All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

Two years ago, I went horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch on a course where you could choose two types of rides. I was riding the lead horse, and when the group fell behind, I was told it was okay to go ahead, so I let the horse take me through the magnificent scenery that served as the filming location for Jurassic Park. I can't forget that experience, and this time I hope to ride for two hours.

My husband, who came with me, rode in a buggy, and I was the only Japanese person on horseback. Although I was at the back this time, the female staff member who stayed close to us was kind and beautiful, so I felt no anxiety at all.

We were the only Japanese guests on the shuttle from our hotel in Waikiki. The driver didn't speak any Japanese, but the shuttle had "Kualoa" written on it, so it was easy to identify the meeting point, and everything was fine. The horses move in a line obediently, allowing us to take photos while riding and enjoy the scenery. We had to leave our bags in lockers, and it might be better to hang the camera around your neck.

At the site, we signed a form and wrote down our ages, and I couldn't help but laugh at how much older I was than everyone else. The two hours flew by, and it felt like a dream, but my backside did get a little sore.

一昨年クアロア牧場で２種選べるコースで乗馬をしました。先頭の馬に乗っていて後続が遅くなったときに先に行っていていいよと言われ馬にお任せであのジュラシックパークの撮影舞台になった雄大な景色の中をひとりで進んだのが忘れられず、今回は２時間を希望。
一緒に行った主人はバギーに乗り乗馬は日本人は一人だけ。
今回は最後尾でしたが近くについてくれたスタッフの女性はやさしくてきれい、何の不安もありません。
ワイキキのホテルからの送迎も日本人は私たちだけ、運転している方も日本語は全く使いませんが、送迎の車はＫｕａｌｏａの文字が入っていますので集合場所ですぐわかりますし大丈夫。
馬はお利口に列になって進みますので馬上で写真を撮ったり、景色を見たりできます。荷物はロッカーに預けなくてはなりません。カメラは首から下げたほうがいいかも。現地で申込用紙にサインして年齢も書くのですが私だけ抜群に年上で自分でも笑ってしまいました。
２時間はあっという間に過ぎ夢のような時間でしたがちょっとお尻は痛くなりました。

For you avid birdwatchers, this trip is a must do for the Big Island. You can't catch all the birds on the island without this tour. We only missed one native to Hawai'i! For this tour, we saw them all.

I participated in the 2-hour tour at Kualoa Ranch (with transportation included). Among about ten people, we were the only two Japanese.

It was my first time doing tourist horseback riding, and also my first time riding in Western style, so I was a bit anxious, but the horses were very well-trained, so there were no problems at all. However, it really is just a tourist horseback riding experience. Naturally, there are no canters or trots. You just walk while enjoying the magnificent scenery. So, it might feel a bit lacking for experienced riders.

As for the staff, there were many Americans, and unfortunately, they tend to focus on serving those guests. Well, since the conversation flows well, I suppose it's understandable... The weather was also nice, making it a good experience for leisurely horseback riding.

クアロア牧場2時間コース(送迎付き）に参加してきました。　
　10人くらいの中、日本人は私たち二人だけでした。
　観光乗馬は初めてだったし、ウエスタンスタイルの乗馬も初めてだったので、少し不安でしたが、とてもよく調教されている馬だったので、全然問題なかったです。
　ただ本当に観光乗馬です。なので、当然駈歩や速歩などありません。雄大な景色を眺めながら、ひたすら常歩です。
だから乗馬経験者には、物足りないかもといった感じでした。
　
　スタッフの方は、アメリカ人が多いと、残念ですがそちらの方の応対に重点を置かれます。まあ話が弾むのだから、仕方ないとは思いますが・・・
　お天気にも恵まれ、のんびりとした気持ちで馬に乗るには、いいかと思います。
　

I participated in the advanced course at Gunstock Ranch with my sister. If you're coming from Waikiki, I think it's easy to aim for the Polynesian Cultural Center as a landmark.

We were asked how much experience we had riding horses, and after doing some trotting in the circle, we set off. After walking along the mountain path, we suddenly broke into a canter through the woods. When the lead horse, Sara, started running, my horse quickly followed suit, and my sister's horse behind me joined in as well.

We ran quite a bit. It was my first time cantering in Western style, and I was a bit worried, but it turned out to be quite easy even with the long stirrups. It felt really good.

While observing the condition of the trail, we then trotted up and down the hills. At the top, Sara picked some guava fruit for us and took some pictures. The descent offered beautiful scenery, so we leisurely walked.

The weather was great, and it was a very fulfilling hour. If I have the chance, I would love to visit Gunstock Ranch again.

ガンストック牧場上級者コースに妹と参加してきました。
　ワイキキから行く場合、とりあえずポリネシアカルチャーセンターを目指して行くとわかりやすいと思います。
　どれくらい馬に乗っているかを尋ねられ、サークル内で速歩などをして、いざ出発。
　山道をてくてく進んだ後、木立の中をいきなり駈歩です。
　先頭のサラが走ると、私の馬もすぐに駈歩。私の後ろの妹の馬も一緒に走ります。
　結構走りました。ウエスタンの駈歩は初めてで、少し心配しましたが、長い鐙でも走りやすいものなんですね。すごく気持ちよかったです。
　道の状態を見ながら、後は速歩で坂道を上ったり下ったり。
　頂上では、サラがグアバの実を取ってくれて、写真も撮ってくれました。
　下りは景色がいいので、のんびり常歩です。
　お天気も良く、とても充実した1時間でした。また機会があれば、もう一度ガンストック牧場を訪れたいです。　

I participated with some skepticism, but I'm really glad I did. I've never seen a starry sky like that. It just happened to coincide with the new moon, so I was able to see many stars, including the Southern Cross! I didn't get altitude sickness and had a great time. I understand now why everyone recommends this tour. I can definitely recommend it!

半信半疑で参加しましたが、ほんとに参加してよかった。
あんな星空見たことありません。
ちょうど、新月にぶつかったのもあって、
たくさんの☆を見れました。
南十字星も！
高山病にもならず、楽しめました。
みなさんお勧めのツアーの理由がわかりました。
お勧めできます♪

The weather was wonderful, and we had a truly spectacular sunset and starry sky. I also made friends with others who participated, and we ended up having dinner together later on Oahu, which was a great encounter. I'm really glad I joined this tour.

This was my second time on this tour, but the starry sky changes with the seasons, so I recommend participating several times throughout the year!

天気にも恵まれ、本当にすばらしいサンセット、星空となりました。また一緒に参加した方と仲良くなりその後のオアフでも夕食をご一緒させてもらうという、出会いもあり、参加して本当に良かったです。
このツアー自体は2回目だったのですが、季節が変われば見える星空も違うので季節を変えて何度か参加することをオススメします！

The Helicopter Tour was a terrific experience for first time vistors to the island...also for someone who has never rode in a helicopter! Highly recommend the company and the helpful staff! We ordered the video from our ride and received within the week as stated...we were quite surprised they were so accurate in sending it to us...THANKS!!

My friends went on this tour last year and they kept telling us how awesome and amazing it was, so of course when my husband and I went to Kauai last month, we knew that we had to try the tubing ourselves, and I am so so so so so happy that I did. It had to be the most amazing time and srsly...this was way better than just sitting on the beach. If you get a chance...DO EEEET! :)

My whole family went of this tour and we had a blast. Remember to bring sunscreen and the water shoes are a good idea. We haven't laughed this much in ages... Thanks!

I participated on June 21.
It was absolutely amazing! To be specific about what was great:
1. The journey
As we made our way to the summit, we picked up guests while touring around the hotel, and the scenery along with the guide's commentary kept us engaged. We stopped at beautiful spots along the way to take photos.
2. Japanese cuisine
You might wonder why we had Japanese food for dinner while abroad, but once you taste it on-site, you'll understand. The miso soup enjoyed in that magnificent scenery and cold weather is exceptional!
3. The scenery
It can't be conveyed through photos. It's simply incredible. I was left speechless beyond that word. It's something I want my loved ones to see.
4. The starry sky
Even as someone who is used to seeing stars living in the countryside, I was moved by its beauty. I could see satellites and the Milky Way. I also spotted several shooting stars. They showed us Saturn's rings and Jupiter's stripes through a telescope. The guide's extensive knowledge and enjoyable explanations enhanced the experience.
5. Warm clothing
I believe it was warmer than the cold-weather gear from other companies that were also at the summit.
6. The guide
Their knowledge, personality, and reliability were all top-notch. I will definitely return!

６月２１日に参加しました。
とにかく最高です！何が最高なのか具体的に書くと
１.道中
　　ホテルを回りお客さんを拾いながら山頂へ向かって行きますが、景色とガイドのトークが飽きさせません。山頂までの途中、景色の良いところで下車し写真撮影もさせてくれます。
２.和食
　　なぜ海外なのに夕食に和食が出るのかと思いますが、現場で食べて見ればわかります。あの雄大な景色と寒さの中ですする味噌汁は格別です！
３．景色
　　写真では伝わりません。凄いの一言です。この言葉以外言葉を失いました。大切な人に見て欲しいものがそこにあります。
４．星空
　　田舎住まいで星に見慣れている私ですら感動する綺麗さです。人口衛星も天の川も見れました。流れ星もいくつも見れました。望遠鏡で土星の輪や木星の縞模様も見せてくれました。ガイドの知識の豊富さと楽しい解説が魅力を引き立ててくれます。
５.防寒着
　　同じく山頂にいた他社の防寒着より暖かいものだと思います。
６.ガイド
　　知識、人柄、頼りがい、どれをとっても最高でした。またリピートします！

I enjoyed a two-hour horseback riding experience with my daughter. During the brief explanation, I was told that since horses are living creatures, they can't guarantee 100% safety, which made me a bit anxious. However, it was a lot of fun to navigate through the great outdoors while handling the reins myself. Each horse has its own personality; there was one that kept eating grass no matter how many times we stopped, and my horse, Blackie, walked slowly and needed to be pulled by the staff a couple of times. It was adorable to see him struggling to climb the hill. After two hours, my backside was definitely sore, but I was very satisfied with the experience.

娘と二時間の乗馬を楽しみました。簡単な説明の時、馬は生き物なので１００％安全とはいえないと言われ、少し不安になりましたが、大自然の中、自分で手綱を操りながら進むのは、とても楽しかったです。馬にも個性があり、何度止めさせても草を食べる子がいたり、私の乗ったブラッキーは歩く速度がおそく、二、三度スタッフに引っ張られました。坂道を一生懸命のぼる姿はけなげで可愛かったです。さすがに二時間終えた後はお尻が痛かったけれど、参加して大満足でした。

My Mom and I had never been on horses before this trip. Our guide Rocky was fantastic. He was very informative about the land, the island and wonderful little details about everything. I would go back to Mendez again and again. All the guides took their time to make sure the horses were matched up perfectly with the riders. You get a little dirty when it's too dry but it's so worth it when you get to see so much of the island. Pictures to follow.

We did the all day activity and it was terrific. My husband and I took our 17 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter with us and even they had a good time. My daughter liked the hike, especially the mud, and my son liked the bike ride down. We all enjoyed the snorkeling. We saw 3 giant sea turtles and a couple different types of fish. I highly recommend motion sickness pills if you aren't use to a boat ride. Our guide Jeremy was the perfect guide. I would definitely recommend this activity to families.

On June 6, 2008, I participated with four colleagues from work! When we saw the sunset, it was super cold! I thought, "Is this really Hawaii???" but they lent us jumpsuits, so we managed to get through it. (Personally, I think I should have worn more layers underneath...) After that, we went down a bit from the summit to see the starry sky, and it was just a sky full of stars☆★ They used a laser pointer to explain everything clearly. I saw the Milky Way for the first time and the Southern Cross! It was an overwhelming experience. Furthermore, our guide, Shinya, seemed to have a hobby for photography and took pictures of us with the stars in the background. This will be a treasure for a lifetime. Thank you so much!!

I truly believe it was the right choice to select this tour company! If I come back to the Big Island, I would love to join this tour again!! MAHALO!!

２００８年６月６日に会社の同僚４人で
参加しました！サンセットを見た時はめっちゃ！！
寒くてここハワイ？？？って思うぐらいでしたが、
ツナギを貸して頂いたので何とか凌ぐことが出来ました。
（個人的にはもう少し中に着込んで行くべきだと思いましたが・・）その後、山頂から少し降りて星空を見ましたが、これがもう満天の星空☆★レーザーポインターを使って分かりやすく説明していただきました。初めて見た天の川に、南十字星！感動の嵐。さらにガイドのしんやさんはカメラが趣味？らしく星をバックに写真を撮ってくれました。
これは一生の宝物になります。本当にありがとうございました！！

ここのツアー会社を選んで本当に正解！だったと思っています。またハワイ島に来ることがあればまたここのツアーに参加したいでーす！！MAHALO!!

Very slow ride but enjoyable, the horses were well taken cared of and treated well.

This is the most amazing / moving / breathtaking / spectacular tour I've ever taken in my life... Growing up in a city, I've never seen a night sky like that before... i thought i was seeing a cloud, but turned out to be the Milky Way... there were literally millions of stars in the sky... made me feel that we are a part of this vast galaxy...

the drive to Mauna Kea was fun... Pat, the guide, even stopped our vehicle to see the owl by the road... I even got to see the state bird, Nene, at the Onizuka Space Center...

Mauna Kea is such a spritual place, and I will never forget the sunset.. Oh, you have to take a tour to go up to the summit since you need a permit... it's not like Haleakala on Maui where everyone can go..

Do this tour if you are going to be in the Big Island... I recommend everyone to do this tour... Just amazing!!!

This was my third time participating in the tour, and I enjoyed it every time with new discoveries! The conversations during the car ride were lively, and it was great to see everyone getting along in such a friendly atmosphere.

When we watched the sunset, a very cold wind was blowing, but I was really happy to be lent a warm long coat and a jumpsuit (which can withstand minus temperatures).

During the stargazing, I was able to see my birth constellation, and the thrill of looking at the moon through the telescope was breathtaking! I hope to see shooting stars next time. I would like to come back when we can see "Subaru."

Thank you to our guide, Shinya, for the fun tour and for taking beautiful photos. I would love to join Shinya's tour again. I look forward to it!

３回目のツアー参加でしたが、毎回新たなる発見があり楽しめました♪
　移動中の車内でのトークで盛り上がりお客さん同士も和気あいあいの和んだ雰囲気でよかったです。
夕日を見るときは、とても冷たい風が吹いていましたが
暖かいロングコートやツナギ（マイナス何度まで耐えれるという）を貸していただきとてもうれしかったです。
　星空観測は、自分の誕生星座が見れ、月を望遠鏡で見たときの感動は息をのむすごさでした☆
　できれば、流れ星が見れるよいいなーと思いました。
次回は、「すばる」が見れる時期に来たいと思います。

　ガイドの“しんや”さん楽しいツアー＆きれいな写真を撮ってもらってありがとうございました。
　また、しんやさんのツアーに参加したいと思います。その時はよろしくお願いします♪

Absolutely loved it! It was a great way to get a fast introduction to Oahu, and thereafter help us plan the rest of our stay on where to go and what to see. The video was delivered even before we arrived home!

I participated with my mother and daughter from the King Kamehameha Hotel on February 16! I wonder if Minorin remembers me? I'm really glad I joined this tour! Minorin's talk was fun, and we enjoyed the sunset from the summit, the horizon, the mountain shadows, and the stars, fully experiencing the nature of the Big Island! I was impressed by Minorin's incredible knowledge of stars, haha. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories!☆☆☆

２月１６日にキングカメハメハホテルから母娘で参加した者です！！みのりん覚えてるかなぁ？
このツアーに参加して本当によかったです！！みのりんのトークは楽しいし、山頂からの夕日や、地平線、山の影、星などハワイ島の自然を満喫しました！！みのりんの星の知識は半端ないと感心していました笑
素敵な思い出をどうもありがとうございました☆☆☆

Breathtaking, beautiful and relaxing! What more could you want. The staff was very friendly and helpful, would recommend to anyone.

WE had a great time. Learned alot. Our guide Gordon was wonderful.Full of information, my husband thought he had studied this in college and he had not.

In conclusion, it was a very satisfying experience! We participated as a family of three (all in our 20s). It was our first time on buggies, and during the test run, one of us suddenly went off course, but thankfully, none of us were disqualified... The guide adjusted the pace to match us and was always attentive, which made us feel safe. The scenery during the ride was truly wonderful, but if you get too mesmerized, it could affect your driving. One of us mentioned that they were too focused on driving to enjoy the view. We chose the two-hour course, and the speed was quite relaxed, plus we had plenty of breaks, so I think we completed a one-hour course in two hours. I definitely want to sign up for the two-hour course again next time! I highly recommend it, even for first-timers! However, for those with no experience driving cars or motorcycles, it might be quite challenging to get used to it? I'm really glad I participated in this tour.

結論から言うと、大満足の体験でした！家族三人(全て２０代)での参加でした。三人ともバギーは初めてで緊張のテスト走行で、一人だけいきなりのコースアウトをしてしまったもののなんとか全員失格にはならず…ガイドの方も私達に合わせてゆっくり進んでくれ、常にこちらに気を配ってくれており、安心でした。走行中の景色は本当に素晴らしく、見とれていると走行に支障が出る可能性アリ、です。一人は、運転に必死で景色を見ている余裕はなかった、といっておりました。私達は二時間コースだったのですが、かなりゆったりとしたスピードでしたし、休憩時間もたっぷりとってもらったので、１時間コースを２時間で走ったのだと思います。次回も必ず２時間コースを申し込みたいと思います！初めての方でも本当にオススメですよ！ただ、車やバイクの運転経験がまったくない方は、慣れるのがかなり難しい、かも？参加できて良かったと、心から思えるツアーでした。

LOVED Milo and Dee! Great times! Lots of wonderful local information and stories too.

Our family did the Hike, Bike, Sail and Snorkel Tour and had a great time. It gave us a great blend of three different ways to see the island - hiking the rain forest, biking down the mountain (getting a GREAT view of Diamond Head and Waikiki during our lunch break), and snorkeling just off the coast.

Our tour guide, Jeremy, was fantastic. He was very personable and knowledgeable. My 10 year old son, enjoyed hiking and biking right by Jeremy and asking a TON of questions. And Jeremy did a superb job of answering all of his questions, never being bothered by them.

My family would definitely recommend this tour (all three parts) to anyone.

Was my favourite part of the Trip!
Very relaxing, most amazing scenery.
Informative & friendly guides!

MY WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND MYSELF TOOK THIS RIDE IN MID-APRIL '08. EVERYTHING WAS JUST LIKE IT WAS DESCRIBED. THE DRIVE IN AND OUT OF THE VALLEY WAS A TRIP IN ITSELF. THE TWO GUYS THAT LED THE TOUR WERE A BLAST! HELPFUL, CONSIDERATE, AND FUN. THE RIDE ITSELF WAS SO NICE SINCE IT WASN'T ENDLESS TIME IN THE BLAZING SUN. MOSTLY CROSSING STREAMS AND RIDING UNDER JUNGLE CANOPY. EVERYONE IN TOUR WAS ENJOYING THEIRSELVES, FROM NOVICE TO EXPERIENCED. DURATION OF RIDE WAS JUST RIGHT. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TRIP TO ANYONE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF OUR TRIP. GREAT FUN VALUE FOR DOLLAR. WE'LL DO AGAIN ON OUR NEXT TRIP.

On the day we participated, the weather was bad, and our guide Shinya told us that we didn't know what would happen. However, as we drove higher, it was clear above the clouds, and we were able to see a sky full of stars! I thought we would just be watching, but he used a laser pointer to explain things, which made me very satisfied. Also, the moment the sun was setting was truly moving.

The photos taken by Shinya, who has a hobby of photography, were all great, and I felt glad that I chose this tour.

I was worried about altitude sickness, but I was fine, only experiencing a slight headache on the way back.

私たちが参加した日は天候が悪くどうなるかわからないとガイドのしんやさんに言われましたが、車でどんどん登っていくと雲の上は晴れていて、満天の星を見ることができました！
ただずっと見ているだけだと思ったら､ﾚｰｻﾞｰﾎﾟｲﾝﾀｰを使って解説してくれたりして大満足です。
あと、日が沈んでいく時は感動の一言です。

写真が趣味というしんやさんが撮ってくれた物はどれも良く、このツアーを選んでよかったなあと思いました。

心配していた高山病も帰り少し頭痛がしたくらいで大丈夫でした。

Fantastic time. Views were one of a kind, and the staff was very enjoyable.

The ATV ride was great! The views and the landscape were killer! Keep in mind this is not an extreme sports type of activity. It was a scenic ride. You will have a guide that leads you through the entire tour. It was definitely worth the money and I will do it again next time I am in Hawaii.

This activity was well worth spending money for.
In one hour you have seen the entire island from a bird's eye view.
Way better than any island tour from the ground in uncomfortable tourbusses.
The heli is great, peacefull and very safy & smooth. Also because of a great pilot / tour guide. He knows the island well, just as much how he knows his aircraft.

As a to-become heli-pilot myself, it's been great seeing one pilot entertaining 6 people while keeping the heli as smooth & steady as possible and forfilling a safe flight in constant contact with the tower all by himself.

Cheers for that,mate!
And to the entire team of Makani Kai Heli Tours for having had a wonderfull morning!


Regards,


Paul