All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

I have participated in snorkeling tours on all the islands in Hawaii, but this spot on the Big Island has the most coral and plenty of fish—it's truly a wonderful place! This is my third time, and I'm always very satisfied. The price is a bit high, but the boat is clean, the lunch is delicious, and it's very comfortable. There are various activities on the Big Island, but I definitely want to experience snorkeling in the ocean. I really recommend it! My 82-year-old father didn't go into the water, but he enjoyed just looking at the beautiful sea like he was on a cruise. I will definitely come back again.

ハワイでは全ての島でシュノーケリングツアーに参加してますが、
ハワイ島のここが1番珊瑚が多く魚もたくさんいて本当に素敵なスポットです♪
今回三回目ですがいつも大満足です。
ちょっと金額は高いですが、ボートもキレイだしランチも美味しいし
とても快適
ハワイ島は色んなアクティビティあるけどやっぱり海でシュノーケリングも体験しで欲しいです。ほんとにオススメ
82歳の父は海には入らないけどクルーズ気分でキレイな海を眺めているだけで楽しめました。
またリピートします

The manta ray approached with incredible power, opening its large mouth, and I was surprised at how much more impressive it was than I had imagined. Our guide, Musashi, reassured us by saying, "Manta rays like plankton and are not interested in humans, so they won't eat you. They come to feed while upside down." This made it easy for me to swim without worry. While trying to stay still and "float," two manta rays crossed right in front of me, and their fins almost touched my body, making me move my legs out of the way. I was so thrilled that I had a dream for the first time in years that night. Since it was getting cold, I was glad I brought a windbreaker and a towel. I thought it would have been nice to bring an underwater camera if I could have used one hand. Later, I received the graduation photos, which became a wonderful memory.

とにかくすごい迫力でマンタが近寄ってきて大きな口を開け、想像以上だったので初めは驚きました。ガイドのムサシさんが、「マンタはプランクトンが好きで人間には興味がないから食べられることはない。ひっくり返って餌を食べに来ますよ。」と教えてくれたので安心して泳ぐことができました。なるべく体を動かさずに「ふし浮き」をしていたら2匹が一緒に私の前で交差してひれが体に触れそうになり足をよけたほどでした。とにかく大感激で夜に何年かぶりに、夢を見ました。寒くなるとのことで、ウインドブレイカーとタオルを持参していたので良かったです。片手が使えるなら、水中カメラを持参しておけばよかったかなあと思いました。後で、卒業写真を送っていただき思い出になりました。

This was the high point of our 10 days in Kona. The boat was well kept, the staff was extremely friendly, helpful and professional. The entertainment was top notch. The food was some of the best in Kona. I wish I had time to do it again.

My husband and I went snorkeling and it was amazing! We saw Captain Cook monument and snorkled the most beautiful part of Hawaii. The boat tour was so much fun, we saw so many dolphins. Our boat driver and helper were super friendly. This is a must! Don't second guess just book it...your adventure begins here!

We chose the morning Kayak tour, it was a bit of a walk to get to the dock but were greeted warmly by Hauoli, our guide, and Ben. We stowed our valuables in their lock box and paddled out into Keauhou Bay and out into the ocean past the Sheraton Hotel, the Lekeleke/Kuamo'o sacred burial grounds, and the End of the World burial grounds which is a great tourist spot too. We got to the Sea Cave but because the swells were too high and dangerous that day, we admired them from outside. Our guide, Hauoli, made our tour so much fun. He regaled us with the history and attractions of the area, and being a local, was very knowledgeable and interesting. We did not stay for snorkeling or cliff jumping but thoroughly enjoyed our time kayaking.

Swimming with a pod of wild dolphins multiple times became the best memory for our entire family on the Big Island. It felt like I was part of the pod. I've heard that swimming with wild dolphins might soon be prohibited, so please make sure to go soon!

野生のイルカの群れと何度も一緒に泳ぐことが出来て家族全員一致でハワイ島で一番の思い出になりました。まるで自分が群れの一員の様な気分でした。もうすぐ野生のイルカと泳ぐ事が禁止になるかもとの事で是非お早目に行って下さい！

The weather was great and it was absolutely wonderful. The hiking trails were well-maintained, so you can walk in jogging shoes. The dad from the American family who joined the tour was wearing flip-flops, but he was able to walk without any issues. (≧▽≦)

Insect repellent, sunscreen, water, and even towels and bags were available for rent.

Above all, having lunch on the grass with the backdrop of the Porn Valley after the hike made me very happy! !(^^)!

お天気も良くとても最高でした。ハイキングも道がちゃんと整備されておりジョギングシューズで歩けます。一緒にツワーに参加されたアメリカ人の家族のパパはビーチサンダルでしたが問題なく歩けていました。(≧▽≦)
虫よけや日焼け止めクリーム、水もバスタオルにかばんなどもレンタル可能でした。
何よりハイキング後のランチが芝生の上でポルノ渓谷をバックに食べてとても幸せでした
!(^^)!

A car arrived to pick us up from the hotel around 3 PM, and we set off, but we soon encountered heavy rain. By the time we arrived at the Onizuka Center, we were at a high altitude, and we said goodbye to the rain, taking dinner there to avoid altitude sickness. After a short break, we headed towards the summit, but the sunset was hidden by clouds, which left me unsatisfied. At the top, I was able to see the Subaru Telescope in Japan, which made me somewhat satisfied. It seems that May has a lot of rain, and I would like to challenge this again next year. The guide from Masashi Tours was friendly, and it was an enjoyable tour.

午後３時過ぎにホテルに送迎の車が来て出発しましたが、直ぐ豪雨に遭いました。オニズカセンターに着く頃には高度の高い所で、雨ともお別れし、高山病にならないようにそこで夕食を取りました。しならくの休憩の後、山頂へ向かいましたが、サンセットが雲に隠れ、満足できませんでした。頂上には日本のスバル天文台も見ることができ、一応満足できました。５月は雨が多いらしくまた来年以降に挑戦したいと思いました。マサシツアーのガイドさんもフレンドリーで楽しいツアーでした。

I was worried about altitude sickness at 4,200 meters due to my age, but I had no problems at all. The smog at the beginning of the trip changed to a clear blue sky around 2,000 meters, and I was deeply moved by the sea of clouds and the sunset! I've traveled a lot overseas, but I never expected to have such an emotional experience on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our guide, BIGJIN, was fun to chat with, and he took many interesting photos, which I downloaded after returning home, creating wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the starry sky wasn't very visible because it was close to a full moon, which was a bit disappointing. I saw the moon through a telescope, but I also wanted to see Jupiter and Saturn. There are tours that don't go to the summit, but I definitely recommend going to the top.

高齢なので4200メートルで高山病を心配しましたが、全く問題ありませんでした。出発当初のスモッグも2000メートルあたりで真っ青な空に変わり、雲海と夕陽に大感動！今迄たくさん海外旅行をしましたが、ハワイ島でこんな感動的な体験ができるなんて。ガイドのBIGJINさんのおしゃべりも楽しく、たくさんの面白い写真を撮ってくださって、帰国後ダウンロード、素敵な思い出になりました。星空はあいにく満月に近かったため、あまりよく見えなかったのがちょっと残念でした。望遠鏡では月を見ましたが、木星や土星も見たかったです。山頂に行かないツアーもありますが、是非山頂まで行かれることをお勧めします。

This was our second trip snorkeling with Tim. This time we brought my wife's family (from Miami). They absolutely loved it, and we can't thank Tim and crew enough for making it, yet again, a once in a lifetime experience for our family.

You guys rock!!!

We arrived at the hotel (Kingsland) right on time for the welcome. As soon as we got in the car, Mr. Matsuzaki started his self-introduction. Mr. Matsuzaki is from Noda in Chiba. Wearing a knitted hat made by his wife featuring Funassyi, he was cheerful throughout the journey and the tour.

Mr. Matsuzaki is also an amazing photographer. He took beautiful pictures of the two of us during sunset and stargazing with everyone’s cameras and his own. It was impressive and will make for great memories.

Both of us are 61 years old. Due to the thin air (about 65%), my wife mentioned she felt a bit unwell at the summit, but after following Mr. Matsuzaki's advice to take a few deep breaths, she felt better right away.

Thank you, Mr. Matsuzaki.

ホテル（キングスランド）お出迎え時刻通りに到着。すぐに車に乗車
乗車するなり松崎さんの自己紹介が始まる。千葉の野田出身の松崎さん。奥様に作っていただいたフナッシーの毛糸の帽子をまとい、とにかく移動中・ツアー中は愉快です。
松崎さんは写真の腕前も凄い。皆さんのカメラ・自分のカメラでサンセットや星空観測等のお二人の写真もきれいに撮っていただけますよ。びっくりです。いい記念になりますよ。
私たちは二人とも61歳。酸素が薄いため（65％程度）女房が山頂で少し体調が悪いと言っておりましたが松崎さんのアドバイスで深呼吸を数回したらすぐによくなりました。
松崎さんありがとうございました。

We stayed in the center of Kona and had a pickup around 1:30 PM. Therefore, we had enough time to participate in the dolphin swim tour at the nature school in the morning. After the pickup, we took a restroom break at a shopping mall (there was also time for some shopping) before heading to Mauna Kea. During the drive, we enjoyed the guide's fun stories and excitedly made our way up to the mountainside. After eating our lunch and putting on warm clothing, we got back in the car and finally set off for the summit. By the way, from this point on, you shouldn't sleep due to the altitude, but perhaps because the air was thin, and also because I had just done the dolphin swim, I felt incredibly sleepy and it was tough both going and coming back. However, the guide cheerfully woke us up by saying, "Is everyone awake?"

That day, the wind was strong, and it got extremely cold as we ascended. I think participants, especially those who are not good with the cold, should prepare plenty of warm clothing and gear. If you underestimate it, it will be really cold.

First, we watched the sunset sinking into the sea of clouds at the summit. I was moved by the sea of clouds all around me, and even more so by the sunset sinking into it. It was such a beautiful world. After enjoying the slowly sinking sunset, we descended a bit to observe the starry sky. It was my first time seeing so many stars. The guide used a laser pointer to explain the constellations, and even without any prior knowledge, he made it very easy to understand and interesting, so we had a really enjoyable time. We watched the starry sky while sipping warm tea and having cookies, and he even took photos for us.

Afterward, with a sense of reluctance, we got back in the car and were taken back to our hotels, marking the end of the tour. The sunset and starry sky were truly, truly beautiful! I want to join the plan for the starry sky and sunrise next time. I was entertained by the guide's stories throughout the trip! Thanks to him, we had a fulfilling day! Thank you!

コナの中心部に宿泊していたわたしたちは、13時半ごろのピックアップでした。
そのため、午前中はネイチャースクールのドルフィンスイムのツアーに参加しても時間に余裕がありました。
ピックアップ後はショッピングモールにてトイレ休憩をとり（多少のショッピングも楽しめる時間設定でした）マウナケアに向かいましたが、道中はガイドさんの楽しいお話しも聞けてワクワクしながら山の中腹まで一気に進みます。
お弁当を食べて防寒具を着て、また車に乗り込みついに山頂にむけて出発しました。
ちなみに、ここから先は寝てはいけない標高になるのですが、やはり空気が薄いからか、さらにわたしはドルフィンスイム後というのもあったのか、行きも帰りも死ぬほど眠くて辛かったです。笑
でもその度にガイドさんに、『みなさん起きてますかー！』と元気良く起こされるので心配は無用です。

この日はとにかく風が強くて、標高が上がるにつれてとんでもなく寒かったです。
参加される方、とくに寒いのが苦手な方は防寒着やあったかグッズをたくさん用意してきた方がいいと思います。舐めてかかると本当に寒いので。

まずは山頂にて雲海に沈む夕日を見ます。
視界一面の雲海に感動し、そこに沈んでいく夕日にさらに感動しました。
とっっっっても美しい世界です。
ゆっくりゆっくり沈む夕日を堪能したら、次は少し山を降りて星空観測です。
あんなにたくさんの星を見たのは初めてでした。
ガイドさんがレーザーポインタを使い、星座の説明もしてくれるのですが、事前知識がまったくなくても、とても分かりやすく面白くお話ししてくれるのですごく楽しい時間を過ごすことができます。
暖かい紅茶とクッキーを頂きながら星空を眺め、写真も撮ってくれました。

その後は名残惜しいながらも車に乗り各ホテルまで送迎していただき、ツアー終了です。
夕日と星空、本当に本当に綺麗でした！
次は星空と朝日のプランに参加したいです。
終始ガイドさんのお話しに楽しませていただきました！
おかげさまで充実した1日を過ごすことができましました！
ありがとうございました！

Trevor and Captain Jesse James were incredible. We were in Hawaii for 7 day with 3 days in Hilo and 4 days in Kona and this 3 hour trip is what my three sons remember the most. Highly recommend!

Mike and Deanna were our guides this afternoon. They were quick but thorough in equipping everyone and explaining what to expect. The snorkeling was amazing. Though the wind picked up more than expected, they skillfully guided us back across the bay. Great experience that was enhanced by Mike's tales of the history of the bay.

Seriously, it was amazing. That was the first thing the husband of the newlyweds said when he looked up at the starry sky during the tour. The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds, the breathtaking starry sky. The guide's fun and easy-to-understand explanations made everything even more moving.

マジ、やばい。ツアーで一緒だった新婚さんのご主人が満天の星空を見上げた時の第一声でした。
雲海に沈んでいくサンセット、満天の星空。ガイドさんの楽しくて分かりやすい説明。全てが感動でした。

The summit of Mauna Kea, where observatories from around the world gather. The air is thin and clear. This is a must-visit place when you go to Hawaii Island. This time, I experienced a sunset sinking into a sea of clouds. I've never seen such a beautiful sunset before. ⭐️I was amazed at how much there was in the sky⭐️. For the first time, I grasped the full view of Orion. p(^_^)q

世界の天文台が集まるマウナケアの山頂。空気が薄く、澄んでいる。ハワイ島に行ったら行くべき場所でしょう。今回は雲海に沈むサンセットでした。こんなに美しいサンセットは今迄観たことがありません。
⭐️空もこんなに⭐️があったのというくらい。初めてオリオン座の全貌を把握しました。p(^_^)q

Good excursion. Nice boat, pleasant staff, good refreshments and we saw whales!

The cost was $100, and at first, I thought it was a bit expensive, but $100 is about 11,000 yen. Considering that you get to see a live traditional luau and Hawaiian show up close, along with an all-you-can-eat meal and drinks, it’s quite reasonable. There were hardly any Japanese people around, and everyone spoke only English. I was a bit anxious, but it was fun, and by the end, I was shouting in Hawaiian along with the host. After the luau, I took pictures with the dancers on stage. I even got a tattoo stamp on my arm, just like the Hawaiians (it was water-based ink, so it came off quickly afterward). It was so much fun!

費用が100ドルで、最初はちょっと高いかなと思いましたが、100ドルって11,000円ですよね。生の伝統ルアウ＆ハワイアンショーを間近に見て、おいしい食事とドリンクは食べ放題、飲み放題だったら、充分リーズナブルでしょう。ほとんど日本人が居ない中で、廻りは英語のみ。不安に固まりでしたが、楽しくて、終わりには司会者の声に合わせてハワイ語の叫び声を上げていました。ルアウ後、舞台で踊ったダンサー達と写真を撮りました。腕にはハワイ人と同じ入れ墨をスタンプ（水性インクなので後ですぐに落ちました）してもらいました。楽しかったなー。

It was a very enjoyable tour!
Since I stayed at the Sheraton, I was the first to be picked up on the way there and the last on the way back.
We picked up participants one after another at 3 to 4 locations, and I had a great time chatting with our guide, Jin, so the trip to the Onizuka Center felt quick.

At the Onizuka Center, we enjoyed a delicious Japanese lunch box and miso soup, received warm clothing, and were fully prepared for the summit.
Honestly, I was worried about altitude sickness before going.
After reaching the summit, I did feel a bit lightheaded, but thanks to Jin's advice to focus on my breathing, it wasn't as bad as I expected!

The weather was poor down below, but from the summit, we were able to see a beautiful sea of clouds and enjoyed a wonderful sunset.
The starry sky was slightly affected by the bright moon, but Kon's explanations were easy to understand, and I was very satisfied!

I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting the Big Island.
Thank you for the fun tour!

P.S. I apologize for not being able to say goodbye to Jin at the end.

とても楽しいツアーでした！
シェラトン宿泊のため、行きは1番初めのピックアップ、帰りは最後。
3〜4箇所で次々参加者をピックアップし、担当者のジンさんとみんな楽しくおしゃべりしながらだったので、オニヅカセンターまであっという間でした。

オニヅカセンターでは美味しい和食弁当＋お味噌汁をいただいて、
防寒具を配られ、準備万端で頂上へ。
正直、行く前は高山病が心配でした。
やっぱり頂上へ着いてからは少しフワフワする感じはありましたが、ジンさんのアドバイス通り呼吸を意識してたからか思ってたより大丈夫でした！

ちょうど下界は天気が悪かったため、山頂からは綺麗な雲海が見えて、とても素敵なサンセットを拝めました。
星空は満月に近かったため、月灯りに少し邪魔されましたが、コンさんの解説がわかり易く大満足でした！

ハワイ島へ行かれる方には是非オススメのツアーだと思います。
楽しいツアーありがとうございました。

ps ジンさんに最後挨拶できないままになり失礼しました。

Did not see any whales but did see spinner dolphins. Got gift certificate to come back.

We went as a family of four with two girls, 10 and 8,neither of whom had ever snorkelled. (but both had kayaked). We did the afternoon tour and were really lucky to see the spinner dolphins on the way to and from the snorkeling. The ethos of the tour was amazing. Once spotted, we stopped paddling and let them come to us, no chasing, no interference and Deanna and her colleague (sorry, forgot his name), clearly care so much about the reef and local wildlife, very much respecting it and observing rather than chasing it down. Once on the reef they showed us local plants, and got all our goggles ready for snorkeling. As my kids hadn't snorkelled before they were botha bit scared, but Deanna was super helpful, and got in with them. Once they looked down they were off, and didn't want to come in. Snacks and drinks were provided, as was a history of the Captain Cook monument. Would highly highly recommend.... No guarantees you will get dolphins, but incredibly safe and clear snorkeling, best I have seen and clearly run by people who care most about maintaining the reef and wildlife for future generations.

This time there was only an English guide, so I participated in English, but everyone was American... and the guide spoke entirely in English, as expected.
Please be careful, everyone. It's really cold. The down coat provided is thin and not warm at all. It's essential to wear something warm like a fleece underneath. Also, I think it's better not to expect too much from dinner, haha. The guide did their best to explain everything.
Good luck!

今回は英語ガイドしかなくて、英語に参加しましたがやはり全員アメリカ人でした・・・そしてガイドも全部英語でした。当然ですが。
皆さん気を付けてください。本当に寒いです。貸出されたダウンコートがペラペラで、全然暖かくないのです。ご自分でフリースなど暖かいものを中に着ること必須です。それに夕飯はあまり期待しない方がよいと思われます笑 ガイドさんは一生懸命説明してくださいました
Good Luck　！

We are family of four and did two tandem kayaks, guides were great and friendly. Also very knowledgeable with safety first in mind. Loved the snorkeling part once got to our tie off spot. I would definitely recommend booking with these guys.

We attended the luau on March 29, 2017 and had a lovely time. It was a buffet style and you could make more than one trip to the table - and to the open bar until 7:00pm. The Mai tais, were delicious, punch bowl style and self serve. The food was good, not great, but there was a good variety. The entertainment was fun to watch, the dances from the different Polynesian Islands were interesting, especially the fire dancer! You can't go to Hawaii without a luau and this is a good one to check out.

Since it's over 4000 meters, I recommend taking good care of your health before participating. Both the starry sky and the sunset were amazing. Thank you!

4000m以上もあるので体調管理を万全にして参加することをオススメします。
星空、サンセット共に最高でした。
ありがとうございました！

The food was delicious, but the variety of drinks was limited. My child seemed dissatisfied as they could only drink the same beverage. The cake was tasty at first, but after eating a lot, it caused some heartburn. I recommend it for those who can communicate in English, but it might be better to avoid it for those who don't understand English. The sunset over the ocean was beautiful. The atmosphere was fantastic!

料理は美味しかったけど、ドリンクの種類は少なめ。
同じドリンクしか飲めない状態で、子どもが不満だった様子。
ケーキは最初の一口は美味しいが、たくさん食べると胸焼けしました。
英語が通じる方にはオススメですが、英語がわからない方は
止めた方が良いかも。
海に沈む太陽がとても良かったです。雰囲気は最高！

The tour was absolutely wonderful, and we were blessed with great weather! The guide mentioned it was so good that we might never see something like it again!

However, there was one disappointing point. While some smoking during the tour might be somewhat unavoidable, it was quite bothersome to see people smoking at the summit, where the air is thin. The smoke drifted among the majority (90%) who do not smoke, ruining the wonderful fresh air. It was mostly Japanese people there, and it was only the Japanese who were smoking, leaving cigarette butts and trash scattered by the wind... If the tour is managed by Japanese and they truly care about Hawaii, I believe it would be a more wonderful experience if they could consider making the tour non-smoking, or at least enforce a no-smoking policy at the summit.

I know this sounds critical, but I hope they will consider this for the future.

It was truly great, and if I have the chance, I would love to try it again.

ツアーはとても素晴らしく、天候も恵まれ、感謝です！
二度と観ることが出来ないとガイドの方がいうほどよかったです！

ただ、１点、残念だったのは　ツアー中に喫煙されるのはある程度仕方ないかも知れませんが、
頂上で、空気も薄いところで　スパスパ　と　喫煙され、大半（９割）は吸わない方の中に、
紫煙が流れ、折角の素晴らしい空気も台無しです。ほぼ、日本人しかいないなかで、日本人だけが煙草を吸い、もちろん、吸い殻、ゴミも風で散乱・・・。本当にハワイのことを考え、日本人の運営で、日本のことも考えることが出来るのであれば、ツアー自体を禁煙にすとか、せめて頂上では禁煙にするとかの配慮があれば、より素晴らしいツアーになると思います。
苦言を呈するようですが、これからのことを考えると、お考え頂ければと思います。

本当によかったので、チャンスがあれば再度トライしたいと思います。

There is no Japanese guide, but the staff did their best to explain in Japanese. When you see the whales, you completely forget about the language barrier. It was a wonderful experience.

日本語ガイドはないですが、スタッフの方が頑張って日本語でも説明してくれてました。
クジラを見れば、言葉のことなんて全く気にならないです。
素敵な体験をさせてもらいました。

The sunset and stargazing were both wonderful and moving. The only disappointment was that the full moon, especially since it was a supermoon, was too bright. I definitely want to go again during the new moon!

サンセットも星空観測も素晴らしくて感動しました。
ただ1つ残念だったのが満月、それもスーパームーンだったことで月あかりが明るすぎた。ぜひ今度は新月の時に行ってみたいです！

This dinner cruise was awesome! The crew were most helpful and friendly, the food was delicious, the guide was beautiful and very informative, the boat has little tables for your plate and cup holders for your drinks which is all most convenient, and Captain Rick made it super fun. We recommend it to everyone who asks us what to do in Hawaii. Thank you all for the great night. See you next year!