All Reviews for Family & Accessible Travel

The pickup was smooth, we could see the whales well, and the coffee and pineapple cake were delicious! It wasn't as cold as I expected.

　お迎えもスムーズ　クジラもよく見え　コーヒーとパイナップルケーキもおいしかった！思ったより寒くなかったです。

During our second family trip to Hawaii, we were looking for activities that could be enjoyed by three generations in January and found whale watching, which we signed up for. We participated with my grandparents, who are over 60, and three children (ages 3, 1, and 0). On the day of the trip, the weather was nice, with no wind, and we departed on time. After boarding, we enjoyed self-service banana cake and coffee as a light snack.

About 15 minutes after departure, there was an announcement that we could go up to the rooftop (4th floor). The main way to get up there was by stairs, but there was also an elevator. I carried the 1-year-old and 0-year-old up to the rooftop, where we could see the hotels in Waikiki from a distance, and we spotted some boats enjoying marine activities in the morning.

After a while on the rooftop, there was an announcement indicating the direction of the whales, which was easy to understand even for those who don't speak much English. We were able to see a pod of about four whales for about an hour, and we also saw dolphins along the way. Since the sun was a bit strong on the rooftop, it might be better for the kids to wait in the shade until the whales are visible before moving around.

At first, we could see the whales from a distance, but later on, it seemed like the boat chased after them, allowing us to see them up close. Honestly, it was easier to see from the sofa on the first floor than from above, and stepping outside from there allowed us to see the whales in the shade and up close! There were staff members on the first floor who pointed out where to look, which was fantastic.

We noticed several other tour boats around us, and they seemed to be rocking quite a bit, which might be tough for those not used to being on boats. We went as far as the front of Diamond Head before turning back, and we returned to the port a bit earlier than scheduled, around 11:20, making disembarkation smooth. If we hadn't spotted any whales, it might have taken longer, but since we saw them well, it might have been quicker.

Overall, we had a very satisfying half-day experience, and I highly recommend this activity! Lastly, there was no validation (discount) for parking, so we paid $18 for 30 minutes at $3 each.

2回目の家族でのハワイ旅行で3世代で楽しめる1月のアクティビティを探していたところ、ホエールウォッチングを見つけて申し込みました。60オーバーの祖父母と子供3人（3歳、1歳、0歳）で参加しましたが、当日は天気も良く、風もない中で定刻通り出航して、乗船後に軽食のバナナケーキとコーヒーをセルフサービスでいただきました。
出航して15分ぐらいすると船の屋上（4F）に上がれるアナウンスがあり、基本は階段で上がりますがエレベーターもありました。
1歳と0歳は抱っこして屋上まで上がると、遠目にワイキキのホテルが見えて来て朝からマリンアクティビティを楽しむ人の船もちらほら見かけました。
屋上でしばらくすると時計の方向でクジラの位置を教えてくれるアナウンスがあり、英語があまりわからない方でもわかるようになっています。
肝心のクジラは4頭ぐらいの群れを1時間ぐらい見ることが出来て、途中イルカも見れました。屋上で見ていると日差しが少し強いので子供は日陰で待機してクジラが見えてから、動く方がいいかもしれません。
最初は遠目で見れていましたが、後半は船がクジラを追いかけたのか、すごく近くで見ることができました。
正直、上から見るより最初に座った1階のソファーから見る方が良く見えるし、そこから外に出て見る方が日陰でクジラを近くで見れます！
1階にはスタッフがいて、あっちに見える、こっちに見えると教えてもらえて最高です。
周りに何隻か他のツアーの船も見かけたのですが、結構揺れているのが見え、船に慣れていない方には厳しいかもしれません。
ダイヤモンドヘッドの正面？あたりまで行って折り返して帰って来たのですが、予定より少し早く11時20分ぐらいに帰港して下船もスムーズでした。クジラを発見できない場合はもう少し長くかかるのかもしれませんが、しっかり見れたので早かったのかもしれません。
全体的には大満足の半日を過ごせて、このアクティビティはおすすめです！
最後に駐車場はバリデーション（割引）がないので、30分3ドルで18ドルを支払いました。

As expected from Cirque du Soleil, the performance was impressive and matched the Hawaiian theme perfectly. There were also audience participation elements, which made it very enjoyable.

さすが、シルク・ドゥ・ソレイユという迫力、ハワイのテーマにも合っていて、客席参加のしかけもあり、とても楽しめました。

We all boarded the boat while having a great time together, and after about 20 minutes, we took turns paragliding. The captain took care of everything, which made me feel at ease! I was scared before flying, but once I was up in the air, it was incredibly fun, and the view was amazing—the sea was beautiful and it was the best experience!

みんなでワイワイしながら船に乗って移動して、20分くらい経ったら順番にパラセーリングしました。キャプテンの方が全部やってくれたので、安心できました!飛ぶ前は怖かったけど飛んだらもうそれはそれは楽しかったですし景色も素晴らしく海は綺麗で最高でした！

We used this service for 2 half-day tours on Kauai. It was a super great experience!

Scott, our guide and driver, was incredibly knowledgeable about the island and its history, as well as being an excellent wheel-man. He was very helpful especially in getting our canes and walkers out of the vehicle and re-loading them multiple times during the rides. He also went out of his way to take us to some excellent places we didn't know about, and the views were outstanding!

Many, MANY thanks to KLT and especially to Scott! Mahalo!

It says it starts at five but the activity start maybe an hour earlier but still give yourself some time to go to the waterfall for about three hours and an hour to get ready there

Tour guide was the best so much fun can’t wait to go again

The Jurassic Valley Ranch ATV was a great experience and the staff was knowledgable and very informative. I would highly recommend this tour! Thank for a great time!

Had a wonderful time. The excursion was great! Everybody was very helpful. We appreciated the bar service. Lots of fun!

My family of 4 persons enjoyed this attraction very much. I recommend to anybody who reads this message that you guys need to go with this attraction.

Smooth sailing, saw dolphins and whale.
We were lucky!!

A LOT OF ACTIVS PICKUP AND DROPOFF TO CENTER . THE BUFFET WAS VERY GOOD,

The crew was fantastic and the views were wonderful!!

Just an overall fun experience. From learning about the different cultures to the games and activities to the amazing food! Everything was planned and every worker was helpful and polite. I highly recommend doing the full day event and using it as one of your full vacation days. It was a very long day, but it was well worth it and the food buffet was like nothing I had ever seen before. The best part was the luau completely captivating and well done.

The one-hour course was just enough. All the staff were very nice, and we had a great time. The scenery was also amazing! My 10-year-old son was very satisfied as well.

1時間コースで十分でした。
スタッフもみんな感じがよくとても楽しめました。
景色も最高でした！
10歳の息子もとても満足していました。

It was refreshing to race through while enjoying the beautiful scenery in a buggy. There were also times when a herd of wild cattle crossed our path.

バギーで素敵な景色を見ながら走り抜けるのが爽快でした。
野生の牛の群れが横切ったりするこもありました。

**Positive Points:**
- If you have any questions before participating, you can get detailed information via email (as other participants had inquired beforehand).
- On the day of the event, photos from the activity are uploaded to Facebook, allowing you to download them at no extra charge (this was mentioned in reviews and communicated on the day, but it would have been reassuring if it was clearly stated on the website).
- Since the instructor is knowledgeable about Hanauma Bay, you can efficiently snorkel based on the previous day's information and the sea conditions of the day.
- After participating, you get a snack from a selection of snacks and a cold bottle of water (this was quite nice as it helped satisfy a bit of hunger).
- You can borrow a mat that resembles a mat, so you don’t have to sit on the ground.
- There were no additional charges for participating alone (some other tours do charge extra).
- Instead of being lured by the price into an English tour or a shuttle-only tour, going with someone familiar with Hanauma Bay made the snorkeling experience efficient and easy to understand (initially, I planned to join the English tour because it was cheaper).

**Areas for Improvement:**
- I had no complaints about my participation.
- As mentioned above, it would be reassuring if the website stated that you can receive photo data via Facebook.
- Especially in winter, it would be good to have a wetsuit rental plan available from the start (though Veltra might not be able to offer this option, carrying cash is becoming less common overseas, so it would be convenient to avoid searching for cash or exchanging money during participation).
- It would be very convenient if entry fees that must be paid in cash could be paid in advance, including the entry fee.
- It might be good to mention that there is a possibility of a multinational group rather than just Japanese participants (I was aware of this possibility from the reviews and had no resistance to participating in such a tour, but some people might assume it’s only for Japanese participants and feel dissatisfied).
- Since water is provided after participation, it’s a good idea to bring some water with you if you want to hydrate before the event.
- One hour goes by quickly, so a plan that allows for about two hours of swimming would be great.

I decided to participate the day before and submitted a reservation request on a whim, but I received prompt communication regarding the pickup time and location, which was helpful. On the day of the event, there were three participants, including myself, and we snorkeled in pairs. I hadn’t planned to borrow a wetsuit, but since the instructor, Chieko, mentioned she would be wearing a winter wetsuit, I borrowed one at the last minute. If I hadn’t borrowed it, I might have had to give up due to the cold, so I think it’s especially good to borrow one from the start in winter.

I believe there are multiple snorkeling tours at Hanauma Bay, but I was unsure about whether I would receive underwater photo data for this tour. Reviews mentioned that it could be downloaded via Facebook, so I participated with some apprehension, but they uploaded it afterward. As others have noted, you can’t press buttons on your phone underwater. I was able to take photos with a GoPro, but if you want to take pictures with your phone, you need to change the settings to use the side button for the shutter instead of the screen, which is not possible unless you do that. If that’s not possible, it’s better to give up on taking photos and enjoy the actual scenery. Also, since fish and sea turtles move, video is the most enjoyable format.

Although it wasn’t mentioned in the instructions, you can record underwater videos by timing it right: take your phone out of the water, press the record button, and then put it back underwater. To stop recording, take the phone out of the water again. If you want to record videos, that method is reliable.

The age and experience

【良かった点】
・参加前に疑問などがあればメールなどで詳しく教えてもらえる（同じツアーの参加者の方が事前に問い合わせなどを行っていたため）
・当日参加した際の写真のデータをフェイスブックにアップしてくるため追加料金なしでダウンロードできる（クチコミでの記載や当日参加時に教えてもらえましたがベルトラにしっかりと書いていなかったように思うので記載があれば安心できたかと…）
・ハナウマ湾に精通したインストラクターと一緒のため前日の情報やその日の海のコンディションで効率よくハナウマ湾のシュノーケリングができる
・参加後に小腹が空くが複数のスナック菓子からお菓子が一つもらえ冷たい水がもらえる（少し小腹を満たせるためかなり嬉しかった）
・参加前にゴザみたいな感じのマットを借りれるので地べたに座らなくていい
・1人参加でも追加料金がかからなかった（ほかはかかるツアーもある）
・値段につられ英語のツアーや送迎のみのツアーに参加せず、ハナウマ湾に精通した人と一緒に行くことで当たり前だが効率的にシュノーケリングができわかりやすい（最初は安いため英語ツアーにする予定だった）
【悪かったというか今後に向けて】
・参加した不満はなし
・上にも記載したが、サイトにフェイスブックで写真のデータがもらえると記載があれば安心
・特に冬は最初からベルトラでウエットスーツ貸し出しプランがあればよいかと（ベルトラがその選択をできないかもしれないが、海外でも最近現金を持ち歩くことがあまりなく、参加時に現金を探したり両替せずにすむため）
・上とかぶるが絶対に入場料が現金で必要なら入場料込みで事前に支払いができたらとても楽
・日本人限定ではなく多国籍になる可能性があると記載があってもいいかなと思った（口コミを見てその可能性があるとわかっていたしそのようなツアーに参加することに抵抗もないが、人によっては日本人限定と思い込み不満に感じる人もいそう）
・水がもらえるのは参加後のため、参加前に水分補給をしたい場合は少し持参しておくとよい
・１時間はあっという間のため2時間ぐらい泳ぎっぱなしでもよかったためそんなプランがあればよいかと

前日に参加を決めダメ元で予約リクエストを入れましたがピックアップ時間や場所についてすぐ連絡を頂け助かりました。
当日は自分を含め二組の計3名参加でシュノーケリングは2名で行いました。
ウエットスーツを借りる予定はなかったのですが、インストラクターのちえこさんも冬用のウエットスーツを着用すると言っていたので急遽借りましたが借りていなければ寒さでリタイアしていた可能性もあったので特に冬は最初から借りておくと良いと思います。
また、ハナウマ湾のシュノーケリングのツアーは複数あると思いますが自分がこのツアーに参加するか迷った点が水中写真のデータがもらえるか分からなかった点です。
口コミにはフェイスブックでダウンロードできたと書いていたので恐る恐る参加したらあとでアップしてくれていました。
携帯はほかの方も記載していますが水中ではボタンを押せません。自分はGoProで撮影できましたが、携帯で写真を撮るには画面上ではなくサイドボタンでシャッター切る設定などに変更しない限り無理なのでそれが無理なら最初からあきらめ実際の光景を堪能すると良いと思います。また、魚やウミガメは当たり前ですが動くため動画が一番楽です。
案内にはありませんでしたが水に浮いたタイミングや携帯だけ海から出し動画の録画ボタンを押し水中に戻す→動画終了時は再度水中から携帯をだし動画を停止することで水中の動画を撮ることは可能です。もし動画を撮りたい人はその方法なら確実です。
参加者の年齢や経験の有無は運です。そして、その日の海のコンディションや場所によって見える光景もあるため短時間でポイントを押さえまわれるのは非常に効率がいいです。
ただ、正直１時間は短くもっと見たい気持ちはありました。（人によってはしんどいかも…）
また、ウミガメを見れなくても魚や海の中は十分綺麗です。参加した際には3匹ほど見れましたが全て運なので、見れたらラッキーと思って参加すると見れた時の喜びが倍増します！
最後に早朝と昼前のツアーがあると思いますが、次回自分が参加するならば早朝を選びます。早朝に参加し帰宅前には入場ゲートに渋滞が起きていましたが早朝ならそんなことはなくすぐはいれます。そして参加後にホテルで休憩し夕方から出かけたりできるため非常に楽に感じました！
また、ハワイに行くことがあればぜひ参加し体験したいツアーでした。参加を迷っている人は時期により満員とかで参加できない可能性もあるため、参加をお勧めします！

Since it's a large ship, there was no seasickness! The pineapple banana bread was delicious, and we saw plenty of dolphins and whales, which was amazing!

大きい船なので、船酔い無し！
パイナップルバナナブレッドも美味しいし、
イルカも鯨もたくさん見られて最高でした！

It was my first time in Hawaii for our honeymoon, and everything was amazing! I joined this tour because I wanted to see wild dolphins, and with our Japanese guide Ken, I felt safe and enjoyed it from start to finish! He was very knowledgeable, and just listening to him was fun, but I never expected to see whales as well. I was told that if you see a whale's tail, happiness will come, so I'm looking forward to what’s next. This experience included a slide on the boat, which was more thrilling than I imagined! It was so much fun! I want to come back to Hawaii again for some kind of celebration.

ハネムーンで初めてのハワイでしたが全てが最高でした！野生のイルカが見たくてこのツアーに参加しましたが日本人ガイドのKENさんがいて最初から最後まで安心して楽しめました！知識が豊富で聞いてるだけでも楽しかったのにまさかクジラまで会えるとは思いませんでした。クジラの尾びれが見れたら幸せが訪れると教えて頂いたのでこれからが楽しみです。この体験では船に滑り台がついてて想像以上にスリル満載でした！楽しかったです！また何かの記念でハワイに戻ってきたいと思います。

Initially, we received a numbered ticket, but I thought there might be a specific order for sending guests to their hotels. It was a bit frustrating to see people with later numbers being called first and getting into the cars.

Additionally, it seemed that our number was overlooked on the list, and we weren't called for a long time. After waiting and getting anxious, we had to inform the staff of our number, and they desperately apologized, saying our number had been missed.

I felt that a considerable amount of time (about an hour) was wasted after arriving at the airport, which was disappointing.

初めに整理番号を貰ったのですが、送るホテルの順番もあるかと思いますが、自分たちよりあとの番号の人たちが先に呼ばれ車に乗って行くのはちょっと…と思いました。
また私たちの番号はリストからもれていたようでいつまで経っても呼ばれず、しびれを切らしてこちらからスタッフに番号を伝えると、番号がもれてたとのことで必死に謝っていました。
空港に着いてからかなりの時間(1時間程)無駄になったと思い、残念でした。

I arrived 15 minutes early for the meeting time and waited, but even after 15 minutes had passed, the pickup car did not arrive. When I contacted the company, they said it was heading to a different hotel. After about 5 more minutes, the car finally arrived. Although they said there was plenty of time before boarding, I felt anxious.

集合時間15分前に行って待っていましたが、時間15分経っても迎えの車が来ず、会社に連絡したら違うホテルに向かってしまったと。
その後5分くらいしてからやっと車が到着。
搭乗時間には余裕があるとは言うものの不安にかられました。

Great time kayaking down the river. Fun and muddy hike to a beautiful waterfall. We had lunch there and a swim and then started the trip back. Harrison was our guide so knowledge and helpful. Recommend this fun adventure.

The experience of riding while exploring the natural mountains and sea was truly amazing! The scenery changes in various ways, which was moving! I was completely satisfied with the full two hours! Although I did get a bit of muscle soreness, haha.

乗馬しながら自然の山や海を回れる体験は本当に最高でした！
景色も色々変わるので感動です！
2時間たっぷりで満足です！
ただ少し筋肉痛になります笑

The weather wasn't great, but the waves were calm, so we were able to enjoy various activities. Other activities, like interacting with turtles at the deep sea or the venue, can be quite challenging for children, but turtles also came to the sandbar, and the experience of seeing them up close in the shallow water was fantastic. I highly recommend it for families with kids. The staff who spoke Japanese (local people?) were very kind.

天気に恵まれなかったのですが、波が穏やかでしたので諸々楽しめました。他のアクティビティは深い海の底や会場でカメと触れ合うため子供には大変ですが、サンドバーにもカメがやってきてくれて、浅瀬でカメを間近に見れる体験は最高でした。子連れにこそおススメです。日本語を話せるスタッフさん(現地の方？)がとても親切でした。

During my stay, there was a week of "all-day rain," which happens only once every 15 years, making it difficult to truly experience the essence of this activity. The operators were very kind, and I am filled with gratitude for the captain, who tried to create enjoyable memories despite the rain and rough waves. However, the boat's rocking when heading out was more than expected, and more than half of the passengers ended up feeling unwell.

I definitely want to try again on a sunny day.

滞在中、15年に一度あるかないかという「終日降雨」という日が一週間続き、なかなか本アクティビティの神髄を体験することは叶いませんでした。オペレータの皆様もとても親切でしたし、雨や荒波なりに楽しい思い出を残そうと盛り上げて下さる船長には感謝の気持ちでいっぱいですが、沖に出る際の船の揺れが予想以上で、乗客の半数以上が体調を崩してしまいました。

是非、晴れた日にリベンジしたいです。

It's not an exaggeration to say that I came to Hawaii to see the fire dance in this show. The other shows were also well-crafted as entertainment, and I was able to enjoy them with peace of mind.

このショーのファイヤーダンスを見るためにハワイに来たと言っても過言ではない。他のショーもエンターテインメントとして完成されており、安心して楽しめました。

I was torn between the hotel luau and this show, but I chose this one for its convenience. I had heard that it wasn't just a hula show, and the quality of the performance was wonderfully impressive. The kids also enjoyed watching it.

ホテルのルアウと迷って、お手軽さからこのショーにしました。
フラショーだけではないと聞いていましたが、ショーのクオリティとして素晴らしい完成度でした。
子どもも楽しく見ました。

Best customer service. Best shuttle driver to pier with Kaplan. He is amazing. Very personable and knowledgeable about Oahu. Excellent communicator in both English and Japanese. He is a great ambassador for the tour and for Oahu.
Snockel crew was excellent. Very personable and helpful. Made all guests feel comfortable. Communicate in both English and Japanese. Very helpful in pointing out marine life. Jaime was excellent.

My first experience at Kualoa Ranch!
My companions wanted to do activities like buggies! They love Jurassic Park! I personally love Jumanji! I love nature! So, we started our buggy experience in the heavy rain☆
After the explanation in English, there was also a proper explanation in Japanese◎
After the buggy experience, we were able to enjoy our souvenirs and lunch at a leisurely pace♪
Although the weather was unfortunate, it meant there was no dust flying around, and we got to see the fantastic scenery of sun and rain, along with a rainbow, so it was great☆

クアロア・ランチ初体験！
同行者たちがバギーなどアクティビティがやりたい！ジュラシックパークが好き！私自身はジュマンジが好き！大自然が好き！って事で大雨のバギー体験スタートです☆
英語での説明の後、ちゃんと日本語での説明がありました◎
バギー体験後、お土産もランチもゆっくり楽しめました♪
あいにくのお天気でしたがその分埃が舞うこともなく太陽と雨の幻想的な景色や虹も見れたので良かったです☆

I received an email asking me to fill out a survey and a pledge, and at that time, I indicated that I did not want any photos. Later, I requested photos via email and received confirmation, and on the day of the event, I asked again for photos. I was told it would be fine, but the scheduled instructor did not show up. As a result, we ended up with just one instructor for the three of us beginners, so no photos were taken (although we did get a free photo of us on the board on the beach).

The surfing took place in a safe area, and the instructor provided guidance that was manageable for beginners. However, since there was only one instructor, I question whether we received enough attention. That said, the weather was beautiful, the scenery was stunning, and just floating in the ocean felt great. The Hawaiian instructor was cheerful and had a relaxed attitude, not worrying too much about the details, which is definitely a positive aspect. If you think of it as "Hawaiian time," it doesn't bother you at all.

メールが届いてそこからアンケートや誓約書などを書くのですが、その時に写真は希望しないにしてしまい、その後、メールで写真をお願いして了承を貰い、当日も写真を撮ってほしいとお願いしたのですが｢大丈夫｣とはいわれたのですが、予定のインストラクターが現れず、結果、1人のインストラクターで、私たち初心者の3人を見ることになったので、写真は無しになりました(無料で砂浜の上でボードに乗る写真だけは撮っていただきました)。
サーフィンは安全な場所で、初心者に無理の無い様に指導して貰いました。ですがやはり1人のインストラクターだったので十分に出来たかは疑問です。ただ、天気が良く、景色が素晴らしく、海に浮かんでいるだけでも気持ち良く。ハワイのインストラクターは陽気で細かいところは気にしないというおおらかさが良いところではありますね。
ハワイタイム？と思えば気にもなりません。