All Reviews for North Shore Tours & Things To Do

This comment is to my comment submitted on March 21, 2009. Captain Dave promptly refunded my money on the shark video that I purchased. Thank you, Captain Dave!

This will truly test your sea legs, which I truly had. So if you get sea sick, I wouldn't recommend it, but maybe some motion sickness pills may help. Once in the water you don't notice anything looking from above, but once you stick your head underneath you are completely surrounded by sharks. It was thrilling and exciting at the same time. My only concern was hoping that my underwater camera was taking some great shots, which later I found out was on the wrong setting. I was tempted to do it again, but luckily I bought the DVD of my swim. I would surly do it again when I return. It was the most thrilling thing that I have done in my life.

This tour is definitely worth the money! We had an amazing time! Make sure to take Dramamine ahead of time and make sure to have enough battery power for your camera because you will take tons of photos. If you have never snorkeled, I recommend figuring out how to snorkel ahead of time. We also saw whales (it was the middle of whale season) and you could here them if you were really quiet under the water. We had to rebook due to weather and the staff was great at getting us a new date/time that worked with our schedule. The only regret I have is the video that was shot for us. It was very expensive for the footage we received (about 10 minutes) and the wrong couple was intereviewed at the beginning of the video and at the end of the video the camera wasn't turned off so we have about 5 minutes of a white wall on the front of the boat. All in all, it was an amazing time and we would definitely do it again!

The staff said they counted 15 sharks down there with us and they were all over. It was really neat to get that close to a shark. They were there the minute we got in and put on a good show. Only downside though was that off shore there was a storm off island that were creating a lot of big waves and half the boat got seasick. Take the dremamine when they tell you and it should be a great time.

Breathtaking views of the famous North Shore. Perfect introduction to gliding. Flight and landing were extremly smooth. We even spotted some whales from the glider.

Nappy, our bus driver and tour guide, made our tour fun, friendly and informative! He is a great storyteller and really takes an interest in his guests. All day tours in large busses are often long and grueling but he took the time to get to make sure that everyone was safe and was able to enjoy each stop to the fullest. My cousin, who is a local but has never played 'tourist', thought he was wonderful! She said that she never thought taking an island tour could be so much fun. Mahalo nui loa, Nappy! You are 'no ka oi' and we love you!

Guides Justin & Gabe were great. North Shore is amazing-must do if staying on Oahu. We got to see sea turtles, Waimea Falls, the Bonzai Pipeline & surfing was even an option.

I hesitated to participate because I'm not very comfortable with heights, but in the end, I'm glad I did it.

At first, I was anxious after signing a contract stating, "I will not sue no matter what happens," but thanks to the friendly and reliable instructor, by the time we were diving, my expectations outweighed my fears.

When falling from 14,000 feet, the wind pressure is so intense that I couldn't even close my mouth, but once the parachute opened, I was simply amazed by the breathtaking views below. The instructor showed us the scenery from different angles, explaining it in simple English like a tour guide. It was the best sky adventure.

I was really torn about whether to order the photos because they were expensive, but I'm glad I did. They took many pictures, and being able to look at them later allowed me to enjoy the experience even more after the trip. It became my favorite memory from Hawaii.

For those who are hesitating, you absolutely should do it!!

高いところがあまり得意ではないため参加するか迷いましたが、結果は、やってよかったです。

はじめに、「何があっても訴えません」という内容の契約書にサインさせられ、不安がよぎりますが、気さくで頼りがいのあるインストラクターのお陰で、ダイビングする頃には、不安より、期待の方が大きくなっています。

14000フィートから落ちる時は、風圧がすごくて、口がつむれないほどですが、パラシュートを開いてからは、眼下に広がる素晴らしい景色に、ただただ感動します。
インストラクターが、簡単な英語で、観光案内のように、角度をかえて、景色を見せてくれます。最高の空の旅でした。

写真が高かったので、頼むか相当迷いましたが、これも頼んでよかったです。
何枚も撮ってもらえますし、後で客観的に見れるので、旅の後も楽しめます。
ハワイで一番の思い出になりました。

迷っている方、絶対やるべきですよ！！

Totally awesome!!!! Let me tell you, I am one of those people who respect sharks so much, I try everything to stay away from them. I am enthralled with sharkweek on Discovery channel, but terrified of sharks. I was very hesitant in taking this tour, however believe it or not I'm the one who signed my wife and I up for it. I'M GLAD I DID! What an amazing experience. The staff were cool and kept things low key, didn't make any problems for anyone. They both were knowledgeable regarding the sharks we encountered. The only thing I would ask to change would be the viewing glass, not as big as I would have liked it, but then again I'm selfish. The other thing I would ask they enforce, or at least remind those in the cage, please don't let your legs go straight out. I kept getting kicked in the back cause the lady thought she could just hold onto the handrail and let herself strectch out...very annoying. Aside from those things...I'm definately going to do this tour again when I co

AWESOME TRIP, WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT EVEN AFTER GETTING SEASICK.GREAT STAFF.

my 1st reservatoin was cancelled due to the bad weather. They arranged for the next day. It was very windy and wavely under the water. I bumped to the cage lots of time and hands went outside the cage. I was so scared. I thought the shark would come and bite me. If you are 1st time user of snokel like me better learn it before.

It was amazing as sharks are not interested in human at all. I saw Whale too.

It will be the 1st and the last in my life.

This was a great tour. We had Keao as our guide and he was great!!!! He is very knowledgable and keeps the bus entertained. I would recommend this tour for everyone.

I never considered swimming with sharks until i came across this on the internet. I am glad i did. It was something different and pretty cool. it honestly feels like you are watching a video of the sharks swimming by. I don't know if it's always this way, but we were surrounded by at least 20 of them...very cool, and again, surreal. the crew of 2 was awesome and entertaining.

The glider ride was fantatic!! It was the highlight of our trip. The view was great. The ride was smooth. Our pilot was certified and had plenty of experience. It wasn't too expensive which was really nice. I would recommend it to anyone going to Hawaii.

This was an adveture of a life time. The crew was fantasitc and very understanding. I wasn't sure about going in the cage since it wasn't enclosed completely. But the crew was wonderful and understanding. Once they got me out in the water and the sharks started coming around I had an anxiety attack and didn't know if I could stay in the water very long. The crew members talked me through the whole experience and said they would pull me in I needed. But I needed to do one thning for them. Take a breath and go down to just look once. I did and was able to stay in the cage the whole time. This was an experience that I will never forget and would do again if have the chance.

Overall, it was fun to run a lot, but my butt got chafed and hurt.

ともかく、たくさん走れて面白かったがお尻がすれて痛かった。

Guide was good. Area is VERY crowded. Time allowed was kind of short. I felt rushed at the top to head down.

Driver Garfield was a hoot! He recommended Fumi's for Shrimp and he was right on the money!

Not only was this my first time on the beautiful island of Hawaii it was also the first time I had ever been on a helicopter. I spent 9 nights on the island and the helicopter tour was, by far, the most enjoyable hour during my entire stay. The pilot was very knowledgeable of the areas we toured and informative. His sidekick, (Ziggy), was a hit with everyone in our group. I would highly, highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the island. You couldn't find a better attractiion on the entire island than this tour. I am returning to the island in August and I'm hopeful we can get as good a rate then, like we did last October. Thanks again and see you in August.

My real name;

Larry Debo
West Chester, Ohio

Our tour guide Justin picked us up promptly outside our hotel when expected. He was very laid-back and friendly. We had a small group of 10. The bike ride was wonderful!! I would recommend it to everyone. Justin pointed out the must-see beaches (Pipeline, Sunset, Waimea) and north shore roadside eateries. North shore was unbelievable, unlike anything I've ever experienced. On the second half of the tour, we rode paddle boards which was also a blast! It was quite an upper body workout and was inexpensive too. Justin was very knowledgeable about the history of HI and kept us entertained during the drive. I would highly suggest everyone take this tour!

This was, without question, the best thing we did on our stay. It was incredible to see the island from the air and scout places that we wanted to see. If you can handle flying in small aircraft, you can handle the helicopter!

J.D.

The first ride of 2009 was on January 2 at Gunstock Ranch on Oahu. We drove from Waikiki via H1 → R63 → R83 heading north, passed the Polynesian Cultural Center, and just a few minutes further on the left, we saw the sign for Gunstock Ranch. It takes a little over an hour from Waikiki. On the way, we stopped by Cloverleaf Ranch. Two summers ago, my family of four, including the kids, had our first trekking ride there, which made it a memorable ranch for us. After that, my husband and I started attending lessons at the riding club Crane, where we experience ups and downs in a small arena while practicing canter.

Oahu has a couple of beginner-friendly trekking options, but Gunstock Ranch offers an advanced trail ride, which we eagerly signed up for. Due to poor conditions from the rain the day before, we were suggested to switch to a safer scenic ride. However, after discussing our riding experience with our young and cute guide Stephanie, who had a wonderful smile, we were allowed to canter in a safe area. TAKA had just ridden 15 kilometers along the coastline at Frontier Riding Club in Hokkaido last fall. However, for MAMI, who was on her first outdoor ride, it started with a trot, but by the second and third times, she was able to do a more dynamic canter, which was a thrilling experience compared to the small arena.

The group that rode before us consisted of a mix of three and two people, and it seemed they were trekking at a beginner's pace. They likely make efforts to accommodate as many requests as possible for the riding tour based on group composition and negotiations. I am especially grateful to Stephanie, our guide this time!

2009年の初乗りは1月2日オアフ島のガンストック牧場でした。ワイキキからレンタカーでH1→R63→R83と経由北上し、ポリネシアンカルチャーセンターを過ぎさらに北上、5分も行かないところに左手にガンストック牧場の看板があります。ワイキキから１時間ちょっとってとこでしょうか。行きに途中クロレア牧場に立ち寄りました。2年前の夏、子供たちとともに家族4人で初トレッキング常歩乗馬し、乗馬にはまった記念すべき牧場です。その後、乗馬クラブのクレインに夫婦で通い狭い馬場で駈歩のレッスンに一喜一憂しています。オアフの乗馬ツアーは初心者向けのポコポコトレッキングは２~３ありますが、ガンストック牧場はアドバンスド・トレイル・ライドがあり勇んで申し込みました。前日の雨による悪コンディションのため、安全なシーニック･ライドへの変更を提案されましたが、とっても若くてキュートで笑顔の素敵な女性ガイドのステファニーに乗馬経験を話し、セーフティーな場所でキャンター（駈歩）ＯＫってことになりました。TAKAは昨秋北海道のフロンティア乗馬クラブで海岸線を15キロ走ってきたところです。しかし初外乗のMAMIは最初トロット（速歩）でしたが、２回目３回目とどんどんダイナミックなキャンターが出て狭い馬場との違いに感動充実の時間となりました。私たちの前の時間に乗馬したグループは３＋２人の２組の混合でしたが、ビギナーのペースでのトレッキングだったようです。グループ編成と交渉次第で可能な限りの希望通りの乗馬ツアーの実現に努力してくれるのでしょう。とくに今回ガイドをしてくれたステファニーには大感謝ですっ♪

What an AMAZING experience. Sharks close enough to touch! Definitely the highlight of our trip!

I was opposed by my family and looked at strangely by my colleagues, wondering, "Am I weird?" but I followed my heart that said, "I want to fly!" and went for it. In the end, I am filled with the feeling that it was great to fly. For me, the joy and satisfaction come even stronger after returning home than right after the jump. During free fall, the strong wind and noise make it hard to enjoy the scenery, but once the parachute opens, I was able to leisurely enjoy the beautiful sea and mountains of Hawaii. Watching others descend while waiting below is also impressive. It was quite cold between the plane and free fall, especially in winter! (Someone who participated with me said, "You seem calm. I didn't feel anything because I was so nervous.") If you're sensitive to the cold, I recommend wearing a long-sleeved, slightly thicker shirt. Also, the impact upon landing is stronger than expected, so those with knee issues should be careful. Some people enjoyed landing on their bottoms, but their pants ended up quite wet and dirty. I participated on the last day of my stay in Hawaii, during a winter when the weather can change quickly, but fortunately, the rain that fell in the morning stopped, and it turned into a beautiful day (actually, that afternoon, there was a storm-like rain, and everything was canceled). I didn't feel scared, and thanks to that, it became an invaluable memory as I approach my 40s. I sincerely thank the divers and staff who provided a safe and enjoyable skydiving experience! Thank you!

家族からは反対され、会社の同僚からは奇異な目で見られ、『わたしってヘン？』と思いながら、それでも『飛んでみたい！』という自分の心に従って飛んでみました。結果、飛んでよかった、という気持ちで一杯です。私の場合、飛んだ直後よりこうして自宅に帰ってからのほうが、喜び、満足感がより強くこみ上げてくる感じです。フリーフォールはすごい風と音でクルクルまわりながらあまり景色を楽しむ余裕はありませんが、パラシュートが開いてからゆったりとハワイの美しい海と山々を楽しむことができました。下で待っている間も、他の人たちが次々と降りてくるのを見るのも圧巻ですよ。冬とあってさすがに飛行機の中とフリーフォールの間は寒い！です（一緒に参加した人からは、『冷静ですね~。私は（緊張して）ぜんぜん感じませんでした』と言われましたが）。寒さに弱い方は、長袖の少し厚めのシャツを着ることをお勧めします。また、着地の際は思ったより衝撃が強いのでひざなどに故障がある方は要注意。お尻からの着地を楽しんでいる方もいましたが、結構ズボンがぬれたりよごれていたりしていました。ハワイ滞在最終日に、それも天気の変わりやすい冬に参加しましたが、朝降っていた雨もやんで好天となり幸運でした（実際、その日の午後は嵐のような雨となりすべてキャンセルとなったそうです）。私は怖さも感じず、おかげで40歳台最後のかけがえのない思い出になりました。安全で楽しいスカイダイビングを体験させていただいたダイバー、スタッフの方々に心から感謝します！ありがとうございました！

On Christmas Day, the only place where horseback riding was available was Gunstock Ranch. Although the prices were elevated for the holiday, considering the Christian culture, it was quite appreciated.

There was no shuttle service from the hotel, so we rented a car with a navigation system and challenged ourselves to drive on the right side for the first time. The navigation guided us to our destination without any issues when we entered the address, and by being mindful of the central lane always being on the left, we found that driving wasn't too different from Japan. (I felt it was convenient to have the postal code handy since the navigation I used didn't have a search function by phone number, etc.)

Now, regarding the horseback riding, besides our family of four, there were also four family members from California and two couples participating.

The owner of Gunstock Ranch led the way, with his wife at the midpoint and his daughter (around elementary school age) bringing up the rear as we set off.

It was the first time for my husband, daughter, and son to ride horses, but there were no issues at all. The very smart horses followed commands for right, left, and gallop, taking us along nicely.

While it's common to see guides leading horses in enclosed areas, riding through the great outdoors while enjoying the scenery was truly delightful.

All instructions were in English, but they were easy to understand. We had a lot of fun participating.

I highly recommend it!

クリスマスの25日に唯一、乗馬が可能だったのがガンストック牧場でした。クリスマス料金になっていたのでコストパフォーマンスが良いとはいえませんでしたが、クリスチャンのお国柄を考えれば、ありがたいことしきりです。

ホテルとの送迎はありませんので、ナビ付きレンタカーを借り、初めての右側車線にもチャレンジ。
ナビは、住所の入力で目的地まで問題なく案内してくれましたし、常に左側に中央車線があることを意識して運転をすると、以外と日本と変わらずに運転ができます。
（ナビの利用には、郵便番号を控えておくと便利だと感じました。私が利用したナビは、電話番号などでの検索機能がなかったので･･･）

さて、肝心の乗馬ですが、私たち４人家族以外にも、４名のカリフォルニアから来た家族と、２名のカップルが参加していました。

ガンストック牧場のご主人が先導し、中間地点に奥さん、そして一番後ろには、娘さん（小学校中学年ぐらい）が付いて出発です。

主人、娘、息子は馬に乗るのは初めてでしたが、何の問題もなく、とても賢い馬は、右・左・ギャロップなどの指示に従ってちゃんと私たちを乗せてくれました。

柵の中で、管理者が引き馬をしてくれるケースはよく見ますが、大自然の中、景色を楽しみながらのお散歩乗馬、とても気持ちが良かったです。

説明は全て英語ですが、十分に聞き取りは可能です。
楽しく参加することができました。

お勧めですよ♪

We saw at least three whales in one spot where they were congregating. Such a majestic animal. The captain was funny and informative. The boat is well maintained and in a good shape. I totally recommend this one.

This was awesome

A chance to do something like this comes along very infrequently, so take advantage. This is cool, even if you don't go in the cage, to see a dozen or more sharks swimming around the boat is awesome.
ps take motion sickness pills

We did a circle island flight, and it was AWESOME. The pilot, Josh was very funny and friendly, as well as his co-pilot ziggy (cute dog). The view from the sky is a lot different for sure. I was able to see all the surfers on the northshore. The sheer vastness of the ocean surprised us. Such an beautiful place. Highly recommended!

This is my second time on the tour and definitely won't be my last. Great time and amazing experience.