Reviews

Friendly staff at check in. Informative safety video. Pilot was very professional. Dry smooth flight

We made a day of this tour by renting a car and driving to Hilo airport from Kona. Took about an hour and a half to get there. After the prep by the staff, our pilot Casey took us on a very smooth ride around the volcano and then some. We were able to ask questions through the headsets and he made sure that he made multiple passes to the right and left so that everyone in the heli got a good look and could get some pictures. A little expensive for the short amount of time, but a very unique experience that I'm sure I'll never get to do again. On the ride back, we explored the north side of the island and stopped at What's Shakin for food and the lady there gave us some sites to stop at on the way back. A very fun day!

Had flown with Blue Hawaiian on Kauai, and got the same great, professional service out of Kona. Great pilot (Korey) helped make the flight even more fun - would highly recommend.

Our pilot Ester was amazing. She was kind, courteous and informed. She keep the flight smooth and steady. As we approached the mouth of the volcano it was fascinating to see the lava so close and real. Ester took us around a few times making sure everyone got a good look with plenty of time to snap our photos.

We did the Circle of Fire Flight in the AStar. We were sitting behind the pilot and had good views. We booked the flight because due to the Kīlauea eruption the park and the lava viewing fields were closed and we figured that the flight was our best option. The flight was good although we didn’t get to see lava. Our pilot made sure to Circle from every angle so everyone got a good looked and of course pictures. Best to wear black long sleeve shirts to minimize the glare.

This was an amazing tour with our pilot Scott! He provided great views of the volcano and was very knowledgeable of the impact of current eruptions. I was initially concerned about nausea issues but the flight was super smooth. Don't miss this opportunity!

Blue Hawaiian is a top notch operation. Online registration and local check-in were efficient. Staff was knowledgeable and engaging with our group of six. The flight itself was amazing. Fissure 8 was spewing about 26,000 gallons per second and the river of lava was glowing all the way to the sea. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

This trip was a must do on the Big Island. We did the Circle of Fire / waterfall tour. It was hard to believe how close we got to the erupting volanco's lava flow. We had to stay away from the actual eruption, for obvious reasons, but could clearly see the orange glow and the river of lava. The pilot turned the helicopter so all could see the power of Kilauea and appreciate the devastation it's caused to people and homes in that area. Blue is a very professional outfit with safety briefings and guide to boarding the helicopter. Our tour left from the Hilo airport where several of their choppers were landing for tours. We chose the Eco Star Helicopter because it has nicer seats, more glass, and is just a more cooler looking machine. An Awesome experience, thanks to our pilot Wesley ! They also take a complete video from several angles with outside cameras, and an inside camera as well. We bought the flash drive which was well worth the $41. We liked the tour so much that we booked another tour on Oahu the following week for which Blue provided a discount. The falls part was only one small waterfall, not really the best, but it was a nice ride up the coast from Hilo. An unforgettable experience on the Big Island !!

After another helicopter tour cancelled on us last minute, we booked the Circle of Fire/Waterfalls tour on Blue Hawaiian and we were so glad we did! Getting to see the lava at Fissure 8 was absolutely incredible. I don't think words can quite describe what an amazing experience this was. We were able to fly pretty close and made a few turns around it, so each side of the helicopter got to see the Fissure 8 up close at least twice. I've included pictures included with this review, but I don't think it does it justice for how absolutely amazing it was to see in person. The weather was perfect and we followed the lava river back to the ocean and then did the waterfalls portion of the tour. Never having been on a helicopter and sometimes a nervous flyer, I felt totally safe and comfortable the entire time. You can tell it's a very nice aircraft, and the pilot was relaxes and professional, and did a great job informing of us of everything we were seeing. We also got the video from our actual flight for $40. It was about as good as any of our pictures, but also included the great playlist of music used during the flight. I know helicopter tours are pricier than the average tourist activity, but it was so worth the money to see Fissure 8 in person. Blue Hawaiian made this an amazing experience that I know I'll never forget!

I've wanted to see lava since I learned about it years ago, and taking a helicopter tour seemed to be the only way to see it. Blue Hawaiian was the only company able to accommodate three of us since we didn't make reservations ahead of time. The service was wonderful. I was quite apprehensive about the flight, but it was amazing! As it turned out, my husband and I had to take different flights. I enjoyed my flight immensely, but the waterfalls portion of the flight wasn't much. We just flew up the coast a bit and turned around at a waterfall. My husband's flight seems way more comprehensive than mine. His pilot (Mike) was more informative than mine, and they flew inland a bit and saw more of the waterfalls. I was just happy to see lava. You could actually see it flowing, even where it was black in color at the surface. It was just amazing.

It was an awesome experience flat out!! Pick up time was prompt. The vans we rode in were top of the line, new seats huge screened tvs air conditioning. The office itself is brand new and very comfortable. We did the one our tour and time sure did "fly". The sites we saw were incredible, definately a once in a life time experience that i wish that i could share with anyone. Also another big "thumbs up" to the staff. They were incredibley helpful and nice. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is visiting the island of Oahu. Trust me you wouldnt be dissappointed.

I got to go on a Helicopter trip last year and it was simply amazing flying over Oahu. Our tour guide told us info about each section we flew over. We got to wear those cool headphones like in the movies. It was very interesting to learn a little bit about the island as you take in the gorgeous scenery. I really loved Hawaii and will hopefully get to go back there someday. I also got a DVD to take home of my trip i took to show my family and friends. I would definitely recommend Makani Kai Helicopters if anyone is going to Oahu.

On of the best highlights on my trip to Hawaii was the helicopter tour of Oahu with Makani Kai Helicopters. The pilot was very knowledgable and had a great sense of humor, he made the trip a great experience. The flight was very smooth and the view was amazing. I even got to see whale!!!! The company was very customer friendly and were very helpful. There was a shuttle pick up from the hotel which was very convenient. Overall the experience was one of the best experiences of my life, breathtaking and fun. I would recommend this to anyone because it is a great way to experience Oahu and really see what the place is like. BEAUTIFUL!!!! THANK YOU Makani Kai fo making my trip amazing!!!!

This helicopter tour company is amazing! I have been to Hawaii several times and even lived there for many years. Makani Kai has grown and expanded so beautifully and they are always one step ahead of all other touring companies in terms of safety, service and appeal. The staff are culturally diverse and talking/visiting with them is an enjoyable experience in itself. Their new building is absolutely beautiful and all of their equipment is top of the line. The tours offered are diverse, economical and the BEST way to see the island and experience true beauty.

Makani Kai Helicopter tour is an attraction that everyone should take no matter if you are a resident or a tourist. I was a resident of Oahu for four years and recently on a vacation back to Hawaii I took a tour for the first time ever and seen areas of the island that are only visable by air. Dont forget your camera, the beauty of the island from the sky is like being in heaven!! The staff was friendly and our pilot Richard was the best, he showed us areas so we could take numberous pictures. I felt very safe and would encourage everyone to experience this if given the opportunity!!!!!!! Thank you Makani Kai Helicopter for a wonderful vacation.