All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

I was looking forward to seeing whales, but in the end, I only saw a little bit of a tail far away towards the end of the cruise. The tour company might consider that a success, but I wonder if that's really enough to say we saw whales... Honestly, I was disappointed.

クジラを見るのを楽しみに行きましたが、結局、クルーズ終盤に遠くに少しだけテールが見えたのみ。催行会社としては、あれでも見れた、となるのでしょうが、あれで見れたとするのばいかがなものかと、、、。正直がっかりでした。

The guide, Mr. Yamapi, was truly a wonderful person full of love. He was talkative and had a wealth of knowledge, which made my heart warm while listening to him. As part of the tour plan, we enjoyed Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee, and we also stopped by a supermarket where I could choose my favorite sushi for dinner. The stargazing experience included a romantic touch, making it an unforgettable tour with high added value. I highly recommend this tour as the number one choice for anyone visiting Maui.

ガイドの山ピーさんがとにかく愛に溢れた方で素晴らしい。お話好きで知識量も多く、話をしていて、また話を聞いていて心が温かくなった。ツアーのプランに含まれているとのことで、クリスピードーナツとコーヒーをいただいたり、スーパーに寄って自分の好きな寿司（夕食）を選ばせていただいたり。星空観測ではロマンチックな演出もあり、付加価値の高い忘れられないツアーとなった。マウイ島に行かれる方には是非おすすめしたいツアーNO.1。

Outstanding tour and we had a really great guide. I highly recommend. We were island hopping and this was a perfect tour.

Even with the government shut down, tour glide still gave us an outstanding experience. Have memories and photos that we will treasure.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see any whales, but I enjoyed the beautiful scenery during the cruise! I would like to try again next time!

残念ながらクジラを見ることは出来ませんでしたが、景色の良いクルージングをした事は良かったです！次回また、挑戦したいと思っています！

It was tough getting up early, but the ship was luxurious and there was an explanation in Japanese, which was great. However, I suffered from severe seasickness. My friend, who didn't get seasick, said they only saw the whale's tail. The staff were very accommodating, and the person in the hall showed us a video of the whale when it appeared on their phone! This time, I chose not to have breakfast, but the food looked delicious, and I was able to add it for $13 per person.

朝早くからで大変でしたが、船が豪華で日本語での説明もあり、よかったです。ただ、船酔いが酷かったです。船酔いしなかった友人はクジラのしっぽだけは見れたと言ってました。スタッフさんの対応が良く、ホールの方のケータイでクジラが現れた時の動画を見せていただきました！今回、朝食なしを選択したのですが、周りの人が食べているのが美味しそうで1人13ドルで追加できました。

We participated with a total of 10 people, from my 70-year-old grandfather to my 4-year-old grandchild. A lucky memory was seeing a sea turtle, while an unfortunate experience was the jungle tour in a downpour.

70歳の祖父からと4歳の孫まで合計10名で参加しました。運良くウミガメが見られたことと運悪くスコールの中でのジャングルツアーは良い思い出です。

The Body Glove Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise was an enjoyable experience. The guide was very knowledgable, and the captain was great.
And they give you free reef friendly sunscreen!

however, you don't really feel that you're 'in nature' if that's what you're looking for - it's a very large very fancy cruise ship - just be aware if you're looking for a more intimate experience!

Unfortunately, the summit was closed due to snow, so we had to give up on the sunset. However, we descended a bit and found a spot without clouds, where we were able to see the most amazing starry sky. This was all thanks to our fantastic guide. He helped us find the location and provided detailed explanations about the Orion constellation, the Andromeda Nebula, and various other constellations using a telescope. I owe a big thanks to JIN OTAKA from your group’s nature school and his great partner. Thank you!

I accidentally forgot to give a tip, so I called your company and arranged to leave it at the hotel front desk for Jin to pick up later, which relieved me. It would have been too regrettable not to do so after such a fun guiding experience. I highly recommend everyone to take advantage of this service!

残念だったのは山頂が雪でクローズでしたので夕日は断念。
すこし下山して雲がない場所を探していただき最高な星空を観ることができました。これには最高のガイドさんおかげでした。場所を探し望遠鏡でオリオン星座、アンドロメダ星雲いろいろな星座の説明など詳しく解説をしてもらいました。貴社グループのマサシのネイチャースクールのJIN　OTAKAさんと友達の名コンビのおかげでした。ありがとう！
うっかりしてチップを渡し忘れてしまったので御社に電話をしてホテルの
フロントに預けて仁さんにあとで取りに来てもらうようにしてホッとしました。そうしなくては申し訳ないぐらい楽しいガイドぶりでした。
皆さんも是非利用されるといいですよー。

Personally, this was my third time at the summit of Mauna Kea, after visiting 20 years ago and 8 years ago. The experience was similar, including hotel pickup and a break at the Onizuka Visitor Center. However, this time, the guide, Big JIN, was entertaining, making the sunset and stargazing enjoyable. Although it was said to feel like -20 degrees, the rental cold-weather gear provided was perfect. Additionally, there was a unique service for this tour where they later shared photos taken against the backdrop of the sunset at the summit and stunning starry sky photos that are difficult for travelers to capture online. If you're in Hawaii, the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

個人的には20年前、8年前、そして今回の3度目のマウナケア山頂でした。
ホテルピックアップから途中のオニズカ・ビジターセンターの休憩など内容は一緒でした。ただ今回は日本人（ビッグJINさん）のガイドが面白くて楽しくサンセット・星空観察が出来ました。体感温度ー20度と言われましたがレンタルしてくれる防寒着も完ぺきでした。また多分このツアー独自のサービスでしょうが山頂の夕日バックの写真や旅行者では撮りにくい満天の星空写真を後日ネットで配信するなどのサービスがついていました。
ハワイ島なら絶対外せないマウナケア山頂サンセット＆星空観測。おススメです。

I participated in a half-day tour, but I regret not opting for the full-day tour as there were so many highlights. The staff were all friendly and full of hospitality. You can learn about the local life and history that you wouldn't see during regular sightseeing or shopping, so I think it's definitely worth participating if you go to Hawaii. I splurged a bit and chose the deluxe course, and I believe it was worth more than the price. The front-row seats for the final show were very impressive, and I was able to join a backstage tour that is usually not available to the public. The show itself was incredibly powerful and breathtaking. If I go to Hawaii again, I would definitely like to participate again.

半日観光で参加しましたがあまりに見どころが多くて1日観光にすれば良かったとちょっと後悔です。とにかくスタッフが皆さんフレンドリーでホスピタリティに溢れています。街の観光やショッピングでは見ることのできない現地の生活や歴史が学べるのでハワイに行ったら是非とも参加した方がより楽しめると思いました。ちょっと奮発してデラックスコースにしましたがお値段以上の価値があったと思います。最後のショーの席が最前列でとても迫力があったことやショーの前には普通は見ることのできないバックヤードツアーに参加できたこと、などです。とにかくショーはとても迫力があり圧巻でした。またハワイに行くことがあったらぜひ参加したいです。

The sunset from Haleakalā Mountain and the star-filled night sky were absolutely amazing. The guide's explanations were very detailed, and the places we stopped by on the way were also ones I wanted to visit, so I was very satisfied.

ハレアカラ山からのサンセット、夜空いっぱいの星はもちろん最高でしたし、ガイドの方の説明もとても詳しく、また行くまでに寄ってくださるところも、行ってみたいところだったので大満足です。

The weather was mild, and there were no waves, making it a perfect day. About 20 minutes after departure, we spotted a whale and spent the rest of the time following it. The whale seemed relaxed, and we could see it spouting water every 10 to 15 minutes as it breathed. I'm glad we got to see the whale.

気候がおだやか、かつ、波もない、おそらく絶好の日でした。
出港後20分くらいでクラジを1尾発見し、その1尾をずっと追いかける形でした。そのクジラはリラックスしているようで呼吸する度(10ー15分)に潮吹きなどしているのが見えました。クジラが見れてよかったです。

First of all, the tour company did nothing wrong. On the contrary, I found their smooth operation and progress to be quite favorable.

Perhaps my expectations for whale watching were too high or my imagination ran wild. During the approximately one-and-a-half-hour cruise, we only saw a distant spout once and a dolphin jump once. While we did see something, I had imagined seeing a large tail up close or multiple whales swimming, so I felt a bit disappointed.

However, this is something that depends on luck. Overall, the tour itself received a high rating.

まずツアー会社は何も悪くありません。
むしろスムーズな運営、進行をされており好感が持てました。

ホエールウォッチングに対しての理想というか想像が膨らみすぎていたのかもしれません。
約1時間半のクルーズで、見えたのが遠くでの潮吹き1回とイルカのジャンプ1回でした。
見れたといえば見れたのですが、もっとこう間近で大きな尻尾が見えたり何頭ものクジラが泳ぐ様子を想像していただけに少し残念な気持ちでした。

ただこればっかりは時の運もあるのでしょう。
ツアー自体の評価は高かったです。

The weather forecast in Hawaii is not reliable!! The rain forecast turned out to be "clear skies," and there were no waves, making the boat ride comfortable. We saw the humpback whales' spouts and tails many times, and each time, the passengers erupted in applause. The boat was large and stable. I appreciate the crew for their excellent hospitality. I made a web reservation with Veltra on-site, and their quick response was a great help. I was able to board safely.

ハワイの天気予報は、あてになりませんね！！　雨の予報が「快晴」、しかも波はなく船も快適でした。
何度も、ザトウクジラの汐吹と尾びれの姿が見られそのたびに乗船客の拍手がやみませんでした。
船は大きく安定していました。
クルーの方々、最高のもてなしに感謝します。
ベルトラさん、現地でWEB予約しましたが素早い対応で助かりました。無事に乗船できました。

I was able to see a pod of dolphins in addition to the whales! It was amazing to see Diamond Head as well! I would love to go again if I have the chance.

くじらに加えイルカの群れも見れました！
ダイヤモンドヘッドも見れて最高でした！また機会あれば行きたいですね。

Due to the wind speed, I couldn't reach the summit, but I really enjoyed the sunset and the clear view of the stars that the guide showed us. I participated alone, but the guide was very considerate, and the other participants were also very kind, which made it enjoyable until the end! Thank you very much! I now have the goal of reaching the summit next time.

風速の関係で山頂に登ることはできませんでしたが、サンセットや、星がしっかり見える位置を案内してくれたのでとても楽しめました^ ^そして、1人で参加しましたが、ガイドさんも気にかけてくれたり、参加されてるお客様もとても優しく、最後まで楽しめました！
ありがとうございました^ ^
次は山頂に行くという目標までもできました。

This tour was very nice. We were picked up on time and transferred to a second bus. The driver/tour guide was very knowledgeable about many things Hawaiian. He was friendly, entertaining and very personable. The stops were interesting, although it seemed a bit like we moved from one tourist shopping to another. The times were adequate at most of the stops. However, although the last stop at the Dole Planatation was an hour, we were advised to not take the 20minute train ride as it would possibly make us miss the ride back to our hotel. There were no tours at the temple or plantation which was disappointing, but plenty of shopping! The driver apparently thought there were be more traffic as we were at our hotel about two hours earlier than we expected. We would have enjoyed more time at the North Shore since we did not stop there. Maybe that could be added?

We didn't see any whales at first, and while we were enjoying the scenery, saying to my child, "Looks like there are no whales," we encountered a group of about three whales!

We got to see a whale jump right at the beginning! We also saw plenty of spouts and tails! My child was so excited, and I really felt it was worth participating!

We discovered them about 15 minutes before returning to port, so we ended up coming back quite late, but we were very satisfied!

くじらが全然現れず、船内で振替チケットのアナウンスがあり、全然くじらおらんなぁ～、と子どもと言いながら諦めて景色を楽しんでいた途中にくじらの群れ３つくらいに遭遇しました！

初っ端にくじらのジャンプを見られました☆
潮吹きも、しっぽもいっぱい見られました☆
子どもが大興奮で、参加して本当に良かったなーと思いました！

帰港する１５分くらい前に発見したので、帰港するのはだいぶ遅くなりましたが、大満足でした！

Given I love history and being of pacific island descent I thoroughly enjoyed this. Tours were well versed and the halls had levels of knowledge and artefacts that were quite fascinating. The Kings Room also had an air of the Kings being in the room with you. Great for kids too as the science center very educational but enjoyable.

Whilst it was beautiful and scenic. It felt very touristy and quite overrated given the price. In hindsight booking the AV prob would have been better. We did the movie tour and secret island with beach activities.

Unfortunately, since it was with animals, I knew I couldn't expect a 100% success rate, but I was disappointed not to encounter any. I persevered on the deck despite the strong winds and rain. However, I was able to enjoy the endless horizon and the beautiful rainbow, as well as the sense of freedom on the deck. If I had more time in my schedule, I would have liked to try again since I received a re-boarding ticket.

いかんせん、動物相手ですから100%の確率は望めないのはわかっていましたが、遭遇成らずガッカリ。
強風や雨にも負けず、デッキで粘ったのですが。
ただ、どこまでも続く水平線と綺麗な虹、デッキでの開放感は満喫できました。
日程に余裕があれば、最乗船チケットをもらったので再チャレンジしたかったです。

Ultimately, we couldn't reach the summit of the mountain and had to stop at the Onizuka Center. Like others have shared in their experiences, I understand that it's a natural occurrence, but the $15 refund is simply too inadequate. If it had been a bit more, it would have eased my feelings. Additionally, my elderly mother was exhausted from being in the car for such a long time.

If the refund policy doesn't change or if there are no suggestions for leaving midway, I cannot recommend this to others.

There were other tour participants who mentioned they had to make a second attempt after not being able to go up the day before, and they felt like they wasted two days.

The only enjoyable part was listening to Mr. Jin, who guided the tour, share his knowledge in the car. He was very knowledgeable and spoke in detail about flowers, history, and volcanoes.

Aside from that, to be honest, nothing about this experience is worth the price. I just want to inform those who will participate in the future that not being able to go up is a disaster!

結果的に山の山頂まではいけず、オニズカセンターで
ストップとなりました。
他の方の体験談同様、自然のことなので仕方のないことだとは
思いますが15ドルという返金内容はあまりにもお粗末すぎます。
もう少し多ければ気持ちも軽減されたと思いますが、
長い間車に乗車して高齢の母を疲れさせてしまいました。

このまま返金内容が変わらないようだったり、途中離脱の
提案もないようですと他の方にはオススメできません。

他のツアー参加者には前日のぼれなくて再アタックだった方も
いたようで2日間を棒に振ったと仰っていました。

ツアーを案内してくださった仁さんのお話を車の中で聞けた
ことだけはとても楽しかったです。
とても博識な方で花や歴史、火山について詳しくお話してください
ました。

それ以外はハッキリいって何も値段と見合っていません。
これから参加される方にものぼれないと悲惨！
ということだけお知らせしておきます。。。

Must do island activity. The guides were awesome and a lot of fun.

I had previously taken a cruise on Kauai, but at that time, I could only see a glimpse of the whales in the distance. Compared to that, I was satisfied to see some spouting and a bit of the tail up close this time. However, my companion, who was on their first cruise, seemed disappointed because they expected to see the whales jumping high enough to see their upper bodies.

以前、カウアイ島でクルーズを利用したことがあったのですが、その際は遠くのほうに少し見えただけでした。それに比べると、船の近くで潮吹きや尾びれが少し見えたので、満足しましたが、同行の初めてクルーズを利用した人はクジラが上半身見えるくらいジャンプするところを見えると思ったらしく、残念がっていました。

Epic is the word that comes to mind. We had the best time. It was more than we had anticipated. We have lived here for 11 years and this was our first time sailing with the Star Of Honolulu. The 5 Star dinner cruise with Live Jazz made our 14th anniversary that much more special. From the warm reception, meeting and greeting the Captain, the Ono pupu’s to the amazing 7 course meal and top notched entertainment we felt like royalty. You can’t beat the amazing sunset and whale sightings either. If you are looking to celebrate or just relax and take in the sights the Star Of Honolulu is definitely the thing to do.
We had a great and memorable time from start to finish. Mahalo Star Of Honolulu .

Only thing we missed was the view of the surrounding areas due to the clouds...only saw the western peaks poking up thru the clouds
...but the sunset was one of a kind.....Bring your winter Jacket & gloves....

My husband and I had a spectacular time on this 5 star dinner cruise. We've lived here for 11 years and this was our first time experiencing the elegance and absolute superb 5 star dinning experience the Star of Honolulu offers. From start to finish everything was spectacular. We were treated like VIP's. We were greeted and warmly escorted to the boat where we partook of some extremely delectable pupu's while being serenaded by a Polynesian dancer and ukulele player. We were also introduced to the Captain of the ship and was afforded a photo op with him. As the evening progressed the boat set sail and the 7 course meal did not disappoint. We ate until our belly's were super tight. Did I mention the majestic sunset we watched from our window seats? Simply amazing! We also enjoyed the top shelf drinks that were apart of the menu. But not to worry if you are not an alcohol drinker there are many non-alcohol drinks to choose from.
This dinner cruise truly exceeded our expectations and we would wholeheartedly recommend the 5 star experience especially for that very special occasion. Its the perfect way to celebrate. It's kid friendly too. Mahalo Star of Honolulu for a very memorable anniversary! #14yrs

What a wonderful tour to drive to the summit higher than Mount Fuji and observe the sunset and starry sky! Experienced staff will take you close to the summit of Mauna Kea while helping you acclimatize to the altitude to avoid altitude sickness. You can also see the Subaru Telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Hawaii up close, enjoying the sunset and taking photos in the clear air.

To avoid any issues with astronomical observation, you will descend from the summit within 30 minutes of sunset and stop at a suitable location for stargazing and photography of constellations. The low light pollution allows you to see many stars. This is undoubtedly a unique tour that I highly recommend for the Big Island.

There are regular restroom breaks on the way to the summit, and there are portable toilets at the summit. While some may have reservations about using portable toilets, a little patience is necessary. On the day I went, there was no wind and it wasn't too cold, but at an altitude of over 4200 meters, your body can get cold after a long stay, so I recommend bringing a compact down jacket and a hat.

Since only 200 people can reach the summit in a day, it's a good idea to make your tour reservation early.

富士山より高い山頂へ車で行き夕日と星空観測、なんとステキなツアーでしょう♪
慣れたスタッフが高山病にならないよう高度に順応させながらお客様をマウナケアの山頂近くへ連れて行ってくれます。
そして日本の誇る国立天文台ハワイ観測所すばる望遠鏡も間近に望み、澄んだ空気の中を沈んでゆく太陽を眺め写真撮影。
天文観測の障害とならないよう日没から30分以内に山頂を降り途中の星空観測に適した場所で星座の観測と写真撮影をしてくれます。
チリが少ない環境はとても多くの星を見ることが出来ます。
ハワイ島ならではのツアーであることは間違いなく是非お勧めします。

山頂に行くまでもこまめにトイレタイムが設けられ、山頂には簡易トイレが設置されています。簡易トイレは抵抗のある人もいるかと思いますが、そこはちょっと我慢も必要です。
行った日は風も無くそれほどの冷え込みでは無いとのことでしたが、やはり高度4200ｍ超えると長時間の滞在は体が冷えてきますので、自分でもコンパクトにしまえるダウンや帽子等用意される事をお勧めします。

1日に200人までしか登頂できないとのこと、早めのツアー予約も心掛けると良いかと思います。

The view from the summit was amazing, but above all, Mr. Yamapi's guidance was the best. It was our honeymoon, and we were able to see the most beautiful starry sky while listening to his wonderful stories, creating memories that will last a lifetime. We will definitely go again, so please continue this tour! Thank you!

山頂での景色はもちろん、なにより山Pさんのガイドが最高でした。
新婚旅行でしたが、素敵なお話のなかで最高のほしぞらをみられて、一生の思い出になりました。また絶対に行くので、このツアーはずっと続けていってください！お願いします！