All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We got to see several whales and got some great pictures of breaches and blows. I was skeptical but was very happily surprised and would do it again next time I'm in Hawaii!

I was able to see sea turtles and small fish up close with the underwater scooter. The stand-up paddleboarding was fun as the whole family could paddle while standing. The staff spoke Japanese, which made us feel at ease while having fun.

水中スクーターではウミガメ・小さな魚達を近くで見ることができました。スタンドアップパドルボードは家族全員立ってこげるようになり、楽しかったです。スタッフの方も日本語が話せる方だったので安心して遊ぶことができました。

This was the first tour we took on our first trip to Hawaii in April of 2016. It was absolutely amazing. We had a good time on the Star of Honolulu except it was rather windy that day. Had a blast, regardless! There were several whale sightings but, not close enough to see them which was disappointing. The breakfast was fantastic. We spent time walking about the ship taking some wonderful photos. We would definitely book another cruise when we return again.

This was the first tour I took on my first trip to Hawaii. It was absolutely amazing.

I saw the whales' spouts and backs, but I felt a bit of a gap compared to the image I had in mind. However, considering it was a morning cruise off Waikiki, I think it was still quite enjoyable.

クジラの潮吹きや背中は見えましたが、イメージしてるクジラの姿とは少しギャップを感じました。ただ、朝のワイキキ沖クルーズと思えば十分アリかなと思います。

The overall cruise was extremely disappointing because throughout the entire cruise we saw a single whale spout either 4 or 5 times as it exhaled and a brief cloud of mist was observable for about 2 seconds. Because the spouts were so brief, I only actually saw 2 of them. However, technically, we did see a whale and were not eligible for a free re-booking.
I don't blame Star of Honolulu for the lack of whales - they are wild animals! But, I did expect more from them and am disappointed that seeing mist from a whale for a total of less than 20 seconds in a multi-hour cruise at least 100 yards away is considered a whale sighting.
Other than the lack of seeing whales - which was the entire point of going on the cruise! - the cruise itself is actually pretty good. The employees were very friendly, the food was better than expected (bring your own coffee though), and the views of Oahu from the ocean are gorgeous.
The ship is a bit dated and worn around the edges, but it was clean and offered a lot of indoor and outdoor viewing options. Because there are 4 decks, I never felt like it was crowded even though there were a lot of people on board.

This was a really great experience. Uncle Dave-the captain, Shane, and Rider all made the trip educationall, fun, and really put us all at ease. I was amazed at how many sharks we saw!

This was one of the best experiences of my life!

I wanted to participate in the program where you can swim with dolphins, but since I was pregnant, I joined this program that allows participation during pregnancy. There was a Japanese interpreter, although their Japanese was basic. Only one person gets to touch the dolphin a little. You can stroke its back and feed it (not everyone gets fish), and if you wish, you can touch its teeth a bit. You can definitely see them up close. However, since I went to Sea Life Park, I wonder if it would be better to change into a swimsuit and join a program where you can interact more? I can't say for sure since I haven't participated in that one.

They take one photo per adult. They don't take a photo of the whole family. Children can take as many photos as they want with an adult. In the end, I ended up buying two photos: one with me and the child, and one with my husband and the child (sales strategy? lol). One photo costs about $18.

I had my meal at the snack shop near the entrance. There were no Japanese menus, and the staff didn't speak Japanese. Besides the program, there are shows and aquarium-like attractions, but compared to Japanese aquariums, the quality is a bit lower.

In the end, since my child was happy, I consider it a success!

イルカと泳げるプログラムへ参加したかったのですが、妊娠していたため、妊娠中でも参加できるこちらのプログラムに参加。
片言ですが、日本語の通訳さんもいました。イルカに触れるのは１人ほんの少しです。背中辺りをなでなでして、エサあげて(全員に魚をくれるわけではないです)、希望であれば歯を触る程度。
間近で見られるのは確かですが。せっかくシーライフパークへ行くのであれば、水着に着替えて触れあえるプログラムのほうがいいのかなー？と思います。そちらは参加したことないので、なんとも言えませんが。

大人１人につき一枚写真を撮ってくれます。家族全員では撮ってくれません。子どもは、大人と一緒に何枚でもOK。結局、私と子供、主人と子供の二枚買ってしまいました(営業戦略？笑)一枚確か、18ドルぐらい。

食事は、入り口付近の売店で済ませました。日本語メニューなどもなく、店員さんも日本語は通じません。プログラム以外にも、ショーや水族館的なものはありますが、日本の水族館と比べると、クオリティは低めかな？

結果、子供が喜んでくれたのでヨシとします！

I was nervous about whether we would actually get to see it, but we were able to see it clearly, and the kids were thrilled! Even if we hadn't seen it, I felt that cruising would have been enough, so I'm really glad we participated.

実際に見れるかドキドキでしたが、しっかりと見ることができて子供も大喜びでした！
見れなくてもクルージングできればいっかという感じでしたので本当に参加して良かったです。

Was lots of fun - the divers/guides with us were great. Only negative was that it was a little choppy on the day and my husband ended up getting seasick while waiting for others to complete their turn. This though ended up a positive as it helped with bringing more fish closer to the boat! Next time we would be more prepared and take seasick tablets beforehand. Also I had tried scuba diving in the past and had problems "equalizing", thus could not move far from the diving platform. The underwater scooter experience has helped me overcome my previous fears of underwater adventures. An awesome time was had despite the seasickness.

It was written that snorkeling could be done during the waiting time, and although it was more expensive than other sites without snorkeling, I applied thinking I could snorkel as well. In reality, the explanation was insufficient, and the guide who could somewhat speak Japanese was unfriendly. There were no prior instructions for the underwater scooter, so I ended up not knowing when to snorkel. I would like a refund for the snorkeling fee.

待ち時間にシュノーケリングが出来ると書いてあり、他社サイトのシュノーケリング無しより高かったがシュノーケリングも出来ると思い、申し込みました。
実際は説明も不十分ですし、日本語がなんとなく話せるガイドは感じ悪く、水中スクーターの事前の順番の指示もない為、シュノーケリングをするタイミングがわからいまま、終了しました。
シュノーケリング代分返して欲しいです。

Our family did many things during our week on Oahu, but this was the highlight of our trip. We were on island for a very special and personal situation. All involved in booking the trip were very helpful and thorough. Great confirmation and follow up communication. Capt'n Mark and Sammy were fantastic hosts aboard the Ho'O Nanea. We sailed out on time and saw multiple whales, a Galapagos shark and had a very special visit from an Albatross. The sunset was spectacular and provided for a lot of great photos. Being out on the boat and seeing the island from this perspective along with the beautiful sunset is something to experience. I would recommend this trip to anyone. By the way, did I mention the sunset was spectacular!

I participated with my friend's family, and as we got closer to the area, we were able to see the spouts several times. However, since we were only able to see the spouts from quite a distance, the kids started saying it was "boring."

Just when I thought we probably wouldn't see any jumps like those in the photos, the whales put on a fantastic show.

We were able to see all the whale behaviors listed on the ship, and we were very satisfied. Both the kids and the parents were thrilled to finish the tour. I know that since they are living creatures, it might not be like this every time.

友人家族と参加しましたが、ポイント付近に近づくとすぐに潮吹きが何度もみれました。
しかし、かなり離れたところからたまに上がる潮吹きを見ていただけなので、子供たちが「つまらない」と言い始めてしまいました。

あぁ、写真で見られるようなジャンプとかはなかなか見られないんだなと思っていたら、クジラの大サービスが始まりました。

船内に書いてあるクジラの行動パターンはすべてみられる事が出来て大満足です。
子供たちも親も大興奮でツアーを終えることが出来ました。
相手は生き物なので毎回こうはいかないと思いますが。

Had a great time! As others have said, lots of wait time but you can spend it sunning or snorkeling. We had read the other reviews and knew to take Dramamine. Many others had not and felt sick. We felt great and would recommend this activity. Bought the photo video combo. Great work - only disappointment was we were missing solo wife pics. Still a great value.

I signed up for this tour because I wanted to interact directly with dolphins. I was very moved by the feel and sounds of the dolphins. I highly recommend this tour.

イルカと直接触れ合ってみたくこのツアーを申し込みました。
イルカの感触と鳴き声とても感動しました。おすすめツアーです。

I didn't see any whales, sea turtles, or dolphins at all. I would appreciate some further explanation regarding the inability to see whales. I believe there was only audio recording, and there were no special announcements. They were distributing tickets for reboarding the next day to those who wanted them, but I couldn't use them due to other plans. Although there is a policy that refunds are not available, I think it would be nice to have some consideration, such as a souvenir, in case we didn't see anything.

クジラもウミガメイルカももいっさい何も見れませんでした。
クジラが見れないことについて何かもう少し解説などあればと思います。
録音の音声だけで、特別なアナウンスはなかったと思います。
翌日再乗船できるチケットを希望者に配布していましたが、他の予定もあるので利用できませんでした。
返金はできないという規定ですが、見れなかった場合には記念品などの配慮があってもよいのではと思いました。

Our experience was unbelievable and Matt and the crew were great. They were very professional and a lot of fun. I highly recommend this activity if you are on Oahu.

This was a tour that my parents had always wanted to go on. The underwater world was like a different realm, and it became a wonderful memory. The shuttle bus for pickup was also on time and easy to understand, which was great.

ずっと両親が行きたいと思っていたツアーです
海の中は別世界で、とても良い思い出になりました。
お迎えのシャトルバスっも時間通りでしたし、わかりやすくて
良かったです。

so amazing, never seen so many sharks!
Good guides and helpful.
We want to reccomend this company when exploring Oahu, North Shore!

We didn't pay for the meal, instead we ate ahead of time. We had a nice time. Saw some whales, but not very close. Still it was worth the price for a morning out on the ocean.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see any whales. However, the weather was nice and the waves were calm, so the breeze felt pleasant. I was satisfied with the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from offshore.

残念ながらクジラには会えなかったです。
でも良いお天気で波も穏やかだったので風が気持ちよく
沖合から眺めたワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドで満足しました。

We spotted a whale a little offshore!! The captain quickly turned the boat, and we were able to see it multiple times. I was particularly moved by the sight of two whales swimming together, following the boat's stern.

少し沖に出た所でくじら発見!!　船長さんが機転をきかして船は旋回し、何度も何度も見ることができました。特に船の船尾を二頭揃って追尾して泳ぐ姿には感動した。

After about a 30-minute voyage from the port to offshore Waikiki, the whale watching began. For the first 30 minutes, there were no whales in sight at all. After that, we spotted tails and spouts about five times, with intervals of 5 to 15 minutes. Although we didn't see any spectacular jumps, we were able to see the whales.

The view of the hotels in Waikiki and Diamond Head from offshore is truly breathtaking. The curry rice for lunch was very Japanese, and while the variety was limited, the other dishes were delicious as well. The waves offshore Waikiki weren't high, but since we slowed down to drift between the waves while searching for whales, some people did experience seasickness.

港からワイキキ沖まで30分ほど航海して、クジラウォッチングが始まります。最初の30分ほどはまったくクジラが見当たりませんでした。その後、5分から15分間隔で、尾ひれや潮吹きが5回ほど見られました。豪快にジャンプをするところはありませんでしたが、なんとかクジラを見ることができました。
沖合いから見るワイキキのホテルやダイアモンドヘッドは本当に絶景です。ランチのカレーライスも日本的で、品数は少ないですが他の料理も美味しいです。ワイキキ沖は波は高くありませんが、クジラを見つけるのに速度を落として波間を漂うので、船酔いする人もいました。

I was disappointed that I couldn't see any whales. It seems that the other people on the same tour also only caught a glimpse, but couldn't see them clearly. The view of the beach and Diamond Head from the sea is beautiful, so I think it's a good tour for first-time visitors to Hawaii. However, for those who have been there multiple times, it might feel a bit lacking.

ホエール見れなくて残念でした。
同じツアーの方も、見えたかも？ぐらいでハッキリとは見えなかったようです。
ビーチやダイヤモンドヘッドを海から見る景色は良いので、ハワイに初めて行く人にはいいツアーだと思います。
何度も行っている人には物足りないと思いました。

I came to Hawaii in January when whales are often seen, so I decided to sign up for a tour. It ended in the morning, which made it easy to plan my day.

There were not many Japanese people.

Since the pickup was around 7 AM, I had lunch in my room. It seemed like there was time to have breakfast before the boat reached the whale watching point, so a plan that included breakfast might have been nice.

Although I couldn't see them up close, I was able to see dolphins and whales multiple times. I wondered if there are days when you can't see them.

Just seeing Diamond Head from the boat is worth it.

クジラが良くいる1月にハワイに来たので、せっかくなので申し込みました。
午前中に終わるので予定か立てやすかったです。

日本人は少なかったです。

ピックアップが7時頃でしたので、昼食は部屋で取りました。
船がクジラポイント近くに来るまでに朝食が食べれるようでしたので
朝食付きプランでもよかったかも。

近くでは見ることができませんでしたが

何度も、イルカ・クジラを見ることができて
見れない日があるのかな　とも思いました。

船からダイヤモンドヘッドを見るだけでも価値があります。

I was surprised to see whales near Waikiki. The food was delicious, and we had a great time making leis as a family.

ワイキキ近くでクジラが見えるとはびっくりしました。料理もおいしかったですし、レイ作りも家族で楽しく作れました

To be honest, I didn't think it would be possible to see whales this reliably. I wasn't able to see them jumping out of the water, but I was satisfied to see rainbows when they spouted water.

実際のところ見れないことはないとは思いますが、ここまで確実にホエールウォッチングができるとは思っていませんでした。海面上でジャンプするのを見ることができませんでしたが、潮を吹くときに虹が出たりするのも見れたりして満足です。

Let me start by saying that everyone was so friendly. My husband was here on a business trip so I came to do this tour on my own. The free transportation they provided went very smoothly. Pick up from my hotel and drop off at the end. One of the reasons I picked this tour group was the guarantee to see whales. Upon arriving, they welcome you and let you know where the lunch buffet is and that you can sit on any floor. The weather was beautiful and the sailing was very smooth. Unfortunately, there were no whales or aquatic life to be seen. At the end of the tour I was given a voucher to come back another day. I came back the next. Unfortunately again, I had the same experience. I found out later from locals that it's hard to see them in major boat trafficking areas. So while I didn't get to see any whales or aquatic life, the trip itself was nice. I was able to converse with other travelers and have some nice water time.

I will be boarding the Star of Honolulu, which I've always admired! It's a very beautiful and large ship, and the restrooms are really clean and comfortable.

I opted for the buffet, and I heard that on the day of the cruise, you can add an extra person for $12 for more food. The buffet was very delicious, and I went back for seconds on the sausages! The drink options are plentiful, and you can buy tasty alcoholic beverages if you're willing to spend a little more.

I'm the type to get seasick, and I forgot to bring my motion sickness medication, so I was a bit anxious. However, the ship is large, so it didn't sway much, and I had no problems at all.

The only disappointing thing was that we didn't see any whales. I was excited to join because it was said that there was a high chance of seeing them, but we didn't see any whales, sea turtles, or dolphins—nothing at all. We just ended up staring at the horizon for the entire time.

For those who didn't see anything, there is a free return ticket for the next time, but it seems that it’s only valid for this season and must be used by April of this year. Also, it doesn't include hotel pick-up or the buffet.

Since I only go to Hawaii about once a year, I can't use such a short-term ticket! Moreover, the explanations were given in English, so we, who only understand Japanese, were confused about where to collect the tickets. It seemed that many people returned home without receiving their tickets.

I think it would be helpful if there were a few more staff members who could speak Japanese.

憧れのスターオブホノルル号に乗車します(^ ^)とっても綺麗な大きい船でトイレもすごく綺麗で快適です^ ^

ビュッフェ付きにしましたが、当日にプラス1人12ドルで料理を追加できるとのことでした(*^◯^*)ブュッフェもとても美味しくてウインナーは何回もおかわりしました(^ ^)♡
飲み物も充実していますし、お金を出せば美味しいお酒も買えます！
船酔いするタイプの私ですのですが酔い止めを忘れて乗ってしまい不安でした。ですが船自体が大きいのでそこまで揺れず全く問題なかったです。

ただ一つ残念だったのが、ホエールが見えなかったことです。高い確率で見られるとのことでワクワクして参加しましたが、ホエールは勿論。ウミガメもイルカも何も見えませんでした。
見えないのをただただひたすら海の水平線を眺めて終わりました。

見えなかった方には次回の無料乗船券がもらえるのですが、今期のみで今年の4月までに行かなくてはならないそうで、ホテルへの送迎やブュッフェは付属しないとのことでした。

ハワイに行くのは一年に一度程度ですので、そんなに短い期間の乗船券だと使えません！！
しかも英語で説明されるので日本語しかわからない我々はどこでチケットをもらっていいかわからず戸惑いました。
チケットをもらわずわからないまま帰宅した方も大勢おられたようでした。

もう少し日本語ができるスタッフがいてくれると助かると思います。

I touched a dolphin for the first time! Its incredibly gentle skin was indescribable, and its cries were so cute; I was very satisfied ❤︎ It was great that my 2-year-old could participate as well.

初めてイルカを触りました！なんとも言えない優しい肌触りで泣く声も可愛くとても満足しました❤︎
2歳の子も一緒に参加できとても良かったです。