing speed, and it felt great. During sunset, the boat was stopped in a position that made it easy to take pictures.

At the manta viewing point, we just floated while holding onto the SUP boards! At first, no mantas came, but gradually many appeared, swimming right in front of us. I was moved by the mantas swimming and rotating just inches from my nose.

Reluctantly, we headed back after about 30 minutes.

On the way back, the lights of Kailua-Kona were beautiful. I would love to participate again to meet the amazing mantas with the attentive guide. Thank you!

マンタ大学夜学部に参加してきました。

ガイドはトリさんでした。
とても気遣いされる良いガイドさんでした。

ボートに乗り、カイルアコナのシェラトン沖へ。
ボートはすごいスピードで気持ちいい感じです。
途中、サンセットタイムではボートを見易い向きで停めて頂き写真が取れました。

マンタを見るポイントではSUPのボードに捕まって浮いてるだけ！最初はマンタ来なかったですが、だんだんたくさん来て、正に目の前を回遊してくれました。
鼻先すれすれを回転しながら泳ぐマンタに感動。
名残惜しくも30分位で帰路へ。

帰りはカイルアコナの街の光が綺麗でした。
丁寧なガイドさんと感動のマンタに会いにまた参加したいと思います。
ありがとうございました❗

I chose this tour because it mentioned that there would be a restroom on the boat, but I was shocked to find out there was none. In the end, it turned out I didn't need it, but if there wasn't one, it would have been the same as the others. Everything else was fantastic. At first, I thought the manta rays wouldn't come, and I was about to give up, but they showed up in the second half. Our tour guide, Tori, was very encouraging to us as it was our first time snorkeling, and we had a great time. The night sea was a bit scary, but if you're going to Hawaii Island, I definitely recommend this tour.

予約する時、船にトイレがあるとなっていたので、こちらを選んだのですが、参加してみたら船にはトイレがなくショック
結果的には行かなくて大丈夫でしたが、ないなら他と同じだったな・・と
それ以外は最高でした
最初はマンタが来なくて、駄目かなと諦めてたら後半は来てくれました
ツアーガイドのトリちゃんが初めてのシュノーケルだった私たちに色々声を掛けてくれて、とても楽しかったです
夜の海はちょっと怖かったけど、ハワイ島へ行くなら絶対おすすめです

This tour was the highlight of our activities on the big island.

Our guide Joe was very knowledgeable about astronomy. It was cool to see the top of Mauna Kea and observatories. We went during a half moon and the star visibility was still very good. The mountain is above the vog, so you should be able to see the stars even if the vog is a problem.

At the summit, it was below freezing with thick clouds, and the sun became a blurred silhouette without any gaps in the clouds. However, our guide, Jin, patiently captured the perfect photo opportunities. The air at the summit was indeed thinner than I had expected. We descended to a point where the clouds cleared, and using a pointer for stargazing, we had a lecture about myths related to the constellations, which was very enjoyable.

山頂は氷点下で雲が厚く、雲の切れ間がなくぼやけた太陽のシルエットになってしまいましたが、ガイドのJINさんが粘り強くシャッターチャンスを捉えてくれました。
山頂は思っていたより本当に酸素が薄かったです。
雲が切れるとこポイントまで下り、ポインターを使っての星空観測は星座に関する神話等々のレクチャーで、とても楽しかったです。

The magnificent sunset seen from the sea and the flying fish skimming the surface build excitement as we ride a thrilling boat, reminiscent of being on a banana boat.

Wearing a wetsuit, fins, and goggles, I floated while holding onto the raft's rope. A three-meter manta ray approached the raft, showing its patterned belly and opening its large mouth, spinning close to us multiple times. The sheer power of the experience left me completely overwhelmed and deeply moved. It was truly a precious and emotional experience.

ポイントにつくまでに見られる海上からの雄大なサンセットと海面を飛び続けるトビウオ、バナナボートに乗っているかのようなスリル満点の船で期待感が高まります。
ウェットスーツ、足ひれ、ゴーグルをつけ筏のロープに腕を伸ばした状態でつかまり浮いていると筏のブルーライトに寄ってくるプランクトンめがけて3メートル大のマンタが斑模様のおなかを見せながら大きな口を開けて私たちスレスレに何度も回転する様子には、あまりの迫力にただただ圧倒され感動するばかりでした。本当に貴重な感動体験ができました。

The buffet was abundant with all-you-can-drink options, and the meat dishes were particularly delicious (though the seasoning was a bit strong). I spent a leisurely time watching the sunset, and although there were hardly any Japanese people around, it felt like a family atmosphere, as mentioned in someone else's experience. I chatted a bit with the couples and families nearby, but I think it would have been an even better dinner if I had stronger English skills! However, since the time was long, I found myself battling sleepiness in the second half...

豊富なビュッフェに飲み放題、特に肉類は美味しかったです(味付け濃いめでしたが)。
サンセットを見ながら、ゆっくり過ごし、日本人はほとんどいませんでしたが、どなたかの体験談にもあったように周りの席とは家族のような感じでした。
周りの夫妻や家族と少し会話しましたが、自分に英語力があればもっといいディナーになっていたとおもいます！
ただ時間が長いので後半は睡魔との戦いでした...

I was worried about altitude sickness, and even when I wanted to go to Mauna Kea during my past trip to the Big Island, I couldn't. This time, my husband really wanted to go, so I decided to join him.

To put it simply, I had no worries at all and was able to go and come back feeling great. I only felt a little short of breath at times. There were some people in the tour who felt unwell, but it seemed that oxygen inhalation resolved their issues.

Above all, I was moved by the indescribably beautiful orange color of the sun sinking into the sea of clouds. The Earth is amazing!! And then, the stars we saw afterward sparkled even more than in a planetarium...

I'm so glad I participated!!

I highly recommend that you go and experience it for yourself!!

高山病が不安で、過去にハワイ島に行ったときも行きたいと思いつつ、行けなかったマウナケア。今回は、夫がどうしても行きたい、というので思い切って参加しました。
結果から言うと、まったく心配なく、元気に行って帰れました。
少し息苦しいかな？という程度で。
ツアーの中に、具合を悪くされた方もいましたが、酸素吸入で問題なかったようでしたし。

なにより、雲海に沈んでゆく太陽の、なんとも言い難いほどの美しいオレンジ色に、感動します。
地球って、素晴らしい！！
そして、そのあとで見た星の、プラネタリウム以上の煌めき・・・・
参加してよかった～！！

ぜひとも、行ってみられることをお勧めいたします！！

It was good the people were very nice! If you don't like to snorkel then this will be great for you!

Tour Guide was great!!!!!! Great Value!

Would suggest that you have passengers switch seats during the tour. Unfortunately we get the back seats and the viewing is not as good as the seats further towards the front. Also it was harder to talk to the guide from back there. Might be nice if halfway thru the tour everyone switch seats.

At the Onizuka Center at 2800 meters, it was cloudy during dinner, but above around 3200 meters, we were above the clouds. It felt like a different world, almost like the sunlight of outer space. When we reached the summit, the clouds were far below us, and the moment of sunset was breathtaking; the sunset was beautiful too. The highlight was stargazing, realizing just how many stars there are. The world is so vast! I'm glad I came!

2800ｍのオニヅカセンターで夕食のときは雲の中だったのですが、3200ｍあたりから雲の上に。地球とは思えない別世界、もはや宇宙の日差しです。頂上までいくと雲ははるか下で、日没の瞬間は感動的、夕焼けもきれいでした。圧巻は星空観測で、星ってこんなにたくさんあったのかと。世界は広いなあ！来てよかった！

Very enjoyable. Would recommend this cruise to couples. Staff are friendly.