All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

The tour to the summit of Mauna Kea was a battle against the cold, sleepiness, and feeling unwell. However, the views above the clouds, the sunset over the clouds, and the Subaru Telescope, which Japan takes pride in, are all worth seeing. My son, who is 12 years old, participated, but it seems that children have weaker vestibular systems, and he struggled quite a bit at the summit. I hope he can join again when he's a bit older. The starry sky was incredibly beautiful, and every time I go to the Big Island, I'm reminded of how much light there is in the sky back in Japan.

マウナケアの山頂へのツアーは寒さと、眠さと、具合の悪さとの闘いでした。しかし、途中の雲の上の景色とか、雲への夕日の景色、更には日本の誇るすばる天文台等々、一見の価値はあります。息子が12歳で参加したのですが、やはり子供は三半規管が弱いらしく、頂上ではかなり苦しそうでした。もう少し大きくなって、また参加したいと思います。
星空もすごくきれいで、ハワイ島にいく度に、日本の空の明かりの多さを思い知らされます。

Amazing service, food, music, ambiance ... the entire night was brilliant. My friends and I found this experience totally worth the money and we highly recommend it!

I was looking for a snorkeling cruise with transportation and signed up for this tour (the transportation was provided by Jacks Hawaii). The afternoon cruise I participated in had few participants, so we were able to relax on the boat, and the crew was very kind in taking care of the mothers who were scared while swimming. The crew spotted dolphins on our way back to the bay and stopped the boat for us, but we couldn't see them very well. However, the sea was beautiful, and we were able to see colorful fish, which made everyone happy. The boat's facilities were also clean and comfortable to use, which was great!

送迎付のシュノーケルクルーズを探していてこちらのツアーに申し込みました(送迎はジャックスハワイの車でした)。
参加したアフタヌーンクルーズは参加者が少なかったので船上ではゆったり過ごせましたし、泳ぐ時にはクルーの人がとても親切に怖がる母親達の面倒を見てくれて助かりました。
イルカは湾に帰る際クルーの人が見つけて船を止めてくれましたが私達には良く見えませんでした。でも海も綺麗で色とりどりの魚を見れたので全員が喜んでいました。
船の設備も綺麗で気持ちよく使えて良かったです♪

If you want to get a feel of the island, this is a great tour, although it made a really long day and would not be recommended for children. The bus driver, Auntie Alicia, is what really made it work. The pickup time was different than on the confirmation and lunch differed from what was posted; but Auntie Alicia's knowledge and cheeriness made up for those discrepancies.

This was an amazing Cruise down the Wialua River to the Fern Grotto. The staff was great and told of the history of the river and the grotto. The return trip included hawaiian music and hula lessons. I would really recommend this trip to everyone.

I was able to see a very beautiful sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea. The sunset sinking above the clouds was a stunning view that is rarely seen.
The stars depend on the weather and the moon. This time, the moon was a half moon, and there were thin clouds, so we couldn't see a sky full of stars, but the guide's stories made me feel as if I had seen a sky full of stars. The explanation about the stars was very interesting.
I was grateful for the warm jacket they lent me. Compared to other tours, this tour's winter clothing looked the warmest. I highly recommend it.

　マウナケア山頂でとても綺麗な夕日を見ることが出来ました．雲の上に沈む夕日はめったに見られない美しい景色でした．
　星はお天気しだい、月しだい．今回は月が半月の上,薄い雲がかかっており満天とはいきませんでしたが．ガイドさんの話で満天の星を見たような気になりました．星の解説大変面白かったです．
　大変あたたかい上着を貸してくれたのには助かりました．他のツアーと比べこのツアーの防寒着が一番あたたかそうにみえました．お勧めです．

Our guide was coughing into the mike as he talked and we thought if he was sick, he should have stayed home. He could have at least removed the mike when he was coughing.

The tour itself was wonderful!

This was one of the highlights of our trip! Driver was a bit late but it in no way impacted our experience. Its very busy at Pearl Harbor but everything is handled efficiently and although we waited in a very long line, it moved quickly and we were off to the memorial building. Very moving and impressive ! Every visitor to the island should see!

Nice tour - interesting tidbits along the way. I think the Explorer's Tour is worth the extra. You get to venture where the ropes are. You do some bending and ducking as you enter the various door entry areas on the ship. I think you get more out of the ship tour with the guide than just visiting without a tour guide.
ps - I selected good for families but that is also a judgment call depending on how mindful the children are in dealing with tight quarters and time-constraints to visit various areas of the ship.

I really enjoyed this tour! the driver was very informative and funny. The day went by super fast. I got to see alot of stuff and learn about the hawaiian culture. Our driver helped teach us how to pronounce the hawaiian language. I had a lot of fun!

There were a group of 8 of us and we all had a fantastic time. Thank you for all the knowledge and laughter. We will be talking and most of all remembering this great experience for many moons to come! You added exactly "that special" something to my honeymoon:)

Wonderful atmosphere, Excellent food! We loved that everyone had fun doing their job!

The performance where King Kamehameha comes from the sea was great, but the quality of the dancers was lacking. The food was delicious, though.

カメハメハ大王が海からやってくるという演出はよかったですが、ダンサーの質がもう一つでした。食事はおいしかったですね。

The explorer's tour is worth the extra money. Instead of just wandering around on a few decks you get a personally guided tour of about 4 secluded decks including one of the BIG 16 inch gun turrets. Very interesting to see how a battleship works.

This was a great luau. I highly recommend it. There were fun activities that got everyone involved. The food was excellent and the entertainment was top notch. I especially enjoyed the fire dancer.

This was a great way to start our family Hawaiian vacation. There was something for everyone to do. We made fresh flower lei's, learned to play the ukelele, and had hula lessons. The staff was extremely friendly and accomodating. The lunch buffet had a very nice selection and was ono (yummy).
Two hours didn't seem quite long enough. There were so many activities that we didn't get much opportunity to just sit back and enjoy the view of Honolulu from the sea. I would recommend this for a family activity. I would go again, next time for the whale watching season.

Dynamic and fantastical! It was a landscape that felt like it came straight out of a dream. The staff were great, and although it was a long journey, I had a lot of fun. I had heard that it would be cold at the summit, but it was really cold (of course, you can borrow warm clothing). I'm glad I brought a hand warmer. It was a lot of fun!

ダイナミックで幻想的！夢に出てきそうな風景でした。
スタッフのかたも良くて、長時間の行程でしたが楽しかったです。
頂上は寒いとは聞いていたのですが、ホント寒かったです（もちろん防寒着は貸してもらえますが）。
カイロ持って行って正解でした。楽しかったです！

For seating, you will be guided in the order you arrive, so after exchanging your tickets at the desk, it's best to line up in front of the outdoor luau venue where the sign is displayed. The line quickly got long while we were waiting. (There are two types of lines: regular seating and Hānai seating.)

The dances include Hawaiian, Tahitian, Māori, and Samoan, among others. Unfortunately, after being guided to our seats, there was no information provided about activities. I thought there might be an announcement after guiding us to the more expensive Hānai seating, but there wasn't, and by the time I went to check, it was already nearing the end, so I couldn't participate in the hula lesson or the palm leaf craft (meanwhile, something was happening on stage).

However, the show under the starry sky was very enjoyable, and the food was quite delicious.

席ですが並んだ順に案内されるので、デスクでチケット引き換え後に屋外のルアウ会場前のプレートが出ているところに並ぶといいです。並んでいるとあっという間に列が長くなっていました。
（通常席と、ハノハノ席の2種類の列があります）。
ダンスはハワイアン、タヒチアン、マオリ、サモアなど一通りあります。
残念だったのは、席に案内後に特にアクティビティの案内が無かったことです。先に料金が高いハノハノ席を案内したあとにあるのかな？と思っていたのですが結局無く、様子を見に行った頃にはもう終わりがけでフラレッスンにも、ヤシの葉クラフトにも参加できませんでした（この間もステージでは何かやっています）。
でも星空の下でのショーはとても気持ちのいいものでした。お料理もけっこうおいしかったです。

This is the second luau I've attended and also the best. First the pre-luau activities were fun, ( my granddaughter tried a little hula and I learned how to open a coconut without power tools ) . The cocktails were very tasty . The food was outstanding , as well as the venue . And the show was very fun . Thanks

I apologize for the late posting, but I participated on August 30.

On that day, it was a new moon and the wind was calm, allowing us to fully enjoy the sunset and the starry sky.

Seeing the constellations from a location closer to the stars than other tours felt like we were monopolizing the entire night sky. The explanation of the constellations using a green laser was easy to understand, and the humorous guidance from Minoyan and Shinya was fantastic.

The miso soup we had during the journey, at a high altitude when our bodies started to cool down, was a truly warming dish.

I definitely recommend this tour for anyone looking for a stargazing experience.

書き込みが遅くなりましたが、８月３０日に参加しました。

当日は新月かつ風も弱く、夕日から星空までを満喫することができました。

他のツアーよりも星に近い場所で見る星座は、まるで星空全部を自分たちで独占しているよう。
グリーンレーザーを使った星座の説明も分かり易く、みのやん＆しんやさんのユーモラスな（？）ガイドも最高でした。

道中高所となり体が冷えるタイミングでいただく味噌汁も、心から温まる一品です。

星空のツアーをお探しの方には間違いなくお勧めのツアーです。

Thanks so much for showing us so many of the nicest parts of Maui. Charles, our tour guide, showed us around the island, while filling us in on the political and natural history of the area. It seemed to us that this was a wonderful way for first time visitors like us to get an overview of Maui.

Things we especially liked about this tour: being picked up at our hotel promptly at 7am, as advertised; the view from the top of Haleakala; the opportunity to see rare plants and birds on the mountain, such as silversword plants in bloom, and the unique Hawaiian Geese (Nene); our guide's amazing knowledge of the places we saw and their history; the wonderful lunch at Casanova's in Makawao; the beautiful scenery around the park at the Io Needle.

The opportunity to take this tour with a knowledgable guide and driver was wonderful. It permitted us to concentrate on the scenery, rather than worrying about driving on unfamiliar roads and trying to read a map and sightsee at the same t

We had the best tour guide, he was very informative, friendly and funny. He made the trip, My husband and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We had a great time thanks to "Robert".

Initially, I signed up because I wanted to watch the sunset from the mountain with my family, but I was surprised by the experience! I got to see the rare silver sword plant that only blooms once every few decades, and we had the chance to do serious stargazing with a telescope (we even saw shooting stars!). Above all, the explanations provided by Mr. Yamauchi, with his extensive knowledge of astronomy, were truly moving.

The only regret was that the sunset was hidden by clouds, but I had a wonderfully fulfilling time. I've heard that Hawaii is known as a mecca for stars, and it seems like many stars can be observed here. Until now, I only had the image of Hawaii as a place for marine sports, so this was a new discovery for me. Later, when I asked a few Japanese residents living in Maui, it seems that Mr. Yamauchi's stargazing sessions are quite famous.

最初は家族で山からサンセットを見られるということで申込みましたが、参加してみてびっくり！
数十年に一度しか開花しない銀剣草の花を見られたり、本格的な望遠鏡での天体観測ができたり（流れ星も見えました！）、そしてなにより山内さんの豊富な天文知識による解説が感動的でした。
唯一、サンセットが雲に隠れて見えなかったのが心残りですが、すごく充実した時間を過ごせました。
ハワイは星のメッカと言われているらしく、たくさんの星が観測できるようです。これまで、ハワイにはマリンスポーツのイメージしかなかった私には、新たな発見でした。
後でマウイ在住の日本人数人に聞いたところ、山内さんの天体観測は結構有名みたいです。

Wonderful tour. Guide on the Missouri - "Toby" was great. He served on Mighty Mo and was very knowledgeable of every detail of the ship. Will do it again.

For our family's last dinner on the trip, we enjoyed a luau show. Compared to the evening show at the Polynesian Cultural Center that we had seen before, this show was smaller and more compact, but we enjoyed the powerful dances right in front of us. The food was also surprisingly delicious, and we were very satisfied. There were several newlywed couples from the UK and the US who were enjoying the dance as introduced by the host. The Western audience was really responsive to the host's calls, and it made me feel that I want to improve my English communication skills.

This time, we drove from our hotel in South Kohala to Kailua-Kona, parked at a shopping center, and after strolling around downtown Kona, we watched the luau show. I was relieved that we didn't get lost and were able to participate.

家族旅行の最後の夕食で、ルアウショーを楽しみました。以前に見たポリネシア文化センターのイブニングショーと比べ、少人数でコンパクトなショーでしたが、舞台が目前にあって迫力ある踊りを楽しみました。また、食事も期待以上においしく食べることができ満足しました。英米圏の新婚カップルが何組か来ており、司会者の紹介でダンスを楽しんでいました。欧米の人は、本当に楽しそうに逐一司会者の呼びかけの反応しており、自分ももっと英語のコミュニケーションが取れるようになりたいと感じました。
今回は、サウスコハラのホテルから、レンタカーでカイルアコナへ出かけ、ショッピングセンターの駐車場に車を置いて、コナ街中を散策した後、ルアウショーを見ました。道に迷うこともなく、参加することができほっとしました。

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds. Above the sea of clouds, the peaks of Haleakalā on Maui and Mauna Loa on the Big Island rise, with various observatories lined up before me. I was breathless at the breathtaking view that cannot be seen in Japan. I was once again impressed that you can drive to such heights; the gentle ridgeline of Mauna Kea is remarkable. After sunset, I saw a sky full of stars from an altitude of 3,600 meters. It was a new moon, and it felt like the stars were about to fall. I thoroughly enjoyed the summer constellations. The temperature was 2 degrees, and the wind chill was probably below freezing, which completely changed my image of Hawaii. Thanks to the skillful storytelling of our tour guide Shinya, I was never bored in the car, didn't fall asleep and suffer from altitude sickness, and it became a memorable tour.

雲海に沈む夕陽。雲海の上には、マウイ島のハレアカラ、ハワイ島のフアラライ山の頂が浮かび、目前には各国の天文台が並び立つ。日本では見ることのできない絶景に息を呑みました。こんな高さまで車でいけるとは、マウナケア山の緩やかな稜線に改めて感心しました。日没後は、3600メートルの高さから満天の星を見ました。ちょうど新月でまさに星が落ちてきそうなほどでした。夏の星座を満喫しました。気温は２度、体感温度はたぶん氷点下ということで、ハワイのイメージ一新でした。ツアーガイドのシンヤさんの巧みな話術で、車中も飽きることなく、眠って高山病にかかることなく、思い出に残るツアーとなりました。

This was my second time going on a tour of Mauna Kea. Last time, I participated in a tour with a different company, but this time I chose Masashi's tour. Thank you very much.
What I thought was the best part of Masashi's tour was the cold weather gear.
I tend to get very cold, so even though I wanted to watch the sunset outside for a long time, I ended up going back to the car relatively quickly last time because of the cold. However, the cold weather gear from Masashi's company was a full-body suit (though it seems there are limited quantities), and it was really warm! I also borrowed gloves. Thanks to that, I was able to stand outside for a long time.

Stargazing is really cold. My toes got very cold. Even with this cold weather gear, my feet and neck were exposed, so I recommend bringing thick socks and a scarf for those who are sensitive to the cold.

The ride to and from the site was not cramped; there was plenty of space, and it was comfortable.

The meal included Japanese food and miso soup without any ingredients. They also provided water later on. The miso soup cooled down quickly, possibly because of the cold, but having a warm drink was very nice. I was also happy that I could help myself to cocoa and tea after the meal.
Since dinner was early, I got a bit hungry when I got home, so it's a good idea to prepare a late-night snack in advance.

私は、マウナケアのツアーに行くのは２回目でした。前回は違う会社さんのツアーに参加させていただきましたが、今回はマサシさんのツアーにお願いしました。ありがとうございました。
マサシさんのツアーで、一番良かったと思ったのが、防寒具でした。
私はとての寒がりなので、サンセットをずっと外で見ていたいのに、寒さに負けて、前回のとき、わりとすぐに車の中に入ってしまったんですよね。でも、マサシさんのところの防寒具は全身のつなぎになっていて（つなぎは数に限りがあるようですが）、ほんとに暖かったです！手袋も貸していだきました。おかげでずっと外に立っていられました。

星の観察はほんとに寒いです。足先がとても冷たくなりました。この防寒具でも足と首は出てしまいますので、寒がりの方には厚手の靴下とマフラーを持参することをおすすめします。

行き帰りの車の中もギュウギュウではなく、ゆとりがあって乗り心地がよかったです。

お弁当は日本食と具なしのお味噌汁でした。水もあとからくれました。お味噌汁は寒さのせいか、すぐに冷めてしまいましたが、暖かい飲み物はとてもうれしいです。食後にココアや、お茶がセルフでいただけたのもうれしかったです。
早めの夕食なので、帰宅してから小腹が減るので、前もって夜食と部屋に用意しておくといいですよ。

Great shows! Dancers are great! Food is great!

I took the biking tour through North Shore. Justin was a very good guide and showed us the ins and outs of the North Shore community. Justin showed me the best routes to take with my mountain bike. The tour was right on time and he was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour as it is a great value. It was a nice touch that water and snacks were provided on board.

At 4,200 meters, the air is clear, and the sun, sinking into the sea of clouds as a fireball, paints the sky in hues of yellow, red, and purple, leaving one speechless at its beauty.

Soon after the sunset, an astronomical show begins with countless stars. While you can see an unimaginable number of stars in the mountains of Japan, at the summit of Mauna Kea, you can witness an overwhelming display of stars and shooting stars. It feels as if you are bursting into outer space.

The temperature is quite cold (probably around 2-3°C), so be sure not to participate in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. While you can borrow warm clothing, if you want to enjoy star watching comfortably, it's advisable to bring gloves as well. You will be outside for about three hours from sunset until the end of star watching. Some people stayed in their cars due to the cold, looking quite regretful.

The guide talk by the enthusiastic mountain guide from the nature school is entertaining. He seems to know everything about the Big Island, so asking him various questions can help expand your travel possibilities and plan your stay on the Big Island.

4200メートルの空気はどこまでも澄み渡り、火球となって雲海に沈みゆく太陽が空の色を黄色→赤色→紫色と染め上げていく芸術はその美しさに言葉を失います。
　サンセットが終わると間もなく無数の星による天体ショーが始まります。日本国内でも山奥に行けば都会ではありえない数の星を見ることができますが、マウナケアの山頂直下ではそれをも圧倒的に超える星と流れ星が見られます。宇宙空間に飛び出した錯覚を覚えます。
　気温はかなり寒い（おそらく２~３℃）ので決して短パンと半そでシャツなんかで参加しないように。防寒具は貸してもらえますが、快適にスターウオッチングをたのしみたいのなら、手袋も持参しておいたほうがよいでしょう。サンセットからスターウオッチング終了までだいたい３時間は外にいることになります。寒さのあまり車内にいる人も数人いましたが、相当無念そうにしていました。
　ネイチャスクールのガハイテンションの山ちゃんのガイドトークは面白いです。ハワイ島のことなら表も裏も何でも知っていそうなの、いろいろ聞いてハワイ島滞在プランの参考にしてみると旅の可能性が広がります。