All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

I participated at the end of last year, but I'm very late in writing this. This tour was absolutely amazing.

After enjoying the magnificent sunset sinking into the sea of clouds from an elevation comparable to Mount Fuji, you immerse yourself in a world filled with countless stars. It's an experience you can't have in your everyday life. Also, our guide, Mr. Yamauchi, was very kind and kept the guests engaged. If you're going to Maui, definitely consider joining this tour.

I wrote about my experience on my blog. I hope it helps!
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/ahoduck/20110223

昨年末に参加しましたが、書き込みが大変遅くなりました。
このツアーは最高によかったです。

富士山並みの標高から、雲海に沈みゆく雄大なサンセットを鑑賞したのち、数えきれないぐらいある星の世界に浸る。
普段の日常では味わえない体験ができます。
またガイドの山内さんはとても親切で、お客さんを飽きさせません。
マウイ島に行かれるなら、是非参加してみてください。

このツアーの体験をblogに書きました。ご参考になれば幸いです。
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/ahoduck/20110223

Since it was my first time booking individually online, I was nervous until the pickup arrived, but Yamapee came to greet me personally, and it went smoothly.

The sunset and starry sky were beyond my imagination!! It's not just about watching the sunset. The clouds illuminated by the sunset along the way to the summit showed wonderful expressions one after another, making me feel like I had become a hermit. Everything is on a grand scale.

Many people seem to come to Maui seeking something beyond just the scenery, whether it's healing, purification, or to gain energy, but being in that vast nature makes the chaotic daily life feel very small, and it brings a gentle feeling.

Lying down in a completely silent place and gazing at the star-filled sky. It's just that, yet for some reason, I couldn't stop crying. It was a mysterious experience.

I am grateful to Yamapee for taking the time to let me enjoy Maui's nature.

I definitely want to go again, but I would appreciate it if the fried items in the bento could be reduced (>_<). They are heavy for my stomach...

初めてネットから個人で予約したので、お迎えが来るまでドキドキでしたが、ホテルまでYamapeeさん（若く見えますが、半世紀仲間です(*^^)）が直々にお迎えに来てくれ、スムーズでした。

サンセットと星空は、想像以上！！
ただの、夕日見学じゃないですよ。
山頂までの途中に見える、夕焼けに照らされる雲も、次々にすばらしい表情を見せてくれて、自分が仙人にでもなった感覚です。
とにかく、全てのスケールが大きいです。

癒しとか浄化とか、パワーもらいたいとか、景色という目的以外に、マウイには何かを求めて来る方が多いみたいですが、あの大きな自然の中にいると、ゴチャゴチャしている日常生活はとても小さい事に思えて、優し~い気持ちになれます。

全く音のない場所で、満天の星を寝そべって見る。
ただそれだけなのに、なぜか涙が止まらなくなる。
不思議な体験でした。

ゆっくりと時間を取って、マウイの自然を満喫させてくれるYamapeeさんに感謝です。

ぜひまた行きたいですが、お弁当の揚げ物少なくしてもらえると嬉しいなぁ(>_<)
おばちゃんの胃には、重い・・・。

The guide was very kind.
The scenery was amazing.
The starry sky was also fantastic.
It was really cold!
I brought two pairs of gloves and earmuffs, so I was fine, but my friend who was with me got so cold during the stargazing that they were in "I want to get back to the car quickly!" mode. They do lend out winter clothing, but it’s better to prepare your own as well.

At that time, I wasn't climbing mountains, but now that I do, I wish I had gone to the "real summit."

ガイドさんもとても親切
景色は最高
星空も最高
すごく寒い！
私は手袋２枚＆耳当てを持っていき大丈夫でしたが、同行の友達は星空観測の途中からあまりの寒さに「早く車に入りたい！」というモードになってしまっていたそうです。防寒着貸してくれますが、プラス自分でも防寒着、用意してしてしすぎることはないです。

当時は山登りをしていなかったのですが、今は山に登るようになったため、「本当の山頂」に行ってみたかったなあ、と今になって思います。

I went without much expectation, but it was more enjoyable than I thought! I happened to get friendly with a Japanese couple I met in line, and we enjoyed the show together, which made for great memories.

However, there was a time when I struggled with severe drowsiness due to jet lag... Since it was such a special show, it might be a waste to incorporate it into a very tight schedule.

そんなに期待せずに行ったんですが
思っていたより楽しかったです！
たまたま列で一緒になった日本人のご夫婦と仲良くなって
一緒にショーを楽しんだり、いい思い出になりました。

ただ、時差ボケで途中ちょっとすごい眠気でつらかった時間帯が…。
せっかくのショーなので、
あまり強行スケジュールに組み込むともったいないかもしれません。

I was hesitant whether or not to go to the USS Missouri while visiting Pearl Harbor because we did not have a full day to spend there. I am glad I did. We did the tour on our own, which I would recommend if you are on a time restraint as we were. We were able to stop and listen to some of the guides as they were communicating with their groups and overall had a great experience for the cost.

I participated in whale watching during my mother and aunt's first trip to Hawaii, as it was the season for it. If you're expecting the spectacular jumps often seen in whale photos, you might be disappointed. However, if you approach it with the mindset of leisurely enjoying a cruise in Hawaii, you might feel lucky and satisfied to see some whales as a bonus.

They made sure we could see the whales well by moving around to chase them, and with lunch included, I think the price is reasonable.

I chose this tour because it was offered in Japanese, and while there were Japanese announcements during the cruise, it was disappointing that the staff's explanations about the whales right after departure were only in English.

母と叔母の初めてのハワイ旅行でホエールウォッチングのシーズンだったので参加しました
よくクジラの写真であるような　豪快なジャンプを期待していたらだめです。
ハワイのクルーズをのんびり楽しむくらいの気持ちで参加すれば、おまけにクジラが見られてラッキーと満足できるかも

ちゃんとクジラが良く見られるように、クジラを追いかけ移動もしてくれたし、ランチもついてこの値段だったらＯＫなのではないでしょうか

ただ、日本語対応コースだったので参加したのですが、航行中のテープアナウンスは日本語もありましたが、出航直後のスタッフのクジラの説明など英語のみだったのが残念でした

I saw the tail fin while the water was splashing and the back was moving. Considering that there are times when you can't see anything at all, I think I was lucky, but it still feels unsatisfying if you can't see the whole jump. Even though the time is long, around 2 to 3 hours, it can get sleepy since there isn't much movement. It might be nice for enjoying a leisurely time on the sea.

潮吹きと背中が動いているところ、尾びれが見えました。全く見えないこともあることを考えるとラッキーだったのだと思いますが、やはりジャンプなど全体が見れないと物足りないです。時間が２~３時間と長い割に、特に移動をしないので眠くなります。のんびり海の上の時間を楽しむにはいいかも。

This is our third trip to the Islands and our second luau. The Island Brezze Luau far surpassed our first experience. Food was great and plenty of it and the entertainment outstanding. If this is your first or last luau make sure it's the Island Breeze Luau.

The tour and the tour bus were excellent. We got tickets to the Arizona shuttle/tour as advertised and the driver was fun and informative. Worth the price for the "front of the line" tickets at the Arizona. Family of 6 really enjoyed the experience and it was the right duration for the youngest (5).

The instructions for pickup at 635am were vague enough to cause a little confusion for us because the hotel where we were picked up is closed and under renovation. And the point of contact number on the voucher was not answered at that time of the morning to make sure we were at the correct location. A little "personal attention to detail" giving more information would have gone a long way to make the pickup less stressful. This is our only complaint... minor.

I'm glad I was able to see many shooting stars. I was also moved by the sunset over Mauna Kea. The bento was delicious too.

流れ星が沢山みれてよかったです。
マウナケアに沈む夕日にも感動しました。
お弁当もおいしかったです。

On January 1, 2011, I participated with my family of four. It was great to see a whale for the first time in my life. However, since it was a large boat, I thought it would be difficult, and I was a bit disappointed that we were a little far from the whale, so I couldn't fully experience its size. I also wished we could have spent a bit more time watching the whales. Nonetheless, it was a relatively easy tour, and I don't think you can have this kind of experience in Japan, so I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see whales.

2011年1月1日の元日に家族4人で参加しました。生まれて初めて鯨を見ることができたので良かったです。ただ大きな船なので難しいとは思いますが、ちょっと鯨との距離が離れていたので大きさを体感することができなかったのは残念でした。またもう少し鯨を見る時間をとってほしかったなと思いました。でも比較的手軽なツアーだし、日本ではこのような体験はできないと思うので鯨を見てみたい人にはオススメのツアーだと思います。

Despite the rain, we set sail and spent about an hour searching diligently for whales, but unfortunately, we didn't see any. However, at the end, we encountered a pod of dolphins! We spent quite a long time moving through the sea together. Several dolphins swam around the boat, and we were able to see them up close. They jumped repeatedly, putting on a great show for us. The disappointment of not seeing any whales was completely blown away. I definitely want to participate in a whale watching cruise again next time and hope to see whales.

雨が降る中、 出航し１時間程、一生懸命に鯨を探し回って下さったのですが、残念ながら鯨の姿は見えませんでした。
でも最後にイルカの群れが！
かなり長い時間一緒に海を進みました。何頭ものイルカが船の周りを泳いでくれて、すごく近くで見ることができました。ジャンプを何回も繰り返して大サービスしてくれましたし。鯨を見られなかったショックも一度に吹き飛びました。
次回も是非ホエールウオッチング・クルーズに参加し、鯨の姿を見たい思っています。

We did the pearl harbor honolulu city tour. Cousin Duke ( driver) made the trip fun. The highlight of the day was the honolulu city tour. We enjoyed the tour guides personal touch. Had fun

Everyone was extremely helpful. My husband and I were directed to our table right away. When we decided to go up deck for the view we went back to our table and had our salads waiting for us. The lobster was delicious and they even helped crack it open. The entertainment was fun and engaging and when it came to disembark the ship, it was fast and painless...no line! My favorite part was the view of Honolulu and Waikiki at sunset.

My first time on the Big Island of Hawaii!

It was cloudy, so I was worried about whether I could see the sunset and the starry sky, but the sunset was beautifully visible between the clouds. As time passed, the clouds cleared up, and in the end, I was able to see the stars well enough to be satisfied!!

It was moving!!

However, it was really cold, and I was a bit scared because I felt dizzy and had numbness in my hands and feet, which didn't go away for a while.

But I'm glad I participated. I want to try again when the weather is nice.

初ハワイ島！

曇ってたのでサンセットも星空も見えるか心配でしたが、
サンセットは雲と雲の間から綺麗に見えました。
星空も時間が経過するにつれて雲が無くなって、
最後は満足できるぐらい見えました!!

感動!!

でもめちゃ寒かったのと、
高山病なのか？ふらふらするのと手足のしびれが
しばらく治らなくてちょっとびびりました。

でも参加して良かったです。
次は天気の良い時に再チャレンジしたいです。

We loved the pace, entertainment and narration. Our entire family had a good time. Thank you!

We totally enjoyed the river cruise and the fern grotto. We were a little disappointed we could not actually go into the grotto but totally understand. It will be good to come back and see it again after a few years and some more fern growth.

I participated with my wife and our third-grade son. Shortly after departure, we encountered a mother and baby whale. We were able to see them quite a few times while keeping our distance. One of those times, we were lucky enough to witness the mother whale jumping and showing her massive body above the water's surface. However, the distance was generally far, so the emotional impact was somewhat diminished. Also, since we could mostly only see the whales' backs, we had to concentrate on the surface of the water to catch the exciting moments like when they jump or elegantly raise their tails above the surface. That can be quite challenging.

This was my first time whale watching, so I might have underestimated it a bit. On the other hand, a pod of dolphins came quite close to the boat and swam alongside us, and when the boat picked up speed, the sea breeze felt pleasant. If you can think of it as mainly enjoying the cruising experience, it could be quite happy.

The staff was cheerful and friendly, and the captain was impressively talkative, providing explanations (though in English). There were snacks and fruits available, but no substantial meals. Coffee and water were unlimited, but cocktails were available for an extra charge.

　妻と小学校３年の息子の３人で参加しました。　
出港後、ほどなくして親子のクジラに遭遇。遠巻きに見ながら追っかけて、けっこうな回数、見ることができました。　しかも、そのうち１回は親クジラがジャンプするような感じで巨体を水面に出す場面が見れたので、ラッキーでした。ただ、距離は全般的に遠かったので、感動も小さかったかな。　また、クジラはほとんど背中しか見えませんので、ジャンプするところや尾びれを優雅に水面に出すオイシイ場面を見逃さないようにするには、集中して海面を見つめていなければなりません。それがけっこう大変かも。
　私はホエール･ウォッチングは初めてでしたので、ちょっと安易に考えすぎてすぎていたかもしれません。
　その代わりにイルカの群れは、けっこう船の近くまで寄っ
てきて泳いでくれましたし、船がスピードを出すと潮風が心地よかったので、クルージングを楽しむことがメインだと思えればＨＡＰＰＹかもしれません。
　スタッフは陽気でフレンドリーだし、船長は感心するくらいしゃべりっぱなしで説明をしていました（ただし英語）。
　あと、スナック菓子やフルーツはありましたが、食事的なものはありません。コーヒーと水は飲み放題ですが、カクテル類は有料でした。

I joined a tour that departed in the afternoon. I skipped lunch expecting some light snacks, but what was served were just some snack bites and fruit, which was a bit disappointing. The drinks were free except for alcohol, but since we were on a boat, it felt awkward to go to the restroom, so I couldn't drink too much. However, I did get to see whales that I wouldn't have seen on land, so it was okay.

If you want to take good photos of the whales, you need a serious camera with a telephoto lens and shoot in burst mode, otherwise, you'll end up with photos where you can't even tell where the whale is. My IXUS was completely useless for whale photography.

午後出発のツアーに参加しました。
軽食付きに期待して昼ご飯を抜いたら、供されたのはおつまみスナックとフルーツくらいで、ちょいがっくり。飲み物はアルコール以外フリードリンクですが、船上の事、トイレに行くのも憚られるのでそうそうがぶ飲みも出来ず。
でも陸に居ては見られないクジラを見られたし、まあＯＫです。
クジラの写真をちゃんと撮って帰りたい人は、望遠レンズ付きのマジなカメラで連写しないと、どこにクジラがいるのかさっぱり判らない写真しか撮れない事になるので、ご注意を。私のＩＸＹはクジラ撮影には完璧に無力でした。

We participated as a family.
The sea was rough, so it was very rocky.
Many people were feeling unwell.
I recommend bringing motion sickness medication.
There was a Japanese staff member, but their service was not very attentive, which was disappointing.
It was great to see a lot of whales.

家族で参加しました。
海が荒れていたので、とても揺れました。
気分が悪くなっている人が多かったです。
酔い止めを持参する事をすすめます。
日本人のスタッフの方がいましたが、あまり丁寧な対応ができていませんでした。それが残念でした。
鯨は、たくさん見れて良かったです。

This was spectactular! We watched the sun come up over the clouds at 10,000+ feet. Before the sunrise the stars were so wonderful. We could see so many. The sunrise itself was breathtaking. This is an experience well worth the early wake up call. Bob is a very knowledgable and entertaining tour guide. I reconmmend you ask for him too!! This is an experience we will never forget. One that all visitors to Maui should do!

On February 4, 2011, I participated in a whale watching tour with a friend and my friend's mother, making it three of us.

I had joined a dinner cruise on the Star of Honolulu last summer, so this was my second time on this ship.

Since the season and time of day were different from my last visit, I was deeply moved by the view of Waikiki and the lush Diamond Head from the sea.

Even when I thought I could enjoy this scenery without seeing any whales, a whale appeared, and I was further touched to see dolphins swimming alongside the whale, playing together.

I would love to book a tour with Alan1 again.

Thank you for the wonderful memories!

2011年2月4日に友人と友人のお母さまと私という３人でホエールウォッチングに参加しました。

私は昨年の夏、スターオブ・ホノルル号でディナークルーズに参加したので、この船は２回目の乗船でした。

前回とは季節も時間帯が違うので、海からのワイキキや緑の多いダイヤモドヘッドの眺めに大変感動しました。

クジラが見えなくてもこの景色で十分楽しめたなぁと思っていたら、クジラが現れ、さらにイルカもクジラと遊ぶように一緒に泳ぐ姿が見られて心から感動し、癒されました。

またalan1でツアーを予約したいなぁと思いました。

良い思い出をありがとうございました！

Our travel agent suggested this tour as a great way to see Pearl Harbor and downtown Honolulu, and she was right on the money! Our guides were friendly and very informative sharing lots of detail, Pearl Harbor was moving and very special, and the USS Missouri was impressive. This is a great tour, though you spend a lot of time on the shuttle while going through Honolulu

The wailua river cruise is very unique, we saw a lot of Kauai we didnt know was there, and learned a lot from our guide. The pace of the tour is slow and relaxed.

I participated in the morning cruise, but I didn't see any whales. I immediately used the re-participation ticket I received and joined the afternoon cruise, where I was thrilled to see whales. I think that in terms of season, March to April might be better for seeing young whales as they are growing and easier to spot.

午前のクルーズに参加しましたが、クジラは見えず。
頂いた再参加の券を直ちに利用して、昼のクルーズに参加したところ、クジラを見る事ができ感激しました。
季節的には、３-４月の方が、子供のクジラが成長していて見やすいのではないでしょうか～

The tour to Pearl Harbour and the US Arizona was very interesting and educational. We are not Americans and were impressed at the objectivity apparent in the various museums and displays. The Arizona Memorial is moving, all the more so as it is still leaking oil and we are forced to remember that it is something real, not a recreation or imagined scene.
Our guide, Frank, was personable and full of stories and information. He was fun!

I have booked all my Pearl Harbor Tours over the years with Hawaii Activities and have always had a great day. This was a new tour being offered and I thought that it would be the perfect tour that would allow me to visit four major WWII sites in one full comprehensive day. It met all of my expectations and then some. The actual tour was very informative and moving. Our driver/guide, Francis, did a fantastic job during a day filled with problems. First, the bus was running late with all the different pick-ups and it didn’t reach my hotel until a half-hour after my scheduled pick-up time. Then we had to meet another bus and transfer all those people to our bus. This made us later yet and put us right in the middle of the slow moving rush hour morning traffic. When we finally got to the Arizona Memorial we were running behind. Then when it was our turn to finally enter the movie room, the electricity went out in the entire Visitor Center. We had to skip the movie and head right

I have been to the North Shore before and enjoyed this trip the most. We enjoyed the Waimia Falls park more due to the guides suggestions. he was very knowledgeable and interesting. I especially enjoyed the turtles. I would recommend it for the young and hardy or an old folk like me. Great fun!

Very entertaining evening. Performers were excellent and involved the audience. Food was very good and a there was a variety of foods to fit most diets. For the more adventurous, poke and poy to try.

Enjoyed all the various polynesian dances--a tour of the south pacific without the boat.

We had an excellent evening and would recommend this to anyone.

I participated in a whale watching cruise on the large cruise ship Star of Honolulu, with about 200 people on board, including around 20 Japanese passengers.

I thought it would be a group activity with Japanese staff, but there were no Japanese staff on board. The staff explanation about the activities in the cabin before departure was only in English. After departure, we went out on deck to wait for the humpback whales while enjoying the view of the sea and Waikiki. During this time, a recorded explanation about whale ecology was played over the speakers, alternating between English and Japanese. It was mentioned that there were staff who understood Japanese on board, but they advised to ask questions individually.

The whale sighting rate is said to be over 90%, but if you happen to be in a direction where whales are not appearing or if the timing doesn't work out, you can self-report if you didn't see any whales, and they will issue a certificate allowing you to board again for free during the season.

I heard that whales appeared about twice during the trip, but I thought they were too far away to see, so I got the certificate. The staff were friendly and accommodating, always smiling.

大型客船スターオブホノルルを利用したホエールウォッチングクルーズで、２００人程度が乗船、日本人は２０人程度でした。

日本語スタッフと一緒のグループアクティビティと思っていたのですが、日本人スタッフは乗船せず、出航前のキャビン内でのアクティビティについてのスタッフ説明は英語のみです。出航後は、甲板に出て海やワイキキを眺めながらザトウの出現を待ちます。その際に鯨の生態についての録音説明がスピーカーから流れ、これが英語と日本語の交互説明というもの。日本語がわかるスタッフも乗船しているとのことですが、そちらは個別に質問してください、ということでした。

鯨出現率は９０％以上、とのことですが、出現方角でないところにいたり、タイミングが合わなかったりと、個人的に見られなかった場合は、自己申告で、シーズン中に無料で再度乗船できる証明書を発行してもらえます。

今回２回ほど出現したそうですが、私にはあまりに遠くで見えないと思ったので、証明書をもらってきました。スタッフの方々は笑顔親切に気持ちよく対応していただけました。