All Reviews for Sightseeing / Guided Tours

Fun day with a delicious meal. The windy roads were not horrible either!

A beautiful view from above overlooking the Waikiki city while on a volcano crater!! with a fun delicious ending!! Take this tour you wont regret it.

Easy to pre-purchase before the park, they send you the QR and your ready to go!

What a blast, we got a bunch of cool knowledge on all different pieces that make kualoa ranch!!

Nothing beats these views! How we wish we could see them always!

The sunset dinner cruise was quite crowded. Since I had reserved a 5-star experience, there wasn't much of a feeling of congestion when I arrived on the floor, and I was able to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. The meal also progressed slowly, so many people went out to the deck to enjoy themselves along the way. While sipping on a Mai Tai and gazing at the sunset... I realized the sky was filled with stars. Fireworks erupted from Waikiki Beach, and the atmosphere on the boat reached its peak! After that, we returned to port while indulging in jazz. It turned out to be a wonderful day.

サンセットディナークルーズはかなりの混雑ぶり。5スターを予約したのでフロアに着くとそれほど混雑感は無く、ゆっくりと楽しめました。食事もかなりゆっくりと進むので、途中デッキに出て楽しんでいる方も大勢いました。サンセットを眺めながら、マイタイを飲みながら…気付くと満天の星空。ワイキキビーチから花火が上がり船内の盛り上がりも最高潮！その後、JAZZに酔いしれながら帰港。素敵な1日になりました。

Great food, good entertainment, great view of the fireworks, and ended the cruise with a fun dance party!

We booked this cor the sunset and fireworks. Seating was packed and food was okay / ordinary, what you would expect from set menu for hundreds. Staff worked hard, tried to keep things moving. Sunset was almost missed due to service. Noisy entertainment. Fireworks were short and low key, and hard to see with packed walkways. We were some what disappointed overall and regreted not going on a smaller and cheaper vessel.

Unfortunately, due to the strong winds from the hurricane, the path to the summit was closed on the day of the visit. However, there was a possibility that if negotiations were successful at the Onizuka Center, the path might be opened, so I went to the Onizuka Center. But the result was... it was indeed not possible.

That said, it was good that I was able to get to Onizuka! The tour fee was refunded later for the portion that I couldn't complete to the summit (not the full amount, but $200 out of $400). Well, we can't win against the forces of nature! This will be a lesson for next time!

運悪くハリケーンの影響で風が強く、当日は頂上への道が閉鎖されたとのこと。
ただ、万が一オニヅカセンターで交渉次第では？道が開けてもらえる可能性もあるということでオニヅカセンターまで行ってきました。
でも、結果は・・・やはりダメでした涙
とはいえ、オニヅカまででもいけたのは良かった！
ツアー代金は、頂上まで行けなかった分、後から返金されましたので(全額ではなく4／5の200ドル）まぁこればっっかり自然の力には勝てないということで仕方ありませんね！
次回の宿題になりましたｗ

Surreal experience seeing the ship WW2 ended on. Having a guide made it very pleasant.

After five years of waiting due to the opposition to the observatory expansion and COVID-19, I was finally able to participate in the sunset tour. The company advertised having Japanese-speaking guides, but due to the impact of COVID-19, it seems they laid off most of the Japanese guides because there were many domestic (U.S.) users. During my visit, the guide was an American with experience working at a U.S. military base, and aside from casual conversations near the Onizuka Center and confirming the meeting time, everything was in English. The explanations along the way, including stories about Hawaii's only Army training base, were all in English, but even with my limited English knowledge from middle school to university, I understood about half of it. Of course, the meeting time and important notes were explained in Japanese, but I felt the English explanations were sufficient.

For the stargazing, two vehicles were used in the parking lot between the summit and the center, with only two Japanese participants. We were divided into two groups for English and Japanese explanations, and one person who spoke Japanese provided dedicated explanations. The photos taken during that time, as well as the best photos that the guide had likely taken previously, were received directly through the Aiphone communication feature. Previously, we would receive them later via the website, but with Aiphone, we could do it on the spot by pairing our phones. It seems that those using phones with OS like Samsung might not know how to do this, so I wonder what they do? After returning to the meeting place and dispersing, I was given a ride to a nearby hotel. I was spared a 20-minute walk at night, but this was only because everyone else returned to their cars from the meeting place or were from nearby hotels, so it was just a coincidence that I got a ride. I heard that if Japanese tourists return, Japanese tours might resume.

The tour itself was fantastic, just like everyone else's experience, but I have two final points. The emergency toilet near the summit is very dirty, so it's better not to use it. Let's use the facilities at the Onizuka Center instead, as we will stop there after stargazing, which should take about three hours. Lastly, remember to give a tip when you get off the vehicle. A few years ago, during my first visit (at the time of the "B-class Gourmet Tour"), I completely forgot to tip because it was an all-Japanese tour, and that experience still gives me a bit of trauma. This time, I prepared three levels of tips in my pouch according to my satisfaction and handed them out at the end. If the explanations had been given in both English and Japanese twice, I would have given 20%, but this time I gave about 15%.

　天文台増設反対の封鎖とコロナ等で5年越しでサンセットツアーに参加できました。同社は日本語ガイドがあるのが売りでしたが、コロナの影響で景気のいい国内(米国)利用者が多くなったので、日系人のガイドをほとんどレイオフ?したみたいです。今回利用時は、在日米軍基地勤務経験がある米国人ガイドさんでしたが、オニヅカセンターや展望台付近の雑談や集合時間の確認以外はすべて英語でした。途中の説明は、ハワイ唯一の陸軍訓練基地の話など英語オンリーでの説明でしたが、特に英語は中学から大学までの勉強でしかしたことない私でも、半分くらいは分かりました。もちろん、集合時間、注意事項等は日本語で説明してくれましたが、先の英語の説明で十分わかりました。また、天体観測は、2台の車が、山頂からセンターの間の駐車場で行いましたが、日本人は２人だけで、英語と日本語の説明の二つのグループに分かれましたが、日本語が話せる1人が専属で説明してくれました。その時撮った写真や、以前ガイドさんが撮ったと思われるベストな写真は、Aiphoneの通信機能でそのまま受け取りました。以前は後日ホームページでの受け取りでしたが、Aiphoneだとその場で携帯付き合わせてできます。サムスン等のOSを使った携帯はやり方がわからないみたいなのでどうするんでしょう?集合場所に戻り解散してから近くのホテルまで送ってもらいました。夜道を20分ほど歩かなくて済みましたが、あくまで、他の方が全員集合場所から各自が車で帰ったり、直近のホテルの方だったので、たまたま、送ってもらうことが出来ました。日本人がまた戻ってきたら日本語ツアーが再開されるかもとのことです。ツアーの素晴らしさは申し分なく他の方と同じですが、最後に2点。山頂付近の緊急用トイレは非常に汚いので使用しない方が良いです。オニヅカセンターで済ませましょう。天体観測後にも寄るので、しょうみ3時間くらいでしょうか。最後にチップは降車時に渡しますので忘れないようにしましょう。私は、数年前、最初の利用の時(当時の「B級グルメツアー」)、完全に日本人だけのツアーでその快適さから錯覚してチップ忘れたことがあり、今も少しトラウマになっています。今回も満足度に合わせて3段階のチップをポーチに用意して、最後に渡しました。途中の説明が英語と日本語で2回してくれたなら20％渡したと思いますが、今回は約15％程度としました。

The whole family had a blast. The river boat ride in total took about 2hrs. I appreciate that this is family owned and ran. Good people and great stories. It is worth going to for the experience.

My Father and Mother-in-law asked me to plan their vow renewal ceremony while we were in Honolulu. They wanted to renew their vows on the beach, but with my father having Parkinson's, I knew it would be a difficult trek through the sand. While searching, I came across the Star of Honolulu. They had everything we were looking for. My Father could have use of his mobility scooter, as the boat had an elevator. The dinner and entertainment were good, and the ceremony performed by the captain was intimate. The captain made sure that my father was comfortable and safe during the ceremony and paid special attention to both of my parents. It was a special time and one we won't forget.

I fulfilled a long-held dream of seeing the perfect starry sky from Mauna Kea. I prepared thoroughly and participated on a new moon night, expecting the best view of the stars. The starry sky from Mauna Kea exceeded my expectations. I was also able to see the Subaru Telescope, and the guide's explanations were detailed, allowing us to take many photos. Although I dressed warmly, it was still quite cold, and when I was freezing, I enjoyed a warm cocoa, which was a thoughtful gesture that warmed my heart. I would love to participate again.

マウナケアからの満点の星空を見てみたいという長年の夢が叶いました。
しっかりとした準備をして最高の星空を期待し、新月の夜に参加しました。
マウナケアからの星空は期待以上に最高でした。
スバル天文台も見ることができ、またガイドさんの説明も詳しくて、写真もたくさん撮っていただきました。
着込んでは行ったものの、流石に寒く凍えていた頃、温かいココアをいただき、心遣いに温まりました。
また参加したいです。

Appreciate how all museums are bundled together on passport, really great day on grounds.

Fun to get all the movie history experience, as well as getting to see the beautiful farm! Family friendly too

Really fun evening- stargazing was out of this world beautiful!

Really eloquent set up, and a fun evening on vacation! Fun to be on the water compare to the nightly restaurants!

The day goes by quick, so you may need a second day to explore, but the lunch add in was nice as it is hot durin the summer walking around grounds!

Awesome day! nice as it is not the full day tour but you really get to enjoy the forests which is exactly our hopes!

Nice to be able to set up the passport ahead of time and have it ready day of

Cheryl, our driver, and Kanako, our tour guide, prepared many surprises from start to finish, making the tour an absolutely amazing experience!!

There were four families participating, including one American couple, and everyone was friendly, allowing us to have a fun time throughout♪

【Coffee Farm】
You can enjoy original coffee and a slightly sweet butter coffee. Even if you can't drink coffee, you can order juice or water. It's a lovely morning moment with delicious breakfast and coffee♪ The bread served for breakfast is quite large, so it might be nice to have smaller bags available to take leftovers home!

【Waikēa Valley】
The road is well-paved, so you don't need to wear sneakers. At the waterfall, you can experience river play that you can't easily find in Japan. You must wear a life jacket, so it's safe even if you can't swim! There are rocks where you can sit near the waterfall and take commemorative photos♪ There are two changing rooms and a small hut with showers, so it's recommended to change into your swimsuit beforehand and then go hiking without changing again afterward! (There was a line when changing after swimming.) After swimming, we leisurely hiked together while learning about Hawaiian culture! There were many plants like ginger, noni, and bananas. For lunch, we had a large wrap sandwich and a bag of chips.

【Dole Plantation】
This time, the participants agreed to leave Waikēa Valley early, allowing us to stay for just under an hour, longer than planned. Be careful as it may be difficult to ride the train or go through the maze due to time constraints! You can buy souvenirs and enjoy ice cream. When buying ice cream, I recommend going to the opposite side of the counter instead of the front line!

ドライバーのシェリルやツアーガイドのカナコが最初から最後まで沢山のサプライズを用意してくれ、ツアーは本当に最高の経験でした！！

参加者は私達含めて4家族（内アメリカ人の夫婦が一組いました）でしたが、みんなフレンドリーで終始楽しい時間を過ごせました♪

【コーヒー農園】
オリジナルコーヒーと少し甘めのバターコーヒー？が楽しめます。コーヒーが飲めなくてもジュースか水を頼むことができます。
美味しい朝食とコーヒーで素敵な朝のひとときが過ごせます♪
朝食に用意されているパンが大きいので、残しても持って帰れるように小さめの袋があるといいかもしれません！

【ワイケア渓谷】
道がしっかりと舗装されているので、スニーカーじゃなくても大丈夫です。
滝壺では日本では中々体験できない川遊びが体験できます。ライフジャケットを必ず着用するので、泳げなくても安心！滝の近くに座れる岩があり、そこで記念写真を撮ることができます♪
更衣室は2つとシャワーが併設されている小さな小屋なので、事前に水着に着替えいく、またその後も着替えずにそのままハイキングにいける格好がおすすめです！（泳ぎ終わった後着替える際、並んでいました）
泳ぎ終わった後はハワイのカルチャーも学びながらのんびりみんなでハイキング！
ジンジャー、ノニ、バナナなど沢山の植物がありました。
お昼ごはんは大きめのラップサンドとポテチ一袋です。

【ドールプランテーション】
今回は参加者の方の意見が一致して、早めにワイケア渓谷を出発、予定より長めの１時間弱滞在することができました。
迷路や汽車に乗ることは時間的に難しいので注意です！お土産を買ったり、アイスを食べることができます。アイスを買う時は手前の列ではなく、カウンターを挟んだ反対側にいくことをおすすめします！

This whole event and trip was astonishing. I never had an opportunity to see the sky like this ever before. The trip was well organized and our guide Nate was so brilliant and he explained each and every part of the sky so beautifully in addition to having us watch different planets through the extraordinary telescope that he brought. The whole sky is so active in the night where we were able to see bunch of shooting stars, starlink satellites and other individual ones. I probably will do this again next time when I am in Big island!!

I recommend mountain biking over buses, buggies, and horses! Since it's electric, it was easy to ride, and being able to go at our own pace was great.

バスよりも、バギーよりも馬よりも、マウンテンバイクがおすすめ！電動なので楽々で行けました、自分たちのペースでまわれるのもいい

The explanation is thorough. When practicing for the first time, they adjust to your pace and support you until you feel confident.

説明は丁寧
最初に乗る練習をする時もこちらのペースに合わせて自信を持てるまで練習に付き合ってくれま

Fun morning tour without needing to spend your full day on hana but still get some hikes in!

Nothing beats the beauty held within all the winds of Hana

So much goodies in 1 day- we loved the Kona coffe and cannot stop thinking about it!

The local tour was very satisfying! The bus to the destination took a while to arrive, and when it finally did, it passed the meeting point and picked up passengers in front of a different hotel. Fortunately, someone else was inquiring about the bus information from the tour company, and we found out it was indeed the pickup bus, which saved us from any issues. However, I think it would be reassuring to have the bus company's information in advance and to receive updates if there are any changes to the pickup location.

現地ツアーは大満足です！
行きのバスがなかなか来ず、来たと思ったら集合場所前を通り過ぎて別のホテルの前でピックアップになりました。たまたま他の方がツアー会社にバスの情報を問い合わせていて、迎えのバスであることが分かりことなきを得ましたが、事前にバス会社の情報や、ピックアップ場所の変更があれば新しい情報が分かると安心できるかなと思いました。

I have traveled to Hawaii many times, but this was my first visit to this museum. The exhibits were more fulfilling than I expected, with many displays about the Hawaiian monarchy and photographs from that era, which were quite moving. You can deepen your knowledge about Polynesian culture as a whole. There are two guided sessions in Japanese at 10:30 and 11:30. We arrived at 10:45 without knowing this, but we negotiated and were allowed to join the 10:30 session (it might be a good idea to check in advance the days and times when the Japanese guide is available). In addition to the museum, there are facilities for children (playgrounds), a planetarium, and a science center, but these are not particularly impressive.

何度もハワイに旅行しましたが、こちらのミュージアムは初めて訪問しました。予想以上に充実した展示内容で、ハワイ王朝やその時代の写真展示も多く、感慨深かったです。ポリネシア文化全体についての知識を深めることができます。10:30～、11:30～の２回、日本人ガイドによる簡単な説明もあります。私たちは知らずに10:45に到着しましたが、交渉して10:30の回に入れていただきました（日本語ガイドの開催される曜日や時間は事前に確認した方がいいかもしれません）。ミュージアム以外にも、子供向けの学習施設（遊び場）、プラネタリム、科学センター等併設していますが、これらはさほどたいしたことはありません。