Reviewed by: Val
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/11 |
Reviewed by: Val
I was impressed by the audio visuals used and the visuals used for USS Arizona tour and the Home of Brave portion of the tour.
The tour guide gave us some highlights of the USS Arizona attack as we waited in line for the Memorial to open.
Everything worked well: the extra tidbits, pictures in the van/shuttle, audio visuals; and the stops we made were interesting that also related with the audio visuals.
At the end of the tour, we stopped at a little museum and we were presented with a free post card that showed the areas that we had visited.
Oh - the meal on base that was all you can eat (not included in the price) but very good and less than $10. Great tour - it was a great way to start the vacation off in spite of the rain we experienced in the morning as we waited for the Memorial to open. I now have a $2 poncho that I purchased outside the Memorial and never had to use for the 12 days of my Hawaii stay. It's more of a conversation piece now :)
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/11 |
Reviewed by: Des
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!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/09 |
Reviewed by: garry UK
A very enjoyable day and also emotional one. What made the trip was meeting a Pearl Harbour veteran and also being on the memorial to pay my respects. Our driver that day very funny man he needs to be on the stage.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/08 |
Reviewed by: stacey and amber
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:)
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/07 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Wonderful atmosphere, Excellent food! We loved that everyone had fun doing their job!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/07 |
Reviewed by: Trevor & Colleen Elliot
Kenn, the guide, was terrific. Extremely knowlegeable with a terrific sense of humor. He made the culture come to life and each site we visited a richer experience. One of the highlights of our first trip to Oahu.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/10/01 |
Reviewed by: Chriss
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/30 |
Reviewed by: Mike & Debbie Fitzpatrick
We thoroughly enjoyed this day-long tour. Our guide, Tavita, made the trip very educational, informative and entertaining. I would highly recommend requesting Tavita as your guide.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/29 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/29 |
Reviewed by: Susie and Mike
I and my wife went to Waikiki night Flight on my wife's Birthday. The View was Unbelievably beautiful, so she excited very much! She said the flight was the most Beautiful birthday present She've ever had! Thank you for the greatest time.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/29 |
Reviewed by: Jane
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/27 |
Reviewed by: Linda
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/26 |
Reviewed by: Art & Sheila
We had a GREAT TIME on the tour, our guide Loni was excellent. We had lots of fun, enjoyed all the sights. Would recommend this tour to all.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/24 |
Reviewed by: Cathy Hanlin
The entire tour was excellent. The driver, Tavita, was very friendly, knoweledgable and courteous. He was very entertaining. He played the guitar and ukalele excellently. He made the Pearl Harbor and circle island tour very enjoyable. The tour was an all day tour but the time went by quickly because it was very relaxing, enjoyable as well as educational. I would recommend him as a tour guide to anyone wanting to have fun.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/24 |
Reviewed by: Ted and Glenna Stark
My husband and I really enjoyed our tour. Our tour guide, Tavita, was really exceptional, not only did he tell us funny jokes but he sang some songs for us, too! He knows his history. While we were sitting in the bus after visiting the Arizona Memorial he read a poem "Did You Know Me Then". Lunch at the country club was perfect! Just ask for Tavita!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/24 |
Reviewed by: あんじー
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!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/23 |
Reviewed by: あんじー
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/23 |
Reviewed by: George
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
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/23 |
Reviewed by: Y.K.
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/22 |
Reviewed by: Pat from Austin
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
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/17 |
Reviewed by: Redding, Ca
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".
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/16 |
Reviewed by: mauifan
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/15 |
Reviewed by: Pearl Harbor
It was great, our guide was just great, we had so much fun with him, we went on monday 9/8, sorry i can't remember his name, but he made the trip for us. We really enjoyed all of it. This was our first time and I am so glad we did this. It is a long day and it was well worth the 11 hours.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/14 |
Reviewed by: M Pedraza
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/10 |
Reviewed by: ウッチー
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/07 |
Reviewed by: ウッチー
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/07 |
Reviewed by: 匿名希望
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。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/07 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Great shows! Dancers are great! Food is great!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/05 |
Reviewed by: Rickster
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.
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2008/09/02 |
Tips and suggestions
Reply from activity provider
An unexpected error has occurred. Please go back to the previous page and try again, or wait a few minutes and try once again.
Thank you for your message, Maui Fan.
I appreciate you joining the star enthusiast tour. (laugh)
I believe that when you enter that natural planetarium (which we call Tenpura), everyone becomes one and can regain a sense that they had forgotten.
It really makes you forget about the little worries, doesn’t it?
Please come back to Maui to see the stars again.
I would like to introduce the latest telescope that was released recently. (laugh)
マウイファンさんへ
お礼のメッセージ有難うございました。
星オタクのツァーに参加して頂き感謝です。笑
あの天然プラネタリウム(天プラと呼んでいます)の中に入ると全ての人が
ひとつになり忘れていた感覚が取り戻せるのだと思います。
小さい事で悩んでいるような気は吹き飛びますよね。
是非またマウイに星を見に来てください。
先日発売の最新の望遠鏡を紹介致します。笑