Reviewed by: Jeanne
Guide was very informative. He talked about everything we were seeing and was easy to listen to. The only concern I had was that the tour company needs to adjust expected arrival times to account for other pick ups and traffic.
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2016/08/29 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/08/23 |
Reviewed by: K.M
I participated for the first time with my mother, husband, and eldest daughter. Hawaii Island is not just about Kilauea! It was a series of moving experiences. Thank you very much.
母と夫 長女と四人で初めて参加しました。
ハワイ島はキラウエアだけではないのですね!
感動の連続でした。ありがとうございました。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/08/27 |
Reviewed by: Betsy & Gary
This was truly a bucket list experience! The helicopter ride was absolutely incredible, the view of waterfalls and the volcano just awesome! KUddos to our young female pilot.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Helicopter & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/08/17 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/08/08 |
Reviewed by: くるり
I signed up for the helicopter tour because I wanted to take in the expansive views of the Big Island and see the flowing lava.
During my visit, the lava was at a lower flow rate, so I couldn't see much of it flowing, but I was able to witness the red masses burning through the trees.
Additionally, I could view areas that are difficult to reach by car, such as Hilo and the northern mountainous regions and waterfalls, from the air.
Although it is expensive, it was a satisfying sightseeing flight.
ハワイ島は広いので、空からぐるっと眺めたいのと、流れている溶岩が見たくて申し込みました。
溶岩は丁度少な目の時期でしたので、そこまで流れている感じは見ることができませんでしたが
赤い塊が木々を燃やしている様子は見ることができました。
また、ヒロ方面や北部の山岳地帯・滝など
車では行きにくい方も空から眺めることができました。
高額ではありますが、満足できる遊覧飛行でした。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/08/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/10/18 |
Reviewed by: Karine and Pierre
It was a great tour with a great guide. He loves his job, he know a lot of things on Hawaiian culture. It's a deluxe tour with a lot of attention! We will never forget that tour!
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2016/07/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/07/21 |
Reviewed by: Nadine
Jim Carey was a fantastic tour guide. His stories and knowledge of the volcano, stars and planets was excellent.
Aloha Nadine,
Thank you so much for your kind words. We take pride in fielding guides like Jim, who are constantly trying to increase their knowledge and understanding of Hawaii. Jim really enjoys what he does, and it shows!! Thanks again, and please join us in the future on one of our other Big Island tours.
Mahalo
Kailani
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/06/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/06/22 |
Reviewed by: LeAnne
My husband decided we needed an excursion to the big Island to see the volcano. Did a helicopter tour and day trip. Everything was organized, convenient and no stress. Thank you.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Helicopter & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/06/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/06/18 |
Reviewed by: The Nunes Girls
Mike Nelson was the best guide! He knew everything about the island - and catered to our needs. He gave us options based on our interests and prior experience on the island. He did his best to give us a good understanding of the people, history, culture, and economy of the island. Knew local legends, astronomical information, plant and animal facts, as well as best "tips" on everything from restaurants and beaches, to coffee and desserts.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are delighted to hear that you had such an awesome day with Mike. He is such a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who really helps our guests connect with Hawaii while on tour, and with the great tips for the rest of your stay, you're sure to experience all of Big Island's best! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/06/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/06/14 |
Reviewed by: Norm
1st time riding a helicopter - a great experience. Everyone was professional and welcoming.
Enjoyed the ride immensely.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Helicopter & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/06/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/31 |
Reviewed by: Laura & Djani Drocic
I must start this review with big Mahalo to our tour guide Jim Carrey, you made this tour great and memorable for my wife Laura and myself. My suggestion would be for anyone interested in a great tour on the Big Island that is focused on cultural, geological, flora and fauna ecosystems of the island to book this tour for the beginning part of their stay, since it will open a number of the other visits and adventure that one can do on their own. Bring a camera and warm clothing, but if you forget your jacket don't worry your tour guide Jim is prepared with a number of coats to lend to those that had forgotten theirs. This whole day tour is packed with interesting place to visit, local folklore and legends. Jim is such a great narrator that makes the whole Hawaiian culture alive during the tour. You will be introduced to multiple Hawaiian chants, songs and legends during the entire day. Food is exquisite and plentiful, tastefully prepared to satisfied everyones need and desire. The crown jewl of this tour is night visit to Volcanic National Park for night lava viewing and star gazing. Jim is so knowledgeable in field of celestial observations and he comes prepared with a strong pair of binoculars that are powerful enough to give you glance of lava inside crater and to offer great view on planets and constellations visible from the craters edge.
Once again Mahalo to Jim Carrey and his company for offering us a unique view on Hawaiian culture and beautiful eco-system that is so different then anywhere on the planet.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are delighted to hear that you had such a fun day with Jim! He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii, helping our guests to connect with the Big Island while on tour. Looking into Halema'uma'u Crater is so mesmerizing and we are so excited to hear that you folks actually got to see some lava with those amazing binoculars! Mahalo for your recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island for some more fun times!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/26 |
Reviewed by: Donna Kappers
Had a wonderful day & night on this Volcano experience. Our guide Jim Cary lived up to the reviews I had read about. We had a party of five and all of us had a great time. Jim was a wealth of knowledge about the whole area. The food for both lunch and Dinner was delicious ! Would highly recommend to anyone this tour!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge who genuinely loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii! We are delighted to hear that you also enjoyed both lunch and dinner. Kilauea Lodge is such a welcoming treat after touring all over Volcanoes National Park! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/24 |
Reviewed by: Eve Hamilton
Not only was everything beautiful and fascinating, Jim Carey's knowledge and presentation made it over the top. I've lived on Oahu since 1980, and have visited the Big Island many times. This was the most special tour I have ever taken, and that's thanks to our tour guide Jim. It's obvious that he loves what he's doing. What a delight! I will be recommending this tour to all my friends.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic day with Jim! His love for Hawaii is simply captivating as he shares the songs and stories of the islands. We truly appreciate you letting all your friends know how much fun you had on tour and look forward to showing them all a great time! Mahalo for the recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/24 |
Reviewed by: Cooper
You will take a shuttle from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and arrive at the office in about 10 minutes. Upon entering the office, you will check in, but it seems there are no staff members who speak Japanese. You will leave your bag and hat there. After completing the check-in process, you will watch a flight safety video, and then it's finally time to board the helicopter.
The tour departs from Waikoloa and covers Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Waipi'o. The aircraft is called ECO-STAR, which seats two people in the front and four in the back. We sat in the two seats on the right in the back.
As we ascend, you can clearly see the flow of lava. The Waikoloa side is barren, either covered in lava or grassland.
During the flight, you will wear headphones to hear the pilot's voice. The crew speaks into a microphone, and everyone can hear them. Other passengers are conversing in English; while I can generally understand what they are saying, my English skills aren't strong enough to actively participate in the conversation, so I mostly remained quiet.
The helicopter heads towards Mauna Loa. If there were no clouds, we might have been able to see the summit of Mauna Kea, but it was obscured by clouds. The slopes of Mauna Loa are gentle, and you can see the different colors of the ground following the flow of lava. As we flew over Mauna Loa, the greenery gradually increased. After flying past Mauna Loa for a while, we saw smoke rising through the clouds. As we descended closer to the crater, we could see red lava coming from it. This is a view that can only be seen from the helicopter, and it is truly breathtaking. The pilot circles around the crater, changing direction so that both sides can see, allowing us to take plenty of photos and videos.
After that, the helicopter heads to another location. Here, white smoke or steam is billowing from the ground, and as we get closer, we can see some red lava within it. I think the lava appeared closer here than at the Kilauea crater. This is a place that cannot be seen except from the helicopter.
Next, we pass over the town of Hilo, and shortly after, we see Waipi'o Valley. The helicopter briefly flies past Waipi'o Valley and along the coastline. The coastline features steep cliffs with several waterfalls cascading down. After viewing these waterfalls, the helicopter makes a U-turn and heads back to Waipi'o Valley. As we enter the valley, we can see a large waterfall in the distance. Continuing further into the valley, we discover several waterfalls on the mountainside. I never imagined there would be so many waterfalls until we entered the valley. The helicopter flies along the mountainside, circling and maneuvering. The turns here are quite thrilling, combining turns with altitude changes, creating a bit of an attraction-like experience. This is arguably the highlight of the flight.
After exiting Waipi'o Valley, we ascend and head to the other side of the mountain. The lush green scenery of the valley suddenly gives way to a dry landscape with no trees. I was surprised at how distinctly the climate changed in such a short distance.
After that, we head south along the coastline of the Kohala Coast. After a while, we can see the helicopter pad where we started. This aerial journey comes to an end here.
Although it was a bit pricey, this experience is something you can't do anywhere else, and the satisfaction level is incredibly high. If given the chance, I would love to do it again, and I think it would be a shame not to see this scenery after coming all the way to the Big Island. If the pilot had been Japanese, I might have understood more details, but even without understanding English, I think just seeing the scenery is enough to grasp the experience. I highly recommend it to everyone.
ブルー・ハワイアン・ヘリコプターの送迎車に乗り、10分程度でオフィスに到着します。
オフィスに入って受付をしますが、日本語の話せるスタッフはいない模様。バッグと帽子を預けます。
チェックインを済ませて、フライトの説明ビデオを見て、いよいよヘリに乗り込みます。
ツアーはワイコロアを出発しマウナロア、キラウエア、ワイピオを回るものです。
機体はECO-STARと呼ばれるもので、前に2人、後ろに4人座れます。私たち2人は後ろの右2席へ座りました。
上昇するにつれて、溶岩が流れた様子がよく分かります。ワイコロア側は溶岩か牧草地で何もないです。
飛行中はヘッドフォンをしていて、パイロットの声が聞こえるようになっています。乗員はマイクで喋るとその声がみんなに聞こえます。他の乗客は英語で普通に喋っていますが、こちらは相手の言っていることはだいたいわかりますが積極的に会話に加われるほどの英語力はないため、ほとんどしゃべることはありませんでした。
ヘリはマウナロアに向けて進行していきます。雲が無ければマウナケアの山頂も見えたかもしれませんが、そちら方向は雲に隠れて見えません。
マウナロアの山は緩やかな傾斜で、溶岩の流れに従って地面の色が分かれているのがよく分かります。
マウナロアの山を越えるに従って、少しずつ緑も増えていきます。
マウナロアを過ぎて暫く飛ぶと、雲の間から煙が見えたきました。高度を下げて火口に近付くと火口から赤い溶岩が見えます。
まさにヘリからしか見えない景色、感動の景色です。
両側の席のそれぞれが見えるようにパイロットは旋回する向きを変えながら火口の上を旋回してくれます。おかげてたっぷり写真とビデオを撮ることができました。
ヘリはそのあと、別の場所へ向かいます。そこでは地面からいくつもの煙とも水蒸気とも入れない白いものが吹き出ており、近ずくとその中に赤い溶岩が幾つか見えます。キラウエアの火口よりも溶岩が近くに見えたと思います。この場所はヘリ以外では絶対見えない場所です。
その後、ヒロの街を通り過ぎ、暫くするとワイピオ渓谷が見えてきます。
ヘリは一旦ワイピオ渓谷を過ぎて海岸に沿って進みます。海岸線は絶壁になっていて、幾つもの滝が流れ落ちています。それらの滝を見たあとヘリはUターンしてワイピオ渓谷へ引き返します。渓谷の中へ進むと奥に大きな滝が見えます。その滝からさらに奥へ進むと山肌に幾つもの滝が現れます。これほど多くの滝があるとは渓谷に入るまでは想像できませんでした。ヘリは山肌に沿って飛行したり、旋回したりしながら進んで行きます。ここでの旋回はかなりスリリングで旋回と上下が組み合わさり、ちょっとしたアトラクション気分です。この飛行の最大の見せ場と言えます。
その後、ワイピオ渓谷を抜け上昇して山の反対側へ行きます。今まで緑一杯だった渓谷の風景から一気に木がなくなり、乾燥した大地が現れます。これだけ、ちょっとの間にはっきりと気候が分かれるのにびっくりしました。
その後は、コハラコーストの海岸線を見ながら南下していきます。暫くすると、出発したヘリポートも見えてきました。この空の旅もここで終わりです。
ちょっと値段は高かったですが、この体験は他ではできないものですし、満足感はすごく高いです。
機会があれば、また乗ってみたいとも思いますし、せっかくハワイ島まで来てこの景色を見ないのはもったいないと思います。
パイロットが日本人ならもっと詳しく理解できたでしょうが、英語が分からなくても景色を見るだけで十分理解できると思います。
みなさんに、おすすめできます。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/09 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/01 |
Reviewed by: NORMA BARAJAS
This tour was astonishing, we had our best time in Hawaii. Starting, our host Jim Carey a gentleman, expert story teller of Hawaiian culture. On the road we could see lava tubes, alien landscapes, the marvelous Mauna Kea where is an astronomical observatory and we had a windy delicious pic nic lunch. Near the city of Hilo, we had our second stop for seeing the Rainbow Falls, a fantastic view of the beauty and force of nature. Not far, Hilo, a rainy city, where is the University of Hawaii and the unforgettable chocolate factory where one can find all kind of delicious chocolates, candies, cookies, macadamia nuts. No one can leave that place without a full bag while Jim Carey is calling you with the sound of ukelele. Also you can take pictures of the statue of king Kamehameha in a park. Then, we took our way to Volcanoes National Park, which welcomed us with a warm fumarole that wet us in a strange but nice sensation. Then, the first wonderful breathtaking view of the Kilauea volcano, a vision like we were in Mars. The museum shows what the nude eye can’t see in a volcano, like Pele´s hair and lava forest. After, an outstanding landscape, the lava river, an unbelievable wonder full of mystery. We took a path through the rainy forest, where the flowers and the tree of Pele’s legend grow in the middle of volcanic rocks. Then Jim took us to a cozy restaurant, with a chimney attended by his owner. Dinner was awesome, very tasty, as the special passion fruit tea. At night we had the vision of fire in the middle of the night, the Kilauea's dancing lava took our breath away, an unforgettable moment, almost mystical. Pictures can’t catch that beauty, but the telescope that Jim takes with him did.
Back in the van a great surprise waited for us. Like a love detail, a hot coco and cookies appeared to warm us. On our road back more than one fell asleep dreaming of the most wonderful day of their lives. Mahalo from Colombia.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii with our guests, helping them to connect with our island while on tour. We are delighted that you enjoyed all the stops and treats throughout the day. Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is so special and always helps our guests warm back up on those cold Volcano nights! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/27 |
Reviewed by: Yuki
We started the morning with very warm welcome with big smile of the guide in front of our hotel lobby. His name was Jim Carey. Since we were Japanese visiting from Japan, he was concerned about the tour being conducted in English. We said we were Okay, try to keep up. He kindly told us that he would try to speak.
As we started the actual tour and as we picking up the more new guests, he explain the schedule of the day again and again. so everybody know how that day is gonna be.
As we were on the move, he had full of stories of scenic locations, Hawaiian history and cultures.
At the lunch, we had Pick-nick lunch at the base of Mauna Kea, we had the Chicken Caesar wrap at very fine environment. When it was time to go, Jim was not calling out the guest but he was playing songs with the Ukulele to let people know that it is time to go, what a kind way to notify!!
After that we went to Hiro, there we did not have much time to stop so Jim was explaining lots of stuff as he drove by. Then after that we went to the Rainbow Fall, although we could not see the rainbow, it was beautiful fall.
Then here comes the main event, the volcano. We visited the steam vent and couple of other scenic points and a little hiking it was very interesting and felt really good to hike in unusual volcanic environment. Only thing was that rain came and went repeatedly. Then we moved to the location of Lava tube. It was awesome!! Here also, Jim had a wonderful stories to tell. We learned a lot of stuff from him.
Then we moved to the lodge/Restaurant for the dinner. Surprisingly the dinner was much better quality than we expected. After the dinner, when we got out of the restaurant, it was dark but very clear sky, we went back to volcano and saw lava splash and million stars with Jim's stories. Totally different face the volcano showed us from earlier that day.
All activities were finished and on the way back to the hotel, we are so tired and fell asleep. Best tour ever!!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. His love for Hawaii shines through his songs and stories of the islands. It sounds like you folks had no problem keeping up and really enjoyed your day! Excellent! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/27 |
Reviewed by: Guilherme Marinho
First of all, I would like to thanks hawaiian activies for appear on my google search!! As me and my wife didn't know about this activie, we search on google and find the website. We were very excited from the begening because of what the people were saying about eh tour. And we were right to be. The Tour is more than amazing, from the day before, I received a call in my hotel room to confirm the pick up time and he was there in the next day about 11:30h. He was Jim Carrey (no, not the famous one haha, but was so brilliant as the other!). Our tour guide was more than fantastic, a lot of histories about legends and culture from Hawaii than you could imagine. We had lunch in the way to Hilo, in a such nice beautiful place close to the Manua Lea. After that we took our way to Hilo, but before we went to the beautiful rainbow fall, not so beautiful, but very nature, in the midle of a forest, we loved. Hilo was a nice surprised, we went to a Candie Shop from Big Islands, huge store and my wife fall in love, she loves chocolates haha. After that we went to the volcano site at day, before dinner, was such a nice surprise, first time close to a active volcano. And every time with the histories from our brilliant guide. The dinner was one of the best parts of the tour, the best soup ever, and a very friendly restaurant, we loved every moment. After sunset, we return to the volcano to see the magic at night and we were really surprised and satisfied. I want thank Jim and everyone envolved, was one of the best days of our lives, and the best day of our honeymoon!! Guilherme Marinho and Aline Amaral.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so glad you chose to let us show you some of our favorite spots on the Big Island. Jim is truly a fantastic guide who genuinely loves sharing his songs and stories of Hawaii. We are so happy to hear that you and your wife enjoyed all of the stops along the way. Big Island Candies is a chocolate lover's dream with all the amazing goodies and samples they offer! Dinner at the world famous Kilauea Lodge is always so scrumptious and a great way to warm back up on those cold Volcano nights, before heading back into Volcanoes National Park. The majestic lava lake inside of Halema'uma'u Crater leaves such a lasting impression on everyone who gets the opportunity to witness the night time glow. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/05/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/25 |
Reviewed by: masato
Since it was my first helicopter ride, I chose a slightly luxurious OP tour. The stability was more impressive than I expected. After an exciting takeoff, we headed towards the Kilauea volcano. However, we spent a long time just flying over black lava flows, and I was disappointed to see only a little orange magma from the crater. In the second half, as we headed towards Waipi'o Valley, the scenery changed dramatically, revealing beautiful coastlines reminiscent of a Jurassic Park movie, which made me very satisfied. In Waipi'o Valley, the pilot made wonderful turns, allowing us to enjoy a fantastic time. I couldn't understand what was being said in the English commentary, but I wish they had played a Japanese audio guide as well. Since it was quite a long flight, I think I would have been very satisfied if they had shortened the flight over Kilauea volcano to about a third and offered it at a lower price. According to the hotel staff, the pilots here are all former members of the Army helicopter unit and are exceptional pilots.
初めてのヘリコプターといううことで、ちょっと贅沢なOPツアーを選択しました。思っていたより素晴らしい安定感です。興奮気味での離陸後、キラウエア火山遊覧に向かいます。ところが延々と真っ黒な溶岩流の後ばかり、火口から見えたオレンジ色のマグマはほんの少しでがっかりな時間が続きます。後半はワイピオ渓谷へ向かうと景色は一変、きれいな海岸沿いにジュラシックパークの映画のような風景が現れ大満足です。ワイピオ渓谷ではパイロットが左右に旋回しながら素晴らしい時間を過ごさせていただきました。英語の案内で何を言っているのかわからなかったけど、、、日本語の案内テープでも流してくれればよかったかな。結構、長い時間のフライトなので、キラウエア火山での飛行を3分の1くらいに短縮して、もっとお安くしてくれれば大満足だったと思います。ホテルの人の話ではここのパイロットは陸軍のヘリコプター部隊のOBで抜群の操縦技術者ばかりというう事でした。
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/01 |
Reviewed by: Kathy
My sister and I went on this tour with Jim Carey as our guide. We were picked up right from our hotel and then were gone all day. Jim was extremely knowledgeable about the Island of Hawaii as well as the folklore of the Hawaiian culture. It was fun to hear about all of the history of Hawaii and learn about the sites we were seeing, with such depth of knowledge that Jim brought. We stopped at Rainbow Falls (no rainbow, but the falls were wonderful). One aspect we both enjoyed a lot was going through one of the lava tubes near the volcano!
The lunch and dinner provided was excellent, we both enjoyed it. The whole tour was long - and by the end of the day we were tired, however we would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about Hawaii and see many different sites along the way. Before heading back to the hotel we saw the lava glow located near the Jagger Museum, which was amazing to view at night. We had a great day!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a great day with Jim. He is a wonderful guide whose Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a guest favorite! We're glad that you enjoyed all of the stops and treats along the way. That majestic glow from the lava lake after dinner is truly an amazing sight that leaves a lasting impression! Mahalo for the kind words and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/18 |
Reviewed by: Michele
We stared the day with a happy welcome from our guide and driver Jim. He had been a truck driver for most of his life so I felt very comfortable with his driving. From the very start to the end of the day Jim regaled us with his knowledge of the history, biology, geology, stories, songs and politics of this beautiful island. Our first stop was lunch at a pretty park. Lunch was delicious and healthy. We saw waterfalls, volcanos, steam vents and many different types of wild animals. We took an afternoon coffee break at the Big Island Candies shop where we enjoyed a free cup of Kona coffee and tasted many samples of the best cookies. Of course I had to buy at least one box. That evening we ate dinner and had drinks at a nice old lodge by the volcano. We enjoyed the company of the other guests. We all agreed dinner was great. The clouds had cleared and we were able to see the errie red glow of the lava and did some star gazing with Jim's high powered binoculars. The air was chilly up on the mountain and Jim made us hot chocolate and coffee to warm us up. On the way back to our hotels we watched a very interesting video of the history of the volcano with many amazing close up shots of inside and lava flows. It turned out to be a wonderful day and my husband and I agreed we were glad we went and it was worth every penny.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose love for Hawaii shines through his songs and stories of the island. So glad to hear you enjoyed all of the sights and meals along the way. It's pretty hard to walk out of Big Island Candies without buying something with all of the amazing goodies they have there! Even with some cloud coverage, the lava lake is such a majestic sight to see, but when those clouds move, WOW! Mahalo for your kind words and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/14 |
Reviewed by: Daniel Ruymann
We just returned from Kona, Hawaii and had the opportunity to participate in 3 excursions from different operators. Our tour, specifically our tour guide, Jim Carey, was life changing. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm made for a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget. From Jim's storytelling, songs, narratives of the Hawaiian culture and history, throughout our 12 hour adventure that included stops at Rainbow Falls, Big Island Candies, Mauna Loa, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (with afternoon and evening viewings), hikes through lava tunnels, a fine dining experience, topped by an amazing stargazing experience, I was inspired by Jim Carey, which serves as a testament to the caliber of talent that Kailani Tour employees. I would highly recommend this tour and in particular, any tour with Jim Carey. I am blessed to have gone on this journey with him as our tour guide. Bravo to Jim and Kailani Tours.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim Carey! He is a wonderful guide whose Aloha shines through his stories, songs, and genuine love for Hawai'i. Jim's top-notch hospitality allows our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are glad that you enjoyed all of our stops along the way and were able to get in some incredible stargazing! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island.
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/02 |
Reviewed by: F.F.
There were six of us, two of us and four travelers from China. The pilot was a handsome young American man. Although he spoke in English, he really got us excited. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, we couldn't see the lava flow that we were looking forward to. However, we received a refund for that, so I would like to try again next time. The helicopter tour got us close enough to reach Waipi'o Valley, which was thrilling.
中国の旅行客4人と私たち2人の6人の客でした。パイロットはイケメンの若いアメリカ人の方でした。英語でしたが、私たちを盛り上げてくれました。天候が悪く、楽しみにしていた溶岩流は見ることができませんでした。でも、その分、返金していただけたので、次回またチャレンジしてみたいと思いました。ヘリコプター遊覧は、ワイピオ渓谷に手が届くくらいの距離まで近づけて、興奮しました。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/25 |
Reviewed by: nwc
The booking process so easy – one simple phone call. The tour provides lunch, dinner, snacks, EVERYTHING you’ll need.
Jim Carey was our guide, and was EXCELLENT in EVERY WAY. “Uncle Jim” was very accommodating and went out of his way to ensure guests were comfortable. We were amazed at Jim’s knowledge of island history & Hawaiian culture. As we traveled, Jim educated us on island facts, myths, and legend. He recounted many great tales of Hawaiian lore,with enthusiasm and energy. Jim loves his job and entertaining his guests.
The tour began with a trip to Mauna Kea and picnic lunch. After, we headed to Hilo and stopped at a lava field. Next stops were Rainbow Falls, Kamehameha Statue and Big Island Candies for a snack. After Hilo, we went to Volcanoes National Park while Jim told us history of the island’s volcanoes. Jim is as much a geologist as tour guide. We pulled over to see “steam vents”, and then to the viewing area and the Volcano Museum and gift shop.
On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube. The tube was well lit, but Jim made sure we were armed with flashlights. We exited through a “skylight” and made our way back.
We ate at the Kilauea Lodge, a quaint restaurant. Meal was top-notch. Back to Volcanoes Park at dark. Jim had high-powered binoculars and we viewed spewing lava. The temp dropped, and Jim was ready w/hot chocolate.
We made one last stop to do some stargazing. For someone who had never viewed the stars in the blackened sky of Hawaii, I was astounded. The sky was FULL of stars – thousands of them that I’ve never seen before. It was like visiting a planetarium, in real life.
In conclusion, we highly recommend this excursion for anyone interested in a comprehensive tour that covers everything you would want to see on the Big Island, in one feature-packed day. If Jim is available, as for him by name. He was the best tour guide we’ve ever had – on any tour, on any island, country or continent.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an excellent day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a favorite among our guests. His top-notch hospitality allows everyone to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day! We are so glad that you enjoyed all of the stops along the way and were able to get some stargazing in, as well. It truly is breathtaking to see such an abundance of stars and we totally agree that it's like standing in a real-life planetarium! Mahalo for the amazing recommendation and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/04/02 |
Reviewed by: Rach
I just took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano recently. It was a very enjoyable and breathtaking experience with Chris, who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the tour!
From the beginning to the end of the tour, it was on schedule and pleasant to be part of. Chris was very informative and well prepared for everything (water, hot chocolate, umbrellas, heavy jackets, hot towels, etc).
From driving along Saddle Road to picture taking at Rainbow Falls to walking through the Thurston Lava Tube, and much more, It was one of the best tours I have ever taken.
I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone who wants a rewarding trip with magnificent sceneries and wildlife!
WOW!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a magnificent day with Chris. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who genuinely loves what he does! Mahalo for your thumbs up recommendation! We hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island for some more fun with the Kailani Tours 'Ohana!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/27 |
Reviewed by: JenNMikeY
My husband and I enjoyed this trip immensely! Since we were staying on the opposite side of the island from the Volcanoes National Park and Hilo, this was a great way to see it all without having to spend half the day driving. The hotel pick-up was a nice added convenience. Taking the tour allowed us to just sit back in comfort and enjoy the sights and the company of some really nice people who took the tour with us.
The van was comfy and spacious, and the group is limited to 14 guests, so we were never lost in a crowd. Our tour guide, Chris, was a joy to spend time with. He knew the island quite well, from the top of the mountain to the waterfalls, the lava tube and all of the interesting sights that were covered on the tour. He showed a genuine interest ad knowledge of all of the places we visited, and delivered commentary with a great sense of humor thrown in - he was never boring! He was familiar enough with the tour and our expectations that he was able to adapt the schedule just enough to accommodate the changes in island weather - namely rain - on the wet side of the island. He even provided umbrellas and flashlights for exploring after the sun went down.
The trip included a Fantastic dinner at a lodge near the Park. This alone was almost worth the time and cost of the tour! We were lucky enough to be seated with Chris during dinner and found him to be very personable. I could have spent hours just enjoying our conversations. Chris is perfectly suited to run this type of tourism business, and has created a tour that is just different enough from other tours to make it stand out!
I would absolutely recommend this tour to others. Thanks for a great time on the Big Island!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a fantastic day with Chris. He is an amazing guide, whose love for the Big Island really shines though his stories and fun facts along the way. His witty personality and attention to detail really allow our guests to just sit back, relax, and enjoy! The dinner at Kilauea Lodge is always a very welcomed treat to help refuel and warm up before checking out that majestic glow from the lava lake inside of Halema'uma'u Crater and we are so glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much! Mahalo for the wonderful review and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/04/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/22 |
Reviewed by: James Harmon
The tour was great. We started by being picked up a local shopping center and then driving north. On our way, our tour guild spotted whales jumping off the coast and pulled over so we could watch. An extra bonus. We then picked up the rest of the guest and went over the mountain. Chris, our tour guild was a wealth of information and gave a great discussion of Hawaii and the different things that we saw. After stopping for lunch, which was basic but good, we went to Hilo for a tour and then on to the National park. Chris took us to a couple of sites not normally seen by tourist which was great. He also took us to the volcano tubes which was really interesting. He timed the tour so we had the whole tube to ourselves, which was really neat. We then went to dinner at a very nice place. The food was great, especially the fish. After dinner we went to the volcano and since it was night we got to see the lava light up the back ground. Chris helped us take pictures which are already posted on Facebook. After that we headed back. I would recommend this tour, especially Chris, for anyone who wanted to see the volcanoes and learn about the Island of Hawaii.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a great day with Chris. He is a wonderful guide with an abundance of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. Whale season usually runs October-March and we are so excited to hear that you folks had an opportunity to see some humpback whales on your way up the coast. Very cool treat! Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/02 |
Reviewed by: Alan L
Our tour guide Mike was fantastic. After a bit of confusion on picking up passengers, we started heading east across the Big Island on Saddle Road in a very comfortable Mercedes van. Mike has a wealth of knowledge, both cultural and local, so he made the tour feel almost personalized for everyone. We stopped at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area for a tasty, fresh lunch. Weather was perfect to see both volcanoes. We stopped along the highway to walk on the lava and see and he explained the different types. We continued to Hilo and watched a video about the volcanes, and then we stopped at Rainbow Falls. Mike knew the best places for nice pictures. After taking the scenic route and getting downtown Hilo, we learned more history about various buildings and the Kamehameha statues around the islands and stopped at Big Island Candies for some tasty samples and quick shopping. Time for the main event!
We went into the Volcanoes National Park. We stopped by some active steam vents and then the Jaggar Museum to see the active crater. Mike tooks us to see other craters and lava flows and stopped to let us walk around and see various formations created by the flow. We went deeper and deeper into the park, making our way almost to the ocean, and then stopped at the Thurston lava tube. Very unique!
From there, we headed for dinner at the Kilauea Lodge. Great atmosphere, great food, great service! Definitely try the soups! After dinner and after dark, Mike took us back to the Jaggar Museum to view the lava glow. Mike must have called on Pele to part the fog, because we were able to see and take pictures of the glow. He provide binoculars and jackets to those who needed it.
Now, heading back to the Kona side at night, we finished the volcano video and watched an "update" video that showed all the eruptions since 1983. We stopped across from the Mauna Kea Rec Area for stargazing. Mike point out constellations, planets, galaxies, stars. BEAUTIFUL!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear you had such a fantastic day with Mike! Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is such a special treat, and we agree that their soups are a must try to help warm up on those cold Volcano nights. We love when the fog parts and our guests get to enjoy that magnificent glow so clearly. Those clear skies also make for some amazing stargazing as well and we're glad to hear you enjoyed it! Mahalo for the wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Reviewed by: Chris
As someone who grew up in new york and then relocated to seattle, I'm used to big city living and never learned how to drive. This was my first trip out to ANY Hawaiian Island so you can imagine my dismay when I realized how limited I was in terms of car service so this tour was a god send when it came to actually being able to see a lot of the big island which I never would have managed on my own. The coach itself was spacious and comfortable and even thought the tour itself was carefully constructed to have a lot of walking breaks I don't think I would have gotten stir crazy even once if we'd done just a complete driving circuit of the island.
Our driver, Jim, was just a fountain of knowledge of not just the sites we visited but also the history/mythos behind a lot of them them and their importance to the indigenous peoples, but also of local attractions that I've totally added to my "to do" list whenever I make it back to the island. Jim was warm and accommodating and the embodiment of 'aloha' . The more in depth stargazing portion of our tour ended up getting rained out which was a disappointment (it was the part I was looking forward to most!) but I did manage to get in a little constellation viewing with Jim while waiting for the rest of the tour group to complete their night viewing of Halemaumau.
It's definitely a tour I would recommend to all of my family and friends, mahalo!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. It's always nice to just sit back, relax, and let our guides show you some of our favorite spots. Our Mercedes Sprinter Vans are the best way to do just that! We can also customize private tours for guests who would like to see more of our beautiful island with our amazing guides! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/21 |
Reviewed by: jdgriffin23
This is one of the best tours to take while on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were picked up from our hotel in Waikoloa Beach in a very nice and comfortable van. The first stop was at Mauna Kea park where we had a delicious lunch. Our tour guide (Mike - awesome!) even brought placemats for us to use at the picnic tables! We then went along saddle road while he told us very interesting information about Hawaii and the volcanoes. We saw a beautiful waterfall at Rainbow Falls. We stopped at several locations to see the various types of lava produced by the volcanoes. We went to the Jagger museum and saw Kilauea crater, the Thurston lava tube, steam vents, and enjoyed samples of Kona coffee, cookies, and candy at the Big Island Candy factory. Delicious! We had a wonderful dinner at Kilauea Lodge and then went back to the Jagger museum to see the lava flow at night. It was amazing! Mike had binocular, warm coats, hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snack for us. After that, we went stargazing. It was cold at night, so having the coats was great. We had plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the tour and the 12 hours went by quickly. We also watched some incredible videos about the volcanoes on the trip on a large screen in the van. I would definitely recommend this tour! The tour guide was great, food was great, and we met some new friends along the way!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Mike. It's incredible how fast 12 hours can go by when you're having so much fun! Most people don't realize how cold parts of our island can get, especially in the evening, and we are glad that our parkas helped keep you comfortable while watching the glow from the lava lake in Halema'uma'u and also while stargazing. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Reviewed by: Randy C.
WOW! We totally enjoyed our 11 am to 11 pm volcano trip on the Big Island, learning about the island's history, Hawaiian stories and the beautiful and amazing sights! Our passionate, energetic tour guide Jim Carey was extremely knowledgeable and prepared for everything (umbrellas, warm jackets, water, hot chocolate and so much more). Jim prioritized in our safety, comfort and having great fun! He hit many of the items on our Hawaii "bucket list" from lava tubes, volcano sights both day and night stargazing, waterfalls, stream vents and so many more stops. I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the whole trip without worrying about directions or driving. As we drove home in the dark in the comfortable Mercedes van, Jim played a wonderful video with the history footage of volcanos eruptions on the island.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose hospitality really helps our guests connect with our island while on tour. It's always great to hear that we are helping people check off items from their "bucket list"! That's why we love what we do. Mahalo for your glowing review and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
Reviewed by: L. Estrada
From the pick-up to the drop off 11 hours later, this was an absolutely fantastic tour! Our guide and driver, Jim Carey was so considerate of everyone from kids to seniors, he was totally accommodating and made excellent use of every minute. The van was clean and comfortable and he had anticipated every scenario. He was prepared with umbrellas, binoculars, flashlights, warm coats, hot chocolate and cookies and warm towels to freshen up after a day of adventures and beautiful sights. Jim was so knowledgeable about all things Kona, plants, birds, stars and he even played the Ukuele for us. Volcano National Park was truly awesome and especially at night. I really can't say enough about this tour from reservation to follow up - I could not ask for more. The lunch and dinner were great! So much thought and effort has obviously gone into this tour and Jim's enthusiasm was the icing on the cake. The concierge at the hotel said she could not even touch this tour and highly recommended Kailani Tours. This is a 10 star for sure!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Jim. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable guide with so much Aloha to share! His Hawaiiana stories and ukulele playing have quickly become a favorite amongst our guests. We love hearing that you enjoyed all of our stops and treats along the way! Mahalo for the fantastic recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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| Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2016/03/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
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Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are delighted to hear that you had such a great day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who loves to share his songs and stories of Hawaii. His top notch hospitality allows for our guests to sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. It is our goal to ensure our guests have a day to remember forever and we are so happy to hear that we were able to do so with you folks. Mahalo for your recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!