All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

In the midst of a busy schedule, I decided to take a solo trip to Hawaii two weeks ago without any plans. However, I received many emails from HIS about their optional tours, and they all looked fun, so I decided to join one of their plans!

It was my first time going to the North Shore. A few days later, if the conditions were good, there would be a world championship at Ehukai Beach, and I found the various shops in Haleiwa very interesting. The horseback riding was also a wonderful experience, allowing us to stroll leisurely through the valley!

I think the reason I enjoyed this tour so much was because Hiro, our guide, was very good at talking, which made the tour even more enjoyable! His self-deprecating humor was the best! I felt like I wanted to join another tour guided by Hiro the next time I come to Hawaii!!

バタバタの中、2週間前にHawaii１人旅を決めノープランで現地に着いてしまいましたが、HISさんのオプションツアーの案内が沢山メールで届き、どれも楽しそうで、こちらのプランにも参加してみました！
ノースショアへ行ったのは初めてでした。数日後にコンディションがよければ世界大会が行われるEhukai Beachの波や、ハレイワタウンの色んなお店も興味深く、乗馬も渓谷をゆっくり散歩できとても楽しいプランでした！
そうなったのも、案内してくれたHiroさんがとてもお話が上手だったので、よりこのツアーが楽しく感じれたんだと思います！自虐ネタも最高でした！
またHawaiiに来た時は、Hiroさんが案内してくれるツアーに参加したいと思ったほどです！！

I was constantly moved by the beautiful sea of clouds, the sunset, and the starry sky. The explanation about the starry sky was also very enjoyable, and the cold didn't bother me at all. I'm really glad I participated.

とっても綺麗な雲海に夕日と星空に感動しっぱなし。星空説明もとても楽しく、寒さなんてへっちゃらです。参加してほんとよかった。

I woke up early, but it's disappointing that I couldn't see any whales. When you can't see them, you can get a re-boarding ticket, but the period is too short. Since I went on the last day of my trip, it ended up being a waste of money. My kids were also disappointed, which made me sad. I wonder if it's really true that there's a 95% chance of seeing them. If I ended up in that remaining 5%, that's just too unlucky.

朝早く起きたのに、くじらが見られず残念。。
見られないときは再乗船チケットもらえるけど、期間短すぎ。。
旅行最終日に行っちゃったから、結局お金の無駄になった。。
子供もがっかりしてて、悲しくなった。。
95%の確率で見られるって本当なのかな。
その残り5%になったなら、運悪すぎる。。

We gathered at Aloha Tower in the morning. The shuttle costs $14, so we took THE BUS, which was fine. A whale seemed to appear for a moment, but we couldn't see it due to the boat's location. Still, we enjoyed the beautiful views of Diamond Head and the hotels. It was a bit disappointing, though...

朝からアロハタワー集合です。送迎は１４ドルかかりますのでTHE BUSで行きましたが問題なく行けますよ。一瞬クジラは現われたようですが、船の場所の関係で見れませんでした。それでも、ダイヤモンドヘッドやホテルの美しい景色は楽しめました。残念でしたが・・・

Due to the significant changes in altitude and climate experienced within just a few hours, participation is not recommended for those with health concerns. Even if you are healthy, be sure to listen carefully to the guide's instructions and adhere to the precautions. Doing so will ensure a wonderful experience. (^_-)-☆

数時間の間にかなりの標高差と気候の違いを体験するので、健康面で不安のある方の参加はお勧め出来ません。
健康であっても、ガイドさんの話をよく聞いて、注意事項は厳守しましょう。
そうすれば、素晴らしい体験ができますよ。(^_-)-☆

My daughter, who was previously too young due to age restrictions, was finally able to participate, and we joined the tour together. On the west coast of the Big Island, you can see a wonderful sunset from anywhere, so I thought we might not need to climb the mountain, but the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was indeed exceptional.

I was worried about car sickness since I heard there are unpaved parts on the road to the summit, but instead of car sickness, I ended up suffering from altitude sickness due to the lack of oxygen. However, our guide quickly provided oxygen from a tank, and we were able to enjoy the sunset and the starry sky without any issues. I was really glad to have joined a tour with a guide.

At the snow-covered summit of Mauna Kea, I was concerned about the cold, but the rental cold-weather gear from Masashi Nature School was as warm as the reviews said. For those who are sensitive to the cold, I recommend bringing something to cover your face, head, and ears, as well as heat-tech innerwear for warmth.

It was great to have explanations during the stargazing as well. Last time I visited, I did not join the summit tour and only did stargazing from the mountainside, but when it comes to viewing the stars, I saw about the same or even more this time (the stargazing after the summit tour had quite a bit of interference from headlights of cars coming down from the summit). So, if the focus is on stargazing, it might not be necessary to have the sunset from the summit, but experiencing a sunset at such a height, higher than Mount Fuji, is something you can't easily find elsewhere.

前回は年齢制限に引っかかっていた娘も参加できる年齢になり、親子で参加しました。ハワイ島西海岸ではどこからでも素晴らしい夕日がみられるので、山の上に登らなくても…と思いましたが、マウナケア山頂からの日の入りはやはり格別でした。
山頂までの道は舗装されていない部分もあるという事で車酔いを心配していましたが、車酔いよりも酸素が少ないために起きる高山病にかかってしまいました。しかし、ガイドさんがすぐに酸素ボンベで酸素補給をしてくださり、事なきを得て日の入り、星空を見ることができました。やはりガイドさんのいるツアーに参加してよかったと思いました。
雪の積もるマウナケア山頂、寒さを心配していましたがマサシネーチャーズスクールの貸出用防寒具は口コミ通り暖かかったので、寒がりな方は防寒具で隠せない顔・頭・耳をカバーするものやヒートテックインナーで防寒対策をしておけばよいと思います。
星空ウォッチングも解説していただいて見られたのがよかったです。
前回来た時には山頂ツアーではなく、山の中腹でのスターゲイジングでしたが、星空を見るという事でしたら同じくらいかそれ以上見えた（山頂ツアー後の星空ウォッチングは山頂から降りてくる車が多いのでヘッドライトに邪魔される時間が結構あるため）ので、星空…という事にフォーカスするのであれば山頂日の入りである必要はないのかもしれませんが、富士山以上の高さでの日の入りを見る体験は他ではなかなかできないと思います。

A more detailed itinerary would be helpful. For those staying in princeville, it is a 2 hour ride to Waimea canyon. The time at the canyon lookout point is 20 minutes. The fern grotto is another hour's ride. Boat ride and music were great, but hike and visit to fern grotto from boat was 20-30 minutes. Though there a couple of other small stops, you have to understand most of 11 hours is riding in a mini-bus. Driver was great and preferred small bus to large one.

My wife, myself and my sister with her husband were able to get this trip. We were told that normally they like to do this trip with 6 people. We had only four in our group but they still ran the trip. We took the early morning van ride to Hana and the helicopter ride back. You can do this trip either way. We had a brand new GMC custom van, it was great. Greg our driver said that this company only has newer vans. The only thing better than a new van was a very experienced driver. Greg was great, he knew all the places to slow down and where you could get the best pictures. My wife and sister are very much into flowers, Greg was very knowledgeable on the subject. Many years ago I drove this road and I missed so much, having a driver/guide is the best way to to this. I have a commercial driving licence so I can recognize and appreciate a professional driver. Lunch was very good and light, you want that for the helicopter flight back. The pilot, Glenda was very smooth and safety was always a big concern. The helicopter company was Blue Hawaiian, top notch outfit. I could not think of one negative comment or even a constructive criticism. Is it cheap no, is it value for your money yes.

We liked the attention to detail from the pick up at our resort to the background knowledge during the driving portion. We had plenty of time to get out of the bus to stretch and take pictures. We seemed to be able to see and do more due to a smaller bus. This tour, like most, is depended on clear and non rainy weather; check ahead to pick a good weather day for this adventure. To combine both parts is a full day; we were picked up at 7am delivered back at 6pm. I would strongly recommend these stops as a "must see". You could drive up and down the canyon, but you would miss a lot of sights and information. The boat ride is also something not to be missed.

The cave of Shida was very nice. We took a boat to get there, and on the way back, there was a hula show on the boat, creating a relaxed atmosphere on board.

シダの洞窟がとても良かったです。
船に乗って行くのですが、帰りの船上でフラのショーがあり、船内は和やかなムードに包まれていました。

The staff was kind, and although the food didn't quite suit my taste, the service was excellent. For the price, there was a generous amount of offerings, and as it was my first time participating, I was very satisfied.

スタッフが親切でお食事はあまり口に合いませんでしたがサービスは最高です。値段の割に盛りだくさんの内容が用意されていて初めての参加でしたが大満足でした。

The staff was friendly, and although the food didn't quite suit my taste, the service was excellent. For the price, there was a generous amount of offerings, and as it was my first time participating, I was very satisfied.

スタッフが親切でお食事はあまり口に合いませんでしたがサービスは最高です。値段の割に盛りだくさんの内容が用意されていて初めての参加でしたが大満足でした。

I wanted to participate in the garden tour, but I was told to switch to another tour due to being over capacity, with no explanation as to why we had to change. It felt like they assumed Japanese people wouldn't complain, and it seemed like they were relying on Japanese individuals who had signed up for private tours. If the price is the same, I think it would be better to book this tour through a major travel company.

The lunch buffet had about seven types of desserts, but four of them were empty. The drinks were also empty. Since we had to eat within a limited time, it might be a good idea to bring a little something to eat yourself.

Overall, I felt that there are many beautiful places to see in Hawaii, and it didn't seem worth it to pay this much money to participate in this tour.

ガーデンツアーに参加したかったが、人数オーバーのため、他のツアーにしてくれと言われたが、なぜ私たちが他のツアーにしなければならないのか、全く説明はなし。日本人は何も文句を言わないと思っているのか、個人ツアーで申し込みをした日本人に頼んでいるように思えたので、同じ値段なら、大手の旅行会社を通してこのツアーに申し込みをした方がいいと思う。
ランチビュッフェは、デザートを含め、７種類ほどあったが、４種類は空。飲み物も空。限られた時間で昼食をとらなければならず、自分で食べるものを少し持って行った方がいいかも。
全体の感想としては、ハワイにはきれいな景色を見れるところがたくさんあるし、これだけのお金を払ってこのツアーに参加する価値はないように思えた。

I have used the Star of Honolulu countdown before, and I recommend the Polynesian Show version. The jazz performance I attended previously had a nice, calm atmosphere, but the countdown really needs to be lively! The fireworks were beautifully visible right in front of us. However, the dinner with tough and flavorless steak and an incredibly chewy lobster was quite disappointing, so let's just say that was part of the experience...

以前もスターオブホノルルのカウントダウンは利用しているのですが、ポリネシアンショーバージョンがおすすめです。以前参加したジャズ演奏も落ち着いた感じがそれなりに良かったのですが、やはりカウントダウンは盛り上がらなきゃ！花火も真正面に綺麗に見えました。しかし硬くて味のないステーキと噛みごたえが半端ないロブスターのディナーはかなりお粗末なので、その辺はご愛嬌という事で。。。

Our family really enjoyed this trip. The crew was informative, friendly and fun. The trip up the coast was beautiful and the music on the boat was quite nice.

Seriously the most amazing trip ever! The guides were so informative, and we loved learning all about the history of Kauai & the ATV’s we’re beyond fun! Definitely a must to do here!

I chose this plan because I wanted to go to the North Shore. The guide took us to various places in detail, which was really great. I even got to see a sea turtle. However, lunchtime was quite short and busy. The horse I rode was very well-behaved, but as a first-time rider, I found it a bit scary when it occasionally ran. Walking along the coast was very pleasant. It's a plan that allows you to fully enjoy the day!

ノースショアに行きたくこのプランにしました。ガイドさんが細かく色々連れて行ってくれて本当に良かったです。ウミガメにも出会えました。ただ、ランチタイムはかなり少なく忙しかったです。
乗馬はかなりお利口さんの馬でしたが乗馬初体験の私にとってはたまに走ったりがかなり怖かったです…海沿いは気持ち良くお散歩することが出来ました。
1日たっぷり満喫出来るプランです‼︎

The four-wheeler was a bit scary, but it was thrilling. I was able to experience quite a sensation. It was moving!

４輪バギーは、ちょっぴり怖かったけど、スリルがありました。中々の感覚を味わう事が出来ました。感動的です❗

Best service, show and this young woman was my server the first time I went n I was so surprised when I show her the picture that I took the first time that she remember me and my OHANA . my experience overall was fantastic and that's why I decided to do it again...MAHALO for this beautiful and wonderful experience...

We departed early in the morning by bus. Along the way, we were taken to a strange coral shop, but after a long journey, we finally arrived at Bunka Center. I didn't have high expectations for lunch and dinner, so it was about what I expected. The night show was wonderful. After it ended, we quickly boarded the bus and set off. Even so, we arrived after 10 PM. If you don't plan for a late start the next day, this tour can be quite tough. It was fun, but definitely a very hard tour.

朝早くからバスで出発。途中へんなサンゴ屋に連れていかれたが、
長い道中なんとか文花センターに到着。
昼食、夕食は期待していなかったのでそんなものでしょう。
夜のショーは素晴らしかった。終わったら速攻でバスに乗り込み
出発。それでも到着時間は１０時過ぎ。次の日は遅い時間の予定を
企画していないとかなり厳しいツアーです。楽しかったけどすごく
ハードなツアーです。

Really fun riding the military truck and the hike was awesome. Little challenging for people who aren’t used to hiking. This hike is different because it is full of muds and slippery areas. Also you have to cross the 4 streams. Super fun but not recommended for families with kids.

The person who provided the pick-up and guidance was the best in terms of customer service I have experienced in all my optional tours in Hawaii. It was my first time horseback riding, but they gave us instructions during the car ride, making it enjoyable to ride the horse.

送迎や案内をしてくれた人は、今までハワイに来てオプショナルツアーの中で1番接客が良かった人でした。
乗馬は初めてでしたが、車で移動中に乗馬の案内をしてくれて楽しく馬に乗れて良かったです。

I was looking forward to seeing whales, dolphins, and turtles, but I was disappointed that I didn't see anything. It's no good to have too high expectations. The weather was nice, so the view was good.

くじらやイルカカメなど楽しみにしていましたが何も見れず残念でした。期待しすぎるとダメですね。天気は良かったので眺めは良かったです。

I had been looking forward to going to the Big Island of Hawaii for so long, but the sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was not special; it was just beautifully ordinary, really ordinary...

Maybe it's because the sunsets on the Big Island are beautiful no matter where you watch them from...

Perhaps I've experienced too many sunrises and sunsets during my travels, both abroad and domestically...

On the tour's website, it mentioned, "Using a reflecting telescope and a laser pointer, the guide will explain the constellations and stars," and I was really looking forward to seeing the stars and the moon through the reflecting telescope. However, there was no telescope set up at the location for viewing the constellations, and there was no explanation that there wouldn't be a reflecting telescope this time, which was quite disappointing.

In the car, I was seated in a three-person row with an unfamiliar elderly man and his adult daughter. The elderly man took up quite a bit of space, so I was in a half-sitting position the whole time... I didn't say anything to the elderly man about not moving in, so the driver wasn't at fault, but I thought it would be tough if someone with a larger build sat in the same row.

念願のハワイ島に行く前から凄い凄い期待し過ぎてしまっていたので、実際に観たマウナケア山頂からの夕陽はスペシャルでは無く、普通に綺麗だった、本当に普通に…

ハワイ島はどこから夕陽を観ても綺麗過ぎだからでしょうか…

沢山の海外旅行、国内旅行で朝日・夕陽を体験し過ぎてしまったのかもしれない…

ツアーのHPに「反射望遠鏡とレーザーペンを使ってガイドが星座と星の説明」とあり、「反射望遠鏡」で観る星や月を超楽しみにしていたのに星座を観る場所には反射望遠鏡の準備もされていなくて、今回は反射望遠鏡が無いと言う説明もなくて、Wでガックリ度が増しました(涙)
＿|￣|○

車の中では3人席で知らないお爺さんと成人した娘と私。お爺さんは1人でかなり座席を所有するので私はずっと半ケツ状態でした…
特に奥に詰めないお爺さんに注意もしなかったので担当のドライバーさんには責任はありませんが、かなり体格の良い方が同じ列の席に座ると大変だと思いました。

My first time in Hawaii! My first countdown cruise! It was amazing! Welcoming the New Year in another country with a countdown of 3, 2, 1! People from all over the world came together and shouted "Happy New Year!" The food was delicious, and there were goodies on the table, making it a very enjoyable and dreamlike moment! I definitely want to participate again.

初ハワイ！初カウントダウンクルーズ！最高でした！他国で新年を迎える、3.2.1のカウントダウン！どこの国の人も１つになって、ハッピーニューイヤーを叫びました！食事も美味しく、テーブルには、グッズが置かれて、とても楽しく夢のようなひと時でした！また、是非参加したいです。

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see any whales. The day before my participation, there was record heavy rain, so I was worried about the weather, but fortunately, we were blessed with good weather. I decided to enjoy the cruise around Waikiki instead of focusing on whale watching.

I think the cruise duration was about an hour and a half. If whales can be seen from that distance, it seems they come quite close to the Waikiki area.

I signed up for a course without breakfast, but I thought at least drinks would be provided, so it might be a good idea to bring water or bottled drinks.

Also, I heard that if you don't see any whales, you can get a ticket for the next cruise, but I didn't hear anything about that. Where should I inquire about this?

残念ながらクジラは見れませんでした。参加前々日が記録的な大雨だったので、天気が心配でしたが、幸いに好天に恵まれ、クジラウォッチングではなくクルーズと割り切ることにして、ワイキキ周辺を楽しみました。
クルーズ乗船時間は賞味1時間半程度かと思います。あれくらいの距離の移動でクジラが見られるのでしたら、ワイキキ周辺近くまで近づいてくるのだなと思いました。

朝食なしのコースで申し込みましたが、飲み物くらいは出されると思っていたので、お水やペットボトルのﾄﾞﾘﾝｸを持ち込んだ方がいいかもしれません。

それから、クジラを見られなかったときの次回乗船券をいただけるということでしたが、そういったお話しはなく、これはどこで聞いたらいいのでしょう？

There aren't many places to walk, so you can bring elderly people along. On the way up the mountain, we enjoyed a fun car ride where we were introduced to inexpensive souvenirs at a local supermarket and heard local stories about Maui. The sunset from the summit was a breathtaking view from another world. It was wonderful. The stargazing included easy-to-understand explanations using a telescope and a laser pointer. Unfortunately, we were affected by the moonlight, but it seems that if it were a new moon, the starry sky would be amazing. I'm really glad I brought my mother and children along.

歩く所はあまり無いので、年寄りを連れて行けます。山に登る途中に、地元のスーパーマーケットで安いお土産を紹介してもらったり、マウイの地元の話が聞けて楽しい車中でした。山頂からの日没は、別世界の風景でした。素晴らしいです。星空観察は、望遠鏡やレーザーポインターを使った分かりやすい説明でした。生憎月明かりの影響を受けましたが、新月だったら、すごい星空だそうです。母と子供を連れてきて、本当に良かった。

I participated in this tour as a solo traveler. At first, I considered driving to Mauna Kea by rental car, but since it was my first time on the Big Island, I felt a bit anxious and decided to join the tour instead. The adjustments for altitude, the provision of warm drinks and meals, the rental of cold-weather gear (thick clothing and gloves), and the stargazing were all things I couldn't have done alone, so I truly made wonderful memories by participating. I recommend that those who are sensitive to the cold bring their own cold-weather gear. I tend to get hot, but the down jacket and long-sleeve T-shirt I brought just in case were very helpful. The summit of Mauna Kea is colder than I imagined (laughs)! Thank you, Tomo, for your assistance. Thank you very much.

ひとり旅で参加させていただきました。最初はレンタカーでマウナケアへ行くことを考えておりましたが、初めてのハワイ島に不安もあったので、ツアーに参加することを決めました。気圧の調整や温かい飲み物・食事の提供、防寒着(上下の分厚いウエア＋手袋)の貸し出しや天体観測、一人ではできないことばかりでしたので、参加して本当にいい思い出作りができました。寒がりさんはご自分で防寒着を持参することをお勧めします。私は暑がりですが、念のため持って行ったダウンジャケットとロングTシャツが役に立ちました。マウナケアの頂上は想像以上に寒いです(笑)！　tomoさん、お世話になりました。ありがとうございました。

The food and Polynesian dance were great. I participated alone, but I was able to chat a bit with a Japanese couple sitting next to me. I also thought that having a designated waiter for each table contributed to the smooth service.

料理もポリネシアンダンスもよかったです。一人参加だったのですが、隣の日本人夫婦の方と少しお話ができました。また、テーブルごとに担当のウエイターが決まっていることも、スムーズな対応につながるのだと思いました。

Beautiful scenery,great guides, fun trails and interesting stories. Don't miss it!