All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I experienced whale watching starting at 10:30. I set off without much expectation, hoping to enjoy the deep blue sea and sky. After encountering a group of dolphins, we came across several whales. For more than 10 minutes, they swam close by, and although they didn't jump high, they showed us their pectoral fins and tails. Everyone was incredibly excited by the amazing display. We were very lucky.

It's a shame I couldn't take good photos because I was so engrossed in watching!

10時半からのWhale watching を体験。真青な海と空を楽しめればとあまり期待せずに出発。イルカたちが集まっている様子の所に出会った後、数頭のクジラに。10分以上かもっと、すぐ近くを泳いで、大ジャンプこそないものの、胸ビレやtailを見せてくれました。信じられないほどの大サービスに皆が大興奮でした。とても運が良かったです。
見る方に夢中で良い写真が撮れなかったのが残念！

Perfect family friendly glass bottom boat tour. At ~35 min, perfect length for our four-year old.

Staff very friendly, marine expert was great at pointing out the different species and interesting traits.

Tour also launches from a very nice, calm protected beach which would be worth visiting again, as the calm waters would allow even the youngest children the chance to walk and splash in the water with maybe a few small fish swimming by.

A beautiful day on the water. The weather was beautiful and we did manage to see a whale! Very magical

We saw pilot whales up close and the staff were so informative, helpful, and truly loving their work. I really wish that we had been able to see a humpback whale since we were there in the right season. But I have to presume that they were not able to find any that day. Guess I’ll just have to come back to Hawaii again?!

Seeing Waikiki and Diamond Head from the sea was a wonderful experience, blessed with great weather. The whales were far away, but we could see their tails and spouts. I later heard they were juvenile humpback whales. Overall, it was a pleasant cruising experience. I would have liked to see the dynamic adult whales a bit closer.

海上から見るワイキキ、ダイアモンドペット、
お天気にも恵まれ最高の時間でした。
クジラは遥か遠くでしたが尾びれや潮吹きも確認できました。あとから聞いたら子供のザトウクジラだそう。ともかく気持ちの良いクルージングでした。もう少し近くでダイナミックな親クジラもみたかったです。

The tour description says 2 hours but we were done in an hour. Saw only 2 sharks compare to other reviewers but I guess that’s better than nothing. The crew team was great and we felt safe in the cage.

We saw whales, the captain kept us pointed at them the entire time, and the crew was fun and helpful. Got some great pics and would do it again.

We went out to sea under the setting sun.
Everything was perfect.
Lots of huge manta rays came close. Sometimes up to few feet away!!
The crew; Diego and Ryan were pampering us and taking care of our every needs.
Would recommend them anytime without a doubt.

-David L

It was a large two-story boat. The guide was in English.
I saw about 15 whales, but they were all quite far away, and I only saw them jump twice from a distance. I participated in mid-January, and right after we set sail, the captain announced, "This is the peak season," so I had high expectations... However, since it's nature, it's understandable, but it's better not to have too high expectations. The large boat made it less likely to get seasick, but the loud motor noise seemed to make the whales wary. They stuck around for about 10 minutes longer than scheduled, moving and stopping repeatedly.
The male guide talked about the ecology of whales, the history of whaling, and how they were on the brink of extinction. Since he was talking the whole time, we often spotted whales before he did. My knowledge about whales deepened.

【Parking】
The problem was the parking. Veltra mentioned that if you park in public parking for more than three hours, there’s a possibility of being towed, so they recommended paid parking. In the center of Lahaina, the parking fees are high—about $20 for 5 hours and $30 for a day. The Outlets of Maui, located about a 15 to 20-minute walk from Lahaina Harbor, offered free parking. It was very spacious, so there were no issues parking when participating in the whale watching at 9 AM. It was great because we could stroll around Lahaina while going back and forth to the harbor. We shopped at the outlet, but even without shopping, parking was free (there was no parking ticket, and you could come and go freely).
There is little information about parking in Lahaina in both Japanese and English, so I wanted to share this here.

2階建ての大きな船でした。英語ガイドです。
クジラは15頭くらい見えましたが全てかなり遠くて、ジャンプもかなり遠目に2回ほど。1月中旬に参加して、船に乗った出港直後に船長から「今がピークシーズンだ」とアナウンスがあったので期待していましたが…。相手は自然なので仕方ないですが、期待しすぎない方が良いです。大きい船だと酔いづらくて良いのですが、モーター音が大きい分クジラは警戒するようです。移動と停船を繰り返して予定より10分オーバーするまで粘ってくれました。
ガイドの男性はクジラの生態や捕鯨の歴史、絶滅しつつあったことなどを話してくれました。ずっとお話ししているためか私たちの方が早くクジラを見つけることもしばしば。クジラの知識は深まりました。

【駐車場】
困ったのは駐車場。veltraから公共駐車場は3時間以上駐車するとレッカーされる可能性があり有料駐車場を勧められました。ラハイナ中心地はは駐車場代が高く有料だ5時間20ドル、1日30ドルくらい。ラハイナ港から徒歩15分〜20分にあるアウトレットオブマウイは無料でした。とても広いので9時台のホエールウォッチングに参加する場合全く問題なく駐車できました。ラハイナの街を散策しつつ港と往復できるのでとても良かったです。私たちはアウトレットで買い物をしましたが、買い物をしなくても駐車場台は無料でした（駐車券が無く出入り自由です）。
日本語も英語もラハイナの駐車場情報が少ないのでここに記載させて頂きました。

We had a great time! The crew was great and we saw whales!

There were staff who spoke Japanese, and it was very comfortable. The boat ride to the dive site was almost smooth and refreshing. There was plenty of time for diving, and we were able to see a sunken ship, sea turtles, and divers. There weren't that many fish, but I'm glad I went.

日本語の話せるスタッフもいて、居心地が良かった。ポイントまでの船もほぼ揺れず爽快。潜水時間もたっぷりで、沈没船や海亀やダイバーが見られた。魚はそんなにたくさんいなかったが、行って良かった。

Very friendly and hospitable staff. Clean safe boat. Even got to do some whale watching during transport to and from our snorkeling destination.

We had a great afternoon on the boat. Took a seven and two year old out with us to see the whales and the captain was very accommodating to both of them. Once we got the area where the whales were we saw a couple different pairs breach multiple times and certainly didn't need binoculars to see them. On our way back to the harbor a few bottle nosed dolphins decided to swim out front of the boat and in the wake for about 10 minutes which was every bit as cool as seeing the whales.

I'd highly recommend Aloha Kona Tours.

My husband and I had a great time. We had plenty of time in the cage and felt 100% safe. There were dozens of sharks the entire time we spent in the cage. They were so magnificent.This has been on my bucket list for quite some time. There was a huge storm that rolled in and the team was so accommodating to help me move and keep this appointment knowing how much it meant to me. It was an experience I will never forget. Thank you for this priceless memory!

I booked the first session of the day.

I had heard experiences that it could be cold inside the submarine, so I brought a jacket. In the end, it wasn't as cold as I expected. If you're sensitive to cold, it's better to bring one just in case.

All the explanations were in English. I didn't understand much, but just looking at the underwater scenery was enjoyable, so I’ll take it as a positive.

There were a lot of fish, but I didn't see any sea turtles. They explained the types of fish and the ship and airplane wrecks on the seabed, but I didn't understand most of it. It might be more interesting if you research the sunken ships and types of fish in the waters around Waikiki beforehand. There were also a few divers, and when I waved to them from inside the submarine, they waved back and said, "Aloha!"

The boat ride from the pier to the submarine was quite windy, so a jacket is necessary for that part. (If you can't stand the cold, you can stay indoors...) The view of Waikiki Beach from the water was also enjoyable.

Before boarding, we took group photos, and on the return boat, they encouraged us to purchase the photos. Caught up in the excitement of seeing the underwater world, I bought them without asking the price (I think payment was credit card only?). Later, when I checked the receipt, it was about $48. After purchasing, I received instructions for downloading the photos, but when I tried to download them, it turned out it wasn't free and cost about $12 instead. ^^

朝一番の回を申し込みました。

潜水艦の中は寒いなどとの体験談がありましたので、上着を持っていきました。結果的には思ったほど寒くは無かったです。寒さに弱い人は持参したほうが安心です。

説明が全て英語でした。分からなかったですが、海の中は見ているだけで楽しいので、まぁ良しとします。

お魚がたくさんいて、ウミガメは見えませんでした。
お魚の種類や海底にある船とか飛行機の説明していましたがほとんどわかりませんでした。ワイキキの海底にある沈没船や魚の種類などを事前に調べておくともっと面白いかもしれません。
ダイバーも数人いて、潜水艦のなかから手をふったら「アロハ～」とサインしてくれました。

桟橋から、潜水艦までにいく船の上は風が強く、そちらの方で上着が必要です。（我慢できない寒さなら室内にいればいいですが、、）海上からワイキキビーチが一望でき、そちらも楽しいのです。

乗船前にグループ毎に写真をとり、帰りの船の上で写真購入を進められました。海の中をみた興奮もあり、値段も聞かず購入（支払いは、クレジットカードオンリーだったかな？）しました。後で明細みたら、48ドル位しました。購入後、写真ダウンロードの説明書をもらったので、ダウンロードしようと思ったら、無料ダウンロードではなく、12ドル位で購入でした^^;

It was an early departure, but the weather was nice, and it was a fun experience unique to Hawaii. However, it might have been challenging for those who are not good at swimming. I also requested photos as an option, but it seems I wasn't captured well in them. It might have been better if there was a system to purchase after viewing. The tour itself was enjoyable. I used a lot of energy, so on the way back, I was completely exhausted and fell asleep on the bus.

朝早い出発でしたが天気も良く、ハワイならではの体験で楽しかったです。ただ、泳ぎが苦手な人には大変だったかもしれません。オプションで写真もお願いしましたが、あまり映ってなかったようです。見てから購入できるシステムだとよかったかもしれません。ツアー自体は楽しかったです。体力使ったので、帰りのバスの中では、まさにぐったり眠ってしまったようです。

I participated in a whale watching tour that can only be experienced during this season. About five minutes after leaving the beach, we spotted spouts of water coming up from the sea! From there, we were able to see several whales. There was even a mother and calf swimming right next to the boat, which had everyone on the tour very excited. I would like to visit Maui again during the season when the whales return to Hawaii and participate in another tour.

この時期にしか見ることができないホエールウォッチングツアーに参加しました。船がビーチを出国して5分ほどのところで、海から潮が上がっているのを発見❗️ そこから何頭もののクジラを見ることができました。そして船のすぐ側で泳いでいたクジラの親子もいてツアーに参加していたみなさんは大興奮でした。またクジラがハワイに戻る時期にマウイ島に行き、ツアーに参加したいと思います。

The main event of this trip was the Dolphin Encounter, an activity that the kids had been looking forward to. Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the event, and the weather was quite chilly. However, the time spent interacting with the dolphins in the pool truly became a treasured experience. It was an exhilarating experience for adults as well, allowing us to literally interact and play with the dolphins for the entire duration. I had expected to only be able to touch them a little or take some photos, but we were able to interact closely and even perform tricks together, which was incredibly enjoyable. Despite the disappointing weather, it was an activity that we could still say was amazing! Thank you very much.

今回の旅のメインイベント、ドルフィン・エンカウンター。子ども達がずっと楽しみにしていたアクティビティでした。が、当日はあいにくの雨。肌寒いくらいの天気でしたが、プールの中でイルカと触れ合えた時間は本当に何よりの宝物になったようです。大人もテンションが上がる体験で、時間いっぱいイルカと文字通り触れ合えて、遊ぶことができました。近くに行ってもちょっと触れるくらいか、写真撮っておしまい？くらいの気持ちでいたので、じっくり触れて一緒に芸をやったりと、本当に楽しめました。天気は残念だったけど、それでも最高！と言えるくらい楽しめるアクティビティでした。ありがとうございました。

It was very first time to join cruise for us. Unfortunately we could not find whales but we could meet a lot of dolphins swimming. Luckily it was really nice fine day, we had a great experience on the big ship. Hopefully we meet whales at next time. Thank you so much.

It was a large ship, so the scenery on the way out to sea to see the whales was also wonderful. Although from a distance, I was able to see several whales, which was great.

大きな船だったので鯨を見に沖に行くまでの景色も素晴らしかったです。
遠くからですが何頭かのクジラを見ることが出来良かったです。

The captain and crew are so nice
The boat is very clean and comfy!

the experience was really good.
We got to see bunch of dolphins and whales breaching really close to.

Thank you so much!

Good host is great
Divers are cool
No turtle nor much depth

We had an awesome time viewing the Manta Rays. We were able to see the spinner dolphins in the sunset as well. The staff was great and very accommodating. Definitely worth the trip to the big island!

Night snorkel with manta rays was recommended to me by a coworker who lived on Kona. We booked this for our vacation based on her recommendation. We brought our ‘kids’ ages 30, 16, 13. I think it would be hard for younger kids. In fact, one child I’d say about 6 sat on a float the entire time. Swimming in ocean at night even with a wetsuit (a MUST), a noodle, and holding on to a raft is trying even for an adult. That being said, it was so cool! We were fortunate to see many manta rays! I wish I could’ve taken pictures. It was plenty long enough time. Any longer would’ve been too much. We had perfect weather and the light of the full moon. The crew was awesome and fun. You could tell they loved their job and were friends. Shout out to the girl on our crew named Ryan, who took extra care and patience helping my 30 year old daughter swim back to boat.

It was a very thrilling tour. The excitement of boarding a submarine on the ocean (of course, safety was taken into consideration) and the sunken ships and planes after diving felt like something out of a movie.

とても迫力あるツアーでした。
海上で潜水艦に乗るところからワクワクするスリル（もちろん安全に考慮されてました）、潜水後も沈没した船や飛行機が映画のようでした。

Arrive at the port and check in at least 15 minutes before departure. The departure was on time. The weather was clear, but we only saw about ten whales from a distance. When I participated previously, we encountered several whales up close, saw them dive, and even ran alongside a pod of dolphins, so this experience was quite modest in comparison. It was disappointing that the captain kept talking not only about the whales but also engaging in small talk like a monologue, showing zero enthusiasm for actively searching for whale spots. (The previous captain was proactive, using experience and intuition to find the best spots and move quickly.) Whether you can see the whales well really depends on the captain. (You can't choose, though...)

出港15分前までに港に集合して発券。時間どおりの出港でした。天気は快晴でしたがクジラは10体弱遠目に見えた程度。以前参加したときは間近に何体も出現し、ダイブも見られたり、イルカの群れと併走したこともあって、それに比べるとかなり控えめでした。船長がずっと解説のみならず世間話も独り言のようにしゃべり続けていて、熱心にクジラポイントを探し当てるようなやる気はゼロだったのが残念でした。（以前の船長は経験と勘で次々とベストポイントを当てて積極的に移動していた。）クジラがよく見えるかどうかは本当に船長次第です。(選べませんが。。）

We loved our whale watching tour. I would highly recommend. Make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat or a shirt to cover up with as it gets hot on the boat. I plan on doing this again next time and booking though Veltra. Great price for the best tours. Tip: rent the binoculars or bring your own for close up viewing.

I participated with my 5-year-old son and his father! First, the voucher said to gather at 10:30, but when we arrived, we were told to regroup at 10:55, so we changed and gathered! When we assembled, we were given life jackets, but they were wet from the previous customers! If you’re not wearing a wetsuit, it can be quite cold! My child was already saying it was cold at that point.

The activity was supposed to be 35 minutes of fun with dolphins, but there was an explanation that took about 30 minutes before it started, and we were left feeling quite cold in the wet life jackets against our bare skin, waiting for the dolphin interaction to begin. (It was December, and it wasn't very hot, but it was sunny ☀️)

Once we got into the water, it was incredibly cold!!! In the end, my lips turned purple, and I was shivering uncontrollably. Afterward, we jumped into the hotel jacuzzi. Other foreign guests also looked a bit cold. If you have underwater goggles, you can dive down and observe, but since it's the dolphins' habitat, it can't be helped; however, there were some weeds, and the water wasn't exactly clean.

That said, the interaction with the dolphins was plentiful; they performed many tricks right in front of us, we could feed them, and we swam alongside them✨. We took lots of cute photos and returned very satisfied. For the 35-minute activity, you need not only a towel but also a swimsuit.

5歳の息子と父親で参加しました！
まず、バウチャーには10：30集合になっていましたが行ってみると55分に再集合と言われ、着替えて集合！
集合がかかるとライフジャケットを渡されるのですが、前のお客様が着ていたものなので濡れています！
ウエットスーツを着ていないとかなり冷たいかも！
子供はその時点で冷たい冷たいと言っていました。
そして、35分間イルカと楽しめるアクティビティとのことでしたが、始まるまでの説明というか、お話がプラスで30分程と、とても長く冷たいライフジャケットを素肌に着たまま、なかなか始まらないイルカとのふれあいに水に入る前から既にちょっと寒そう。(12月でとても暑い日ではなかったですが晴れていました☀️)
そして水に入ると、またとんでもなく水が冷たい！！！
最終的に唇は紫でガクブルでガタガタ震え、終わってからホテルのジャグジーにドボンでした
他の外国の方々も少し寒そうにしていました
水中眼鏡を持っていれば一緒に潜って観察して良いのですが、イルカの住むところなので仕方ないのですが、潜ると藻があったり水は清潔とは言い難い様子。
が、イルカとの触れ合いはたっぷり、目の前で沢山芸をしてくれたりフィーディングができたり、イルカと一緒に並んで泳げたり✨可愛い写真もたくさんで大満足で帰ってきました
35分のアクティビティでは持ち物、タオルだけではなく水着必要です

Great tour
Fantastic experience
One in a lifetime opportunity don't miss.
Fantastic crew

The crew was really searching for whales, but as is common in nature, it depends on the whales' mood, so it was disappointing not to see any. People who went on a different whale tour that same day seemed to have seen them well, which made it even more disappointing. However, the boat itself was stable and I felt safe on it, and it would have been truly amazing if we had seen whales! I hope to see them next time, and I look forward to enjoying winter in Hawaii again someday!

船員スタッフは鯨をすごく探してくれてましたが
まぁ自然界の常識でもあるように、鯨のご機嫌次第とはいえ
見れなくて残念でした。
同じ日に別の鯨ツアーに行った人はしっかり見れたらしく
余計に残念な思いです。
でも、船そのものは揺れも少なく安心して乗っていられましたし
これで鯨が見れたらほんと最高でしたね！
次回は見れることを願って、いつかまた冬のハワイを楽しみたいです！