Reviewed by: Jenny
We arrived slightly late and the crew kindly waited a bit for us. There was only 4 of us which made the experience felt a lot more enjoyable - it was not crowded or noisy! No jostling of people.
Once out there, we got in the water smoothly and saw 2 rays, 3 times. Unfortunately, the ray sightings have reduced in recent years so we considered ourselves lucky! Highly recommend it all round!
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Packages: | Standard Package: Sunset Manta Snorkel |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/03/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Reviewed by: Max family
This was one the best experiences ever! The guide was fantastic! (Gauge/Gage? My apologies if misspelling your name - he was super knowledgeable about the island and easy to talk to, he was also well organized and thought of everything. The entire journey was super easy to follow and we all got to see some amazing things. Hot chocolate and biscotti? Snow? Wild turkeys and sheep? Binary star system anyone? Gage will make it happen. We also had a great GREAT experience just chatting with you about the Big Island. Thank you Thank you!
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/13 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/22 |
Reviewed by: DebSF
Everything felt very safe, the instruction on safety and vehicle operation was effective and efficient, and we had a blast. The guides were wonderful, too.There are opportunities to switch drivers a few different spots, so we both had a turn at the wheel. Some gorgeous photo opportunities. Lots of kids were along, and they seemed to have a great time as well. We scared a bunch of feral pigs and chased some cows off the trail - who didn't seem to mind at all. One of the high points of our Hawaii trip.
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Packages: | Two Riders Package (1 Driver + 1 Passenger) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/03/12 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/10 |
Reviewed by: MGates
This was probably hands-down the most fun we've had on a trip. We had excellent guides- Henry and Jerry. Everyone from our driver to the riders made the trip super enjoyable. We saw amazing waterfalls along the northern side of the island cliffs. We worked with the wildlife as they allowed us into their grazing areas. This is a must do. Yes you will get dirty and you will enjoy it!
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Packages: | Two Riders Package (1 Driver + 1 Passenger) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/03/10 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/02 |
Reviewed by: Flora
Just want to say that my husband and I really enjoyed our tour with Zachary he was very knowledgeable and attentive with everyone in our group! Thank you!
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Packages: | Standard Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/03/09 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/07 |
Reviewed by: Jenni
Three generations trip and this was a last minute addition.
The staff was amazing, the boat was easy to board and comfortable, and we saw turtles!!
Completely enjoyable and would readily recommend!!
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise. We're so happy to read that your whole family enjoyed the trip, the information and service provided by the crew, and most importantly, got a chance to experience our underwater world.
We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the island and we're honored you chose to spend part of your day with us and that we've earned your recommendation.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/08 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/06 |
Reviewed by: L Family
Eka snorkeling with manta rays was amazing. The small, personalized tour is a great way to see the rays. Loved the classic canoe. This was perfect for ray family and I can recommend this tour group highly enough. Kai was great - he is so knowledgeable about the rays and he calmed my 9 y.o.’s fears -he on spectrum and they were very flexible in how we got him into the water and to the board. My son can’t stop talking about how great this experience was-he can’t wait to go again. Book this tour - you won’t regret it. The entire group was accommodating and friendly and made this the best adventure of our Hawaiian trip. Thank you Eka.
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/03/07 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/05 |
Reviewed by: Judy
We surprised our friends with a lei greeting at the Kona airport. And surprised they were! We were looking for someone in a special shirt (as per the email) but he was in a plain colored shirt. However, he did have a sign with their names and he did call out their names as people approached the baggage claim. The leis were GORGEOUS! Over the following days, our friends received many compliments about how pretty the flowers were. And they smelled GREAT!
HIGHLY recommend this experience. This is not the first time we've used Veltra for surprise lei greetings and each time the experience is the same....GREAT!
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Packages: | Classic Orchid Lei |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/03/04 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/06 |
Reviewed by: Shawn
We could not see any and also the ride was so bumpy
Aloha Shawn,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We extend our deepest apologies for the experience you had on our tour. We would like to hear more details about it. Could you email us at info@hawaiidolphin.com and elaborate further? We would like to rectify this situation. Thank you.
Best,
Iruka Hawai‘i ‘Ohana
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/03/02 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Reviewed by: Phil
We had an amazing time as the crew was incredibly prepared and accommodating. They were able to fit all of us on board and bring us out without a problem. The guides were very knowledgeable and were helpful in getting in and out of the water. They work together with the other tours in the same space to attract as many rays as possible. We ended up seeing 10 or more rays with a near constant show. We had my 65-year-old mom and dad, my 40-year old self and wife, and our eight and 10-year-old with us, and it was never a problem. A great activity if your kids can stay up a little later and recover the next day.
It's a short boat ride out, but the darkness set off a little of my motion sickness, So if you're prone to that be sure to take some medication ahead of time. I also had a little issue being in the waves and going up and down in the darkness. One of the other participants got fully sick away from the boat but the crew handled it very professionally.
I would absolutely recommend them!
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Packages: | Night Manta Discovery Adventure |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/28 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/30 |
Reviewed by: Neverstopexploring
We really enjoyed the glass bottom boat cruise. We had a frustrating experience earlier with snorkeling and we were happy to have an opportunity to see the reefs and the fish from the comfort of a boat. We even got to see some sea turtles under the boat! We also thought that the price for the cruise was more reasonable than many of the attractions in Hawaii. After the cruise we went hiking on the beautiful Ala Kahakai Trail which extends north from A-Bay. The glass bottom boat cruise is a can't miss experience on the Big Island!
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise and for including those wonderful photos! We're so happy to read that you njoyed the trip and got to see so much marine life.
We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the island and we're honored you chose to spend part of your morning with us and that we've earned your recommendation.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/27 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/01 |
Reviewed by: Dan&Renee
This tour was worth every penny. The sites and culture we experienced were beyond our expectations. The tour guide was so friendly and her knowledge of each and every site visited and of the Hawaiian culture and history was beyond outstanding. This tour has to be the highlight of our visit to the Big Island. If you want an exciting, exhilarating, beautiful, and culturally immersive experience this tour will meet your every expectation.
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Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/24 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/22 |
Reviewed by: TPBChicago
The crew was friendly, funny and attentive. Thought we were just getting snacks with our drinks, but also got a teriyaki chicken bowl, which was a pleasant surprise. It was a cloudy day, so no sunset. As such, it would have been nice if they had tried to get us closer to the whales we saw in the distance, to make up for the impending lack of a sunset.
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Packages: | Waikoloa Sunset Sail |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/21 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/03 |
Reviewed by: MM1
Great experience getting to see the whales up and close. The crew was outstanding and very informative. I highly recommend this excursion if you are ever in the area during the whale’s migratory season. The boat size was perfect. Not too big and crowded and not too small to avoid motion sickness.
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Packages: | Morning Whale Watch Cruise [Holona Speed Powerboat] |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/02/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/28 |
Reviewed by: Nick
Kids loved it! Highly recommend. Can't wait to come back :)
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/02/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/25 |
Reviewed by: Maja
This was an amazing experience—the dolphins were incredible. We got to hug them, touch them all over, and swim next to them with our hand on their back but not holding on to them. Maddie, our guide, was so warm and informative. I would recommend bringing goggles (swimming or snorkeling) so that you can put your head underwater with your eyes open to see the dolphins swimming under you. I’m surprised that isn’t recommended. Digital photos are VERY expensive ($170 for all of the photos they took, or $55 for one digital photo). That said, it’s a once in a life time experience, so you’ll probably want some photos.
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Packages: | 30-min Encounter Deluxe (Ages 10 & Over) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/16 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/14 |
Reviewed by: Daniel
What a great experience! Kayaking on the ocean, whale watching, entering a cave and wrapping it up with a bit of snorkeling! Jasmine was a great guide and her confidence on the open waters really enhanced our adventure. It’s definitely a morning well spent!
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/12 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/09 |
Reviewed by: Jill and Joyce
The adventure was awesome! We had a blast even in the rain! Our kids were amazing and made it so fun!! I think you should add a lunch experience at the picnic tables. Our ride was at 12:30 and it was 2.5 hours and we hadn’t had lunch so that addition would be great!
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Packages: | Two Riders Package (1 Driver + 1 Passenger) |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/02/11 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/09 |
Reviewed by: Analiese Kennedy
I know, I know, everyone likes to use the words “best” “amazing” “trip of a lifetime” THIS excursion IS absolutely THE best trip you will book! It may seem a little pricey, but the time, care, and knowledge that our tour guide Travis invested in our group was top of the line!
First of all, do not underestimate the “cold” warnings. It was frigid, cold to the bone so, dress appropriately! If you have a beanie, bring it for this trip.
Secondly, be prepared for the potential that the actual road up to the summit may be closed. Our group (along with 15 others) was told the road was closed and we would not be able to drive to the summit. Travis was able to talk with another tour operator (friends are good) and together they got the rangers to open the road for us last minute!! Yay!
Okay, so let’s talk dinner for a second. They served a vegetarian lasagna that was to die for most of my family are hard core meat eaters, so i was surprised at how quickly they snarfed it all down and EVERYONE commented on how “great” it was Make sure to bring your own water bottle (there is fresh water at the first stop) or whatever you want to drink.
Once we hit the road to climb the summit, the road was definitely an “off road” experience. Lots of major bumps but totally fun . The drive up was spectacular, so have your camera ready. The view from the top will blow your mind. Take a lot of pics and enjoy!
Then on to stargazing. Totally over the top and way exceeded my expectations! Travis had his own telescope that was a high end piece of equipment to say the least! He has so much knowledge that he was eager to share. We even got to see the once in a lifetime “green” comet he spent at least an extra hour with us up there when all the other tour operators were leaving. It was truly the most memorable experiences of my life! Mahalo to the entire team that i know has to work hard behind the scenes for this…my entire family is so grateful for the experience
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/09 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/07 |
Reviewed by: Miles & Jan
Magnificent performance from all involved dealing with the history of the hawaiin islands and the Polynesian empire. The buffet was way too much to take in!!
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/07 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/05 |
Reviewed by: Billb
The entertainment was first rate and the food was surprisingly good. You don’t expect food served to hundreds of people at once to be hot and tasty but they have the logistics well organized and the buffet line moves fast.
The fire stick dancers were excellent, and the whole evening had a very authentic feel.
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Packages: | Standard Package - General Seating |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/15 |
Reviewed by: Susan
This was our first luau and it was exceptional! The staff was courteous, professional, welcoming, and overall delightful! The food was very well prepared and there was a wide variety of selections. The show was both entertaining as well as informative and all of the performers ( host, dancers, and musicians) were great!!
I would love to do this again some time!
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/02 |
Reviewed by: Anne
We had driven around the island before taking our helicopter fight. What an amazing perspective to see it from above. This should be on everyone's list.
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Packages: | Big Island Spectacular (1 hr 45 mins) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2022/03/23 |
Reviewed by: Grace
This was a very beautiful night! The luau experience was everything we were looking for. It felt like a true traditional experience
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/31 |
Reviewed by: Jim
We weren't sure what to expect with this dolphin interaction but it was amazing. You can tell the care the trainers have for the dolphins and it was a very well run operation helping to build awareness about the local conservation efforts to protect Hawaii's marine life.
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Packages: | 30-min Encounter Deluxe (Ages 5+) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/21 |
Reviewed by: Jim
We had a great time on this cruise. Sipping cocktails, watching the sun slip beneath the ocean, looking for the legendary green flash. A perfect evening.
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Packages: | Waikoloa Sunset Sail |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/01 |
Reviewed by: Jim
Wow, wow, wow. There is no better way to see the Big Island than from a helicopter. We felt like we were floating in the air and taking in unbelievable sights. The waterfall landing was the perfect ending to an amazing day.
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Packages: | Big Island Spectacular with Oceanfront Waterfall Landing (2 hours 5 mins) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Jim
Saw lots of whales. We loved the combination of sailing on a catamaran and seeing whales breaching off in the distance. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Hawaii during whale season.
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Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/01 |
Reviewed by: Nikki Clark
First of all, WOW. From beginning to end, this experience was one for the record books.
For $10 this crew sets you up with a wet suit (recommended), and then a snorkel set at no additional charge. Once we boarded, we were met with a warm welcome, and a good belly laugh. Excellent staff! They were informative, safe, and most importantly, knew how to have fun!
During the boat ride we were met with bottle nose dolphins and a humpback whale sighting! The dolphins were curious and playful, and swam all around our boat! I may or may not have shed a tear of joy. It was seriously rad.
Once we got to our destination they gave us a noodle for floating, and set up a large, square floatation device for everyone to hold onto while we watched the mana rays. They are huge! They’re giant, friendly, and bring their appetite for plankton. You’ll also see tons of fish while you snorkel.
After our time was up, and we boarded, they passed out cups of hot chocolate.
The entire experience as a whole was one we will never forget. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS while you’re here!
Thank you so much for the experience of a lifetime! Keep up the good work, guys! Mahalo
Aloha Nikki,
Thank you for the amazing comments about our team, we're glad your group felt safe and satisfied! We do offer a repeater discount of 20% off, so please keep us in mind for future travel plans.
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/02 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/29 |
Reviewed by: TJ Norum
This trip is great for families and couples alike. I really enjoyed the fact that the crew helped us locate the whales and went in search of the best viewing spots. Highly recommended for Waikaloa Bay Beach area.
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Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/01/31 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/29 |
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Aloha Flora,
Thank you for your review! We appreciate you picked Kailani to tour you around the island. Zachary is amazing, a very humble and knowledgable guide. Thanks again for posting, and we hope you enjoyed your time on the Big Island!