All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

It was rainy on this day, but on the contrary, it was nice because we could still have fun despite the rain. The pool with the dolphins is slightly heated. The photos can be taken beautifully. The prices are a bit high, but I think it's worth going. You can also see sea turtles and seals, among other things.

この日は雨でしたが、逆に雨でも遊べるので良かったです。イルカのいるプールは少し温水です。写真はキレイに撮ってもらえます。販売価格は多少高いですが、行く価値はあると思います。他にも海がめ・アザラシなど見られます。

There were no issues despite the last-minute booking.

It was great that everyone enjoyed whale watching together. The cruising on the large boat was surprisingly pleasant.

直前申し込みでしたが問題ありませんでした。

ホエールウォッチングみんなで楽しめてよかったです。
大きな船でのクルージング思いのほか気持ちよかったです。

You can't go to Maui during whale season and not go on a whale watching cruise. Would do this again the next time we go to Maui.

I participated on January 24th. While moving to the point where we could see whales, we enjoyed a buffet-style meal. I wasn't expecting much, but it was delicious.

When we arrived at the point, we were able to receive explanations in English about the ecology of whales, and they pointed out the direction where we could see them. Although it was a bit far, I was thrilled to see them spouting water and their tails.

1/24に参加しました。クジラの見えるポイントに移動しながら、ビュッフェ形式の食事を頂きました。期待していませんでしたが、おいしかったです。

ポイントに着くと英語でクジラの生態の事など説明して頂く事もでき、クジラが見える方向を教えて頂けました。
少し遠かったですが、潮を吹いている様子やしっぽも見えて感激しました。

I am convinced that this was the most meaningful and memorable tour among all the tours in Hawaii! I have experienced various ocean activities, but swimming with wild dolphins was truly an emotional moment.

On a still chilly early morning, as we boarded the boat for the tour, we were able to see a sea turtle right before departure! Our guide, Sue, told us that "seeing a sea turtle in Hawaii brings happiness," which heightened everyone's anticipation for the tour.

However, due to an engine failure, we were unable to depart for an hour, and just as I was starting to give up thinking it might be canceled, the issue was resolved and we were able to set sail safely.

As soon as we departed, we encountered a mother and baby whale, and everyone was filled with emotion. Furthermore, we were able to see the heart-shaped tail of a whale, which is said to be a rare sight, and it was so moving that I felt like crying.

On that day, our guide was also able to see a bottlenose dolphin for the first time in Hawaii! It seemed we wouldn't have seen it an hour earlier, and thanks to the trouble, it was a series of miracles. I was truly filled with happiness as I experienced the power and beauty of the wild whales and dolphins right in front of me.

The guide from Dolphin Middle School was attentive to everyone on the tour, and more than anything, they were great at keeping the energy up, conveying a strong desire for us to experience this emotion! I believe this is something you absolutely must experience when you come to Hawaii!!!

ハワイのあらゆるツアーの中で、最も有意義で想い出に刻まれるツアーだと確信しました！
様々な海のアクティビティを体験してきましたが、野性のイルカと泳ぐというのは、本当に感動的な瞬間でした。
まだ肌寒い早朝、ツアーへのボートに乗り込むと、出航前からいきなり海カメを見ることができました！ガイドのスーさんが「ハワイで海カメを見ると幸せになれる」と教えてくれて皆のツアーへの期待がさらに高まりました。
しかし、エンジンの故障で一時間出航できず、このまま欠航なんでは…とあきらめかけた時、故障が直り無事出航することができました。
出航するやいなや、クジラの親子連れに遭遇し、皆が感動に包まれました。さらに、めったに見ることができないと言われているクジラのハート型の尾びれを見ることができ、涙が出そうなくらい感動しました。
そして、その日はガイドさんもハワイでは初めて見るというバンドウイルカに会うことができました！！一時間前には会えなかったようで、トラブルのおかげで、まさに奇跡の連続でした。すぐ目の前にいる野生のクジラやイルカの迫力と美しい海を体感することができ、本当に幸せな気持ちに満たされました。
イルカ中学のガイドさんは、ツアー全員への気配りが行き届いており、何より盛り上げ上手で、この感動を体感してほしい！という強い気持ちが私たちにも伝わってきました。
ハワイに来たら絶対に体験するべきだと思います！！！

This is about luck. I think it would be wonderful to see a jump, but it seems that due to regulations, you can't get too close to the whales, so it might be quite difficult to get the full picture. Since there are many passengers on the large boat, I think the price is reasonable.

これは運です。ジャンプが見られれば素晴らしいと思いますが、法令であまりクジラの近くには行けないそうなので、全体像をつかむことは中々難しそうです。大きい船で乗客もたくさんいるので値段も相応かなと思います。

The ship was larger than I expected, and there was no rocking. I was moved to see the humpback whales spouting water multiple times and their tails when they dove. I appreciated the kind assistance from the Japanese-speaking staff.

思った以上に船も大きく、揺れも無く、何度もザトウクジラが潮を吹く姿や、もぐる際の尾びれが見えて感動しました。
日本語対応の方の親切な対応、ありがたかったです。

This time, I signed up for whale watching for the first time. I chose the daytime plan. The food was tastier than I had imagined. However, when I did dolphin watching in Guam, I was able to see them up close. It seems that due to the law, we can't get too close, but I only saw the whales' backs about four or five times, and I wish I could have seen them a bit closer.

今回、初めてホエールウォッチングを申し込みました。昼色のプランで申込みしました。食べ物は想像してたより美味しかったです。
ただ、グアムでイルカウォッチングをしたときは間近で見れたので、法律で近づいてはいけないみたいですが背中が見えたのが4・5回で、もう少し近くで見れたらよかったと思いました。

I was satisfied because I could see whales. The airport transfer was also good. However, please note that you need to call after leaving the airport. I want to go to Hawaii again.

クジラも観れたし満足です
空港からの送迎もよかったです
ただし、空港出てからコールしないといけないみたいなのでご注意下さい
ハワイまた行きたいです

I participated with my friends.
There was a child who was weak on boats, but since it was a larger ship, they didn't suffer from severe seasickness.
We were able to see whales from a distance several times.
If you have binoculars, you might see them even better.
If you're lucky, you might see them jump, but this time we were able to see them swimming and diving.

On the way back, I enjoyed participating in hula dance lessons and lei making.
We all wore leis and took photos together.
It was fun.

友人たちと参加してきました。
船に弱い子も参加していましたが、大きめの船だったのでひどい船酔いはせずにすみました。
ホエールは遠目にですが何回も見ることが出来ました。
双眼鏡あるともっとよく見えるかもしれません。
運が良いと、ジャンプが見れたりするようですが、今回は泳いでいるところ、
もぐるところを見ることが出来ました。

帰りは、フラのダンスレッスンや、レイメイキングに参加して楽しかったです。
みんなでレイをつけて写真も取りました。
楽しかったです。

The whales didn't look as big as I had hoped, but since they are natural creatures, it can't be helped. More importantly, the breakfast buffet was disappointing with a limited selection. It might have been better to skip breakfast and eat on our own instead.

　期待していたほどクジラは大きく見えなかったけど、自然のものなので、仕方ないですね、それよりも、朝食バイキングは、品数少なく期待外れ、朝食なしで自分たちで食べてからのほうがいいかも？

During my first trip to Hawaii, I wanted to do some activities before heading back, and I found Dolphin School. Since we could see wild dolphins and sea turtles, we signed up without hesitation. Once we arrived in Hawaii, the hotel contacted us, and we received a confirmation call on the morning of the tour, with reliable pick-up and drop-off services. Since this was a personally booked activity rather than a tour option, I was a bit anxious about what to expect, but I was honestly surprised by the exceptional service provided by the Japanese staff.

On the day of the activity, it was a bit windy, but relatively warm and sunny, allowing us to proceed with our planned activities. Thanks to the instructors' careful guidance and the warm consideration of the boat staff, even as complete beginners, we felt safe entering the water and swimming with fins and masks. At first, the dolphins were elusive, and we searched around by boat. (However, because of that, we were able to see whales multiple times!) We changed locations and discovered some adorable sea turtles. During this time, the captain communicated with other boats, and when information about dolphins came in, we moved to that location. As the end time approached and everyone was starting to lose hope, we received information that dolphins were nearby, so we moved the boat and entered the water to search. Then… while swimming underwater with the instructor leading us, we spotted a pod of dolphins below us!!! We swam alongside them, watched dolphins approaching us, and observed them up close as they surfaced—an experience we could never have in Japan!

Although finding the dolphins was challenging that day, they extended our time on the boat by about 15 minutes, allowing us to experience such emotions in nature, resulting in the best activity ever. I am truly grateful to everyone at Dolphin School. They also ensured we were safely returned to our hotel and sent us photos and emails the same day, making me feel throughout the experience that "choosing Dolphin School was the right decision." Thank you for a lifetime of memories! I believe it made for a wonderful trip to Hawaii!! I want to swim with dolphins again!!!

初めてのハワイで何かアクティビティをして帰りたいと思い、探していたところイルカ中学を見つけました。野生のイルカ＆ウミガメを見られるということで、私たちは迷わず申し込みました。ハワイに着いたらホテルに連絡があり、当日の朝も確認の電話が入り、送り迎えもしっかりしてくれました。ツアーのオプションでなく、個人的に申し込んだアクティビティだったので、どんなものなのか少し不安もありましたが、日本人スタッフによる期待以上のサービスに正直驚きました。
当日は少し風が強かったものの、比較的暖かく晴れており、予定通りの活動が出来ました。そして、インストラクターの丁寧な指導や乗船スタッフのあたたかい心遣いで、足ヒレをつけるのもマスク・シュノーケルを装着するのも全く初心者であった私たちでも安心して海に入り泳ぐことができました！！最初はイルカがなかなか出てきてくれず、ボートで探し回りました。（しかしそのおかげでクジラは何回も見ることが出来ましたが♪）場所を変え、かわいいウミガメは発見できました。その間も船長さんが他の船と連絡を取り合い、イルカの情報が入るとそこへ移動してくれました。終了の時間も迫り、みんな諦めモードになっていたそのとき、イルカがいるという情報が入ったので近くの場所までボートを動かし、海に入って探しました。すると…インストラクターの先生にリードしてもらいながら海の中を泳いでいたら、下のほうにイルカの群れを見つけることが出来たのです！！！一緒に泳いで、群れをはずれて近づいてくるイルカを見たり、水面から出るイルカたちを間近で見たり、日本では経験できないような体験をさせてもらいました！
この日は、イルカ探しが難航しましたが、予定より乗船時間を15分ほど延長してくれて、自然の中でこんな感動を味わわせてくれて、結果的に最高のアクティビティでした。イルカ中学の皆さんには本当に感謝です。帰りもホテルまでしっかり送り届けてもらい、その日のうちに写真やメールを届けてくれ、最初から最後まで「イルカ中学にして良かった」という気持ちにさせてくれる内容でした☆★一生の思い出をありがとうございました。おかげで素晴らしいハワイ旅行になったと思います！！またイルカと泳ぎたいです！！！

We participated as a couple with pickup from our hotel in Waikiki. We were so excited to see them up close! It seems that the sharks come closer when they hear the sound of the boat's engine, thinking they might get food, but there was no danger of them attacking. Although Japanese was not spoken on the boat or during the pickup, we were able to communicate somewhat through basic conversation. There is a Japanese translation guide on the boat.

Many people mention seasickness, but I took motion sickness medicine beforehand, so I didn't feel sick at all. It should be fine once you get used to it, but the waves can be quite strong. They ask if you want to film underwater videos. For $65, you get about 10 minutes of MP4 footage on an SD card and a bonus DVD, and after the tour, you can buy an original T-shirt for $30, both of which accept credit cards. You don't have to buy them, but I recommend it as a nice keepsake.

Also, it's definitely better to bring a disposable underwater camera. They were selling them on the boat, but since they don't speak Japanese, it's probably best to bring your own. I took a cheap waterproof digital camera I bought in Japan.

I wanted to do some sightseeing on the North Shore, but since the tour ends with immediate return to Waikiki, it might be a good idea for those familiar with Hawaii to rent a car. There seemed to be places nearby where you could park for free. Additionally, we were lucky enough to see a whale, making it a great tour!

ワイキキのホテルからの送迎付きで夫婦で参加しました。
さわれそうな距離で見られて大興奮！
船のエンジン音を聞きつけて餌がもらえると思い、鮫が寄ってくるそうですが襲ってくるような危険さはありませんでした。
送迎も船も日本語は通じませんが、なんとなくの会話で意思疎通は出来ました。
船に日本語訳の説明書はあります。
皆さん書かれている船酔いですが、酔い止めを事前に飲んだので全く船酔いはなし。慣れれば大丈夫ですが揺れは結構大きいです。
船上で水中動画撮影は必要かと聞かれます。SDカードにMP4で10分程度とおまけDVD付きで65＄、終了後にオリジナルTシャツ30＄、いずれもクレジットカードOKです。
買わなくていいけど記念になるので購入おすすめです。
あと、水中カメラは使い捨てでもいいので持っていった方が絶対いいです。船上でも販売はあったそうですが日本語が通じないので持参のほうがいいかも。私は日本で買った安い防水デジカメを持っていきました。
ノースショアで観光もしたかったのですが終われば即ワイキキへ送迎なので、ハワイ慣れしている人はレンタカーで行くのもいいかもしれないです。近くに無料で停められそうなところはありました。
あと、運よく鯨も出現して、いいツアーになりました。

I participated in the morning session, but unfortunately, I couldn't see the whales up close. I could only confirm that they were spouting water from a distance. However, I was happy that a pod of wild dolphins approached us before we headed out to sea. It was nice to enjoy a leisurely cruise, so I think it was overall good. Since I could only see them from afar, tickets for the next time were distributed only to those who wanted them, but I didn't take one as I had a full schedule on other days.

午前の部で参加しましたが、残念な事にくじらは近くでは見れませんでした。
ただ遠くで潮噴いているのだけ確認出来ました。
ただ沖に出るまでに野生のイルカの群れが近づいてくれて嬉しかったです。
のんびりクルージング出来たので、まあ良かったと思います。
遠くでしか見れなかったので、次回チケットを希望者のみ配布されましたが、私は他の日は
予定がいっぱいあったのでもらいませんでした。

The whale experience was good and the boat met the needs of all. The whales weren't real "active" but that is nature!
The only issue I had was printing off the ticket voucher. We were in a condo with no print access so I had to ask a neighbour to print it after emailing it to them. Not sure how you fix this but it was a minor inconvenience.

We signed up for a whale watching tour on December 18, 2013, in the morning. I had heard that the best season to see whales is from December to March, but I was also informed that the chances of seeing whales during the morning in December are low. Unfortunately, we were unable to see any whales, which was very disappointing. However, we learned on the day of the tour that if we didn't see any whales, we could participate in an afternoon whale watching tour that included lunch. Unfortunately, we had another commitment in the afternoon, so we couldn't join the whale watching again. I regretted not confirming in advance that we could participate for free if we didn't see any whales.

In the end, while we didn't see any whales, there were still good and bad points. The good points were that the boat ride was very pleasant, and the views were beautiful. Opportunities to ride on a boat are rare in Japan, so the scenery of Waikiki from the boat was wonderful. Additionally, there were several activities to entertain the children, ensuring they didn't get bored.

As for the bad points, there were not many, but the air conditioning was too strong, making the interior of the boat cold. This might be because people in Hawaii tend to feel hot, but most Japanese guests were feeling cold, so I recommend bringing a jacket.

Although we didn't see any whales, the guide was friendly, and the views from the boat were fantastic, so we were satisfied.

私たちは2013年12月18日AMのホエールウォッチングに申し込みをしました。クジラが良く見えるシーズンは12月〜3月だと聞いていましたが、12月午前のホエールウォッチングは、クジラを見れる確率が低いとも聞いていました。結果的にクジラを見ることはできませんでした。非常に残念でした。ただし、クジラを見る事ができなかった場合に限り、ランチ付きの午後のホエールウォッチングにも参加できることを当日知りました。しかし、私たちは午後から別の予定を入れていた為にもう一度ホエールウォッチングに参加することはできませんでした。クジラを見れなかった場合、無料でもう一度参加できる事を事前に確認していればよかったと後悔しました。
結果的にクジラは見れませんでしたが、それでも良かった点、悪かった点はありまし。良かった点は船上はとても気持ちがよく眺めがキレイであった事です。船に乗る機会は日本でもあまりないので、船から眺めるワイキキの景色は素晴らしかったです。また、子供たちを楽しませる企画がいくつかあり、子供が退屈にならないような工夫がありました。
悪かった点は、ほとんどありませんでしたが空調が効きすぎて船内が寒かった事です。これはハワイの方たちが暑がりなこともあるかもしれませんが、日本人はほとんど寒がっていたので、上着を持って参加される事をお勧めします。
クジラは見れませんでしたが、ガイドさんの対応も良く、船上からの景色も最高でしたので、満足できました。

We stayed at the Royal Hawaiian, and they came to pick us up at the terminal of the neighboring Hilton Hotel. The person in charge was an American who spoke a little Japanese.

After leaving the hotel, we next stopped at the Hyatt Hotel to pick up more tour guests. It took about 30 minutes from when we first boarded to arrive at the dock, where we boarded the whale watching boat. Before boarding, we took photos in front of the dock building (which will be available for purchase later, around $12). Once on the boat, there were about 30 table seats, and it seemed like there was space for over 100 people on one floor. Since we arrived early, we were able to sit by the window. After a while, coffee and tea were prepared, and we could help ourselves to them. It was hot outside, but the air conditioning inside the boat was quite strong, making it a bit chilly, so I warmed up with hot coffee.

As the boat set off, we headed out to search for whales. The views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach were incredibly beautiful. The deck was divided into three levels, with about six spots at the front and back. On this day, we ended up searching for about 1.5 hours but were unable to see any whales. However, since we could join the afternoon trip for free, I felt it was a good service for those who really want to see whales. Although we didn't see any whales, I felt that being on the boat and enjoying the beautiful scenery was worthwhile.

私たちはロイヤルハワイアンズに泊まっていたのですが、となりのヒルトンホテルのターミナルまで迎えにきてくれました。担当者は日本語が少し話せるアメリカ？人でした。
ホテルを出ると、次はハイアットホテルに止まりまたツアー客を乗せて走って行きました。最初に乗ってからだいたい30分くらいで船着場に到着し、ホエールウォッチング用の船に乗り込みます。乗り込む前に船着場の建物の前で写真を撮られます。（後ほど販売があります。確か$12くらい）。船に乗り込むと、テーブル席が30席ほどあり、おそらく1フロアで100人以上は入りそうなスペースがあります。早めについたので、窓側の席に座ることができました。しばらくすると、コーヒー、紅茶の用意がされて、セルフでそれを飲むことができました。外は暑かったですが、船の中は冷房が効きすぎていて少し寒いくらいだったので、ホットコーヒーで暖まれました。船が動き出すと、ホエールを探して沖に出ます。ダイヤモンドベッドやワイキキのビーチが非常に綺麗な眺めでした。デッキは3階に分かれていて、前方後方に6箇所くらいずつあります。この日は結局1.5時間くらい探し回ったのですがクジラを見る事ができませんでした。ただ、午後の回にも無料で参加することができるため、絶対にクジラがみたいな方にとっては良いサービスだと感じました。クジラは見れませんでしたが、船に乗って綺麗な景色を見れた事は価値があることだと感じました。

I was worried about the time changes, but it turned out that as long as you can speak a little English, it's not a problem. I was able to see the whales up close, which was more than I expected, and it was truly moving. There were no Japanese people around, and there was no Japanese guide at all, but if you're just there to see, it's not an issue. I want to go again.

時間変更やらで、心配のはじまりでしたが、英語を片言でも話せれば問題ない感じ。予想以上にくじらは近くで見れたし感動です。日本人はいないし日本語のガイドは全くないが見るだけなら問題ない。また行きたいです

The whale watching plan at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel was a cozy experience, not on a large boat leaving from Lahaina Harbor, but rather on a smaller vessel that accommodates about 30 people. The tour guide, captain, and staff were full of hospitality, and they would bring you soft drinks and snacks for free upon request, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in whale watching.

While I saw several whales passing by, I was disappointed that there weren't any standout moments. However, in the latter part of the tour, I was thrilled to witness five consecutive breaches, which was incredibly moving.

You board the boat from Kaanapali Beach, so I recommend wearing clothes that are okay to get wet or something that covers your knees. You can park your car in the hotel’s multi-story parking lot. After the tour, if you get your parking ticket stamped at the beach kiosk, it's free, but you must submit the stamped parking ticket at the hotel entrance bell desk for the free processing when you leave. There are no attendants at the parking lot exit, so if you get stuck there, you might face honking from the cars behind you. Please be careful.

After our tour, we went shopping at the nearby Whalers Village before processing our parking ticket, which saved us some parking fees.

カアナパリビーチホテルのホエールウォッチングプランで、ラハイナ港から出る大きな船ではなく、３０名くらいしか乗船できないアットホームなプランでした。
ツアーガイドも船長もスタッフもホスピタリティ満載で、ソフトドリンクや軽食も頼めばフリーで持ってきてくれますので、鯨観察に没頭できます。
通りすがりの鯨は何頭も見たのですが、これといったシーンがなく残念に思っていた後半に、なんと５連続で鯨のブリーチングを見ることができ、大感動でした。

船には、カアナパリビーチから乗り込みますから、ひざ上位の服か、水にぬれてもＯＫという服装で参加したほうが良いと思います。
車は、ホテルの立体駐車場に停めます。ツアー参加後にビーチキオスクで駐車印を押してもらえばタダですが、車を出すときに、ホテル入口のベルデスクで駐車印を押したパーキングチケットを提出して無料処理をしてもらわないと出られなくなります。
駐車場出口の所には係員がいませんから、そこで立ち往生すると後続の車からブーイングです。ご注意ください。
我が家は、ツアー参加後に近くのホエラーズビレッジで買い物をしてから駐車券処理をしたので、駐車料金も浮きました。

I participated in the early bird plan with a discount, thinking it would be great if I could see whales. Just as I expected, I was able to see whales right in front of me, and fortunately, there was a whale playing in the area for about an hour, so I got to see tail splashes multiple times. I was a bit worried about parking in Lahaina, but thanks to the early morning plan, I could park freely in a nearby public parking lot. After whale watching, I was able to stroll through the streets of Lahaina, so I feel like I made good use of my day.

早起きプランで割引もあり、これで鯨が見られるのなら最高と思い参加しました。
期待通りに鯨を目の前で見ることができ、幸運なのか１時間位そのあたりで遊んでいる鯨だったので、テイルスプラッシュも何度も見ることができました。
ラハイナは駐車場だけが少し心配だったのですが、早朝プランのおかげで近くのパブリックパーキングにも停め放題で、鯨ウォッチングの後、ラハイナの街並みを散歩することもできたので、一日を有効に使えた気がします。

It was really great! The boat docks not too far from the shore, and you swim from there to a floating platform that looks like a raft. You can borrow a wetsuit, a buoy, and a snorkel.

Even though it was night, the underwater lights were quite bright, so I didn't feel scared. On that day, about six mantas appeared, swimming right next to us at the surface and doing flips, which was an absolutely breathtaking experience.

I got so absorbed in it that I lost track of time. I definitely recommend it, but since they are wild animals, there's no guarantee you'll see them. In fact, when I participated two years ago, I didn't see any.

Also, it was an English tour, but even for us, who don't speak much English, it wasn't a problem. I think if you can snorkel, you'll be just fine.

とってもよかったです！
船は岸からそんなに離れない場所に停泊し、そこから浮いているイカダのような場所まで泳いでいきます。ウエットスーツと棒状の浮きとシュノーケルは貸してもらえます。
夜の海ですが、海中のライトがかなり明るいので怖いとは思いませんでした。
すると、マンタがこの日は６枚ほど現れ、海面に浮いている私たちスレスレに泳いで宙返りを何回もして、もう息をのむほどの体験でした。
本当に夢中になってしまい、時間が経つのを忘れてしまいます。
ぜひおすすめしますが、野生の物なので必ず見えるわけではありません。
実際、２年前に参加した時は空振りでしたので。
あと、英語のツアーですが、英語のさほどできない私達でも問題無かったです。シュノーケルができる方なら問題ないと思います。

I participated in a morning whale watching tour. I was picked up from the Ala Moana Hotel and arrived at the pier in about 10 minutes.

Once on board, I enjoyed a drink while listening to the whale watching lecture in both English and Japanese. After the explanation, we finally went outside and headed to the viewing point while enjoying the scenery of Waikiki and Diamond Head. Along the way, three dolphins appeared, leading us while playing. It was very lucky to be able to enjoy the dolphins up close, even though it was a whale watching tour.

When we reached the point, we saw the spouts of humpback whales multiple times. We could see them coming up from the surface, but we couldn't tell what actions they were doing with the naked eye. Still, the guide's explanations made it enjoyable enough. I think it would be even more enjoyable if you bring binoculars. The view from the ship's observation deck (the top floor that can hold about 13 people) was also fantastic and perfect for taking photos.

We set sail around 9 o'clock for a tour that lasted about 2 hours, and I felt that 2 hours was just the right length. I was able to play a lot at another location in the afternoon, so I was glad I chose the morning tour. I plan to participate again the next time I go to Hawaii.

午前中のホエールウォッチングに参加しました。
アラモアナホテルからピックアップをしてもらい、10分ほどでピアに到着しました。

船内に乗りこみ、ドリンクを飲みながらホエールウォッチングのレクチャーを英語と日本語で聞き、説明が終わるといよいよ外に出て、ワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドの景色を楽しみながら、ポイントまで行きます。
途中でイルカ3匹が登場して、遊びながら先導してくれました。ホエールウォッチングなのに、イルカも間近で楽しむことができてとてもラッキーでした。

ポイントに到達すると、ザトウクジラの潮吹きは何度もみれました。
海面から出てきた姿も見えましたが、肉眼ではどんな行動をしたかまでは分かりませんでした。
それでもガイドさんの説明があるので十分楽しめました。双眼鏡を持参すれば、さらに楽しめると思います。
船の展望台（13人くらいしか乗れない最上階のところ）からの眺めも最高で、写真を撮るのに最適でした。

9時頃に出航して約2時間くらいのツアーでしたが、2時間がちょうど良い長さだと感じました。午後は別の場所でたっぷり遊べたので、午前のツアーにして良かったです。
また次回、ハワイに行く時も参加するつもりです。

I participated on January 1st. I definitely saw whales. After going out to sea and listening to the explanation about humpback whales, I went out on deck. After a while, two dolphins appeared. They swam alongside the boat, leading the way, and they were very cute. I was hoping to see a whale next, but it didn't show up for a while. I wondered if there were really any whales... and then I spotted one ahead! It was quite far away, but it surfaced and showed its tail before diving back down. I waited to see if it would come closer, but it didn't appear. After changing locations and waiting for a while, I was lucky enough to see a second whale in the direction we moved. Unfortunately, it was still far away.

I definitely saw whales, but I had expected to see them much closer, to the point where I would get splashed, so in that sense, my expectations were too high. On the way back, I looked at the photos taken of the whales that appeared, and the photographer had a camera with a good zoom lens, so the whales looked like the ones you see in brochures. However, I couldn't see them that clearly with the naked eye. Still, I definitely saw whales twice, the crew was kind, and it was clear they were trying hard to show passengers as many whales as possible. Plus, I got to see Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach from the sea side, so the cruising experience was very good, especially with the nice weather. The two hours flew by. When you think about it, getting nature's creatures to show up as you wish is, in a way, close to a miracle.

I was picked up by a bus at the hotel, and it was easy to identify because they held a sign that said "Whale." The boat hardly rocked at all, and I was comfortable drinking coffee in the cool cabin. If I had seen the whales up close, it would have been five stars, but since they were far away, I’ll give it three stars.

１月１日に参加しました。クジラ確かに見られました。
海に出てザトウクジラの説明を聞いてから甲板に出ました。
しばらくすると、イルカ２頭が登場。
船を先導するように泳いでいて、とてもかわいかったです。
それからクジラが出るのを期待していたのですが、なかなか現れません。
本当にクジラがいるのかなぁ。。。と思っていたら前方に発見！
けっこう遠かったのですが、ザバーンと尾びれを水面に出して潜っていきました。
それからもっと近くで見られないかと待っていましたが、現れません。
場所を変えてしばらく待っていたら、ラッキーなことに移動した方向に２回目のクジラが現れました。でも、残念ながら遠かったです。
クジラは間違いなく見られましたが、私はもっと水しぶきがかかるほど近くで見られると思っていたので、そういう意味では期待が大きすぎました。
帰りの船内で今回現れたクジラの写真を撮った写真を見たのですが、カメラマンはしっかり望遠が付いたカメラで撮影していたのでパンフレットで見られるようなクジラの姿でした。
でも、肉眼ではここまではっきりとは見られませんでした。
それでも確かにクジラは２回見られたし、クルーのみなさんも親切だったし、乗客に１回でも多くのクジラを見せたいと頑張っている様子も伝わったし、ダイヤモンドヘッドやワイキキビーチを海側から見られたので、クルージングとしても天気に恵まれてとても良かったです。２時間はあっという間でした。考えてみたら自然の生物を相手にして思い通りに登場してくれるなんて、ある意味奇跡に近いところもありますからね。
バスでホテルに迎えに来ていただいたのですが「クジラ」と書いたプレートを持っていてくれたので分かりやすかったです。
船もほとんど揺れなかったし、客室で涼しい中コーヒーを飲めて快適でした。
近くで見られたら５つ星でしたが遠かったので３つ星にします。

We had an excellent time on our cruise! We saw whales almost immediately, a mama and her calf. We followed them for about an hour, seeing mostly their backs and spouts, but right at the end the baby started breaching over and over! Mama breached once, too. Totally worth it!!!

This was our first trip to Hawaii with our sixth grader and preschooler. We signed up for Dolphin School because we wanted to give them a wonderful experience. At first, I hesitated because it seemed expensive for the whole family, but in the end, I felt it was a fantastic experience for the price! It took just over an hour by shuttle bus from the Waikiki area to West Oahu. From there, we took a banana boat-style speedboat out to sea to look for dolphins! Amazingly, we encountered a pod of dolphins just one minute after setting sail! We all jumped into the water, and as we looked underwater, about 20 dolphins swam right beneath us. There were baby dolphins too! It was an incredible experience! We encountered dolphin pods several more times! Along the way, we were thrilled to see a manta ray, which gracefully swam right below us! Since it was such a special day, the captain confidently said that we might also see whales and took the boat further out! I thought seeing a whale was a long shot, but...

We actually encountered a humpback whale! And it was close! Plus, it was a mother and calf! The boat was filled with excitement and happiness. Right after hearing that seeing a whale's tail brings good luck, we were lucky enough to see one jump right in front of us, and we all got to see its tail! They said this might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I certainly agreed (＾ω＾). To see dolphins, manta rays, and whales all in one day was amazing! The kids were so moved, their eyes wide with wonder! However, when the whale appeared, it seemed like they were too seasick to enjoy it. Even the adults were excited at Dolphin School. All the staff were friendly and fun to talk to, and I’m really glad we chose Dolphin School! Next time we go to Hawaii, I’ll try the university program!

For those planning to participate! The staff suggested leaving cameras at the port, so we did, but I think you can bring them as long as you’re careful not to drop them on the boat! Unfortunately, we have no photos of such a wonderful experience. They do sell a DVD with photos taken by the staff, but since it included other people and was a bit pricey, we decided against it. Also, make sure to eat a little breakfast beforehand, or you’ll get hungry! Light snacks are served at the end.

小6と年長さんの男の子に連れての初ハワイ。何か素敵な体験をさせてあげたいとイルカ中学に申し込みました。最初は家族で申し込むと高いし、ちょっと悩みましたが、結果安かったと思うくらい素晴らしい体験ができました！ワイキキエリアから送迎バスで西オアフまで1時間ちょっと。そこから高速のバナナボート風のボートで沖にでてイルカを探しました！でもなんと出航1分でイルカの群れに遭遇！みんなで海に入り、海中を見ると20頭くらいの群れが私たちの真下を間近に通って行きました。赤ちゃんイルカも一緒でした！素晴らしい体験でした！そのあとも何度もイルカの群れに遭遇！途中、なんとダイバーの憧れのマンタが現れまたもや私たちの真下を悠々と泳いで行きました！そんな日だったので、船長さんが鯨も現れると断言してくれて更に沖に船を進めてくれました！さすがに鯨は～って思ったけれど



なんと！ザトウ鯨に遭遇！しかも近い！しかも親子！船上は興奮と幸せに包まれました。鯨の尾をみると幸せになれるという説明を聞いた直後にはなんと間近てジャンプまでしてくれてみんなで尾を見ることができました！こんな事はたぶんみなさんの人生で2度とないかもしれませんと言われて、確かにそうだなぁと思いました(＾ω＾)イルカも群れ、マンタ、鯨、全て見られるなんて！子供たちも感動して目を丸くしてました！でも鯨が現れたときは船酔いでそれどころではなかったみたいです。大人も興奮したイルカ中学。スタッフみなさんフレンドリーで話も楽しく、ほんとーにイルカ中学にしてよかった！またハワイに行ったら次は大学にチャレンジしてみます！
これから参加予定の方に！
スタッフの方にカメラは港においていった方がいいと言われたので置いて行きましたが船上では落とさないようにすれば撮れるので持っていってもいいと思います！私たちはそんなすてきや体験をしたの1枚も写真がなく、ちよっと残念。スタッフが撮った写真をDVDにして販売もしてくれますが、他の方も写っているものだし、ちょっと高かったのでやめました。あと朝ごはんは少し食べていかないとお腹すきます！軽食は最後に出るので。

I thought the whales were quite far away, but I was very satisfied because I was able to see the dolphins at a very close distance.

クジラはかなり遠いのでこんなものかな？と思いましたが、イルカがかなり近い距離で見れたので大変満足しています。

When I arrived to Kewalo Basin Harbor little bit earlier than their check-in time by our self, I couldn't fin their pier. It is just couple ships next from the pirates ship.
It is just small boat. But, Captain and crew's hospitality was really good.
Small ship means can turn easy to chase whale. Unfortunately, we couldn't watch whales much closer. But, Crews tried to do their best.
During activity, when my wife wanted to lay down on storage of life jackets, Captain brought life jacket for her to use it as cushion. Other staff was very kind for our kids. It was fun and much enjoyed.
I am sure that I will try to aboard this activity once again at next time.
Thank you very much for making our very good time.

We thoroughly enjoyed our whale watching experience with Captain Don and Deck-hand Shane. We saw more whales than we had expected. The best part of the trip was when a whale surfaced right behind the catamaran. We were all stunned! Definitely a highlight of our Hawaiian vacation.

This was my first whale watching experience, and I participated without any prior knowledge. They picked us up from the hotel on time, and we arrived at the port, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from central Waikiki. From there, we boarded the Navatek.

The Navatek is not a very large boat, but inside, there was unlimited coffee and tea, and snacks and motion sickness medication were available for purchase.

Once we set off, the guide explained in both English and Japanese, "The spouts are a sign that whales are nearby, so please look for these signs and let us know." We went out on deck and searched for whales with the guide. During the hour and a half, we were able to see the whales' breaches, tails, and spouts several times. However, since the whales were a bit far from the boat and appeared suddenly, it was difficult to take photos with our smartphones or digital cameras.

At the end of the cruise, there were also photos of the whales taken by the guide available for purchase.

While it was a bit lacking in excitement, the view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head from the Navatek was truly wonderful, and the cruise was very comfortable with little rocking.

It felt more like a cruise with the bonus of seeing whales, but I enjoyed it.

初めてのホエールウォッチング、予備知識なく参加しました。時間通りホテルに迎えに来て頂き、ワイキキ中心部から車で20～30分の港に到着。そこからナバテック号に乗りこみました。ナバテック号はそれほど大きい船ではないですが、船内はコーヒー、紅茶が飲み放題で、軽食や酔い止めの販売もありました。

出発するとガイドさんから「潮吹きがクジラのいる合図ですので、みなさんもこの合図を見つけて私たちに教えて下さい。」と英語、日本語でクジラの見つけ方のレクチャーがあり、わたしたちは甲板に出て、ガイドさんと一緒にクジラを探しました。1時間半ほどの間にクジラのブリッジや尾ひれ、潮吹きを何回か観ることが出来ました。ただし、船から少し距離があるのとクジラは急に出てきてくれるので、スマホやデジカメで写真を撮るのは難しかったです。

クルーズの最後には、ガイドさんの撮ったクジラの写真販売もありました。

迫力に欠けるのが残念でしたが、ナバテック号からのワイキキビーチの眺めや、ダイヤモンドヘッドがとても素晴らしく揺れも少ないクルーズはとても快適でした。

ホエールウォッチングというよりは、クルーズプラスクジラが見えてラッキーというような感じでしたが、楽しめました。

I participated in whale watching for the first time. I didn't expect to see whales multiple times off the coast of Waikiki. Despite our cruise ship being nearby, the whales didn't seem scared, and we were able to watch them for a while. The crew on the cruise ship announced, "You can see the whales at 12 o'clock," using the direction of the ship as a clock face, which made it easy to spot them since they also provided the announcement in Japanese. When we couldn't see any whales, we enjoyed the scenery of Waikiki, watched flying fish, and had free coffee. I took photos with my own digital camera, but I also purchased some photos taken by a professional crew member at the end. The whales came close enough to see with the naked eye, so I felt it was better to see them directly rather than through the camera's scope. As mentioned by others, the air conditioning on the shuttle bus and the deck of the cruise ship was quite strong, so bringing a light jacket was a good idea. I would have liked to see breaching if possible, but I was very satisfied overall. Although it was only while we were docked after boarding, we were allowed into the wheelhouse, which made my child very happy.

ホエールウォッチングに初めて参加しました。ワイキキ近海にて、何度も鯨の姿が見れるとは思いませんでした。私たちの乗っているクルーズ船が、近くで航行しているのにもかかわらず、怖がっていないのか暫くの間鯨を見る事ができました。クルーズ船のクルーの方が、『12時の方向（船の進行方向正面）にて鯨が見えます。』のように、時計の時間を船の方角に見立てて教えていただけたので、その方向を見れば鯨がいるというアナウンスを、日本語でもしていただけたので、簡単に見つけることができました。鯨が見えない時間は、ワイキキの風景を見たり、飛び魚を見たり、無料のコーヒーなどを飲んで過ごしました。自前のデジカメで、写真を撮りましたが最後に写真専門のクルーの方が撮られた写真の販売もありましたので、そちらも購入しました。鯨は、肉眼で見える距離まで近づいて着ていましたので、カメラのスコープから見る鯨より、自分の目でしっかり見たほうがいいと感じました。他の方の書き込みにもありましたが、送迎のバスの中も、クルーズ船のデッキ内もかなりエアコンが効いており、薄手の羽織物を持っていって正解でした。できれば、ブリーチングも見たかったですが、十分満足でした。乗船後の停泊中のみでしたが、操舵室にも入れて子供が大喜びでした。