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North Shore
This will truly test your sea legs, which I truly had. So if you get sea sick, I wouldn't recommend it, but maybe some motion sickness pills may help. Once in the water you don't notice anything looking from above, but once you stick your head underneath you are completely surrounded by sharks. It was thrilling and exciting at the same time. My only concern was hoping that my underwater camera was taking some great shots, which later I found out was on the wrong setting. I was tempted to do it again, but luckily I bought the DVD of my swim. I would surly do it again when I return. It was the most thrilling thing that I have done in my life.
This tour is definitely worth the money! We had an amazing time! Make sure to take Dramamine ahead of time and make sure to have enough battery power for your camera because you will take tons of photos. If you have never snorkeled, I recommend figuring out how to snorkel ahead of time. We also saw whales (it was the middle of whale season) and you could here them if you were really quiet under the water. We had to rebook due to weather and the staff was great at getting us a new date/time that worked with our schedule. The only regret I have is the video that was shot for us. It was very expensive for the footage we received (about 10 minutes) and the wrong couple was intereviewed at the beginning of the video and at the end of the video the camera wasn't turned off so we have about 5 minutes of a white wall on the front of the boat. All in all, it was an amazing time and we would definitely do it again!
The staff said they counted 15 sharks down there with us and they were all over. It was really neat to get that close to a shark. They were there the minute we got in and put on a good show. Only downside though was that off shore there was a storm off island that were creating a lot of big waves and half the boat got seasick. Take the dremamine when they tell you and it should be a great time.
Guides Justin & Gabe were great. North Shore is amazing-must do if staying on Oahu. We got to see sea turtles, Waimea Falls, the Bonzai Pipeline & surfing was even an option.
Totally awesome!!!! Let me tell you, I am one of those people who respect sharks so much, I try everything to stay away from them. I am enthralled with sharkweek on Discovery channel, but terrified of sharks. I was very hesitant in taking this tour, however believe it or not I'm the one who signed my wife and I up for it. I'M GLAD I DID! What an amazing experience. The staff were cool and kept things low key, didn't make any problems for anyone. They both were knowledgeable regarding the sharks we encountered. The only thing I would ask to change would be the viewing glass, not as big as I would have liked it, but then again I'm selfish. The other thing I would ask they enforce, or at least remind those in the cage, please don't let your legs go straight out. I kept getting kicked in the back cause the lady thought she could just hold onto the handrail and let herself strectch out...very annoying. Aside from those things...I'm definately going to do this tour again when I co
AWESOME TRIP, WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT EVEN AFTER GETTING SEASICK.GREAT STAFF.
my 1st reservatoin was cancelled due to the bad weather. They arranged for the next day. It was very windy and wavely under the water. I bumped to the cage lots of time and hands went outside the cage. I was so scared. I thought the shark would come and bite me. If you are 1st time user of snokel like me better learn it before.
It was amazing as sharks are not interested in human at all. I saw Whale too.
It will be the 1st and the last in my life.
I never considered swimming with sharks until i came across this on the internet. I am glad i did. It was something different and pretty cool. it honestly feels like you are watching a video of the sharks swimming by. I don't know if it's always this way, but we were surrounded by at least 20 of them...very cool, and again, surreal. the crew of 2 was awesome and entertaining.
I am just letting yoou know that The Polynesian Culutural Center was
soooo much fun!!!!!!! That was the best thing we did in Hawaii. We were
in Hawaii last year with our daughters and our schedule didn't work so
well for us to attend. When we went this year we felt bad that our girls
had to miss out on such a wonderful time. Everyone working there was so
helpful and very nice, and friendly. We are very glad that we did it this
year. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
The transportation to the Cultural Center was great and the driver amazing. He was very friendly and the drive was gorgeous - including a view of the famous 'China-Man's hat'. He was helpful once we arrived as well. We had a great experience on the canoe but wished we would have had more time to actually visit the individual villages before dinner began. I felt like we missed out a lot not being able to visit the exhibits. The dinner was wonderful although we had a toddler with us and opted out a bit early to roam the grounds and get some energy out rather than finish watching the dinner show. The evening show was amazing and made the whole trip worth it. We slept on the way home and were very happy with the experience.
I had been to the center over 20 years ago & wanted to go back.
It was a nice way to spend the day. All the staff was great! The luau was really good food.
Had a great time & would recommend to anyone who is interested in this culture.
Thanks for the great show too!
This was an adveture of a life time. The crew was fantasitc and very understanding. I wasn't sure about going in the cage since it wasn't enclosed completely. But the crew was wonderful and understanding. Once they got me out in the water and the sharks started coming around I had an anxiety attack and didn't know if I could stay in the water very long. The crew members talked me through the whole experience and said they would pull me in I needed. But I needed to do one thning for them. Take a breath and go down to just look once. I did and was able to stay in the cage the whole time. This was an experience that I will never forget and would do again if have the chance.
Overall, it was fun to run a lot, but my butt got chafed and hurt.
ともかく、たくさん走れて面白かったがお尻がすれて痛かった。
Translated by OpenAI
Our tour guide Justin picked us up promptly outside our hotel when expected. He was very laid-back and friendly. We had a small group of 10. The bike ride was wonderful!! I would recommend it to everyone. Justin pointed out the must-see beaches (Pipeline, Sunset, Waimea) and north shore roadside eateries. North shore was unbelievable, unlike anything I've ever experienced. On the second half of the tour, we rode paddle boards which was also a blast! It was quite an upper body workout and was inexpensive too. Justin was very knowledgeable about the history of HI and kept us entertained during the drive. I would highly suggest everyone take this tour!
This was fantastic - recommended by friends, enjoyed by us parents and the teenagers.
The dinner was great, with foods I've never heard of living in the lower 48. The shows are well done, and very unique.
I've never seen anything like it, and if I have the opportunity, I will certainly return.
The first ride of 2009 was on January 2 at Gunstock Ranch on Oahu. We drove from Waikiki via H1 → R63 → R83 heading north, passed the Polynesian Cultural Center, and just a few minutes further on the left, we saw the sign for Gunstock Ranch. It takes a little over an hour from Waikiki. On the way, we stopped by Cloverleaf Ranch. Two summers ago, my family of four, including the kids, had our first trekking ride there, which made it a memorable ranch for us. After that, my husband and I started attending lessons at the riding club Crane, where we experience ups and downs in a small arena while practicing canter.
Oahu has a couple of beginner-friendly trekking options, but Gunstock Ranch offers an advanced trail ride, which we eagerly signed up for. Due to poor conditions from the rain the day before, we were suggested to switch to a safer scenic ride. However, after discussing our riding experience with our young and cute guide Stephanie, who had a wonderful smile, we were allowed to canter in a safe area. TAKA had just ridden 15 kilometers along the coastline at Frontier Riding Club in Hokkaido last fall. However, for MAMI, who was on her first outdoor ride, it started with a trot, but by the second and third times, she was able to do a more dynamic canter, which was a thrilling experience compared to the small arena.
The group that rode before us consisted of a mix of three and two people, and it seemed they were trekking at a beginner's pace. They likely make efforts to accommodate as many requests as possible for the riding tour based on group composition and negotiations. I am especially grateful to Stephanie, our guide this time!
2009年の初乗りは1月2日オアフ島のガンストック牧場でした。ワイキキからレンタカーでH1→R63→R83と経由北上し、ポリネシアンカルチャーセンターを過ぎさらに北上、5分も行かないところに左手にガンストック牧場の看板があります。ワイキキから１時間ちょっとってとこでしょうか。行きに途中クロレア牧場に立ち寄りました。2年前の夏、子供たちとともに家族4人で初トレッキング常歩乗馬し、乗馬にはまった記念すべき牧場です。その後、乗馬クラブのクレインに夫婦で通い狭い馬場で駈歩のレッスンに一喜一憂しています。オアフの乗馬ツアーは初心者向けのポコポコトレッキングは２~３ありますが、ガンストック牧場はアドバンスド・トレイル・ライドがあり勇んで申し込みました。前日の雨による悪コンディションのため、安全なシーニック･ライドへの変更を提案されましたが、とっても若くてキュートで笑顔の素敵な女性ガイドのステファニーに乗馬経験を話し、セーフティーな場所でキャンター（駈歩）ＯＫってことになりました。TAKAは昨秋北海道のフロンティア乗馬クラブで海岸線を15キロ走ってきたところです。しかし初外乗のMAMIは最初トロット（速歩）でしたが、２回目３回目とどんどんダイナミックなキャンターが出て狭い馬場との違いに感動充実の時間となりました。私たちの前の時間に乗馬したグループは３＋２人の２組の混合でしたが、ビギナーのペースでのトレッキングだったようです。グループ編成と交渉次第で可能な限りの希望通りの乗馬ツアーの実現に努力してくれるのでしょう。とくに今回ガイドをしてくれたステファニーには大感謝ですっ♪
Translated by OpenAI
What an AMAZING experience. Sharks close enough to touch! Definitely the highlight of our trip!
On Christmas Day, the only place where horseback riding was available was Gunstock Ranch. Although the prices were elevated for the holiday, considering the Christian culture, it was quite appreciated.
There was no shuttle service from the hotel, so we rented a car with a navigation system and challenged ourselves to drive on the right side for the first time. The navigation guided us to our destination without any issues when we entered the address, and by being mindful of the central lane always being on the left, we found that driving wasn't too different from Japan. (I felt it was convenient to have the postal code handy since the navigation I used didn't have a search function by phone number, etc.)
Now, regarding the horseback riding, besides our family of four, there were also four family members from California and two couples participating.
The owner of Gunstock Ranch led the way, with his wife at the midpoint and his daughter (around elementary school age) bringing up the rear as we set off.
It was the first time for my husband, daughter, and son to ride horses, but there were no issues at all. The very smart horses followed commands for right, left, and gallop, taking us along nicely.
While it's common to see guides leading horses in enclosed areas, riding through the great outdoors while enjoying the scenery was truly delightful.
All instructions were in English, but they were easy to understand. We had a lot of fun participating.
I highly recommend it!
クリスマスの25日に唯一、乗馬が可能だったのがガンストック牧場でした。クリスマス料金になっていたのでコストパフォーマンスが良いとはいえませんでしたが、クリスチャンのお国柄を考えれば、ありがたいことしきりです。
ホテルとの送迎はありませんので、ナビ付きレンタカーを借り、初めての右側車線にもチャレンジ。
ナビは、住所の入力で目的地まで問題なく案内してくれましたし、常に左側に中央車線があることを意識して運転をすると、以外と日本と変わらずに運転ができます。
（ナビの利用には、郵便番号を控えておくと便利だと感じました。私が利用したナビは、電話番号などでの検索機能がなかったので･･･）
さて、肝心の乗馬ですが、私たち４人家族以外にも、４名のカリフォルニアから来た家族と、２名のカップルが参加していました。
ガンストック牧場のご主人が先導し、中間地点に奥さん、そして一番後ろには、娘さん（小学校中学年ぐらい）が付いて出発です。
主人、娘、息子は馬に乗るのは初めてでしたが、何の問題もなく、とても賢い馬は、右・左・ギャロップなどの指示に従ってちゃんと私たちを乗せてくれました。
柵の中で、管理者が引き馬をしてくれるケースはよく見ますが、大自然の中、景色を楽しみながらのお散歩乗馬、とても気持ちが良かったです。
説明は全て英語ですが、十分に聞き取りは可能です。
楽しく参加することができました。
お勧めですよ♪
Translated by OpenAI
Nothing is more fun than this show on Hawaii. Loved it completely, excellent arrangements, very good timings for each show so that you will not miss a single one, excellent staffs and lastly superb shows..kudos to them.
If you have time, also take the temple trip and visit the church.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was a great experience! We rented a car and went for the day rather than booking a tour. The Samoan presentation was very funny as well as a learning experience as all presentations are! We were able to try some of the things that we learned from the presentations. Our kids loved collecting the stamps, and the prize at the end. It was an enriching experience that I recommend all to try at least once. We did not attend a luau on property, so I cannot relay any recommendations for that.
This was awesome
A chance to do something like this comes along very infrequently, so take advantage. This is cool, even if you don't go in the cage, to see a dozen or more sharks swimming around the boat is awesome.
ps take motion sickness pills
This is my second time on the tour and definitely won't be my last. Great time and amazing experience.
This tour was awesome! It was a moment of a lifetime!
I get very sea sick so I made sure to prepare which was a VERY good idea. I took meclazine the day before and then that morning about an hour before leaving. I took the first tour which is the calmest and clearest time. It definitly paid off because we had three people that were turning green on the boat.
Finding sharks was no problem. They came right up to the boat HUNGRY!! When it was your turn to get in it was amazing! It was scarier to see them above the water than when you got in. The water was so amazingly blue! The sharks were so gracefull and you didn't see any of the scariness you do from outside of the water.
I just wish that my expensive underwater camera worked!! None of my pictures turned out! I still have the moment and picture in my mind forever but I wanted to share it with others.
Do not miss this tour!! No mater how nervous you are if you event want to do this a little you should not
I went alone...but it was all the worth while! I highly recommend this experience...and it is an experience. They have two sides of plexiglass on the cage and when your in the water it feels like you are swimming right next to them! All the excitement and enjoyment of swimming with sharks! Spend the money, take the time, do whatever you need to do to fit this in! And the location outside of the tourist traps was also a plus!
THIS WAS GREAT, STAFF WAS SUPER, HAD 5 IN THE CAGE WAS NOT CROWDED AT ALL. WOULD GET DVD NEXT TIME AND THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME. THANKS FOR A GREAT TIME!!!
Was not a full half day tour. Not enough time to see most attractions. Dinner and show only. Upgrade to prime rib/seafood buffet does not include luau setting. Shell lei was not as good as a flowered lei and no rememberance picture taken. Food and show were excellant.
Very nice, but would have been nice to have our meal and THEN enjoy entertainment (singing, dancing) as it took too long and didn't allow anytime to visit the villages for anyone who may have finished their meal and want to see the center more than the canoe ride. Horizons was awesome!
This was great and well worth the money. I would have liked to stay longer in a couple of areas and there were some activities that we didn't get to do because of time. I would suggest taking snacks or packing a picnic as you really didn't have time to buy a lunch. At a couple of the attractions you were offered ice cream to buy, but not anything more substantial. Both the dinner entertainment and the Polynesian show after dinner were awesome. Going back a 2nd time, I would go on my own and wander.
My family and I absolutely loved visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center while in Oahu. I highly recommend spending the extra money and getting the Ambassador All day package. You will get a very personal tour guide (we had Diliana and she was awesome!) of all the Polynesian villages. My husband gets bored pretty easily and not ONCE did he get restless during the entire day. You are kept well entertained and learn a lot about the Polynesian cultures. The luau and the food was great, and the Night Show was fantastic! Very high energy and entertaining. I highly recommend visiting the PCC !
