All Reviews for Top Places to Visit in Hawaii

I experienced my first trip to Hawaii and my first skydiving adventure! Our group was the first to go, and everything went smoothly from the briefing to boarding the Cessna and jumping out, leaving no time to feel anxious (^^;) The first skydiving experience was amazing, and the instructor kept engaging with us, making it a lot of fun.

After we returned, the instructor handed us a small envelope for tips, which we were to fill out and drop into a separate box for the instructors. I also purchased the photo and video combo, but it seemed that we didn't reach the required altitude this time, so I received a discount of just over $30 from the total price. Payment could be made in cash or by credit card.

After waiting for about 40 minutes, we took the shuttle bus back to the hotel. However, it seemed that the group that followed us landed in a different location than expected, and their driver had to go pick them up, which delayed our return a bit.

When I read reviews before going, I had some concerns, but there were no significant issues from start to finish, and I had the best skydiving experience! I definitely think it's something everyone should try when they visit Hawaii. Highly recommended!

初ハワイ旅行で、初スカイダイビングを体験してきました！
私達のグループはトップバッターでしたが、説明されてセスナに乗ってから飛び降りるまでトントン拍子で、不安を感じる暇もありませんでした(^^;)
初めてのスカイダイビングは最高で、インストラクターの方も何度も声をかけて楽しませてくれました。
チップは帰ってきた後にインストラクターの方から小さな封筒を渡され、そこにチップを入れてインストラクター別のポストに投函するというかたちです。
また、私は写真とビデオのコンボを購入しましたが、今回は高度が足りなかったようで、代金から３０ドル強の値引きがされていました。購入は現金・クレジット共にOKでした。
そこから４０分ほど待機してからホテルへのシャトルバスに乗りましたが、私達の後のグループの方々が予想着地点でない場所に着地したようで、その方々の迎えに同様の運転手の方が行っていたので、それがなければもう少し早くに帰れていたと思います。
レビューを見た時には所々不安な点がありましたが、最初から最後まで特に悪い点はなく、最高のスカイダイビング体験が出来ました！
ハワイに来た際には是非一度体験するべきだと思います。オススメです。

I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center about 20 years ago, and I was satisfied with how much more content there was this time. The canoe show and the experiences in the village especially became great memories. The guide was also a student from Japan. However, it got a bit tiring since it was late at night.

20年ほど前にポリネシア文化センターには行ったことがあるのですが、前回より内容が充実しており満足しました。特にカヌーショウや村での体験はいい思い出になりました。
ガイドの学生さんも日本からの留学生でした。
ただ、夜が遅くなるので少し疲れました。

I signed up for the standard plan because the 50th anniversary campaign price was a great deal. I didn't have high expectations for the food, but there were more varieties than I anticipated, and the portions were quite generous, so I was pretty satisfied. The show was undeniably moving. With a story-driven progression, there were various dances to see, and it was very impressive. Perhaps because it was a bit far from Waikiki, there weren't many Japanese people around, but the large theater was packed with an audience, which made me realize how popular it is.

50周年記念のキャンペーン料金がお得だったので、スタンダードプランで申し込みました。お料理には期待していませんでしたが、思っていたより種類も多く、量もしっかり用意してあったのでなかなか満足できました。ショーは文句なく感動です。ストーリー性をもった展開で、いろいろな踊りも見られて大迫力でした。ワイキキから少し遠いせいか、日本人の姿はそれほど多くなかったですが、大きな劇場は観客でいっぱいで人気があるのだなと感心しました。

My girlfriend and I wanted an uncomventional experience and found these guys. the entire experience was an unforgettable journey. The crew on the boat made us feel like we were life long friends and they put safety at the top of the list. We were close to the animals and got a glimpse into their environment. If you want to get in the water and see the Sharks and truly see the marine world as it is then take this adventure. You absolutely will not regret it. I will be booking a second go on our next trip!

My 2nd skydive experience was wonderful. We arrived on time for the morning group and we were suited, jumped and out of there by 10:30. Didn't take as long as the other reviews made it seem. Our plane stalled while in the air, but it added to the excitement. We had a wonderful time. Kai was my instructor and he was great.

I only attended the evening session, but I think it would be better to go from the afternoon. I believe you can enjoy a full day there. The food was also delicious.

私が参加したのは夜の部だけでしたがお昼から行ったほうがいいと思いました。
１日遊べると思います。
料理も美味しかったです。

I thought the dynamic dance show was great. However, since photography was not allowed and there was no alcohol (beer was okay, but...), it felt pretty ordinary.

ダイナミックなダンスショーで良かったと思います。但し、写真が撮れない・お酒(ビールでOKでしたが.....)が無しなので普通にしました。

I was worried about participating alone, but I had a great time even by myself. It was my first experience with horseback riding, but all the horses were well-trained, so I was able to enjoy it without any danger. The scenery was beautiful, and it offered a sense of relaxation that was different from Waikiki.

ひとり参加で不安に思っていましたが、一人でも十分に楽しめました。
乗馬は初めてでしたが、良く調教されている馬ばかりでしたので
危険なこともなく楽しめました。
景色がきれいでワイキキとは違い癒しを味わえました

Vroom, go, shoo... It's a feeling you won't understand until you try it. Unbelievable. It's super fun!

ビューん、ごーっ、シャーッ、ふわっー、ふわー、シュー…。やってみなきゃわからない感覚。ありえない。ちょー楽しいデース。

I booked the late entry since we had a cruise in the morning. We had some time to go around a few villages but we wish we booked the all day package. The show was beyond my expectation and they did a superb job putting it together. It was very dramatic and entertaining. You must visit Polynesian Cultural Center when you come to Hawaii.

It was my first experience. Since I stayed in North Shore, I went there on my own, but the show was fully booked. The story was easy to understand, and the dancing was wonderful. Being in the front row was very impressive. The ribs from the meal were delicious as well. The price was a bit high, though.

初めての体験でした。
ノースシュアでの滞在でしたので、自力で行きましたが、ショーは満席。ストーリー仕立てでわかりやすく、踊りはすばらしいものでした。最前列で迫力も満点。
お料理のリブもおいしくいただきました。少しお値段が高いかな？

It was our first experience, and we didn't understand any English at all. We didn't know what was going on at the reception, but they showed us how to operate in Japanese, so we managed to check in somehow! We didn't understand the explanations at all, but we made it through. The staff were kind and friendly! There are no lockers, so it's best to go with minimal luggage! The drive was actually about 30 minutes. But it was fun! I want to participate again!

初めての体験で
英語がまったくわからない私たちでしたが
受付は何が何だかわからなかったですが
日本語の操作を見せてくださり
なんとか受付はできました！
説明とかはまったくわからなかったですが
なんとかいけました。
スタッフの方は優しくて親切でした！
ロッカーがなくて
荷物が置けないので
最低限の荷物で行った方が良いです！
ドライブは実際３０分程度でした。
でも、楽かったです！
また参加したいです！

My first horseback riding experience! It was fun! It was drizzling a bit, but...

The horse was bigger than I expected, which surprised me, but it was fine! Along the way, I received various guidance, and the garlic shrimp for lunch was delicious!

初の乗馬！楽しかったです！小雨でしたが...

思ったより馬は大きく、ビックリしましたが、大丈夫でした！
途中、イロイロ案内して頂きながら向かい、ランチのガーリックシュリンプが美味しかったですー！

For starters, the show Ha! Breath of Life is AMAZING! If nothing else, that is worth a visit.

Ok, so the Circle Island Tour - yeah, you circle (most of) the island and see some cool things (briefly), but you can get circle island tours from pretty much everyone and ended up with about 3 total after all of our activities there over our week. The biggest problem with this Circle Island Tour is that it takes TOO LONG! You're going to want ample time to do the tour, but not when that time cuts into your time at the cultural center.

We did the circle island tour and the ambassador package. By the time we finished the tour and go to the center, did all the ambassador check in crap, and got to start seeing the center, we had already lost at least 1.5 hours of the already short time available to visit the various cultures. The group tour and the guide does help you learn some cool things, but it also makes everything take longer. In the end, we went back a second day so that we could see all the things we missed the first day (maybe that's the point - more $$ from the visitors??).

I don't want to lead you to believe the center is poor. On the contrary, we very much enjoyed the center. The luau was meh. The show was GREAT! We just wouldn't recommend the circle island tour (as it was for us) or the ambassador package (unless you want to buy it for the good seats but ditch the tour guide in the park).

Definitely visit the park, definitely see the show. Consider ditching the tour guide in the park, consider doing the circle island tour with another company or on a different day, and if you see a luau anywhere else, consider skipping it here (it wasn't the best luau we attended).

Note, the 3 stars if for the package, not for the center on the whole. The center was great, we just weren't keen on the package we purchased.

I participated in this diving tour. The pickup time was accurate, and we were able to return early, which allowed us to make effective use of our time.

The diving instructions were thorough, and the instructors were all kind and fun, making it a安心 experience. I had a thrilling and valuable experience, and the view from above was very beautiful; I definitely want to do it again! We even saw whales from the airplane☆

Thank you very much.

こちらのダイビングツアーに参加させてもらいました。
ピックアップの時間も正確で帰りも早めに帰ることができて時間を有効に使えました。

ダイビングは説明もしっかりしていて、インストラクターの方も優しく楽しい方ばかりで安心してできました。
スリルある貴重な体験ができ、上空からの景色はとても綺麗でまた絶対やりたい！と思いました。飛行機からクジラも見えました☆

ありがとうございました。

I'm not sure I can go to another zip line spot after experiencing Climb works zip tour. Amazing views, fun zips, great hosts/guides, a learning experience... definitely living up to the acronym that they use as their motto. Have already recommended to friends and family.

For my first time, it was an amazing experience! Brad helped me stay calm, but also kept me hyped for my jump. He also let me control the chute and go through some really fun twists and turns. Would definitely recommend pacific skydive and might even go again next time I go to hawaii.

I was anxious about participating alone, but since I was with the instructor when flying, I didn't feel lonely at all.

Overall, it was just amazing! You will definitely regret it if you don't try it!

一人参加で不安でしたが、飛ぶ時はインストラクターさんと二人ですから
寂しさを感じることもありませんでした。

とにかく最高！のひとこと。
やらなきゃ絶対後悔します！

I wanted to head out to the North Shore, but did not want to sit on a stodgy bus all day and listen to someone drone on and on. The Surf Bus was the PERFECT choice since I not only got to experience the highlights of the area, but got to do some fun activities as well.

I decided to do Snorkeling, the Waimea Falls nature walk and SUP. Harry was very accommodating about squeezing in two activities for the morning section, and I am so happy that he did. The snorkeling was AMAZING! It was literally like swimming in an aquarium. I got to be in the water for a little over an hour and then I was picked up to go to Waimea Falls Park. The walk was quite easy, and if you have a hard time walking, shuttles are available for $10 round-trip at the park. I didn't go into the water since I just wanted to sit and relax, but the walk to and from the waterfall was about 45 minutes total. REALLY beautiful.

For my afternoon, I chose SUP and even though I had never done it before, I figured it out pretty quickly after the briefing from the guys at the surf store. I never quite made it to the "stand up" part of "stand up paddling", but my "sit up" paddle was just as fun and I made it all the way down the river.

With about an hour left before I had to meet the bus, I had a delicious burger and fries at Teddy's Bigger Burger and washed that all down with some shave ice from Matsumotos (lychee and strawberry YUM!). All in all, a great experience and wonderful way to see the best of the North Shore in a day :)

I participated this time with two colleagues from my company. S-san, who guided us (I'll keep the name confidential just in case), provided really attentive service! They explained the highlights of each area clearly, and we had a great time! Thank you for your help at the garlic shrimp restaurant in Haleiwa until we placed our order.

On the way back, we were able to get off at Ala Moana Shopping Center if we wanted, which saved us time and was very appreciated since our stay was short.

The guidance was very thorough, so I recommend it for first-time visitors to Hawaii!☆

今回会社の同期と３人で参加させて頂きました。
案内して下さったSさん(念のためお名前は伏せさせて頂きます)がもうほんとにきめ細やかな対応をして下さって！！
各エリアの見どころなどもわかりやすくお話頂き、とても楽しめました！
ハレイワのガーリックシュリンプのお店ではオーダー時までヘルプ頂き、ありがとうございます。

帰りも希望があればということでアラモアナショッピングセンターで下車させて頂き、時間の節約が出来たのは滞在日数が短い我々にとっては有難かったです。

とても丁寧に案内して頂けるので、初ハワイの方にもオススメです☆

My friend and I were completely freaking out before we went out on this tour, but afterwards, we just wanted to go again and again! There is nothing as strangely calming and thrilling than to be in the open ocean with what seems likes hundreds of sharks swimming below you.

With only six passengers, we all got lots of attention and assistance, and during the ride out, our safety guides told us all about the sharks and other creatures we would see as well as what to do while we are in the water. There was not a moment after I boarded the boat that I felt uneasy or unsafe. I knew that the captain and crew had not only our best interests at heart, but the sharks as well.

It was a humbling experience to be in the shark's home and it is something that I will treasure forever!

The dance show was absolutely wonderful. Before the show, we had a buffet meal at a large dining hall and did some shopping at the stores in the park. After buying some Hawaiian-themed children's clothing, we headed to the show venue. Our seats were in the back, but we could see everything well and were impressed by the elaborate performances and the fire dancing. However, finding the car on the way back was difficult because the location was different from the initial explanation, and we couldn't find it in the light rain. We had to communicate the number to other drivers to get help.

ダンスショーはとても素晴らしかったです。ショーの前に大きな食堂でバイキング料理を食べて
パーク内のお店でショッピングをしました。ハワイらしい子ども服を買ってからショーの場所に行きました。席は後方でしたが、全体が良く見えて凝った演出や火の踊りに感激しました。
ただ、帰りの車は最初の説明と場所が異なり小雨の中見つからず大変でした。他のドライバーに番号を伝えて教えてもらいました。

It was a beautiful view as we flew with the sunrise. There were a few clouds, but it was worth waking up early. When we took off, we went one after another, so there was no time to be scared. Instead of feeling fear due to the height, it was more about the beauty, and I didn't feel scared at all. The instructors were friendly and made me feel at ease.

日の出と共に飛んで、すごくキレイな景色でした。
少し雲はかかってましたが、朝早くから起きたかいがありました。
飛び出す時は次々と出て行くので怖がってる間もなく、あまりの高で怖いというより綺麗で恐怖は感じませんでした。インストラクターの人たちも気さくで安心できました。

- If you arrange for transportation, it will be $60 per person, so you can cover the rental car cost.
- We arrived in about an hour from Honolulu.
- We had the early morning plan and departed before sunrise.
- We were the second group, but just before entering the water, the sun rose and it got warm.
- We didn't encounter anything other than the sandbar shark.
- We were packed into a cage with six people, so there were a lot of us and we couldn't move freely.

・送迎を手配すると６０ドル×人なのでレンタカー代が捻出できます
・ホノルルから約１時間で到着しました
・朝イチのプランで日の出前の出港でした
・２組目でしたが、ちょうど入水前に日の出があり暖かくなりました
・イタチザメ以外には出会えませんでした
・ゲージに６人詰め込まれたので、人が多く自由に動けませんでした

I was able to experience skydiving, which I had wanted to try, at a quite reasonable price, and it became a wonderful memory. Since it's a group activity, the waiting time to jump and the time spent waiting for others to finish jumping can be quite long. I think it's better to plan on spending half a day for this experience.

やってみたかったスカイダイビングが結構安く体験できて、とてもいい思い出になりました。団体行動なので、飛ぶのを待つ時間やほかの方が飛び終わるのを待つ時間がとても長いです。半日はつぶれると考えて行動したほうがいいと思います。

It's been decades since I last participated. Last time I went with the standard option, but this time I chose the deluxe package, and I had a wonderful tour with a very beautiful student as my guide. The chief of Samoa was as entertaining as ever. The food wasn't anything special, but the show was even more interesting since I participated in the backstage tour beforehand.

数十年ぶりの参加です。前回はスタンダードだったので今回はデラックスにしましたが、とっても綺麗な学生さんがツアーガイドについてくださり、とても楽しいツアーでした。サモアの酋長さんも相変わらず面白い。食事はたいしたことないですが、ショウはバックステージツアーに参加してから観たのでよけいに面白かったです。

There was a phrase in the driver's long story to the flight destination that perfectly captured this experience. I quoted it on social media:
"It feels like my whole body is boiling with blood."
Is this a Stephen King moment or what?

フライト地までの運転手の長い話の中に、まさにこの体験のこの表現しかない言葉がありました。SNS系で引用しました。
「全身の血が沸騰する感じ」
スティーブン キングかよ

I would like to introduce a great value optional tour among the many available in Hawaii. This time, I focused on "Horseback Riding in Hawaii!" while comparing various optional tours. And what I found was this plan!

1. First, the iconic "This Tree, What Tree" at "Moanalua Gardens" (it’s said that the Moanalua Gardens tour will no longer be available after April 2016, so be sure to see it soon).
2. Next, enjoy Hawaii's specialty pineapple at the "Dole Plantation."
3. Then, at the "North Shore," encounter the elusive "sea turtles" (they were huge! I could almost ride on their backs).
4. For lunch, we had a recommendation from our guide for a hidden gem "delicious shrimp restaurant" (so good! Lightly seasoned for $11).
5. The much-anticipated "horseback riding"… Unlike other horseback riding optional tours that just walk along the coast for 40 minutes, this tour takes you through varied landscapes like hills, valleys, and bamboo groves, allowing you to enjoy the rhythm of the horse for a full 90 minutes in nature. Local staff support you at the front and back of the line, ensuring safety. The horses are wild yet generally calm, and there were many female groups participating (however, those over 100 kg are not allowed; we don’t want to hurt the horses).

**Note:** If you ride properly, there are no issues, but if you mess around or let go of the reins (like taking photos), you could fall off and get seriously injured (which is why you have to sign a waiver before riding).

So, how much is this packed tour? An incredible $165 per person! (Of course, it includes a Japanese-speaking guide, tips, and hotel pickup). You will really understand how great of a deal this plan is if you take the time to compare it with other tours!

Let’s not be lazy and look for "other tours" too! That way, you’ll realize that "what Yamachan said was true." If you find any other great deals, please let me know! Let’s share good information! Aloha~

◆数あるハワイの「オプショナルツアー」で、お得感のある（支払に対して満足感が高い）ツアーを紹介します。今回は「ハワイで乗馬！」を主目的に、様々なオプショナルツアーを比較しながら探しました。そして見つけたのがこのプラン！　①まずお決まりの「この木なんの木」の「モアナルアガーデン」（2016年4月以降はモアナルアガーデンツアーは無くなる、との事で早めに見納め）②続いて「ドールプランテーション」にてハワイ特産のパイナップルを堪能　③続いて「ノースショア」にて、遭遇が難しい「うみがめ」対面（デカッ！ いました いました 背中に乗れそう）④昼食はガイドさん推薦の「隠れ家的」な「絶品シュリンプ料理店（うまい！あっさり味付けで11ドル）」⑤お待ちかね「乗馬」…海岸沿いをただ、てくてく歩く「他の乗馬オプショナルツアー（40分）」と違い、このツアーは起伏に富んだ「山あいや谷？や竹やぶ等、いわゆる自然の中を悠々と馬の鼓動を聞きながら（それも90分ですぞ！）、乗馬を楽しむツアーです。サポートも現地スタッフが隊列の前後につき安心。馬も野性味があってスリリングですが総じておとなしく、女性グループも多かったです。（ただし100㎏以上の人はNG　馬さんかわいそうだもんね）【注意点】・キチンと乗れば全然問題なしでも、ふざけたり、手を離したり（カメラ撮影等）してると落馬して大怪我します（そのため、乗馬前に「免責証書を書かされる」）
ハイッ！　ここまで盛りだくさんツアーでお値段は？　な、な、なんと一人165ドル！（もちろん日本語ガイドさん付き、チップ込みでホテル送迎付き）このプランがいかにお得（安い）かは、いろいろ時間をかけて「他」のツアーを探して比較してみれば よ～くわかります！
横着せずに「他のツアー」も探しましょうね！そうすれば、「やまちゃんが言っていた事は本当だったんだ」と分かります。もし、他にお得なツアーがあれば、また教えてください！良い情報は共有していきましょう！　アロハ～

The story from our Japanese guide, Maki, was so enjoyable that we couldn't stop laughing during the half-day tour. The Polynesian show in the second half was far more impressive than we had anticipated, and it moved me to tears. I highly recommend this tour. I hope to see Maki again!

日本人の名物ガイド・マキさんのお話が楽しくて楽しくて…笑いっぱなしの半日観光でした。後半のポリネシアンショーは予想していたより遥かに見ごたえがあり、感動して涙してしまいました。お勧めのツアーです。またマキさんに会えたらいいね！

I only spoke Japanese, but I managed to get by. Depending on the number of participants, I was able to leave earlier than the time indicated in the schedule, which was a great help since I had optional reservations afterward. It would be appreciated if you could also note that the schedule mentioned had some slight changes.

日本語しかはなせませんでしたが、何とか大丈夫でした。
参加人数によるのかもしれませんが、スケジュールで見ていた時間より、早く帰る事が出来て助かりました助かりました。その後もオプションを予約していたので。 記載されていたスケジュールとかちょっと変更になっていましたので、それも書いて頂けると、ありがたいと思います。