All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

It was my first time riding a submarine, and I had a lot of fun. The location was close to where I was staying, so I walked there. The staff were very kind to me, even though I arrived early and couldn't speak English. I'm grateful for that. It was probably just a coincidence, but when I participated, about 60% of the participants were Japanese. A person who could speak Japanese guided us, so I didn't need an audio guide in Japanese. I was able to see sea turtles, and it was a very enjoyable experience.

潜水艦に乗るの初めてなので楽しかったです。
場所が滞在場所から近かったので歩いて現地に行きました。
早めに来てしまった英語のできない自分に対してもスタッフさんはとても親切にしていただきました。感謝します。
たまたまでしょうが自分が参加した時は参加者の6割が日本人でした。
日本語ができる方がガイドしてくださり、日本語の音声ガイドが必要ありませんでした。
ウミガメの見ることができたし、とても楽しい経験ができました。

I participated with my husband’s father and another person. Although it was far away, I was very moved to see the whales jumping. I hope to observe them from a closer distance next time.

主人の父と3人で参加しました。
遠くでしたがクジラのジャンプも見れとても感動しました。
次回はもっと近くで観察できたらと思います。

I was so excited to see whales and I wasn't disappointed! Guaranteed indeed.
We saw a few pod of whales and it was always entertaining to watch them swim by and see their blows. I actually saw one that threw its tail out of the water up close when I was heading to the restroom, but very quickly that no one noticed it I think. I just got lucky, haha!
It was a nice cruise, great customer service from the crew, delicious food, and gorgeous views of the Waikiki coastline and Diamond Head! There were fun activities on board too like lei making, ukulele lessons, and hula lessons. I really enjoyed the trip! I was with a group of friends but as a mom, I would definitely recommend this for families with young children as well, it's a great activity for all ages so anyone are welcome!

I booked a plan without pick-up. The check-in location listed on the voucher is the Paradise cruise office, but in reality, there is no such office, so you need to check in at the Stat of Honolulu reservation office.
The breakfast isn't particularly delicious, but I was able to enjoy warm dishes and coffee.
About two hours after departure, we spotted a whale just 20 meters from the boat! We were lucky to see it.
Since the boat is quite large, positioning is also important.

送迎無しのプランを予約。バウチャー記載のチェックイン場所はParadise cruise officeとありますが、実際にはそんなオフィスは無く、Stat of Honolulu reservation office にてチェックインを行うので注意が必要です。
朝食は大して美味しくありませんが、暖かい料理とコーヒーを楽しめました。
出発から2時間ほどすると、船から20メートル先にクジラが！！運良く見ることができました。
船はかなり大きい為、ポジショニングも大事になると思います。

As soon as we headed out to sea, we were able to see three young whales swimming near the surface for a long time. One of them performed a dynamic breach.
I'm glad I could park the rental car in the free parking lot. There were many cars parked on the street, and if the parking lot had been full, I might not have made it to the meeting on time...

沖に出てすぐに、3頭の若いクジラが水面近くで長い時間泳いでるのが見れました。その中の一頭がダイナミックにブリーチングしてくれました。
無料駐車場にレンタカー停められてよかったです。路駐してる車が多くて、駐車場がいっぱいだったら集合に間に合わなかったかも、、、

The owner was a Japanese woman, and the attendant was also a Japanese woman. Their thoughtfulness was great.
We took a bus for about an hour from the Royal Hawaiian Center to board the boat.
We went out on the boat to search for dolphins. I ended up getting seasick during that time.
Along the way, we were able to see whales and sea turtles.
Finally, we entered the sea and swam with the dolphins. I was able to see the dolphins swimming right below me while snorkeling!
The crew was also eager for us to see them, and I was happy about their efforts.
On the way back, they served us spam onigiri, warm tea, and pineapple, and we even danced together.
I heard that in a few years, swimming with wild dolphins will no longer be allowed, so it was a precious experience.

日本人女性のオーナーでアテンドも日本人の女性でした。心遣いが良かったです。
ロイヤルハワイアンセンターから1時間くらいバスにのってボートに乗り込みました。
ボートでイルカを探しに行きます。私はその間に船酔いしてしまいました。
途中、クジラやウミガメも見ることが出来ました。
いよいよ海に入りイルカと泳ぎます。シュノーケリングで真下をイルカ達が泳いでいるのを見ることが出来ました‼
クルーの皆様も何とか見て欲しいと必死に取り組んでくださりうれしかったです。
帰りはスパムおにぎりや温かいお茶、パイナップルなどを出してくださり、ダンスも一緒にしました。
数年のうちに自然のイルカと泳いではいけなくなるそうで貴重な体験でした。

The scrambled eggs were a bit hard, I felt (^_^;)
But it was great to see the whales, and my family was happy!
The whales were amazing, and the scenery was incredibly beautiful; I was moved!

スクランブルエッグが少し硬かったかなーと言う感じでした(^_^;)
でも、クジラも観れて家族もよろこんでいたので良かったです！
クジラもですか、景色が凄くキレイで感動しました！

Guaranteed to have a great time. The staff is very knowledgeable and will keep you in their best regards at all time.

This is a must do in Honolulu! The service was great. They provided pick up and drop off service which really helped. Once you reach their office the staff explains the process in a very simplified way. On board the boat there were refreshments and the staff was very friendly :)

I took my mother who uses a wheelchair. The ship had elevators, and we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast while experiencing a graceful cruise. Of course, we were able to see whales multiple times, and I am very satisfied.

車椅子利用の母を連れていきました。船内にはエレベーターもあり、ゆったりと朝食をいただきながら優雅なクルーズを楽しめました。
もちろんクジラも複数回見ることができ、満足しています。

This is my second time going to Oahu but was traveling with friends who have never gone. One was really interested in whale watching so we saw links for the Honi Olani Catamaran Sail and decided to try this one out. We're super glad we did because this was such a great tour!

The staff are extremely friendly and they provide such a great experience. The first time we went, we didn't see any whales but that may have been because of the strong waves and number of boats sailing around which might have scared them away.
Regardless of seeing whales, the cruise was awesome. It was really nice to be able to feel the sun on the catamaran and have a nice beverage while we enjoyed the weather. The tour was nice to give us a free voucher to ride again to see if we can spot whales the second time and we did! We ended up seeing a mother whale teaching her male calf how to breach!

I would definitely cruise again with this crew when I come back to Oahu. Mahalo for the great experience guys

We got to see several whales and got some great pictures of breaches and blows. I was skeptical but was very happily surprised and would do it again next time I'm in Hawaii!

I was able to see sea turtles and small fish up close with the underwater scooter. The stand-up paddleboarding was fun as the whole family could paddle while standing. The staff spoke Japanese, which made us feel at ease while having fun.

水中スクーターではウミガメ・小さな魚達を近くで見ることができました。スタンドアップパドルボードは家族全員立ってこげるようになり、楽しかったです。スタッフの方も日本語が話せる方だったので安心して遊ぶことができました。

I was able to catch a glimpse of it three times from a distance. However, it was too far away to capture in a photo, and it was just for a moment. Still, I enjoyed the cruise. The staff couldn't speak any Japanese, but they were very friendly. Later, during the dolphin watching in Oahu, I was lucky enough to see whales up close several times, which was great.

遠くにチラッと3回ほど確認できました。
ただ写真には収まらない程の遠くで一瞬でした。
ただ、クルーズとして楽しめました。
スタッフの皆さんは一切日本語が喋れませんがとてもフレンドリーでした。
この後のオアフ島で参加したイルカウォッチングで偶然に何度もクジラを近くで見れたので良かったです。

This was the first tour we took on our first trip to Hawaii in April of 2016. It was absolutely amazing. We had a good time on the Star of Honolulu except it was rather windy that day. Had a blast, regardless! There were several whale sightings but, not close enough to see them which was disappointing. The breakfast was fantastic. We spent time walking about the ship taking some wonderful photos. We would definitely book another cruise when we return again.

This was the first tour I took on my first trip to Hawaii. It was absolutely amazing.

I saw the whales' spouts and backs, but I felt a bit of a gap compared to the image I had in mind. However, considering it was a morning cruise off Waikiki, I think it was still quite enjoyable.

クジラの潮吹きや背中は見えましたが、イメージしてるクジラの姿とは少しギャップを感じました。ただ、朝のワイキキ沖クルーズと思えば十分アリかなと思います。

The overall cruise was extremely disappointing because throughout the entire cruise we saw a single whale spout either 4 or 5 times as it exhaled and a brief cloud of mist was observable for about 2 seconds. Because the spouts were so brief, I only actually saw 2 of them. However, technically, we did see a whale and were not eligible for a free re-booking.
I don't blame Star of Honolulu for the lack of whales - they are wild animals! But, I did expect more from them and am disappointed that seeing mist from a whale for a total of less than 20 seconds in a multi-hour cruise at least 100 yards away is considered a whale sighting.
Other than the lack of seeing whales - which was the entire point of going on the cruise! - the cruise itself is actually pretty good. The employees were very friendly, the food was better than expected (bring your own coffee though), and the views of Oahu from the ocean are gorgeous.
The ship is a bit dated and worn around the edges, but it was clean and offered a lot of indoor and outdoor viewing options. Because there are 4 decks, I never felt like it was crowded even though there were a lot of people on board.

This was a really great experience. Uncle Dave-the captain, Shane, and Rider all made the trip educationall, fun, and really put us all at ease. I was amazed at how many sharks we saw!

This was one of the best experiences of my life!

I wanted to participate in the program where you can swim with dolphins, but since I was pregnant, I joined this program that allows participation during pregnancy. There was a Japanese interpreter, although their Japanese was basic. Only one person gets to touch the dolphin a little. You can stroke its back and feed it (not everyone gets fish), and if you wish, you can touch its teeth a bit. You can definitely see them up close. However, since I went to Sea Life Park, I wonder if it would be better to change into a swimsuit and join a program where you can interact more? I can't say for sure since I haven't participated in that one.

They take one photo per adult. They don't take a photo of the whole family. Children can take as many photos as they want with an adult. In the end, I ended up buying two photos: one with me and the child, and one with my husband and the child (sales strategy? lol). One photo costs about $18.

I had my meal at the snack shop near the entrance. There were no Japanese menus, and the staff didn't speak Japanese. Besides the program, there are shows and aquarium-like attractions, but compared to Japanese aquariums, the quality is a bit lower.

In the end, since my child was happy, I consider it a success!

イルカと泳げるプログラムへ参加したかったのですが、妊娠していたため、妊娠中でも参加できるこちらのプログラムに参加。
片言ですが、日本語の通訳さんもいました。イルカに触れるのは１人ほんの少しです。背中辺りをなでなでして、エサあげて(全員に魚をくれるわけではないです)、希望であれば歯を触る程度。
間近で見られるのは確かですが。せっかくシーライフパークへ行くのであれば、水着に着替えて触れあえるプログラムのほうがいいのかなー？と思います。そちらは参加したことないので、なんとも言えませんが。

大人１人につき一枚写真を撮ってくれます。家族全員では撮ってくれません。子どもは、大人と一緒に何枚でもOK。結局、私と子供、主人と子供の二枚買ってしまいました(営業戦略？笑)一枚確か、18ドルぐらい。

食事は、入り口付近の売店で済ませました。日本語メニューなどもなく、店員さんも日本語は通じません。プログラム以外にも、ショーや水族館的なものはありますが、日本の水族館と比べると、クオリティは低めかな？

結果、子供が喜んでくれたのでヨシとします！

Let me just say Alii Nui treated everyone right even from the second we boarded the boat! A full spread of hors d'oeuvres and open bar - created a light, fun, exciting atmosphere . Captain Nick was great - awesome personality ! All the staff was super knowledgeable and very friendly. I'll say this- I could sail on this whale watching tour everyday and never get bored with it- it was that fun! Saw a mother and baby double breach too! Highly recommend whenever you're in Maui !

I was nervous about whether we would actually get to see it, but we were able to see it clearly, and the kids were thrilled! Even if we hadn't seen it, I felt that cruising would have been enough, so I'm really glad we participated.

実際に見れるかドキドキでしたが、しっかりと見ることができて子供も大喜びでした！
見れなくてもクルージングできればいっかという感じでしたので本当に参加して良かったです。

Was lots of fun - the divers/guides with us were great. Only negative was that it was a little choppy on the day and my husband ended up getting seasick while waiting for others to complete their turn. This though ended up a positive as it helped with bringing more fish closer to the boat! Next time we would be more prepared and take seasick tablets beforehand. Also I had tried scuba diving in the past and had problems "equalizing", thus could not move far from the diving platform. The underwater scooter experience has helped me overcome my previous fears of underwater adventures. An awesome time was had despite the seasickness.

It was written that snorkeling could be done during the waiting time, and although it was more expensive than other sites without snorkeling, I applied thinking I could snorkel as well. In reality, the explanation was insufficient, and the guide who could somewhat speak Japanese was unfriendly. There were no prior instructions for the underwater scooter, so I ended up not knowing when to snorkel. I would like a refund for the snorkeling fee.

待ち時間にシュノーケリングが出来ると書いてあり、他社サイトのシュノーケリング無しより高かったがシュノーケリングも出来ると思い、申し込みました。
実際は説明も不十分ですし、日本語がなんとなく話せるガイドは感じ悪く、水中スクーターの事前の順番の指示もない為、シュノーケリングをするタイミングがわからいまま、終了しました。
シュノーケリング代分返して欲しいです。

Our family did many things during our week on Oahu, but this was the highlight of our trip. We were on island for a very special and personal situation. All involved in booking the trip were very helpful and thorough. Great confirmation and follow up communication. Capt'n Mark and Sammy were fantastic hosts aboard the Ho'O Nanea. We sailed out on time and saw multiple whales, a Galapagos shark and had a very special visit from an Albatross. The sunset was spectacular and provided for a lot of great photos. Being out on the boat and seeing the island from this perspective along with the beautiful sunset is something to experience. I would recommend this trip to anyone. By the way, did I mention the sunset was spectacular!

I participated with my friend's family, and as we got closer to the area, we were able to see the spouts several times. However, since we were only able to see the spouts from quite a distance, the kids started saying it was "boring."

Just when I thought we probably wouldn't see any jumps like those in the photos, the whales put on a fantastic show.

We were able to see all the whale behaviors listed on the ship, and we were very satisfied. Both the kids and the parents were thrilled to finish the tour. I know that since they are living creatures, it might not be like this every time.

友人家族と参加しましたが、ポイント付近に近づくとすぐに潮吹きが何度もみれました。
しかし、かなり離れたところからたまに上がる潮吹きを見ていただけなので、子供たちが「つまらない」と言い始めてしまいました。

あぁ、写真で見られるようなジャンプとかはなかなか見られないんだなと思っていたら、クジラの大サービスが始まりました。

船内に書いてあるクジラの行動パターンはすべてみられる事が出来て大満足です。
子供たちも親も大興奮でツアーを終えることが出来ました。
相手は生き物なので毎回こうはいかないと思いますが。

Had a great time! As others have said, lots of wait time but you can spend it sunning or snorkeling. We had read the other reviews and knew to take Dramamine. Many others had not and felt sick. We felt great and would recommend this activity. Bought the photo video combo. Great work - only disappointment was we were missing solo wife pics. Still a great value.

I signed up for this tour because I wanted to interact directly with dolphins. I was very moved by the feel and sounds of the dolphins. I highly recommend this tour.

イルカと直接触れ合ってみたくこのツアーを申し込みました。
イルカの感触と鳴き声とても感動しました。おすすめツアーです。

I didn't see any whales, sea turtles, or dolphins at all. I would appreciate some further explanation regarding the inability to see whales. I believe there was only audio recording, and there were no special announcements. They were distributing tickets for reboarding the next day to those who wanted them, but I couldn't use them due to other plans. Although there is a policy that refunds are not available, I think it would be nice to have some consideration, such as a souvenir, in case we didn't see anything.

クジラもウミガメイルカももいっさい何も見れませんでした。
クジラが見れないことについて何かもう少し解説などあればと思います。
録音の音声だけで、特別なアナウンスはなかったと思います。
翌日再乗船できるチケットを希望者に配布していましたが、他の予定もあるので利用できませんでした。
返金はできないという規定ですが、見れなかった場合には記念品などの配慮があってもよいのではと思いました。

Our experience was unbelievable and Matt and the crew were great. They were very professional and a lot of fun. I highly recommend this activity if you are on Oahu.