Oahu
I was picked up three hours before the participation time at the Aloha Landing Bus stop at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (this may vary by person).
At the Aloha Landing Bus stop, the bus arrived just in time for departure, which might cause anxiety for those used to Japanese standards, but let's wait without rushing.
Before boarding, there was a prior instruction to present the VELTRA voucher, but in reality, you need to show your passport to the person managing the bus passengers (who is different from the driver) for check-in. If you show the voucher to that person, you might get yelled at with "Passport!!" in frustration, so be sure to bring your passport! There was someone who didn't have their passport and had a bit of a hassle before boarding.
It takes about an hour to get to Kualoa Ranch, and you arrive in no time.
Once at the ranch, there is a Japanese-speaking guide who hands out a paper with the experience time and return bus schedule for each person. They also explain the locations of the activities at that time. With this paper, you can easily communicate without any waste when participating in activities or boarding the return bus, so make sure not to lose it! After the explanation, you have free time until your participation time, so you can browse the shop, eat, or pet the horses.
The check-in for the UTV Raptor starts 15 minutes before the scheduled time, and you will need to show your driver's license at that time. After check-in, you will watch an instructional video before driving, but if you don’t specify, you will watch the video in English. If you're not confident in English, make sure to clearly say "Japanese"! There is also a Japanese version of the instructional video available.
The four-wheeled buggy has no windows on all sides, so the dust is incredible (laughs). You will get dirtier than you can imagine, so it's best to participate in clothes you don't mind throwing away and shoes or bags that can get dirty!
Also, since your face will get completely black from the dust, I think it's a good idea to prepare a mask or bandana to cover your face. Afterward, my mouth felt gritty, which was quite a hassle^^ I also recommend bringing a change of clothes for the return trip!
The four-wheeled buggy is not too difficult to drive aside from the bumps and ups and downs (of course, there are no intersections or traffic lights), so I think those who drive regularly will have no problem. It was my first experience with a left-hand drive, but it was totally fine.
The scenery was amazing, with the wind blowing through, and it was so much fun to race through the landscapes I saw in Jurassic Park! Above all, the tour guides were friendly and playful, making for a wonderful time.
I definitely want to participate again!
シェラトン・ワイキキ・ホテルのアロハランディングバス乗り場で参加時間の3時間前にピックアップされました。(人によって異なります)
アロハランディングバス乗り場では、出発時間ギリギリにバスが到着したので、日本の感覚だと不安になると思いますが、焦らずに待っていましょう。
乗車する前にVELTRAのバウチャーを提示するように事前指示がありましたが、実際はバスの乗客管理する人(運転手とは別)にパスポートを見せて受付となります。
その人にバウチャーを見せるとイライラされながら「パスポート!!」と怒鳴られる事になるので、忘れずにパスポートを持って行きましょう!笑
パスポートを持参されてなくて乗車前に少し揉めている人がいました。
クアロア牧場までは約1時間、あっという間に到着します。
牧場に着いてからは日本語のガイドさんがおり、ひとりひとりに体験時間や帰りのバスの時間等が書かれている紙が渡されます。その際にアクティビティの場所などの説明もあります。
この紙があれば、アクティビティに参加する際や、帰りのバスに乗る際に見せるだけでお互いに無駄の無く意思疎通が出来て、とても便利なので無くさないようにしましょう!
説明の後は各々の参加時間までフリーなので、ショップを見たり、ご飯を食べたり、馬を撫でたりして過ごします。
UTV Raptor の受け付けは開始時間の15分から、その際に運転免許証を見せます。
受付後の運転前に説明動画を観るのですが、何も伝えないと英語の説明動画を観ることになります。
英語が不安な方ははっきり「Japanese」と伝えましょう!日本語の説明動画もあります。
四輪バギーは全方向窓がないので、とにかく土埃が
すごい(笑)
想像の50倍汚れたので、棄てても良い服、汚れても良い靴や鞄などで参加された方が良いです!
また、土埃で顔が真っ黒になるので、運動用の顔を覆い隠すマスクやバンダナ等を用意された方が良いと思います。
終わった後には口の中もジャリジャリして大変でした^^
帰りの事も考えて着替えを持ってくるのもおすすめします!
四輪バギーは凸凹やアップダウンが多い以外はそんなに難しい道ではないので(当然ですが交差点も信号もない)
日頃、運転されている方は問題なく運転できると思います。
左ハンドル初体験でしたが、全然問題ありませんでした。
景色も最高で、風が吹き抜けて、ジュラシックパークで観た景色を疾走するのはとても楽しかったです!何よりツアーガイドさんが皆さん気さくでお茶目でより素晴らしい時間を過ごすことができました。
是非また参加したいです!
They took me to a place with a lot of dolphins, and I was able to swim near them about three times. The sea was really beautiful, and I think it will be a wonderful memory. However, I got extremely seasick and ended up throwing up about twice as many times as I encountered dolphins. Since we went out to sea, during the tour, I could only be on the boat or in the water, and in the second half, I was just thinking about getting back quickly. The chances of seeing dolphins are very high, so I think it's best to participate with a preparedness for seasickness and some countermeasures.
たくさんイルカがいる所に連れて行ってくれて
わたしも3回くらいイルカのそばを泳ぐ事ができました。海も本当に綺麗でとても素敵な思い出になるツアーだと思います。が、私はめちゃくちゃ船酔いし、イルカに遭遇できた倍くらいの回数吐きまくりました。冲に出るのでツアーの時間内は船か海にいるしかなく、後半は早く帰る事だけ考えてました。
イルカに会える可能性はとても高いので、船酔いの覚悟と対策の上参加するのがいいと思います。
Aloha Mr. Tanuki Pon,
Thank you for participating in Dolphin University. I'm glad to hear that you were able to swim alongside the dolphins. I'm sorry to hear that you experienced seasickness, which must have diminished the enjoyment of such a valuable opportunity. I was disappointed to read your feedback.
Starting October 1st, Dolphin University will be operating on our brand new boat, the Poseidon. This vessel has been thoughtfully designed by our company from the ground up to ensure that our customers can enjoy a more comfortable experience on board. It offers greater speed and stability compared to our previous boats, as well as ample space to relax. We will reach the offshore spots for swimming with dolphins faster than ever, increasing the chances of arriving before seasickness sets in.
If you have the opportunity to visit Hawaii again, please come prepared with seasickness medication and warm clothing to combat the chill, and join us again at Dolphin University on the Poseidon in good health. We would be truly happy to have the chance to create wonderful memories that can replace the experience of seasickness. We look forward to welcoming you back.
Mahalo!
Aloha たぬきのポン様
この度はイルカ大学へご参加くださりありがとうございました。イルカのそばで泳げたとのこと、嬉しく思います。
船酔いしてしまったのですね。貴重な機会に楽しさ半減。。感想を拝見して残念に思っています。
10月1日から、イルカ大学は真新しい船、ポセイドン号で運行しております。この船は、お客様が船の上でより快適に過ごしていただけるように、心を込めて弊社が設計を一から考えて造船されました。今までの船よりも速いスピードで安定感があり、ゆったりと過ごしていただけるスペースがあります。イルカと泳ぐ沖合のスポットまでこれまで以上に早く移動しますので船酔いしてしまう前にイルカに辿り着く可能性が高いです。
またハワイにいらっしゃる機会がありましたら酔い止めと寒さ対策で暖かく羽織るもの、そして万全の体調でぜひ、ポセイドン号のイルカ大学へ再挑戦してみてください。
スタッフ一同、船酔いの思い出を塗り替えられるくらい楽しい思い出になるよう力を尽くせる機会がいただけるなら本当に嬉しく思います。お待ちしております。
Mahalo!
The ocean is beautiful, the weather is great, and it's the best! I definitely recommend experiencing this when you come to Hawaii. I found out that Veltra offers affordable and safe activities, so I want to try other activities next time. The family I shared the boat with was also very lovely, which made it even more enjoyable and created great memories.
海は綺麗で、天気も良く、最高です!ハワイに来たら是非体験するのがおすすめです。
ベルトラはお安く、安全なアクティビティを提供していると分かったので、次も他のアクティビティなど体験したいです。
同じ船に乗り合わせた方もとても素敵なファミリーだったので、いっそう楽しく良い思い出になりました。
Our guides were super entertaining and helpful.
Some outstanding, picturesque views from the sail! Very nice experience!
To begin- we loved that they offered complimentary pictures at entry, they sent them directly to our phone for FREE, other tourist areas always charge for pictures.
The food buffet had a variety of options from chicken, fish, and pork. The food was tasty. Our tickets came with a drink ticket and we enjoyed a mai tai.
The performances were we'll coordinate, we loved the fire show, the hula dances, everything! I would definitely come back for another show. Employees were helpful, informative, and very kind!
Since it's the North Shore, we were navigating through quite rough waves. There were no other Japanese people besides us, and although our English is not great, we managed somehow. Once we entered the water, there were more than ten sharks around, each about 2 meters long. My daughter was super excited! It was truly a valuable experience. On the way back, even though I took motion sickness medication, I ended up feeling nauseous. There were others besides me who also felt unwell.
ノースショアなので結構な荒波の中を進んで行きます。私たち以外、日本人はおらず、私たちも英語は全然だめですが、なんとかなります。いざ、海の中へ入ると2メートル級のサメが10匹以上ウロウロしていました。娘も大興奮!本当に貴重な体験でした。帰りは酔い止めを飲んでいても吐きました。私以外にも気分が悪くなっておられる方がいました。
The view from 150 meters high was spectacular. However, there were other people as well, so there was some waiting time on the boat. During that time, I felt a bit seasick. I recommend that those who are prone to motion sickness bring some medication.
高さ150メートルからの景色は絶景でした。ただ、他の方もおられますので船の上での待ち時間もあります。その間に少し船酔いしました。酔いやすい方は酔い止めを持っていかれることをおすすめします。
Hanauma Bay is a beautiful place and the water is so pretty. The day we went, it was unfortunately very windy and the water was pretty choppy. We were able to see some fish, but the water wasn’t very clear due to the waves, but that’s nature for you! The snorkeling gear was very difficult for me. Water kept getting into my mask and it was very uncomfortable. I wish I had my own full face mask. But it was still an enjoyable time and would do it again. Our driver to the location was very friendly and did a great job. It was through kaimana tours.
I was worried about not being able to communicate in Japanese, but the tourists were separated into different boats for Japanese and foreign guests. There was one Japanese female crew member on our boat who kindly and patiently explained everything, which made me feel very safe and allowed me to enjoy the experience.
The sandbar had waves about knee-high, making it easy to walk around. The emerald green sea was incredibly beautiful, with very little current, and it felt so nice! I took many photos with the stunning scenery in the background, and I am very grateful for that.
We also got to see sea turtles, and when we moved to a spot with coral, I was able to snorkel while wearing a life jacket and see many beautiful fish, creating wonderful memories. (I can't swim, but with the life jacket and fins, I managed to swim alongside my husband.)
The hamburger lunch and drinks, along with the warm cocoa after snorkeling, were also very delicious. Thank you for the wonderful memories!! ♪♪
日本語通じないか不安でしたが、日本人観光客の船と外国の方で船が別れていて、船には日本人女性のクルーの方が一人いて、なんでも優しく丁寧に教えてくれたので、とても安心して楽しむことができました。
サンドバーは膝くらいの波の高さで安心して歩けました。
エメラルドグリーンの海はとても綺麗で、流れもほとんどなく穏やかでとても気持ちよかったです!
絶景をバックに写真もたくさん撮っていただき、大感謝です。
ウミガメも見れて、珊瑚のある場所へ移動してライフジャケットをつけてのシュノーケルも綺麗な魚をたくさん見ながら泳ぐことができ、とても思い出になりました。(私は泳げないですが、ライフジャケットと足ヒレで旦那と一緒でなんとか泳げました。)
ハンバーガーランチとドリンク、シュノーケル後のあったかいココアもとっても美味しかったです。
素敵な思い出をありがとうございました!!♪♪
The pickup location for the bus on the way there was hard to find. (There were many people from other tours, and we couldn't tell what our bus looked like.)
As for the horseback riding, we could hear the sound of the waves and got splashed by the sea spray, and the wind felt pleasant. The horse was calm and occasionally stopped to graze, which was enjoyable as well. Riding along the coast, something we can't do in Japan, was a valuable experience.
In Haleiwa Town, we only had time for lunch, and it would have been nice to have a little more time to relax.
行きのバスのピックアップ場所がわかりづらかった。(他のツアーの人たちも多く、自分たちのバスがどのような物かもわからなかった)
乗馬については波の音が聞こえ、波飛沫がかかるくらいで、風が心地よかったです。馬もおとなしく時々草を食んで道草しましたが、それも楽しかった。日本では出来ない海岸沿いの乗馬は貴重な体験でした。
ハレイワタウンではランチの時間しか無くもう少しゆっくり出来たら良かった。
Thank you for using Island Makana Tours. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the horseback riding. We will take your feedback regarding the schedule into consideration for the future. We look forward to serving you again!
このたびはアイランドマカナツアーズをご利用頂き、ありがとうございました。乗馬、お楽しみ頂けたようで良かったです。スケジュールについてのご意見は今後の参考とさせて頂きます。またのご利用を心よりお待ちしております!
Ship was nice but very crowded. Made it hard to see the dance show and fireworks.
5 course meal was tasty and cooked well.
Appetitizers lackluster; cheese, fruit, crackers. All in all, a good experience and value.
Booked several activities through Veltra;
Good experience.
Would highly recommend this package for the sandbar. The personnel are very experienced and friendly. Live music was great.
There were plenty of activities to choose from, and a perfect amount of time to try everything. The boat took us to a quieter area of the sandbar, so we basically had a private area to ourselves.
I'm glad we booked transportation through the package, as parking was full when we arrived.
Would want to go on this again!
Mahalo for your review and the beautiful picture! - Team KBOS
Everything about the whole experience was easy and convenient. We booked a party of 8 for a high school boy's trip and had an immeasurable amount of fun.
Booking was super easy and once completed you get a confirmation email and a waiver for everyone to fill out. Instructions were clear and concise and the check-in team members were friendly and accommodating.
Preston was engaging as he broke down the rules and expectations. Kaawa Entertainment, Jesse, and the Ukelele-ist kept us jammin' until we reached the bar. As we sailed away he was cracking jokes about us Cali folks, which was hilarious. The brothers Nohu and mimicked flight attendants by educating us on how to wear our life vests properly. The captains and the rest of the team shared their aloha hospitality with us serving us donuts for breakfast and keeping us hydrated with water and tang.
I will definitely come back and do this again!
Mahalo for your review and nice picture! We look forward to seeing you again. - Team KBOS
Best Fun Ever, great guides, laughed, great scenery.
This was the best tour I have done while living here on Oahu! We wanted to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. The Crew was so friendly and helpful. I will be recommending this tour to all our future visitors! Additionally, the lunch was bomb!! Cheeseburgers using local beef and fresh vegetables. They are local, they support local and are the true definition of Aloha!
Mahalo
This tour involves walking through the tropical rainforest in Honolulu to reach Manoa Falls, followed by enjoying delicious sandwiches (acai bowls) at the spacious Tantalus Lookout. The contrast between the jungle and the view from the hill was quite interesting.
During the trekking, our guide Daisuke provided various explanations, which was very helpful. Without a guide, I think the experience would have been less enjoyable. It seems there has been little rainfall recently, so unfortunately, the waterfall had a lower water volume, but trekking through the jungle was very enjoyable.
The path was quite rocky and muddy, making it difficult to walk, so I recommend borrowing a walking stick. Insect repellent spray was also available for us to use.
ホノルルの熱帯雨林の道を歩いてマノアの滝に到着、その後広々としたタンタラスの丘で美味しいサンドイッチ(アサイーボウル)を楽しむツアーです。ジャングルの中と丘からの眺めとその対比もなかなか面白かったです。
トレッキング中はガイドのだいすけさんが色々な説明をしてくれてとても良かったです。ガイドさん無しだと歩いて終わりで楽しさもそこそこだったと思います。最近の雨量が少なかったそうで滝は残念ながら水量が少なめでしたが、ジャングルの中のトレッキングはとても楽しめました。
道が結構ゴツゴツしていてぬかるみも多く歩きにくいので、ステッキを貸してもらうことをお勧めします。虫除けスプレーも貸してもらえました。
The view of parasailing from the hotel in Waikiki was amazing. Since it departed from the harbor near the Hilton, the scenery was different from the land and absolutely fantastic.
ワイキキのホテルから見ていた光景のパラセイル
ヒルトンのそばの港から出港なので、陸からとは違った景色で最高でした
The snorkeling time was relatively long, and I was able to see sea turtles up close, which was very enjoyable. However, it was a bit cold in the evening. The sunset from the cruise was also very beautiful, making it a wonderful memory. The staff took photos for us, and since there is a sale at the end, I think it's a good idea to bring a little cash or a credit card if you want to purchase them.
シュノーケルの時間も比較的長く、ウミガメも間近で見ることができてとても楽しかったです。ただ、夕方のため少し寒かったです。
クルーズからのサンセットもとてもきれいに見ることができ最高の思い出になりました。
スタッフの方が写真を撮ってくださり、最後に販売があるので欲しい方はクレジットカードや現金を少し持っていった方がいいと思います。
I participated because my daughter invited me! I had some anxiety about riding the free-range horses, but before we mounted, there was a video explanation in Japanese covering the precautions. We were paired up in groups of six, with two instructors who occasionally checked in on us, and they spoke a bit of Japanese! The horse I rode seemed to be a veteran that suited me well; it was very cautious, allowing me to ride comfortably. It was a very enjoyable two hours.
娘に誘われての参加でした! 放し飼いの馬に乗ることに、不安もありましたが、乗る前には、日本語での注意点など、ビデオ説明もありました。 2人ペアで、6人の、グループに、2人インストラクターの方が付き、体験中は、時折、声を掛けて下さり、それも片言ですが日本語で! わたしが乗ったお馬さんは、わたしに合ったベテランのお馬だったようで、とても慎重で、安心して乗る事が出来、とても楽しめた2時間でした。
I cant stop thinking about how at peace this day was! Wish to be back on the sandbar.
Come back soon! - Team KBOS
If you are afraid of heights like me maybe second think, but still decide to do it, as the sights of the crystal water are beautiful.
Really had a great evening- the VIP seats were awesome as you could really see all the smile and hear the evening spectacularly!
Tons of fun, food was just okay, definitely a 1 time do but worth it to try for your first Hawaii visit
My son loved this, he was smiling ear to ear, and the dolphin lagoons are just gorgeous
Really fun evening! We would recommend this luau to our friends visiting.
Stepped out on my comfort zone and it was totally worth it!!! What a day!
Course is so awesome and great maintained! Would do again
Laughed out Loud!!! What a fun evening filled with lots of Hawaii memories :)
Really Awesome Views from Above. Me and my partner had a blast!!
The whole crew was just amazing. Lots of fun.
Thanks