All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

On our first trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, we went there on the night we arrived. It was a buffet-style all-you-can-eat and drink, so even with our limited English, we were able to enjoy the meal and the show without any stress!

初めてハワイ島旅行で、到着した夜に行きました。ビュッフェスタイルの飲み放題食べ放題だったので、英語が出来ない私たちでもストレスなく食事とショーが楽しめました♪

Fortunately, we spotted a humpback whale right after leaving the harbor! And then, it jumped right in front of us! Both the guide and we were super excited.

Previously, I participated in a dolphin tour on Oahu, so this time I chose to see manta rays, which I had never seen before.

The crew was incredibly kind, and it was very reassuring to have staff who could speak Japanese.

We hopped on the boat and headed to the manta point!

During the ride, the sunset visible from the boat was stunning and moving. I tend to get seasick, so I took motion sickness medication from the start, which allowed me to enjoy the trip.

I was splashed with water, and my excitement was at its peak!

Upon arriving at the spot, I held onto the rope attached to the surfboard and waited for the manta rays to come close. It was a bit cold in the water during that time, but the guide checked on me several times, asking if I was okay.

When I actually saw the manta rays, the impact was incredible, and I was very moved. They were so close that I was really worried about accidentally touching them, but I was desperate to take photos.

On the way back, we were treated to hot chocolate and snacks, and there was a rather bitter ginger treat, which made me happy. This ginger was really delicious!

Since the wetsuits were wet on the way back, a bath towel is absolutely essential.

I spent a precious and happy time gazing at the beautiful starry sky over the dark sea.

ラッキーなことに港を出てすぐに、ザトウクジラを発見！！
そして目の前での大ジャンプ！
ガイドさんも私達も大興奮でした。

以前は、イルカのツアーをオアフ島で参加したので、今回は見たことがないマンタにしました。

クルーの方もすごく優しい事、日本語を話せるスタッフさんがいらっしゃる事がとても安心でした。

マンタのポイントまで、船に乗って、GO！

その際に、船から見える夕陽は、とても綺麗で感動しました。
私は船酔いが酷いので最初から酔い止めを飲んでおいたので楽しく
移動が出来ました。

水しぶきも浴び私のテンションはMAX！

スポットへ到着してサーフボードに付いてる紐を持って、ひたすらマンタが近寄ってくるのを待つ感じでした。
その間は水の中で少し寒かったのですが、ガイドさんが大丈夫？と何度も声をかけてくれました。

実際マンタを見ると、迫力がすごくて、とても感動しました。
とにかく近いので触れてしまわないかとてもとても心配でしたが私は写真を撮る事に必死でした。

帰りには、ホットチョコレートと、スナック、かなり苦いですがジンジャーの差し入れがあり、嬉しかったです。
このジンジャーがかなり美味しかった！

帰りはウェットスーツも濡れてるのでバスタオルは絶対必須です。

真っ暗な海を綺麗な星空を見ながら幸せな貴重な時間を過ごさせていただきました。

Since we went with a plan to meet at the location, I was worried about whether I would easily find the meeting spot, but once I got there, it was very clear. The staff was waiting for us even before the meeting time, which made me feel relieved.

There were only the two of us participating in the tour, so we were able to enjoy ourselves freely. We quickly spotted dolphins and were able to see many of them, which made us very satisfied. Above all, I could feel the staff's love for dolphins. If I had to mention one thing, I regret forgetting to take photos.

Since it was just the two of us, it was helpful that they adjusted the return time for us.

I think we had a wonderful way to spend our time! Thank you very much!

現地集合のプランで行ったので、
集合場所がすぐにわかるか不安でしたが、
行ってみるととても分かりやすく、
集合時間前からスタッフがまっていてくれたので
安心しました。

ツアーの参加者は私たち二人だけでしたので
のびのび楽しむことが出来ました。
イルカもすぐに見つかり、
たくさんのイルカを
見ることができて大満足です。
なにより、スタッフのイルカ愛を感じました。
ひとつ言うなれば、
写真を撮り忘れたことが心残りです。

二人だけだったので、帰りの時間も
調整してもらえて助かりました。

素晴らしい時間の過ごし方が
できたとおもいます！
本当にありがとうございました！

all members of are group, which their 6 of us, had a great time. It was exciting to see a whale breach the water and wave her fin seeming to say hi.

From the hotel pickup, thanks to the high-energy and entertaining talk of our tour guide, Macchan, I became friends with the other participants, and it was a tour filled with laughter from start to finish. Considering the various knowledge about nature, safe driving on steep mountain roads, and the best tour adjustments based on the day's weather, I’m really glad I participated in this tour instead of going on my own.

I heard that Macchan is also studying photography, and he took many beautiful photos with a DSLR. I was able to download stunning shots of the starry sky, sunset, and group photos that I couldn't capture with my mirrorless camera, which became wonderful keepsakes.

I was truly impressed by Macchan's hospitality! Thank you very much for everything. Next time, I want to show my parents that breathtaking view.

ホテルピックアップの時からツアーガイドまっちゃんのハイテンションな面白いトークのお陰で、他の参加者の方々とも仲良くなり、終始笑いの絶えないツアーでした。また、自然に関する様々な知識、険しい山道の中での安全運転、その日の天候に応じた最善のツアー等を鑑みると、自力で行くのではなくこのツアーに参加していてよかったと思います。
カメラの勉強もなさっているとのことで、一眼レフできれいな写真を沢山撮影してくださり、持参したミラーレスでは写せなかった星空やサンセット、集合写真等も無料でダウンロードでき、とてもいい記念になりました。
まっちゃんのホスピタリティには、感激しきりでした！大変お世話になりました。
今度は、両親にもあの絶景を見せてあげたいです。

We've been on multiple whale tours over the years. We saw multiple whales but the boat was crowded and pretty dated. The microphone didn't work for the first 30 minutes and they never used the hydrophone after mentioning that they had one. Definitely not the "spacious deck with ample seating for all passengers and first class amenities" as advertised. The Kawaihae Harbor location is setup weird. After arriving and checking in we had to board a bus for a 5 minute ride to the boat. Every cruise in the past allowed us to park and then walk on without a shuttle bus. The crew was friendly.

We did the Circle Island Tour, small group tour which was fantastic. I cannot say enough about this tour. It was approx. 11.5 hours but the day flew by. Our driver Kevin was amazing and informed us about everything. It was a maximum 12 people which made it very enjoyable. Our lunch break we stopped at an Orchid shop and our driver had picked us up Bento Boxes, it was delicious. We saw everything from waterfalls, rain forest, black sand beach, lava tubes, lava fields, and volcanoes and so much more. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone. Well worth the money.
Thank you for the great tour.

Great trip. Unfortunately the summit was closed due to high winds when we reached visitor center. Our guide, Joe was great. He took us on a hike to see the sunset which was amazing and then to an area where he set up a huge telescope for star gazing. He was very knowledgeable and made what could have been a disappointing trip into a great one. We had an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it. Good good too!

We experienced this with my husband at the end of the year. For those who will participate in the future, I highly recommend bringing a knit hat and a neck warmer. While ski wear is provided, your head will be cold!! They did lend us knit hats (and I gave in to the cold), but I felt a bit hesitant to wear a hat that someone else had worn (laughs). Also, I wore thick socks, so I didn't mind, but many people mentioned their ankles were cold, so I think wearing high-top shoes or boots, or socks that cover the ankles would be a good idea.

This is our experience, and as the title suggests, it was a very satisfying tour! First of all, the best part was the weather!! Since it's something we can't control, it was really great that it was sunny, and we could see the sunset and the starry sky beautifully. Next, we were able to take a lot of photos! I brought a DSLR camera, but it was cold at the summit, and my hands were freezing, so we couldn't take good pictures ourselves. However, the instructor took many photos of the scenery and us with their DSLR. The photos taken with the starry sky are ones we definitely couldn't have captured ourselves, so I was really happy about that. It became a wonderful memory of our trip to Hawaii!

年末に主人と体験してきました。
これから参加する人は、ぜひ、ニット帽、ネックウォーマーを持っていくことをお勧めします。
スキーウエアは貸してもらえるけれど、頭が寒い！！
ニット帽も貸してもらえたけれど（そして、寒さに負けたけど）、誰かがかぶった帽子をかぶるのは、ちょっと抵抗を感じました（笑）
あと、わたしは厚手の靴下をはいていったので気になりませんでしたが、足首が寒いと言っている人が多くいたので、ハイカットの靴とか、ブーツとか、足首の隠れる靴下をはいていくといいと思います。

私たちの体験談ですが、タイトル通り、大満足！なツアーでした。
まず、１番よかったのは、天気！！
私たちの力ではどうにもならない部分だけに、晴れていて、サンセットも星空もきれいに見えたのが本当に良かったです。
次は、写真をたくさん撮ってもらえたこと！
一眼カメラを持って行ったけど、山頂は寒くて、手も冷たくて、なかなか自分たちでは上手に撮ることはできませんでした。でも、インストラクターさんが持ってた一眼で、景色も、私たちの写真も何枚も撮ってくれました。星空と撮ってもらった写真は絶対に自分たちでは撮れない写真なので、うれしかったです。
ハワイ旅行のいい思い出になりました！

On the day of our visit, the summit was closed due to strong winds, but we were laughing from the car at the guide's talk. It wasn't just comedy; we were all surprised by the guide's extensive knowledge and techniques, almost like a home appliance comedian. We were able to take many beautiful and fun photos. Even though the summit was closed, the guide negotiated uniquely to secure a great spot for stargazing, allowing us to see it perfectly without anyone else around.

当日は強風で山頂クローズでしたが、車中から案内時のトークに笑い転げてました。しかしただのお笑いではなく、まるで家電芸人の様な豊富な撮影知識とテクニックに一同びっくり。綺麗で楽しい写真をたくさん撮る事が出来ました。クローズでも独自の交渉で星空観察ポイントも良い場所確保してもらい他店のいない所でばっちり見られました。

First time for my kids and me and we would definitely do it again!! The crew was great and professional. We all hooked a fish!! Loved it!

Our guide was very knowledgeable and attentive to detail. Viewing the volcano in the light and then at night was awesome. The restaurant was so cozy and had great food. Afterwards we hiked thru a fern forest to a lava tube. Amazing!

Our guide, Hank, made the tour worth every penny. Not only was he totally organized and pleasant, his knowledge sharing was priceless. Geology, geography, astronomy, Hawaiian culture, history: so interesting! Thank you for a great day!

So I decided to propose on this particular cruise, and I couldn't have picked a more romantic, thoughtful, and special cruise to do it. I was so incredibly nervous, but the customer service rep was extremely communicative and responsive for my specific request. John, the captain of the vessel, was so knowledgable in the marine life, that my fiance and I asked if he had majored in Marine Biology in college. He had a lot of passion for the marine life and he spent a lot of time speaking with us. Also, the wait staff was beyond courteous, they took pictures of my engagement, and they made us feel so special with their champagne toast.

I also set-up an original song to sing for my fiance, and the musician onboard actually learned my song before-hand, and played it perfectly as I sang it in front of 40 strangers! His tunes really bring that cool, Hawaiian vibe, and the MC was great with her meticulous tour and crowd work. I couldn't have asked for a better sunset, a perfect location, and the greatest staff that I have probably ever encountered. That's saying a lot as I had been a musician on several international five-star cruise lines in the past. I would HIGHLY recommend this cruise to anyone looking for a special event with incredible food.

I was able to enjoy snorkeling to my heart's content in the beautifully clear Kealakekua Bay. The crew members were all kind, and it was a wonderful experience. However, the meal was perhaps not what I would call a "luxurious BBQ lunch."

透明度抜群のケアラケクア湾で思う存分、シュノーケルを楽しめた。
クルーの方々もみな親切で素晴らしい経験が出来た。
ただ食事は「豪華BBQランチ」とは言い難かったかも。

Guides very knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great time. Extended the trip back a bit to view some playful dolphins.Kayaking was fun and snorkeling was fantastic!

I was anxious about going to a mountain higher than Mount Fuji, but the attentive service from the Japanese staff made for a worry-free and enjoyable drive. At the summit, we were able to see a truly wonderful sunset, and the stargazing was even more beautiful than a planetarium. The explanations about the stars were also very enjoyable and detailed, making it a tour that left my family completely satisfied.

富士山より高い山に行くのは不安でしたが、日本人スタッフの方のきめ細やかなサービスを受け
不安もなく楽しいドライブでした。山頂ではとても素晴らしいサンセットをみることができ、
星空観測もプラネタリウムより綺麗でした。また、星の説明もとても楽しく詳しく説明いただき
家族大満足のツアーでした。

This tour was perfect, reply promptly when I had question.
The sunset and the starry night are stunning, wanna go again.
The guide is super nice, I joined 12/22, but forget the guide's name (sorry)
He was really professional and full of knowledge with the stars and thanks him gave us a ride to hotel, we are really appreciated !! Wanna say thanks again :)
If I have the chance, I'll go again !

The quality of food for a dinner cruise was above-average. Drinks were good. The crew was pretty solidly great, mixing an easy-going sociability with attentiveness. And we were lucky enough to see dolphins, glimpse whales, and spend time with a manta ray, all before catching a fantastic sunset.

You have to do this activity! If you love sea creatures, and have not done this before, go for it! The Hula Kai is the way to go. Other tours are available, but the Hula Kai us the best outfit. Plan it early in the trip. It is highly unlikely that the Mantas will not show up, but if they don't, go again. It is only a couple of hours, and a reliable great time. You don't need to be an experienced snorkel / scuba person, they have a system all worked out. Very easy in and out of the water. Go for it!

This is my third time participating in the Mauna Kea Nature tour, but unfortunately, the weather was not great this time. I managed to climb to the summit of Mauna Kea from the Onizuka Center, but it was snowing and hailing, and it was extremely cold, so I couldn't see the sunset. I barely caught a glimpse of the sunset through a break in the clouds, and I could see the magma of Kilauea in the distance.

Since I couldn't see the starry sky from up high, I moved down and was able to see it there.

It's disappointing that we can't choose the weather, but in a way, it was quite rare for Hawaii, and it turned out to be a valuable experience.

Above all, I enjoyed participating in the tour with the other guests, encouraging each other in a friendly atmosphere. The guide also made an effort to show us the best possible sunset and starry sky, which added to the fun memories.

Needless to say, the warm miso soup, the improved bento from last time, the winter clothing, and the free photo download service are all attractions of this tour.

If you participate in the winter, be prepared for unpredictable weather; I think it's best to join with the mindset that if you get to see something, it's a bonus. Even without a perfect sunset and stars, there is so much to gain from this wonderful tour.

マサシネイチャーでの参加は3回目ですが、今回はあいにくの天気でした。
オニヅカセンターから上のマウナケア山頂にはなんとな登れましたが雪がつもり雹がふり、極寒でサンセットは見れず。
辛うじて一瞬雲の合間から夕陽、遠くにキラウエアのマグマが。
星空も上の方ではみれなかったため下に移動してなんとか見ることができました。

天候は選べないものなので残念といえば残念ですが、ある意味でハワイではかなり稀な天候であり、それはそれで貴重な経験でした。

なにより同行した他のお客様御一行と和気あいあいと励ましあいながらツアーに参加できたこと、ガイドさんも少しでも良い星空、サンセットをみせようと努力してくださる心遣いが伝わり、それらも含め楽しい思い出になりました。

言うまでもなく、暖かいお味噌汁、前回よりおいしくなったお弁当、防寒着に写真の無料ダウンロードサービスもこのツアーの魅了です。

冬場に参加の場合、天気は荒れやすい、それを覚悟の上、見れたらラッキーくらいで参加するといいと思います。
満点のサンセットと星がみえなくても、得るものが大きい、いいツアーです。

I chose this tour because regular cameras can't capture the night sky, but I was disappointed by the lack of hospitality.

During the photo shoot on the way to the summit of Mauna Kea, I asked the guide who took my picture if it turned out well, and he assured me it was fine. I felt relieved and downloaded the photos later, but they were not suitable as keepsakes. It's very unpleasant that these images are shared with other tour participants.

As for the stargazing location, we stopped on a side road on the way from the summit of Mauna Kea to the Onizuka Center for an explanation session. However, several cars passed by on their way down, kicking up dust, and since I was trying to take pictures with a DSLR, the headlights from the cars interfered, causing me to fail at capturing multiple shots. Moreover, the location wasn't open, and the mountains obstructed the view of the night sky, ruining the experience. There should be better spots for stargazing.

Even if the guide is used to the scenery every day, the tour participants are not able to visit these places multiple times. This tour requires you to confirm your reservation on the day of your arrival in Hawaii, but with this kind of service, I felt it was a waste to pay for the phone call.

For positive aspects, please check the comments from other tour participants.

普通のカメラでは星空写真が撮影出来ないので、こちらのツアーを選びましたが
ホスピタリティの無さには期待外れでした。

マウナケア山頂へ行く途中での撮影の際、途中で動いてしまったので撮影してくれたガイドさんに「写真はきちんと撮れているか」と確認した所「大丈夫です」との回答に安心して、後日ダウンロードしましたが、記念写真にならない画像。他のツアー参加者にも公開されているので非常に不快です。

星空観賞の場所。マウナケア山頂からオニヅカセンターへの途中の脇道で停車し説明会が始まりましたが、すぐ近くを下山する車が何台も通るので砂煙が巻き上がるし、私は一眼レフでの撮影に挑戦していたので、車のヘッドライドの明かりが邪魔して何枚も撮影に失敗しました。しかも山間でひらけた場所ではないので、山が邪魔で星空が隠れてしまい台無しです。観賞場所ならもっと他にもあるはずです。

ガイドさんは毎日見慣れた景色でも、ツアー参加者は何回も来れる場所ではないのです。
こちらのツアーはハワイ島到着時に当日の予約確認の依頼をされていますが、この様なサービスでは電話代を支払うのも勿体なく思いました。

良かった点は、他のツアー参加者コメントから確認してください。

I had given up on reaching the summit because I heard beforehand that it was inaccessible due to snow, but on the day of the tour, I received the wonderful news that "it has become possible to climb since yesterday!" My excitement shot up instantly. When I got there, the breathtaking view was absolutely amazing! The starry sky and the explanations were fantastic too! The kindness and gentle care from our guide Jin and Con-chan from car number two made the tour very soothing overall. Thank you so much. I have fallen in love with the Big Island!

前情報で山頂へは雪で行けないと聞いていたのであきらめていましたが、
当日「昨日から登れるようになりました」とうれしい知らせ！
一気にテンションがＵＰしました。
行ってみたら、それはそれは素晴らしい絶景！！
星空も解説も素晴らしい！
ガイドのジンさんと2号車のコンちゃんさんのお心遣いも柔らかく優しいもので
それも含めてとても癒されるツアーでした。
本当にありがとうございました。
ハワイ島が大好きになりました。

Although a little long in length, this tour was my favorite activity of our entire trip. We got to see a good portion of the island and its amazing landscape and learned a lot along the way. Our tour guide, Nick, was top notch. Even our two surly teens rated this one of their favorite activities, which says a lot!

After leaving the port, we immediately saw dolphins. Moreover, there was a large pod. They were jumping as well. Some dolphins were chasing after the boat.

出港後、すぐにイルカが見れました。
しかも大量の群れ。ジャンプも。
船の後を追いかけてくるイルカもいました。

My husband and I had a great time snorkeling and kayaking with Kevin. He was very patient with us and is a wealth of knowledge about the Big Island and its history. We even saw dolphins, though I don't think that's guaranteed.

I highly recommend this tour and would book it again if I go back!

Had a rest time. The show was very good and the food better than expected. It was a good venue also.

I participated with my child who is under three years old. My husband and I planned to take turns going into the sea while one of us stayed on the boat with our child, but since the group went a bit far from the boat, that plan turned out to be difficult. In the end, we sat our son on a surfboard and both of us snorkeled with the other participants. At first, our child was scared and crying, but gradually he got used to it and said, "I'm not scared anymore." The staff were very kind to our youngest son, holding him so we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about him, and they were incredibly helpful.

I wasn't sure about the meeting place, but when I called the contact number, they kindly explained the location and even sent a photo of the map to my phone.

We had a great time, but I think it might be difficult for children under three to participate, depending on the staff.

3歳未満の子供と参加しました。主人と交代で海に入り、どちらかが子供と一緒に船上で待っていようと計画していましたが団体が少し船から離れたところまで行くので実際はその計画は難しく、結局サーフボードに息子を座らせて夫婦同時に他の参加者と共にシュノーケルをしました。はじめ子供は怖がっていて泣きべそをかいていましたがだんだん慣れて「もう怖くない」と言っていました。スタッフも最年少の息子にとても優しく、私たちが息子のことを気にかけず楽しめるように抱っこしてくれたり申し訳ないほど親切にしてもらいました。

集合場所もよく分からなかったのですが連絡先に電話を入れたらとても丁寧に場所を教えてくれて私の携帯に地図の写真まで送ってくれました。

とても楽しめましたがスタッフによっては３歳未満の参加は難しいかと思います。

I parked my car in the hotel parking lot. Normally, the parking fee for non-guests is high, but guests of the luau could park for $5. The venue has long tables where you sit with others, but since the other tables are not all acquaintances, it doesn't feel awkward. The food was delicious, the performances were enjoyable, and my son, who is under three years old, had a great time. I was worried that little kids might get bored halfway through, but he seemed to be fascinated by the dancing and music, sitting quietly and happily watching the stage.

ホテルの駐車場に車を停めました。普通宿泊客でない駐車料は高いですがルアウの客は５ドルで停められました。会場は長テーブルで相席になりますが他のテーブルも皆知り合い同士じゃないのでお互い気になりません。食事もおいしく、パフォーマンスも楽しく、3歳未満の息子も楽しめました。小さい子は途中で飽きてしまうか心配でしたが、踊りや音楽が興味深かったようでおとなしくじっとステージを見て喜んでいました。

I was worried because I had my son who is under three years old, but all the children's floaties were available for free rental. The staff was friendly and accommodating, which made it enjoyable.
Both breakfast and lunch were delicious, and my son was happy.
The snorkeling spot had clear water and was a great experience. It seemed to be full, so the boat felt a bit crowded, but the amount of food was sufficient, and during snorkeling, everyone enjoyed their activities, so it didn't bother me at all. The restroom on the boat was clean. They also provided careful assistance for snorkeling beginners.

３歳未満の息子もいたので心配でしたが、子供用の浮き輪などすべて無料でレンタルできます。スタッフも気さくでフレンドリーに対応してくれて楽しめました。
朝食も昼食もおいしく、息子も喜んでいました。
シュノーケルの場所も水がきれいでいい経験でした。満員だったようで船上は少し込み合った感がありましたが食事の量も十分だし、シュノーケル中はそれぞれの行動を楽しむので全く気になりませんでした。船の中のトイレもきれいです。シュノーケル初心者にも丁寧に対応してくれます。