All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We participated as a couple. We boarded the boat with a mix of skepticism and high expectations about what we would see. Every time someone shouted, there was a commotion and movement, which was a bit tiring... but we did see it. Just when we thought we might not see anything, we spotted the tail... Unfortunately, we couldn't see the large body, but the view of Honolulu Beach from the sea was breathtaking. I would like to participate again during a better season.

夫婦二人で参加しました。どのくらい見えるのか、半信半疑も期待大で乗船しました。誰かが叫ぶたびにどよめきと移動で少々くたびれましたが・・・見えたんです。もう駄目かなと思っていたときに尾びれが・・・残念ながら大きなからだの部分は見えませんでしたが、海から眺めるホノルルビーチの風景は絶景でした。また季節の良い時に参加したいと思います。

Although the pictures and video that we took were amazingly beautiful and it is probably the best way to see the waterfalls on the island. There should be a disclaimer along with the advertisement of the tour for people with bad backs or next and probably awful younger children and senior citizens. The ride itself as horrible as far as comfortability . The water being so rough around the coast line added with no seat belts or cushioning on the aluminum boat itself made for a horrible ride. There was one point when I was actually in tears because of the pain and shock to my back from the intensity of being thrown back into the seat.

At 58 years old, I experienced snorkeling for the first time. I put on a wetsuit over my swimsuit, wore a life jacket, added fins, and attached the snorkel for mouth breathing. Everything was new to me, and then I dove into the sea. The blue sky, the blue ocean, and the crystal-clear water stretched as far as I could see, and there I was with dolphins. Not just a few, but dozens of them were swimming around me, right below and beside me, so close I could almost reach out and touch them. I was unbelievably excited and moved. I also made friends with the other participants, and we all had a great time together, laughing and enjoying ourselves on this wonderful tour. I participated with my husband and sister, and even though my sister visits Hawaii more than twice a year, it was her first time seeing dolphins, and she was thrilled to have such a precious experience. She was so moved that at 65, she was wearing a swimsuit and jumping into the ocean. I felt the same way; it was refreshing and incredibly healing. The blue ocean of Hawaii, the school of dolphins, the smiles of the participants, Julie's bright and fun personality, the photographer swimming like a mermaid, and the captain in a red T-shirt who suited the role perfectly—all the cheerful and fun staff made it the best memory of Hawaii. The dolphin experience was the highlight. I definitely want to participate again. Thank you to all the staff. I gained the energy to tackle work and house chores after returning to Japan. I want to brag to my friends about this. It’s a lifelong memory.

私 58才にして、初めてシュノーケリングを体験しました。水着の上にウエットスーツ、ライフジャケットを付け、足ヒレも付け、シュノーケルを付け口呼吸 すべてが初めての事で、いざ海にダイブ。青い空、青い海、どこまでも見渡せる透明度の海、その中に私とイルカがいました。何頭ではなく何十頭も泳いでいて、私の泳いでいるすぐ下にも、横にもイルカが、すぐ手の届く所にいるなんて、信じられないくらい興奮し感動しました。一緒に参加した人達とも仲良くなれて、みんなでワイワイ、ガヤガヤ、ノリノリでとても楽しいツアーでした。私は夫と姉と三人で参加しましたが、姉は年に2回以上はハワイに来てるのに、イルカを見に行ったのは初めてと、貴重な体験をしたと、とても喜んでいました。まさか65才になって水着を着て、海に飛び込むとはと、すっごく感動してました。私も同じ気持ちで、心が洗われ、とても癒されました。ハワイの青い海、イルカの群れ、参加した人達の笑顔、ジュリさんの明るく楽しいキャラ、カメラマンさんの人魚みたいに泳ぐ姿、赤Ｔシャツがよく似合うキャプテン、みなさん陽気で楽しいスタッフに恵まれ、最高に楽しいハワイの思い出となりました。イルカ中学最高でした。又ぜひ参加したいと思います。スタッフのみなさんありがとうございました。また日本に帰ってからの仕事、家事、頑張れる元気もらいました。友達に自慢したいと思います。一生の思い出です。

The underwater scooter was really great! They made an effort to gather fish by scattering food just before we went in, and they took pictures of us as a couple, which I think will create really fun memories (^^)♪ However, other aspects were lacking...

First, most of the staff didn't speak Japanese, so even when I wanted to confirm something, it was difficult to communicate. Also, I wasn't offered any light snacks, and I ended up not knowing where they were located. The explanation for the stand-up paddleboarding was just "You paddle while standing," and then we were left to figure it out on our own. It seems that aside from the underwater scooter, everything else was treated as just a way to pass the time. Considering that, I think it's an expensive option.

Also, it was very bumpy, so motion sickness medication is definitely necessary! I was confident that I wouldn't get seasick, but I experienced seasickness for the first time in my life (^^;

水中スクーターは本当によかったです！
直前にエサをまくなど魚を集める工夫をしてくれたりカップルだと
並んで写真を撮ってくれたり本当に楽しい思い出になると思います（＾＾）♪
ですがそれ以外が・・・
まずスタッフがほとんど日本語が通じなく確認したいことがあっても
なかなか通じなく困りました
あと軽食などいっさいすすめられることなく結局どこにあったも分からずじまいで
スタンドアップパドルボートも「立って漕ぐんだよ」ぐらいの説明であとは放置でした
結局水中スクーター以外は時間つぶしのおまけ的な扱いなのでしょう
そう考えると高いオプションだと思います
あとすごく揺れるので酔い止めは絶対必要です！！
絶対に酔わない自信があったのですが人生で初船酔いを体験しました（＾＾；

Since we were staying in Kaanapali, we had booked a departure from Kaanapali Beach. However, I had seen in a previous review from someone who had booked here that due to strong winds, the departure port was changed on the day of the trip. We received a call at our hotel room and headed to Lahaina Harbor. All the calls were in English, so I could somewhat understand, but I had the hotel’s Japanese desk contact them for confirmation. There was no Japanese guide on board, so all the explanations were in English, but we were able to see several whales. On the way back to the harbor, they played the theme song from Pirates of the Caribbean. We got quite wet, but if you sit in a spot that doesn't get splashed, you can stay relatively dry, so we had a great time. However, I think a jacket might be necessary. It’s fine while the sun is out, but when the sun goes behind the clouds or the wind blows, it can get quite cold, so I think it’s needed. We had fun with turkey sandwiches and Mai Tais!

カアナパリに宿泊していたので、カアナパリビーチ発を予約していたのですが、以前こちらで予約していた方の体験談の中に強風で、当日出発する港が変更になったというのを見ていて、私達の所にも、ホテルのルーム宛てに連絡が入りラハイナ港に向かいました。電話は全て英語だったので、何となく聞き取れたもののホテルの日本語デスクの方に連絡して頂き、再度確認して頂きました。日本人のガイドの方は乗っていないので、全て英語での説明でしたが、クジラも何頭か見れて、港に帰る時にはパイレーツオブカリビアンのテーマ曲を流してくれて、かなりお水をかぶりましたが、ちゃんと濡れない席にいればそんなに濡れずに済むので私達は楽しかったです。ただ、上着は必要かなと…。お日様が出ている間はいいですが、お日様が陰ったり風が吹くと、とても寒いので、必要かと思います。ターキーサンドにマイタイを手に楽しかったですよ～！！

1st time to Hawaii and was a little disappointed had to cancel our whale watching trip the 1st time but was able to reschedule before we left. We saw one whale but wasn't fast enough to get a picture. Just saw a little bit of the hump and tail. But we had fun while we could.

This was one of the most amazing things I have ever done… it's a must bucket list item. It is like you are transported to another world and underwater world and I got to see fish, turtles, sting rays - just amazing - you won't regret it. Thanks to the whole team, they made is such a fun experience.

I was able to see several manta rays. Some of them came so close that I thought they might bump into me, which was very impressive. I also enjoyed the little fish, similar to horse mackerel, bumping into me. It was my first time snorkeling, but they taught me carefully, so I felt very secure. Although I saw the manta rays at night, the sunset in the evening was also a highlight. However, I think it's better for those who are prone to motion sickness to take some medication beforehand.

何枚ものマンタを見ることが出来ました。
なかにはぶつかるんじゃ無いかと思うくらい近づいてくるマンタもいて、とても迫力があります。アジの様な小魚がぶつかってきたりと、色々と楽しめました。
シュノーケリングは初めてでしたが、丁寧に教えてくれるのでとても安心です。
マンタを見るのは夜になってからですが、夕方のサンセットも見所です。
但し、酔いやすい人は酔い止めの薬を飲んでおいた方が良いと思います。

First of all, I would like to thank all the staff who took care of us!
On the day of the event, the weather was nice, the waves were calm, and the breeze on the boat was pleasant.
I was able to see the honu (sea turtles) coming up for air multiple times, which was enjoyable in itself.
When the sun went down, it felt a bit chilly in the water, so it was a good decision to borrow a wetsuit.
In the morning bus, our guide Julie cheerfully shared important information and details about Oahu, and what stood out to me was that dolphins have developed ultrasonic communication to convey their feelings.
When we arrived at the spot where the dolphins were, we entered the water and saw the dolphins in the distance!
We moved towards the direction of the dolphins with the other participants, but I was lagging behind and felt like crying inside, wanting to swim with the dolphins!! Just then, dolphins started coming towards us from behind!
I was truly moved to be so close that I thought I might touch them!
After that, dolphins swam slowly towards us from all directions, and later I heard there were about 70 of them.
I heard their squeaky sounds multiple times, and their spinning and belly-up courtship poses were absolutely adorable.
Since they are wild animals, I thought I would be happy just to see a few from a distance, so I was beyond happy.
For those who are not confident swimmers, there were floatation devices available for rent, and those who used them were able to move ahead without any issues.
The photos I posted were taken with my inexpensive underwater camera, but the professional photographer took even more beautiful shots, including some from deeper dives, so I think those who bring their own cameras will be satisfied with their purchases.
If you have the opportunity, making a video would be interesting as you can listen to the squeaky sounds and the clicking sounds, which are ultrasonic and hard for humans to hear.
Lastly, I want to thank Julie for the heartfelt send-off, as well as the powerful and warm captain, the cheerful photographer, and all the staff!
I definitely want to participate again!

まずお世話になったスタッフの皆さん、どうもありがとうございました！
参加当日は天気が良く波も穏やかで船上での風も心地よかったです。
何度も息継ぎをするホヌを見掛ける事が出来、それだけでも楽しかったです。
陽が陰ると海の中では肌寒く感じたのでウエットスーツを借りて正解でした。
朝のバス内ではガイドのジュリさんが明るく注意事項やオアフ島の事など教えて下さり中でも印象的だったのがイルカは超音波が発達していて気持ちが伝わるとの事でした。
いざイルカのいる地点に到着し海に入ると遠くからイルカ達が…！
参加者の方々とイルカのいる方向へ進んで行くのですが思う様に進めず一人どんどん遅れてしまい半泣き状態でイルカさん達と泳ぎたいよー！！と心の中で叫んでいたら私の後ろの方からもイルカ達がこちらに向かって水面へ近付いてきてくれました(;_;)
触れてしまうのではないかと思う位の距離に本当に感動しました！
その後も四方八方からイルカ達がゆっくり泳いできてくれて後で聞くと70頭位だったそうです。
キューキューと鳴く声が何度も聞こえ、ぐるぐるスピンする姿やお腹を真上に泳ぐ求愛ポーズなど本当に愛らしいです。
自然の生き物なので、せめて何匹か遠目でも見る事が出来ればなぁと思っていたので言葉に出来ない位に幸せでした。
泳ぎが苦手な方は浮き具の貸し出しもあり利用されていた方はどんどん先に進んでらしたので問題ないと思います。
投稿写真は私の安い水中カメラで撮ったものですが当日カメラマンさんが撮ってくれている写真はもっと綺麗で深く潜った所からのショットもありカメラ持参の方が購入しても満足出来ると思います。
余裕があればムービーにするとキューキューと鳴く声や後で調べた所、人には聞こえ辛いカタカタッとしたクリック音と言う別の超音波も後で聞き直せるので面白いと思います。
最後にお別れの時まで心のこもったお見送りをして下さったジュリさんを始めパワフルであったかいキャプテン、明るくフォローして下さったカメラマンさんやスタッフの皆さんありがとうございました！
是非また参加したいです！

When I booked the Early Bird Whale Watch Cruise for the 15th April, it was my only opportunity to possibly see some whales. I knew it was the last day of the Star of Honolulu Whale Watch Cuises and I may not necessarily see any whales, and unfortunately we didn't. But that didn't stop me from having an absolutely wonderful time. There were not may 'tourists' on this cruise, probably because it was the end of the season, and we were allowed to wonder about the boat freely. The staff were very informative, and really made us all feel very welcome. I spent my time walking about the ship taking some wonderful photos and talking to other tourists and staff. It was a beautiful sunny day, though a bit windy. To be out on the water on such a beautiful day with some fantastic people was a joy. It was a disappointment we didn't see whales, but a gamble I took when booking. The company guarantees you will see whales, in the event that you dont, they give vouchers for a free cruise, valid for 12 months.
Next time I go to Oahu it will be in January, and I can redeem the free cruise voucher.
I would recommend the Star of Honolulu whale watch cruises, the ship is beautiful and clean, the staff are fantastic, and the scenery is beautiful.

It was a more enjoyable attraction than I had expected! I was also moved by the efforts to protect coral, which takes a long time to grow. Fortunately, a large sea turtle was swimming right beside me.

期待していた以上に楽しいアトラクションでした！
成長にとても時間のかかる珊瑚を守る活動にも感動しました。
ラッキーなことに、大きな海ガメがすぐそばを泳いでいました。

I participated with my 4-year-old son a year and a half ago. He was really looking forward to touching the dolphins, but he was very nervous since he was the first one. In the end, he couldn't kiss the dolphin, but overall it was an enjoyable tour. I hope to participate again when my still-small daughter grows up.

1年半前に4歳の息子と2人で参加しました。
イルカを触れるのをとても楽しみにしていた息子でしたが、
トップバッターだったためか大緊張。
結局イルカにキスはできなかった息子でしたが、
全体的には楽しめたツアーでした。
またまだ小さい娘が大きくなったら参加したいと思っています。

We were hopeful to see whales but knew we were in late so expectations were hopeful at best. However, once we got to the area there were 3 whales (mom, baby & male hopeful) and what a great show they gave. Tons of pictures and memories.

Not only visually great but also quite informative. Would be a great time for families.

Great family activity for all ages. The naturalist on the boat was very nice and obviously loves his job. He was very knowledgeable and was very funny as well. Even though it was almost the end of the season 4/1 we did see several whales. The boat was very smooth sailing and the lunch buffet was nice. Nice way to start out a vacation after a long day of travel.

This was amazing. My whole family including my 15 year old says it was the best thing we did in Hawaii. Guides were great and loved what they do. We even saw whales on the way home and they tried to get us close to them for pictures. Fabulous time!

The display/aquarium was lovely and entertaining. The staff in the aquarium was knowledgeable and friendly. However, we went to the Seascape restaurant and it took about 5 minutes for the server to acknowledge us, with the acknowledgement being cold and mediocre. We then noticed that they quickly greeted and offered service to a caucasian family as soon as they walked in the door. After waiting another few minutes for the server to come back and take our order, we decided to eat elsewhere. Never been treated like that at a facility before. Terrible impression of the Seascape restaurant, which ultimately spilled into the mood of the aquarium trip. Shame on those servers for making anyone feel like that... Will never return when we visit Maui again.

For an April end of season whale cruise it was great to see whales and cruise the harbour in sunshine! saw a whale breaching out on the horizon,a mother and calf quite close to our boat,an escort flapping his tail, a lovely wave from a whale and lots of water spouts!! Fun afternoon

This was my fifth whale watching experience, but it was the first time I saw a jump.

In fact, I think it jumped about five or six times. It was incredibly impressive.

In the second half, we got really close to a parent and child with their kids, making it a fulfilling whale watching experience.

The Japanese staff were also kind, and they provided information about the announcements on board and the whales.

今回で5回目のホエールウォッチングでしたがジャンプを見たのは初でした。

しかも5、6回はジャンプしたでしょうか
大迫力でした。

後半には子連れの親子と大接近もあり充実したホエールウォッチングとなりました。

日本人スタッフの方も親切で船内アナウンスの内容やクジラの事を教えて貰いました^^;

The dolphins are very cute, and the interaction time went by in a flash. The staff in the pool only speak English, but there is an explanation provided in advance by a staff member who can speak Japanese, so there are no issues at all. I had a very enjoyable time.

You will have to wait quite a while until it's time to leave. The park is smaller than it looks on the map, so you can't spend too much time there. If the weather is bad, you might get cold, so I think it's essential to have a change of clothes or something to wear over your outfit.

You can purchase photos with the dolphins, but they might be a bit too expensive. It would be great if they were a little more reasonable.

イルカはとても可愛く、ふれあいの時間はあっというまでした。プール内のスタッフは英語のみですが事前に日本語が話せるスタッフから説明もありますし、全く問題ありません。とても楽しい時間が過ごせました。

帰りの時間までは結構待ちます。パーク内はマップで見てたより狭く、時間はあまり潰せません。天気が悪い日なら身体も冷えてしまうので着替えや羽織るものは必須だと思います。
イルカとの写真は購入できますが、高すぎるかな。もうすこしリーズナブルだとありがたいです。

I felt sleepy while gathering at 6:05 AM. Since there was an explanation on the bus, I couldn't sleep. I had to pay close attention to this explanation. Also, I recommend having breakfast beforehand! It requires a lot of energy, and I felt quite exhausted. I took motion sickness medication at the hotel, so I didn't get seasick.

I was worried because it had rained all day the previous day, but it was sunny on the day of the trip! There was an explanation that we wouldn't necessarily see wild dolphins 100% of the time, and I was excited while on the boat!

It seems there were nine boats out at sea that day, but we had a hard time finding dolphins. We ended up going to see sea turtles first. Jumping into the sea was thrilling!

We quickly encountered sea turtles and saw them three times; one of them was a large 70-year-old male, which was impressive. The guide mentioned that male turtles are rare. Their breathing poses are so cute! The sea and the fish were very beautiful.

Once we got back on the boat, we received information that dolphins had been found, which was a relief. We moved to search for dolphins and found them!

Wild dolphins pass by in an instant, so it's best to pay attention to the guide's signals. We were able to see a few swim below us and spotted some jumping in the distance.

We moved several times and snorkeled in areas where dolphins might be, so by the end, I was quite exhausted, but it was a lot of fun and a unique experience! I think it was the right choice to do this on the last day since it requires a lot of energy.

All the staff were very nice, and I was able to fully enjoy Hawaii and create wonderful memories.

朝6:05集合のため、眠たいまま集合する感じでした。バスの中では説明があるので、眠ることは出来ません。この説明はしっかり聞いておかなきゃです。
あと、朝食はとっておくことをオススメします！かなり体力を使うので、フラフラになりました。ホテルで酔い止めを飲んでいたので、船酔いはしませんでした。
前日が１日中雨だったので心配でしたが、当日は晴天(*^^*)野生のイルカは100％見れるわけではないと説明があり、ドキドキしながら船上！
当日は全体で９隻海に出でいたらしいのですが、なかなかイルカが見つからず(>_<)先に海ガメに行くことになりました。
海に飛び込むときは、ドキドキ！！
すぐに海ガメと遭遇出来き、３回も会えて、そのうち一匹は70歳のオスで大きくて感動(^-^)vオスは珍しいとガイドさんの説明がありました。息継ぎする姿が可愛い‼
海もお魚もとてもキレイでした。
一旦、船に上がるとイルカがが見つかったと情報があり一安心。
イルカを探しに移動して、発見！
野生のイルカは一瞬で通り過ぎてしまうので、ガイドさんの合図を聞き逃さないようにした方がいいです。
下を何頭か通り過ぎたり、遠目でジャンプしたのを見ることが出来ました(^-^)
何度か移動して、イルカのいそうなところでシュノーケリングするので最後はフラフラになりますが、とっても楽しめてなかなか出来ない体験！
かなり体力も使うので、最終日にして正解だったと思います。
スタッフの方もみなさん良い方で、ハワイを満喫出来いい思い出が作れました。

I was looking forward to whale watching! I was worried about whether I would actually see a whale, but I was able to see them properly. I saw a mother and calf whale.

After that, a few more showed up, but they were quite far away, just showing a bit of their bodies above the surface, and there wasn't the big splash I was hoping for. However, the scenery was wonderful, and I enjoyed the cruise, so I was very satisfied.

I want to see a whale make a big splash someday, so if I have the opportunity to go to Hawaii, I definitely want to participate again.

楽しみにしていたホエールウォッチング！クジラが実際に見られるか不安でしたがちゃんと見ることできました。
親子クジラ見えました。
その後も何頭か姿を見せてくれましたが、距離的には遠く水面から少し胴体を出すくらいで、期待していた胴体を水面にザッパーンとかはありませんでした。
ですが、景色も素晴らしかったしクルーズとしても楽しめたので大満足でした。

いつかザッパーンするクジラが見たいのでハワイに行く機会があったら是非また参加したいと思います。

My wife and I decided to go whale watching and the first time out we did not see any whales. However, they have a guarantee so we went out a second time a few days later and saw lots of whales. It was fun and exciting. It was really enjoyable and the cruise back to Honolulu was relaxing. I would recommend this to anyone and I would definitely do this whale watching cruise again.

We had a great time out with a fabulous, fun and friendly crew. We loved being on this particular boat. You can stand really close to the edge or laze out in the middle over the netting. Oh and the whales were entertaining too. We even saw one breech! Will definitely do this again.

My 4-year-old daughter and husband participated. After the event, I heard that the water was dirty, and my daughter was uncomfortable, so she was mostly being held. My mother (my daughter's grandmother) and I could watch from a bit farther away, but there were so many mosquitoes that I got bitten over ten times while taking videos and photos. It seems that my daughter enjoyed feeding the birds at the place we went to afterward, which was more fun than playing with the dolphins.

４才の娘と夫が参加しました。参加後に聞いたところ、水が汚かったそうで、娘が嫌がりほぼだっこの状態だったそうです。私と母（４才の娘のおばあちゃん）は、少し遠くの場所から観覧できるのですが、蚊がとても多く、ビデオ＆写真を撮っている間、１０ヶ所以上刺されてしまいました。イルカと遊ぶより、その後に行った、鳥が放し飼いになっているところのほうが、えさをあげたりして楽しかったみたいです。

This is the 2nd time I've taken this and you see different things each time, great staff!

I came back again this year. The scenery on this cruise was amazing. Unfortunately, I didn't see any whales, but I definitely want to plan for next year and participate again.

去年に続き、やってきました。このクルーズ景色はサイコーでした。
残念でしたがホエールは見れませんでした、来年も計画して是非参加したいです。

Perfect in every way, the guides were superb, the sharks were great, it was most excellent! Thank you VERY much for an unforgettable experience!

I went on April 4, 2016! It was very convenient with pickup from the hotel in Waikiki and the harbor! Both the microbus and the boat only spoke English, so those who are not good at English might struggle a bit to understand. It takes about 50 minutes by car from Waikiki to the North Shore. The boat ride to the shark spot takes about 20 minutes. It shakes quite a bit! If you get seasick, be careful! It might be good to bring water and gum, in addition to seasickness medication. Once on the boat, after the captain explains the precautions, we split into two teams and put on the provided snorkels to enter the cage in the ocean. There were about 20 carnivorous sharks swimming around, around 2-3 meters long. They swim close to the cage, but they are calm (maybe they are used to humans?), so it's not very scary! We enjoyed snorkeling in the water for about 15 minutes before switching teams. Tips can be placed in the tip box on the boat. It's optional. They also offer a video for an additional $70, filmed with a GoPro. Original T-shirts were also on sale.

２０１６年４月４日に行きました！ワイキキのホテルと船着場までの送迎付きで、とっても楽でした！マイクロバスも船も英語のみなので、英語が得意じゃない方はちょっと理解するのに苦労するかも。ワイキキからノースショアまで車で約５０分。船に乗ってサメスポットまで約２０分。かなり揺れます！船酔いする方は要注意！水とガムなど、酔い止め以外にも持参した方が良いかも。船に乗り込んだら、船長さんから、注意事項を説明いただいた後に、２チームに分かれて、支給されるシュノーケルを装着して沖にある檻に入ります。２〜３mほどの肉食のサメが２０匹ほど泳いでいました。檻の近くまで泳いできますが、おとなしい（人間に慣れているのかな？）あまり怖くありません！１５分ほど海の中でゆらゆらとシュノーケリングを楽しんで、チーム交代。チップは船の中にあるチップ入れへ入れます。任意です。ビデオは別途７０でGoProで撮ってくれます。オリジナルTシャツも販売されていました。

Absolutely awesome experience!!!! Crew were super nice and helpful!!