All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

I participated with my son, and neither of us speaks any English at all. However, the staff communicated cheerfully and clearly, so we managed just fine.

1. We were picked up by a van behind the Hyatt Regency. Besides us, there was one couple and one solo participant each of a man and a woman. We arrived at the skydiving airfield in about an hour.

2. After getting off the van, we headed to the check-in counter. There were about eight tablets for registration, and everything was in English, so we used our smartphones to check the content with the translation feature. The key points included:
- Acknowledgment that skydiving is dangerous.
- Agreement to follow the instructor's instructions.
- Acceptance of personal responsibility in case of an accident.
We had to agree to all of this to proceed, so we accepted everything.

3. After checking everything and signing, we moved to the staffed counter. There was a staff member who spoke Japanese, but we chose to communicate with the English-only staff. Here, we were asked if we wanted to add any options. Regardless of options, we had to pay a fuel surcharge of $15 per person. Payment could be made by card or cash (by the way, there was also an ATM available).

4. We received papers to hand to the instructor and the cameraman and then moved to the waiting area. Our names and the instructor's name were displayed on the monitor. After a while, the instructor greeted us cheerfully and explained the important points:
- Grab the harness at the moment of jumping (imagine wearing a backpack).
- While falling, arch your back like a banana. "Banana!" is the catchphrase.
- When your shoulder is tapped, spread your arms.
- For parachute landing, lift your legs, or rather your knees, up.
Although everything was in English, responding with "Yes! OK! Good!" was sufficient.

5. Then we waited for the plane, boarded in order, and took off into the sky. It was a bit chilly up there, but I didn't mind due to the excitement and nervousness.

6. Inside the plane, I connected my harness to the instructor's and put on goggles. When it was my turn, I moved to the opening and jumped on the count of 3, 2, 1. In an instant, I was in free fall, headfirst. After that, I arched my back for stable free fall and enjoyed the view with my arms spread wide.

7. Then the parachute opened. At this point, I felt a sudden increase in G-force and experienced sharp turns, which made me feel a bit dizzy. While battling the dizziness, I enjoyed the scenery, and as we got closer to the ground, I lifted my knees for landing. I was surprised at how suddenly we landed.

8. After landing, we returned to the waiting area, where the instructor gave us:
- A skydiving certificate
- A commemorative eco bag
- Two envelopes for tips (one for the instructor and one for the cameraman)
We put $10 to $20 per person in the envelopes and dropped them in a transparent box, and that was it.

9. We got back into the van that picked us up and returned to Waikiki. When we got out of the van, the driver asked, "Is your smartphone an iPhone?" and said, "If it's an iPhone, I'll send you the video via AirDrop." He filmed us getting on the Cessna and coming down with the parachute and gifted us the footage! We were so thrilled. I gave the driver a $10 tip, and that was the end of it.

10. On the same day, photos and videos were sent to the registered email address. There were over 100 photos, so we had plenty of great moments to choose from. The video was edited, so we could enjoy it right away.

Although it cost money for two people, choosing the option with the cameraman was definitely the right decision! Being able to look back at myself in free fall multiple times is the best!!!

息子と２人で参加。２人とも英語は全く話せませんが
スタッフが陽気にわかりやすく話してくれるのでノリだけで大丈夫でした。
１，ハイアットリージェンシーの裏側でお迎えのワゴンへ
　　私たちの他には カップル１組、単独参加の男女が各１名でした
　　約1時間でスカイダイビング飛行場へ到着
２，車を降りたら、チェックインカウンターへ
　　8台くらいのタブレットがあり、それぞれで受付します
　　全部英語なので、スマホで翻訳機能を使いながら内容チェック
　　・スカイダイビングが危険であると承知している
　　・インストラクターの指示に従う
　　・事故があっても自己責任
　　というような内容。いずれにしても承諾しないと進めないので全部OK
３，全てにチェックしてサインしたら次は有人カウンターへ
　　日本語が話せるスタッフがいましたが、我々は英語オンリーのスタッフへ
　　そこで、オプションを追加するか？しなければ
　　オプションとは別に燃料サーチャージ＠15＄/人を支払います
　　カードでも現金でもOKでした（ちなみにATMもありました）
４，インストラクターに渡す紙とカメラマンに渡す紙を受け取って待合所へ移動
　　モニター画面に自分の名前、インストラクター名が表示されます
　　しばらく待っていると インストラクターに声を掛けられ挨拶（陽気です笑）
　　そして 注意事項の説明
　　・飛ぶ瞬間は ハーネスをつかむ（リュックを背負うイメージ）
　　・落ちてる間はバナナのようにエビ反る。「バナナ～！」が合言葉
　　・肩をポンポン叩いたら　手を拡げてOK
　　・パラシュート着地の時は　足、というより膝から全体を上げる
　　これもすべて英語ですが、イエス！ＯＫ！グッド！の３つで大丈夫でした
５，あとは飛行機を待って、順番に乗り込み 空高くGO
　　上空は少し肌寒いですが、期待と緊張で気になりませんでした
６，飛行機の中で インストラクターと自分のハーネスを接続。ゴーグル装着。
　　自分の順番がきたら開口部へ移動して ３・２・１の合図でJUMP
　　あっという間に 真っ逆さまの自由落下
　　そこからエビ反り 安定した自由落下、手を拡げて景色を楽しみます
７，そして パラシュートが開く。
　　ここから急激にGがかかり さらに急旋回してくれるので一気に酔います笑
　　あとは酔いとの戦いの中、景色を楽しみ、地上が近づいてきたら 膝を上げて
　　一気に着地（え、こんなに急に着地するんだ。と驚きました）
８，着地後は待合所に戻り、インストラクターから
　　・スカイダイビング証明書
　　・記念のエコバック
　　・チップを入れる封筒（インストラクター用とカメラマン用）２通
　　を受け取ります
　　封筒にチップ各10～20＄/名を入れて透明のBOXに入れたらおしまい
９，迎えにきてくれたワゴンに乗り込み、ワイキキまで戻ります
　　ワゴンを降りるときに、運転手から　「スマホはiPhoneか？」と訊かれ
　　「iPhoneだったら AirDropで動画を送るよ」と
　　私たちがセスナに乗り込むところ、パラシュートで降りてくるところを
　　撮影してくれててプレゼントしてくれました！大感激です
　　運転手にチップ10＄渡して 終了
１０，当日中に、登録したメールアドレス宛に 写真と動画が送られてきます
　　写真は100枚以上あるので 良い瞬間も選び放題。
　　動画は編集してあるのでそのまま楽しめます。

　　２名分の費用はかかりますが カメラマン撮影付にして大正解でした！
　　自分が自由落下してる姿を客観的に何度も見返せるのは最高です！！！

I felt安心 (safe) with the Japanese staff. All the staff were cheerful. It was enjoyable to freely enjoy marine sports like kayaking or just sitting on a bench and gazing at the sea. The clarity of the water was incredibly beautiful, and I was able to see sea turtles. It became a wonderful memory. I would love to repeat this experience, but I hope jet skiing could be an option as well.

日本人スタッフがいて安心でした。
スタッフみんな陽気な方ばかりでした。
自由にカヤック等マリンスポーツを楽しんだり、ベンチでぼーっと海を眺めてるだけで楽しかったです。海の透明感がすごく綺麗で海亀も見れます。とても思い出になりました。またリピートしたいですが、ジェットスキーがオプションで出来るといいなと思いました。

The venue was compact, so I could see well. The performance was very Hawaiian and I was moved. I would like to see it again when I come back to Waikiki.

会場がコンパクトだったので、よく見えました。ハワイらしい演目で感動しました。
またワイキキへ来たら見たいです。

At first, I planned to go by rental car on my own, but I thought it would be frustrating if I couldn't snorkel due to a full parking lot. So, I signed up for this tour. The pickup location was at 8:30 AM at the Hyatt Regency, and I appreciated being able to choose from several return time options.

The ocean was beautiful, and we could see plenty of fish. We brought our own snorkeling vests and masks, but rentals are available on-site. I believe families with small children can enjoy this safely.

Unlike Waikiki Beach, which can be crowded, we were able to maintain a private space and relax.

最初は、レンタカーで自力で行くつもりでしたが、駐車場がいっぱいだったりでせっかくのシューノーケリングができなかったりしたら嫌だ。と思いこのツアーに申し込みました。ピックアップ場所は８時３０分ハイアットリージェンシー、帰り時間は幾つかのプランを選べたのが良かった。
海は綺麗で魚もよく見えました。
私達は、シュノーケリングベスト、シュノーケリングマスク持参しました。現地でレンタル可能です。
小さい子供さんがいる家族でも十分安全に楽しめると思います。
ワイキキビーチのように、人だかり状態ではなくプライベートスペースがたもててゆっくりできました。

I participated in an early morning tour. The bus ride to and from the location was comfortable with plenty of space to sit. It was my first experience riding a four-wheeler, and it was very easy to handle and drive. It's great that I could use my Japanese driver's license. The tour guides were very funny and wonderful people, making the experience enjoyable. Riding through the magnificent nature was absolutely amazing!

朝早いツアーに参加しました。
行き帰りのバスもゆったり座れて快適でした。
四輪バギー初体験とても乗りやすく
運転も楽でした。
日本の免許証で乗れるのも◎
ツアーガイドの方がとっても面白く素敵な方たちでとても楽しかったし壮大な自然を感じながら走行できるのは最高でした！

In preparation for my trip to Haleiwa, I signed up for the "Dole Plantation → Haleiwa" tour since I didn't have a rental car.

Thanks to Chris, our driver and guide, who introduced everything in Japanese, the journey was enjoyable.

Even though it takes just under an hour to get to Haleiwa by tour bus, considering the hassle and time of public transportation and restroom issues, I recommend taking the tour for those without a car.

The tour bus had a Japanese guide, and there was a restroom on board, which was reassuring. I also appreciated the pickup service close to my hotel.

At Dole Plantation, I focused on shopping rather than going through the maze or riding the train. I was prepared to wait in line at the food court, but fortunately, I was able to buy my food without waiting, allowing me to relax in the courtyard while enjoying ice cream with pineapple chunks. I purchased pineapple candy, pancake mix, and a tote bag as souvenirs.

In Haleiwa, I visited the garlic shrimp restaurant Camaron, recommended by the guide. I ordered the combo, which included two types of shrimp fried in a creamy coconut batter. Both were to my taste, and it was the best garlic shrimp I had during my stay. I wished I could have had it again if I were in Honolulu... highly recommended! ☺︎

After that, we went to Matsumoto Shave Ice and topped our order with condensed milk and mochi, as recommended in the reviews. Sharing a small size between two people was just right. It was delicious, and I recommend the toppings.

We strolled around nearby shops until the meeting time, visited a restroom near the bus stop (which was surprisingly clean), and returned to the bus.

It was a fulfilling day, and I was very satisfied that I signed up for the tour.

ハレイワに行くにあたり、レンタカー等ないので、今回「ドールプランテーション→ハレイワ」のツアーに申し込みました。

運転手兼ガイドのクリスさんが日本語で紹介してくれたおかげで、道中も楽しかったです。

ツアーのバスで行ってもハレイワまで1時間弱かかるため、公共交通機関の手間と時間、トイレ問題等考えても大変なので、車がない人はツアーで行くのをおすすめします。

今回のツアーバスには日本語ガイドに加えて、車内にはトイレがあり安心できました。
またホテル近くまで送迎があったのでありがたかったです。

ドールプランテーションでは、迷路や汽車には乗らず、買い物中心にしました。
フードコーナーは並ぶことを覚悟して行きましたが、タイミングよく並ばず買えたので、中庭でパイナップル果肉付きのアイスを食べながらゆっくり過ごすことができました。
お土産にパイナップルキャンディーとパンケーキミックス、トートバッグを購入しました。

ハレイワでは、ガイドおすすめのガーリックシュリンプ店のcamaron に行きました。コンボ（クリーミーなクリームとココナッツの衣で揚げた海老の2種類）を頼みました。両方とも好みの味で、滞在中食べたガーリックシュリンプの中で1番美味しかったです。ホノルルにあったらもう1回食べたかった…おすすめです☺︎

その後、マツモトシェイブアイスに行き、口コミでおすすめされた練乳と白玉をトッピングしました。小さなサイズを2人でシェアするのが丁度いいです。こちらも美味しく、トッピング推奨です。

集合時間まで近隣の店をぶらぶら巡り、バスの停留所近くのトイレに行き（想像以上に綺麗に清掃されていて驚いた）バスに戻りました。

充実した1日だったので、申し込んでよかったと大満足でした。

There were many popular songs, and it was a fun show. The backup dancers frequently changed costumes and seemed to be working hard as they took on multiple roles, but they did a great job!

ポピュラーな曲がたくさん出てきて、楽しいショーでした。バックダンサーの人たちは、衣装を度々変えて一人何役もこなして大変そうでしたが頑張ってました！

The large yacht docks at Waikiki Beach, making it easily accessible. The staff is friendly, and although we were the only Japanese guests, it was not a problem. We were able to see a beautiful sunset.

ワイキキビーチに大型ヨットが接岸するので、アクセスがいいです。スタッフもフレンドリーで日本人は私たちだけでしたが、問題なしです。美しい夕焼けを見ることができました。

A trip with a 60-year-old couple and their daughter.
I appreciate the guide's efficiency and thoughtfulness. I'm glad we finally got to meet the sea turtles.
I usually don't get car sick, but I did get seasick.

60歳夫婦と娘の3人旅
ガイドさんの手際良さや気遣いに感謝してます。念願のウミガメさんにも会えてよかったです。
普段、車酔いしたことありませんでしたが、波酔いしました。

Since there were mostly foreign visitors on the large bus, the driver's explanations were mainly in English, but he occasionally included Japanese, which was not a problem.

When we arrived at the Dole Plantation, we were guided to the ticket booth for those going to the train or the maze, where we purchased our tickets and then had the freedom to explore on our own. The maze was hot and I felt like I might get exhausted, so I opted for the train. There were signs for cacao trees and other attractions, making it easy to navigate the spacious and pleasant farm. Unfortunately, the pineapples had turned brown due to heavy rain.

Before boarding, we could purchase a photo taken of us by tapping a card on a machine and selecting backgrounds, but it was expensive, so I decided not to buy it.

At the shop, I bought the famous pineapple soft serve, which also used a machine for selecting toppings.

In Haleiwa, we received a simple map and had free time, so it's a good idea to research places you want to visit in advance. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to Giovanni's, so they recommend Kamaron, which is only a 10-minute walk. It’s a Japanese-owned place with a creamy and gentle flavor.

There are also nearby spots like Island Vintage Coffee, Matsumoto Shave Ice, and the Snoopy Shop, and I was able to leisurely return even after going to the beach.

I enjoyed my time in Haleiwa freely and comfortably.

大きなバスでほぼ外国の方だったので、ドライバーさんの説明は英語メインでしたが
時々日本語も交えてくれて問題ありませんでした

ドールプランテーションに着くと電車か迷路かに行く人にはチケット売り場まで案内して
くれて自分で購入し　後は自由です
迷路は暑くてバテそうなので電車に乗り　カカオの木等看板があるので良くわかり気持ちいい広い農園を快適にめぐれました　パイナップルは大雨の影響で茶色く変色してしまっていました
乗車前に撮ってくれた写真を機械にカードをタップして背景なども選んで買えます　が
高いので買いませんでした

売店で名物のパイナップルソフトクリームを買いましたがここも機械でタップしてトッピング等選ぶ方式でした

ハレイワでは簡単な地図をもらって自由行動なので行きたい場所を前もって調べて行くといいです
駐車場からジョバンニまでは徒歩20分くらいかかるのでカマロンを勧められます（徒歩
１０分）
日本人経営でクリーミーでやさしい味でした
アイランドヴィンテージコーヒー等も近くにあり　マツモトシェイブアイスやスヌーピーショップ　海まで往復してもゆっくり戻って来られました

自由にゆったりハレイワを楽しめました

Had an absolutely wonderful time was a little apprehensive about whether or not to do this tour. It is a long tour all day however I wouldn’t change a thing. It absolutely was awesome didn’t even feel like it was 13 hours and it was learned more about the island and the history of the big island that I could possibly have learned anywhere else in a day.

Our driver, Felix was extremely informed patient and of course, a very good driver. To be honest, the driver makes the trip extremely value added. Our driver, Felix takes personal pride and knowing an enormous amount of history and details to be able to not only deliver a good tour guide informational delivery while you’re driving, but is able to answer most questions and yes, even when some of the other clients did some fact checking Felix was spot on on everything that he told us.

This tour is long, but I don’t know of another way that you can actually see so much and learn so much. We went to a coffee farm pastry shop several waterfalls Lookout point a black sand beach so sea turtles saw multiple other wildlife goats, hogs, chickens, ferrets, and the recommendations on things to do places to eat trails to hike. We very much so appreciated.

I would highly recommend this to her to anyone the greatest part about it if you’re writing and not driving, you actually get to see all the beauty that you’re passing up as you drive when you drive you missing an awful lot so let Felix do the driving

I couldn't see the sandpit, but it was fun! 😃 I enjoyed kayaking, snorkeling, and seeing sea turtles. The donuts for a light snack were also delicious! 😁

砂場は見られなかったが楽しかった😃
カヤック、シュノーケリング、ウミガメ、楽しめました
軽食のドーナツも美味しかった😁

So much fun! 👋😃✨ That one word.
Play knows no age!
We are a couple aged 74 and 68, and we had a great time 😃
It was the main purpose of our trip, so it was definitely the right choice! ⭕

楽しい！👋😃✨その一言
遊びは年齢に関係無い！
74歳68歳の夫婦ですが、楽しかった😃
今回1番の目的だったので大正解⭕

Tour guide was very fun & knowledgeable.
Saw lots of the island.
Nice that there was only 3 others besides myself & my husband.

So much to see!
The opening canoe show is fantastic!
Tons to see, big park.
Buffet was fair - lots of food, if you're still hungry afterwards, that's your fault!
HA Breath of Life! Brilliant, Amazing, Exhilarating absolutely worth seeing!

Fun experience, guides were very knowledgeable.
Didn't see nearly the fish that I thought we would.
Man-made reef so not really colorful.
Fun to say we went on a submarine.

I wanted to take a lot of photos and videos, so I chose the plan where someone drives for us. The guide was a wonderful person, and while listening to cheerful music from the speakers, I got to enjoy beautiful scenery and experience a bit of a thrill with some exciting driving, which felt like a little roller coaster ride 😊. The only downside was that I couldn't understand the guidance and explanations provided by the guide due to my lack of English skills. 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！

It was a big and clean bus! I was a bit anxious because there was no sign at the bus stop, but they arrived a little before the scheduled time! I felt relieved that they communicated in Japanese when I boarded. The video on the bus and the driver spoke in English, so I didn't understand what they were saying, but they gave me a notice written in Japanese when I got on, which matched what was on the voucher, so there were no issues. When I got off, they also communicated in Japanese, and I was able to reach the return bus stop without getting lost. Hanauma Bay was amazing! The water was clear, and I could see various fish. I didn't get to see a honu (sea turtle), so I want to try again!

大きくて中も綺麗なバスでした！
乗り場に看板はないので少し不安でしたが
時間より少し前に来てくれました！
乗車の際は日本語で対応していただけて安心しました
車中の動画も運転手の方も英語だったので
何言ってるかわからなかったけど
乗る時に日本語で書かれた注意事項をくれバウチャーに書かれていることだったので問題なかったです
降車の際も日本語で対応していただき帰りのバス乗り場も迷うことなくたどり着けました
ハナウマ湾最高でした
海も澄んでていろんなお魚も見れました
ホヌが見れなかったのでまたリベンジしたいと思います

It was a rainy season, but due to a storm the day before, our 8 AM departure was changed to 12 PM for safety reasons. We were contacted the day before and were kindly informed that we could decide whether to participate or not, and we chose to go ahead with the change instead of canceling.

We were picked up in Ko Olina and then made several stops in Waikiki, so we waited about 20 minutes longer than the scheduled meeting time. The participants were a mix of Japanese and foreigners, and there were several families with children as well.

On the day of the tour, it was clear skies, but the sea was rough due to the recent bad weather, and I experienced a bit of seasickness. I recommend bringing motion sickness medication for those who are prone to it.

After about an hour of fast sailing out to the dolphin viewing spot, we were able to see several dolphins swimming around the boat. And just a little further ahead, we even spotted a whale! The sight of the whale jumping was incredibly moving. It wasn't the season for whale watching, so we were very lucky.

We thoroughly enjoyed watching the whales and dolphins, but when we moved to the snorkeling spot, the sea was quite dirty due to the storm's impact, and the marine activities were canceled, so we couldn't go into the water. I was looking forward to snorkeling as well, so that was a bit disappointing.

On the way back, the crew put on a hula show for us, and we were able to see the rare whale again, making it an overall satisfying tour.

雨の多い時期でしたが前日に嵐がきたこともあり、8時出発を予約してましたが安全性優先とのことで12時発に変更となりました。
それに関しては前日にご連絡を頂き、参加するかどうかはこちらで判断していいと丁寧にご案内され、私たちはキャンセルせずに変更を選択しました。
私たちはコオリナでのピックアップ、ワイキキで何ヶ所かピックアップしてからなので集合時間より20分ほど待ちました。
参加者は日本人と外国人半々といった感じで、お子様連れのファミリーも数組参加されていました。
当日は快晴でしたが、連日の悪天候の影響で海は荒れており私は少し船酔いをしました。
苦手な方は酔い止め持参をおすすめします。
イルカが見られるスポットまで約1時間ほどかなり沖まで高速で進むと、船の回りを泳ぐ何頭ものイルカを見ることができました。
そして、少し先には何とクジラまで！
クジラのジャンプはとても感動的でした。
本来クジラが見られる時期ではなかったので、とても運がよかったです。
存分にクジラとイルカを堪能しましたが、シュノーケルスポットに移動すると嵐の影響で海がかなり汚れており、マリンアクテビティは中止ということで海に入ることもてきませんでした。
イルカウォッチだけでなくシュノーケルなども楽しみにしていたので、少し残念でした。
帰路では船上でクルーの方々がフラショーを観せて下さり、貴重なクジラも見ることができて全体的には満足なツアーでした。

The guide didn't speak much Japanese, but they explained things in a way that was easy for me to understand, even though I don't know English well. It rained partway through, but that was a good experience. It was my first time driving a buggy, but there was no need to worry! I might become a repeat customer! 👍

ガイドさんは日本語があまり話せなかったけど、英語の分からない私にも分かりやすく説明してくれました。
途中、雨が降ったけどそれがいい経験でした。
バギーの運転は初めてでしたが心配御無用！
リピーターになりそう👍

Since we departed around 7 AM, it was still a bit chilly when we arrived at Hanauma Bay to go into the water. There were not many people in the morning, so it was great that we could rent the snorkeling gear smoothly without much waiting.

It was my first experience snorkeling, but it was easy to swim, and I was satisfied with the encounters with the fish. I think it's a safe sea for beginners to swim in.

The tour's pickup and entry to Hanauma Bay were also simple and easy to understand, and the large bus made the transportation comfortable.

朝7時頃の出発だったのでハナウマ湾に到着した頃はまだ海に入るには少し寒かったです。朝は人が少なかったのでほとんど待つことなくスムーズにシュノーケルセットをレンタルできたのは良かったです。
シュノーケリング自体が初めての経験でしたが、泳ぎやすく、魚にも出会えて満足できました。初心者でも安心して泳げる海だと思います。
ツアーの送迎やハナウマ湾への入場も簡単で分かりやすく、大きなバスだったので移動も快適でした。

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！

Diamond Head, which I had always wanted to climb at least once! The ascent was gentle, but it was quite hard. Still, when I saw the view from the top, I thought it was worth coming here!

After that, I got to meet some turtles at a beautiful beach, and I was able to visit Kualoa and Haleiwa, which was a great experience. Our guide, Jonathan, was very kind, thank you!

一度は登ってみたいと思っていたダイヤモンドヘッド！登りはゆるやかでしたが、なかなかハード。それでも頂上からの景色を見たら、来てよかった〜と思いました。
その後の綺麗なビーチで亀に出会ったり、クアロアやハレイワにも行くことができて満喫できました。ガイドのジョナサンとっても親切で、ありがとうございました。

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。

There is about 2 hours of playtime on-site, which is plenty of time to enjoy. The ratio of Japanese participants is around 30%. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is nice. I was able to see a lot of fish while snorkeling. However, hitting the coral can be painful and can cause scrapes, so be careful. I participated during a low tide according to the tide chart, but the water level was about knee-deep, and it wasn't the sandbar I had imagined.

現地での遊ぶ時間は約2時間あり、十分楽しめます。日本人の比率は3割くらい。スタッフも気さくで雰囲気もいいです。シュノーケリングで魚もたくさん見ることができました。珊瑚に当たると痛いし擦り傷になります。注意です。潮見表で潮位の低い時間帯に参加しましたが、水位は膝くらいで想像していたサンドバーにはなっていませんでした。

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 went to see a night show with a mini tour included. The buffet had a wide variety of options, and I was satisfied with the free drinks. The show was very impressive and enjoyable. Next time, I want to spend a whole day doing various activities. The only disappointing thing was that there was no guidance from the staff, and I couldn't get a commemorative photo at the entrance.

ミニツアー付き、夜のショーを見に行きました。
ビュッフェも沢山品揃えがあり、フリードリンクで満足でした。
ショーは、とても迫力があり、楽しめました。
次回はまる1日かけて色んなアクティビティをやりたいです
ただ１つ残念だったのは、スタッフから案内がなくて入り口で記念写真がもらえなかったことでした。