All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Oahu

I feel like our time staying in the North Shore would've felt incomplete if not for getting to explore it with Aina, our personal local! We saw gorgeous places we likely never would've seen on our own, learned a surprising amount about O'ahu's history and culture in a casual way, got more familiar with the town and even returned to places on our own, enjoyed greeting Aina's friends and family along the way, got some great recommendations on where to eat, and that's just off the top of my head! Aina was very easy to be around, and his tour was a highlight of our stay. Mahalo!

I had always wanted to try horseback riding, but I never had the opportunity until now. I was a bit anxious because the riding instructor only spoke English. However, I felt reassured thanks to the Japanese video explanations and the driver’s guidance on how to operate everything.

I realized just how cute horses can be. My horse was smart and responded well to my handling of the reins. There were some horses that seemed a bit more free-spirited, and I noticed some people had a bit of trouble with them.

Riding while looking at the refreshing blue sea and sky became an unforgettable memory. Since we were just walking slowly in a line, it might be a bit lacking for intermediate riders.

ずっとやりたかったのですが機会がなくて初めての乗馬体験、乗馬のインストラクターは英語のみで不安でした。でも、日本語の動画説明やドライバーさんのお話やらで操作などが分かり安心しました。
馬ってこんなに可愛いもんなんだと思いました。私の馬はお利口で、私の手綱さばきにも素直でした。中には少し自由奔放な馬もいたみたいで、苦労されていた方もいました。
爽やかな青い海と空を見ながらの乗馬は忘れられない思い出になりました。
ゆっくり並んで歩くだけなので、中級者の方には物足りないかもしれません。

The transportation and everything else was taken care of perfectly. It's reassuring that there is always someone who can speak Japanese, and there were plenty of turtles to see, so it felt like we had a turtle tour as well. 🤣

Meals and drinks were included, and there were plenty of activities besides snorkeling, which was great. On the bus ride there, they provided explanations of the tourist spots (in English, but it was simple enough to understand), so I think it's a good idea to go on the first day. ☺︎

送迎から何から何まで至れり尽くせりでした。必ず日本語が話せる人がいるので安心ですし、亀もたくさんみれるので亀ツアーもしたようなもの🤣

食事飲み物もついていてシュノーケル以外にもアクティビティ豊富で良かったです。行きのバスで行きながら観光地の説明（英語ではありますが簡単な英語なのでわかります）もあったので初日とかに行くといいと思います☺︎

The water was about waist-deep, but it was beautiful. I was glad to see both sleeping and swimming sea turtles while snorkeling in the coral reef. On the boat, there were spam rice balls, snacks, coffee, miso soup, and soft drinks, which were a nice treat for my tired body.

腰くらいまで水がありましたが、綺麗でした。シュノーケルでは、珊瑚礁で寝ている海ガメも、泳いでる海ガメもみれてよかったです。
船上では、スパムおむすびや、おかし、コーヒー、味噌汁、ソフトドリンクもあるので、疲れた身体に嬉しかったです。

The whole crew was amazing!! Special shoutout to KIKO, TYSON, and the Captain!! This crew were to so helpful to everyone!! They took pictures for everyone and helped out with snorkeling gear. This is my third time with this trip and it just gets better and better!! See you soon Captain Bob!! Mahalo for everything and making me and my wife’s 20th Anniversary so special!!
Barberena Family

Unexpectedly, there were rocks everywhere. I have been to Hawaii many times, but this was my first time reaching the summit. I'm just tired. The view was amazing, and the breeze felt nice.

意外に岩がゴロゴロしていました。
ハワイは何回も来ていましたが、初めて登頂。疲れたの一言です。景色が素晴らしく、風が気持ち良かった。

We saw all of Pearl Harbor at our pace with a guided tour of the Missouri. You get 2 consecutive days to see everything. It was a very memorable visit. Book your boat to the Arizona first. We booked the Pearl Harbor pass first then had to change it due to no tickets available for our original dates. Also the dates are available about a month early.
You can get standby tickets to the Arizona but it’s not guaranteed.

Last time, there was a thunderstorm before the start, and it was canceled. This time, for the second attempt, we were blessed with good weather. Overall, I was satisfied with my first experience on a buggy and enjoying the great outdoors, but if I had to be picky, I would have liked a few more highlights. (On the contrary, given the current number of highlights, I think a shorter course would be fine.) There wasn't any dirt until I changed my clothes, but be careful of the dust. (The provided bandana works well for dust protection.)

前回はスタート前に雷雨となり中止に。今回2度目のリベンジで、天気に恵まれました。
全体としてはバギー初体験・大自然満喫で満足ですが、欲を言えばもう少し見せ場の数が多ければ言う事なしです。（逆に今の数ならコースの短縮でもいいと思った）
服を着替えるまでの汚れはないですが、砂埃は要注意です。（支給のバンダナで防塵はOK）

I recommend it for those who want to experience a relaxed time. It's not a problem if you don't understand English. It might be good for families with small children, but it may be a bit lacking in excitement for younger people.

のんびり体験したい方にはお勧めです
英語が分からなくても問題ないです
お子さんの小さい家族旅行はいいかも知れませんが、若い方には刺激が少ない

It was fun on the comfortable bus. Our guide, Tony, was amazing; he was knowledgeable about everything, including history, even though he spoke only in English. It was also educational to feel how Americans convey their thoughts about Pearl Harbor and Japan. I'm really glad I participated.

Since Haleiwa is only about two hours, please decide on what you want to do and which shops you want to visit, and make sure to move quickly.

On weekends, Haleiwa has the whole chicken at Ray's open, so I recommend it for chicken lovers.

The roads were clear, so we returned to Waikiki before 3 PM. It was an early morning, but it was a meaningful use of time.

快適なバスで面白かったです。
英語のみだけど、歴史から全てに精通しているガイドさんTonyさん、最高でした。
アメリカの方々が真珠湾の話や、日本に対しての考えをどう伝えているのかも感じれるのも勉強でした。
参加して本当に良かったです。
ハレイワが2時間くらいなので、やりたい事、いきたいお店を決めて駆け足で
回ってください。

土日のハレイワは
丸ごとチキンのレイズがOPENしているので、チキン好きにおすすめです。

道路が空いていたのか3時前にはワイキキに戻ってきました。朝早いけど、有意義につかえます。

Crew was amazing and made the very best of weather conditions to make the snorkel tour a truly enjoyable experience. They made every effort to find marine life and find an area to snorkel that would provide the best chance to see fish and sea life. We saw a few sea turtle, sting ray, flying fish, tropical fish and a pod of spinner dolphin! Food and drinks were very good. The crew made sure we all had a great time! The photographer was so fun and his picture pack value is unbelievable - no brainer of a purchase. Highly recommended 🤙

The horseback riding experience was wonderful, and afterwards, I was taken to my favorite Tropical Nuts Foam. The bus driver was really kind, and it was a fun time! I will definitely book with Veltra again next time! Thank you!

乗馬体験はもちろん、その後に大好きなトロピカルナッツフォームにも連れてってもらえて、バスの方も本当に優しくて楽しい時間でした！
ベルトラさんは間違いなく楽しいのでまた次も予約します！ありがとうございました！

Depending on the time of participation, a shuttle bus picks you up at the hotel at 9:30 in the morning, which was just right—not too early. There were participants from various nationalities, but the Japanese guide provided interpretation and was friendly while chatting on the boat, making it very reassuring and enjoyable.

The wetsuits are available for a fee, but wearing a free life jacket is mandatory. I think those who can swim should be fine without a suit. For small children, having a floatation device is comforting. The sea is deep enough that you can't touch the bottom at all, so it might be a bit scary for kids.

On the day we participated, it was somewhat windy, and some people experienced seasickness. If you're prone to motion sickness, it's a good idea to bring some medication.

On the way back, we encountered a pod of spinner dolphins and even saw a baby dolphin. According to the guide, they had worked at Dolphin University for two years and said, "There hasn't been a day when I didn't see them." The dolphins swam alongside the boat and jumped, creating a special time with the wild dolphins that excited the children greatly.

参加時期によりますが、朝は9:30にホテルまでシャトルバスが迎えに来てくれ、早すぎずちょうど良かったです。さまざまな国籍の方が参加していましたが、日本人ガイドさんが通訳してくれたり、船の上でも気さくに話しかけてくれたりして、とても安心して楽しめました。

ウェットスーツは有料ですが、無料のライフジャケット着用が必須です。泳げる方はスーツなしでも問題ないと思います。小さなお子さんは浮き輪があると安心。海は足が全くつかない深さなので、子どもにとっては少し怖いかもしれません。

私たちが参加した日はやや風が強く、船酔いしてしまう方もいました。酔いやすい人は酔い止めを持参しておくと安心です。

帰り道ではハシナガイルカの群れに遭遇し、赤ちゃんイルカまで見られました。ガイドさんによると、2年間イルカ大学で働いていて「会えなかった日はない」とのこと。船と並走したりジャンプしたりと、野生のイルカと過ごす特別な時間に子どもも大興奮でした。

For individuals, first, obtaining tickets is difficult. I tried twice at 7 AM when the online application opened, but there were many input fields, and within 10 minutes, it was sold out. I found this tour, which includes transportation and a snorkeling set, and signed up. The $25 entrance fee is not included, but if the tour is available, you can enter Hanauma Bay, so I recommend it. Previously, The Bus used to go close by, but it has now been discontinued, so you would need to rent a car or take a taxi, which means quite a bit of walking. This tour, which takes you to the entrance, is highly recommended. Even with broken English, it was fine.

個人で行くには、まず、チケット入手が難しく、朝7時のネット申し込みと同時に２回トライしたが、入力項目も多く、10分も経たずにsold out。
こちらのツアーを見つけ、送迎つき、シュノーケルセットつきで、申し込んだ。$25の入場料は含まれていないが、ツアーが空いていればハナウマベイにて入場できるので、おすすめ。
以前はザ・バスも近くまで通っていたが、今は廃止となり、レンタカーかタクシーで行かねば、かなり歩くことになるのて、入場口まで連れて行ってくれるこのツアーはおすすめです。
片言の英語でも、大丈夫でした。

The whole day was pack full of things to do, and each of them were really special. It was a very long day, and the weather was warm, especially on the Missouri. I would not have skipped a thing, though. The staff were all wonderful and you could tell they had so much respect for the history of the place. This was a bucket list item for me, and I'm so grateful tho have been able to go.

The history of Hawaii was presented in an easy-to-understand way. This is just my personal opinion, but the musicians' techniques were amazing. I was particularly captivated by the drummer.

ハワイアンの歴史が分かりやすく演出されていました。あくまでも個人的な意見ではありますが、ミュージシャンのテクニックが凄かったです。特にドラマーには見入ってしまいましたあ

I fulfilled my dream of horseback riding with the amazing views at Kualoa Ranch! It's a place I want to visit again! It was so much fun that I didn't feel tired at all! I recommend going early in the morning!

クアロアランチの最高な景色で乗馬という夢が叶いました！また次も訪れたい場所です！楽しすぎて疲れなどありませんでした！朝早いのがオススメです！

I had a great time!!
Horseback riding by the seaside was an unforgettable experience.
It was nice that they took me since I didn't have a car.

とても楽しかったです！！
海辺での乗馬は忘れられない体験です。
車がなかったので、連れて行ってくれるのは良かったです。

Unfortunately, my older child had a fever, and since the cancellation would result in a full charge, I attended with my younger child, who is in first grade. (I reluctantly gave up the fee for the absent child.) However, I am grateful for the courteous response from the office, which offered to change the date.

I also added bus transportation, but since the meeting point is quite far, I think it would be better for those staying around Waikiki who haven't decided on transportation options to include it. The bus driver was a cheerful and kind Japanese woman!

Regarding the activity, I changed the date and participated in the afternoon, and while I was aware of it, the tide was high that day. When we arrived, the sandbar was gone, and the water was too deep for adults to stand, which scared my younger child, who clung to me and struggled. It was difficult to swim even the short distance of about 10 meters to the floating island where we could canoe, and I thought we might drown. My child, who had become completely intimidated during the move, was also scared of the canoe, and in the end, we managed to return to the boat and spent the entire time on board, which was disappointing.

While I understand this is a matter of personal responsibility, I think it would have been nice if they had differentiated the price a bit, such as lowering it during high tide, to avoid any frustration.

However, other families were enjoying snorkeling, riding banana boats, and seemed to be having a great time. They had plenty of time, and I believe those who are mainly considering activities other than the sandbar would really enjoy it.

What impressed me was the live music performance on the boat; it was pleasant to listen to music while feeling the breeze.

On that day, participants included people from Japan, as well as from China, South Korea, and the mainland United States. The crew consisted of one Japanese person and local staff.

あいにく上の子が熱を出し、キャンセルは全額になるため小1の下の子と2人で参加してきました。（不参加分のお代は泣く泣く諦めました）
ただ日時をずらしてくださるなど、事務所の方は丁寧に対応していただき感謝です。
バス送迎もつけましたが、集合場所までかなり遠いのでワイキキ周辺にお泊りの方はレンタカーなど移動手段が決まっていない方はつけた方がよろしいかと思います。
バスの運転手さんは日本人の女性で明るくて優しい方でした！

アクティビティですが、日時を変更し午後参加になり、分かっては居ましたがその日の午後は満潮。
着いたらサンドバーは無く大人も足がつかない深さで下の子はとても怖がりしがみつき暴れるので、カヌーが出来る浮島まで移動する間の10M位だけでも泳ぐのが困難で溺れるかと思いました。移動ですっかり萎縮した子供はカヌーも怖がり、結局なんとか必死に船上に戻ってずっと船の上で過ごすことになったのは残念でした。
今回のことは自己責任ではありますが、せめて満潮時は値段を下げていただくなど少し差別化をして貰えたらモヤモヤもなかったかなと思います。

ただ他のご家族はシュノーケリングを楽しんでいたり、バナナボートをしたり、各々楽しそうで、時間もたっぷりあり、サンドバー以外のアクティビティをメインに考えていらっしゃる方にはとても楽しめると思います。

感動したのは船上のライブ演奏で、ゆったり音楽を聞きながら風を感じるのは心地よかったです。

その日の参加は、日本の他、中国、韓国、アメリカ本土からの方が参加されていました。クルーの皆さんは日本人の方１名と、現地の方がいらっしゃいました。

great experience and so much fun. Captain was friendly and knowledgeable.

I really appreciated the crew and the way they treated us! The day was beautiful - a little overcast, but so beautiful as it always is at the sandbar. The sun came through and allowed us to be dazzled by the colors of the ocean. We saw lots of fish on our snorkel segment, and the majority of the boat played a fun game of volleyball in the water. The food was good, and the boat was spacious enough to allow everyone to see the turtles and to gaze at the beauty of the landscape as we moved through the water. I was lucky to be able to spend this memorable day with my cousin visiting from out of town. This was perfect for one of our big activities! We will never forget this fun experience!

We participated as a family of three. The sky was cloudy, and the sunset was a bit disappointing, but we were lucky enough to see whales! Two of them!! We thoroughly enjoyed the sight of their dorsal fins, bodies, and tails rising from the waves. All the participants let out joyful cheers. The highlight was the moment when both whales raised their tails high before diving—what an incredible experience! We are truly grateful for this opportunity. The crew's attentiveness made for a fantastic sailing experience!

家族3人で参加しました。曇り空で夕日は少し期待はずれでしたが、なんと鯨がクジラが見れました!　２頭も!!
波間からの背びれ　胴体　尾びれ　余すところなく堪能しました。参加者全員歓喜の雄叫びです。圧巻は２頭が尾びれを高く上げて潜る最高の瞬間でした。この機会に感謝しかありません。
クルーの気遣いも最高のセーリングでした!

I chose this tour especially because it didn't include malasadas or acai. Since watching the sunrise wasn't the goal, the pickup and end times were just right. You can easily get malasadas and acai by going to the shops yourself, so I recommend this tour.

特にマラサダやアサイーが付いていないこのツアーを選びました。
日の出も目的ではなかったのでちょうどいい時間でのお迎えと終了時間でした。
マラサダもアサイーも自分でお店に行けば簡単に食べれるのでこのツアーはオススメです。

Canoe surfing is so fun. Our guide was awesome … we would have loved a few more waves! An hour on the water would have rocked! But we had such a great time.

I wanted to enjoy an authentic hula show, so I researched and found this buffet-inclusive show and made a reservation. After checking in, I was given a lei to wear around my neck and was shown to my seat. I immediately indulged in the buffet, and as expected from Hyatt, everything was delicious. It seems that this show is held regularly, but the stage setup looked somewhat simple, which made me a bit anxious before it started. However, once it began, I was completely captivated by the vibrant dancers on stage.

The host's commentary was in English, but since it was a tourist-oriented show and the dance was the main focus, I was able to enjoy the atmosphere just fine. When I think of hula, I usually picture graceful dances performed by women, but the male performances were also impressive. It was an event that left me very satisfied!

本格的なフラショーを鑑賞したくて調べていたところ、このビュッフェ付きのショーを見つけて予約しました。受付を済ませると、レイを首にかけていただき、そのまま席へ。すぐにビュッフェを堪能、さすがハイアットの料理だけあってどれもとても美味しく頂きました。定期的に行っているショーのようですが、ステージの作りはいささか簡素に見えて、始まるまでは若干の不安を感じましたが、いざ始まるとステージの上で躍動感あふれるダンサーの方たちにすっかり魅了されてしまいました。
進行役の方のトークは英語でしたが、ツーリスト向けのショーですし、なんと言ってもダンスがメインなので、その雰囲気で十分楽しめました。
フラと言えば女性が踊る優雅なダンスのイメージでしたが、男性のパフォーマンスも圧巻、大満足のイベントでした！

I had been longing to go for a long time, and I finally got to go this time. I thought two hours of horseback riding might be long, but the beautiful nature and the calming presence of the horses made it feel like no time at all. The shuttle arrived on time, and the driver was very friendly. I was also very grateful that they kindly drove me back to my hotel.

ずっと憧れていて、やっと今回行くことができました。乗馬２時間は長いかなって思いましたが、自然が美しく馬に癒されあっという間でした。
送迎も時間通りにきて、ドライバーさんもすごくフレンドリーな方でした。
また帰りもホテルまでご厚意で送ってくださりとてもありがたかったです。

I was informed that the driver had the QR code for the VIP booklet, but when I asked, I was told they didn't have it. The bus was delayed, and due to Black Friday, my arrival was an hour late. The bus from the outlet was supposed to arrive on time, but it came 40 minutes late. If it was going to be crowded because of Black Friday, I wish the pickup bus had come earlier to account for that. I ended up wasting a lot of time, which was disappointing.

運転手さんがVIPブックレットのQRコードを持ってるとのことでしたが、聞いてもないと言われ、バスが来るのが遅れてたことやブラックフライデーもあり、到着が1時間遅れ、アウトレット発のバスも時間通りに待ってましたが、40分遅れてバスが来ました。ブラックフライデーで混んでいるのであれば、それを想定して迎えのバスは早めに向かってきてほしかったです。無駄な時間がたくさんあり、残念でした。

Got picked up at the hotel in Waikiki. We were 4. It was a short drive to the sandbar. What an experience. It literally looked like Tahiti. The Hawaiian singers/ukulele players were amazing and the staff was friendly and so accommodating. We enjoyed everything about the day, but the views were to die for. We appreciated the affordable alcoholic beverages that were offered as well as the free fresh donuts. We really enjoyed floating on the barge and kayaking and it was my first time on a paddleboard. What was so cool was that the water there is as calm as the lake.! we would highly recommend this trip!

You can have an absolutely amazing experience. Just give it a try for now. I think you have some fatigue from daily life, but it will blow you away.

本当に最高の体験ができます。
とりあえず体験してみてください。
日常の疲れがあると思いますがふっとびます

I have visited Haleiwa several times, but I wanted to go to Waimea Valley, so I joined this tour. I was also satisfied to see Pohakuloa on the mini tour.

However, there was one issue: the schedule stated that we would leave Waimea Valley at 11:00 AM and arrive in Haleiwa around 11:30 AM, with the mini tour departing at 12:30 PM. I had hoped to eat garlic shrimp during that time, but the actual departure from Waimea was at 11:30 AM, leaving us with only 30 minutes in Haleiwa. Unfortunately, I couldn't eat anything there, which was disappointing. Since I planned my participation in advance, I would like the schedule to be followed properly.

ハレイワには何度か来ましたが、ワイメア渓谷に行ってみたかったのでこちらのツアーに参加しました。ついでにミニツアーでポハクラナイを見ることができて満足です。
ただ一点、予定では11時にワイメア渓谷を出発して11時半頃ハレイワに到着、ミニツアー出発は12時半とあったのでその間にガーリックシュリンプを食べたいと思っていたのですが、実際のワイメア出発時間は11時半でハレイワ滞在時間は30分しかなく、結局現地では何も食べることができず残念な思いをしました。こちらは事前に予定を組んで参加しているのでスケジュールはちゃんと守ってほしいです。