All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We didn't see any whales, but we had a great time. The naturalist on board was very knowledgeable and we learned a great deal about whales.
The weather was pretty good. We had clear views of Honolulu -- Waikiki and Diamond Head.
The process to check in and check out was smooth and fast.

Due to the high waves that started midway, there was no snack distribution. I had planned to go get a drink when the snacks were handed out, so I couldn't go. When I stopped by the bar counter upon disembarking, there were no staff present, and there were only a few snacks in a basket that people who noticed helped themselves to. The drinks were just a display of cans... If the distribution was canceled due to the high waves, I would have appreciated it if someone had been at the bar counter during disembarkation to hand them out. In the end, I wasn't able to receive the limited-time drink benefit. I noticed that some people didn't tip at all, so I wondered if that might have affected the service. Although I didn't see any whales, I had a great time seeing a lot of dolphins, which made the lack of service feel like a missed opportunity.

途中から波が高くなったせいかスナックの配布がなかった。スナック配布されたらドリンクを取りに行くつもりにしていたので行けず。下船時にバーカウンターに寄りましたが、スタッフ不在、スナックが少しだけカゴに入って置いていたので気づいた人が自ら取っていました。
ドリンクは缶の見本が並べてあっただけ…。高波で配布を見送ったのなら、下船時にバーカウンターにいて頂いて、お渡しして欲しかったです。結局期間限定特典のドリンクは受け取れずじまいでした。
チップを全く入れてない人もいたので、こういうことも影響しているのではないかと思いました。
クジラは見れませんでしたがイルカがたくさん見れて楽しかっただけに、サービスがもったいなく感じました。

I participated in whale watching for the first time!
While cruising, I was able to enjoy some drinks and the scenery was amazing! ✨✨
I saw the whales spouting water and their tails from a bit of a distance!!
I thought I would be able to see them a little closer, but since they are wild animals, I understand that it's unpredictable. Still, the atmosphere was great and I had a lot of fun!!

The restrooms on the boat aren't usually very clean and can be hard to access, but this boat had clean restrooms, so I felt comfortable even while drinking!
I would love to participate again someday!!

初めてホエールウォッチングに参加しました！
クルージングしながらお酒も飲めて景色も最高でした✨✨
クジラは少し遠くで潮を吹くところやテールを見ることができました！！
もう少し近くで観れると思っていましたが、自然の生き物の事なので、予想がつかないのも仕方がないな〜と思いつつ、雰囲気はとても良く楽しむことができました！！

船でのおトイレは綺麗なところがあまりなく、なかなか行きにくいですが、こちらの船は綺麗なトイレでお酒を飲んでも安心でした！
またいつか参加してみたいです！！

I participated in a sunset cruise. It departs from the yacht harbor in Waikiki and returns in about an hour and a half, making it easy to join. On the day I went, I could see the whales' spouts and tails far off in the distance, but the crew did their best to keep things lively and entertaining. Since it's nature, whether you get to see the whales up close is a matter of luck.

サンセットクルーズに参加しました。ワイキキのヨットハーバーから出発して1時間半程度で帰ってこられるので気軽に参加できます。
私が参加した日は遥か遠くにクジラの潮吹きや尻尾が見える程度でしたが、クルーの皆さんは何とか盛り上げようと楽しませてくれました。自然相手のことなので、クジラが近くで見られるかは運次第です。

I could tell there were whales, but I couldn't see them very well. The staff provided warm hospitality, making my experience enjoyable. The banana cake for a light snack had a homemade feel and was delicious. You can choose between tea and coffee.

鯨がいるのは分かりますが、あまりよく見えませんでした。スタッフの方々はあたたかいおもてなしで気分良く過ごすことができました。軽食のバナナケーキも手作りの感じがあって美味しかったです。紅茶がコーヒーが選べます。

On this day, the sky was completely covered with clouds and there was a strong wind. It started to rain midway, and by the time we disembarked, there was a full-blown storm. Perhaps due to the strong winds, the waves were high and there were whitecaps, making it difficult to spot whales. However, there were several announcements on the ship about whale sightings, and my husband and I were able to see a spout once each. A few Japanese passengers who were on board with us also mentioned they saw a spout just once. Does seeing a spout mean you've seen a whale? I wonder if it was the right decision to set sail in that weather. If asked whether I would like to go again, I would say I do not want to. Even if the weather were good, it seems there is a set distance from which you can approach the whales, so I think it would be difficult to actually see the whales themselves. The coffee and light snacks were delicious (although the boat rocked so much that the coffee spilled...).

この日は空一面の雲に強い風、途中から雨が降り始め、下船するころには大嵐になっていました。強い風のためか波が高く白波が立ち、クジラ発見には難しい条件だったと思いますが、船内に何回かクジラ発見の放送が流れ、私たち夫婦は潮吹きを１度づつ見ることができました。一緒に乗っていた日本の方たち数人も潮吹きを１度だけ見たと言っていました。潮吹きを見たらクジラを見たことになるのか？あの天候で船を出すことは正解なのか？疑問です。また乗ってみたいかと言われれば、もう乗りたくありません。天候が良かったとしても、クジラに近寄れる距離が決まっているらしく、クジラ本体を見ることは難しいのではないかと思いました。コーヒーと軽食は美味しかったです（コーヒーがこぼれるほど揺れましたが・・・）

My husband and I participated in this trip for our honeymoon.

Thanks to the favorable weather, the boat didn't sway, and we were able to enjoy the beautiful sea and the views of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the water.

As for the whales, we were able to see them multiple times during the trip. However, they were all quite far away, and we could only see their spouts and a bit of their black backs and tails. I think it was great just to see them, but if I had to say something, I wish we could have seen them a little closer.

新婚旅行で夫と2人で参加しました。

天気に恵まれたため船が揺れることもなく、綺麗な海や海からのワイキキ、ダイヤモンドヘッドを眺めることができました。

肝心のクジラですが、乗船中何度も見ることができました。しかしいずれも遠いところで、潮吹きと黒い背中と尾鰭が少し見える程度。姿を見ることができただけでも良かったのだと思いますが、強いて言えば、もう少し近くで見れると良かったなと思います。

I originally joined this tour because I love sharks. We took a bus for just under two hours from our hotel in Waikiki to Haleiwa. We gathered at a small shack decorated with shark patterns and set off. There were about 14 or 15 participants, and I was the only Japanese person (the staff were not Japanese either).

The explanations were in English, and the engine noise was loud, so I couldn't understand much, but I managed to get by. Since my eyesight is poor, I borrowed prescription goggles, but they weren't very clear, so I recommend bringing contact lenses if you have vision issues. As others have mentioned, once we arrived at the spot, the waves were high and it was easy to get seasick. I got seasick here too.

However, when we got into the cage, I was so focused on watching the sharks that I forgot about my seasickness. I was very satisfied to see a nearly 3-meter-long tiger shark up close. The shark was calm, and I was moved by its graceful swimming. Unfortunately, I didn't see many other sharks besides that tiger shark. After getting out of the cage, I felt worse and ended up vomiting. There was another person who vomited as well. However, after that, I felt refreshed and was able to enjoy the return trip.

I was a bit anxious about participating alone as a woman, but I had a valuable experience and it was really great! If there are others in a similar situation who are hesitant to join, I encourage you to participate without hesitation!

(February 2025, early February, 9 AM departure, woman in her 20s)

もともとサメが好きでこのツアーに参加しました。ワイキキのホテルからバスで2時間弱かけてハレイワまで向かいました。サメの柄の小さな小屋に集合して出発しました。参加者は14、5人で日本人は私1人だけでした（スタッフの方も日本人ではない）。
説明は英語かつエンジンの音がうるさくあまり理解できませんでしたが、なんとかなりました笑。視力が低いので、度ありのゴーグルを借りましたが、あまり見えやすくはなかったので目がよくない方はコンタクトを持って行くことをおすすめします。他の方も言っている通り、スポットについてからは波が高く酔いやすいです。当方もここで酔いました。
しかし、ケージに入る際はサメを見ることに夢中で酔っていることを忘れました。体長３メートル弱のタイガーシャークを一匹、近くで見ることができとても満足でした。サメは穏やかで、優雅に泳ぐ姿に感動しました。しかしそのタイガーシャーク以外のサメはほとんど見れませんでした。ケージから出た後、酔いが酷くなり吐いてしまいました。私以外にももう1人吐いてる方がいました。しかし、その後はスッキリして帰港を楽しむことができました。
女1人の参加で少し不安でしたが貴重な経験ができてとても良かったです！同じ境遇で参加を迷っている方がいたらぜひ迷わず参加してみてください！！

（2025.2月上旬　9時出発　　20代女）

Since it was a tour involving nature, I thought I wouldn't know if I would see anything until it was over, but in the end, I had a wonderful experience. I understood that we couldn't get too close to the whales and would only be able to see them from a distance, but the whales came close to us, and I was able to see them up very close.

I participated in early February, and there were many whales. I was moved by how many there were. I definitely recommend this tour to anyone whose timing aligns.

自然が相手のツアーなので、見れるかどうか終わってみないとわからないなぁ、と思っていましたが、結果、素晴らしい経験ができました。くじらにはあまり近づけないとのことで、遠くからしか見られないのは仕方ないと思っていましたが、クジラが近づいてきてくれて、ものすごく近くで見ることが出来ました。
参加時期は2月上旬でしたが、クジラはたくさんいました。こんなにたくさんいるんだと感動しました。
是非、タイミングが合う方は参加をお勧めします。

I was worried, but I'm glad I was able to see the whales properly. The explanations in Japanese were easy to understand. I recommend it.

心配でしたが、クジラがちゃんと見られてよかったです。日本語の説明もあって分かりやすかったです。オススメです。

I participated in the whale watching tour on the Star of Honolulu with a pickup from Waikiki (with snacks and drinks included). There were many participants on the large boat. Even though it was the rainy season in February, we were blessed with good weather and enjoyed the views of the blue sky and the deep blue sea from the boat. We also saw whales multiple times, including some mother and calf pairs, and got to witness them spouting water. It was a very satisfying whale watching experience. If you're coming to Waikiki, I highly recommend you join this tour!

ワイキキ送迎を付けてホエールウォッチ　スターオブホノルル号（軽食＆ドリンク付き）に参加しました。
大型船で参加者もたくさんいました。
雨季の２月での参加でしたがお天気にも恵まれ、青く晴れた空と真っ青な海が広がる船からの景色を楽しめました。
またクジラも何度も現れて潮吹きも何度も見られました。
親子のクジラも現れ大満足のホエールウォッチングになりました。
ワイキキに来る方はぜひ参加してみてください！オススメです！

I participated in a trip with my mother and daughter. We arrived at Aloha Tower right at 8:00, but we couldn't board immediately and had to wait outside. The port's restroom was locked and unavailable for use.

The large ship has four decks, and after boarding, there was an explanation of whale watching in English, along with the offering of pineapple banana bread, coffee, tea, and water. I recommend going to get your food early as there is a line.

It took a while before we spotted any whales, but the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the sea was beautiful, making the cruise satisfying. After a while, we saw a whale spouting water, and we could see its tail and dorsal fin. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see any big jumps.

The trip was on a Saturday, and we were able to disembark around 11:00, which allowed us to take a taxi to the Kaka'ako Farmers Market.

母、娘の二人旅で参加しました。
8時ちょうどにアロハタワーに着きましたがすぐには乗船できず外で待ち時間がありました。港のトイレは鍵が掛かっており利用できませんでした。
4階まである大きな船で、乗船後英語でホエールウォッチングの説明がありパイナップルバナナブレッドとコーヒー・紅茶・お水の提供があります。並ぶので早めに取りに行くことをおすすめします。
沖へ出るまでなかなかくじらは現れなかったですが、海から見えるワイキキの街やダイヤモンドヘッドが美しくクルーズとして満足できました。
しばらくすると潮を吹いているクジラがおり、尾びれや背びれが見えました。残念ながら大ジャンプは見られませんでした。
参加日は土曜日で、11時頃には下船できたのでタクシーでカカアコファーマーズマーケットへ行く事ができました。

I have a tendency to get motion sickness, so I appreciated that this boat is large and has minimal rocking. We encountered whales a few times (and dolphins too). They explain which direction to look by comparing it to a clock, which makes it easy to understand. I also thought it was a nice cruise to see Waikiki and Diamond Head. However, since we didn't see the whales up very close, it's better not to have too high expectations in that regard.

乗り物酔いしやすい体質なので、こちらの船は大きく、揺れが少ないのがよかったです
クジラには何回か遭遇できました(イルカにも)
時計に例えてどっちの方角にいるかいってくださるのでわかりやすいです
ワイキキやダイアモンドヘッドをみるクルージングとしてもありだと思いました
クジラはすごく近くで見られた訳ではないので、その辺は期待しすぎない方がよいです

Crews are very friendly and fun, captain knows where to spot the whale - great family fun tour.

It was unfortunate that we encountered wind and rain during the rainy season.

First, everyone freely brought pineapple banana cake, coffee, and tea from the front of the first floor and enjoyed them at their seats. The cinnamon-flavored pineapple banana cake was very delicious.

After that, we listened to an explanation about whales using a translation app on our phones. We were then allowed to move freely up to the fourth floor of the ship, so we carefully made our way to the top observation deck and enjoyed the view.

Fortunately, the rain wasn't too heavy, so we were able to enjoy the scenery of Honolulu. We could see Diamond Head and the cityscape from the sea side. It was particularly meaningful for me since I had hiked up Diamond Head the day before on the same optional tour with Veltra, which took about 30 minutes.

The waves were high, and although we couldn't see the whales, we were able to spot their spouts several times. We saw the spouts relatively close by, and all the passengers were excitedly pointing at them. If the weather had been better, we might have seen even more.

The shuttle service was only available in the morning, allowing us to spend the afternoon leisurely, which was nice.

雨季の風と雨の日に当たってしまったのが残念でした。
まずは各自、自由に一階前方にあるパイナップルバナナケーキやコーヒー、紅茶を持って来て、座席で頂きました。シナモンの効いたパイナップルバナナケーキはとても美味しかったです。
そのあとクジラについての説明を携帯の翻訳アプリを使って聞きました。その後は船の４階まで自由に移動してよいとのことだったので、船の揺れに気をつけながら最上の展望階に上がり、眺めていました。
ただ雨は大半は大丈夫だったので、ホノルルの風景は楽しめました。ダイヤモンドヘッドや街並が海から側から眺められます。ダイヤモンドヘッドは前日同じベルトラさんのオプショナルツアーで、３０分かけて登った後だったので感慨深いものがありました。
波が高く、クジラは姿は確認出来なかったのですが、潮吹きを何度か見られました。割と近くで何度か潮吹きが見られたので、乗船客の皆んなが指を差して盛り上がっていました。天候に恵まれれば更に良く見えたかもしれません。
送迎付きは午前中だけで体験できるので、午後も有効にゆったり過ごせるので楽でした。

I noticed the spouting from a distance and was able to see the back and tail fin as well! I happened to be in a spot where I could see it, but there were people on the same shuttle bus who said they missed it, so I wish there were more real-time broadcasts in Japanese.

遠くで潮吹きに気づき、背中と尾ヒレもなんとか見えました！！
たまたま見れる場所にいたので気づきましたが、同じ送迎バスの中で見れなかったと言っていた人がいたので日本語リアル放送がもっとあればいいなと思いました。

5/5 stars! Celebrated my husband's birthday at Dolphin Quest Oahu and we had an absolute blast! Despite the windy weather, our whole family created unforgettable memories together!

The weather was nice, and the wind was calm, so I didn't feel seasick at all. As soon as we headed out, we were able to see a mother and baby whale. Although the staff only spoke English, they were very service-oriented and moved us to another area to search for and show us another whale. I had hoped to enjoy the cruising even if we didn't see any whales, but it turned out to be the best whale watching experience!

天気も良く風も穏やかで船酔いも全くしませんでした。沖に出てすぐに親子のくじらを見られました。英語のみですがスタッフもサービス精神があり、また別のエリアに移動して別のくじらも探して見せてくれました。
くじらが見られない日もあるようだったので、クルージングだけでも楽しめればと思いましたが、最高のホエールウォッチングになりました！

I had a great time seeing whales, dolphins, and turtles! The ocean was incredibly beautiful. Captain T J, Kristin, and Minako were all kind and easy to understand.

クジラ、イルカ、カメ全部が見れて楽しかったです！
海もめちゃくちゃ綺麗でした( *｀ω´)
T Jキャプテンに、クリスティン、みなこみんな優しくてわかりやすいです💪

I participated in a sunset cruise. Right after we set sail, we were lucky enough to spot a whale, but since the boat was large, we observed it from a bit of a distance. It might be good to have binoculars.

The cheerful captain explained various things, but everything was in English. I think those who understand English will enjoy it.

After observing the whales, we headed near Diamond Head. They took pictures of us with the mountain in the background. After that, we slowly returned to the harbor while watching the sunset. The sunset from the sea was breathtaking, and I was very moved.

Once the sun set, we returned to the harbor and disbanded.

サンセットクルーズに参加しました。
出港後すぐにクジラがみつかりラッキーでしたが、船が大きいためか少し離れた場所から観察する感じでした。双眼鏡があるといいかもです。
陽気な船長さんが色々と説明してくれるのですが全て英語です。英語が分かる方は楽しめると思います。
一通りクジラを観察した後はダイヤモンドヘッド近くまで行きます。山をバックに写真を撮ってくれました。その後ゆっくり港に戻りながら夕陽を眺めます。洋上からの夕陽は絶景で、とても感動しました。
日が沈んだら帰港、解散となります。

I experienced some seasickness, so medication was essential!

However, it was amazing.
It was a short time, so I didn't get tired and had a great time.
Thank you!

船酔いもあったので、薬必須！

しかし、最高でした。
短い時間だったので、疲れず楽しかったです。
ありがとうございます。

Due to regulations and the nature of observing whales, we had to keep a distance greater than we imagined. However, we were able to see them multiple times, which made for a great experience. Additionally, the views of Honolulu and Diamond Head from the sea were beautiful, and we had a wonderful time.

自然のクジラ相手かつ条例規制もあるため、想像よりは遠い距離での観察でした。しかし、何度もその姿を観ることはでき良い体験が出来ました。その他にも海上からのホノルル市内やダイヤモンドヘッドの眺めは美しく、良い時間を過ごすことが出来ました。

It was far away, but we were able to see mother and baby whales. The recorded announcements were in Japanese, but the direction where the whales appeared was announced in English, so it might be good to follow everyone’s movements! There was coffee and banana cake available.

遠かったですが、親子クジラを見れました。録音アナウンスは日本語も流れてましたが、クジラが出現した方向は英語で言われるのでみんなの動きに合わせるといいかと！
コーヒーやバナナケーキがありました。

I made a reservation for the sunset cruise, and I think the meeting place will be easy to find once you locate Prince Waikiki. When I went, there were also boats docked, which made it clear. I recommend arriving a bit earlier than the meeting time to secure good seats. Being at the very front might give you the best view in the end.

I participated at the end of January, and it started to get cold on the boat, so a jacket is a must. I brought a sweatshirt, but it was still chilly.

The boat rocked quite a bit, but I took motion sickness medication beforehand, so I was fine.

We encountered whales relatively early on! Although they were at a distance, we saw them multiple times. One even jumped high, but I missed it… just saw the splash.

They make sure to show you the sunset, so the disbanding time might vary. In our case, we were about 30 minutes late. (Please be cautious when scheduling your next plans.)

By the way, it mentioned snacks, but we didn’t receive any…

サンセットのコースで予約しましたが、集合場所はプリンスワイキキが見つかればすぐに見つかると思います。私が行った時は船も停船していたのでわかりやすかったです。集合時間よりも早めに行って並んでおいた方が良い席を確保できると思います。一番先頭が結局のところ一番見やすいかも。
1月末に参加しましたが、だんだん船上は寒くなってくるので上着必須です。私はトレーナー持っていきましたがそれでも寒かった。
結構揺れましたが、酔い止め飲んでおいたので大丈夫でした。
わりと早い段階からクジラに出会えました！遠目ですが何度も見れました。一度大ジャンプしたのですが、見逃しました…飛沫だけ…。
太陽の沈む時間までしっかりと見せてくれるので、解散時間はバラつきが出るかも。私達の時は30分ほど遅れました。（次の予定を入れる時はご注意下さい）

そう言えばスナックって書いてあったけど配られなかったな…

Unique experience with a knowledgeable and fun crew! Common sense and safety first approach put us all at ease, so the swim was nothing but fun. We also saw dolphins, green turtle and a whale! They even pointed out to listen for a whale song under the water, which we heard!! If on Oahu, this is a must!

I participated because I wanted to see whales. I was able to enjoy watching the whales swimming alongside the boat. Although I didn't see any jumping whales, I could feel the presence of these large animals as they spouted water and showed their tails, making it a tour filled with the dynamism of nature.

The view from the boat was also very nice, allowing me to enjoy a panoramic view of Waikiki, the mountains, and Diamond Head from the sea side. The pineapple banana cake on board was also very delicious.

クジラが見たくて参加しました。クジラが船と並走して泳いでいる様子を楽しむことができました。
ジャンプするクジラの様子は見られませんでしたが、潮をふいていたり、尻尾を出したり、大きな動物の存在を感じることができ自然のダイナミックさがあるツアーでした。
船内からの景色もとても良く、ワイキキ、山脈、ダイヤモンドヘッドなど、海から陸側のパノラマビューも同時に楽しむことができました。
船内でのパイナップルバナナケーキもとても美味しかったです。

I participated using the hotel shuttle service. A large bus came, and it was very comfortable.
Breakfast was very delicious.
I was able to see a mother and baby whale!
Since it was a four-story boat, it was interesting to see the whales from the top and from below, as the view was different.
The top deck swayed quite a bit, so I think those who are prone to motion sickness might need some medication.

There were no staff members on board who spoke Japanese, but the necessary announcements were made in Japanese, so it wasn't much of a problem.

The view of the streets of Hawaii from the boat was also very beautiful.

ホテルからの送迎を利用して参加しました。大きめのバスがきてとても快適でした。
朝ごはんはとても美味しかったです。
親子くじらを見ることができました！
4階だての船なので一番上からみるのと下からみるのとで鯨の見え方が違うので面白かったです。
一番上は結構揺れるので酔いやすい人は酔い止めが必要かと思います。

船内のスタッフさんは日本語を話せる人はいませんでしたが、必要な船内放送は日本語で流れるのでそこまで問題はありません。

船からみるハワイの街並みもとても綺麗でした。

This was so awesome to see so many whales in one trip made my wide and I so happy .if I make it back here I will definitely book a trip with star of Honolulu.

Thank you guys for the amazing time! Would highly recommend this trip. We did see whales, beautiful views of paradise, some crap traps, and the site for the open shark dive. We loved the crew so much, we have now signed up for the shark dive! We can’t wait! The crew were fantastic, captain and skipper both knew and shared a ton of great information about the island. They took their time and were not in a rush. The sunset was also amazing. Could not have asked for a better trip!

I boarded the cruise that departed at 10:30. About 10 minutes after setting sail, while we could still see the streets of Waikiki, there was an English announcement saying, "Look towards 3 o'clock," and we spotted a whale's spout. We changed spots here and there to see whales… whales… whales… Mostly, we caught glimpses of parts of their bodies coming out of the water, and if we were lucky, we could also see the whale's tail.

At one point, there was an announcement saying, "There are dolphins!" and we were able to see a pod of dolphins as well! For almost the entire two hours, we were able to see something, which felt like a great deal. The view of Diamond Head from the sea was also beautiful!

The boat rocked quite a bit. One adult on board got seasick, and my one-year-old daughter threw up… Even though the staff provided paper towels and water, I think it would be wise to be well-prepared for seasickness (paying attention to meals beforehand, bringing drinks, and having a change of clothes ready).

10時半に出航する回に乗り込みました。
出航して10分ほど…まだワイキキの街並みが全然見えるところでさっそく「3時の方向をよく見て」という英語アナウンスがあり、くじらの潮吹きが見られました。とこどころスポットを変えてはくじら…くじら…くじら…。主には水面に体の一部を出してくるかんじをとらえつつ、ブシューッと潮吹きの場面を観る感じですが、運が良いとあのくじらの“尾”を観ることもできました。
またある地点では「いるかがいるよ！」というアナウンスがあり、イルカの群も見られました！
2時間のほとんどで何かしらを観ることができて、とってもお得でした。海からのダイヤモンドヘッドの眺めもまたいいです！

船はかなり揺れました。
同乗の大人1名が途中船酔いでダウンし、1歳の娘は吐きました…。吐いてもスタッフの方がペーパータオルやお水をくれたりといろいろとよくしてくださったのですが、船酔い対策はいろいろと万全に（直前の食事への留意、飲み物を持ち込む、着替え用意）されたほうがいいかと思いました。