Maui
On March 29, 2013, I went with my family of three (10-year-old boy). We were able to see quite a few spouts here and there and encountered more whales than we expected. Thanks to the captain searching for various spots, we were able to see them frequently, which was moving. Of course, we were also able to take pictures of tails and jumps. I brought my EOS Kiss X6i with a 135mm lens, but for more impactful photos, a 300mm lens might be better.
It was quite windy on the water, making it very cold, so a jacket is essential. The boat also swayed a lot, so preparation and readiness are necessary. However, my wife, who usually gets seasick, was able to enjoy the tour without any issues. We drove directly to the meeting point (Lahaina Dock) with a rental car. There is free street parking for up to three hours, but considering our plans to explore Lahaina afterward, we parked in a public lot ($16 for 2-6 hours). Since it was an early morning plan, both options were available, but it might be difficult to find parking nearby if you go later in the day.
2013/3/29に家族3人(10歳/男)で行ってきました。
結構あちらこちらで潮吹きが見られ、思ったより沢山のクジラに遭遇することができました。
キャプテンが色々とスポットを探してくれたせいか、ポンポン見れる感じで、感動しました。
もちろん、シッポやジャンプの写真もとることができました。
EOS-KissX6i+135mmのセットを持っていきましたが、迫力ある写真を撮ろうとすると300mmくらいあったほうが良いかもしれません。
海上は風があって、かなり寒いので、上着が必須なのと、かなり船が揺れるため、準備と覚悟が必要です。ただし、船に弱い妻も、船酔いすることなくツアーを楽しむことができました。
我が家はレンタカーで直接集合場所(ラハイナドック)に行きました。
3時間まで無料の路上Pもありますが、その後のラハイナ散策も考慮して公共Pに車を駐車しました。(2-6Hで$16)早朝プランだったので、どちらも空いていましたが、遅い時間だと近場に駐車スペースを見つけるのに苦労するかもしれません。
On March 30, 2013, I went with my family of three (10-year-old boy). The water clarity was somewhat low that day, and it felt like there were fewer tropical fish. However, we were able to encounter sea turtles. We were able to rent wet suits, so the 30-minute snorkeling was fine. On the way back, we enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere while sailing, and during the trips to and from the snorkeling spot, we also encountered whales together. They were quite close and impressive. Unfortunately, there was no Japanese-speaking crew, but it wasn't a problem at all.
2013/3/30に家族3人(10歳/男)で行ってきました。
この日は水の透明度がやや低く、熱帯魚も少ないような感じでした。
ただし、海亀には遭遇することができました。
ウエットスーツを借りることができたので、30分くらいのシュノーケンリングは大丈夫でした。
帰りはセーリングでのんびりした雰囲気も楽しむことができ、また、シュノーケリングスポットへの行き帰りにおいては、共にクジラに遭遇することができました。
かなり近くて迫力がありました。
残念ながら、日本語クルーは在籍していませんでしたが、特に問題はありませんでした。
I participated in a very affordable early morning plan. Shortly after departure, we spotted whales, and the excitement on the boat was incredible! As we continued, whales appeared here and there, and I didn't know where to look! I learned for the first time that whales travel in groups; I thought they only traveled as mothers and their calves. It was quite windy and cold on the boat, so a jacket is necessary. Still, taking pictures of the whales is quite challenging.
大変お得な早朝プランで参加しました。
出発して間もなくクジラの姿が見えてきて船上は大興奮!!
さらに走っていくと、あちらでもこちらでもクジラが現れ一体どこを見たらよいのか!!??状態でした。
クジラってグループで行動しているんですね、親子だけかと思っていたのですが今回初めて知ることができました。
船上はけっこう風が強くて寒いですので上着は必要。
それにしても、クジラの写真を撮るのは難しいです(::)
I've seen hula shows at shopping centers, but this was my first time seeing such an authentic hula performance, and I was truly moved!
During the show, when the lights dimmed as part of the performance, I looked up at the sky and saw a sky full of stars, which was also breathtaking!
The staff was friendly (perhaps a bit too friendly?!), and the food was delicious, which made me very satisfied. The lack of guidance or explanations in Japanese added to the exotic atmosphere, which I really appreciated.
ショッピングセンターなどでは見たことあるけどここまで
本格的なフラのショーを見たのは初めてで感動しました!
ショーの途中、演出で照明が暗くなった時に空を見上げたら
満天の星が見えてそれもまた感動!!
スタッフもフレンドリーで(フレンドリー過ぎる感も?!)
食事も美味しく満足でした。下手に日本語で案内や説明が
なかったのも異国感たっぷりでよかったです。
I went whale watching from Lahaina on Maui with a Japanese guide named Gaito. At first, I thought we might only see them from a distance, but to my surprise, a mother and baby whale came very close, jumping and waving, and we even got to see the whale's tail up close. Saori from Gaito was very kind, which was great. We also received juice and snack vouchers. It was a very enjoyable two hours that flew by.
マウイ島のラハイナから日本語のガイトさんがのる便で鯨をみに行きました。最初は遠くからしか見えないのかな~と思いましたが、なんと、おやこ鯨が大接近、ジャンプに、手をふったり、鯨のシッポも間近でみれました。ガイトのさおりさんもとても親切でよかったです。ジュースとスナック券ももらいました、とても楽しいあっというまの2時間です。
Since it's my first time visiting Maui in winter, I definitely wanted to go whale watching, but I wasn't confident in my English, so I joined this tour where a Japanese staff member would be on board.
When I arrived at Lahaina Harbor, I was surprised by the crowd of people. It was a bit difficult to find the tour desk, but after checking in and sitting on a bench, Satomi, the staff member, approached us. Since we were the only Japanese people there, she stayed with us the whole time, sharing lots of information about whales, which felt like a great deal.
Of course, we saw plenty of whales; they were splashing their tails everywhere, and three of them swam right alongside the boat, which made for a very satisfying whale watching experience. The pizza place that Satomi recommended was also delicious.
Thank you very much!
初めて冬のマウイに行くので、ホエールウォッチングは絶対行きたいけれど英語に自信がないので、日本人スタッフが一緒に乗船してくれるこのツアーに参加しました。
ラハイナ港に着くと人人人で人の多さにびっくりです。
ツアーデスクを探すのに、少し見つけにくかったのですが、受付が終わってベンチに座っていると、すぐにスタッフのさとみさんが声をかけてくださり、ちょうど私たちだけが日本人ということで、ずっと付いてくださって、鯨の話をいろいろ聞けてお得感満載でした。
もちろん鯨もたくさん見れて、あちこちで鯨が尾びれをバシャバシャしてましたし、3頭が仲良く船のすぐ近くまで並走してくれたり大満足のホエールウォッチングでした。
さとみさんお勧めのピザ屋さんも美味しかったです。
ありがとうございました。
The Whale Watching was fun. The only problem was that we could not hear what was being said over the speakers. Too noisey.
I participated in a whale watching tour in late January with my sixth-grade son. We traveled all the way to Maui to show him whales, which are hard to see in Japan, in person.
The boat was large enough to accommodate over 100 people, but there were only a few passengers that day, with four Japanese and a few foreigners on the first floor, allowing for a comfortable seating arrangement. A Japanese guide was also on board, providing detailed explanations.
Before boarding, I was filled with anxiety about whether we would actually see any whales, but shortly after setting sail, we spotted whale spouts in various directions. The captain steered the boat toward them, and we quickly arrived near the whales.
After that, we could see whales all around us without even having to search, and I was able to capture their trademark cute tails on camera. It seems that around February to early March, about 4,000 whales come close to Maui.
Of course, my son was also thrilled with the impressive whales. The two-hour boat ride passed by much quicker than I expected, and I didn’t even have time to feel seasick.
During the cruise, we received a ticket that could be exchanged for either two drinks or a drink and a dessert or snack. I think the cost performance is excellent.
I highly recommend whale watching in Maui during the winter!
一月下旬にホエールウォッチングに参加させていただきました。小6の息子との二人旅。日本では なかなか見ることのできないクジラを生で見せてあげたくて マウイ島まで渡りました。
100人以上乗れる大きな船でしたが、その日は乗客も少なめで一階には日本人が4人と外国人が数人で椅子もゆったり。船には 日本人のガイドの方も一緒に乗っていただいたので
詳しい説明も聞けました。
乗るまでは、本当にクジラが見えるかどうか不安がいっぱいでしたが、出航して間もなくクジラの潮が沖のあちこちに見えました。 船長さんが その方向に舟を走らせます。
あっという間に クジラの近くに到着。
そのあとは、探さなくても 四方八方にクジラが見えてトレードマークのかわいい尻尾も ちゃんとカメラに収めることができました。
大体二月から三月の頭くらいは 約4000頭のクジラがマウイ島の近くにやってくるそうです。
もちろん息子も 迫力満点のクジラに大満足。
二時間の船は 思ったよりあっという間に過ぎてしまい、船酔いする間もありませんでした。
クルージング中に ドリンク二杯か ドリンクとスイーツ、スナックのいづれかと交換できるチケットももらえます。
コストパフォーマンスは 最高だと思います。
冬のマウイ島でのホエールウォッチング、お勧めです。
Delicious food, poor MaiTais, Corny Host, Great Dancers.
We take this excursion to Molikini and Turtle Island every time we visit Maui. The crew of the catamaran, Capt Fish, David and Gary were amazing. They kept us safe, hydrated with water (or adult beverages), and made sure everyone that got in the water, got out of the water.
They also had a professional photographer who made sure everyone had a grand time, and preserved it on a CD you will not believe. The colors light up and we are glad he was along. We didn't have to worry about taking pictures.
We saw lots of whales, beautiful fish, but were a bit short on the turtles.
The selection of meats, cheeses and salad for lunch were a surprise. The sandwiches were easy to assemble, the bread was fresh, and it was just really good.
Go and enjoy!
My husband and I have been to the Old Lahaina Luau and prefer it to this one hands down. Drums of the Pacific seemed corny, as another reviewer posted. The emcee sounded like a barker for a side show..."and now the GRRREEAATT, the FaNTAAAASSSTIC, So-And-So (can't remember the name of the dancer) performing the ...whatever. My brother and his wife, first time visitors, were with us and enjoyed it. We didn't tell them any different so as not to spoil their evening. For first timers, it's OK but if you want culture and history, Old Lahaina Luau is far better.
we had a very nice new years eve. maybe we had expected something more after the show? we was sent away very quickly!
When it comes to traveling to Maui, whale watching is a must. I had heard that you could see them from the shore, but I thought it would be better to see them up close from a boat, so I made a reservation.
After about an hour of heading out to sea, we stopped the engine and waited for the whales. Before long, two whales appeared near the boat. I was thrilled to see their beautiful tails up close, just like in the catalogs. My wife and kids were busy taking photos.
Over the course of about 30 minutes, the whales appeared around the boat multiple times, allowing us to observe them closely.
The guide was very knowledgeable about the whales, pointing out when the same whale returned by recognizing its tail and sharing information about the ecosystem. They were also kind to the kids, making it a very enjoyable experience.
マウイ島への旅行といえばホエールウォッチング。
海岸からも見られると聞いていましたが、船の方が近くから見えると思い、予約しました。
1時間ほど沖へ進んだところでエンジンを停止してくじらを待ちます。
しばらくすると船の近くに2頭が現れます。
カタログでみるようなきれいな尾びれが間近で見られで大感激。妻も子供もひたすら写真を撮ってました。
30分ほどの間に船の周りに何度も現れてくれ、じっくり見ることができました。
ガイドさんはクジラにとても詳しく、尾びれを見てまた同じクジラがきたよとか、また、生態系の話しを教えてくれました。
子供にも親切にしてくれ、とても楽しかったです。
We wanted to experience a Luau. It was our first time to the islands. Even though the weather was less than great we had a great time. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to have the luau experience. The food was great.
I chose the four winds II because of the glass bottom viewing. We are a family of 4 and 2 swim and 2 do not. All had a great time. Snorkeling was great and saw some whales and turtles on our way back. The pulled pork sandwiches they serve onboard after snorkeling were the best. Would do this again.
Overall this was a good experience for our first luau. The setting was very nice and the fire dancer a huge hit. I thought the dancers and entertainers were great but I would have enjoyed something a little more interactive. Example, instead of just selling the crafts, allowing children to interact. The food was good but the drinks were watered down. I didn't even finish one and ended up buying a $15 drink from the bar. We would likely attend again but also might look for something a little more interactive for the kids.
Since I have a small child, I decided to take this cruise ship where we could see whales on a large boat. I was thrilled to see dozens of whales. I requested a Japanese interpreter, and while the interpreter joined us on board, the amount of information provided was far less than the announcements in English. I had to ask the interpreter questions to get answers. I wished they could translate the English announcements directly. Other than that, I was very satisfied.
小さい子がいるので、大きな船で鯨に会えるというこちらのクルーズ船に乗船することにしました。何十匹もの鯨に会えて、感激です。日本人の通訳さんのリクエストをしたところ、通訳さんが乗船してくれたのですが、情報量としては、英語でのアナウンスに遠く及びません。自分から通訳さんに質問して、答えてもらうようにしないといけません。英語のアナウンスをそのまま通訳してもらえればいいのにな、と思いました。それ以外は大満足です。
I had a great time!!!! It was excellent. The crew was patient, hospitable, informative and comical! I will definitely come back if I go to Hawaii again!!
We have been to this show a couple times, but this last show has to be the best we have seen on Maui.
When I chose this dinner cruise on our first trip to Maui, I thought "larger boat, more space". Instead, it was "larger boat more people". The four of us in our group could not believe how many tables were set up on the upper deck. In my opinion, it was not even safe if something had happened to the ship. I even had the sense that the ship was top heavy.
We sat near the bow in the center. For whatever reason, everyone was served around us before we received our food. We were absolutely the last people served, but we weren't the last table in any of the rows. I realize that some table has to be last, but it didn't make any sense in the way they served the tables. We even had to remind them that we hadn't been served. The people at the stern were close to the bar and the food. They were finished with dessert before we had been served. There was almost no way to get the three drinks included with the meal unless you ordered all of them at once. Too many people trying to order from one
We have snorkeled many times, but the snuba was a first. We absolutely
Loved it. Our instructor, James, was helpful and patient. The whole crew was friendly and made us feel welcome. We highly recommend this trip.
Too much focus on being sexual. Didn't enjoy that, there are many families attending and it just seemed inappropriate to me. Not worth the money for the experience.
We really enjoyed our time at the Te Au Moana Luau. The atmosphere was just what we were looking for...right next to the ocean. Beautiful view of the ocean with a perfect view of the sunset.
We took the morning cruise. Great staff and we had a great time. we only wish we could have stayed all day five hours didnt seem to be enough. We will definately be back
There were just the two of us Japanese, but the staff, although they couldn't speak Japanese, were very kind to us. The weather was nice, the sea was blue, and it was a very pleasant tour. At the sea turtle point, we were able to swim together. If you go to Maui, it's all about the sea. I think this tour is just right for enjoying the ocean.
日本人は私たち二人でしたが、スタッフの方は日本語は話せないものの親切に接して頂きました。
天気は良く、海は青く非常に気持ちのいいツアーでした。海亀のポイントでは一緒に泳ぐ事ができました。
マウイ島に行ったら海。海を満喫するなら丁度良いツアーだと思います。
Had a really fun time in a beautiful setting. The show was extremely well done and the food was excellent.
My husband and I have never went to a Luau before so this was great to see. We enjoyed ourselves. I was told that this was the best Luau out of all you can visit.
Great guides & fun even though we didnt get to go to molokini due to wind.
great beer and lunch!!
We had a wonderful time with the crew of Aloha Blue on our snorkel cruise. Breakfast was continental with a lovely spread of fruit, pastries and breads. Juice, iced tea, coffee and water were also available.
We were taken to two snorkel spots and had an hour in each location. The time went by much too quickly! Joe, crew member, was in the water with us the entire time to point out sites and ensure everyone's safety. We were also provided with swim noodles (take advantage of those!!) to help swim against the current.
The second spot is known as "Turtle Town" and there are ample opportunities to spot sea turtles. It is great fun looking at the beautiful underwater world of Hawaii and seeing the sea life. Though we only saw one turtle it was worth the experience!
Lunch was cold cut sandwiches, which was disappointing as the tour information specified a BBQ lunch. The food was very good despite the misinformation.
There is also the opportunity to deep sea fish on the cr
We surprised our 10 year old son with surfing lessons on our recent trip to Maui. He was so excited when he finally found out what we were doing.
When we finally found Goofy Foot they were already getting people suited up and checked in. It is a little difficult to find, but worth the search. (Just so you know, it's past the school in a small shopping center on Front Street in Lahaina. Not in the main shopping district).
We checked in and they got him all suited up, he was the only kid that morning. They have small groups, only five people per instructor. They also have a photographer, $20 for 20 pictures. The pictures were good, not fantastic, but the price was great and we have a few really good ones.
The photographer took everyone down to the beach and gave them a lesson in hamming it up for the camera. Then the instructor came down and the lesson started.
They learned all the moves to get up, stay up, speed up and slow down on the sand before moving the board