All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

As we left the shoreline, the captain noticed several whales breaching in the distance. He asked if we wanted to go past the reef to see it and we all said yes, of course. We spent most of the 30 minutes whale watching from a distance. On our return trip, the crew still found time to pass over the reef and explain several interesting details not only about the reef but the animals the call it home. It was a great time and the crew did a great job!

This is a luxurious tour where you can enjoy whale watching, dolphin watching, sea turtle viewing, and snorkeling all on a cruise charter. We participated as a family of six across three generations, and with two staff members accompanying us, one of whom entered the water to provide guidance and support, my 78-year-old mother, who has paralysis on her right side, was truly grateful to be able to snorkel together. After snorkeling, there was a service of tropical fruits, juice, and snacks, which I believe offers great value for the price. I especially recommend private charters for families with small children or elderly individuals.

クルーザーチャーターで、ホエールウオッチングも、イルカウオッチングも、ウミガメかざしも楽しめ、スノーケルも楽しめる贅沢なツアーです。
三世代家族6人で参加しましたが、スタッフが2人付いてくれ、1人が一緒に海に入って指導やサポートをしてくれるので、78歳で右半身に麻痺が残る母も、一緒にスノーケルできたのが本当にありがたかったです。
スノーケル後にはトロピカルフルーツやジュース、スナックのサービスもあり、お値段以上の価値があると思います。
特に小さいお子さんや高齢の方にはプライベートチャーターはお勧めです。

James was a great tour guide, very informative. Didn't care for the sandwich choices. Was nice to have the hot chocolate though. The view was amazing.

It was thrilling, and I definitely want to participate again on my next trip to Hawaii. The instructors and the boat operators were fun people, and I was able to enjoy it without feeling scared!

スリル満点、次回のハワイでも必ず参加したいです、インストラクターの方、船の操縦の方も楽しい方達で恐怖を感じる事なく楽しめました〜

It was amazing!
The clarity of the water, the variety and size of the fish were truly impressive!
I even got to meet a honu and swim with it!

My English is at a basic education level, and that's fine.
The guide speaks slowly to make it easy to understand.
While driving, they introduce recommended shops.
We stopped at a parking area for a location explanation, then had time for a briefing on how to use the snorkel, swimming precautions, and ordering additional rental items.
We rented a boogie board, but other parties rented life jackets.

最高でした
透明度、魚の種類、大きさ本当に見応えがあります！
ホヌとも出会えて一緒に泳ぐことができました！！

英語は義務教育レベルで問題ないです。
ガイドさんがわかりやすいようにゆっくり話してくれます。
運転中はおすすめのお店の紹介。
一旦パーキングに止めてロケーションの説明の後シュノーケルの使い方遊泳時の注意、追加のレンタル品のオーダーの時間がありました。
うちはブギーボードレンタルしましたが、他のパーティはライフジャケットをみんなレンタルしてました。

A Japanese person named Momo guided us through the battleship Missouri. She was very kind and attentive. I was able to deeply feel the history, and it was a great experience.

戦艦ミズーリの中を、日本人のモモさんという方が案内してくれました。とても親切で丁寧でした。
歴史をじっくり感じられ、良い体験をしました。

My first trip to Hawaii and the main event on the Big Island was the Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing tour. Until the day before, the weather had been rough for three days, and I heard at the hotel that the tour might not happen, which made me worried. However, the result was clear skies and almost no wind, with a beautiful view of the snow that had fallen until yesterday. The stargazing included not only the positions of the constellations but also explanations of the myths and legends, along with many professional photos taken by the guide. I was very satisfied! ♪

初ハワイ、初ハワイ島でのメインイベントは
このマウナケア山頂サンセット&星空観測ツアーでした。前日までは、三日間天候が荒れてツアー出来ず、と到着したホテルで聞き、
どうなる事か？と心配でした。結果は、快晴、ほぼ無風の中、昨日迄に降った雪化粧の中、素晴らしい光景でした。また、星空観測は、星座の位置だけでなく、神話の言い伝えなどの説明とガイドさんによるプロフェッショナルな写真撮影も多数。大満足でした♪

My husband and I did the side by side tour and it was nothing short of amazing! The views were breathtaking and the tour guide was so knowledgeable about the land and gave fun facts about Hawaii and surrounding areas. At each stop the tour guides made sure everyone got their pictures and were willing to lend a hand in getting the best pictures of your group. Next time we will have to bring our kids and plan to do more activities at the ranch. We could have spend a whole day, or two doing it all. The property was clean and well managed and the air conditioned bathrooms were a plus! We would 10/10 recommend this activity!

The show itself was impressive and satisfying, but I was concerned about the cold indoors. It's better to bring a light long-sleeve shirt, even if you tend to get warm.

ショー自体は迫力満点で満足だったが、室内の寒さが気になった。
熱がりでも薄手の長そでを持って行った方が良い。

Do yourself a favor— book it. I had such a phenomenal experience & really am looking forward to come back! The staff go above & beyond to make sure you’re safe, enjoying your time, and that you feel welcomed. It was one of the highlights of my trip— you won’t regret it :)

Definitely recommend experiencing the 4 course Hawaiian meal and the traditional luau dance! Tim was amazing and make the experience personal for each of us!

We went to Hawaii and we loved it there. Now sandbar Hawaii at another level. Everything is including paddle boards, snorkeling, canoeing and you get live music and food. This was the cherry on top of our trip don’t plan on going without making this trip.

This was a great experience for my family. The rain did not stop us from enjoying the sites and learning about Hawaiin culture. Our tour guide was awesome and knowledgeable!

If it's a round trip tour, there were stops along the way, and we enjoyed a leisurely dinner while watching the sunset, making it an enjoyable experience without any dull moments.

往復長旅となるツアーでしたら、途中立ち寄りがあったりゆっくりとサンセットを楽しみながらの夕食タイムなど飽きることなく楽しめました。

Watching fireworks from the sea. I was worried about the weather due to the heavy rain the day before, but I'm glad it went ahead. From my seat, I couldn't take good photos because people's heads and sails were in the way. They changed the direction of the boat towards the end, but I wish they had done it a bit earlier so that everyone could see equally well. I think that's enough... It's better to watch fireworks from the beach.

海上からの花火鑑賞。
前日の大雨で天候が心配だったけど、決行出来て良かったです。
座ってる席からは人の頭や帆が邪魔をして上手く写真を撮れなかった。
船の向きをほぼ終わり頃に変えてくれたけど、もう少し早く、どの席の人も平等に見えるように変えてほしかったです。
これはもういいかな…
花火は浜辺から見た方がいいです。

Originally, it was scheduled for January 30, but I received a call from Veltra the day before, asking me to change the date due to a warning being issued for the next day. So, I participated on February 1.
When I come to Hawaii, Hanauma Bay is an absolute must-visit and one of my favorite places. Although it was an early morning, I was able to enjoy it while there were fewer people. I encountered many fish and was very satisfied. The weather was great, and the view of Hanauma Bay from near the entrance was amazing!
Of course, I want to go again.

当初は1/30の予定でしたが、前日にベルトラさんから電話を頂き、明日は警報が出ているので日程を変更してくださいとのこと。そして2/1に参加させて頂きました。
ハワイに来たらハナウマ湾は絶対外せない大好きな場所。朝が早いけど人が少ないうちから楽しめました。たくさんの魚にも逢えて大満足でした。天候も良く、入場口付近から見たハナウマ湾は最高です！
勿論、また行きたいです。

Loooooved it! We didnt wanna get off the boat n the crew was awesome with my kids!!!!

At first, I was worried about whether I would be okay with heights, but once I got on the boat and it was our turn, soaring high into the sky, I felt amazing and was thrilled by the view.

最初は高所大丈夫かなと心配でしたが、いざボートに乗り込んで自分達の順番がきて、空高く舞い上がってみると、最高の気分、景色で興奮しました。

As the title suggests, I booked a tour for winter in Hawaii, timed for a new moon at the end of January. The communication and Q&A support leading up to the tour date were very smooth.

The van driver was also the tour guide, and I was surprised by their excellent Japanese. I would have liked to enjoy explanations in English with a more multinational group, but out of 12 participants, 10 were Japanese, so it couldn't be helped.

We departed from the Queens Market in Waikoloa at 3:00 PM. The van was fully booked with 12 people. We stopped at a rest area just before the summit to have sandwiches and water. The air was getting thinner, so we took a break for about 30 minutes to adjust. Here, we borrowed winter clothing.

Soon after, we entered off-road terrain and headed to the summit. With a temperature of 0°C and strong winds, it was quite cold. We were able to observe the sunset despite some clouds. After that, we descended a bit to the observation point. It took a while for the clouds to part, but eventually, we were able to see a few stars. The guide explained the constellations visible with a pointer. Venus can also be seen in Tokyo, haha. We were served hot cocoa, which was a lifesaver in the cold. That was much appreciated.

It was so cold and we couldn't observe much, so we left the site after about 15 minutes. After a short break, we returned to the Queens Market around 8:45 PM.

The tour itself was well-organized and reassuring. It really requires good timing with the season and luck for clear skies without clouds.

As a postscript, two days later, I woke up at 4:00 AM at a friend's house and gazed at the night sky, which was filled with stars. I thought if it had been clear on the mountain, it would have been incredibly moving.

タイトル通り冬のハワイ、1月下旬で月齢0に合わせてツアーを予約。
実施日までの案内やQ&A対応はとてもスムーズ。

バンの運転手がツアーガイドさんですが、日本語上手で驚きました。できれば多国籍な参加者と英語での解説を楽しみたかったのですが、12人中10人日本人とそこはやむなしですね。

ワイコロアのクイーンズマーケット15:00出発。バンは12人乗り満席。
山頂手前で休憩所によりサンドイッチとお水をいただきました。空気が薄くなっているので急激な変化をおさえるため。約30分程度。ここで防寒着をお借りします。

その後すぐにオフロードに入り山頂へ。気温0℃＋強風なのでかなり寒いです。夕日観測は雲はありましたがぎりぎり観れました。その後少しだけ下って観測ポイントへ。なかなか雲の隙間ができず暫く待っていると少しだけ隙間ができてわずかながら見ることができました。ポインタで見れる星座を解説。金星は東京でも観れます笑　寒さに助かるホットココアが配られました。これはありがたい。

あまりにも寒いのとあまり観測できなかったので15分くらいでその場から退散。途中休憩をはさんで20:45頃クイーンズマーケットにて解散となりました。

ツアー自体はよい企画でしっかり運営されているので安心です。
やはり季節選びと雲の無い晴天である運が必要ですね。

後日談
この2日後、現地友人宅4:00AMに起きて夜空を眺めましたが満点の星空でした。山で晴れていれば相当感動できるのだろと思いました。

I loved this snorkeling adventure! The live music was really entertaining, and the lunch was yummy. I really liked that the staff who did the outfitting for your snorkel gear was attentive and caring and wanted to make sure you had a good experience! I liked that there was a small tow rope strung between the main vessel and the floating "lounge" area to help guide you through the water. The variety of activities was good too, with the banana rafts and the stand-up paddleboards. There was an activity here for every level of adventurer. I kind of wished the boat was a bit smaller and more intimate but I got used to the size quickly and really ended up enjoying the experience!

I participated with my mother, and it was so much fun.

Our tour guide, Jonah, was very kind, funny, and helpful. During the drive, he shared a lot of local stories and recommended some great restaurants.

The Diamond Head hike was more physically demanding than I imagined, so it's better to wear workout clothes (I wanted to dress up for all the photo spots afterward, but it was definitely the right choice to go in something comfortable for exercising).

The weather was great on the day we participated, and since we were the only ones booked, the guide took a lot of photos for us. At Sunset Beach, I was really happy to see a sea turtle.

It was a tour that my mother was very satisfied with. I definitely want to recommend it to my friends.

母と２名で参加したのですが、とにかく楽しかったです。

ツアーガイドのジョナさんがとても優しくて面白くて親切でした。
車で移動する途中にたくさんローカルな話をしてくださったり、おすすめのご飯屋さんや人気なご飯屋さんを教えてくださりました。

ダイヤモンドヘッドハイキングは想像より体力を消耗するので、運動着で行ったほうがいいです(その後いろいろな映えスポットで写真を撮るのでおしゃれしたい気持ちもありましたが、運動できる格好で行って正解でした)

参加した日は天気が良く、たまたま私たちしか予約がなかったため、ガイドさんがたくさん写真を撮ってくださいました。
サンセットビーチでは、ウミガメを見ることができてとても嬉しかったです。

母も大満足のツアーでした。周りの友人にも是非お勧めしたいと思います。

We participated as a family. We took a boat with about eight guests and went out to sea, where we were able to go parasailing in groups of two or three. The staff on the boat kept the atmosphere lively, and throughout the activity, the passengers enjoyed a friendly and cheerful time together.

家族で参加しました。
ボートに8人ほどのお客を乗せ沖に出て
2-3名づつパラセイリングさせてもらいました。
ボートの上ではスタッフさんが盛り上げてくれますし、アクティビティを通して、乗客も和気あいあいとしました。

Jay was an excellent host and guide. He shared so many interesting things about the aircraft, Hawaii, and the area we were flying over. Jay also has a keen eye for spotting wildlife. Thanks to him, I got to see turtles, and monk seals! I’m really glad I signed up for this experience.

The stage was close, and I could feel the breath and tension of the performers right in front of me. As expected from Cirque du Soleil, they skillfully blended Hawaii's nature with acrobatics. There was a sense of unity that brought people from all over the world together. The tall man in front of me noticed my height (156 cm) and kindly switched seats with the woman next to him. I was grateful for his gentlemanly behavior.

ステージが近く、目の前で行っている演者の息づかいや緊張感が伝わってきます。さすがシルクドソレイユ、ハワイの自然とアクロバットの融合を上手く演出していました。
世界中の人々とひとつになる一体感がありました。前の席の方が背の高い男性で、後ろの私(156cm)に気付き隣りの女性とチェンジしてくるました。紳士的行動にありがたかったです。

It exceeded the excitement I had before making the reservation, delivering an intensity and exhilaration that I couldn't have imagined. Since I didn't understand the English explanations very well, I enjoyed the location. The off-road paths were fun, and rushing through the last puddle was thrilling.

予約する前の楽しみを遥かに超えてきて、想像がつかなかったくらいの迫力と爽快感、アクティブさを感じました。英語の説明はあまり理解できなかったのでロケーションを楽しみました。オフロードの道が楽しく最後の水溜りを駆け抜けるところはスリル満点でした。

Since it was a Japanese instructor, I felt安心して参加できました. I participated with the desire to see a honu, so I was worried about the weather on the day of the event. Although the sea was slightly murky, I was able to meet the honu I had longed to see, and the instructor took many photos for me, creating wonderful memories.

日本人のインストラクターの方だったので、安心して参加できました。ホヌに逢いたい願望で参加したので、当日は天候が怪しくて心配もありました。実際に海は若干の濁りがありましたが念願のホヌにも逢え、インストラクターの方にたくさん写真を撮っていただきいい思い出になりました。

My then girlfriend (and very soon to be wife) and I took this day trip for the first time in 1985. On this outing in 2025 we marked our 40th wedding anniversary. It was wonderful then and still is a wonderful way to spend a day in paradise. The crew was amazing. Between their stories about the sea life and history of the islands and the family run business, their humor and incredibly attentive and diligent work ethic, they truly make you feel special!

The initial date I had booked was canceled due to weather conditions. It wasn't raining, but it was probably quite windy. I received an email about the cancellation around 8:00 AM on the day of the event, so I recommend checking your email before heading to the location. If the event is canceled, you can choose to either get a refund or reschedule. I opted to reschedule. The process is completed on the Veltra website. Since bad weather is unavoidable, if you really want to go parasailing, it's a good idea to incorporate it into the earlier part of your Hawaii trip so that you can reschedule if it gets canceled. I appreciate that safety is prioritized.

It was my first time parasailing, and I was a bit scared, so I chose the 120m option. Even at 120m, it was high enough, and the view was beautiful, which made me very satisfied. The boat was small and quite fast, so it's better to take motion sickness medication beforehand. I filmed a video of my parasailing experience with a GoPro, and I'm glad I got some very immersive footage.

At one point, I was splashed into the sea and got a little wet, so it's better to wear a swimsuit. If you're bringing a camera or smartphone, I think it's a good idea to put it in a waterproof case just in case. Since I participated in January, it was a bit chilly, and wearing a rash guard was just right.

最初に申し込んでいた日は天候のためキャンセルになりました。雨は降っていませんでしたが、おそらく風が強かったのでしょう。当日の朝8:00頃メールでキャンセルの連絡があったため、当日現地に向かう前にメールチェックするのがおすすめです。キャンセルになった場合、払い戻すか、日程変更するか選べます。私は日程変更しました。手続きはベルトラのサイトで完結します。天候不良はどうしようもないので、パラセーリングを絶対したい場合はハワイ旅行の最初の方の日程に組み込んでおいて、キャンセルになっても日程変更できるようにしておくのも手です。安全第一で実施していただきありがたいです。

初パラセーリングで怖さもあり、高さ120mを選びました。120mでも十分高く、景色もとても綺麗で満足しました。船は小型でかなりスピードが出ます。酔い止めは飲んでいった方がいいです。
GoProでパラセーリング中の動画を撮影しましたが、とても臨場感がある動画が撮れて良かったです。
途中、海にドボンされ、少し濡れるので水着で行った方がいいです。カメラやスマホを持ち込む際は念の為防水ケースなどに入れると良いと思います。
1月の参加ということもあり、少し肌寒く、ラッシュガードを羽織っての参加でちょうど良かったです。

I think it would be beneficial to check the days when low tide coincides with the tour time, as participating then may enhance your satisfaction. While the dry season is likely the best time to join, I still had a great time even on a cloudy day.

I didn't mind the rocking of the boat. I took motion sickness medication, which seemed to help, and I was able to enjoy myself without feeling sick. The light snack of spam onigiri was delicious. There were also cocoa, miso soup, and snacks available, which made for a fulfilling experience.

In January, the weather was cloudy, so the sea felt cold, but I gradually got used to it. I participated in a swimsuit, rash guard, rash trunks, and reef shoes, which kept me comfortable. Each group received one stand-up paddleboard (SUP), allowing us to enjoy it to the fullest. The water was quite shallow, so there was no worry about drowning. After thoroughly enjoying the SUP, I joined the snorkeling activity. Even for first-timers, the staff provides support, so you can enjoy it with peace of mind. I brought a GoPro, so I was able to capture videos underwater. I recommend bringing your smartphone in a waterproof case or a waterproof camera to take plenty of photos and videos. Many Japanese participants joined, and there were explanations in Japanese each time, with all the staff being very kind. Luggage is stored under the chairs by group, so it's advisable to bring a bag that can get wet since there is a possibility of getting splashed. There are no coin lockers, so it's best not to bring valuables like passports and to take only cash for tips and one credit card.

On the way back, the bus stopped at a malasada food truck, which only accepted credit cards, so if you want to enjoy malasadas, it's a good idea to bring a credit card.

I gave tips to the staff on the boat and also to the bus driver on the way back. It would be wise to prepare tips for both.

干潮がツアー時間と被る日を調べて、参加すると満足度が高まるかと思います。乾季の参加がベストかとは思いますが、曇りでも十分楽しめました。

船の揺れは気になりませんでした。酔い止めを飲んでいたのが効いたのか酔わずに楽しめました。
軽食はスパムおにぎりが美味しかったです。ココアや味噌汁、スナック菓子もあり充実しています。

1月の参加で天気も曇りでしたので海は冷たく感じましたがだんだんと慣れてきました。服装は水着+ラッシュガード、ラッシュトレンカ、リーフシューズで参加し、快適に過ごせました。SUPは1グループに1つ配られるので思う存分楽しむことができました。結構浅瀬なので溺れる心配もありませんでした。SUPを十分に楽しんだ後はシュノーケルに参加しました。シュノーケルが初めての人でもスタッフがサポートしてくれるので安心して楽しめます。GoProを持って行ったので海中の動画を撮ることができました。防水ケースに入れてスマホを持っていくか、防水カメラを持っていくと写真や動画がたくさん取れて楽しめると思います。日本人が多く参加しており、日本語での説明も毎回あり、スタッフは全員とても親切でした。荷物はグループごとに椅子の下にしまいます。水に濡れる可能性があるので水に濡れても良いカバンで参加するのがオススメです。コインロッカーはないので、パスポートなどの貴重品は持参せず、チップ分の現金とクレジットカード1枚だけ持って行くと良いと思います。

帰りのバスでマラサダのキッチンカーに寄ってくれて、そこは現金が使えず、クレジットガードのみだったのでマラサダを食べたい人はクレジットカードを持って行くと良いと思います。

チップは船上のスタッフさんに渡したのと、帰りにバスの運転手さんにも渡しました。それぞれ用意しておくのがいいかと思います。

The Hawaii version of Cirque du Soleil "AUANA." The performances without safety ropes, high-altitude balancing, juggling, and skating—every performer was truly amazing! The entire show had a structure that made you feel the essence of Hawaii, and the sense of unity, as if all the guests were participating together, was really wonderful.

ハワイバージョンのシルク・ド・ソレイユ「AUANA」。命綱なしのパフォーマンスや高所のバランス、ジャグリングにスケートなど、どのパフォーマーも本当にすごい！の一言。演目全てにハワイを感じられる構成と、ゲストも全員で演じているような一体感がとても良かった。