All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

In the early morning at Hanauma Bay, I never expected it to be this cold. I did go into the water once, but it was so cold that I gave up quickly. I was really shocked that there were hardly any fish around. When I visited in the past, it was in the afternoon, so it was warm and there were plenty of fish to enjoy! Is there no tour available in the afternoon? I felt that it has become increasingly difficult to enter Hanauma Bay lately. The driver was kind and stopped by Leonard's Kitchen for us on the way back.

早朝にハナウマ湾へ
まさかこんなに寒いとは思ってもみませんでした。
一回は海に入ったものの寒すぎてすぐにギブ。
魚もほとんど見当たらなくめちゃショック。
過去に訪れた時はお昼からだったので暖かかったのか魚もたくさんいて楽しめたのに！
お昼からのツアーは無いのでしょうか？
最近はますますハナウマ湾に入るのが難しくなってきてることを実感しました。
ドライバーの方は親切で帰りにカハラモールにあるレナーズキッチンカーに寄ってもらいました。

Five years ago, when I went to Waianae to snorkel, I didn't have fins, and it was difficult to return to the boat. However, this time I had fins, so I was able to enjoy seeing fish and sea turtles up close. Additionally, I was lucky enough to encounter dolphins!

The best part is that you can board from a hotel in Waikiki, which makes good use of your time. However, there is no Japanese guide, so it would be great if you could go with someone who understands English. I was with my daughter, which was helpful. I think it would be nice to have a sign with the same explanations even without a guide.

5年前に、ワイアナエまで行きシュノーケルしたときはフィンがなく
船まで戻るのが大変でしたが、こちらはフィンがあったので、とても楽しく魚やウミガメを近くでみることができました。
さらにラッキーなことにイルカにも遭遇しました！
何よりワイキキのホテルから乗船できるので時間が有効につかえますよ。
ただ、日本語ガイドさんはいないので英語がわかる人と行けるといいですね。娘と一緒だったので助かりましたが。
ガイドさんがいなくても、同じ内容の説明プラカードがあればいいのに、と思います。

I made a reservation through the website the day before boarding, as it was cheaper than booking directly with the local tour company due to tax differences. I looked at several options, and this was the lowest price for the same conditions. Still, 30,000 yen per person is OVER.

The reservation process was easy, and I showed the issued voucher to the local tour company, signed, and completed check-in. I checked in at 14:00, one hour before departure, and had a briefing at 14:15. After that, it took about 5 minutes to move to the port. We departed 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Because the waves were high, it felt like being on a roller coaster. We arrived in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. We spent about 2 hours in Napali, and on the way back, we took our time eating a bento while enjoying the sunset, returning by 19:20.

Other tour companies have smaller boats, but you need to be prepared to get wet. The large yacht with a buffet is gorgeous, but it can't get close to the shore, so this tour, which is faster and includes bento and unlimited drinks (including alcohol), was great. There seems to be a morning departure as well, but since it's early, I recommend the afternoon departure with sunset.

現地のツアー会社に直接予約よりも税金分安かったので、乗船前日にサイトから予約。いくつか見たがここが同条件では最安値。それでも1人3万円はOVER。
予約も簡単でしたし、現地ツアー会社には発行されたバウチャーを見せて、サインをしてチェックイン完了。
出航1時間前の14:00に受付し、14:15にブリーフィング。その後港まで移動が約5分。出航予定の15分前に出航。波が高かったせいで、ジェットコースターに乗っているような気分。1時間20分程度で到着。2時間くらいはナパリにいて帰りはお弁当を食べながら2時間くらいかけてゆっくり目で帰り最後は夕日を見て19:20には帰着。
他のツアー会社には小型のボートもあるが、濡れる覚悟が必要。ブッフェ付きの大型ヨットはゴージャスだが、岸壁には近づけないので、スピードも早く、お弁当付きドリンク(アルコールも)飲み放題のこのツアーが良かった。午前出発もあるようだが、朝も早いしサンセット着きの午後出発がおすすめかと。

I had a wonderful experience on this tour. Thanks to our guide, Tad, the tour became even more enjoyable. This is a tour that I definitely recommend experiencing when you visit the Big Island.

このツアーで素晴らしい体験ができました。
そして、ガイドのタッドさんのお陰で
ツアーがより楽しいものになりました。
ハワイ島に来たら必ず体験して欲しいツアーです。

We were the only Japanese couple, so we received dedicated care from a Japanese female guide, which allowed us to enjoy the experience without any worries. We were very satisfied with both the kayaking and snorkeling. She took many photos for us, and by the time we returned to the hotel, they had already been sent to us.

Before we left, she also provided information about a nearby Japanese-owned coffee plantation, making it a wonderful day. Thank you very much.

日本人は我々夫婦だけだったので、日本人女性ガイドさんに専属でケアして頂き、全く不安なく楽しめました。カヤックもシュノーケリングも大満足。写真もたくさん撮って頂き、ホテルに戻る頃にはもう送って下さってました。
帰り際に近くの日本人経営の珈琲園情報も教えて頂き、とても良い一日となりました。
有難うございました。

Thanks to the support, even those who can't swim were able to enjoy snorkeling. Thank you very much.

サポートをしていただいたので、泳げない人でも
シュノーケリングを楽しむことができました。
ありがとうございました。

I felt very relieved to participate in the tour as Japanese was also understood. The sandbar was about knee-deep, but the scenery was beautiful and it was the best. It was a bit disappointing that it rained in the morning, making the water a little murky, but the sea was still beautiful. The hamburger we ate on the water was also very delicious.

日本語も通じて非常に安心してツアーに参加できました。
サンドバーでは膝ぐらいでしたが、景色も綺麗で最高でした。
当日朝が雨で少し水が濁っていて残念でしたが、綺麗な海でした
海上で食べるハンバーガーもとても美味しかったです

The Catamaran was well maintained and clean. The food was excellent and drinks were excellent.

It was a tour with an English guide, but they kindly explained things in Japanese as well! You have to ask for water and hot drinks yourself to get them. The sunset and starry sky were absolutely amazing on this tour! If I come back to the Big Island, I will definitely ask Masashi Nature School again!

英語ガイドのツアーでしたが、日本語を交えて説明してくれたり、とても親切でした！
お水と温かい飲み物は自分から欲しいと言わないと貰えません。
sunsetも星空も最高すぎるツアーでした！
またハワイ島に来たらマサシネイチャースクールさんにお願いします！

This trip to the sandbar was excellent. The company has the day very well planned for guests so that you don’t have to worry about anything other than relaxing.

Here are all the pros:
Pick up and drop off from Waikiki available
Lunch provided
Paddle board and kayak use included
Nice sun deck set up
Friendly staff
Great music for the trip to and from

Overall, excellent experience and I’m glad I didn’t miss it.

It was one of the things I wanted to do before I die, so I'm really happy to have achieved it. I have no resistance to jumping, so I didn't feel any fear at all. It was just beautiful! Amazing! It felt like shouting "Banzai!" I struggled with equalizing my ears, and they were making funny noises, haha. When I get the photos, I might cry from laughing because I look so bad.

I think everyone should experience this at least once!

死ぬまでにやりたいリストの１つだったので
達成できて嬉しいです
飛び降りるのに対して抵抗が全くないタイプなので
怖さもなにも感じませんでした
ただただ、綺麗！最高！バンザーイって感じでした！
私は耳抜きが下手すぎて耳がきゅいんきゅぃんなってました笑
写真付きにして、データきたらブスすぎて涙出るくらい爆笑できるよ

みんな一度は経験するべきだと思う！！

Caprain Lauren was great. Informative, helpful,and professional. We saw pilot whales, sea caves, a turtle, and of course...the snorkeling.
Both spots were great and we had PLENTY of swim time.
Thanks for a great trip!

I participated in the fireworks viewing on Friday. Since it was said that we would get wet while boarding the boat, I went in shorts and sandals. I had seen fireworks before on the Star of Honolulu, but there was nothing obstructing the view this time, and since it was a catamaran yacht, we got close to the fireworks, making it much more impressive. Everyone was drinking Mai Tais, but I requested champagne or sparkling wine. They served us baby-sized bottles, one each. I drank quite a bit and honestly don't remember how I got back to the hotel—definitely a reminder to be careful not to drink too much!

金曜日の花火鑑賞に参加しましたボートに乗る際濡れるとなっていたので半ズボンとサンダルで行きました花火は以前スターオブホノルルでも見たことがあったのですが遮るものがないのとカタマランヨットなので近くまで行ったのでこちらの方が迫力があります　皆マイタイを飲んでいましたがシャンパン？スパークリングワインを所望しました　ベビーサイズのボトルを1本づつ開けて出してくれていました　結構飲んでどうやってホテルに帰ったのかわからない位でした→飲み過ぎ注意ですね

This zip line course is the real deal! Not only they have 8 individual zip lines, but each has it's character and unique feature. We really loved to do different tricks, and also enjoyed some very long zip lines that we haven't experienced anywhere else.

Guides were fun and very helpful, and had 'super human' abilities whenever someone was stuck on a line.

We will definitely come again next time we are visiting the island!

My family of 4 had the best time on this excursion in June. The crew was organized, friendly, and punctual. The boat was big and comfortable, we were able to stand while driving and the music selection was fun. We saw spinner dolphins and that was the highlight of our whole trip to Kauai. Another super fun part was going into a couple of caves, one of them all the way and turned around. We stood under a waterfall, took amazing pictures, the coast formation is incredible.
The one part that wasn’t great was the snorkeling, the spot didn’t have many fish or sea life. It was very deep and brown. We were very excited to snorkel off the Napoli Coast and it was a disappointment. But it’s likely just the way the coastline is now, sadly.
The sandwiches were great, good chips and drinks.
Overall, it was a very cool experience!

I arrived on time, but there was not much guidance, and I didn't know what to do. I was flustered and confused about the drinks as well. It's understandable that Japanese isn't spoken, but the staff didn't have any smiles either. After it started to rain, there was no guidance, so I returned to my room.
I think the meal was Hawaiian cuisine, but the taste was just okay. I was a bit disappointed.

時間通りに行きましたが、案内があまりなくどうしていいかもわからず、ドリンクも何も分からずあたふたしました。日本語が通じないのは仕方ないけどスタッフも笑顔もないし。雨が降り始めてからの案内もなく部屋に戻りました。
食事もハワイ料理だと思いますが、味もいまいち。少しガッカリでした。

The sea of clouds and the incredibly beautiful sunset created a wonderful starry sky. The scale and scenery were impressive. The driver guide, Tad, who provided guidance in Japanese, was excellent.

雲海と最高に綺麗な夕日に素晴らしい星空でした。スケールや景色も感度しました。日本語でも案内してくたドライバー案内係のタッドは最高でした。

Awesome activity! This is my second time booking captain bob’s and I can’t tell you enough how great it is, you would need to experience it for yourself! From the start, the staff are very welcoming and keep you entertained throughout the entire experience. They take the time to go around to chat with everyone, making it a comfortable excursion. Although they don’t do anything specific for birthdays, they still made sure to sing her a happy birthday! Book it, you won’t regret it!

Service was superb, some mistakes happened but all corrected in few minutes and very grateful for the results. The ride was great our captain has a very unique talents knowing names by only observing his passengers makes the ride in the open sea more familial atmosphere, feeling safe plus the views its just amazing. Definitely this a must to do to blow away your personal stresses. Really the whole family enjoyed.

One of the reasons I came to the Big Island for the first time was to see the starry sky! It far exceeded my expectations, and I was able to see a sky filled with stars. It was just July 7th, Tanabata, with Orihime and Hikoboshi, and the Milky Way was clearly explained by the tour guide using a laser pointer, making for a very satisfying stargazing tour. ^_^ Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take good photos of the starry sky, so I will only share the sunset photos. I'm sorry.

初めてハワイ島に来た目的の一つが星空を見る！でしてが、予想を遥かに上回り
星が降ってくるような星空を見ることができました。
ちょうど七月七日　七夕の日で、織姫に彦星、天の川も
レーザーポインターで分かりやすくツアーの方が説明してくれて大満足の星空観察ツアーでした^_^
残念ながら上手く星空は写真が撮れず、サンセットの
写真のみ掲載します。御免なさい。

Just considering the line of cars waiting from early morning and the queue for entry, you can already see the value of the tour. There’s no competition for reservations, making it easy to plan. Additionally, there are some insider tips, and the specialists share insights about the highlights and features of Hanauma Bay that we would never discover or experience on our own. For those who are familiar with Hanauma Bay and may visit multiple times in the future, I highly recommend experiencing this at least once. The ocean is truly wonderful, as are the two of you. Until we meet again, mahalo.

早朝から順番待ちの車の列と、入園待ちの列を考えたら、それだけでもツアーの価値が分かります。予約争奪戦も有りませんので、予定が立てやすい。更に裏ワザがちらほらあり、見どころスポやハナウマ湾の特徴などの、スペシャリストだから知る物を教えて下さり、私たちだけ頑張っても決して分からない、体験出来ない経験です。ハナウマ湾へ行きなれた、これからも複数回行くかも知れない人は、1度体験をオススメします。とても素晴らしい海とお二人です。またお会いする日までマハロ

Fantastic tour of an amazing place. You see lots of incredible scenery and see where tons of your favorite movies were filmed. The tour is a good balance of learning about the ranch and having a great time driving the side by sides.
They definitely prioritize safety and make sure everyone is doing what they should be in order to have a good time.
You will get dirty from driving on the dusty roads. If you wear contacts be sure to use the goggles they provide to keep the dust out of your eyes.
They also provide a bandana which helps keep the dust our of your mouth/nose.

Great activity for those who want to get the opportunity to swim in a waterfall. The hike to the waterfalls was relatively short although somewhat slippery at times. We had hiking shoes which I would definitely recommend. Folker our guide did a great job of explaining the culture and plants around us as we hiked, as well as giving us tidbits to keep us safe along the way. It was an incredible few hours and one we will surely remember.

What an amazing afternoon on the water! The captain Glenn had a great sense of humor and maneuvered the boat expertly, keeping everyone informed about what was coming next. Meanwhile Alec and Aaron did an amazing job of making everyone feel at home on the boat from great cocktails to great conversation! Would highly recommend!

Yoshi was a fantastic guide that provided us with such a memorable experience. He supplied us with coats and blankets and snacks so that we were comfortable. He also showed us constellations and stars through his telescope. If you are fascinated by the stars you will never forget this experience. Must try!

Last year, I was able to enjoy a horseback riding course that featured scenery from movie filming locations, and I was looking forward to it again this year. However, this year, it ended up being just a two-hour ride along a mountain path, which was disappointing. The people in my riding group were similarly frustrated and said they didn't want to participate again. Is it the instructor who decides the course? Was it just bad luck this year? If possible, please let me know.

昨年は、映画ロケ地の景色も楽しめるコースを乗馬することができ、今年も楽しみに申込したところ、今年は山道を、ひたすら2時間乗馬するだけで終わってしまいガッカリでした。一緒に乗馬したグループの人達も同様に不満を爆発しており、2度と参加したくないと言っていました。コースを決めるのは、インストラクターが決めるのですか。今年は運が悪かっただけなのですか。よかったら教えてください。

When I went to the reception booth and showed my voucher, they said something like, "Please sign the agreement," and my husband and I each signed. We were told, "Be at that peach over there by 7:15," so we waited on the beach, and soon a boat approached from the sea.

We boarded the same boat that had been used for the previous sunset cruise. After the previous passengers disembarked and the cleaning and preparations were done, we were instructed to take off our shoes and roll our pants up to our knees as we got on board. The staff directed us to our seats, and we stored our shoes and bags in the space behind the chairs. After the staff introduced themselves and shared some safety points about the cruise, we set sail.

I was nervous about how to order drinks, but then they called out, "Who wants a Mai Tai? Raise your hand!" Almost everyone raised their hands. Plastic cups filled with ice and Mai Tais were distributed one after another, and cheers of "Kanpai!" echoed around. After that, we went to the counter to order our favorite drinks.

We moved around to take photos and exchanged shots with different groups. At exactly 8:00, fireworks went off, and there was a loud cheer. The weather was nice, the waves were calm, and the starry sky was beautiful. Along the way, the staff handed out snacks like Doritos.

Both the reception and the boat staff spoke only English, and they spoke quickly. Most of the passengers were foreigners, with probably just one other Japanese group besides us. I was nervous about how it would go, but everyone was a bit tipsy, laughing heartily, and we had a great time.

Even with my limited English, I was able to enjoy myself!

受付ブースに行ってバウチャーを見せると『同意書にサインしてねー』的なことを言われ、夫と各々サイン
『7時15分にあっちのピーチにいてねー』と言われ、浜辺でボーっと待っていたら沖から船が近づいてきた
前の時間のサンセットクルーズに使用したのと同じ船に乗るのね

前の乗客が降りて、清掃&準備が整うと、靴を脱いで乗るように言われ、ズボンを膝上まで捲り上げていざ乗船
スタッフが座る位置を指示してくれる
靴や荷物を椅子の背もたれにあるスペースに収納
スタッフの自己紹介とクルーズの注意点と思われる事を聞いて、いざ出航

どうやってドリンクの注文するのかとドキドキしてたら『マイタイ飲みたい人手を挙げてー』
ほぼ全員挙手
氷とマイタイが入ったプラカップが次々と配られて、あちこちでカンパーイの声
その後はカウンターのスタッフに好きな飲み物を注文しに行く

写真を撮ったり、違うグループ同士で撮り合いっこしたりで、好きな場所に移動
8時丁度に花火が上がって大歓声
お天気も良く波も穏やかで星空もキレイ
途中でスタッフがスナック菓子（ドリトス等）を配ってくれる

受付も船のスタッフも英語オンリー、しかも早口、乗客もほぼ外国人
日本人は私達以外に多分もう一組
どうなる事かとドキドキしたけれど、皆んなほろ酔いでゲラゲラ笑って楽しい時間を過ごせました

出川イングリッシュでも充分楽しめました

If you want a beautiful setting, great food and an organized exciting show then you should pick this luau.
Dancers were all amazing !
The length of time, open 2 hour bar , seating and staff were exceptional as well.
This was not my first luau but it was for my boyfriend and he was impressed with it!

beautiful day on the sand bar with great music and organization with tons of activities included (kayaking, paddle board, snorkeling). felt very safe even with two small kids in the open ocean. highly recommend for families!

I was worried because it was stated that English was required, but there was no problem as they communicated in easy-to-understand English words.

Diving while enjoying the wonderful scenery was the best, and it will definitely be an unforgettable experience.

I think the shuttle service from around Waikiki makes it easy to use.

英語が必須と記載があったので心配だったのですが、わかりやすい英単語で貝和してくれたので問題ありませんでした。

素晴らしい景色を眺めながらのダイビングは最高で、忘れられない体験になることは間違いないです。

ワイキキ周辺からの送迎もあるので利用しやすいと思います。