All Reviews for Toddler Friendly (Ages 2-4)

Nice to be able to set up the passport ahead of time and have it ready day of

The stargazing event at Ko Olina in HAWAII was really great! ✨ Although the lights from the surrounding hotels made it a bit difficult to see some stars, the explanations about the stars were thorough. We got to use two telescopes: one high-precision telescope with electronic GPS and a regular one, and all participants took turns looking through them. The teacher also provided explanations while showing the stars on a PC screen. They spoke in broken Japanese, so families with children might find that the kids may not understand the English explanations. Japanese participants should keep this in mind when joining! Date of participation: August 12, 2023 (Friday).

HAWAIIで〜コーリナの星☆〜を見る会は
たいへん、よかったです✨※回りのホテルの光=電気と電灯が！？少し星の見えるのに気にはなりましたが？！星の説明
は丁寧にしてくれます…また望遠鏡も電子GPS付きの高精度なのと、普通の望遠鏡の２台を、参加者全員で交代で見ますし、PC画面上にも映してくれるので〜星の観察は、解説も交えて先生がしてくれます。※片言の日本語では〜話しをしてくれますが…家族でお子様連れ方は子供
さんは英語の説明は分からないかも？！
知れませんので、日本人の方はその旨を踏まえてご参加されて下さい！参加日:2023.08.12㈮〜

I participated in the main event of this trip, the Dolphin Touch. The price was so high that I hesitated, but I decided to go for it thinking it would help support the dolphins' lives.

After the driver dropped everyone off at the park, he just disappeared, leaving us all a bit confused about what to do. We nervously approached the reception desk, and I was relieved that the staff understood when I presented the voucher. The voucher is essential. Neither the driver nor the reception staff spoke Japanese. I received a paper with the return meeting time written in Japanese and went inside. There were staff members who spoke Japanese, so they explained everything to us, which was a huge help.

We were in the water for about 20 to 30 minutes, and with a group of around 10 people, there was one trainer and one dolphin, so we took turns touching and taking photos. Everything was in English, but they communicated how to touch the dolphins using gestures, so it worked out fine.

After that, we had lunch at the park's restaurant (optional) and then went to the area where we could interact with birds. The kids seemed to really enjoy this, going in multiple times to feed them. They were pecked at without mercy, but despite the pain, they looked like they were having a great time.

We were also given lettuce-like leaves by the staff to feed the fish, and they were eating it surprisingly eagerly. It felt like a small aquarium, but since it wasn't crowded, we could take our time to look around. The scenic coastal road on the way there and back made for a fun day.

今回の旅行のメインイベント、イルカタッチに参加しました。
料金が高すぎて迷うほどでしたが、イルカ達の生活の足しになっていると思って思い切って申し込みました。
ドライバーさん、パークについて皆を降ろしたらそのままいなくなってしまって、どうしたら良いのか皆ザワザワ。恐る恐る受付窓口に行ってバウチャーを出したら受付の方がわかってくれて良かったです。バウチャー必須です。ドライバーもですが、受付でも日本語は通じません。帰りの集合時間が日本語で書かれた紙をもらい、中へ。中には日本語を話すスタッフがいたのであれこれ説明してもらえてすごく助かりました。
水に入っているのは20～30分ですが、10名ほどのグループにトレーナーとイルカが1匹なので順番にタッチしたり写真撮ったりします。全て英語でしたが身振り手振りで触り方などを教えてもらえるのでなんとかなります。
そのあと、園内のレストランで昼食を食べて(任意)、鳥に触れ合えるコーナーへ。
子供達はこれがすごく楽しかったようで、何度も入っては餌をあげていました。容赦なく指をつつかれたりしますが、痛がりながらも楽しそうでした。
スタッフからレタスみたいな葉っぱをもらって魚にあげることもできます。
びっくりするくらいむしゃむしゃ食べてました。笑
規模が小さい水族館な感じですが、混んでいなかったのでゆっくり見ることが出来ました。行き帰りも景色の良い海沿いの道なので楽しい一日になりました。

The crew was super nice and made us feel at home. Food and drinks were great and of course the views and activities were the highlights of the trip!

I was honestly skeptical about encountering wild dolphins since it's all about luck, but I dove twice and encountered dolphin pods both times! Fortunately, I was able to see a sea turtle, which left me thrilled! The tour was packed with snorkeling and activities. Above all, the Japanese guide and the professional photographer were very considerate of all the participants and always interacted with us in a friendly manner. It was a tour that made me truly feel like I want to come back again!

野生のイルカは運だから、と正直半信半疑でしたが2回潜って2回ともイルカの群れに遭遇！幸運にもウミガメを見ることができ感激しっぱなしでした！
シュノーケルやアクティビティーもあり内容の濃いツアーでした。またなんと言っても日本人ガイドさんとプロカメラマンさんが私たち参加者全員を気遣ってくださり常にフレンドリーに接してくれました。また帰って来ますね‼︎と心から思えたツアーでした‼︎

I have traveled to Hawaii many times, but this was my first visit to this museum. The exhibits were more fulfilling than I expected, with many displays about the Hawaiian monarchy and photographs from that era, which were quite moving. You can deepen your knowledge about Polynesian culture as a whole. There are two guided sessions in Japanese at 10:30 and 11:30. We arrived at 10:45 without knowing this, but we negotiated and were allowed to join the 10:30 session (it might be a good idea to check in advance the days and times when the Japanese guide is available). In addition to the museum, there are facilities for children (playgrounds), a planetarium, and a science center, but these are not particularly impressive.

何度もハワイに旅行しましたが、こちらのミュージアムは初めて訪問しました。予想以上に充実した展示内容で、ハワイ王朝やその時代の写真展示も多く、感慨深かったです。ポリネシア文化全体についての知識を深めることができます。10:30～、11:30～の２回、日本人ガイドによる簡単な説明もあります。私たちは知らずに10:45に到着しましたが、交渉して10:30の回に入れていただきました（日本語ガイドの開催される曜日や時間は事前に確認した方がいいかもしれません）。ミュージアム以外にも、子供向けの学習施設（遊び場）、プラネタリム、科学センター等併設していますが、これらはさほどたいしたことはありません。

It was an activity that included everything you can do in Hawaii. Snorkeling from the boat was a great experience. The dinner was all-you-can-eat and drink, and it was a good value!

HAWAIIにいるからできることがすべて入ったアクティビティでした。船からのシュノーケリングは良い体験です。夕食も飲み食べ放題、コスバ良し!

Sunday morning cruise. The captain and all the crew were women.

I participated because I wanted to view the hotels in Honolulu and Diamond Head from the sea.

Just a little way out, and the color of the ocean changed to ocean blue, allowing us to enjoy a wonderful cruise.

Although it was indicated that only soft drinks would be available, alcoholic beverages were also served on board.

Completing the waiver and health check online in advance is more convenient and avoids any hassle.

日曜日の午前のクルーズ。キャプテン、クルーすべて女性でした。

ホノルルのホテル、ダイヤモンドヘッドなどを海から眺めたうと思い、参加しました。

少し沖に出るだけで、海の色がオーシャンブルーに変わり、素敵なクルーズを楽しめました。

ソフトドリンクだけと案内がありましたが、船上ではアルコール飲料も提供されてましたよ。

事前の免責同意書、ヘルスチェックはWebで済ませておく方が、面倒がありません。

It was quite crowded with many locals on our Sunday reservation, but there were slides that the whole family could enjoy, and the kids were satisfied. We mainly swam in the wave pool and occasionally went on the slides. The Japanese guide recommended putting our belongings in a locker and securing a shaded table, but I think it would be sufficient to secure a cabana at the wave pool and use that as a base. The theme park opens at 10:30, which is a bit late, so I think it would have been better if the overall schedule was set a little later. However, the kids seemed happy. I would like to come again.

　日曜日の予約で現地の方も多く混雑していましたが、家族で乗れるスライダーもあり、子どもは満足していました。ウェーブプールをメインに泳いで、時々スライダーに乗りに行くという感じでした。日本人の案内の方からは。ロッカーに荷物を入れたり、日陰のテーブルを確保することを勧められましたが、ウェーブプールにカバナを確保すればそこを起点に動くので十分だと思います。テーマパークのオープンが10:30と遅めなので、もう少し全体的なスケジュールを遅めに設定していただけるとより良かったかなと思いましたが、子どもは満足そうでした。また来たいです。

It was great to have round trip transportation and everything provided such as waters, walking sticks, and bug spray. It was pouring rain when we went and the rain ponchos came in handy for $5. We felt very prepared for the hike along with information of its history and movie sites to look for. Was an enjoyable time

It was my fifth visit after four years and four months. I thoroughly enjoyed the unchanged Hawaiian nights. I definitely want to go again next time I visit.

4年4ヶ月ぶりの5回目の訪問でした。
何も変わらないハワイの夜を満喫いたしました。
次回来た時も是非行きたいと思います。

All the slides were fun! However, when considering the total experience, I think the cost performance is a bit high. The all-you-can-drink options aren't really worth it since you can't drink that much. The locker fee is also expensive. If it were a bit cheaper, I would want to go again.

滑り台全て楽しかったです♪
けど、トータルで考えるとコスパは少し高いかなぁと。
飲み放題のドリンクもそんなに飲めるものでは無いので不要。
ロッカー代も高い。
もう少し安かったら、また行きたいです。

You take an early morning bus to the port, and from there, it takes about 20 minutes by boat to reach the sandbar. Everyone involved was kind and friendly, and I enjoyed the experience from start to finish. There were also people who were fluent in Japanese, which made me feel at ease. If I come back again, I would definitely like to participate once more.

港まで早朝のバスに乗って行き、そこから20分程度船に揺られてサンドバーに到着します。関係の方々どの人も優しくフレンドリーで、終始楽しめました。日本語の堪能な方もおり安心して利用できました。もしまた来られたら次も参加したいと思います。

I made a reservation in Japan before departure without checking the tide table, but luckily, the water was shallow up to my knees, which was great. I wore my reef shoes from the room, and I stayed in them both on the boat and in the water. Additionally, due to my nearsightedness, I borrowed a prescription mask. Whether I could swim or use the snorkel was a different matter. I didn’t know how to hold the snorkel properly, and water kept coming in through the gaps, so I held onto a staff member's float who spoke Japanese, and we moved along together. I got used to it halfway through and was able to look underwater for longer periods. Every time we spotted a sea turtle, the staff member would say, "There’s a turtle," and I was able to see them about 7 or 8 times. Encountering many schools of fish and sea turtles was an emotional experience. My first time snorkeling, meeting sea turtles, and visiting the sandbar was a fun experience that I can't have in Japan. The spam was also very delicious. Thank you very much.

潮見表を調べず、出発前に日本で予約しましたが、運良く、膝くらいで浅く良かったです。リーフシューズを部屋から履いて行き、船内も水中もこのままでした。また、近視のため、度付きのマスクを借りました。泳げるかどうかと、シュノーケルが使えるかどうかは別です。私はシュノーケルの咥え方がわからず、隙間から海水が入るので、日本語を話せるスタッフさんの浮き輪に捕まり、一緒に進みました。途中から慣れて長く水中を覗くことができるようになりました。ウミガメが見える度に、スタッフさんが、「カメさんいるよ」と教えて下さり、7〜8回くらい見ることができました。多くの魚の群れ、ウミガメに出会い、感動の連続。初めてのシュノーケリング、ウミガメとの出会い、サンドバー、日本ではできない楽しい体験でした。スパムもとてもおいしかったです。ありがとうございました。

We participated as a family since there were activities available for children aged 5 and under, and we had never touched a dolphin before.

We arrived at the park around 10 AM. There was a line for entry, so we waited in line. After waiting for 10 or 20 minutes, the line wasn't moving much. Since the activity was scheduled for 11 AM, we felt a bit anxious and frustrated. We finally got in and made our way to the dolphin pool. We weren't sure where to go for preparation, but we rushed in at the last moment, and thankfully, we made it. It would have been better if the entry process was smoother. Also, it would be helpful if the preparation area had clearer maps or guides.

The interaction with the dolphin (Nalu) was great. The explanations were in English, so those who are not familiar with English might not understand, but you can still enjoy the atmosphere. The fun time went by in a flash, and since the pickup for our return was at 2 PM, we didn't have enough time to fully enjoy the park. That's a bit disappointing. It seems that visiting this park twice might be enough to fully enjoy it.

5歳の子どもが参加できるアクティビティという制限の中、イルカに触れたことなかったので、親子で参加。

パークには10時ころに到着。入場は列ができていたので、並んで待っていました。10分、20分待てど列はなかなか前へ進みません。11時からのアクティビティなのでちょっと不安、イライラが。何とか入って、イルカのプールへ。どこに準備でどこに行くのかわからず最後に駆け込むように、でも間に合ってよかったです。もう少し入場がスムーズならいいのですが。あと準備の場所も案内図などが分かりやすければよいのですが。

イルカ（Nalu君）との触れあいは良かったです。説明は英語なので、英語不慣れな方は理解できないと思いますが、雰囲気で楽しめますよ。
楽しい時間はあっという間、14時には帰りのピックアップがくるので、パーク内で十分に堪能できなかった。ちょっと残念。
このパークは2回ほど行くと十分楽しめるのかも。

For this second attempt, I checked the tide chart for the sandbar in Kaneohe and chose the day and time when the tide would be the lowest during my stay to participate in the tour. It was perfect. When we arrived and moored the boat, the water was about calf-deep, and even after the first snorkeling session, which lasted 20 minutes, we returned to find a sandbar with broken coral exposed about 50 meters away. It was practically land (see photo). The quality of the sandbar experience depends on the tour company, but ultimately, the tide conditions are everything. I believe those planning to go should choose tours that operate during low tide, referring to the tide chart as much as possible. However, when walking to the sandbar, beach shoes are essential. The soles of your feet can hurt, and if you're unlucky, you might get injured. Captain Bruce already has established know-how, and there was a Japanese guide on board, making it a comfortable experience for Japanese participants. The spam musubi we had on the boat was very delicious. During snorkeling, we even encountered a honu (sea turtle) (see photo).

One downside is that the information provided in advance by Veltra mentioned that tips of 10% to 20% are not included in the travel cost and advised not to bring valuables. I only brought a single bill for tips, but there were signs on the shuttle bus asking for tips, and there was also a request for tips when we got off the boat after the activity. I found myself in a situation where I hadn't heard about tipping at two different places! I only had one bill! I wish they would stop the tipping practice, which is unfamiliar to Japanese people, and include it in the total cost. It's quite bothersome.

再挑戦の今回は、サンドバーのあるカネオヘの潮見表を調べ、滞在中のツアー催行時間で一番潮の引く日と時間を選んで参加しました。ドンピシャでした。到着時にボートを係留したところで、ふくらはぎ中くらいの深さ、最初に行われるシュノーケリングが20分して終わって帰って来ても、歩いて50mほどのところにある珊瑚が砕けた砂州？が露出していました。まさに陸地でした。(写真参照)。サンドバー観光の質は催行会社もありますが、やはり潮の状態が全てです。行かれる方は、潮見表首っ引きで出来るだけ潮の引いている時に催行されるツアーを選ぶべきだと思います。ただし、砂州？に歩いて行く時はビーチシューズは必須です。足の裏が痛いですし、運が悪ければ怪我をすることがあります。キャプテンブルースはすでにノウハウが確立しており、日本人ガイドも乗っていて、日本人が安心して参加できます。ボート上でいただいたスパムむすびがとても美味しかったです。シュノーケリングでは海中でホヌにも出会えました。(写真参照) 。難点を言えば、事前にベルトラからされた案内に10%〜20%のチップは旅行代金に含まれていませんとあり、貴重品は持ってくるなとありましたので、チップだけお札1枚で持って行きましたが、送迎のバスでも、チップくださいとの掲示がありましたし、活動が終わりボートを降りる時にも、チップくださいの案内がありました。2箇所でチップとは聞いていないよ！お札1枚しかないよ！ということになりました。日本人には馴染みのないチップやめて欲しい。代金に含めておいて欲しいです。面倒くさいですから。

The Luau was good. The Kalua pork was amazing. The plating could have been better. The staff were very friendly and nice.

I am so glad I booked this luau for my family and me. We all had such a good
time. The show was very entertaining to watch. We got to learn a lot about Polynesian culture. They also involve the audience as well. As for the food, it was great as well. There was a wide selection of food and dessert. If you want to have a good time and eat great food, I would recommend this. You also have the option of adding transportation which was great for us.

Overall very nice experience.
Food was better than anticipated and show was funny and very informative.
It is well organized as well.
A bit far and remote however was worth it and would highly recommend.

We learned so much about the history of Hawaii and the importance of restoring and maintaining its unique culture.

Incredible staff that made us feel welcomed and safe. I like the options to participate or just soak in the beautiful scenery going snorkeling or on the sandbar. Food was great also!

It was a very valuable experience for the children. The staff were also very kind and provided thorough explanations to the children's questions.

子供にとってとても貴重な体験となりました。
スタッフの方もとても親切で、子供の質問にも丁寧にく説明をしてくれます。

Interacting with the dolphins was very enjoyable. It was a valuable experience. Since you can also feed sea turtles and small birds, I think it's a place that will make children very happy.

イルカ触れ合いはとても楽しかったです。貴重な体験ができました。海亀や小鳥の餌やりなどもできるので、子供がとても喜ぶ場所だと思います。

I participated in the morning session of a family trip (with elementary and middle school students). It was almost high tide, but at about 1 meter, it was safe for elementary school students to play.

What stood out the most was the cheerful and fun attitude of both the shuttle driver and the guide on the boat. They were quite fluent in Japanese (or rather, most of them were Japanese), so I highly recommend this tour compared to others.

Here are some points summarized by category for your reference!

【Shuttle】The outbound trip took about 45 minutes, and the return trip took about 60 minutes. We were picked up around 9:00 at the bus stop near Trump, making it easy to participate. The same driver took us both ways, and during the return trip, he engaged us with comments about our experiences. (He also provided cheerful guidance in English and broken Japanese along the way.) There was a service for those who wanted to stop at a famous malasada shop (Leonard's) on the way back.

【Boat Transfer】It takes about 10 minutes to arrive, and the waves are calm, so there’s hardly any worry about seasickness. We spotted several sea turtles on the way out (although we could see them multiple times at the sandbar).

【Snorkeling】Everyone wears life jackets and sanitized snorkels, and there were also zayaks (a type of board with a viewing window?) available for children. For adults who cannot swim, one of the guides provides support nearby. There were many fish, but everyone was particularly excited about the sea turtles.

【Activities】After snorkeling, you can enjoy SUP, zayaks, floaties, and photo opportunities at the sandbar. There was about one SUP per group, so everyone had fun (taking turns as a family).

【On the Boat】The boat has a restroom and is quite clean. The minimal rocking of the boat also left a good impression.

【Food and Drink】There are unlimited servings of spam musubi, apples, snacks, nut bars, and juices (only one spam musubi per person). So, you can go without bringing anything.

【Caution】Jellyfish (Portuguese man o' war) were present, and a few people got stung (though everyone had minor injuries). I think long-sleeved rash guards are essential.

家族旅行（小学生＋中学生）で午前の部に参加しました。
ほぼ満潮のタイミングでしたが、1m程度なので小学生でも安全に遊べました。

何より素晴らしいのは送迎の運転手、船上のガイドとも明るく楽しい気持ちになりました。日本語もかなり通じやすい（というかほぼ日本人の方も）ので、他のツアーに比べて非常にオススメできます。

以下に観点別のポイントをまとめたのでご参考までに！

【送迎】往路は45分ほど、帰路は60分ほどでの到着でした。トランプ近くのバス停に9:00頃ピックアップだったので無理なく参加できました。また行と帰りは同じ運転手で帰宅時には感想などの声掛けもしてくれます。（道中、英語と片言の日本語で陽気にガイドもしてくれます）。
希望者はマラサダの有名店（レナーズ）に帰路で下車するサービスもありました。

【船移動】10分程度で着く上に波も穏やかなので船酔いの心配は殆どありません。往路ではウミガメを何匹か見つけました（サンドバーで何度も見れますが）

【シュノーケル】全員がライフジャケット、シュノーケル（消毒済み）着用しますが、小児はzayak（除き窓付のビート版？）の貸し出しもありました。大人で泳げない人はガイドの1名が近くでサポートもしてくれます。魚も多いですがやはりウミガメは皆さんテンションがあがっていました。

【アクティビティ】シュノーケル後はサンドバーでSUPやZAYAK、浮き輪、写真撮影などを楽しめます。SUPも1組1台程度はあるので皆さん楽しめてました（家族で交代しながら）

【船上】トイレ付で船自体も結構キレイです。揺れが少ない点も好印象。

【飲食】スパムにぎり、りんご、スナック菓子、ナッツバー、ジュース類が食べ放題です（スパム握りだけ1人1つ）。よって手ぶらで問題なし。

【注意点】くらげ（カツオノエボシ）が流れてくるので、刺されている人が数人いました。（ただし皆さん軽傷）長袖のラッシュガードなどは必須と思います。

I participated in a dolphin encounter with elementary and middle school students.

If you take the shuttle bus from the Marriott Hotel on the east side of Waikiki, it departs around 9:00 AM, so you don't need to wake up too early, and the travel distance is not too long (about 30 minutes). The bus also has a restroom, making it easy to participate with children.

The aquarium is of medium size, and there isn't a significant difference in the dolphin and sea lion shows compared to Japan. (Don't compare it to places like Churaumi, Kaiyukan, or Hakkeijima.)

The important part of interacting with the dolphins can be experienced slowly over a good amount of time (about 45 minutes?), and companions can take photos from the opposite shore (which has shade), so there were several participants with one child and one guardian. (Dads took photos and watched the bags from the shore.)

There are also tours to search for wild dolphins offshore, but for families with children, the early departure time and travel distance can be challenging, and since you can't guarantee seeing or interacting with them, the kids said they were glad to have participated in this tour.

小学生、中学生を連れてドルフィンエンカウンターに参加しました。

ワイキキ東側のマリオットホテルから送迎バスでの出発であれば、9:00頃なのであまり早起きも必要なく移動距離も長すぎず（30分程度）、バスにトイレも付いているので子連れでも参加しやすかったです。

水族館としての規模は中程度で、イルカやアシカのショーも日本と比べて大きな違いはありません。（美ら海、海遊館、八景島などと比べてはいけません）

肝心のイルカとの触れ合いはゆっくりと時間をかけて体験できる（45分程度？）のと、同行者も対岸（日陰もあり）などから撮影は出来るので、子供＋保護者１名での参加者も数名いました。（お父さんは陸から撮影＆荷物番）

他に沖で野生のイルカを探すツアーもありますが、子連れには出発時刻（早朝）や移動距離の苦労もあり、確定で会える訳でも触れる訳でもない為、本ツアーに参加してよかったと子供たちも言っていました。

The sea was cold enough that a wetsuit was necessary! However, the captain was a funny person and it was enjoyable. Next time, I want to go into the sea on a warm day.

海は寒くてウェットスーツが必要な位でした！しかし！キャプテンが面白い人で楽しかったです。こんどは暖かい日に海にはいりたいです。

the kids lvoed to get to see the fish from the portholes! great day underwater

This was best luau show we have been to. The Chief was so funny and made the show. We loved the girls dancing and the guys with the fire were outstanding. The food was ok

More than one-third of the participants were stung by jellyfish. It should be possible to take precautions such as wearing rash guards in advance. The sea is beautiful, but there weren't many fish, and it was murky, so we left early. For those who have experienced snorkeling in Okinawa, this may feel lacking.

During peak times, more than 60 people participate, so the boat can get very crowded during meal times and when entering the water.

参加者の3分の1以上がクラゲに刺されました。事前にラッシュガードの着用など徹底できるはずです。海は綺麗ですが、魚はあまりおらず、濁っていたので早々に引き上げました。沖縄方面を経験している方には物足りないシュノーケリングです。

ピーク時だと60人以上が参加するため、食事時や入水時など船上は大混雑です。

Snorkeling was amazing! A honu was right in front of me! It was an early morning, but I’m glad I was able to make the most of the day.

シュノーケリングは最高でした！
ホヌが目の前に！
朝は早かったけど一日が有効に過ごせて良かったと思います。