Would Like to Have Met the Big Kahuna
I had the impression that the Big Kahuna was going to be there, but I guess he took the night off. Still, I can say that the luau was in good hands. The driver was prompt and was really nice! I enjoyed the lei greeting by the dancers and how interactive they were the entire night with all of the attendees. The poi, lomi lomi salmon, and teriyaki chicken were tasty! The fish was a little under cooked, but they made up for it by giving me alcohol. Rum is nice when you are depressed over soggy fish. The show was amazing, the best Polynesian dance show that I have been to! The dancers were very professional and polished and I think that this factor alone deserves five stars. The Big Kahuna knows what he's doing. All in all, I had a lot of fun and would go again.
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| Attended as: | Friends | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/10/18 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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See the Baby Dolphins!
Timely pick-up, great folks, and tasty food. Oh, and did I mention dolphins! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can say that this is by far the best dolphin snorkel I've been on. I got my gear within 5 minutes of check-in and put in my lunch choice. Dolphin Excursions is an educationally based tour company and some of the people there are marine biologists. They seemed to read the behavior of the dolphins very well. The baby spinner dolphins are super cute! This is a great time of year because the dolphins are having babies so they are fun to watch. We went out about 3 times to snorkel, twice with the dolphins so close. I have never seen so many dolphins with me in the water, and you can even hear them 'singing' before you see them. When we got back, lunch was already made. The food is great at Spinner's Cafe, and the people are courteous. I had a great time and can say that many others did as well.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/08/22 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Excellent Scuba Instruction
I was picked up very timely by the driver and she was pleasant to talk to on the long ride. I was a little concerned about the text and drive thing, but otherwise we got from point A to point B just fine. There was a good mix of both certified and newbie divers like myself and was glad that I was given good advice to keep from getting too nervous. Hawaii Nautical is great at teaching the skills needed for scuba diving. However, I was not prepared for the skills based training that I would receive. We went over the basics and our instructor was good about making sure that we understood the benefits and risks of scuba diving as well as how enjoyable it can be when you are doing all of the necessary steps to be safe. Everyone was as accommodating as possible considering it was a very full boat. While I enjoyed the learning aspect of the scuba dive, I would recommend this more for people genuinely interested in becoming a certified scuba diver, rather than the casual tourist experience.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/07/29 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Beautiful Day in Ko Olina
Get ready for a fun time on this catamaran! The dolphins are a plenty and are in their hibernating season so they stay close to the coast. While you don't get in the water surrounded by dolphins, it keeps them safe, so it's good for everyone. There were so many kinds of fish and it was fun to swim through them. It was a nice cool day, and the dolphins were definitely out there. They got nice and close to the boat! The snorkel was amazing. By lunchtime, I was looking forward to food. The Captain is a fine cook and knows his way around a boat so it's double bonus for us. We had the tasty teriyaki chicken sandwich, which I can proudly give 5 stars! Try the Naked Pirate drink. It's awesome! The crew on the boat was friendly and managed to keep it fun for everyone even with a bunch of little kids running around. It's family-friendly and they made sure those kids stayed safe. This catamaran sail is worth every penny and then some. I highly recommend!
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| Attended as: | Friends | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/07/11 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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The Island Sampler Tour
This tour was wonderful! Our driver Paolo was excellent and made it a great time for everyone. Our first stop began at Dole Plantation for a photo op. This tour is scenic to be prepared to take lots of pictures! The eastern slopes of the Waianae mountain range are absolutely gorgeous as we made our way north. Each stop was not long enough (in a good way!) and I only hoped the day would last longer. The hike to Waimea Falls was truly wonderful to do again. The beaches on the north shore are calm this time of year, but still beautiful nonetheless. Not only is the north shore beautiful, but there are some great snack stops as well. We went to a fruit market and sampled some tasty banana lumpia, li hing pineapple, and some diced coconut! Our lunch stop at Secret Island was just wonderful and the food was both tasty and nutritious. After this we headed a short drive down the road (passed Chinaman's Hat) and went to get some Kona coffee at Tropical Farms. The macadamia snacks are excellent and gave us just enough energy to complete the day. Byodo-In temple was truly a sight to see. It sits in the back of the Valley of the Temples in the most idyllic location possible. Koi abound in the pond surrounding the temple. Just be sure to ring the bell. Beautiful sites, just enough time to keep you wanting to come back for more!
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| Attended as: | Friends | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/07/09 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Legendary Waikiki Landmark Event
The Aha 'Aina luau provides the ultimate luxury luau experience in the comfort and proximity of Waikiki. Located in the famous Pink Palace of the Pacific, Aha 'Aina doesn't disappoint. The views and outdoor seating are a beautiful backdrop to the evening. The meal is served with musical entertainment and a historical introduction of how the guitar and ukulele were introduced to the islands. This is a great luau for those who love great music and tasty food! The table service is wonderful and the food is excellent. The history of Waikiki comes alive on stage as the dancers take you through time from when Kamehameha united the islands, to the Royal Hawaiian hotel's first opening in 1927. Get ready for a treat, because this is not only a feast for your taste buds, but your eyes and ears as well!
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| Attended as: | Friends | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/07/09 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Mermaids and Seafood. Need I Say More?
I guess so. Well first off, the Oceanarium lives up to it's name. One of the walls is a massive fish tank filled with manta rays, colorful fishes, and even a mermaid! The food is great and the crab legs are all you can eat. Come with an empty stomach and leave wishing you had a gym membership. That's how good the food is here. The teriyaki-glazed ribs were tasty and cooked just right. Chef Alejandro was serving up some fresh seafood pasta. I had mine with marinara and calamari. Wonderful dining experience and nice staff. Great place to dine for night out in Waikiki.
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| Attended as: | Friends | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/07/01 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Get the Wild Dolphin Experience from Ko Olina Ocean Adventures!
I was picked up on time by Randi as soon as I got to the hotel. I was a little early, but it worked out so I wouldn't have to wait forever as the driver Randi was already waiting. She was very courteous and a nice person to talk story with on such a long drive. As soon as we got there, it was such a pretty place! When I checked in. Chyanne was very polite and made sure that I was taken care of. Austin the captain of the boat got everyone on as smoothly as possible. The boat ride was great and the Waianae coastline is wonderful. We stopped next to the Aloha Factory which was a perfect snorkel spot. There were tons of tropical fish and cool things to see. The next snorkel spot was a little farther north and we saw so many dolphins! They were swimming next to the boat. We waded around in the water and the dolphins came close by. It was amazing! I could here the little dolphin songs underwater when there were a lot of them around. We had an awesome photographer Barnabus who made all of us look pretty in our pictures. While I did have a camera, it's a lot better to have him take your photos. After all, this really is the experience of a lifetime, so looking pretty is necessity. When we got back, I was greeted with a wonderful lunch of a pulled pork sandwich, fresh fruit salad, and chips. If I could I would give the dolphin watch tour 10 stars! I highly recommend!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/06/25 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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The Turtles Invite You to Their Party
As soon as I walked on to the Spirit of Aloha boat, I knew it was going to be a good time. It wasn't too full, and it allowed for more room and comfort on the ride. Captain Dustin gave us a run down of the tour, and gave us free reign of the boat (less the Captain's chair of course). Masa helped us with our gear and Brad swam out to the snorkel spot with us. Yes, Brad knows where the turtles are. We saw tons of turtles, all with big personalities that were bigger than there shells. We twice got to see a turtle swim up to the surface! I never expected to see such humongous turtles. I named one of them Soldier because he was missing one flipper and the shell was pretty damaged, but he swam quite happily. I saw a pair of turtles even hold fins like buddies. It was too cute. The water was perfect and it was a beautiful day. We got back on the boat and Brad helped us with lunch. I highly recommend this snorkel cruise!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/06/17 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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Wonderful Views!
I was greeted pleasantly by Kerri as soon as I got there. I checked in and didn't wait long before we got on the boat. While I was a bit nervous and scared of heights, I can tell you that this is a safe activity and far more fun than I could have imagined. The guys on the boat were great and friendly to talk story with. The views were absolutely stunning of the Waikiki skyline and I could see sweeping views of Diamond Head and the southern portion of the Ko'olau Mountains. This is way more fun than being on an airplane! I highly recommend parasailing for people who love water sports or just want to have a good time.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers | ||
| Posted on: | 2014/06/17 | ||
| See individual review | |||
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