Maui
First of all, Molokini Island had excellent water clarity. There are various comments about the lack of fish, but there were times when schools of fish came up to the surface, so I think it depends on the timing. While it’s true that there were more species around the Black Rock area, if you look closely, you can still find over ten species quite easily.
However, since the water is a bit deep, you might be at a slight distance from the fish at the bottom. That said, if you go closer to the shore, the water gets shallower, and because the clarity is high, you can see the bottom well, which is enjoyable in its own way.
I experienced snuba, but on this tour, there wasn’t time for regular snorkeling at Molokini if you were doing snuba, so those who want to snorkel at Molokini should keep this in mind.
After Molokini, we went to Turtle Town, where there were relatively fewer fish, but we were able to see turtles. It seems that Turtle Town can have strong currents on some days, making it inaccessible.
The tour itself mainly had foreign guests. The captain was a Japanese person who spoke English, but this was coincidental, and I think it changes from day to day (also, everything is primarily conducted in English). If you have no understanding of English at all, it might be a bit challenging, but if you understand a little, I think it’s not a problem at all. Additionally, the crew was very friendly, and I was satisfied with the food included.
まず、モロキニ島は透明度抜群でした。魚が少ないとか色々なコメントもありますが、水面に魚群が上がってくることもあり、タイミング次第かと思います。種類等は確かにブラックロック周辺などの方が沢山みられましたが、よく探せばそれでも10種以上はすぐ見つかるかと思います。
ただ、少し水深があるので、底の方の魚には若干距離があるかもしれません。とはいえ、岸辺に行けば水深は浅くなりますし、そもそも透明度が高いので底の方もよく見えてそれはそれで楽しいです。
当方はスヌーバを体験したのですが、今回のツアーでは、モロキニでスヌーバを行う場合は通常のスノーケリングをモロキニで行う時間はありませんでしたので、モロキニでスノーケリングをしたいと考えている人はご留意下さい。
モロキニの後にタートルタウンにいきましたが、こちらは比較的魚は少ないものの、カメには会うことができました。タートルタウンは日によっては流れが強く、行けない場合もあるようです。
ツアー自体は、外国のお客さんがメインでした。船長は英語を喋る日本の方でしたが、これはたまたまで、日によって変わると思います(また、基本は英語だけで全て行われています)。英語が全くダメな方は若干ハードルが高いかもしれませんが、多少わかるのであれば全然問題はないと思います。また、クルーは大変親切でしたし、ご飯も含め満足しています。
Captain John served as a great captain, host, comedian, server, tour guide he does it all! We did the snuba with Jamie, it is extra, but is definitely worth it, he gives a good tutorial before you go out, and makes it relaxing and enjoyable. The rest of the staff on board was great, and Trey the photographer was very professional as well. We rented a digital underwater camera and purchased a Cd that had all our pictures on it, and it turned out great! 5 stars for Four Winds!
Food was good but ribs could have been better. The kids loved the cruise and the kid non alcoholic drinks they got.
Definitely happy we took the cruise out to see the sunset on the water. Well-worth the money! Good food, good drinks, great live music, great staff, family-friendly, and all ages welcome. I would absolutely go again on a return trip to Maui!
Molokini Island has very beautiful waters and is the perfect place for snorkeling. However, on the day we experienced it, the waves were rough, making it quite challenging. There are also Japanese staff members, which is reassuring. It all depends on your physical condition.
モロキニ島は海がとても綺麗でシュノーケルをするには最適な場所でした。
しかし、私たちが体験した日は波が荒くそれどころではない状況に・・・
日本人の方もスタッフにいますので安心できます。
あとは体調次第です。
Everything about this experience was great. The crew was super friendly and funny, and the snorkel was very interesting and simple to do. Absolutely amazing.
The staff were wonderful and the SNUBA adventure was very exciting. This is a great introduction to what scuba diving might be like and the location at Monokini is a great spot to SNUBA! I will be back!
I signed up for a plan that included transportation. When I arrived at the boarding location, there were about 30 to 40 participants, most of whom were from Europe and America, with only three Asians, including myself. However, you can rest assured that a very kind Japanese female guide will take care of you in detail.
Even in Hawaii, the water temperature is low. I wore a rash guard, so I didn't rent one, but it might be a good idea to rent a wetsuit if needed (costs $10). There was a shower with warm water on the boat, so I took a shower every time I got out of the sea.
As for Molokini Island, to be honest, I didn't see many colorful fish. However, the sunlight filtering through the water made the seabed incredibly beautiful, and I was captivated by it. For lunch, we had hamburgers where we could add as many vegetables as we liked. The basic rule was one per person, but if there were leftovers, we could have seconds. I was one of the first to go, but by the time I was offered "Would you like another one?" after the meal, there were hardly any vegetables left. I recommend going early. But I was able to enjoy a hamburger with two beef patties, savoring the taste of the meat.
At the snorkeling spot we headed to after lunch, I was able to see many sea turtles. While searching for sea turtles on the seabed, they would suddenly appear next to me, and I would hurriedly swim away. I think it's quite difficult to see sea turtles while swimming on Oahu, but here I was able to see many.
For those who want to snorkel at Molokini Island, see sea turtles, or are anxious about their English skills, I highly recommend this tour!! (Of course, since it's nature, there's no guarantee you'll see sea turtles...) Above all, the way the Japanese female guide interacted with us was not the typical condescending attitude often seen from Japanese living abroad; it was very pleasant, allowing me to truly enjoy the experience. (Personally, I’m not fond of that typical attitude.)
If I visit Maui again, I would like to use this service.
送迎付きプランで申し込みました。
乗船場所に着くと3~40人程参加者がいましたが、そのほとんどは欧米の方でアジア人というか日本人は私を含めて3人だけでした。
ですが、ご安心ください。とても親切な日本人女性のガイドさんが細々と面倒を見てくださいます。
ハワイと言え水温が低いです。ラッシュガードを着ていたので借りませんでしたが、場合によってはウエットスーツのレンタルを利用すると良いでしょう。(要10ドル)
船に温水の出るシャワーがあったので、海からあがる度に浴びていました。
モロキニ島ですが、正直あまり色鮮やかな魚を見ることはできませんでした。
しかし日の光がさしこむ海底がとても美しく、魅入ってしまいました。
お昼は自分で好きなだけ野菜を挟めるハンバーガーでした。基本1人1つですが、余ればおかわりOKでした。私は1番最初に取りに行ったのですが、食後「もう1ついかが?」と言われた時には野菜はほとんどありませんでした。早めがおススメですよ。
でもビーフパテを2枚も挟んでもらって肉の味を楽しめるハンバーガーを楽しむことが出来ました。
食後向かったシュノ―ケリングスポットでは海ガメをたくさん見ることが出来ました。
海ガメを探して海底を探していると、いつの間にか隣にいたりして慌てて泳いで離れたものです。
オアフ島で泳いでいる海ガメを見ることはなかなか難しいかと思いますが、こちらではたくさん見ることが出来ました。
モロキニ島でシュノ―ケリングしたい方、海ガメを見たい方、英語が不安な方。
このツアーとってもおススメですよ!!
(もちろん自然相手なので絶対に海ガメが見れるわけではありませんが…)
なにより日本人女性ガイドさんの接し方が海外に住む日本人にありがちな上から目線で距離感を保たないくだけた態度ではなく、とても心地よいもので心から楽しむことができました。
(個人的にはあのありがちな態度は苦手です)
またマウイ島を訪れることがあれば利用したいと思っています。
I'm really glad I participated in this cruise! The sea was incredibly beautiful and safe, and the Japanese instructor was fun and lively! With breakfast, a hamburger lunch, and cocktail time, it was a great tour that felt like a good deal the more I participated, especially with my stomach in perfect condition!
本当に参加して良かったクルーズでした! 海は凄く綺麗で安全、日本人のインストラクターの方はノリも良く楽しい! 朝ご飯、ハンバーガーのランチ、そしてカクテルタイム、かなり胃腸が万全な状態で参加すればするほどお得なツアーでしたw
My wife and I had never gone snorkeling before, and during our honeymoon, we had planned many activities, but this was the one we weren't sure how it would turn out. We decided to do the snuba diving, and our instructor was amazing. He was laid back and helped encourage us when we were first nervous in the water. After a few minutes, everything got easier, and before we knew it, it was time to come up. We were also able to snorkel at Turtle Town, and got to swim by a sea turtle, and that was a super unique experience. Of all the things we did in Hawaii, this is the one thing that I would be sure to do again when we come back.
In overseas option tours, it's often the case that Japanese guides are of a type that young people do not accept, but this one was good. The Japanese staff were great, and the water's clarity was as rumored. However, there were indeed fewer fish, just as expected. I did encounter a large sea turtle!
海外のオプションンツアーでは、日本人ガイドが若者で受け入れられないタイプのことが多いのですが、これは良かった
良い日本人スタッフでしたし、海の透明度は、噂通りでした。ただし魚が少ないのも、前評判通りでした
ウミガメは大きいのに出会えましたよ
We had a great afternoon snorkel to Coral Gardens. The crew was friendly and the fish were a plenty. Swam with a couple turtles as well. Our 1 year old enjoyed the whole trip as well, especially the glass bottom viewing (although that aspect was not as impressive as it appeared online). Would go on another Four Winds snorkel cruise in a heartbeat!
I wish that the people on the phone would have alerted us that the lodge at Koele was closed to have us make a decision if we wanted to go to the island or not. Maybe it was left out of the discussion on purpose.
Warm Aloha,
We are sorry to hear that the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele was unavailable during your visit, and due to the ever changing nature of hotels and activities throughout the islands, we are not always made aware of specific closures. Had we known about this, we would have been more than happy to let you know.
Thank you very much for you choosing HawaiiActivities - VELTRA, and we hope that you were able to enjoy your visit to island of Lanai.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
HawaiiActivities - VELTRA Customer Support
The ferry ride was fun. We went to the beach for awhile and then visited the small town. It was a very friendly town with such nice people. It was a great day trip!
If you are looking for a sit down dinner & white table cloths, go to Lahaina (and pay a lot more). If you want a relaxed cruise, good music, plenty of good food & drinks with a fun crew, check out the Pride of Maui. The open concept encouraged visiting with other people, which was fun. We even had the extra bonus of having three whales swim right next to the boat! A great evening!
Great tour, informed guide, interesting island! We'd definitely do this again.
I really enjoy our Sunset Dinner cruise. the food was awesome.We also were able to see lots of whales as a bonus. The staff was so polite and helpful. very friendly. I would do this one again and again.
Clean ferry and comfortable. Boarding was fast and departure was on time. Very rough ride of 45 minutes. If I knew it would be so scary, I would never have left Maui.
The crew were very helpful and nice, and with an open bar and a great dinner it was really a good deal. Beautiful evening to boot! I would definitely recommend this dinner cruise.
Aloha,
We are so pleased that you enjoyed our Sunset Cruise. It brings us great pleasure that we have made a great addition to your memories for your Maui vacation. We hope you and your Ohana come and see us again upon your return to Maui.
Mahalo!
Advertised as a catamaran, may have been in the truest sense...but not a sail or mast on the boat. Unable to go to Molokini due to high seas(6' swells), took us to a site a mile away from the harbor.
I understand the reasoning for not going to the atoll, however, a chance to get off the ship and get a refund were never offered.
All was not lost, hence the reason for not demanding a refund or a rescheduling, the crew was attentive, polite, and amusing. The relocation for snorkeling was quite nice with some beautiful fish.
Ultimately, I would not book again...sorry.
Felt like I was on a cattle boat. Too many people. Hard time seeing anything. The whole time I was wishing I had researched better and booked on a smaller more intimate boat. Hardly any fish at Molokini then went to rocks south of Wailea and saw much more, but had just been there the day before on our own.
We took the ferry from Maui to Lanai for a day. It was a good ferry rid in the morning but it was a little shaky in the evening due to the ocean. Lanai is a very small place. "What happens in Lanai stays in Lanai and it can happen twice", said the Lanai people.
The ferry boat is clean, roomy and the crew is ready to assist. It was well worth the money.
The expedition ship was comfortable. The seats on the deck can sway a bit, so I recommend indoor seats on the first floor for those who are prone to seasickness.
I took the first morning trip and was able to see the sunrise, which was lovely. Since I went in February, I also spotted whales jumping in the distance.
Because it was winter, the waves in Full Poi Bay were strong, and I couldn't enjoy snorkeling much, but the lunch at Four Seasons was exquisite, and I spent a lovely time with a great view.
I was looking forward to seeing dolphins, but it seems they had come late the previous evening and didn't show up in the morning. They often appear in the morning and around 4:00 PM.
After getting off the boat, there is a shuttle bus to Lanai City, and I decided to check it out. However, it costs $25 for a round trip, and in the morning, nothing was open, so there was nothing to see. I felt a bit deceived, but there's nothing I can do about it.
It might have been better during the day. If you're going in winter, it might be better to go not on the first morning trip but to stay from around noon to the evening.
エクスペディションの船は快適でした。デッキの席は少し揺れが大きいですので酔いやすい方は一階の室内の席をお勧めします。
私は朝一の便で行きましたが、丁度日の出が見られて素敵でした。2月に行ったので、遠くでクジラも跳ねてました。
冬場だったので、フルポエ湾は波が強くシュノーケリングもあまり楽しめなかったのですが、フォーシーズンズのランチは絶品で、いい景色の中優雅な時間を過ごしました。
楽しみにしていたイルカも前日の夕方遅くに来ていたみたいで、午前中には来ませんでした。朝と16:00頃に来ることが多いそうです。
船を降りたらラナイシティにいくシャトルバスがあるのですが、なんとなく行ってみてしまったのですが一人往復$25もする上に、朝はどこも開いておらず何も見るものがありませんでした。騙された気分ですがしょうがありません。
昼間だったらもう少しよかったかも。
冬場に行くなら朝一の便じゃなくて、昼ぐらいから夕方までいるのがいいかもしれませんね。
Molokini is not as stunning a snorkel spot as some say: there's only a select variety of fish and there's no impressive coral reef. The water is very clear though. But there are definitely much better snorkeling options elsewhere to be found.
We had a muddy water day for Turtle Town sadly, but I got to see a turtle nonetheless, which was nice.
The tour organisation was class though, well-spirited. Breakfast was decent, lunch was very good. And there were a lot of whales to be seen! I must say that even with Molokini not completely living up to its reputation I had a good fun day. Time well-spent.
I purchased in advance despite the lack of discounts because I was supposed to receive a souvenir coupon and a ceramic mug coupon. However, I found out that I needed to spend over $35 on souvenirs to qualify.
There was a priority entrance lane for advance purchasers at the entrance, but it wasn't functioning, and the list verification took a long time. I don't think there are any benefits to purchasing in advance.
記念品クーポン・セラミックマグクーポンを貰えるようので、ディスカウントがないにもかかわらず事前購入しましたが、土産物を35ドル以上買わないと対象外とのこと。
入口の掲示には事前購入者の優先入場レーンがありましたが機能しておらず、むしろリスト照合で時間がかかるので、事前購入するメリットはないと思います。
The sunrise tour on Maui was great, but honestly, there wasn't much else to do, and since there were no Japanese people around and my English isn't very good, I thought I probably wouldn't come back. I joined this tour on a whim the day before... I even booked it in the evening local time and printed out the voucher at the hotel. However, I was able to have various conversations with the guide, who was very considerate, and most importantly, I got to see sea turtles and many fish right in front of me, and I spotted whales multiple times during the trip... It was moving. And the lunch was delicious too.
マウイ島はサンライズツアーして良かったけどそれ以外に何もないし日本人が全く居なくて英語が得意じゃないからもぅ、来ることも無いかなぁ〜って正直思っていたし、このツアーに参加したのもダメ元で前日に…しかも現地時間夕方に申し込みホテルでバウチャーのプリントアウトした程でした……が、ガイドさんとは色んな話ができたし細やかな配慮して頂いたし何よりも海亀や沢山の魚が凄い目の前で見れて移動中に何度も何度も鯨が見れました……感動的です。そしてランチも美味しかった
I spent a few hours researching activities to do during our honeymoon to Maui. We decided that due to the exorbitant cost of drinks in any resort or restaurant we decided that an open bar cruise was going to be a great and cost effective experience.
I wasn't disappointed! The cruise was absolutely awesome. We saw at least 25 whales throughout the course of the evening which was fantastic.
The drinks were top notch as well. They had a huge number different top shelf liquors and made great drinks all night.
The crew was fantastic. They went over the top to take care of everybody's needs and made sure everyone was having a great time. I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone that wants to see gorgeous views, enjoy great drinks, and have an awesome crew.
I participated with my American friend. It was a wonderful cruise. The food was excellent. The timing was just right.
アメリカ人の友人と参加しました。とても素晴らしいクルージングでした。料理も最高でした。時間的にもちょうど良い配分でした。
We booked this cruise as a celebration for our engagement, and could not have been more pleased with the experience. The boat left a little later than posted, closer to 5:15, but it was good that they told us to arrive at 4:45 so we were not late, and others didnt slow us down. The crew welcomed us, gave us a run down on emergency procedures and rules, and we set sail! It was gorgeous out on the water. Jason, our captain, kept everyone informed and excited about the whales around us. We really appreciated that. They gave us a shout out over the PA for our engagement, and everyone toasted to our happiness. The crew, bartenders, captain and staff all made us feel special. The food was delicious, especially the shrimp and the artichoke dip. Full open bar (no champagne, but great wine and booze selection) and cheese platters, fruit, dessert. Thank you for a wonderful experience!