All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

I usually rent a car and head north, but this time I decided to do everything through optional tours without renting a car. The guide was Japanese and provided detailed information, and I was able to see places I had never known about before, like Turtle Bay Hotel, which allowed me to relax.

いつもはレンタカーを借りてノース方面へ行っていましたが、今回はレンタカーを借りずにすべてオプショナルツアーにしてみました。ガイドの方は日本人で細かいところまで教えてくださり、今まで知らなかったタートルベイホテルなども見ることができてのんびりできました。

Super fun time during the entire cruise, great drinks, and outstanding food. Captain and crew attentive and fun to talk to. Can't go wrong with this cruise.

The activities, dancing, and MC were very good. The food, however was just average. I have been to several luau before all of which had a better food selection.

The explanation was interesting, and they took photos, making for great memories. Since both telescopes were fully booked, I only got a brief glimpse of Jupiter, but the view from the summit was very clear with little wind. I'm glad I joined the tour, as I'm not very good at driving and it would have been uncertain if I could have made it to the summit on my own.

説明も面白く、写真も撮ってくれて良い思い出になりました。
２台満席でしたので、望遠鏡は木星１つだけをちらっと見るだけでしたが、山頂で風も少なく、とても綺麗に見ることができました。
あの山頂は、運転の苦手な自分ではたどり着けるかも危ういのでツアーに参加して良かったです。

The tour guide was very informative and stopped at every opportunity to take photos or show us the local markers and beauty

We loved this trip. The guide was super helpful and friendly. We will be booking this trip again.

The booking process so easy – one simple phone call. The tour provides lunch, dinner, snacks, EVERYTHING you’ll need.

Jim Carey was our guide, and was EXCELLENT in EVERY WAY. “Uncle Jim” was very accommodating and went out of his way to ensure guests were comfortable. We were amazed at Jim’s knowledge of island history & Hawaiian culture. As we traveled, Jim educated us on island facts, myths, and legend. He recounted many great tales of Hawaiian lore,with enthusiasm and energy. Jim loves his job and entertaining his guests.

The tour began with a trip to Mauna Kea and picnic lunch. After, we headed to Hilo and stopped at a lava field. Next stops were Rainbow Falls, Kamehameha Statue and Big Island Candies for a snack. After Hilo, we went to Volcanoes National Park while Jim told us history of the island’s volcanoes. Jim is as much a geologist as tour guide. We pulled over to see “steam vents”, and then to the viewing area and the Volcano Museum and gift shop.

On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube. The tube was well lit, but Jim made sure we were armed with flashlights. We exited through a “skylight” and made our way back.

We ate at the Kilauea Lodge, a quaint restaurant. Meal was top-notch. Back to Volcanoes Park at dark. Jim had high-powered binoculars and we viewed spewing lava. The temp dropped, and Jim was ready w/hot chocolate.

We made one last stop to do some stargazing. For someone who had never viewed the stars in the blackened sky of Hawaii, I was astounded. The sky was FULL of stars – thousands of them that I’ve never seen before. It was like visiting a planetarium, in real life.

In conclusion, we highly recommend this excursion for anyone interested in a comprehensive tour that covers everything you would want to see on the Big Island, in one feature-packed day. If Jim is available, as for him by name. He was the best tour guide we’ve ever had – on any tour, on any island, country or continent.

I participated in the sunset stargazing with my wife. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from the night sky. Our main goal was to climb a mountain over 4000 meters high, and it was supposed to be an easy drive. We talked about how this would probably be the greatest experience of our lives.

I've been to the Big Island many times, but this was my first time joining a tour. I always had a sense of admiration for the majestic Mauna Kea visible from our resort hotel room, but my wife had slightly high blood pressure, so we had given up on climbing it.

However, my wife insisted that she wanted to see the sunset or sunrise from Mauna Kea, so we decided to sign up for Masashi Nature School, where they speak Japanese. The plan was for the sunset stargazing on March 30. However, that day the summit was closed, and we rescheduled for April 1. I was truly impressed by their sincere response to this situation. The itinerary was also very enjoyable, and our driver and instructor, Matsuchan (Mr. Matsuzaki), had a personality that eased our minds.

At the intermediate point, Onizuka, we acclimated our bodies to the high altitude for about an hour. There, we had an early dinner. A proper Japanese bento with miso soup was served, which was also wonderful. We changed into ski wear here.

We were just a little further from the summit. The road turned to dirt, and we climbed powerfully in a four-wheel drive vehicle. We finally arrived at the longed-for summit. It was still quite bright, so I took the opportunity to use the restroom.

The view was breathtaking. I took many photos, and it started to get colder. We admired the stunning sunset alongside the Subaru Telescope from Japan. This alone was fantastic, but the real excitement was yet to come. Once it got completely dark, we descended to the stargazing point and waited in the car for a while. This was the key moment. Once the staff was ready, we stepped outside.

What a sight it was! From directly beside us to straight above, it was a night sky unlike anything I had ever seen. The thin air seemed to invite us to the stars. The main instructor, Matsuchan, gave an amazing explanation of the constellations! He used a laser pointer to make it very easy to understand.

The Big Dipper was huge and immediately recognizable. I have astigmatism and my eyesight is a bit poor, but I didn't mind it at all. The emotion of seeing these stars is indescribable, which is frustrating, but I can only say it was simply wonderful.

It was a tour I would want to join again and again.

サンセット星空観測に妻と二人で参加しました。
正直、星空はそれほど期待していなかったのです。目的は4000m以上の山に登ることでした。それも車で簡単に、、、。生涯で最大の経験だろうと、妻と語り合っていました。
何度もハワイ島へは来ているのですがツアーに参加したのは初めてです。リゾートホテルの部屋から見えるマウナケアの雄大な姿にいつも憧れのような感情がありましたが、妻が少し血圧が高く登るのは諦めていました。
しかし妻がどうしてもマウナケアからの夕陽か朝日が見たいと言うので、思い切って日本語の通じるマサシネイチャーズスクールに申し込みました。
予定は３月３０日の夕日星空観測です。
ところがその日は山頂がクローズ、４月１日に変更しました。この対応も実に誠実に対応していただき感激しました。また行程の案内も実に楽しく松ちゃん(松崎さんと云うドライバー兼インストラクター)の人柄がこちらの気持ちを和らげてくれます。
中継地点onizukaで約一時間体を高地に慣らします。そこで早めの夕食です。まともな日本食弁当が味噌汁付きで出てきました。これも素晴らしい。
ここでスキーウェアーに着替えます。
山頂まではあと少しです。途中からダートに変わり四輪駆動で力強く登ります。
憧れの山頂に到着です。まだかなり明るく、この間にトイレを済ませます。
絶景です。沢山写真撮りました。そしてどんどん寒くなってきました。
日本のスバル電波望遠鏡と共に夕日の絶景を眺めました。これだけでも素晴らしいのですが、実は本当の感動はこれからでした。辺りがすっかり暗くなったころ星空観測の地点まで降ります。しばし車内で待機。これがポイントです。スタッフによって準備完了、車外へ。
何ということでしょう。(ビフォーアフターの様に)
真横から真上まで至る所、今まで見たことのない星空です。薄い空気が降るような星へと誘ってくれます。
メインのインストラクター、松ちゃんの星座解説がまた素晴らしい!
レーザーポインターで実にわかりやすく解説してくれました。
北斗七星デカいです。すぐ分かりました。私は乱視で目が少し悪いのですが全く目のことは気になりませんでした。この星を見れた感動は言葉では表せないのがなんとも歯がゆいのですが、ただただ素晴らしいと
言っておきましょう。
何度も行きたくなるツアーでした。

I just took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano recently. It was a very enjoyable and breathtaking experience with Chris, who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the tour!

From the beginning to the end of the tour, it was on schedule and pleasant to be part of. Chris was very informative and well prepared for everything (water, hot chocolate, umbrellas, heavy jackets, hot towels, etc).

From driving along Saddle Road to picture taking at Rainbow Falls to walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, and much more, It was one of the best tours I have ever taken.

I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone who wants a rewarding trip with magnificent sceneries and wildlife!

WOW!

My wife and I took her mother on this scenic cruise. The were very friendly and attentive to all their guests. The pilot did a great job noting the points of interest. The singing and dancing during the cruise added a nice entertaining local flavor.

Everything was wonderful. The food, and service... I will come back again

We had a great time but we didn't have enough time to see everything

My husband and I enjoyed this trip immensely! Since we were staying on the opposite side of the island from the Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, this was a great way to see it all without having to spend half the day driving. The hotel pick-up was a nice added convenience. Taking the tour allowed us to just sit back in comfort and enjoy the sights and the company of some really nice people who took the tour with us.

The van was comfy and spacious, and the group is limited to 14 guests, so we were never lost in a crowd. Our tour guide, Chris, was a joy to spend time with. He knew the island quite well, from the top of the mountain to the waterfalls, the lava tube and all of the interesting sights that were covered on the tour. He showed a genuine interest ad knowledge of all of the places we visited, and delivered commentary with a great sense of humor thrown in - he was never boring! He was familiar enough with the tour and our expectations that he was able to adapt the schedule just enough to accommodate the changes in island weather - namely rain - on the wet side of the island. He even provided umbrellas and flashlights for exploring after the sun went down.

The trip included a Fantastic dinner at a lodge near the Park. This alone was almost worth the time and cost of the tour! We were lucky enough to be seated with Chris during dinner and found him to be very personable. I could have spent hours just enjoying our conversations. Chris is perfectly suited to run this type of tourism business, and has created a tour that is just different enough from other tours to make it stand out!

I would absolutely recommend this tour to others. Thanks for a great time on the Big Island!

I think our guides name was AC... he was amazing, had so much interesting information, made the drive to the north shore very entertaining.

First stop was Haleiwa Town on the north shore where we could have a look around and even got to try the famous shave ice. Next a drive along the shore to see all the amazing beaches and even some celebrity houses, then had a stop at the pipeline for some photos, and then he took us to see all the activities so we knew what they all were.

My friend and I chose the waterfall hike/swim, then AC took us the Waimea Bay for a swim, then the kayaking in the afternoon, and a great burger from Haleiwa Town. On the way back to Waikiki we stopped at a beach famous for turtles and we saw one on the beach. AC then dropped us off at the dole plantation - a complete surprise - so we could have a look around and try the dole whip. On the drive back AC played some stand up comedy on the tv so we could all relax and have a laugh.

Overall an incredible day!

Our guide , Jacque Cousteau, (Jack Custer) was great! He was so knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy sharing with us. My grandson and I learned a lot and had fun. My only complaint was having to drive from Waimea Plantation Cottages to the Sheraton to meet the tour, while Princeville guests WERE picked up. When I signed up for the tour online, it said we would be picked up. The day before, I got a call saying we would have to get ourselves to the Sheraton.

Was awesome to return to fern grotto after 44 years. Well done!

I chose this tour because you can't go to Mauna Kea on your own. The scenery was more beautiful than I imagined, with countless stars I've never seen before. It made me want to participate again! I was amazed by the staff's extensive knowledge. I would be happy if the food quality could be improved.

マウナケアには自力ではいけないので、こちらのツアーを選びました。想像以上の美しい景色、
今まで見たことない星の数々。また参加したい！とおもわせる内容で下。ツアースタッフの方の知識の豊富さには驚かされました。食事の内容があまりよくないので改善していただけたら嬉しいです。

I didn't see any tails splashing, but I did see whales multiple times and also witnessed spouting. I opted for the breakfast option, and it had more variety than I expected and was delicious, so I'm glad I chose it. The boat was large, so I didn't get seasick, and the restroom was clean. The view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the sea was also wonderful! Even if you don't see whales, you can still enjoy the cruise. I would love to participate again.

しっぽバッシャーンのような姿は見られませんでしたが、何度もクジラの姿が見られたし、潮吹きも見られました。朝食付きにしましたが、思っていたよりも種類もあったしおいしかったので付けてよかったです。大きな船だったので船酔いもなく、トイレもきれい、海から見るワイキキ、ダイヤモンドヘッドの姿も素晴らしかったです！もしクジラが見られなくてもクルーズを楽しめます。また参加したいです。

The tour was cancelled. We were not notified so drove from Lahaina for the tour, sat and waited for over an hour at the tour location. Finally we used the phone at one of the local businesses (Makaii Glass Creations) to call about it, only to find out the tour was cancelled. I was told we had been emailed about the cancellation but neither email addresses provided received an email and there was no message on our phone either.

The main event of this trip to Hawaii (laugh) was the whale cruise. The crew members were using binoculars on deck to search for whales, but we didn't see a single one... However, on the way there, we saw a small shark, and on the way back, three dolphins swam alongside the boat, so that was nice. I guess we were a bit late in the season... I'll try again next year.

今回のハワイ旅行のメインイベント（笑）である、クジラクルーズ。
乗組員のスタッフさん達が甲板で双眼鏡を使って探してくれていましたが、一頭も見られませんでした。。。
でも、往路では小さなサメ　復路の埠頭内ではイルカが三頭船に並走してくれたので　それだけでもよかったです。
時期が遅すぎたのでしょうか、、、、　
来年にリベンジします

Nice cruise. Food was good. Free to move up and down the boat. View was amazing. Caught the best sunset.

The tour overall, for the ticket price, is worth it. Our family of four went on the Gold package which included lunch and it was a good value for the dollar.

On the way up you drive through beautiful rainforests and curvy roads. The driver is informative and gives a lot of good info - wish he was more interactive with the visitors.

On the way down, you go through the back side -- very bumpy and not as beautiful. This is when you realize it's a very long day. I was very thankful our driver was competent and made us feel safe as the roads were precarious in some spots.

Overall, a good day -- just very long. I do think it was better to take the tour vs drive ourselves because it would have been hard to see anything other than focusing on the road. And we learned about a lot of things we wouldn't have known otherwise. Not going to do this again though - once is enough!

The tour was great. We started by being picked up a local shopping center and then driving north. On our way, our tour guild spotted whales jumping off the coast and pulled over so we could watch. An extra bonus. We then picked up the rest of the guest and went over the mountain. Chris, our tour guild was a wealth of information and gave a great discussion of Hawaii and the different things that we saw. After stopping for lunch, which was basic but good, we went to Hilo for a tour and then on to the National park. Chris took us to a couple of sites not normally seen by tourist which was great. He also took us to the volcano tubes which was really interesting. He timed the tour so we had the whole tube to ourselves, which was really neat. We then went to dinner at a very nice place. The food was great, especially the fish. After dinner we went to the volcano and since it was night we got to see the lava light up the back ground. Chris helped us take pictures which are already posted on Facebook. After that we headed back. I would recommend this tour, especially Chris, for anyone who wanted to see the volcanoes and learn about the Island of Hawaii.

Thanks to Yamapi, I created unforgettable memories for a lifetime.

To avoid putting too much strain on our bodies, we made stops at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Claridge while heading to the summit of Haleakalā. Since I was with my elderly parents, I was worried about the cold and altitude sickness, but there was no need for such concerns with Yamapi's tour.

The sea of clouds and the sunset, and the breathtaking starry sky I saw while lying on the ground are unforgettable. Yamapi's stories while we gazed at the stars resonated deeply with me. I held back tears as I looked at Orion. I promised my parents that we would come again together.

The sushi for dinner that we chose at the supermarket was delicious, and we even enjoyed warm tea and snacks in the car. After stargazing, we listened to music selected by Yamapi in the car, soaking in the emotions as we were driven back to the hotel. The couple who joined us on the tour were also very kind, making it a fun trip for everyone. With chairs, blankets, down jackets, knowledge, and thoughtful care, I believe Yamapi's tour is number one in Hawaii.

ヤマピーさんのおかげで一生の思い出ができました。

身体に負担がないように、クリスピークリームドーナツやクラロッジに寄りながら、
ハレアカラ山頂を目指します。
高齢の両親と一緒だったため、寒さや高山病が不安でしたが、
ヤマピーさんツアーはそんな心配不要でした。

雲海とサンセット、
そして、地面に寝転がって見た、あの満天の星空は忘れられません。
星を見ながらのヤマピーさんのお話も心に響きました。
泣きそうになるのをぐっとこらえて、
オリオン座を見ていました。
また一緒に来ようね、と両親と約束しました。

スーパーで選ばせて下さった夜ごはんのお寿司は美味しく、
車中では温かいお茶やおやつまでいただきました。
星空観測後の車中では、
ヤマピーさんセレクトの音楽を聴きながら、
感動にひたりつつ、ホテルまで送っていただきました。
一緒のツアーだったご夫婦もとてもやさしくしてくださり、
みんなでワイワイ楽しい旅でした。
椅子や毛布、ダウンジャケット、知識、気配り心配り、
ヤマピーさんのツアーはハワイNo.１だと思います。

Staff was knowledgeable and expecting us. The tour guide was a riot (funny) and the whole crew made it an awesome time - would do it again!

We had an amazing time on this tour, and our tour guide Rodolph was very friendly and knowledgable. I totally recommend this tour while visiting Hawaii-a sight worth experiencing.

We had a great time touring everything involved with this trip! It was a full 8 hours and our tour guide did a fabulous job of filling us in on lots of history and information about the island. REALLY ENJOYED!

We had a wonderful experience at the Star of Honolulu Sunset Dinner Cruise.
This was our second time, but we will absolutely go again.

We had a great time, enjoyed the food and first class service as well as entertainment and fireworks. The only negative was that if you eat different meals, you can't sit together in the same room. The staff did make accommodation and get us together but we never got the steak and lobster that was paid for with the more expensive meal.

Had a blast! Several whale sightings. The lunch was fantastic. Hula lessons, lei making and yukelele lessons. Service was impecable. My kids and husband had a fantastic time.