All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

I was able to enjoy everything from the 3 PM pickup until returning to the hotel. I had a fulfilling time with the guide's stories during the journey, the meal break at the Onizuka Center, photo opportunities along the way, the sunset, and stargazing.

It was my first time seeing such a beautiful Milky Way, and I don't think I'll have another chance like this in the future. I had an incredibly good experience.

I believe this is something everyone should do at least once.

15時のピックアップから、ホテルに帰って来るまで全てを通して楽しむことができました。
移動中のガイドさんのお話やオニヅカセンターでの休憩食事、途中での写真タイム、サンセット、星空観測と充実した時間を過ごさせてもらいました。

あんなに綺麗な天の川を見れたのはこれが初めてで、今後もなかなかないんじゃないかとおもいます。
非常にいい経験をさせてもらいました。

この経験は一度はするべきだとおもいます。

My wife, her aunt, and I participated in this activity together. My wife's aunt is 75 years old and it was her first time snorkeling. The large boat was sleek and white, but we were the only Japanese among the staff and other guests, which made us a bit anxious... Although we couldn't communicate well, the staff was kind. My wife's aunt was able to safely experience snorkeling and saw yellow and blue fish. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and a bit windy, causing the boat to sway, and both my wife and her aunt got seasick before lunch, so they couldn't enjoy the delicious hamburgers. We didn't encounter a pod of dolphins, but on the way back to the port, four dolphins appeared at the stern of the boat, which made my wife's aunt very happy.

私達夫婦と妻の叔母の３人で参加しました。叔母は75歳でシュノーケリングは初めてす。真っ白でカッコイイ大型ボートでしたが、スタッフやお客さんの中で日本人は私達だけで不安･･･会話は通じなかったがスタッフは親切でした。叔母さんも無事シュノーケリングを体験し黄色や青い魚を見ました。残念ながら曇りと少し風がありボートが揺れて、昼食前に妻と叔母は船酔いで、美味しいハンバーガーを食べられませんでした。イルカの群れには遭遇できなかったが、帰港途中で船尾に4頭のイルカが現れ、叔母に喜んでもらえました。

I participated in this tour because I wanted to see wild mantas, which you have a high chance of encountering. Since I had rented a car, I opted for a meeting point, but it was a bit difficult to find. The meeting place is at Honokohau Harbor, not Honokohau Marina (you need to take the first right after entering the side road from the highway), and I wandered around the area for a while.

The tour had a mixed team of foreigners and Japanese, and there was a Japanese-speaking guide as well. After departing, we headed to the manta spot on a high-speed boat while enjoying a very beautiful sunset. The 20-minute journey was thrilling at high speed. Although I usually don’t get seasick, I felt a bit queasy.

Once we arrived, we put on our snorkeling gear and floated on the surface, waiting for the mantas to come. It was exhilarating to see the mantas swimming close by, coming to eat the plankton in the water. I had never seen such a sight, with their mouths wide open.

However, the mantas weren't always in sight; in fact, we spent more time waiting while floating on the surface. It seems that this tendency is more pronounced on bright full moon nights.

All in all, it was a very impressive and extraordinary experience that is hard to come by.

一度は見てみたかった野生のマンタに高確率で遭遇できるとのことで、こちらのツアーに参加しました。
レンタカーを借りていたので現地集合にしましたが、集合場所はやや分かりにくいです。ホノコハウマリーナではなくホノコハウハーバー(ハイウェイから脇道に入って一つ目の分岐を右)の最も奥が集合場所で、しばらく付近をさ迷ってしまいました。
ツアーは外国の方と日本人の混成チームで、日本語のガイドの方もいらっしゃいます。
出航後は、非常に美しい夕日を見ながら高速ボートでマンタスポットまで向かいます。20分程の道のりは、ハイスピードでスリル満点。盛り上がりましたが、普段乗り物酔いしない私でもやや船酔いしました。
到着後は、シュノーケルを装置して海面に浮かび、マンタがやって来るのを待ちます。海中のプランクトンを食べにやって来たマンタが至近距離をグルグルと泳ぐ姿は美しく、非常に興奮しました。マンタの口の中まで丸見えで、あのような光景は見たことがありませんでした。
ただ、ずっとマンタが視界にいる訳ではなく、寧ろ海面に浮きながら待機する時間の方が長いです。満月の明るい夜はそのような傾向があるとのことです。
何はともあれ、なかなかできない非日常な体験ができ、非常に印象的でした。

Elvis and the crew are great fun, they really seem to enjoy there jobs. You would think taking boat loads of tourist out everyday they would get old, if it does they hide it well. They are a safe group and care for the island they are sharing with you. On the way back he turned the boat around to get us a better look at a beautiful Manta Ray. Well worth the time and money!!

The office staff is also great, they will call you to confirm, give you directions, answer questions. Really a great group, not a "sketchy tourist trap"!

First, when we arrived at the harbor and headed to the meeting point, the staff member, Tori-chan, greeted us very cheerfully and friendly! On that day, there were two couples, my husband and I, and a newlywed couple, along with four Japanese staff members from Honolulu participating.

Despite the small number of people, we got to ride on a large rubber boat! The edge of the rubber boat was designed like a banana boat, allowing us to enjoy activities while watching the beautiful sunset. As soon as we arrived, the sun began to set, and we all enjoyed the stunning sunset together, taking photos.

Once the sun went down and we looked at the sea, there were manta rays right there!! We quickly got ready and headed into the water! The sight of three manta rays dancing was exhilarating. Without having to wait for the manta rays to come to us, they approached us repeatedly, coming so close that we could almost touch them!!

The thirty minutes flew by, and the other tour guests returned to the boat. Tori-chan and the other staff members were very attentive, providing support and encouragement to me since I couldn't swim, allowing me to enjoy watching the manta rays without any anxiety. The only downside was that my camera didn’t work well, and I couldn’t take any photos underwater.

On the way back, we enjoyed a relaxing time under the full moonlight and the night view of Kona. With the banana boat ride, sunset, full moon, and night view, this tour offered many wonderful experiences beyond just the manta rays!!

At the end of the tour, we received a cute graduation certificate from Manta University. What kind of certificate it is will be a surprise for those who participate in the tour. Thank you so much, Tori-chan, the captain, and all the staff from Honolulu. Such a wonderful and emotional experience is rare! If you come to the Big Island, I definitely think you should join this tour.

まず、ハーバーに着いて集合場所に向かうと、スタッフの鳥ちゃんがとても明るくフレンドリーに話し掛けてくれました！当日は私たち夫婦と新婚さん夫婦の二組、そしてホノルルから来た日本人のスタッフさん４人の参加でした。
少ない人数ながら、大きいゴムボートに‼
ゴムボートの端じっこはバナナボートみたいになっていて、綺麗な夕日を見ながら、アクティビティーを満喫できます。
到着したと同時に、夕日が沈み始め、すごくキレイなサンセットをみんなで観賞したり、写真を撮ったり。
夕日が沈み、海を見ると、もうマンタがすぐそこに!!
早々に準備し、いざ海へ!
３枚のマンタが踊る姿に興奮がとまりません。マンタが来てくれるのを待つこともなく、次々に３枚のマンタが何度も何度も触ってしまう距離まで
来てくれました!!
あっという間の３０分間が終わり、他のツアー客もみんなボートへ。
鳥ちゃんや他のスタッフさんが泳げない私への声掛けやフォローを丁寧にしてくれて、少しの不安もなく、マンタが踊る姿を楽しめました。ただ、カメラがうまく機能せず、海の中の写真が全然取れなかったのだけが残念です・・。
帰りは、満月の月明かりとコナの夜景にうっとりしながら、まったりとした時間を過ごす事ができました。
バナナボートにサンセット、満月に夜景と、このツアーではマンタ以外にもいくつもの感動が味わえました!!
また、ツアーの最後にマンタ大学のかわいい卒業証書がもらえます。どんな卒業証書かは、ツアーに参加してのお楽しみに。
鳥ちゃん、船長さん&ホノルルスタッフのみなさん本当にお世話になりました。こんな素敵な感動体験はめったにできません！
ハワイ島に来たなら、是非参加してみるべきツアーだと思います。

I highly recommend this tour.

During the tour, they take photos with a DSLR camera. They capture a lot of moments, including posed shots and candid ones. This is included in the tour price. What impressed me the most was getting a photo taken with the stars! It's something I couldn't capture with my handheld digital camera, so it became a wonderful memory.

こちらのツアーはオススメです。

ツアー中、一眼レフで写真を撮ってくれます。ポーズしているところやオフショットまでほんとたくさん。それも料金はツアー代に含まれています。感動したのは星と一緒に撮ってもらったこと！手持ちのデジカメでは撮れないのでとても思い出になりました。

We participated in this tour for our honeymoon. We chose a tour that gathered at the meeting point, and although we arrived early at the port by rental car, we got lost because the port was so large (we had received a clear map in advance, but I forgot it at the hotel...) and ended up being over 15 minutes late to meet everyone! I felt really bad for making the tour group wait, but the staff welcomed us with smiles, which made me feel so relieved.

Once everything was ready, we finally set sail! The captain sped the boat up, and when I straddled the edge of the boat, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride! (Of course, you can also sit inside the boat). The sunset reflecting on the sparkling sea was incredibly beautiful.

Just as our excitement peaked, we arrived at Manta Point. There were many manta tour boats floating on the water, creating a very magical and beautiful scene. Then, we finally got to go into the water! The seawater was a bit warm, and since they provided us with wetsuits, I didn't feel cold at all.

We took out a small floating boat from the main boat and held onto it. I was a bit worried since I can't swim, but the staff assisted us, so there was no problem at all! We set up our snorkels and waited for the mantas while peering into the water.

And then!!! The long-awaited manta appeared! At first, we saw it swimming just below us, which was exciting enough, but then it turned and spun right in front of us! I was thrilled to see the manta so close that I could see its skeleton and gills! Unfortunately, that was the only time it came so close, but we saw several mantas swimming gracefully.

After getting back on the boat, we sped through the dark sea like a roller coaster again. Unlike the outbound trip, the lights from the land were so beautiful against the dark sea.

I was truly excited until the very end! Next time, I definitely want to join the dolphin tour on the Big Island! The staff were bright and fun, and I was very satisfied! Thank you!

新婚旅行で参加しました。
現地集合をするツアーにしたのですが、レンタカーで集合場所の港には早めについたものの、港が広くて迷ってしまい（ちゃんと分かり易い地図は予め頂いていたのですが、ホテルに忘れてきてしまって・・・）15分以上遅れてやっと合流できました！ツアーの方をみんな待たせてしまっていたので申し訳なさで緊張していたのですが、スタッフの方が笑顔で迎えてくれて、すごくほっとしました。
そして準備が整い、ついに出港！キャプテンが船をビューっと飛ばして、船のふちにまたがれば、まるでジェットコースターみたいにスリル満点！（船の中で座って乗る事ももちろんできます）。サンセットできらめく海がとても綺麗で素敵でした。
テンションが上がりきったところでマンタポイントに到着。
たくさんのマンタツアーのボートが海に浮いていて、とても幻想的で綺麗でうっとり。
そして待ちに待った海の中へ！
海水は少し温かめで、ウェットスーツも貸して頂けたので全く寒くなかったです。
船から小さな浮くボートのようなものをだし、そこにつかまります。私は泳げないので少し心配だったのですが、スタッフの方がアテンドしてくれたので全く問題ないです！
シュノーケルをセットして、水中をのぞきながらマンタを待ちます。
そしてそして！！！念願のマンタが！私達の浮いている下の方を泳いでいるのが最初は見え、それだけでも興奮したのに、次ぎは目の前でくるりと回転してくれたのです！骨格からえらの中まで見れるくらい目の前にいるマンタに大興奮！！残念ながらそこまで近くに来てくれたのはその一回でしたが、何枚かのマンタが優雅に泳いでいるのが見えました。
船に上がって、またジェットコースターのように暗い海を走ります。往路とは違い、暗い海から陸の光がとても綺麗でした。
最後まで本当に大興奮！今度はハワイ島イルカ高校にもぜひ参加したいと思います！
スタッフの方も明るく楽しくて、とても満足です！ありがとうございました！

This tour was absolutely awesome. Chris and Nick, our guides, were very knowledgeable and fun. They clearly pride themselves on what they do, which makes them stand out from the average. The meals were good, especially the beautiful dinner. We had the steak which was fantastic, and the service was perfect and so friendly. We saw beautiful sights all day, ending at the volcano which gave us a good show. Would do again in a heartbeat. Thanks guys!

It turned into a private tour for just one group in the afternoon. Due to the effects of the recent hurricane, there were some waves, and since there were two beginners over sixty, we didn't push ourselves with kayaking or snorkeling. Still, it was enjoyable to paddle and swim on our own, and we were able to see sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and beautiful fish. Kevin was fluent in Japanese and took a lot of photos for us. Afterward, we were able to change at a nearby restroom and took the trolley bus back to our hotel in Kona. Since there was no bus in the 4 PM slot, we waited at the Sheraton Hotel while having tea. If you're worried about seasickness, changing clothes, or managing money, it might be good to inquire beforehand. It's better not to rely too much on information from the internet. If I have another opportunity, I would like to join an early morning tour and enjoy kayaking and snorkeling to the fullest.

午後からの１グループだけのプライベートツアーになりました。先日来のハリケーンの影響？で少し波があり、還暦過ぎの初心者２人でしたから、カヤックもシュノーケリングも無理をしませんでした。それでも、自分で漕ぐ、泳ぐのが楽しくて、ウニやナマコ、きれいな魚をみることができました。ケビンさんは日本語が堪能で、写真もたくさんとってもらいました。終了後は、近くのトイレで着替えることもでき、トロリーバスに乗ってコナのホテルに帰りました。４時台のバスがなかったので、シェラトンホテルでお茶をして時間待ちしました。船酔い、着替え、金銭管理など不安なら問い合わせるとよいかもしれません。ネットの情報を信用しすぎないほうがよいです。また機会があったら、早朝からのツアーに参加して、ゆっくり、めいっぱい、カヤックとシュノーケリングを楽しみたいです。

It was a very short trip and we only saw 1 cave and a very small one. The guide was great, however due to the approaching hurricane he said that it was not save going further. I'm not an expert on weather, but the waters/wind did not change for the entire time we were there. If I would've known what it was going to be, I would've prefer they had cancelled the trip and we would have either planned for another day or received our refund.

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the swim with the Manta Rays - the staff on the boat were perfect, snacks were provided and we saw lots of Manta Rays, the sunset was beautiful.

Thanks Again

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the Submarine Ride - the staff on the boat were very knowledgeable and we saw lots of cool things at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks Again

We didn't have the best start for our manta ray snorkeling - trouble checking in for our flight the day after stressed us a lot, so we were not really in the mood. But despite me getting pretty seasick, being in the water and experiencing these magnificent and majestic fish feeding was an amazing experince. I so much wanna do it again - but next time without being seasick :) Thanks to the crew and captain for being so nice to me

The moon was a thin crescent, so without being disturbed by the lights, I was able to fully enjoy the perfectly clear starry sky for the third time. My son and I said, "I wish Mom could have seen this," remembering my wife who passed away last year. I hope many people get to see this.

月が細い三日月だったので、あかりに邪魔されず、正に満天のクリアーな星空を3度目の参加で堪能することがて巻きました。息子と２人「お母さんにも見せたかったね」と昨年亡くなった妻を偲んだ次第です。是非多くの人に見てもらいたいとおもいます。

Kona Lei welcoming,
Thank you for the warm welcoming we received! Great welcoming!! She helped us to where to find the baggage claim and where to go for the car rental pickup. Very friendly and helpful. Asked if we needed anything else she could do.
Thank you for the warm welcome!!!!
Aileen

We visited Hawaii for our honeymoon, wanting to enjoy nature not only on Oahu but also on the Big Island. We participated in this popular tour and were very satisfied. We also joined the sunrise tour early in the morning, participating in both the sunrise and sunset tours in one day. I was unsure if it made sense to join similar tours twice, but I’m glad we did (it was quite physically demanding, though!). During the sunrise tour, there are fewer people at the summit of Mauna Kea, allowing us to quietly enjoy the starry sky and sunrise. Although it was dark and I was sleepy, making it hard to see the scenery around Mauna Kea during the sunrise tour, the sunset tour allowed us to enjoy the views at a leisurely pace. The fact that the sun sets and rises in different places, and the starry sky looks different, made it worthwhile to see both. Personally, I was very happy to have seen the starry sky twice!

新婚旅行でハワイを訪れ、オアフ島だけでなく、ハワイ島で自然を満喫したいという思いでハワイ島を訪れました。そして人気のあるこのツアーに参加しましたが、大満足でした。私達は早朝にサンライズツアーにも参加しており、一日にサンライズとサンセット両方のツアーに参加しました。二回も同じようなツアーに参加する意味があるのか疑問でしたが、両方のツアーに参加してよかったと思います（体力的に結構ハードですが笑）。サンライズツアーの時間帯ではマウナケア山頂に行く人が少ないため、静かに星空やサンライズを見ることができます。サンライズツアーでは暗くて眠くてあまりマウナケア周辺の景色を見ることができませんでしたが、サンセットツアーではゆっくり景色を楽しむことができます。そして太陽が沈む、出てくる場所が違う、星空の顔が違うということで二度見る価値はありました。個人的には星空を二回も見れたとことが大変よかったです！！

It was truly a precious experience to see the manta rays dancing right in front of me. The sunset over the ocean as seen from the boat was an unforgettable beauty. On the way back after seeing the manta rays, we rode the boat through the dark, speeding along like on a banana boat, which was exhilarating! There were also reliable Japanese staff present, so I felt safe participating. I give it a perfect score of 100, no, 150 points!!

マンタが目の前でぐるぐるとダンスするという、本当に貴重な体験でした。
ボートから見た海に沈む夕陽、忘れられない美しさです。
マンタを見た後戻るときにも、真っ暗闇をボートにまたがりバナナボート風で突っ走り、爽快！
頼りになる日本人スタッフもいらして、安心して参加できました。
100点、いや、150点！！です！！

We visited the Big Island for our honeymoon and participated in this tour with my wife. We were taught the basics of kayaking and then set out to sea! It was a fantastic location with a pleasant breeze, and we were able to paddle gracefully, which made us very satisfied! However, perhaps due to several days of sleep deprivation, my wife started to feel seasick about 20 minutes into paddling... We paddled quite a distance, so I was very happy, but for my wife, it was a time of endurance, haha. I have snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and I remember being very disappointed because the wind was strong and the water was murky, but the waters around the Big Island were incredibly clear, allowing us to see all the way to the bottom. There were plenty of fish swimming around, and there were corals as well, making for an amazing snorkeling experience. However, by the time I got back on the kayak, I was also feeling seasick... It was a very fun tour, but if you're prone to motion sickness, it might be a good idea to take some medication before participating.

新婚旅行でハワイ島を訪れ、このツアーに妻と二人で参加しました。カヤックの簡単な漕ぎ方を教えていただきいざ海へ！最高のロケーションと心地よい風の中優雅にカヤックを漕げて大満足！しかし、連日の睡眠不足がたたったか漕ぎ始めて20分ほどで妻が船酔いに・・・。結構な距離を漕ぎますので私は大満足だったのですが、妻にとっては我慢の時間帯でした笑私はオーストラリアのグレートバリアリーフでシュノーケリングしたことがありますが、風が強く海も濁っていてとても残念だった記憶があるのですが、ハワイ島の海はとても綺麗で海の底まではっきりと見え、魚もたくさん泳いでおり、さらにサンゴもいて感動のシュノーケリングになりました。ただ泳ぎ疲れてカヤックに乗ったころには私も船酔いに・・・。とても楽しかったツアーでしたが、酔いやすい方は酔い止めを飲まれて参加されたほうがいいかもしれません。

Since we are 64 and 63 years old, we arrived on the Big Island two days ago to consider our health, and we took it easy the day before climbing Mauna Kea.

We had a guide who provided information about the history of Hawaii Island and its unique flora and fauna, and we were able to enjoy overcoming the bumpy roads.

I was worried about altitude sickness, but by following the guide's specific advice like "Don't sleep here / Let's take care of the restroom / Put on gloves and a knit hat at this point," I had no issues.

I was able to remember and record things like the "flower of connection" and "silversword," which I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't participated in the tour.

The stargazing using the reflecting telescope next to the Onizuka Center was a wonderful lecture, and I recommend this tour even for those who are not interested in astronomy. The fact that we could download the photos taken by the guide also added to the value of the experience.

"We want to strengthen our legs and aim to see the lava flowing into the sea next time," we discussed as an elderly couple. If that opportunity arises, please let us know!

64歳＆63歳ですので体調を考慮して、2日前にビッグアイランドに到着し、マウナケア登頂前日もゆっくり過ごしました。
ハワイ島の歴史や固有動植物の案内があり、凸凹道も楽しく克服できました。
不安だった高山病ですが、ガイドさんの「ここでは寝ないでください／トイレを済ませましょう／手袋とニット帽はこの時点で」等、具体的なアドバイスに従うことで問題ありませんでした。

ツアーに参加しなければ目に入ることのなかった【縁結びの花】や【銀剣草】なども記憶と記録に残すことができました。

http://2016summer.jimdo.com/%EF%BC%92%EF%BC%97%E6%97%A5-%E3%82%B9%E3%83%90%E3%83%AB%E5%A4%A9%E6%96%87%E5%8F%B0/

オニヅカセンター横での反射望遠鏡を使った天体観測は素晴らしいレクチャーで、天体に興味がない人にもお勧めのツアーです。
ガイドさんが撮影して下さった写真をダウンロードできる点もお得感を倍増させます。

「足腰を鍛えて、次回は溶岩が海に流れ落ちるところを目指したいね。」
と話し合っている老夫婦です。そのチャンスがあればヨロシク！！

Jim Cary was our tour guide and he did a great job. He was extremely knowledgable of the Hawaiian and Polanisian culture which made the day that much better. The vehicle was not as comfortable as I expected a Mercedes to be, definitely the only downfall of the whole trip. All in all, a high 9/10

Entering the ocean at night and getting close to the manta rays was terrifying, but it was truly breathtaking and exhilarating. I have had the opportunity to encounter dolphins and sea turtles while swimming in the waters of Hawaii several times, but the experience with the manta rays was even more moving and exciting. My husband, who initially had low expectations, was also extremely thrilled.

夜の海に入ることも、マンタに接近することも、恐怖心がありましたが、ほんとに圧巻としか言いようがないほど、興奮しました。ハワイの海で、イルカや海亀に遭遇して一緒に泳ぐ機会が、今まで何度かありましたが、マンタはそれ以上に感動、興奮しました。はじめは期待していなかった主人も大興奮でした。

Guide was very informative. He talked about everything we were seeing and was easy to listen to. The only concern I had was that the tour company needs to adjust expected arrival times to account for other pick ups and traffic.

Very cool experience. There were 12 Mantas swimming around us. The crew were safety conscious and handled a guy that freaked out in the water very professionally. No shame and wanted everyone to have a good time. Hot Chocolate provided with fresh fruit.

Great food and show. The fire knife performer was our favorite!

They arrived on time at 1:30 PM. The guide is Jin, also known as Big Jin. It seems he majored in geology and botany at the University of Hawaii, and he provided detailed explanations about the lava and vegetation along the way.

To acclimatize to the altitude, we stopped at the Onizuka Center, and around 4:00 PM, we had our meal (a bento). Therefore, it would be wise to have an early lunch on that day. Additionally, the places to eat (with benches) are limited, so if you want to eat in peace, it's best to secure a seat early. It started to rain on the day, so we took shelter in the car.

After that, we headed straight for the summit. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the spectacular sunset due to intermittent rain, but the view from 4,000 meters was exceptional. The summit of Mauna Kea was truly divine.

For stargazing, the clouds didn't clear, and the guide was having trouble deciding on various locations, but we finally found a spot near Waikoloa where there was a break in the clouds above us. We were able to see various constellations centered around the Milky Way. The guide pointed them out with a laser beam, making it easy to understand. Additionally, they took high-quality photos of us against the starry sky with a high-performance camera. It's rare to capture such images with a regular camera, making it a valuable experience. The photos can be downloaded later.

While the guide was fine, I had hoped for a magnificent sunset, so I rated it four stars.

13時30分の定刻通り迎えにいらっしゃいました。ガイドはビックジンことJINさんです。ハワイ大学で地質や植物学を専攻されていたようで、道中は溶岩や植生のことを詳しく解説いただきました。
高地順応するため途中でオニヅカセンターに立ち寄り、16時00分頃にご飯（お弁当）となります。ですので、当日のランチは早めに摂っておいた方が賢明かと思います。また、食べる所（ベンチがあるところ）は限られており、落ち着いて食べたい人は早めに席を確保しておくとよいでしょう。当日は途中で雨が降ってきたので、車の中に逃げ込みましたが。
その後、一気に頂上を目指します。あいにく断続的に雨が降る中、スペクタクルな夕焼けは見ることができませんでしたが、4000ｍから見る景色は格別でした。マウナケア山頂も神々しい限りです。
星空観測は雲が切れず、ガイドさんもいろいろ場所を決めかねていましたが、
やっとワイコロアの近くで頭上にポカリと雲が抜けているところがありました。
天の川を中心にいろいろな星座を見えることができました。レーザービームで指し示してくれるのでわかりやすかったです。また、自分たちと星降る空を高性能カメラで撮影いただきました。普通のカメラではなかなか撮れないので貴重です。写真は後日、ダウンロードできます。
ガイド自体は問題なかったのですが、やはり雄大な夕焼けを期待していたので、
評価は4つ星にさせていただきました。

The sunset dinner cruise my wife and I took lived up to the hype. The food was excellent! The western coast of the Big Island was just beautiful at that time of day. We also got to see a pod of dolphins (I would say at least 20 jumping out of the water) along the way. Can't recommend this activity enough!!!

I stayed at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Hotel. The show takes place at this hotel.

We were supposed to gather at 5:00 PM, but when we arrived, there was a long line in the hallway next to the lobby. I recommend arriving early for check-in, as being late in line can affect your meal time later. If you pay a special fee, you can get seats closer to the front and don’t have to wait as long.

When you line up, they will ask if you want a flower lei or a shell lei. The shell lei is free, while the flower lei comes at a cost. We exchanged shell leis with each other. After that, we exchanged our vouchers for tickets and headed to the venue.

Once we arrived at the venue, soothing Hawaiian music was playing continuously. We waited at our seats until everyone was at their tables. Drinks are self-serve near the entrance. Adults can have beer or mai tais, while children only get red cranberry juice. My 10-year-old child was not allowed to have that. At the same time, there was an introduction to about five traditional games, where you could decorate your face and feet with stamps. Participation in these activities was optional.

Afterward, there was a hula dance lesson, and explanations about traditional dishes, such as meat wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, along with about 30 minutes of free time. Hawaiian music continued to play during this time. About an hour after entering, King Kamehameha finally arrived from the sea.

After that, it was finally time for dinner, but we had to go up to the buffet in order from the front tables. However, we couldn’t go up freely. They called each table, so we had to wait at least 30 minutes after the first table was called. My 10-year-old fell asleep without eating, despite being hungry, as it took a long time for our table to be called.

Desserts, coffee, and tea were available. Just when I thought we could return to our room after finishing our meal, the show finally began. The show featured Hawaiian dances and a fire show, which were quite good, but it took a considerable amount of time to get to the meal and to watch the show. You really need to have a relaxed mindset and plenty of time, or else you might end up feeling exhausted.

The Hawaiian music was very pleasant, and my two sons and husband dozed off, swaying their heads during the crucial part of the show. It ended at 8:30 PM. I think it’s a show more suited for adults. My 10-year-old ultimately didn’t wake up and managed to eat a packed meal of chicken nuggets, fries, white rice, and meat after we returned to the room. It’s a show aimed at older audiences rather than children.

コートヤードキングカメハメハホテルに宿泊してました。ショーはこのホテルで行われます。
１７:００集合でしたが、行くとロビー横の廊下に長蛇の列ができてました。
後のことも考えると受付には早くいくことをお勧めします。並ぶのが遅いと、後々食事時間に影響します。
特別料金を払うと前の方の席になり、あまり並ぶ必要もありません。
並ぶと順番に対応してくれますが、花のレイか貝殻のレイか聞かれます。貝殻は無料で花のレイ有料です。お互いに貝殻のレイをかけあいました。
その後バウチャーをチケットにかえ、入場する会場に向かいます。
会場につくとず～っとゆったりとしたハワイアンミュージックが演奏されています。全員がテーブルにつくまで、席に座って待ちます。飲み物は入口の近くに自分でとりにいきます。大人はビールやマイタイが提供され、子どもは赤いクランベリージュースのみです。１０歳の子供はそれがダメでした。それと同時に５種類くらいの昔の遊びや顔や足にスタンプのような飾りをつけたりと伝統的な昔の遊びの紹介があります。それに参加するかどうかは自由です。その後フラダンスのレッスンがあつたり、伝統的な料理、バナナの皮に肉を包んで蒸すなどの説明があったり、３０分くらいの自由な時間があります。その間もハワイアンミュージックがずっとかかってます。入場して一時間くらい経つとようやく海からカメハメハ大王が陸に上陸してきます。
それが終わるとようやく食事ですが、前方の席から順番によぱれ食事(ビュッフェ)を取りにいきます。でも自由には取りにいけないのです。テーブルごとによばれるので、とにかく最初のテーブルの人たちが呼ばれてからもさいてい３０分は待ちました。１０歳の子供は、ゆったりとしたミュージックと昼のシュノーケリングでとうとうご飯を食べずに寝てしまいました。お腹がへっているのに、なかなか順番は来ず、自分のテーブルの順番を待ってやっとご飯を食べました。
デザートコーヒー紅茶はあります。
御飯が食べ終わってもう部屋に帰ってもいいんじゃないのと思う頃にようやくショーが始まりました。ショーはハワイアンダンスにファイヤーショーがあったりなかなかよかったですが、とにかく食事にありつくのにも、ショーを見るのにも時間がかなりかかり、心と時間にかなりゆとりをもたないと、逆に疲れてしまいました。
ハワイアンミュージックはとても心地よく、息子二人と旦那もウトウト肝心のショーの時には、
頭が揺れてました。終わりは20:30。大人が参加するショーかなと思います。
１０歳の子供は結局起きず、何とかチキンナゲットとポテト、白ご飯とお肉だけをいただいたパックに詰め込んで、部屋に戻ってから食べました。
子どもより年配の方々向けのショーです。

Devon was great, informative, fun, and adventurous. The caves and snorkeling were amazing. The remote location was fantastic, Devon added to the trip with his exciting and friendly personality teaching us about the land formations, the sea, and Hawaiian folklore. A must see, will be booking again next year with Devon for my whole family.
HJames

I'm glad I was able to safely visit Mauna Kea, which is higher than Mount Fuji, without getting altitude sickness. I was happy to see the sunset and the sea of clouds during the breaks along the way. The staff mentioned that due to the moon, the stars wouldn't be very visible, but I was pleased to see them better than in Japan. Since it gets cold, warm soup might be better than coffee.

富士山より高いマウナケアに安心安全に行けて高山病にならず良かったです。途中休憩があり夕日も雲海も見れて幸せでした。
スタッフの方から月の関係で星があまり見えないと言われましたが日本より良く見えて良かったです。
体が冷えるのでコーヒーより暖かいスープだともっと良いかもしれませんねー。

On the day I participated, there were many mantas, and I was able to see them up close multiple times. I heard from the instructor that mantas are gentle creatures that are not poisonous and do not sting, but they are quite large and impressive. They swim slowly, allowing for a thorough observation of their mouths.

On the boat out to sea, we were able to see a beautiful sunset on the way there and a starry sky on the way back. Since mantas are wild, there's no guarantee they will appear on any given day, but just the boat ride itself is satisfying. Additionally, the instructor is Japanese, so the explanations are easy to understand and reassuring.

参加した日は、マンタがたくさん出てきてくれて、何度も間近で見ることができました。
インストラクターの方から、マンタは、毒もないし刺したりもしない優しい生物と聞いていましたが、体が大きく迫力満点です。ゆーっくり泳ぐので、口の中までじっくり観察できますよ。
沖に出るボートでは、行きは美しい夕日が見れて、帰りは満天の星空が見れます。マンタは野生なのでその日に出てきてくれるかは確約できないそうですが、行き帰りのボートだけでも満足できます。また、インストラクターが日本人なので、解説もわかりやすく安心です。