All Reviews for Teen Adventures (Ages 13-17)

My teenage daughter really wanted this experience, my wife not so keen. It was well worth it, about 20 large sharks swimming around you whilst you are safe in the cage. Even my wife thought so. It was a good experience, the crew were good and organised.
The slow rolling sea can affect some :-)

The quality of optional tours depends on "the weather and the guide." I was blessed with wonderful weather (Hawaiian blue = a clear blue sky) and the best guide, allowing me to spend a blissful time.

First, at the majestic Moanalua Gardens, I had the blooming monkey pod tree (the tree from Hitachi's advertisement) all to myself.

At the Dole Plantation, while others were waiting in long lines, I enjoyed VIP treatment thanks to my prior reservation and the familiar face of my guide, allowing me to bypass the queue and board immediately. After boarding, I had time for a stroll, shopping, and a light meal.

In Haleiwa Town, the experienced guide truly showcased their skills! They meticulously calculated the timing and route, leisurely navigating just before the busy hours. I was able to enjoy delicious shrimp from Mackey's, acai bowls from Lanikai Juice, and shave ice from Matsumoto without any wait, entering the shops while others were lined up outside. I managed to conquer all my goals with plenty of time to spare.

The 90-minute exploration of Haleiwa was divided into three 30-minute segments, allowing us to visit all the key spots without a long walk. I appreciated the thoughtful care of the veteran guide!

By slightly shifting away from the crowded beach where people were gathering around sea turtles, I was able to encounter sea turtles on a deserted beach.

Everything went so smoothly that I had extra time… The unexpected bonus tour to the soap factory, which became famous in Japan through the TV show "Moyamoya Summers," was excellent. They really know how to connect with Japanese TV programs—truly professional and experienced.

I was also given a handmade map of Haleiwa Town that included shop names and restrooms not found on commercial maps. Since I have difficulty walking, my guide brought a lightweight folding chair from home so I could take breaks while exploring. I felt a family-like hospitality in their meticulous care, which deeply impressed me.

Finally, I sincerely thank VELTRA, the operating company Island Makana, and my guide Yamada! Thank you for the best experience in Oahu (North Shore)! Next time I visit Hawaii, I will choose optional tours through VELTRA and confidently recommend them to my friends and acquaintances visiting Hawaii!

■オプショナルツアーの善し悪しは「天気とガイド次第」できまる。
素晴らしい好天（ハワイアンブルー＝抜けるような青空）に恵まれ＋最高のガイドのプロデュースで、至福のときを過ごすことが出来ました。
■先ず、誰も居ない雄大なモアナルアガーデンでは、花の咲いたモンキーポッド（この樹何の樹＝日立の樹）を独り占め
■ドールプランテーションでは、混み合う行列を尻目に、事前のリザーブと見慣れた（ガイドの）顔で、横をすり抜けＶＩＰ待遇…即乗車。乗車後～散策＋買い物＋軽食をとる時間もあった。
■ハレイワタウンでは熟練ガイドの感･･･本領発揮！
・時間とルートを緻密に計算し、混み合う時間の少し前を悠々と回る。
・マッキーズのぷりっぷり美味しいエビも／ラニカイジュースのアサイボールも／マツモトのかき氷も、待ち時間０で入店～店を出る頃はどの店も長蛇の列列列。楽々時間を残して目的を制覇することが出来た。
・９０分のハレイワ散策も３０分×３箇所に分割し、長距離を歩くことなく要所をすべて訪れることが出来た。ベテランガイドの気遣いが嬉しい！
■ウミガメに人が群がる混み合うビーチを少しズラして、誰も居ないビーチでウミガメにも出逢えた。
■スムーズ過ぎて時間にゆとりが…予定にないオマケツアーで訪れた「モヤモヤサマーズで日本で一躍有名になった」石鹸工場は非常に良かった。日本のＴＶ番組をちゃんと押さえている処など…さすがプロ＋さすがベテラン
■市販の地図に載っていない店名やトイレなどを記したハレイワタウンの解りやすい手製地図を作って戴いたり、足の不自由な私には、少し歩くことになるので、休み休み回れるように、軽い折りたたみ椅子を自宅から持参してくれたり、至れり尽くせりの気遣いに、家族のようなもてなしの心を感じ…感銘した。
■最後にＶＥＬＴＲＡ／履行会社アイランドマカナ／そして担当して戴いた山田さんに心から感謝だ！最高のオアフ（ノースショア）をありがとう！
・次に訪ハワイする際のオプショナルツアーは、ＶＥＬＴＲＡでアイランドマカナで選びます＋勿論訪ハワイする友人や知人にも自信を持って薦めます！！！

Had ourselves a good time. Got sea sick on the boat ride though. Recommend you bring some gravol. A good activity to do while you are in Hawaii.

This was my first time ever riding a horse and they made me feel very comfortable. The views were amazing and Cassie was a fabulous guide! My husband and I decided to do this ride the night before our vow renewal and it gave us some beautiful memories to look back on! We would definitely recommend this ride!

This was amazing event!!!! It was a safe trip, and it was awesome seeing the sharks swimming very close. I'm looking forward to doing it again.

The guide was very kind.

According to the original schedule, lunch was supposed to be after horseback riding, but we had lunch before riding. Despite it being outside of regular hours, they ordered the garlic shrimp for us early, allowing us to enjoy the food from the North Shore.

It was my first time horseback riding, and the horses were adorable. I was nervous at first, but I got used to it during the ride, and the 90 minutes flew by.

The scenery was beautiful, and I definitely want to use this service again.

ガイドの方が非常に親切でした。

事前のスケジュールでは乗馬の後にお昼ご飯でしたが、乗馬の前に昼食を頂きました。
時間外にもかかわらずガーリックシュリンプを早めに注文してくださって、ノースショアの食事を堪能できました。

乗馬は初めてだったのですが、馬もかわいくて、緊張しましたが、乗っている間に慣れてあっという間の90分でした。

景色も綺麗で、また是非利用したいと思います。

On the day I arrived in Hawaii, I received a call saying the pineapple train was not running, so I had to change to a free plan at the last minute. I was really looking forward to it, so it's disappointing.

ハワイ到着した当日、パイナップル列車が動かないと電話があり、急遽フリープランに変更しました。楽しみにしてただけに残念です。

The guide was a very nice person, and I enjoyed the conversation and participation. The various stops along the way were also well arranged, which was great.

ガイドさんがとてもいい人で、話も楽しく参加させて頂きました。途中の立ち寄り先もいろいろアレンジして頂きよかったです。

We had a great time! Everyone saw 3-4 8 to 10 foot sharks! Would sure do again!

While the scenery was excellent and the tour guides very hospitable, it was hard to call this a horseback "riding" tour. We walked the horses on a predefined trail, and while I understand the owner's concerns about the health of his/her animals and the variable level of riding experience of the participants, there should have been a chance to run, gallop, or at least trot on the animals to call it riding.

Sam was a wonderful friendly tour guide. I liked the flexibility of the tour, being able to do various activities and see many different things. The sea turtles were a highlight. I also enjoyed the history and personal anecdotes of the tour. It was the best part of my trip to Oahu.

I wanted to go horseback riding at Happy Trails but didn't have a way to get there, so I found this tour. It was a relief to be taken to the hard-to-reach Happy Trails. I don't need the doll or this tree, though... The guide was very pleasant, and I had a great time participating. I will use this service again when I go horseback riding.

ハッピートレイルズの乗馬がしたいが足がなく、このツアーを発見しました。
行きにくいハッピートレイルズに連れて行ってもらい助かりました。
なので、ドールとこの木は必要ないのですが。。
ガイドさんはとても感じの良い方で楽しく参加できました。
また乗馬の時は使わせていただきます。

We all enjoyed the ride. Savannah was a great guide and full of information on the local area. The horses were well groomed and behaved. The top of the mountain where we stopped for dinner provided gorgeous views. The dinner was good and so was the company. Gunstock Ranch was very beautiful, and the drive from Waikiki was beautiful too. I would definitely recommend it. Well worth it.

We drove to the North in a rental car and participated in horseback riding with our family. The Hawaii Polo Club, where we were taken care of this time, is located along the coast, with a dreamlike setting of white sandy beaches next to vast polo fields. Although I only understand a little Japanese, the friendly staff were very kind to us, and we had a wonderful time that made me want to come back for sure. The pleasant breeze of the North felt on the horse's back, the blue sky of Hawaii—just amazing!!! I highly recommend it.

　レンタカーに乗ってノースまでドライブし、家族で乗馬に参加しました。今回お世話になったハワイポロクラブは海岸沿いの敷地で、白い砂浜と広大なポロフィールドが隣り合わせの夢のようなロケーションです。日本語は少ししか通じませんが、フレンドリーなスタッフに親切にしていただき、非常に楽しい時間を過ごす事ができ是非リピートしたいなって気持ちになりました。馬の背で感じるノースの心地良い風、ハワイの青い空、サイコー！！！お勧めです。

Had a great time. We go to Hawaii once a year, and have gone on almost every tour. The best thing about this was the tremendous flexibility to do and swap activities. Not a "tourist" tour. Little fubar on scheduling, but the drive Harry made up for that. Time with Harry was as good or better than seeing the falls!!

I have been to Hawaii over a dozen times and have been to Haleiwa and Giovanni's. This time, I didn't rent a car, so I joined a tour. My main goal was horseback riding, but I was also looking forward to shopping and dining in Haleiwa.

The driver seemed to be a veteran, and while you could say he was experienced, I felt like he didn't understand the excitement we had for participating in the tour. For example, when I requested Giovanni's, he repeatedly said, "It was featured on TV," and everyone else went to Macky's. I also got the impression that he somewhat dismissed Matsumoto Shave Ice, and we ended up going there just the two of us.

We were able to see sea turtles at the first beach we visited, but due to the reason that we couldn't stop the car, we were told to "return to the car right after taking photos."

Horseback riding was very enjoyable and became a great memory.

ハワイには十数回行っており、ハレイワにもジョバンニにも行った事があります。
今回は車を借りなかった為、ツアーに参加しました。
第一の目的は乗馬でしたが、ハレイワでのショッピングも食事も楽しみでした。

ドライバーさんはベテランらしく、良く言えば慣れていて、悪く言えば楽しみに参加した
気持ちをわかって頂けないように感じました。
例えばジョバンニをリクエストすると、「テレビで紹介されたから」と何度も言われ、
私たち以外はマッキーズに行きました。
マツモトシェイブアイスについても何となく否定された感じで、私たちだけ走って食べに
行きました。
ウミガメは最初に寄ったビーチで会えましたが、車を止めておけないという理由で、
「写真を撮ったらすぐに車に戻るように」でした。

乗馬はとても楽しく、良い思い出になりました。

I'm glad you were able to hit the key points during your visit. I chose horseback riding, and it was fine even as a beginner. It was great to see the big turtle too.

ポイントを押さえて回っていただけたのでよかったです。乗馬を選びましたが、初めてでも大丈夫でした。大きな亀も見れてよかったです。

I decided to come here because I heard it's the only place on Oahu where you can trot and canter. The sensation of running through the vast nature, feeling the wind while cantering, is just amazing!

I climbed a mountain and was able to see the beach from the top. The scenery is just beautiful!

Although only English is spoken, I think as long as you understand the terms for trot and canter, you can manage while riding. They also have helmet rentals, and you can easily go with just jeans and sneakers.

The location was a bit far from Waikiki, so I took a taxi. It took about an hour and a half one way, and the fare was around $130. It felt great to drive along the coastal highway. I think having a rental car would be convenient.

オアフ島で速歩、駈歩ができるのはここだけと聞いて決めました。日本では考えられない広大な自然の中を駈歩で風を切って走る感覚は最高です！
山を登り、頂上からはビーチまで見渡せました。とにかく景色が綺麗！

英語しか通じませんが、速歩（トロット）、駈歩（キャンター）の言葉さえ分かれば騎乗中はなんとかなると思います。
ヘルメットもレンタルがあるし、ジーンズとスニーカーさえあれば気軽に行くことができます。

場所だけはワイキキから遠かったのでタクシーを利用しました。片道1時間半程度、料金は130ドル程度でした。海沿いのハイウェイを走るのも気持ちよかったです。レンタカーがあると便利だと思います。

We have been taken care of by Gunstock three times as a couple.

In the world of horseback riding, there are not many places where you can canter, but this place never disappoints, no matter when you visit (laughs). Even if you don't understand English, the handsome guide leads the way and turns back to ask, "Is cantering okay?" The well-trained horses recognize that this is a place where they can run, so they canter comfortably.

Gunstock is the best!! We will definitely visit again next time!

ガンストックさんへは夫婦で3回お世話になっております。

外乗ではなかなかキャンター（駈歩）させてもらえる所が少ない中ここはいつ訪れても裏切らないです（笑）
英語がわからなくてもイケメンガイドのお兄さんが先導してくれ後ろを振り返り「キャンターＯＫ？」って声をかけてくれます。きちんと調教された馬がここは走ってもＯＫの場所だと認識しているので気持ちよく駈歩してくれます。

ガンストックさん最高！！次回も絶対お邪魔します！

We participated as a couple. Since we are attending a riding school in Japan, we were looking forward to horseback riding abroad. The handsome staff communicated with us in broken Japanese, and we enjoyed a walk on the beautiful beach of the North Shore. Then we did log jumps, and afterwards, we even got to canter, which made us very satisfied.

夫婦で参加しました。
日本で乗馬学校に通っている事もあり海外での乗馬を楽しみにして。
英語が話せない私達にイケメンスタッフが片言の日本語で対応してくれノースショアの美しいビーチをお散歩。
そして丸太ん棒のジャンプ。その後駈歩までさせて頂き
とっても満足できました。

I love horseback riding and have taken various lessons, but I had my first experience with polo in Japan, as there weren't many opportunities.

First, we practiced hitting the ball on the ground. After that, I hit the ball while walking on the horse, and gradually I was able to hit the ball while the horse was running. The horse was very smart and moved towards the ball on its own.

I was very satisfied with the added enjoyment of horseback riding.

I had a great experience in the beautiful nature of the North Shore.

The staff were kind, and even though I didn't understand much English, we were able to communicate through gestures.

Thank you very much.

乗馬が好きでいろいろレッスンを受けてきましたが、ポロは日本では機会がなく初体験でした
まずは地上で球を打つ練習
その後、馬に乗り歩かせながら球を打ち、徐々に馬を走らせながら球を打つ所まで出来ました
馬がとても賢く、ポロに慣れているため球を打った方へ自ら移動します

乗馬プラスαの楽しさで大満足

ノースショアの大自然の中、とても良い経験ができました

スタッフの方も親切で英語があまりわからなくても身振り手振りで意志の疎通が出来ました

ありがとうございました

They took photos for us at every stop, so even as a couple, we didn't have to worry about taking pictures. I really appreciated this thoughtful gesture.

Since I chose the hiking plan, I walked through the botanical garden at the end point in Waimea Canyon, but it was hard to understand the different zones without being able to read English... I can recommend it for nature lovers, but if I were to do it again, I think I'd prefer horseback riding after seeing others.

I was told that in winter, it depends on the turtles, but luckily, we encountered a sea turtle basking on the rocks! The conversations along the way were enjoyable, but on the way back, I was so tired that I fell into a deep sleep. You can have such a fulfilling experience in a short amount of time. I highly recommend it.

行く先々でまず写真撮影をしてくれたので、カップルで参加してもカメラ撮影に気を揉まずにすみました。
本当にこういう心遣いは嬉しかったです。

ハイキングプランをチョイスしたので、ワイメア渓谷がゴール地点の植物園を歩いたのですが、英語が読めないとゾーンが変わってもよくわからないという…
自然大好き！な方にはオススメできますが、リピートするなら乗馬がいいなぁと他の方々を見て思いました。

冬場は寒いので出会えるかは亀次第…と説明を受けたものの、運良くウミガメの甲羅干しにも出会えてラッキー！
道中の会話も楽しかったのですが、帰りは疲れて熟睡してしまいました。
それだけ充実した内容を短時間で過ごせます。オススメです。

Had great day. My grandsons and self really enjoyed it. Lots of time to wander around. Sam was great. Very knowledgable .answered lots of questions.really appreciated his friendly attitude.

I go to Hawaii every year, and this was my second time participating. My son (11 years old) is really looking forward to the horseback riding here. There are options for valley riding and beach riding, but I think the valley riding is more enjoyable since it lasts for an hour and a half and includes some ups and downs.

During the valley riding, at the end, the instructor takes photos of each person on their horse from a scenic spot with your own camera. Don't forget to bring a digital camera or similar!

毎年ハワイへ行きますが、今回2回目の参加でした。ここの乗馬は、息子（11歳）がとても楽しみにしています。渓谷乗馬と海辺乗馬とありますが、渓谷乗馬の方が乗馬時間も1時間半と長く、アップダウンもあり、楽しめるのではと思います。
渓谷乗馬では、最後に景色の良い所から個々に馬に乗っている状態を手持ちのカメラで乗馬の先生が撮影してくれます。デジカメ等を忘れずに。

I had a wonderful horseback ride along the coast. The staff were very friendly and made the experience enjoyable! I highly recommend it!!

海沿いを気持ちよく乗馬させていただきました。
スタッフの皆さんも気持ち良く接して頂き、とても楽しめました！
おすすめです！！

It was my first time horseback riding, and all three of us were truly satisfied with the smart horses. However, I had prepared under the assumption that we would be able to sightsee in Haleiwa, so it was disappointing that we only passed by and saw it from the car window. This experience is not suitable for those who want to shop or explore in Haleiwa. The taste was not as good as I had hoped, but I was able to enjoy the huli huli chicken and garlic shrimp, and I had a pleasant day overall. The guide was knowledgeable and flexibly took us to points where sea turtles come ashore. Thanks to that, I was able to take a great photo with a large turtle, which became a wonderful memory.

初めての乗馬でしたが、本当に賢い馬ばかりで、参加した３人とも大満足でした。
ただ、ハレイワの街を観光できるものと思い込んで下調べをするなどして準備していたので、車窓から見て通り過ぎるだけだったのは残念でした。
ハレイワで買物や見学をしたい方には不向きです。
味は期待したほどではなかったけれどフリフリチキンやガーリックシュリンプも食べる事ができたし、気持ちのよい一日を過ごす事ができました。
ガイドさんは物知りで、海亀の上陸するポイントなども臨機応変に案内して下さいました。おかげで、大きな亀とのツーショットを撮る事もでき良い思い出になりました。

This is a tour that you can only experience here!! The location is on the North Shore, so it’s a bit far, but I definitely recommend participating. It’s very safe and you can join with peace of mind.

I signed up for the tour without transportation and met at the location because I had a rental car to enjoy the North Shore afterward. Since you can only get to the North Shore by car, I recommend going with a rental car.

The location is at the port next to Alii Beach, where there is a sign. There’s no one around, and it can be a bit difficult to find, so I recommend arriving early.

You will travel to a cage anchored offshore on a mysterious boat called "Dangerous Boat." About eight people will enter the cage.

You can see sharks from the boat, but once you’re in the cage, several sharks measuring 3 to 5 meters swim around you. When you throw food from the boat, you can see their fierce side, which is very exciting. It lasts about 20 minutes, but it was a lot of fun.

However, please note that Japanese is not spoken. After getting off the boat, there are showers at the nearby Alii Beach, so it’s better to park your rental car at Alii Beach! If you plan to go to the North Shore, I highly recommend it.

ここでしか体験できないツアーです！！場所がノースショアなので遠いのですが是非参加されることをお勧めします。とても安全で安心して参加できます。

私は、送迎なしの現地集合で申し込みました。それは終わったあとはノースショアを楽しむ為、レンタカーを用意していたからです。ノースショアは車でないと行けないのでレンタカーで行かれたほがお勧めです。

場所は。アリイビーチの隣の港で看板が立っています。誰もいませんし、ちょっとわかりにくいので早めに行かれることをお勧めします。

”危ない号”という不思議な船で沖合に係留してあるケージまで移動します。
大体８人くらいでケージに入ります。

船の上からでもシャークの姿が見えますが、ケージの中に入ると目の前を３～５mのシャークが数匹ケージの周りを泳いでいます。船の上から餌を投入すると獰猛な一面が見れて大興奮します。２０分程度で終わりますがとても楽しかったです。

但し、日本語が通じませんのでご注意ください。船から上がったらシャワーは隣のアリイビーチにありますので、レンタカーはアリイビーチに停めたほうがいいでしょう！ノースショアに行く予定があれば是非お勧めします。

I'm glad I could thoroughly experience the standard course. The shaved ice at Matsumoto was delicious.

定番コースをじっかりと体験できて良かった。マツモトのかき氷はおいしかった。

My family and I had a wonderful horseback riding experience. We have been on many trail rides and this was by far the best. The horses were not your everyday trail horse, they were healthy and well taken care of. The staff was very personable and professional. I highly recommend the Hawaii Polo Norths Shore Beach Horseback Riding!! You definitely get what you pay for!

My wife and I enjoyed our visit and horseback riding experience at the Gunstock Ranch. We did not want to go to a heavily commercialized facility for horseback riding. There were a lot of animals at the ranch and the scenery was beautiful. The ride trail was nice and rustic which we wanted in our experience. The guide provided us great instruction and information about the ranch, the area and plants along the trail.
Our only improvement suggestions are for the restroom facility's cleaning cycle, grading and packing the access road and a more legible road sign.