All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

There are hardly any Japanese people here.
But there is Hawaiian music and hula, so I never got bored. It became a wonderful memory.

殆ど日本人はいません。
でもハワイアンミュージックやフラがあり飽きません。素敵な思い出になりました。

We boarded the bus at the meeting point, but it took some time to pick up more passengers at a hotel along the way before reaching the boarding location. I had been on the ship before, but its aging was quite noticeable.

集合場所からバスに乗り込みましたが、途中のホテルでまた乗客を乗せ乗船場所には時間がかかりました。船は以前にも乗ったことがありましたが老朽化が目立ちます。

It felt like a tour with sightseeing in Haleiwa.
I had an early lunch of garlic shrimp in Haleiwa.
I didn't quite understand the guide's explanations at that time.
Even when I asked questions or made requests, the guide would say, "I told you that earlier!"
All the tour participants felt the same way.
The guide's inner voice came out loud.
The horseback riding by the beach was very enjoyable.

ハレイワ観光付きという感じでした。
ハレイワで早めの昼食ガ－リックシュリンプ。この時のガイドの説明よく分からない。
質問やお願いをするも、「だからさっき言ったでしょ‼」
ツア－参加者みな同じ気持ちになってしまいます。
心の声が口から出るガイドでした。
海辺乗馬はとても楽しめました。

I participated on February 10th. The guide was Jin. The weather was bad from the morning, and we were told at pickup that there was a possibility we wouldn't be able to reach the summit. Amidst the rain that came and went, the guide was desperately trying to find observation points by communicating with the weather radar and fellow guides. The participants were somewhat in a state of giving up, feeling that it couldn't be helped, but at the very last moment, we were able to see a twinkling starry sky through a gap in the clouds. Although there were many clouds and the visible area was small, the stars shone brightly in that narrow range. The access road to the summit had been closed for a while, but it was temporarily reopened during this honeymoon timing, making this tour the one I was most looking forward to in my itinerary. Although I couldn't see what I had hoped for, I was very moved by the starry sky that appeared thanks to the guide's earnest efforts. I would like to go back for a revenge trip. Thank you for your hard work. For those who will participate in the future, I think it's essential to avoid the full moon period and be aware that there is a high possibility of not being able to reach the summit in winter.

2/10に参加しました。ガイドはjinさん。この日は朝から天気が悪く、ピックアップ時にも山頂までは行けない可能性があると言われていました。雨が降ったり止んだりする中、お天気レーダーや仲間のガイドさんと連絡を取って観測ポイントを必死に探して下さっていました。参加者たちは半ば諦めモードで仕方ないねぇといった感じでしたが、最後の最後に雲の切れ間から、瞬く星空が観れました。雲が多く、見える範囲は僅かだったのですが、その狭い範囲から煌々と輝く星の数々。密集度が凄まじかったです。しばらくの間山頂までのアクセスロードが閉鎖されていたのが今回のハネムーンのタイミングで一時解除されたことも含め、旅程の中で一番楽しみにしていたこのツアー。期待通りのものを観ることはできませんでしたが、ガイドさんの懸命な姿の先に見えた星空にとても感動しました。またリベンジしに行きたいです。一生懸命対応して下さってありがとうございました。
今後参加される方は冬は山頂まで行けない可能性が高いこと、満月時期を避ける事は必須だと思います。

I participated in this tour in early February. After about two and a half hours from the pickup, we arrived at the Onizuka Visitor Center located on the slopes of Mauna Kea around 4 PM. We took a break for about an hour while enjoying a bento and warm miso soup, but it was quite cold at an altitude of about 2,800 meters, so I put on the fleece and down jacket I brought with me.

Then we set off towards the summit. I was worried about altitude sickness, but I made sure to stay hydrated, took in sugar with candies and chocolate, and followed the precautions of not exerting myself too much, so I was fine.

The summit was a snowy landscape, and it was very cold with the wind. The sunset from the summit was truly beautiful and moving. The clouds dyed in the sunset were very mystical.

After that, it seemed that the access road to the summit was closed due to the risk of road freezing, so I felt really lucky to have made it to the summit that day.

I was also looking forward to stargazing, but I had expected to see a sky full of stars. However, since it was four days before the full moon, the moon was bright and there were many clouds, so I couldn't see many stars. I was really looking forward to it, so it was disappointing. The guide told me that aiming for the new moon period from April to October is best for seeing the Milky Way. I definitely want to have a stargazing revenge! I would love to visit the Big Island again. Thank you for the wonderful memories!

2月初旬にこのツアーに参加しました。ピックアップから約2時間半後の16時過ぎにマウナケアの中腹にあるオニヅカビジターセンターに到着。お弁当と温かいお味噌汁をいただきながら1時間ほど休憩するのですが、標高約2800メートル付近はかなり寒く、持ってきたフリースとダウンを着込みました。
そして山頂に向けて出発。高山病が心配でしたが、こまめに水分補給し、飴やチョコなどで糖分を取り、激しい動きをしないといった注意事項をしっかりと守っていたので大丈夫でした。
山頂は雪景色で風もありとても寒かったです。
山頂からのサンセットは本当に美しく感動しました。夕日に染まった雲がとても幻想的でした。
その後、道路が凍結する恐れがあるということで山頂へのアクセスロードが閉鎖されたようで、その日、山頂まで行けたことは本当にラッキーでした。
もう1つ楽しみにしていた星空観測ですが、私は満天の星が見られるものと期待してましたが、その日は満月の4日前で、月が明るく雲も多くて、あまり星は見れませんでした。とても楽しみにしていたので残念でした。ガイドさんが4月〜10月の新月の頃を狙うと天の川がよく見えますよと教えてくれました。やはり星空観測はリベンジしたい！またハワイ島を訪れたいと思いました。素敵な思い出をありがとうございました！

I was able to see the whales' spouts and backs! It was more fun than I expected to be so close to the whales. We also saw a turtle right after we set sail. Although we didn't see any jumps, the view of Waikiki from the ocean was very beautiful!

クジラの潮吹きと背中を見ることができました！思っていたよりも近くにクジラがいて楽しかったです。出航してすぐに亀も見れました。
ジャンプは見れませんでしたが、海側から見るワイキキの風景はとても綺麗でした！！

We participated as a couple in our 60s.
The weather was bad on the day, but we managed to reach the summit.
We couldn't see the sunset due to the blizzard, but the starry sky afterward was very beautiful.
It seems there are risks of not being able to reach the summit in winter on Mauna Kea, but the snow-covered Mauna Kea is mystical and wonderful in its own way, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to our guide Masa for taking photos with a high-end camera.
Ichikawa, your lecture on the stars was very interesting.
If we can come again, we hope to do so next time.
Looking forward to the next visit!

60代二人で参加させていただきました。
当日は天候が悪かったですが、なんとか頂上まで登ることができました。
吹雪でサンセットは見ることができませんでしたが、そのあとの星空はとても綺麗にみることができました。
冬のマウナケアは登頂できないリスクもあるようですが、雪の積もったマウナケアはそれはそれで神秘的で素敵でおすすめです。
ガイドのﾏｻさん、高価なカメラで撮影していただきありがとうございました。
イチカワさん、星空のレクチャーとても面白かったです。
また来ることが出来たら次こそは。
次回もよろしくお願いします

We would definitely recommend and do this again! We had a blast!

I visited the Big Island for the first time. I was picked up on time at 1:20 PM from the Royal Kona Resort, and we set off on the tour. We visited two other hotels, and there were about 11 people in total on the tour.

The mountain roads were quite unpaved, and the vibrations were significant even in the tour's 4WD vehicle. After the Onizuka Visitor Center, we were advised not to sleep to prevent altitude sickness, and I think it's a good idea for those who are anxious to bring motion sickness medication.

At the Onizuka Visitor Center, we enjoyed a very Japanese-style bento and warm miso soup (the warm miso soup was great), and we stayed for a little over an hour to acclimatize before heading to the summit.

At the summit, there was still quite a bit of snow, and I was quite surprised to see locals snowboarding.

The weather was excellent, and the views and night scenery were amazing. The convenience of being able to drive to over 4,000 meters in elevation is fantastic.

However, as I mentioned in the title, the guide's voice was quite soft, and there were many times when I couldn't understand what was being said, which was disappointing. Since the guide was young, they might have been nervous. Overall, the tour itself was wonderful, and I hope for improvements in the future.

ハワイ島には初めて行きました。ロイヤルコナリゾートを時間通り13:20に迎えに来ていただきツアー出発。他のホテル2件にまわり、合計で11人ほどのツアーでした。
山道はかなり非舗装の感じが強く、ツアーの4WDでも振動がすごかったです。オニヅカビジターセンター以降は高山病の予防のため眠ってはいけなく、不安な人は酔い止めを持っていったほうがいいと思いました。
オニヅカビジターセンターではいかにもジャパニーズなお弁当と温かいお味噌汁をいただき(お味噌汁が温かくてよかったです)、高地順応のため1時間ちょっと滞在してから山頂へ。
山頂ではかなり雪が残っており、スノーボードをしている現地の人がいたことにはかなり驚きでした。
とにかく天気が良く、景色と夜景は最高でした。標高4,000m以上に車だけで行ける手軽さは素晴らしいです。
しかし、タイトルにも書きましたがガイドさんの声が小さく、何を言っているのかよくわからないことが多くあったのが残念でした。若いガイドさんでしたので、緊張していたかもしれません。ツアー自体は素晴らしいものでしたので、これからに期待したいと思います。

I was surprised to see whales so close to the coast. I was also happy to see them spouting several times. The ship was large and impressive, and I didn't get seasick.

海岸からあれほど近くに鯨がいるなんて驚きでした。潮吹きも何度も見られて嬉しかったです。
船は大きくて立派で、船酔いもしませんでした。

It was a tour where we enjoyed three activities, and as soon as one ended, the next was waiting for us. After that, we had lunch, and then the final tour followed, creating a seamless flow like being on a conveyor belt. Before we knew it, the enjoyable tour was over.

３つのアクチビテイを楽しむツアーでしたが、一つのそれが終わるとすぐ次のそれが待っていて、それがすむとランチ、そして最後のツアーとまるでベルトコンベヤーに載っているような無駄のない流れ、アッという間に楽しいツアーが終わりました。

The cost for three family members exceeded 60,000 yen. It can't be helped because of the rain... But they said, "The fact that cancellations are not allowed was written in small print when you made your reservation. I recommend postponing to tomorrow, but it will cost $20 per person, and I can't guarantee what tomorrow will be like." Well, that's true, but...

To top it off, when we saw stars peeking through the cloudy sky, they said, "It's close to a full moon today, so you won't see stars on a day like this. Please come back during a new moon next time." That really rubbed me the wrong way.

So, we ended up eating cold bento in the car and just driving around. It was a tour where we were scolded for being unprepared.

家族３人で６万円を超える料金。
雨だから仕方がないと言えばそこまで・・・・
でも「キャンセルができないことは、申し込みいただいた時に小さな字で書いてありましたよね。明日への延期を薦めますが、一人２０ドルかかり、明日もどのようになるのか断言はできません」との事。まぁそうだろうけど・・・
挙句の果ては、曇り空の合間に星が見えた時も「今日は満月に近いので、こんな日に来ても星は見えません。次回申し込みする時には、新月に来てください」との事。
逆撫でるじゃねーか。
ということで、冷えた弁当を車で食べて、ひたすらドライブ。挙句勉強不足だと注意されたツアーでした。

I made a round trip to Captain Cook's Cove, but I wasn't able to see a single whale or dolphin. The crew kept explaining things over the microphone, so for those who understand English, it might have been a nice experience even without seeing whales. The weather was perfect, and it was a pleasant cruise. However, my wife seemed to be too seasick to enjoy the scenery.

キャプテンクック岬まで往復しましたが、クジラもイルカも１頭も見ることが出来ませんでした。
クルーの方によるマイクによる説明がずっと続いていたので英語の分かる方にとってクジラは見れなくとても天気は最高で気持ちのいいクルージングだと思います。
妻は船酔いのため景色どころではなっかたようでした。

It was a two and a half hour stage, and I had a great time without getting bored. The food was delicious as well. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I understood English.

２時間半のステージでしたが飽きることなく楽しかったです。
食事も美味しかったです。
英語が分かればもっと楽しめたと思います。

Due to bad weather, we couldn't reach the summit. We also couldn't see the sunset because of the clouds. It's unfortunate since I was looking forward to it, but it can't be helped because of the weather. We were able to see the starry sky, but due to the full moon, it wasn't a perfect starry night... You really need to check the calendar before going to avoid missing out.

悪天候のため山頂まで登れませんでした。
サンセットも雲で見れませんでした。
天候のためなので仕方ありませんが、楽しみにしていたので残念でした。
星空は見れましたが、満月のため満点の星空とはいかず。。。ちゃんと暦を見て行かないと損します。

Reasons we loved the tour:
*Shawn was an awesome tour guide, super laid back and didn’t rush us at all. He encouraged picture taking and had fun with us!
*We got a tour of the city as well. While driving to and from the McGarrett house we learned fascinating facts about the island, different famous people and places.
*We had a bonus surprise and got to hang out with Flippa-who was so nice and chill! We got to ask questions and get to know him and the other cast members.
*Lunch was yummy!
Overall a great experience! Zero complaints and have no hesitation recommending it to any Hawaii-5 O fan

We went in late February. Since we went as a family, we all wore matching aloha shirts, and the women wore aloha dresses. However, everything from meals to shows was outdoors, so even in Hawaii, it was cold in February. We needed jackets, like hoodies or jumpers.

But from the moment we got on the bus, we practiced clapping and learned about the origins of the words, which made the trip enjoyable. Of course, everything was in English, but the guide worked hard to speak in Japanese and used gestures, so even if we didn't understand much English, we were able to have fun!

私達は2月の下旬に行きました。
家族で行ったので、全員でアロハシャツを揃えて、女性はアロハのワンピースで行きました。が、食事からショーからすべて外だったので、いくらハワイでも2月は寒かったです。上着、普通にパーカーやジャンパーが必要なぐらいでした。

でも行く時からバスの中で手拍子の練習や、言葉の由来などを教えてくれて、楽しみながら行けました。
もちろん全部英語でしたが、ガイドさんが頑張って日本語で話してくれたり、身振り手振りを入れてくれるので、あまり英語が分からなくても楽しめました！

I participated in early February. Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales and just ended up cruising. I was really hoping to see whales, so it was disappointing. They did issue a free boarding ticket for the next time, but it only covers the boarding, and you have to pay for the trip to the location yourself. Due to scheduling conflicts, I had to give up on it. I think those who are planning to participate should consider their schedule in case they don't see any whales.

2月上旬に参加しました。クジラは見れずただクルーズして終わりました。
クジラを見たい！との思いで参加したので残念でした。
一応、次回乗船無料券の発行がありましたが、これ乗船のみで、現地迄は自腹との事。スケジュールの都合もあるので断念しました。
これから参加の方は見れない時の為の考慮して日程を組んだ方が良いと思います。

Tour is exactly as described. Our tour guide Larry was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and funny. He went out of his way for us. We chose this tour because it’s convenience of time, where most tours went all day.

We had the best day! Travis is an outstanding tour guide with extensive knowledge of the local area. His genuine aim to please made this tour of the island the highlight of our visit to Oahu. We would highly recommend this tour and Travis.

Since I went to Hawaii in February, I decided to go whale watching, which is something you can only do during this time of year.

I read many reviews saying that people didn't see any whales, so I boarded the boat with a mindset of "Well, it would be nice to see a whale if we do." However, my skeptical expectations were wonderfully betrayed, and I was able to encounter a mother and calf whale multiple times!! Their synchronized swimming was truly moving, and I absolutely recommend it! Thank you for a truly wonderful experience!

It was a valuable tour. Thank you!

ちょうど2月にハワイに行ったので、この時期しか見ることの出来ないホエールウォッチングに行く事にしました。

クジラに会えなかったという口コミもたくさん読みましたので、「まぁクジラが見れたらいいか」みたいな気持ちで船に乗り込みましたが…。
私の半信半疑の期待は見事に裏切られ、何度もクジラの親子に遭遇する事ができました！！
並んで泳ぐ姿は心から感動しましたし、絶対オススメします！
本当に素晴らしい経験をありがとうございました！

価値のあったツアーでした。ありがとうございました！

I signed up for my two sons who love sea creatures! We were able to see a whale right after we set off. I think we were very lucky to see it as a family. The kids were also thrilled, so I'm glad we participated!

海の生き物が大好きな息子二人のために申込みました！出発後すぐにくじらに会えました。
親子で見れたので、とてもラッキーだったと思います。子供たちも大喜びだったので参加してよかったです！

I was able to see a mother and baby whale together, with continuous spouting and jumping! The boat was also large, so it was comfortable to spend time on!

クジラが親子でいたのか、連続して潮吹きとジャンプが見れました！船も大きい為快適に過ごせよかったでふ！

Riding while watching the waves and surfers was really enjoyable. It was better than I expected. The horse wanted to eat grass all the time, which was a bit of a hassle, but I wished I could ride for a longer time.

海の波、サーファーを見ながらの乗馬は気持ち良かった。思った以上に良かった。
馬は草ばかり食べたがって困ったけど、
もっと長い時間乗りたかった。

I waited for the bus on the first day, but I was left behind. I left a voicemail, but I didn't get a response... I'm glad I was able to participate the next day, but I couldn't see the whales as well as I wanted from the photos. However, I felt good about the cruise! I thought it might be better if the duration was a little shorter.

バスに1日目待ってたのに、おいてかれてしまいました。
留守電いれたけど、連絡なく。。
翌日参加できたから良かったけど、、
クジラは写真見たいにはみれません。
クルーズするのは気分が良かったです！
時間もう少し短くても良いかなと思いました。

Larry with Royal Star handled our tour.... if you find a way to replicate him, you will be well served (as well future attendees). He was knowledgeable, fun, affable and a perfect fit for the thread that ties these parts of the tour together.
Cemetery was humbling and very moving - at the very time we drove through, military was preparing for an internment that day.
Downtown tour was just right - highlighting both historical and current buildings and sharing information for possible additional visits later.
Arizona Memorial - website information helped us prepare well (clear bags allowed us to bring cameras and other items). The presentations at the visitor center were informative, and the video presentation was very moving. Little was said on the transport to the memorial, and our time there was memorable -- anyone who visits and is not moved by the sacrifice and losses is missing something.
Missouri was very interesting as well. Self-guided touring allowed for us to take the time needed to explore areas we found interesting. We did not see the Air Museum (but it's on the list next time). Transfers to and from Ford Island were well timed and operated - then it was time for Larry to take us "home".
ONLY complaint - our visit at both the Arizona and Missouri seemed a little rushed. We had about an hour before our tickets for the video, then seemed to have only ten minutes at the memorial (I understand might have been time for lunch for the tender captains?) and then ten minutes before our bus to Missouri (and find time for lunch). At Missouri, we had at most 90 minutes from drop off to time to board return bus back to the visitor center. Even another fifteen minutes at each memorial would have allowed for a more relaxing and reflective visit.

We participated as a family!
It was everyone's first time whale watching, and we had a wonderful experience encountering humpback whales jumping up close!
Thank you very much! ^_^

家族で参加しました！
みんな初めてのホエールウォッチングでしたが、間近でジャンプするザトウ鯨に出会う事ができ、素敵な経験になりました！
ありがとうございました^_^

As someone who had never been to Kauai before, I booked this tour as a way for my boyfriend and I to get acclimated to the island. We were so lucky to have Kana e, a wonderful native tour guide, as our driver and tour guide. She made the entire day so much fun, and extremely interesting. We both loved her stories of the island, of her family, and her enthusiasm. I greatly recommend this tour, especially if you can have a native guide as good as Kana e!!

I learned about the history of Hawaii, and the plants were explained in detail. In the long-awaited hula lesson, I was taught by the kumu hula, Brad Cooper, and it felt like a dream. I was also very satisfied with the beautiful lei making.

ハワイの歴史が学べ、植物も丁寧に説明していただきました。
念願のフラレッスンではクムフラのブラッド　クーパー先生に教えていただき夢のようでした。
レイメイクも素敵にできて大満足です。

Tour:
We came to Hawaii for our honeymoon and participated in this tour to experience the great outdoors.

They picked us up right on time in front of the hotel, and we got on the shuttle. We drove through some rough roads, but the driving was careful, so the ride was comfortable. Over the course of about 2-3 hours, we gradually ascended in elevation while taking breaks for the restroom and meals. As the altitude increased, the temperature dropped, so we gradually added more layers of clothing. During the drive, the guide provided explanations about the land, plants, and the Big Island, which was enjoyable.

Sunset:
We went to the summit of Mauna Kea. The sea of clouds was gently floating, and the sun was setting, turning red as it sank. The sky, dyed in shades of crimson and blue, was enchanting. It felt like we were not on Earth. While at the summit, the guide took photos with my camera and smartphone.

Starry Sky:
Immediately after the sunset, we moved to a spot to view the starry sky. Since it was February, it was the rainy season, but we were lucky as it had been clear for the past week. Moreover, it was a new moon, so the stars were visible across the sky without being disturbed by moonlight, creating the best conditions! There were many stars that are usually not visible, and the night sky sparkled beautifully. While we gazed at the stars, the guide used a laser pointer to explain the constellations and took photos again.

Impressions:
It was simply amazing! I was able to feel the great outdoors, and it was a series of moving experiences. I want to come back to the Big Island again. The guide was also very attentive, allowing us to participate in the tour with peace of mind. Next time, I would like to try a different tour.

Advice:
- As noted, it's a good idea to bring warm clothing. The guide lent us ski pants, jackets, and gloves, but it's necessary to have at least basic pants, heat tech, and a sweater. Also, the tips of my sneakers were cold, so I think bringing adhesive heat packs for your socks would be helpful.
- All transportation was by shuttle. I don't have much confidence in my physical stamina, but it was not a problem at all. However, as the altitude increases, the oxygen thins, so I made sure to take deep breaths. The guide advised that people prone to anemia should avoid squatting.

ツアー:
ハネムーンでハワイ旅行に来ていて、大自然を感じたくてこのツアーに参加しました。

時間通りホテルの前まで迎えに来てくれて、シャトルに乗りました。荒い道も通りましたが、運転が丁寧だったので乗り心地は良かったです。
2-3時間程、トイレ、ご飯休憩を挟みながらドライブで徐々に標高が上がっていきました。
標高が高いと気温が下がっていくので、徐々に着る服を増やしていきました。
移動中はガイドさんが土地や植物やハワイ島について説明をしてくれて楽しかったです。

サンセット:
マウナケア山の頂上へ行きました。雲海がゆらゆら浮かんでいて、そこに太陽が赤くなりながら沈んでいきました。
茜色と青色に染まっていく空が幻想的でした。地球に居ないような感覚になりました。
山頂にいる間、ガイドさんが自分のカメラやスマホで写真撮影をしてくれました。

星空:
サンセットの後すぐに移動して星空を観るスポットに行きました。
2月だったので雨季でしたが、ここ1週間は晴れているとのことでラッキーでした。しかもちょうど新月の日で、月明かりに邪魔されずに星が空一面に見えて、最高のコンディションでした！
いつも見えていない星がたくさん浮かんでいて、夜空がきらきら輝いて本当に綺麗でした。
星を眺める間、ガイドさんがレーザーポインターを使って星座の説明をしてくれました。ここでも写真撮影をしてくれました。

感想:
もう、最高でした！
大自然を感じることができて、感動の連続でした。ハワイ島にまた来たいです。
ガイドさんも丁寧で、安心してツアーに参加することができました。次回は違うツアーにも参加してみたいです。

アドバイス:
・注意書きにもありますが防寒着を持っていくと良いです。でもガイドさんがスキーウェアのズボンとジャケット、グローブを貸してくれますが、最低限のズボンやヒートテック、セーターは必要です。あとスニーカーのつま先は寒かったので靴下に貼るカイロを持っていくと良いかなと思います。
・移動は全てシャトルでした。私は体力に自信がないですが、全く問題ありませんでした。でも標高があがると酸素が薄くなるので、深呼吸するよう心がけました。ガイドさんには貧血気味の人はしゃがまないようにとアドバイスをしてくれました。