All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

One notable aspect of Masashi's tour is the abundance of warm clothing options tailored for those who are sensitive to the cold. While other tours seemed to only provide knee-length jackets, this tour also offered overalls with insulated pants, allowing us to lie on the ground during stargazing after sunset. That said, women who are particularly sensitive to the cold might feel more comfortable bringing their own thicker hoodies or lightweight down jackets. I also brought leg warmers. However, the gloves I borrowed were quite thin, and I wished they were a bit warmer.

Additionally, there was a service offering warm tea during stargazing, which was truly thoughtful. The explanation of the constellations was clear, using a laser pointer, and it made me realize that we, as Japanese, can only see a small part of the constellations. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Southern Cross, which I thought could only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. The guide, Mr. Yama, who explained the constellations, was very entertaining, making it a tour filled with laughter.

マサシのツアーの特筆すべき点は、やっぱり日本人の寒がりに対応した防寒着の充実でしょう。他のツアーでは、膝丈の上着だけのようでしたが、当ツアーでは、オーバーオールタイプの綿入りズボンも用意されており、日が落ちてからの星空観測でも地面に寝転べるほどでした。とはいえ、寒がりの女性はご自分でも分厚めのパーカーや薄手のダウン等準備されたほうが安心です。私は加えてレッグウォーマーも持っていきました。ただ、お借りした手袋は結構薄めで、もう少しあったかいといいなーと思いました。
加えて、星空観測中に暖かいお茶のサービスがあり、本当に至れり尽くせりでした。
星座の説明は、レーザーポイントを使ってわかりやすく、私達日本人は星座のほんの一部分しか見えてないのだなあと実感しました。南半球でしか見えないと思っていた南十字星を見ることができたのもうれしい驚きでした。星座の説明をしてくれた山さん？というガイドさんの話はとっても楽しく、笑い声の絶えないツアーでした。

My wife and I had a great time at the ranch.

The check in was straight forward and the waiting area was clean with friendly staff.

The lunch was great and the cook was very friendly.

I had Cowboy and my wife had Baily and they were great horses.

Butch and the other wrangler (can't remember his name) were friendly and knowledgeable.

We would recommend the Mendes Ranch to anyone who wants to have great trail ride while in Maui.

We had a great time! The staff was very nice and lots of fun! Mahalo!!!!!

The views offered by the hike is absolutely gorgeous, waterfalls, lush vegetation and beautiful flowers. It was a little pricey for a short hike. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it.

We took the 5 hour hike and it was wonderful. I was joined on this activity by 5 families members including my 83 and 80 year old parents. Our tour guide, Akiko, was beyond knowledgable and special. She gave us so much information that I felt like I became part of the rain forest. Her attention to our enjoyment along with her friendliness made this one of the best events we did on Maui. Strongly recommend this event and this a vast improvement for me as I was the hold out on taking part in this hike.
Gary

This was awsome! the kids had the best time here, more so that all the other tours we did on our trip.

On April 2nd, I participated with my family of four. It was the perfect day for stargazing, being the third day after the full moon. The clear sky without any clouds added to the excitement when we got off the bus; it was an indescribable feeling.

As the stars seemed to be falling around us, we received thorough explanations. My son had just finished his junior high school entrance exams, so he had retained a lot of knowledge about astronomy, making it a wonderful experience to connect theoretical knowledge with reality. We even got a good look at the rarely visible Cancer constellation.

We confirmed Saturn through the telescope, but it appeared small; the one we saw at the planetarium in Tokyo was larger (perhaps due to the telescope's precision???).

The sunset at Mauna Kea before that was also stunning, with oranges reflected in the clouds and the indescribable colors of the sun's afterimage... everything was wonderful. Additionally, our guide, O, provided a wealth of knowledge backed by data, and his modest yet friendly demeanor made for a truly great tour.

With all these three elements combined, it became an unforgettable Mauna Kea tour for us.

One disappointing aspect was that we had to wait 20 minutes during the tour pickup. This was not the guide's fault, but rather due to some participants not keeping time. Since it was a group activity and we were participating online, unexpected delays can cause anxiety. I encourage those who will participate in the future to keep time so that everyone can enjoy the experience comfortably.

　4月2日に、家族4人で参加しました。
　満月から3日目に当たる日のため、星を見るには最高の日和でした。また、雲のない絶好の空も重なり、バスを降り立ったときの感動は言い表せないほどのものです。
　まるで星が降ってくるようななか、丁寧に解説をしていただきました。ちょうど息子が中学受験を終えたばかりでしたので、天体の知識はばっちり残っており、机上の理論と現実の目が重なり何よりの収穫だったと思います。
　あまり見えないかに座もしっかり確認。

望遠鏡では土星を確認しましたがちいさく、東京の科学館の星空観察会で見せてもらったものの方が大きかったです。（たぶん望遠鏡の精度が落ちる？？？）

　その前にあったマウナケアの夕日も雲に反射したオレンジや、太陽の残像のなんともいえない色・・・どれもすばらしい。
　また、ガイドのOさんの、データーに裏づけされた知識量と、控えめ且つほどよい親しみで本当によいツアーとなりました。

　以上3拍子そろい、私たちにとって忘れられないマウナケアツアーとなりました。
　
ひとつだけ残念なこと、ツアーのピックアップ時に20分待たされたことです。ガイドさんのせいではなく、参加者の中の時間を守らないということですが、団体行動であること、インターネットで参加をしているので、不測の事態には不安がつのるので、これから参加される方は、ぜひ時間を守ってみんなが気持ちよく過ごせるよう協力しましょう。

On March 25, 2010, I participated with my 12-year-old son. Since we love traveling, we have experienced various tours in different countries, but this tour was truly moving. The sea of clouds spread out below us, the setting sun, the starry sky, and the silence of the space... these are all things we could never experience in the city. I felt really sorry for my husband, who was left behind in Japan because I couldn't adjust my work schedule. What an unlucky person...! My son talks about that night every day even after returning to Japan.

Also, I appreciate you delivering my sunglasses that I left in the car to the hotel late at night; it was a hassle for you (*^_^*).

Next time, I would like to visit Maui in a different season and see different stars. I look forward to your assistance then.

I was disappointed that the English cover version CD of Yumi Matsutoya was out of print.

3/25，2010に12歳の息子と二人で参加させて頂きました。
旅好きですので、各国いろいろなツアーを経験してきましたが、このツアーは本当に感動的なツアーでした。
眼下に広がる雲海、沈みゆく夕陽、満天の星空、音のしない空間．．．都会では全く経験できない物ばかりです。仕事の調整ができず、日本に置いてきぼりにした夫が本当にかわいそうになりました。なんて運のない人．．．！　息子は日本へ帰っても毎日、あの夜の話をしています。

また、車に置き忘れたサングラスを夜遅くにホテルまで届けて下さって、お手数をおかけしました(*^_^*)

今度は違う季節にマウイを訪れ、違う星々を見たいと思います。その節はまた宜しくお願いします。

ユーミンの英語版カバーバージョンCDが廃盤になっていて残念でした。

I saw many comments about how wonderful the starry sky is, so I decided to participate and see it for myself. It was even more amazing than I expected, and I was truly moved. Above me was a sky full of stars, the Milky Way, and shooting stars, and I was able to see Saturn and the Pleiades through a telescope, which was breathtaking. The sunset from the summit was also fantastic. The sunrise I saw on Maui was also moving, so next time I definitely want to see it from the summit of Mauna Kea.

星空が素晴らしいとの書き込みが多くあったので、是非見てみたいと思い参加しました。期待以上の素晴らしさで感動しました。頭上には満天の星・天の川・流れ星などまた望遠鏡で土星・スバルと見られ感動しました。山頂のサンセットも素晴らしいかった。マウイ島で見たサンライズも感動的だったので次回は是非マウナケア山頂で見てみたいと思いました。

Helga was our guide and she seemed to know alot about the area. We were walking alog and she stopped at a tree and pointed out a lizard or some kind. How she saw it I don't know. My wife thought it was almost too long a hike as she has a back injury. I enjoyed every minute of it. We saw 4 waterfalls and I swam in 2 on them. Swung on a rope through the fourth waterfall. Had a blast. Your in a rainforest jungle so be ready to come out with muddy shoes. The info sheet said wear swim clothes and bring a dry change. Don't bring anything. There is no place to change at. If you need to just wear something over your swimwear. I wore swim trunks and took my shirt, shoes, socks off for swimming. Your provided backpacks to carry your lunch in. On the lunch choices bread choice should also be added. My and I both don't like rye?... The only down point i saw and was no control of the guide is there is a sick fasination with pit-bulls. The locals brings them and they are loose. My

I would not recommend this activity unless you've already done most everything else on this island. Everyone we talked to after getting back was dis-appointed. It sure isn't what I thought. First the transportation isn't very convenient. Getting to and from the pick up points should be improved. Next on the way up the mountain we stopped at a gift/visitor shop. Thats where we had a cardboard box dinner in the van. Someone else said bring a sandwich. I also recomend that. Going on up the hill. The observatories we only got to see from the outside, and was just told about them. We did watch a nice sunset at 13,780 feet of elevation. It was a nice view although I like the sunsets over the beach better. After the sun went down we left and went down to about 7000 feet elevation and they set up 11inch Celestron telescopes. Nice telescopes, i have a friend who has one. We saw several stars and clusters ect. Beautiful clear sky. Chitchen-Itza ruins in Mexico was just a clear a

My boyfriend and I, plus another couple, had a fabulous day on Kipu Ranch with Kimo as our guide. We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather and a small group, both of which probably made the whole thing more fun. Kimo stressed safety, but we had plenty of opportunities to open our Rhino up a bit as well, and lots of bumpy terrain and hills to enjoy. He also shared great history about the area, and pointed out plenty of interesting plant and animal life. And the views! They are truly spectacular. Swimming in the river was a lot of fun, as was swimming in the pool at the waterfall. I recommend reapplying the bug spray as you're getting ready to swim, as the mosquitoes only seemed bad at the waterfall. To top it all off, lunch was delicious. After a morning of riding, it was a real treat to eat lunch outdoors in the sunshine with a small stream nearby. We would definitely do this again and would recommend it to almost anyone.

You won't find anything like this anywhere else in Hawaii. We had a great time!

We absolutely loved this outing! It was a little bit of everything. The view from the kayak was amazing and the hikes are no where near as strenuous as they note. The ziplines were more than we expected. There are two zips and the final one being tandem and nearly 1800'. Awesome!! The guides were extremely friendly and make the experience enjoyable and informational. We will definitely do this trip again!!

Having lived abroad, I have participated in various tours in different countries, but this tour and our guide (Yama P) became my best memory! Each story was truly thought-provoking, and I felt like I discovered a new path!

I believe this tour is especially suited for those who might be facing some struggles or challenges right now!

Above all, seeing our guide enjoying himself the most during the tour allowed us to have a great time as well.

Thank you for the truly wonderful memories.

これまで海外に住んでいることもあり、さまざまな国のさまざまなツアーに参加してきましたが、このツアーとガイド（やまＰさん）は一番最高のおもいでになりました！！　　一つ一つのお話が本当に考えさせられるもので、新たな道を見つけられたようなきがしました！

もしかしたら今すこし悩みがあったりつらいことに立ち向かってる人こそこのツアーに向いていると思います！

そしてなによりガイドさんがツアー中に一番楽しそうにしている姿を見て自分たちもおもいっきりたのしめました。　

ほんとに最高の思い出をありがとうございました。

I had a spa and massage treatment. It's usually to relieve the fatigue and stress accumulated from work. This time, I was very satisfied with the long duration of 80 minutes. Both my body and mind felt refreshed.

ＳＰＡやマッサージをしてもらいます。
通常、仕事で溜まっている疲労とストレスを解消する為です。今回も80分という長い時間でとても満足です。
体も心も休まりました。

While I often see the scenery from the airplane window, being able to firmly imprint the views of the North Shore in my mind without the window is the best. That night, when I closed my eyes, the images from the dive came to me, and I felt exhilarated many times. It was a wonderful experience.
Dear Wally! Thank you for your perfect support!!!!!

飛行機の窓越しでは上空から景色を見ることはありますが、窓越しではなく自分の眼しっかりとノースショアの景色を焼き付けることが出来て最高です。
その日の夜は、眼を瞑るとダイブしたときの景色が浮かんできて何度も気分が高揚しました。
とてもよい経験となりました。
Dear Wally! Thank you for your perfect support!!!!!

This was my first relaxing trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, where I felt the power of nature and the universe throughout my body.

It was a lucky day with a crescent moon perfect for stargazing, and I was breathless at the changing reds of nature during the sunset, the sea of clouds, and the white rainbow... And then, as soon as I got off the bus, I was greeted by a sky full of stars... I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!!"

Thanks to my hat, gloves, and warm clothing, I was able to lie on the ground and was moved to spot shooting stars...

Adapting to the high altitude of 4,200 meters was no problem at all, thanks to Mr. Ochi's guidance...

The silhouette photo of my profile looks like it was taken 40 years ago (?), and it became a wonderful memento! Thank you very much.

今回はじめての　ハワイ島のんびり旅行で　自然と　宇宙のパワーと　癒しを体中で　感じる旅でした。

　星をみるのに具合のいい三日月というラッキーデーと　雲海　白虹　　夕日の刻々と変わる自然の赤の変化に息をのむほど・・そして…・バスを降りたとたんの満点の星　星　星・・・思わずわーー！！

帽子　手袋防寒具のおかげで地面に　寝ころんで　流れ星を　見つけられた感動・・・・

４２００Ｍという高地への　順応も　越智さんの御指導で　まったく問題なし・・・

横顔のシルエット写真・・４０年前のようで（？）すごくいい記念になりました！！
ありがとうございました。

We had a wonderful time. The scenery is spectacular, and everything we did on this excursion was fun and exciting! Highly recommend it. It is strenous though so keep that in mind.

We did our trip on March 19, 2010, my husband and I are over 50 years old and my daughter and her friend 19 years old.
Hope to do it again one day!

Thank you to the staff, they are wonderful!

I was overwhelmed by the great nature of the Big Island of Hawaii.

ハワイ島の大自然に圧倒されました。

Words cannot describe the adrenalin rush you experience as you free fall from 14000ft in the sky.

When you are on the airfield, it is just an exciting plane ride. But as the plane takes off and goes higher and higher until you are well above the clouds, then the reality of jumping off the airplane kicks in (as shown in the photos).

At this point, you still have a chance to change your mind and not to jump, but who does? You are strapped to the instructor, so you have no choice but to jump anyway.

The first one minute of the jump (it feels a lot shorter), it's just a free fall. The adrenalin rush you get is just amazing, and you literally shoot through the clouds. The view of the North Shore is definitely breathtaking and magnificent as well.

The landing was much smoother than I though. The instructors were very professional and safe. No wonder they hold a perfect safety record.

If you have not done skydiving before, I highly recommend you to do it. It is definitel

I definitely think you should participate in the Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. This tour allows you to observe the stars from a higher location than the Onizuka Center, so you can enjoy it without being with other tour guests, and you can clearly see the Milky Way, which I highly recommend.

Since we stayed at a B&B, we were supposed to be picked up at a designated supermarket, and after the tour, we were supposed to be the first ones dropped off. However, the guide mistakenly went to the hotel first, which delayed our return home by 30 minutes. I believe the other participants who were dropped off after us were delayed by over an hour.

We had been sightseeing around the island with a rental car before the tour, so I regretted not speaking up earlier when I noticed something was off. The tour itself was enjoyable, so it's unfortunate. The bento box with Japanese food and miso soup was delightful. It was also helpful that they provided pants for warmth, as we were the only ones with them. I'm glad I participated since you can't go to Mauna Kea on your own.

マウナケアのサンセットと星空ツアーには絶対に参加すべきだと思います。
こちらのツアーはオニヅカセンターよりも高い場所で星空を観察するので他のツアー客と一緒にならずに、ゆったりとでき、天の川もハッキリと見れてオススメです。
私達はＢ＆Ｂ宿泊だったので指定されたスーパーでピックアップしてもらい、ツアー後は最初に送ってもらえるはずだったのですが、ガイドさんが間違って先にホテルに行っていまい帰宅時間が３０分も遅くなりました。
私達の後に送ってもらう他の参加者さんは１時間以上も遅くなったと思います。
ツアー参加までにレンタカーで島内観光していたので途中でおかしいと思っていたので早めにアピールすべきだったと後悔･･･ツアー自体は楽しかったので残念です。
お弁当は和食にお味噌汁が嬉しかったです。
防寒着もズボンがあるのはこちらだけだったので助かりました。
マウナケアには個人では行けないので参加して良かったです。

Our guide "Frenchie" was very funny, entertaining, and courteous. He certainly made the 2 hour horseback ride enjoyable. We were taken to some locations that offered amazing views of both the mountains and the ocean. In addition, the BBQ lunch that was provided was excellent as well. Overall, it was a very good experience, and one that we would recommend to others.

I experienced horseback riding for the first time while learning to handle the reins. During the approximately two-hour ride, I was able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Hawaii and visit movie filming locations, and the time flew by. The horse I rode didn't always listen to me and had some unexpected moments, like suddenly running off or stopping to eat, but it was a wonderful memory. Since you can't choose the horse, I think it's just luck of the day, but I believe all of them are good horses. The next day, I had muscle soreness and bruises.

初めての引き綱操作で乗馬を体験しました。約2時間の乗馬でハワイの壮大な景色や映画の撮影地を回ることが出来、あっというまに時間が過ぎました。私の乗った馬は少し言うことを聞かず、突然走り出したり、止まってえさを食べたりというハプニングもありましたが、とても良い思い出です。馬は選ぶことができないため、その日その日の運かなぁと思いますが、どの子もいい子だと思います。
翌日は筋肉痛であざが出来ました。

This was my first time participating and I went alone. Before going, I was a bit anxious about attending by myself, but the guide, Mr. Yamamoto, was very entertaining, and the tour was fantastic! On the day of the tour, the rainbow was stunning, and since the stargazing was conducted at a location conveniently close to the summit, there were no clouds obscuring the stars at all. Mr. Yamamoto's knowledge about Hawaii is incredible! (By the way, he mentioned that people observing at the Onitsuka Center that day couldn't see well due to the clouds.) The sunset at the summit was different from other tours, as they provided us with warm clothing, gloves, and knit hats, which made me very satisfied. Next time, I definitely want to join this tour with friends and family.

初参加で一人参加でした。
行く前は1人で参加する事に少々不安でしたが、ガイドをしていただいた山本さんがとても面白く、ツアーは最高でした！
当日は虹が最高に見え天体観測もこちらのツアーだけは頂上に程よく近い場所で行った為に、雲で星が隠れるような事は一切無かったです。
しかし山本さんのハワイに関する知識はすごい！！
（ちなみにこの日オニツカセンターで観測された人は雲で良く見えなかったとしきりにおっしゃっていました。）
頂上でのサンセットは、他のツアーと違い、上下の防寒具や手袋・ニット帽まで貸し出ししていただいたので、大変満足です。
今度は友達や家族と是非このツアーに参加したいです。

I finally went to the stargazing event I had wanted to attend for a long time. It was absolutely wonderful!! The night sky was cold, but it felt like I was watching a planetarium show. The stars in Hawaii are beautiful, but the view from the mountaintop is something else entirely. I'm really glad I participated.

前々から行きたかった星空観測へ行ってきました。もうとてもよかったです！！星空は寒かったけどプラネタリウムを見ているようでした。ハワイ島は星がきれいに見えるけど、山頂から見る星空は別物です。本当に参加してよかったです。

My wife and I took the 2 hr ATV tour and were amazed at the sites seen and knowledge and kindness of our guides. We were not expecting to go so far back into the island and from that we got to see some of the most amazing views only available through the tour. Markus, one of our guides, explained to us where all the film spots were and even picked a few local fruits for us to snack on. The route takes you through mild terain including crossing a few shallow streams and on several amazing outlooks on the ridges. We both wore shorts and gym shoes and fit the occasion perfect. Also, you only need to wear an open face helmet and sunglasses for protection so it makes the ride a lot more comfortable. Also, if you are military, they give a GREAT discount so give them a call to make reservations.

I couldn't forget the beauty of the stars I saw on Maui, so I participated in hopes of seeing them on the Big Island as well... However, while the weather was nice, it turns out that seeing a sky full of stars depends on more than just the weather. That was disappointing. The sunset was beautiful.

以前、マウイ島で見た星の美しさが忘れられずハワイ島でも、と期待して参加しました。。。が、天気は良かったけれど、満天の星が見られるのはお天気だけではないのですね。それが残念でした。
サンセットはキレイでした。

Great scenry, great staff, well matched horses. Well worth the cost for a great trail ride.

Captain and crew surely cannot be faulted for the fish not biting. They did their best to navigate us into waters where fish were known to be biting in the past, but with the big beautiful Humpback Whales roaming the seas the odds were against them. It would have been nice if at least one of them was a bit more communicative and share with us some local knowledge, but they kept to themselves. I know that is not their job, but it would have added some color to the day.