Reviewed by: Richard V.
This was my second trip up to the summit of Mauna Kea for the Sunset & Stargazing Adventure. The drive up this time was smoother than the first, thankfully, and our guide was excellent. You could tell he was well-informed on all the topics he discussed. The catered Hawaiian dinner was very tasty, and in sufficient quantity to satisfy a good appetite. The only drawback this time was that the clock-drive on the telescope was not working, which took away from our ability to look at celestial objects at high magnification. I recommend this trip, and also that the tour company repair their clock drives!
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Packages: | Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/11/18 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Curt
This was one of the best tours ever! The high lite was the star gazing, holy cow was it fantastic!
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Packages: | Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/17 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/14 |
Reviewed by: Macie
John was super helpful, never surfed before and rode quite a few waves during the lesson. Very positive, upbeat, and skilled! Had a blast!
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Packages: | Group Lesson |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/17 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/14 |
Reviewed by: Brad
We had a great time in our trip. Our guide jeff was fantastic and took the time to make sure everyone had a great night. Highly recommend this trip.
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Packages: | Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/15 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/12 |
Reviewed by: LJKouri
What a wonderful evening. The cruise was great. The crew was extremely attentive and helpful. The live music was excellent. And I enjoyed seeing the sites. I would definitely take this cruise again.
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Packages: | Dinner Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/15 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/07 |
Reviewed by: Ralphg
If you have the opportunity to visit Hawaii and the big island is on your agenda, the tour to the top of Mauna Kea is a must do !! The journey up and down the mountain is exhilarating, the views on the way up, stunning and the views from the top at sunset - unforgettable!!!!
Of course the weather gods can have their say and you could be unlucky.
Very impressed by the capability of our driver Joe who also made our star gazing even more memorable with his explanations and knowledge. You will leave with an impression of how “special” it is to visit the top of Mauna Kea and with an understanding of why the Hawaiian people see it as a place to be treated with respect
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Packages: | Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/11/12 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/09 |
Reviewed by: AJMM
There was 6 people in our party it was all our first time and our captains were amazing. They made us feel safe and secure and made sure we had a great time. Definitely will do it again. We did the early bird and it was a great time to be up there to start the day.
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Packages: | Early Bird Special! Deluxe Ride [800ft] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/11/12 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/31 |
Reviewed by: ふぃーちゃん
レンタカーで早めに到着、日焼け止めを塗って準備万端!
それでも、シュノーケルの体制から、ふくらはぎから太もも
の裏がメチャ焼けました。
十数人の参加者の中で、日本人は私たち夫婦のみ
スピードゴムボートで移動し、シュノーケルスポットに到着
透明度も良くお魚もたくさんいました。
お昼にサンドイッチを頂き少し移動、二度目のシュノーケルでしたが、
数百メートル移動しただけなのであまり変化無しでそこは残念でした。
帰りは、数か所波で浸食された場所で止まりキャプテンが説明
もちろん英語で、私たちはチンプンカンプン((+_+))
イルカの群れにも会えドルフィンジャンプに胸キュンでした。
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Packages: | 5時間コース |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/07 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/06 |
Reviewed by: Yang
Its was a great tour as advertised, Pick up was on time. and Gordon is a good driver, friendly, take good cares of everyone. He and his buddy provided a great service for the entire tour. This is a great tour to take if you are just visiting big island for vacation. We were traveling light, dont want to prepare winter cloth. the tour provides what we need on the mountain. It was one of the best tour we took in big island. definitely will do again~~
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/06 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/15 |
Reviewed by: Erica
We had a great time, and really enjoyed the entire experience. We we lucky and had manta rays barrel rolling right up to us for most of the time we were in the water. The captain and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. And the snacks were a nice treat after getting out of the water. Hope to do it again!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/02 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/02 |
Reviewed by: Elizabeth from AR
This was an amazing trip. We had a smooth ride out to the Sheraton and saw a beautiful sunset.
Then we got our snorkels and masks and got in the water. We all grabbed the handrail on the kick board and gotntowed out to abgood spot. We ended up joining up with other groups to form a "buffet line". Th manta rays came through eating plankton doing barrel rolls so close I thought they were going to brush our faces with their wing tips!
I highly recommend this tour group. They're super friendly and are very good at what they do.
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Packages: | Sunset Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2.5 hours] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/01 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/29 |
Reviewed by: Linda R
It was an interesting experience. We enjoyed it but a couple people did get sick on the long boat ride. Lots of mantas rays showed up and swam with us.
Aloha, We appreciate you taking the time to write a review. Unfortunately sea sickness does happen to random guests. We keep ginger chews on the boat for this reason. Mahalo for joining us and hope to see you again your next visit to the Big Island. Aloha
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Moonlight Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2 hours] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/08 |
Reviewed by: Tracy O.
The helicopter ride was amazing! We took the Circle Island tour. Colin was our pilot and he was really informative and made it a really fun experience.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this activity to anyone.
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Packages: | Circle Island Tour Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/23 |
Reviewed by: dusty
their lights were dim compared to other companies, and they went in much earlier than the other boats.
Thank you for reviewing your tour with us. The lights we use are quite powerful, we do place a special blue filter over them to attract more of the microscopic plankton which the mantas' appear to prefer over the larger zooplankton, that may be why they appeared to be dim by comparison.
Mahalo
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/22 |
Reviewed by: Amanda & Sierra
First time going on a snorkeling tour and it was a blast! Beautiful boat and weather! The crew kirk and Kyle were amazing hosts. Could not ask for a better experience!
Thank you for taking your time to review your trip. So happy your first time snorkeling was a blast. Mahalo Nui Loa!
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Deluxe Morning Snorkel Cruise with 2 Snorkel Stops, Breakfast & Lunch [4.5 hrs] |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/27 |
Reviewed by: うーたん
シュノーケル好きの私たち親子は日本からマイ器材を持って参加!
ほかの乗船客は年齢も国籍も様々。
かなり年配のおじいちゃんもいました。
シュノーケル初心者の方にはマスクの付け方などのレクチャーもしっかりしてくださり安心。
ただし説明はすべて船長の早口な英語です。(笑)
シュノーケルポイントは海況を見て2箇所。
1箇所目はホナウナウ国立歴史公園の近く。
大きなサンゴの棚がたくさんあり、色とりどりの熱帯魚もたくさん!
時間を忘れてしまうほど美しいポイントでした。
2箇所目はさらに20分ほどボートを走らせ、先ほどとは一転
何十年か前にキラウエアからの溶岩が海に流れ込んだと言う場所。
冷えて固まった大きな丸い岩がゴロゴロと落ちており、地形を楽しむようなポイントです。
そこではウミガメたちを発見!彼らの邪魔にならないよう、遠くから見つめていました。
ウミガメが泳ぐ姿はまるで空を羽ばたいているようで、とても癒されました。
船長からランチタイムだぞー!と声をかけられ海から上がると、船からもくもくと煙が。
船員さんが焼いてくれたビーフパティやチキンと一緒にフレッシュな野菜を挟む
バイキング形式のハンバーガーランチ!
これが予想をはるかに超える美味しさでビックリ!
サイドの自家製タロイモチップスもとても美味しかったです。
皆が海を名残惜しんでいるところでボートは桟橋に向けて出発。
途中イルカの群れを見つけてしばしイルカウォッチングしたり、
キャプテンクックのモニュメントに寄り道したりしながら戻りました。
5時間ほどのツアーでしたが本当にあっっと言う間に時間が過ぎ、
滞在中もう一回行っちゃう?と話題が出たほど(笑)大満足のツアーでした!
またハワイ島に行った際は絶対に参加します!
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Packages: | 基本プラン |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/21 |
Reviewed by: yamatosumomo
三年前に同じ地域の別ホテルのルアウに参加しましたが、それより良かった。開場し記念撮影と各種ポリネシアン文化に軽く触れられるワークショップ形式のブースがちらほら。ヘナのスタンプ(おそらくヘナではない、その夜に濡れティッシュで簡単に落ちた)、けん玉?のような遊具やボードゲームなど。ヘナだけ体験し、無料のカクテルを飲んでいるとテーブルへ案内されます。8名掛けの円卓に我々夫婦とイギリスから来たという4名のグループが同席。旅行英会話程度の我々でもだいたい理解できる英語でMCが進行してくれます。
同席のイギリス人の英語が分かりづらいのと私の真後ろにスピーカーがあったので会話に難儀しました。程よい広さで一体感のあるルアウ。客席が近いから安全性を重視するのか、ファイアーダンスは振り回しているうちに火が小さくなっていってやや迫力に欠けます。
それでも男女とも迫力と完成度高いダンスパフォーマンスに圧倒されますし、三人編成のハワイアンバンドが前座、幕間を程よい音楽で楽しませてくれます。他者のコメントで時間が長いとありましたが、確かにお子さん向けではないかな。
食事の途中、最初に撮影した写真を$20で売りに回ってきます。おのぼりさんですから気前良く買いましたが背景など構図をもっと気にしてほしかったです。前日のリコンファームを失念し当日朝に慌てて電話しましたが問題なかったようです。
ハワイ島最後の夜に参加して大正解でした。次回、もっと英語が聞き取れるよう勉強して再訪したいです。
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/29 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/08 |
Reviewed by: ほぬさま
ツアー内容どうこうの話ではなく、それ以前の問題です。8月にお世話になったのですが、日本からきちんと4名の予約をしていったのに、実際予約が2名分しかとれていなく残りの2名は当日予約になってしまいました。料金の兼ね合いもありveltraさんに帰国後メールを入れましたがそれに関しては無視されています。今後この会社を使うことはありません。
この度は、ツアーにご参加いただき誠にありがとうございます。
しかしながら、せっかくのご旅行中にご不便おかけし、大変申し訳ございませんでした。
別途メールにてご連絡させていただきましたが、お客様のご予約ですは弊社のシステム上では4名様にてご予約いただいておりましたが、催行会社側にて誤って2名様で席を確保していたようでございます。当日中にスタッフがお客様のご予約が4名様でお支払されていることに気が付き、追加でご予約いただいた2名様分につきましてはその場でキャンセルしたとのことでした。
せっかく楽しみにしていただいたシュノーケリングクルーズであったにも関わらず、予約管理不備により良い旅の思い出になるべきところが苦い思い出へ変わってしまったこと大変心苦しく感じております。また体験談にご投稿いただいたにも関わらずご返信が遅くなりましたことお詫び申し上げます。催行会社にはこのような予約不備にてお客様にご迷惑をおかけすることがございませんよう厳重注意させていただきました。
お客様からのお言葉を真摯に受け止め、催行会社共々、今後さらなるサービス向上に努めてまいります。
お忙しい中、貴重なご投稿を賜りまして、誠にありがとうございました。
VELTRAカスタマーサポートチーム
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Packages: | 9:00出港(シュノーケル2.5時間) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/25 |
Activity Date: | 2017/08/17 |
Reviewed by: Amber Bialy
My husband and I were both nervous, I get seasick and he has a fear of deeper water and has never snorkeled. Captain Morgan was amazing and the crew was super reassuring. They gave me ginger candy when I got on. I only felt a little queasy, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Short ride and they got us in the water and we had a full display of barrel rolls by 2 mantas! My husband had an amazing time and he enjoyed it more than he thought he would. He would do it again! You stay in the water for a reasonable amount of time, I got out a tad early but we went back shortly after. Tea, soda and fresh pineapple was offered. A MUST do and I couldn't ask for a better crew. Bring your own goggles and snorkel if you have them, some masks leaked a little. Worth it even if you get seasick (lots of ginger and dramamine!)
Pick a day with no wind as Well! We had a great experience.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. Happy to hear both you and your husband enjoyed the experience. Thank you for joining us and hope to serve you again soon in the near future.
A Hui Hou!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/24 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/21 |
Reviewed by: Monique
Was amazing experience easily the best dolphin swim I have ever done. We got to see a bit of the coast line and the guides were very friendly we would definitely come back again
Aloha! Thank you for having joined us. We are very glad that you have enjoyed the wonderful encounter with wild dolphins! Please come back to our tour again :) Mahalo!
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Packages: | Dolphin Swim & Snorkel (No Transportation) (until 2018/03/31) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/23 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/09 |
Reviewed by: Steve
Crew was very nice and captain had a great story, but we were ones that had little luck with manta's. We did see one or two, but it took a full hour in water, where some of my party began to get sick and missed it. The most disappointing part was absolutely no cruise. Do not expect a cruise. We coasted for 5 min and went out where I could snorkel on my own. I really thought we would sail for a bit and get snacks instead of one piece of pineapple. Understand you are hanging onto a ladder the whole time. I get it for safety reasons, but not what I expected. There is no real snorkeling where your swimming around. No boat lights other then ladder. I felt we were using other boats lights, where we were the last ones to ever see anything, unless we got lucky. Our ladder had lights. I thought this was also a 3 to 4 hour tour. It took 5 or 10 min. To get where we were going, then hour in water, then go home. No drinks on this, and hit and miss with hot chocolate. I highly recommended actually sailing first and open the sails like they said would happen and choosing this boat in the first place. My party was disappointed. My kids were troopers and stayed out with me and saw the one manta, before turning back where the rest of the people holding onto the ladder didn't see it. At least give us a cruise first with this cool boat.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the staff and also sorry to hear you did not fully enjoy the trip. We, unfortunately, do not always get the opportunity to sail prior to the manta tour. As stated on the website, factors such as mooring availability water conditions and weather play a great part in what happens on each individual tour. If I could have it my way, every night we would have just enough wind cruise out to sea while watching a glorious sunset (No rain). Return back to the manta site to find our mooring available, at this point the wind would calm and the sea would be flat and upon entering the water all of Kona's manta rays would gather under our raft for the entire hour. Everyone would be happy, but alas this does not happen as often as I wish it would.
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Packages: | Sunset Sail & Manta Ray Snorkel - Special Group Rate for 6+ Passengers |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2017/10/23 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/18 |
Reviewed by: Andrea
Excellent, just do it, unforgettable experience!! Thanks to Hawaii Forest and Trail group, make sure your tour is through them, in fact make sure all your Big Island tours are through them, they are AWESOME!!
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/10/22 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/19 |
Reviewed by: James Henderson
Great experience!!!! Tour guide was very knowledgeable, experienced, super friendly, and accommodating! Loved this!
We are happy you enjoyed the tour. Hope you will join us again!
Mahalo,
Jeannie
Kailua Bay Charter
The Glass Bottom Boat
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/21 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/18 |
Reviewed by: グーフィー
姉弟三人で参加しましたが、全員立てました。
先生たちが、とても親切に教えてくれます。3人ともほとんど英語が話せませんが、ごく簡単な言葉やジェスチャーを交えて教えてくれるので、困りませんでした。
Rating: | |
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Packages: | グループレッスン |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/21 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/09 |
Reviewed by: ジュン
参加者の顔ぶれを見ると、日本人は私たち夫婦だけ。あとはアメリカ人、ドイツ人、ポーランド人、ポルトガル人など外人ばかり。また、ガイドさんは日本語ができないアメリカ人。挙げ句の果てに、ツアーの最初にみんなの前で英語で自己紹介をさせられた。でも、せっかく外国に来たのだから日本人ばかりのツアーでなくこんなツアーもいい!アメリカ人の思考がどうなっているのか、日常的な対応(習慣)などを垣間見ることができた。肝心のトレッキングとバードウォッチングは、都会の喧騒から離れ、まさに自然の真っ只中に放り込まれ、自然の中では「なんて人間はちっぽけなんだろう」、とか「自然の奥深さ」を感じた。なお、これから参加を検討している方は、気温や雨に対応するため、長袖や長ズボンだけでなく、上下のレインウェアや帽子が必要です。また、スニーカーではなく、軽登山靴、さらにできればハイカットのものがあればいいと思います。そのほか、ガイドさんが用意してくれた朝ごはん、昼ごはん、おやつは日本の感覚とは違ってアメリカのピクニックのようなもので美味しかった。
Rating: | |
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Packages: | レインフォレスト+ドライフォレスト |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/18 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/10 |
Reviewed by: KarenS
So much fun! The crew was wonderful and it was fun meeting people from all over.
Thank you for reviewing your afternoon snorkel with us and thank you for joining us. Happy to know you enjoyed the tour. A Hui Hou!
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Afternoon Snorkel Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/16 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/27 |
Reviewed by: keryl
Captain Steve was hilarious and Michael was a great assistant captain. Both Steve and Michael were entertaining and very knowledgeable about the southern part of the island of Hawaii. We saw dolphins, tons of colorful fish snorkeling, traveled to look inside sea cave and had more food than we needed! It was a truly amazing day on the ocean with Sea Quest!
Rating: | |
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Packages: | 5-hour South Kona Expedition with Lunch (3 Snorkel Stops) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/15 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/12 |
Reviewed by: VA family
A perfect size group for this expedition. Captain Steve was knowledgeable and interesting.
Rating: | |
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Packages: | 3-hour Captain Cook Cruise (1 Snorkel Stop) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/14 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/11 |
Reviewed by: Julie
We arranged our dinner plans through Veltra for a great luau experience which was spectacular.
We came to Hawaii for our honeymoon.
Everyone at the luau were very friendly in greeting everyone and keeping us posted on the weather which ended up being nice vs pouring rain.
I hope we can come back again with our kids.
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/13 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/10 |
Reviewed by: Erin
Wonderful luau!! Would highly recommend!! Came here with my brother who was visiting and we had a blast. Mahalo!
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/11 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/08 |
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Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you had a good time.
Mahalo Nui Loa!