All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

I chose the plan where someone would drive for us because I wanted to take lots of photos and videos. The guide was wonderful, and while listening to cheerful music from the speakers, we enjoyed beautiful scenery and occasionally experienced a thrilling ride that felt a bit like a roller coaster. 😊 The only downside was that I lacked English skills, so I couldn't understand the guidance and explanations provided by the guide. Next time, I want to improve my English skills and participate!

いっぱい写真や動画が撮りたかったので、運転してもらうプランを選びました。ガイドさんは素敵な方でスピーカーからの陽気な音楽を聴きながら綺麗な景色を見て、たまにスリルある運転でちょっとしたジェットコースター体験が出来ました😊少し残念だったのは自分が英語力がなく、ガイドさんがしてくれて案内や説明が理解出来なかった事です。次は英語スキルを身に付けて参加したいです！

I went to Hanauma Bay with my family and we had a wonderful experience! In the morning, we went to the pickup spot where the shuttle came to pick us up on time and everything went smoothly. The shuttle was very clean and the seats were nice and comfortable. Our shuttle driver was very kind and funny. I liked that she told us more about the island and the streets we were driving on while we were on the way to the bay. While on the bus, we also watched a mandatory and informative video about safety and preserving the bay. When we got to Hanauma Bay, we were greeted by someone from Roberts Hawaii who walked us all the way to where the tram was that took us down to the bay which was very helpful because we didn't have to find it on our own and we didn't have to walk all the way down. We enjoyed our day at the bay swimming and snorkeling and saw so many colorful fish! Then when it was time for pickup, our shuttle came on time and we were on our way back to Waikiki. Everything about the day went smoothly and it was so fun and relaxing. I really appreciated that everyone who helped us was so kind and helpful. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I would gladly go on this shuttle again!

In April, there might be fewer whales themselves. It felt like a tour where we were just watching a pair of parent and baby whales for a long time. The guide was a very fun person, and the tour itself was enjoyable!

4月になると，くじら自体の頭数が少ないのかな。
1組の親子クジラをずっと眺めているようなツアーでした。
ガイドさんはとても楽しい方で、ツアー自体は楽しかったです！

The bus picked us up and we took a short walk to a trolley, which then took us to the beach. Once you're off, you're greeted with a great angle of the sky and surrounded by cliffs that form the wall of the bay. There are areas of the ocean filled with coral for snorkeling, and areas with close to no coral for those who simply enjoy being in the water. Plenty of space to set up camp, featuring grassy areas and sandy ones for whichever you prefer. Either way, any spot will give you a bright shine from the sun, a short walk to the water, and enough space to relax during your trip.

After the beach, there is a small gift shop and a food court. The gift shop is pretty generic, but features Hanauma trinkets and accessories. The food court has enough food options to keep you full until you get back. I recommend getting the chicken tenders, but ask them to sub out the regular fries with garlic fries. That seemed to be the most popular item there and I saw most people eating that.

Overall, fun beach to visit with a great view of the ocean for pictures.

This tour offers more than just what is on the pamphlet. First of all, the trip to the Dole Plantation provided different attractions that are relaxing and self paced with beautiful backgrounds for pictures. There was a large gift shop for those who enjoy a little vacation shopping with a food court where everyone should try at least one of the special pineapple menu items. Secondly, the stop to Haleiwa was a short distance from Dole, and there's so many shops to visit just by walking in a straight line. If you keep moving, you're bound to find something you that interests you, like the shaved ice, surf shops, and snoopy store. For each stop, the tour provides about an hour or two for you to explore yourselves, which is plenty, so you won't have the feeling have being rushed.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the two main stops of the tour, but what made the trip so memorable is the staff and driver of your bus. Our driver was Marlon, and he made it his second priority to make sure everyone in our group knew what options they had before reaching each stop so that we could plan accordingly once we arrive. Of course his first priority was ensuring our safety and comfort, making the tour easier for us to kick back and enjoy. During the extra free time, he even took us to a nearby coffee shop that grows and grinds their own beans. That's something he added to the tour himself since we had free time, but also because he wanted to show us more of the island. He has an excellent sense of humor, and everyone in our group felt comfortable approaching him. He even speaks multiple languages for the passengers that may not be fully fluent in English. During the stops, I noticed him walking around offering to take family photos, starting conversations with people about the places we visited, and answering any questions they had. He is an amazing driver, awesome tour guide, and overall just a friendly person you'd want to have with you when visiting new places.

I have been to Hawaii more than ten times, and this was my first visit to Hanauma Bay. It's a bit difficult to go on your own because you need a rental car and there are limits on the number of people, but this tour was great! The round trip was on a large bus, and the timing was precise! We also watched a video about environmental conservation on the bus, so we were able to head straight to the beach upon arrival, making for a very smooth experience.

10回以上ハワイに来ていて今回初めてハナウマ湾に行きました。
個人で行くにはレンタカーが必要だったり人数制限があったりして行きづらいですが、このツアーは行き帰りは大型バスでしかも時間は正確！バスの中で環境保全のビデオも見るので着いてすぐにビーチに行けてとてもスムーズな体験ができました。

After checking in, I received a fresh flower lei. It was very cute.

Then, I was guided to my dining seat, but the groups were separated based on the purchased tickets. With the VIP ticket, I was able to go to the buffet first and enjoyed various privileges, which was convenient.

The food was very delicious. I especially found the Mai Tai to be very easy to drink, and I had two cups. During the meal, there was also live music and hula dancing, which added to the enjoyment.

Afterward, I moved to a seat to watch the show, and the VIP seats were in the first and second rows in the center, allowing me to enjoy the show from a very close distance. The VIP seats included two complimentary drinks, and I was able to enjoy the second drink while watching the show.

チェックインをした後、生花のレイをいただきました。とても可愛かったです。
その後食事の席に案内をされましたが、購入した座席によって、グループが分かれていました。VIPチケットの場合、ブッフェを先に取りに行けたり、何かと優遇されていて便利でした。

料理はとても美味しかったです。とくにマイタイがとても飲みやすく2杯飲みました。食事中にも楽器の演奏をしていただいたり、フラダンスが観れて楽しめました。

その後ショーを観るため座席を移動しましたが、VIP席は真ん中の一列目から2列までで、かなり近い席でショーを楽しむことができました。
VIP席は2杯分のドリンクがサービスでついており、2杯目はショーを観ながら飲むことができました。

I had a super fun and enjoyable time riding the buggy!! It's a shame that we couldn't stop at the photo spot where they filmed Jurassic Park.

めっちゃ楽しく気持ちよくバギーできました！！ジュラシックパークの撮影現場で使われてたとこが写真スポットとして止まってくれなかったのでそれが残念です。

The bus arrived on time at 8:30 to pick us up. They efficiently checked the guest list and quickly got us on the bus, providing a fun English guide along the way to Hanauma Bay. We also watched a pre-visit video about Hanauma Bay on the bus, so we were able to enter directly upon arrival. After confirming the return time and location, we were off to Hanauma Bay! We laid out a small leisure sheet on the grass under the observation tower, left our belongings except for valuables, and enjoyed snorkeling. We could see fish even at the shoreline, but there were many more around the coral. We had chosen a return time of 12:30, which was just right. We were blessed with good weather, and it truly turned out to be a fulfilling day.

バスは時間通り8時半に迎えに来てくれました。手際よく名簿をチェックし直ぐにバスに乗せてくれ、ハナウマ湾までの道中も英語で楽しくガイドいただきました。バスの中でハナウマ湾の事前学習ビデオも視聴するので、現地では直接入場させてもらいました。帰りの時間と場所も再確認してから、いざハナウマ湾へ！監視塔下の芝生の上に小さなレジャーシートを敷き、貴重品以外の荷物を置き、シュノーケリングを楽しみました。お魚は波打ち際でも見れましたが珊瑚の辺りに多く見れました。帰りの時間は12時半を選択してましたが、丁度良かったです。お天気にも恵まれ、本当に充実した日になりました。

I had been looking forward to Hanauma Bay for a long time. The view from the high point before descending to the beach was truly breathtaking. The water felt like a natural aquarium! I was able to swim with colorful tropical fish while snorkeling, and it was an extraordinary experience. I also appreciated Hawaii's commitment to protecting the ocean, which was highlighted by the environmental protection video we watched beforehand.

ずっと楽しみにしていたハナウマ湾。ビーチに降りる前の高台からの景色はまさに絶景でした。水の中はまるで天然の水族館！シュノーケリングで色とりどりの熱帯魚と一緒に泳げて、非日常な時間を過ごせました。事前の環境保護ビデオの視聴も含めて、海を大切にするハワイの姿勢も素敵だなと感じました。

I experienced snorkeling for the first time at Hanauma Bay. The water was incredibly clear, and I was truly moved to see colorful fish swimming right nearby. At first, I was a bit nervous, but the waves were relatively calm, allowing me to enjoy it with peace of mind. I also felt that this place is well-preserved by nature, making it a very precious experience. It became a memorable time, a beautiful memory of Hawaii's stunning ocean.

ハナウマ湾で初めてシュノーケリングを体験しました。海の透明度がとても高く、色とりどりの魚たちがすぐ近くを泳いでいる様子を見ることができて、本当に感動しました。最初は少し緊張しましたが、波も比較的穏やかで、安心して楽しむことができました。自然が大切に守られている場所だということも実感でき、とても貴重な体験になりました。ハワイの美しい海の思い出として、心に残る時間となりました。

Very chill evening. The crew was very laid back. We hada clear view of the fireworks, all while enjoying the a few adult beverages and making new friends and memories.

ビュッフェスタイルの料理はおいしくて、おなか一杯食べてしまいました。
食事中にフラダンスやウクレレ演奏での歌などがあり楽しく過ごせました。
十分時間をとってからのショー会場への移動。
フラダンスや歌唱ショーなどあっという間の時間に感じるくらいの楽しさでした。
レイをいただいたのですが生花だったので自宅まで持って帰れなかったのが残念でした。

I was truly moved to see natural fish and coral reefs right nearby while swimming. However, the sea was cold at 7 AM in January, so I couldn't stay in for long... I think it would be enjoyable around 10 AM when the sun is fully up.

泳いでいるすぐ近くを天然の魚や珊瑚礁を見ることができ、本当に感動しました。
ただ、1月の朝7時の海は寒くて、長時間は入っていられませんでした…。
日が登りきった10時ごろなら楽しめると思います。

I participated in the 3-hour course. The 2-hour course seemed to have many participants, but the 3-hour course had only three groups, allowing us to listen to detailed explanations at stunning viewpoints and movie filming locations while having plenty of time to take photos. Every spot felt like a rare opportunity to see such breathtaking scenery, making it an incredible experience!

3時間のコースに参加しました。
2時間コースは参加者が多そうでしたが、3時間コースは参加が３組で、絶景や映画の撮影ポイントで詳しく説明を聞きながら、たくさん写真を撮る時間がありました。
こんな絶景なかなか見られないと感じるところばかりで、最高の時間になりました！

The shuttle service was wonderful. People were very friendly. The snorkeling was awesome. Everything went very smooth. Would use this company again and would recommend.

Thank you for your courteous response to the sudden reservation change. Despite the unfortunate weather, I appreciate the support you provided for my husband, who uses a wheelchair, with boarding and disembarking from the boat, as well as your encouragement. I felt at ease and enjoyed the experience thanks to the interpretation from the guide who spoke Japanese. I believe it would have been even more beautiful if the weather had been nice. I would love to participate again if the opportunity arises.

突然の予約変更に対しても丁寧な対応ありがとうございました。
アクティビティはあいにくの天候の中でも、車椅子使用の主人に船の乗降や声掛けなどサポートありがとうございました。
日本語のできるガイドさんの通訳で安心して楽しめました。
天気がいいともっと綺麗だったと思います。
また機会があれば参加したいです。

I was fitted with a harness by the instructor, while other instructors were taking photos in front of the sign and communicating. However, when they realized I was Japanese and couldn't speak much English, they quickly went behind the scenes and didn't come out again.

As others moved, we headed to the waiting area before boarding the plane. The instructor arrived late and took photos in front of the outdoor sign. After that, we waited for boarding, during which a GoPro was recording, resulting in 1,659 images sent to us that were mostly irrelevant. Two-thirds of the total images were just random shots taken without permission.

I understand that the energy levels vary among instructors, but if the images are just for counting, I don't need them. The data was downloaded without consent.

At the reception, there was a Japanese woman who was reassuring and attentive, which made me feel at ease.

Overall, it was a valuable experience that is hard to come by.

インストラクターにハーネスを着けてもらい、他のインストラクターは、看板前で撮影等して、コミュニケーションをしていたが、日本人で英語がそれぼど話せないと分かると、すぐ裏へ帰り出て来ない。
他の人達が移動するので飛行機搭乗前の待機場へ移動すると、遅れてインストラクターが来て、外の看板前で撮影。その後、飛行機搭乗まで待機しているが、その間GoPro回っていて、送られた画像1659枚がその時のどうでもいい画像。トータル三分のニの画像が、無断な数合わせの画像でした。
インストラクターによって、テンションが違うのは、分かるが数合わせの画像なら、いらない。データダウンロードの無断です。

受け付けには、日本人女性がいらっしゃて、安心、親身に対応して、いただきました。

体験としては、なかなか体験出来ない貴重な体験をさせていただきました。

This is the best activity where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery for two hours while riding a horse! Even as someone with very little horseback riding experience, I felt at ease because the guide was attentive. Simple instructions like "kick" were given in Japanese. It was a bit troublesome that the helmet didn't fit well due to my typical Japanese head shape, but overall, I was satisfied!

雄大な景色を2時間も馬に乗って楽しめる最高のアクティビティです！
乗馬経験がほとんどない自分でもガイドさんがよく見ていてくださるので安心して乗れました。「蹴ってください」など、簡単な指示は日本語で言ってくれました。
典型的な日本人の頭の形なのでヘルメットが合わなかったのは困りましたが、総じて満足です！

It was very impressive. I had a standard passport valid for two days, but unfortunately, I could only go for one day due to the length of my stay, which was very disappointing.

At the Battleship Missouri, a guide who spoke in the visitors' language thoroughly showed us the highlights of the ship. You can catch a glimpse of the situation surrounding the outbreak and conclusion of World War II from both Japan's and America's perspectives. I felt the curiosity of how the United States has created such a facility without leaning towards either side.

大変見応えがありました。 2日間有効なスタンダードパスポートだったのですが、滞在日数の関係で1日しか行く事ができなったのがとても残念です。
戦艦ミズーリでは訪問者の言語に合わせたガイドの方が、艦内の見所をしっかり案内して下さいました。
日本、アメリカそれぞれの立場から第二次大戦開戦そして集結の状況を垣間見る事ができます。どちらかに偏る事なくこういう施設をしっかりと作っているアメリカという国の不思議さを感じました。

I signed up for the buffet and show plan. The buffet was delicious, offering a variety of meats to enjoy. There were also hula lessons along the way, which were fun.

And the show was amazing! In addition to the traditional hula and luau show, the performances featuring Elvis and Michael were incredibly exciting. It was great to take pictures together at the end as well.

ビュッフェとショーのプランに申し込みしました。ビュッフェはいろんなお肉も楽しめて美味しかったです。途中フラレッスンなどもあって楽しめました。
そしてショーは最高でした！伝統的なフラとルアウのショーに加えて、エルヴィスとマイケルのダンスとショーが最高に盛り上がりました。最後に一緒に写真も撮ってもらえてよかったです。

It was absolutely amazing.
I was in the front row, right in the center.
There was a guy sitting next to me who was moving strangely, and I thought it was scary.
Suddenly, he went up on stage, and security came over, so I was like, "What’s going on?!"
But it turned out to be one of the performers (the leader). Haha!

素晴らし過ぎました。
1番真ん中の最前列でした。
隣に変な動きする男の人が座って、怖いなと思ってました。
急に舞台にあがって、警備の人が来たので
えー！！どうなってるの？と思ったら
まさかの演者さん(団長)でした。笑

Our driver who picked us up was watching a program on his phone and not paying attention to the road. Once we arrived and started our UTV tour it was amazing and worth every dollar. Our tour guide was excellent. The only problem was speakers in our UTV were hard to hear and need upgraded. The guide did take time to tell us about things in detail about what we had passed by and things to come ahead. Such a beautiful place I hope the ranch is maintained for generations to come.

It was amazing to see the fireworks up close from the yacht! ✨ You can enjoy a different kind of fun compared to large ships. When boarding, you get on directly from the beach, but depending on the waves, you might get wet. By the way, I was soaked from the thighs down. 😅 I think it's good to keep that in mind when boarding.

ヨットなので花火が近い場所から見れて
最高でした✨
大型船とは違う楽しさを味わえます♪
乗船する時は浜辺から直接乗りますが
波の具合悪くよっては濡れます。
因みに私は太ももから下はびしょ濡れ😅
それを踏まえて乗船されるといいと思います。

Hanauma Bay was really beautiful and probably one of my favorite places on the trip. The view was amazing, and I took a lot of nice photos just by lying on the grass and looking at the ocean. It felt super relaxing and peaceful. I also saw some really cool fish, which made it exciting and different from just a normal beach.

There were a few things I didn’t like though. The rocks in the water made it kind of hard to walk, and sometimes it hurt my feet. I also didn’t enjoy snorkeling that much, but that was mostly because I felt sick. I think it would actually be really fun if you feel okay.

Be careful when putting on sunscreen and don’t get it too close to your eyes because it really hurts. Also, watch out for mongoose because they might steal your food. I saw it happen to people sitting near us. Overall, Hanauma Bay is an awesome place and I would recommend going.

I went to Pearl Harbor and it was a really interesting place to visit, but there were some parts I liked more than others.

My favorite part was the airplane area. We went to the Top of the Tower (paid extra $10.00 ) and saw 360 degree view of Pearl Harbor. There was one section in the back (kind of like a shed) which I found the coolest planes. I also really liked the submarine. It wasn’t very big, but it was cool because you could see how people actually lived inside. The beds were super small, and it made me imagine how hard life must have been there.

The USS Missouri wasn’t that exciting to me because I didn’t really find anything very interesting there. Also, the bus rides to go back and forth was a little boring and it felt like a waste of time.

When I arrived a little before the start time, I found that the tables were already crowded with people. It was a buffet style, but there were too many people, so I couldn't enjoy the meal much. However, the show that followed was impressive and fantastic.

開始時間少し前に到着するとすでに狭く並べられたテーブルを人が埋め尽くしている状況でした。ビュッフェ形式でしたが、人が多過ぎて食事をあまり楽しめませんでした。ただ、その後のショーは見応えがあり最高でした。

Dan was amazing, we had a marvelous time, Dan was patient, knowledgeable, friendly, and fun!

Since we participated as a pair, we had to pay for three people, but it was really fun in the end. There wasn't a Japanese instructor during our session, which was tough, but they gave instructions in Japanese while we were paddling. The next day, my arms were sore from the muscle pain, haha! I think I will join again if I have the chance!

２人での参加だったので、３人分支払いをしなければなりませんでしたが結果とても楽しかったです。私達の時は日本人のインストラクターはおらず大変でしたが漕いでる時は日本語で指示してくれます。
次の日腕が筋肉痛になりました笑
また機会があれば参加しようと思います！

We enjoyed our trip to the Dole plantation and on to Haleiwa. Our driver Chris was very knowledgeable and pointed out many of the local points of interest on the way to and from our destination. The train ride at Dole was worth taking and the Dole whip was very tasty. We did a little shopping there to which did not really leave us much time to tour the garden area. It would be a great idea to add 30 minutes more to the time here giving longer to do at least two of the three activities here (train, garden, and maze). The cost of the train & garden combo ticket was $19.99. After that it was on to Haleiwa. Chris gave multiple recommendations on where to eat and we chose the 7 Brothers hamburgers from his list. The hamburgers here did not disappoint. Both my wife and enjoyed our burgers and we split an order of fries. Despite having had breakfast and a Dole whip already that morning the burgers were just so good we had to finish them :-). After some shopping it was time to go back to our hotel. On the way back Chris had some suggestions on things to do and places to see before our time in Hawaii is done.

The only negative comments we had were that the bus seemed a little dated, it had a small problem with its “kneeling” feature and there were no cup holders for our drinks. Would definitely recommend Chris and this trip.