All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

Even though I am not a tourist and have lived in Honolulu for almost three years, the circle island tour with Polynesian Adventure Tours was amazing to say the least. I had already been to most of the places we visited on the tour, but on that day I saw the island in a different light. Nothing like learning about Hawaii from a native Hawaiian guide! He was a human encyclopedia of information and facts. Culture, history, flora, fauna, movie set locations—he knew it all.

What specifically impressed me is when our guide talked about Captain Cook’s death. Many sources say that this European sailor might have been eaten by the natives. Our guide shared, however, that Hawaiian people never practices cannibalism. After Cook’s death his body was treated the same way a body of a local chief would be treated—the flesh was burnt but the bones remained intact for further burial. So, upon requesting their captain’s body, Cook’s team was issued a bag of bones, which made them automatically assume he had been eaten.

I would highly recommend the circle island tour to anyone wanting to see Oahu’s beautiful nature and also learn more about its history and culture. This tour will definitely broaden your horizons. I am thankful I had the opportunity to go!

As expected, most participants were couples or groups, but the guide was kind and I enjoyed it even as a solo traveler. I also enjoyed the guide about the entire Big Island and the constellation lecture along the way.

やはりカップルや複数人での参加がほとんどですがガイドさんも親切で一人でも楽しめました。道中のハワイ島全体のガイドや星座講座も楽しめました。

This was a great experience starting from the pick up at our hotel. Larry our driver was very welcoming and he made the bus ride fun and was full of information. We have been to Honolulu before but really enjoyed the information and the opportunity to hear about Hawaii history. The Punch Bowl was made interesting by our driver Larry who provided lots of details that were new to us. When we arrived at Pearl Harbor he made sure that we knew where to go and when to be there. We were the only ones doing the Mighty Mo tour so again he made sure we knew what to do and when. His estimations of the times for the activities were spot on. The towel service was much appreciated after climbing the ladders of the Missouri. Thanks for the great experience.

The experience was awesome. I would recommend it to everyone. The tour operator was great and showed amazing forethought by providing water, wipes, jackets, and flashlights. Dinne at the lodge was delicious. In addition, our tour guide,Nick, was knowledgeable about the culture.

I participated in this for my honeymoon! The reviews were very good, so my expectations were quite high, but it easily exceeded them. The guide was always sharing various information and was very kind throughout the tour! They also provided warm clothing, so I was able to enjoy the sunset at the cold mountaintop, and the stargazing along the way was fantastic, with clear explanations that were interesting and enjoyable. It was a great tour that I would love to join again if I have the chance! Thank you very much!

新婚旅行で参加しました！
口コミが非常によかったため、
かなりハードルがあがっていたのですが、
そのハードルを軽々と超えていきました(^^)
ガイドさんは常に色々な情報を教えてくれたり、終始とても親切でした！
防寒着も用意して頂けたので、
寒い山頂でもサンセットがしっかりみれ、
また途中の星空観測がとてもよく見える上に、説明もわかりやすくて面白くて最高でした！また、機会があれば参加したいとても良いツアーでした！
ありがとうございました♪

I'm glad I choose to celebrate birth on the island 30 years ago with Star of Honolulu. Best birthday ever!!

Overall experience was fantastic. Felt like a condensed cruise trip. Need to make sure you don't eat the trip away because they keep bringing food and before you know it you are back to the dock. Good entertainment staff.

Until boarding the submarine waiting at sea, we will travel by boat from the pier. During the journey, the crew members talk about something, but I couldn't understand because I don't speak English...

Inside the submarine, you can listen to explanations in Japanese through headphones.

海で待機している潜水艦に乗るまでは、桟橋から船で移動します。移動中は乗組員さんが何か話してくれるのですが、英語が分からないため理解できず……。

潜水艦の中では、ヘッドフォンで日本語の解説が聞けます。

We were picked up on time by a friendly driver who explained everything we needed to know regarding our hike. He was right on with his explanation. We walked along with several others up the trails which we easy then got to some of the curves and switchbacks where the footing was a little difficult. Be sure to wear good tennis shoes or hiking boots not sandals or heels for this hike. We came to a series of steps that were steep then into a tunnel that was a few minutes long. Outside the tunnel there were 2 routes to the top. One set of steps much steeper than the other but can stop and rest along the way if needed. Once on the top the views were spectacular and well worth the climb. I'm 65 years old and have 3 stents in my hear and made this "moderate " hike with only a few stops. There are some rough areas in this hike so people with walkers, wheel chairs and buggies will not make it. We will definitely do this event next time we're in Hawaii. We did the hike up to the top, looked around for 15-20 minutes and hiked back down in 1 - 1/2 hours.

I participated with a friend! The bus guide was a friendly local who shared delicious restaurant recommendations and little tips, making it a really meaningful experience!

友達と2人で参加しました！
バスガイドさんも地元のフレンドリーな人で、美味しいお店やプチ情報を教えてくれて凄く有意義な時間が過ごせました！！

I participated with a group of five women. Three of the women were on the Haleiwa sightseeing plan.

We had chosen to go horseback riding in the canyon, but unfortunately, it rained on the course beforehand, making it muddy, so it was canceled. The driver was concerned about the weather and called the horseback riding location, but since we didn't receive any notification from them, we went all the way to the riding spot. If we had known in advance, we could have avoided the car ride, which felt a bit wasteful. There was a possibility to switch to a coastal horseback riding plan if there had been availability, but unfortunately, it was fully booked that day, so we ended up with a refund.

At the Dole Plantation, we didn't have time to enter the maze. For the Haleiwa sightseeing, we were dropped off at the places we wanted to go. So, we got dropped off at the garlic shrimp place "Giovanni," which we wanted to try, and then walked to get some Huli Huli chicken. Both were quite delicious, so I recommend them to anyone going to Haleiwa, but if there is a regular horseback riding plan, time is limited, so it might be difficult to do both.

Additionally, although it wasn't part of the itinerary, perhaps because we couldn't go horseback riding due to the rain, we were taken to a soap factory. I apologize for writing about it even though they said, "This is a place we normally don't stop at, so keep it a secret!!" There were a lot of other tour guests, so we couldn't look around too slowly, but it was a place I wanted to visit, so I was glad we went. Next to it, there is also the Waialua Coffee Factory.

The driver was Japanese and shared various information while driving, which made the experience very enjoyable. Since he was speaking through a microphone, it might be tough for those who are not good at conversation... On the way back, he kindly suggested we rest since it was early in the morning and we must be tired, and he drove us close to the meeting point without talking, so everyone slept soundly on the way back.

Overall, I was satisfied, but since I was really looking forward to horseback riding, I lowered my rating a bit. I definitely want to go horseback riding next time!!!

女性5人グループで参加しました。
ハレイワ観光プランの方3名の女性と混載。

乗馬は渓谷を選択していたのですが、事前にコースに雨が降ってしまい、ぬかるんでいるので中止となりました。
ドライバーさんが天気を心配して乗馬の場所へ電話してくれていたのですが、先方から連絡がなかったため、乗馬の場所まで行ったので、事前にわかったら車移動しなくて済んだわけで、その分少しもったいなかったかなと。
海岸乗馬のプランに空きがあれば振り替えもあったそうですが、その日はあいにくいっぱいだったようで、返金という流れになりました。

ドールプランテーションは、迷路に入る時間はありません。
ハレイワ観光は、行きたい場所で下してくれました。
なので、食べたかったガーリックシュリンプのお店「ジョバンニ」でおろしてもらって、歩いて移動してフリフリチキンも食べました。
どちらもかなり美味しかったので、ハレイワ観光に行く方はおすすめですが、通常の乗馬プランがある場合は、時間が限られるため、どちらかに絞らないと難しいかなと思います。

その他、コース行程にはありませんでしたが、雨で乗馬ができなかったからか、ソープファクトリーにも立ち寄ってくださいました。
「本来寄らないところなのでナイショですよ！！」って言われたのに書いてごめんなさい(笑)
他のツアー客でごったがえしていて、あまりゆっくり見れなかったけど、行ってみたかったところなので、よかったです♪
隣にはワイアルアコーヒー ファクトリーもあります。

ドライバーさんは日本人の方で、運転しながら色々教えてくれたりして、とても楽しく過ごせました。
マイクを通してお話されていることもあり、お話が苦手な方にはつらいかな・・・
帰りは朝早かったから疲れているだろうからと、休んでください。と何もお話ししないで集合場所近くまで送っていただいたので、みんなぐっすり眠って帰りました。

トータルは満足ですが、乗馬をとっても楽しみにしていたので、その分★が下がりました。
次は絶対乗馬したいです！！！

Highly recommended tour. This is a Private tour so there is no rush and the views were spectacular. Not only did we get to see the island's secret spots, we also gained a new friend, Gustavo our tour guide. Awesome guy that was as knowledgeable as he was kind and friendly.

The view from the ground was a breathtaking sight unlike anything I had ever seen before. The sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea was like something you would see from an airplane, with the sun sinking into a sea of clouds. It was grand and stunningly beautiful!

At 4,200 meters, the summit is higher than Mount Fuji, and I was very worried about altitude sickness. However, the tour operator's careful consideration ensured that I was safe. I could feel my body acclimating during a dinner break at the Onizuka Visitor Center, which is at an elevation of 2,800 meters. We were well-prepared for the cold. Everyone borrowed orange ski wear, and it made for quite a striking photo. Regular visitors can only drive to the Onizuka Center, and it seems that only a few tour companies can take you to the summit from there.

After the sunset, it was finally time for stargazing! With high expectations, we descended 200 meters and looked up at the night sky from a 4,000-meter point... but the moonlight was a bit of a hindrance, and I thought, "Is this it?" The moon was quite bright, being slightly fuller than a first quarter moon.

Even so, the sky was filled with countless stars, with Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Polaris shining brightly, and we could see the Milky Way. The constellation explanations were quite detailed, making it clear why this is a nature school, and it was genuinely interesting. I was told that if I wanted to see only the stars in complete darkness, I should come back on a new moon day, and I understood why many people return for a "revenge" trip.

What was wonderful about Masashi Nature School was their concern for the participants' health, the delicious bento and miso soup, the thoughtful service of warm coffee, tea, and cookies during our cold and tiring breaks, and their photography skills, along with the service of allowing us to download the photos later... perhaps I'm praising them too much?

In any case, it was a thoroughly satisfying tour!

地上からは今までに見た事のない絶景でした。マウナケアの山頂からのサンセットは飛行機から見る様なもので、雲海に日が沈んでいくのです。壮大で息をのむような美しさでした！
4200mの山頂は富士山よりも高く私は高山病がとても心配でした。でも、催行者さんのしっかりとした配慮があり無事でした。標高2800mのオニズカビジターセンターで夕食を兼ねた休息で体が慣れていくのがわかりました。寒さ対策も万全でした。全員オレンジ色のスキーウェアを借りて写真を撮るとちょっと迫力がありました。一般の人がレンタカーで行けるのはこのオニズカセンター迄でここから先の山頂迄は数社のツアー会社しか行けないそうです。
サンセットの後はいよいよ満天の星空観測！と、期待満々で200m下山、4000mのポイントで夜空を見
上げてみると‥‥月明かりが邪魔をしてえっ？こんなモノ？くらいの星だったのです。この日は上弦の月よりも少し膨らんだ月で相当明るい月明かりでした。
それでも空には数えきれない星で金星、土星、火星、北極星は凄く明るく光っていて、天の川も見えました。星座はかなり詳しい解説でネイチャースクールの所以はこれかと言う程本格的で面白かったですね。真っ暗闇で星だけを見たかったら新月の日にリベンジして下さいと言われ納得しました。現にリベンジのリピーターは多いそうです。
マサシネイチャースクールさんの素晴らしかった所は、先ず参加者の体調を気にかけてくれた点、お弁当やお味噌汁がかなり美味しかった点、寒くて疲れた休息に温かいコーヒーや紅茶、クッキーを出してくれる心憎いサービス、そして写真を撮る技術、後で写真をダウンロードさせて貰えるサービス‥‥などなど褒めすぎかな?

とにかく大満足のツアーでした！

If you haven't had the chance to view the sunset at Haleakala it is worth the trip.. allowing someone else to drive while you sit back and relax, is the way to go. the Dinner was ok, My wife ate the vegetarian fare and passed on most of it. The driver was great, full of knowledge and passed it freely. Its nice to know some the history of Maui..

This is a must do. There is nothing like it. You are picked up early but it is well worth it. Once you get up to the summit and watch that breathtaking sunrise and view, you will not regret it. Our tour guide,Gary was fantastic.He was very knowledgeable. The morning ended with a delicious breakfast. Glad we didn't miss this experience!

The sunset and starry sky were an unmissable part of the plan. My husband was on his first trip to Hawaii and was looking for optional tours that could only be experienced in Hawaii. The vast sky filled with countless stars was beyond words! The people who joined the tour were all very pleasant, which further elevated the mood.

The lunch included in the tour allowed us to choose our favorite items from a supermarket along the way, and there were chairs, blankets, and warm tea provided, making it perfect for a toast with tea! The location for stargazing was also fantastic, but I feel it was made even more enjoyable thanks to our guide. The guide was very friendly and attentive, and with their encouragement to "take it slow," I didn't feel any anxiety about my condition at the summit. Instead of just saying, "Let's go back after seeing the stars," they taught us various ways to enjoy the experience at different points. They shared stories and made the time enjoyable.

On the way there, the guide talked about various sightseeing spots, and on the way back, they curated music to help us soak in the afterglow and kept the conversation minimal to allow us to rest our tired bodies, which I really appreciated. It became a time to relax and reflect on the emotional experience of the starry sky.

I truly felt that the time spent with my loved one was made even more wonderful, and I'm so glad I participated! The guide Yamachan was amazing!!

サンセット＆星空は外せないプランでした。
主人は初めてのハワイ旅行。ハワイでしか味合わないオプショナルツアーを探していました。
広い空に満点の星空！感動は言葉にできないくらいのものでした(≧▽≦)一緒にツアーに参加した方々も、とっても気持ちのいい方ばかりで更に気分が盛り上がりました。
ツアーに含まれるお弁当は途中のスーパーで自分が好きなものを選べたり、椅子やひざ掛けや温かいお茶が用意されていて、みんなでお茶で乾杯！は最高です！！
星空のロケーションも最高でしたが、それよりもガイドさんのおかげで更に楽しいものとなった気がします。ガイドさんはとても気さくな方で、細かい気配りや「ゆっくり登りましょう」との言葉に山頂でも体調に不安を感じませんでした。星を見ました帰りましょうではなく、要所要所で色々な楽しみ方を教えられた気がします。また、経験話などをしてくれて楽しい時間でした。行きの車内では色々な観光スポットの話をしてくれ、帰りの車内では余韻に浸れるよう音楽の選曲をしてくれたり、疲れた体を休めるよう言葉少なめにしてくれたところが私にとってはとってもありがたく、星空の感動と温まった体を休められる時間となりました。
大切な人との時間をさらに素晴らしい時間としていただき、本当に参加してよかったです！山ちゃんのガイド最高です！！(*^-^*)

This was a very informative and fun day. Mandy was our guide and driver for the day. She was very knowledgeable and kept the day upbeat. We had time to stop to sea the turtles and actually got to see a large one on the beach! Great tour and the lunch was delicious!

I was with two older American couples. It rained until the evening, which shortened our stay at one location, and the colors of the sea and sky weren't great. However, on the positive side, there was no traffic congestion on the way, the waterfall had a lot of water and was impressive. Additionally, the waves crashing against the rocks at Black Sand Beach were spectacular due to the rough sea. However, since the road is right next to a cliff, it can be dangerous in some situations. Also, during the long mountain road, one of the grandmothers got car sick, so those who are sensitive to motion should be cautious. Our guide, Gayle Shufeldt, provided excellent service, taking photos and giving us candy, in addition to her detailed explanations. It seemed to end sooner than expected, but I thought it was not bad at all.

アメリカ人の年配の夫婦2組と一緒でした。夕方まで雨が降っていたので、1か所の滞在時間が短くなり、海や空の色はいまひとつでしたが、逆に、往きは交通渋滞がなかった、滝の水量が多く、見ごたえがあった、など、いいところもありました。また、海が荒れていたために、Black Sand Beachで岩石にぶつかる水しぶきが圧巻でした。ただし、道路が崖に即しているので、場合によっては、危険なこともあるようです。また、長時間の山道で、おばあさんが車酔いしたので、車に弱い人は注意が必要です。ガイドのGayle Shufeldtさんは、詳しい説明以外にも、とてもがんばって、写真をとってくれたり、飴をくれたり、サービスがよかったです。予想以上に早く終わったようですが、悪くないと思いました。

Visiting Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands some of the must see sites are Pearl Harbor, the Battleship Arizona Memorial, and The USS Missouri. The tour starts off with an informative film in the visitor center. The a boat ride to the Arizona Memorial. Its a place where history was made. The USS Missouri tour is also informative, make sure you get with one of the free guided tours of the ship.

There were only Japanese people, and when I had breakfast with them, a white person made a really unpleasant face at me (maybe they didn't want to eat with me), which made me feel very uncomfortable. I wonder if I should have skipped breakfast... I don't want to participate anymore.

日本人が私たちしかおらず、一緒に朝食を取ったとき白人の人にすごく嫌な顔をされてしまい（一緒にたべたくなかったのか）とっても嫌な気分でした。朝食はいらなかったかな・・・。もう参加したくないです。

I visited Haleiwa before, but at that time, I only walked around the town and didn't have any special activities. This time, I participated because there was a plan for horseback riding, which my wife loves, and it included a coastal exploration. The horseback riding along the beach was fantastic, walking through places you wouldn't normally step into, with beautiful scenery and a refreshing sea breeze—it was the best time ever. I think I might join again next year!

ﾊﾚｲﾜには前に来ましたが､その際は町を廻るのみで特別なｱｸﾁｳﾞｨﾁｰ無かったのですが
今回は､ｶﾐｻﾝが大好きな乗馬が出来､それも海辺を散策出来るﾌﾟﾗﾝがあったので参加しました｡
海辺の乗馬は､普通では足を入れない様な所を闊歩し景色良し､海風良し最高の時間でした｡
来年もまた参加しようかな････!!!

We were on our honeymoon and had a really great time. I would give it 4.5 stars but that wasn't an option so they got 5 because it was better than 4. Food was good and entertainment was excellent. Pictures and drinks were pricey but I guess that's expected.

It was a wonderful starry sky as it coincided with the new moon. I was grateful for the chairs, blankets, and warm tea that were provided. The guide, Yama-chan, spoke passionately, and it brought tears to my eyes.

新月に合わせて　参加したので、素晴らしい星空でした。椅子、ひざ掛け、温かいお茶が用意されて有難かったです。ガイドの山ちゃんのお話も熱がこもっていて、うるっとしました。

Well organised trip to Haleakala. Good drivers with their commentary. Would have liked a little more information about the volcano and the island, nothing that Google can't answer though, so that's alright. The dinner was ok.

I took my girlfriend on the Star of Honolulu Sunset Dinner Cruise from Aloha Tower. She was new to Hawaii and was not sure what to expect. I appreciated the fact that they picked us up near the hotel we were staying. Upon arrival, we were guided to our casual dinner level, or deck. This was somewhat bothersome, just because there could have been more flow to it. Once we got on the ship, we were seated promptly. The tables were set and an orchid flower was placed in the middle of the dinner plate. (Very nice) Before long, we were off the dock and on to our adventure. The meal was buffet style, food was okay. While we dined, there was a single singer, who sang many of the songs associated with Hawaii and songs from movies about Hawaii. He was friendly and personable. After dinner, coffee and dessert was served on the outside deck. Shortly after, a smoking hot hula show began, where they explained the history of hula, as well as performed several numbers of Hawaiian music and dancing. While this was happening, a beautiful sunset was developing outside on the deck, and I was able to snap many quality sunset photos. We traveled parallel to the Waikiki hotel row, and went slightly past Diamond Head, before we turned back. It was an awesome experience and truly romantic. I have personally done the luau shows in and around Waikiki, and I always seem to gravitate back to the sunset dinner cruise. My belief is that I get the most value for my money on the sunset dinner cruise. I get a boat ride, a meal, a hula show and the beautiful sunset all for the price of one ticket. I will return.

This was a great tour! Amy was a great host and was a wealth of information. It was great to go inside 'McGarrett's' house and see different locations around Honolulu where they shoot the series. The next day (not on the tour) they were filming next to our Hotel and we met Scott Caan!

It was an excellent trip....memorable! Beautifully maintained property. Respect to the organization that maintains the beauty of the history here at Pearl Harbor!

Susan was awesome and very informative. Lunch was great. Mike was a great pilot with the helicopter. When he was explaining areas he would say our names to make it more personable. I would do this again. Very happy Temptation tours and Blue Hawaiian helicopter tours. You get a ten.

We participated as a couple. There were about 20 people, and everyone else was a foreigner. The guide was English-speaking and provided a fun and polite tour with humor. Our listening skills were low, and there were many things we couldn't understand, but it wasn't a big problem. The sunrise was beautiful, and we were moved by it.

夫婦で参加しました。20人ほどで他は全員外国人でした。ガイドさんは英語で、ユーモアを交えて楽しく丁寧にガイドしてくれていました。こちらのリスニング力が低く、理解できないことも多かったですが、大きな問題はありませんでした。サンライズは綺麗に拝めて感動しました。

We participated as a couple.
First, we went to the Dole Plantation. At the entrance, the guide took photos of each group! They recommended some ice cream, but since we weren't hungry, I plan to try it next time.

Next, we went to a beach where we could see sea turtles. The turtles weren't on the sandy beach, and we ended up just watching the ones swimming until our time was up.

In Haleiwa, I had planned to eat garlic shrimp from Macky's, but the bus dropped us off quite far from the restaurant, and due to time constraints, we had to give up on that. I was really looking forward to going there when we visited the North Shore, so it was very disappointing. Instead, we ate at a Japanese-owned restaurant called CAMARON, which the guide recommended, but honestly, the garlic shrimp I had around the hotel on another day was better. The service of having shrimp with shells for an extra dollar was convenient and nice. It was very Japanese-style service. After that, we had Huli Huli chicken, which was delicious.

The horseback riding experience was different from what you might find in Japan, where an attendant is always right next to you. After getting on the horse, I was allowed to walk on my own. My horse (Nioi) was very smart; when the horse in front stopped, it would eat grass, but it followed along nicely when the other horse moved, so I didn't have to steer at all. My husband's horse (Rio) seemed to have a hard time as it wandered off to eat grass. It seemed to vary a lot depending on the horse assigned. The beachside ride was pleasant and very enjoyable.

Since we had some extra time, the guide took us to see a rock with a hole in it in Laie and to a macadamia nut factory, which wasn't on the original itinerary! Thank you to our guide.

夫婦で参加しました。
まずドールプランテーションへ。入口でガイドさんが各組ごとに写真を撮ってくれました！オススメのアイスを紹介してくれましたが、お腹が減っていなかったため、次回チャレンジしたいと思います。

続いて海亀の見えるビーチへ行きました。亀は砂浜にはおらず、泳いでいる亀を見て時間終了してしまいました。

ハレイワの街では、マッキーズのガーリックシュリンプを食べるつもりでいたのですが、バスで降ろされた場所がお店から距離があり、時間的に厳しかった為断念しました。
ノースショアに行ったら絶対行きたいと思っていただけにとても残念でした。代わりにガイドさんがオススメしてくれた日本人経営のCAMARONという店で食べましたが、正直別日にホテル周辺で食べたガーリックシュリンプの方が美味しかった。プラス1ドルでエビの殻付きのサービスがあったのは食べやすくて良かったです。日本人らしいサービスですね。それからフリフリチキンを食べました。こちらは美味しかったです。

乗馬体験は、日本でできるような係の人が常に隣にぴったり付いてるような乗馬と違い、馬に載せてもらった後は、1人で歩かせてくれます。私の馬（ニオイ）はとてもお利口で、前の馬が止まると草を食べたりしていましたが、前が進むとしっかり付いて歩いてくれたので、全く操縦をすることがなかったです。主人の馬（リオ）は草を食べに寄り道して、大変そうでした。担当する馬によって全然違うみたいでした。乗馬での海辺散歩は気持ちよくてとても楽しかったです。

時間に余裕があったので、予定されているスポットとは別に、ぽっかり穴が空いた岩があるライエや、マカデミアナッツ工場へ連れて行ってくれました！ガイドさんありがとうございました。