All Reviews for Waikoloa Resorts, Big Island

We had an awesome time on the Spirit of Aloha sunset cruise with Hawaii Naurical. Our crew was fantastic: knowledgeable, helpful and very funny! We enjoyed everything from food and drinks to the amazing views on the coast. Would absolutely do this again and highly recommend to others. Mahalo for the memories 😊

My wife was initially scared to board, but it wasn't too bumpy, and while receiving explanations in Japanese, we were able to see various mountains, volcanic craters, and waterfalls from the helicopter, which was moving. The price was a bit high, but we created wonderful memories that were worth it.

家内は最初乗車するのが怖がっていましたが、
たいして揺れることもなく、日本語での説明をしてもらいながら
色々な山や火口付近・滝などをヘリコプターから見られて
感動しました。
お値段はちょっと高額ですが、それ以上に良い思い出が出来ました。

I was disappointed with this tour for lack of hospitality, communication and false advertising. The tour guide is not an astronomer or someone who writes articles for astronomy mazagines or even a local Hawaiian. They are very knowledgeable, patient and friendly guides but also lack communication with the tour company. For instance, we had 10 people in our tour and they were told only 6 so he wasn’t prepared with enough hot chocolate or parkas. It may also be the reason he didn’t offer snacks or water to anyone and tried to get more people to drink coffee at 9 pm! I was also disappointed that we didn’t go to the Kona coffee farm as advertised in the itinerary and confirmed when they called. You also have to select your meal prior to arrival or seeing the options which is undesirable. Finally, when they called to confirm they told me not to bring anything - no water, jacket, hiking boots etc since all would be provided and tennis shoes were enough. First off, I came prepared with everything in my luggage but since they said not to bring a big bag or too many items we were underprepared. My son was freezing because the parkas are huge and they were passed out but left for people to get when they were freezing. Our tennis were covered in dirt and sand because we stopped at a beach and walked the sand. I would have to be informed in advance that we’re going to a beach and not the coffee farm and to have proper attire. The stargazing was nice and we saw a lot of stars and constellations but it was not pleasant because of the lack of preparation. I do not recommend this tour. If you book, don’t listen to their advice and come prepared with attire, water and snacks on top of the exorbitant price you pay. Or you could ask to go with the tour that matches the advertisement but I tried that already. Heed the warning. I didn’t and while we don’t regret it we regret the company.

Great experience! Like snorkeling without getting wet. They took us over beautiful reefs with lots of fish. It was fun! The guides were great!

Participating as a family of four was truly a courageous choice, especially considering the impact of the exchange rate, but I'm so glad we decided to go for it! It was my first time on a helicopter, and thanks to the thoughtful care of the staff and pilot, I was able to enjoy it without any worries. I wanted to see the Kilauea volcano erupting magma, and I was able to capture that on video to show my elderly mother who was waiting back in Japan. Additionally, we chose a tour that included a stop at a waterfall, and that turned out to be a fantastic decision! It allowed us to truly experience the lush nature of the Big Island. The view of the mountains and valleys from the sea, the green landscape, the blue coral reef waters, and the brown-black of the volcano and lava were all so vibrant and unforgettable. Plus, we were greeted by a cute dog! I wholeheartedly recommend this tour.

為替レートの影響もあり、家族4人で参加するのは本当に勇気がいる選択でしたが、思い切って参加してよかったです！人生初のヘリコプターも、スタッフとパイロットの細やかな心遣いで心配せず、心から楽しむことができました。キラウェア火山がマグマを噴き上げている様子を見たくて参加したのですが、その動画も撮って、日本で待っていた年老いた母にも見せることができました。また、せっかくならば･･･と滝に寄るツアーにしたのですが、これが大正解！自然豊かなハワイ島を感じる内容となりました。海から見る山や谷の緑とサンゴ礁の海の青、火山や溶岩の茶黒。カラフルで自然の姿をしっかりと目に焼き付けることができました。そして、アイドル犬が出迎えてくれます。とってもキュートですよ。心からお薦めのツアーです。

Some comments mentioned that the food was not great, but all four of us were very satisfied. It's a buffet style where you can pick what you like, and since we had premium seats, we were able to get our food early while it was still available. The staff at our table frequently came to take drink orders. The show was enjoyable from start to finish. There were luaus, hula performances, and Hawaiian songs, allowing us to fully experience Hawaii. Although the exchange rate is poor right now, making it feel expensive, it was still a great way to create family memories.

食事が今一つというコメントもありましたが、我々4人は全員大満足してました。ブッフェスタイルで好きなものを取りにいきますが、プレミアムシートだったので、早めに空いている中で取りにいけました。飲み物はテーブル担当スタッフがこまめにオーダーを取りにきてくれます。ショーは、初めから最後まで楽しむことができます。ルアウもあればフラやハワイアンソングもあり、ハワイをたっぷり感じることができます。今は為替レートが悪いので高額に思いましたが、それでも、家族旅行の思い出作りにはよかったです。

30 years ago i swam with the dolphins and remember it well. our morning at dolphin quest was just as delightful! the staff was amazing and our three girl dolphins were an absolute delight. learning about these magnificent creatures and then actually interacting with them made this a five star experience.

The staff were welcoming, informative and helpful. The boat ride was enjoyable. The location where we snorkeled was underwhelming. We did see tiny, colorful fish, and some corals, but nothing else of note.

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, we had a great time with our guide at the stargazing tour. Our highlights were the lava caves, watching the sunset as well as stargazing. The sky was unbelievable and we learned a ton with our very knowledgeable guide.

Highly recommend.

Just got back from our tour, but if you're questioning of splurging, take these into consideration: these are based on my experience tonight.

1) liking the convenience of a tour guide driving to the summit. But if the sunset view is what you’re after- you can drive to the summit yourself. Everyone follows the rule of leaving the observatory after sunset. Totally understandable. STUNNNNING views. Keep in mind it’s gravel paved and quite treacherous at night- but doable.

2) huge upset: if stargazing is what you’re after- like me. I was disappointed that they only show THREE views through telescope. Three. That’s it. First was a cluster of random stars. Second, after math of a super nova. Third was millions of stars what believed to be pulled in by a black hole. Amazing stuff, but that’s all you get. I was reading other previous reviews and they seem to enjoy more bang for their buck. The tour guide did go over the constellations using a laser and showed some stars in the sky without needing the telescope- but if you’re wanting to see planets, stars up close, we were limited to three.

3) food was okay- salty lasagna. Just save some few bucks and bring your own food.

4) bundle up-long sleeve and pants, close toe shoes is a must. It gets cold at night. They do offer parkas and gloves.


Would I want to do this again? Not after tonight. It was overpriced for what they offer.

Sam was fantastic - really gave us all an exceptional tour of the night sky and was very knowledgable and great with the kids too!

We only found out about this tour because we knew a local person. There’s no sign at the road near the bay as to where to turn or park. Parking cost $38 in the public beach parking area. Once you get to the parking lot, there’s no sign as to where the boat is docked or where the kiosk for the tour company is. One girl working the kiosk told us that they didn’t offer glass bottom boat tours; the kiosk name matched our reservation. The website is very unfriendly. The tour guide was good but the captain could go a bit slower when over a reef so that we unfamiliar with it can focus our eyes to see the fish.

We had a fun time on our canoe adventure and snorkeling at a special area with just the 3 of us. We saw a lot of beautiful fish and our snorkel gear was great! Our guide Kai was very friendly and attentive to our safety on the canoe and in the water. It was a bit tough for us to get back into the canoe after snorkeling but he worked with us and we made it!! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and it will be a very special memory for us all! Thank you Kai!

We enjoyed a relaxing sunset together as a couple. The boat hardly swayed, so we didn't get seasick at all.

夫婦2人でゆったりゆっくりとサンセットを満喫しました。殆ど揺れることもなく船酔いにもなりませんでした。

We had a great time paddling out to a snorkel spot, jumping overboard for a snorkel with Toa! He was a great guide and really patient with us. :-)

I splurged on a helicopter ride, thinking I might never come back to the Big Island again. I was moved by the breathtaking scenery that can only be seen from a helicopter, such as valleys, cliffs, and the traces of flowing lava. It was also great that I could ask questions and talk with the pilot through the microphone.

もう2度とハワイ島まで来られないだろうと、奮発して搭乗しました。
普通では見られない渓谷や岸壁、溶岩が流れた跡など、ヘリコプターならではの風景に感動しました。パイロットさんとマイクを通して質問したりお話し出来たのも良かったです。

I and my wife enjoyed SUP very much even though we struggled to stand up on the paddle. The instructor Kei and his assistant Mai were extremely helpful for this activity. One thing I’d like to fix in this activity is the initial meeting time was 8:45, but the actual time was 9:15, which made us upset. I think VETRA needs to fix this mismatch.

I and my wife enjoyed SUP very much even we struggled to stand up on the paddle. The instructor Kei and his assistant Mai were extremely helpful for this activity. One thing I’d like to fix in this activity is the initial meeting time was 8:45, but actual time was 9:15 which made us upset. I think VETRA needs to fix this mismatch.

The show was fun. I didn't understand it well because the explanation was only in English. The food was delicious.

ショーは楽しかったです
説明が英語だけだったので、よくわかりませんでした。
食事はおいしかったです。

Planned this trip for over a year to go to Hawaii and all my boy would talk about was swimming with the dolphins. So for his 9th birthday I gave him the best birthday gift ever is what he told me with the biggest hug I’ve ever gotten from him.

Incredible day with an excellent crew for a fabulous day of boating on the Big Island of Hawaii! The crew was fantastic and so informative!

We learned so much about island and Hawaiian culture, especially from the knowledgeable luau host.The meats were perfect, with a unique and delicious combination of side dishes. The show was the icing on the cake!!! We will definitely be back.

I experienced it on May 7, 2025.
1. I was very satisfied with the location, the pilot, and the staff. I highly recommend it. 100 points.

2. Since my seat was on the left side, all the highlights were on the right side of the journey. The aircraft blocked my view, and I couldn't take the photos I wanted, which was disappointing. I requested the pilot to make a turn, but it was only accommodated once. Minus 40 points.

2025年5月7日体験しました。
1、体感は、ロケーション、パイロット、スタッフのみなさんには大満足でした。
おすすめです。100点

2、席が左サイドだった為、見所は全行程右サイドで、隣りの人越し、機体が邪魔になり、せっかくのロケーションが写真も思うように撮れず、心が折れましたよ
パイロットに旋回をリクエストしたがその1回切りの対応でした。
マイナス40点。

Quick and on time. Good way to see some of the sea life with young kids.

The Luau dinner event was awesome all my family enjoyed the food, drink and show.
I wish going back again.
The staff are great and helpful.
Great Hawaii culture.

The enthusiasm from our private guide was fabulous. She was very sensitive to the 6/7 and the 5 yr olds reactions and adjusted to make the experience so so special.

A remarkable experience.

This was our first luau, but we really enjoyed the experience. We went with the Alii seating package and were very satisfied with the servers, seating and pictures! They told the story of Hawaii and put on a great show with an awesome dinner!

Great Whale watching trip out of A Bay! The crew was easy going, informative and interesting.

Fun experience for the whole family. Great crew, fun drinks and good unexpected food.

A great tour, worth the money as the staff details the conditions of the sky during your viewing.

One of the highlights of our trip! Sam was fantastic - incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Not only were we awed by the universe, Sam helped us understand Hawaii as well. Keep up the great work.