Reviews

I took the Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tour in Hilo, Hawaii as a shore excursion from my 15 day Hawaii cruise on Celebrity. I was so happy the night before we hit Hilo, since I found out that there had been lava flow spotted a couple of days before we got there and at around midnight the night before, when our ship was sailing from Kona to Hilo, we spotted lava flow out into the ocean and the Captain actually turned the ship around 360 degrees so that people who were in their staterooms and did not want to go out on deck could view it from their rooms or balconies. We did get to fly over some vents and did see some lava, and our pilot Jeremy explained that lava actually cools very fast, between 2-3 seconds, so that the red glow does not last long once exposed to the surface. I was disappointed that we did not fly over the actual crater and that we did not go over too much of the coastline to see if we could see the lava flowing out into ocean, since we were pretty far out on the ship so the lava flow appeared only as red dots from the ship. Jeremy, our pilot was great at explaining how the lava flow works and he remembered everyone's (6 passengers) names and during the flight called everyone's name to point out things to us. This was because they have 4 video cameras on the helicopter and you can get a copy of your specific flight including your voice asking questions or speaking to the pilot. The tour stated that it was a volcano and waterfall tour, but the waterfall we saw was very small and hardly worth mentioning. It was still very satisfying to be able to see some lava, even if it was only some little pools of it on the surface, since they hadn't had any lava flow since December 2011 and also at that time of year, this is about the only way to see any lava since the boat tours are limited.

We took this tour last week and it was great! The pilot knew where the hot lava flows could be seen and photographed and he made sure everyone had all the photos they wanted of any feature before moving on. Before heading back he flew over a cascading stream with plenty of falls to photograph. We felt it was worth the money. Go from Hilo rather than Kona because it's 1/2 the price!

Our guide book recommended Blue Hawaiian, and although I have nothing to compare it to, this was a very enjoyable and one of a kind experience. The staff were extremely helpful in ensuring this was a safe and stress free experience, they explained everything very well, and even helped us with the safety harnesses once we were in the helicopter. Our pilot, Ethan, was really exceptional. Our guide book mentioned the fact that the tour guide could make or break this experience and Ethan made it a very wonderful and interesting trip, especially while he circled the volcano in each direction so everyone could view it (a breathtaking view), he was very knowledgeable about the area, it's history and he shared his own experiences with us. In speaking with others from different helicopter tour outfits, some of the pilots would rock the helicopter and tip it to make it what they thought would be more exciting, but for those who had issues with the motion, it made for an unpleasant experience. Ethan made our ride very comfortable, and the 50 minute tour was the best way to see the volcano. We did the ring of fire and waterfall tour in the Eco star helicopter, and it was worth every penny! I would highly recommend this tour!

Our first ever helicopter ride was exhilarating... what a thrill. Pilot Mike was excellent and no one suffered any motion sickness. It's worth experiencing the awesome views from above of the waterfalls and lava flows. The views and the ride was a memorable experience. Book the tour online at least five days in advance to get the online discount. Also request that the pilot spend a little more time over the falls and less time looking for lava steam vents. There was no lava flowing during our visit, so it was a lot like looking down on a massive chocolate brownie. The ride in the helicopter was in itself a cool experience, the birds eye view of the waterfalls and lava flows was icing on the cake. Best seat is front next to the pilot. Although seating is based on their computer analysis of weight and height, so it's likely that you may get seated away from your spouse or significant other. Wear dark clothes to minimize reflective glare off the windows. Talked to other visitors who recommended helicopter tours of Kauai or Maui as better values and views of more impressive waterfalls.

SPECTACULAR!!! James is a great pilot & guide! Thank you! Very organized & well run. Wear black or a non-patterned dark color if you plan to take your own photos or video, it cuts down on glare, but it's easier to sit back, enjoy the ride & buy the DVD of your helicopter ride at the end.

We rented a car and drove from Kona to Hilo to take this flight (although there is an option to be picked up in Kona) - the airport was easy to find and the staff friendly when we checked in for our flight. There was a short safety video then the staff ensured everyone was strapped into their seats properly before take off. The pilot talked to us pointing out everything he could see all through the flight and answered all the questions. We were lucky to see both lava at the crater and poring into the sea. Unfortunately the weather was poor so the waterfall looked quite dull but a visit to Akaka falls in the car meant we got to see a splendid fall from the ground. My only tip - I fly in choppers for work so knew I wouldn't get travel sick but this is the first time I've been in a chopper with people who don't regularly fly and another passenger behind me was sick which I could smell and kept catching sight of the bag- didn't ruin the trip for me at all but dud leave me feeling a little queezy every time I saw the bag :-(

Amazing flight. Flew over Mount Kiluaea and saw lava. Highlight of our trip to Hawaii! Justin was a great pilot. Everyone at Blue Hawaiian was exceptionally kind and we are so very happy we did this! Thank you!

Well worth the trip. We had to drive from Waikoila to Hilo early in the morning to make it for the volcano trip. Flew over the Pu'u O'o vent and saw lava. The extent of the lava flow was amazing to see. Flew past some (smallish) waterfalls on the way back. Was a little disappointed not to fly over the Kilauea Crater itself though.

The staff were very courteous, people friendly and knowledgeable. Tour was amazing, Pilot very helpful in answering many questions. Volcanoes were beautiful as were the waterfalls. No dislikes.

Took helicopter for Hilo over Kilauea and waterfalls. Spectacular sights and very helpful pilot. If you get Colleen consider yourself lucky, she was a great pilot and tour guide. Breathtaking view!

I felt very safe flying with Blue Hawaiian. We got plenty of safety information before the flight. We lucked out with good weather to see the valleys on the north part of the island. It is difficult to take pictures out of the windows because you get a glare. It's better to buy the DVD and not worry about taking pictures and enjoy the sights.

We were originally scheduled on the 7:30 flight on Monday, but due to bad weather, that trip was cancelled. Customer service rep, Kimberly, was very accommodating in rescheduling to 9:30 today, and the weather cooperated. It was a great flight! We saw sloshing lava when Shane, our pilot, took us back for a second look, then a double circle rainbow up on the Hamakua Coast, and lots of whales further west. The helicopter was clean and comfortable, Shane was nice and very knowledgeable, and we had a great time. Expensive, but couldn't have seen it any other way!

Even with the price, this is something not to miss. The 2 hour ride over the island down to Volcanoes National Park is something that visitors should be sure to do. Our pilot was very informative about the island and knew a lot about the terraine. We did the 7 am tour and even though it is early, to watch sunrise over Mauna Kea then to see the flowing red hot lava down the mountain is something to see. We couldn't see the laval pouring into the sea due to wind but to see the steam in multiple places was truely spectacular. The view over Hilo for our gas stop was pretty clear. It was a wet day so we had to fly off the coast up the Hamakua Cost but was still spectacular to see the waterfalls on the side of othe mountain dumping into the ocean. This is something you should definitely put on your bucket list.

We were lucky enough to tour the Kohala coast, valleys, and waterfalls on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. Sheer cliffs, deep valleys, spectacular coastline, and numerous waterfalls (longest drops I've seen!). Our pilot Noah was extremely knowledgeable about everything, and his friendly professionalism was a value-add to this already-exciting trip! I would recommend this tour to anyone!!

Great experience! We took the tour to the Kohala coast, valleys, and waterfalls. This tour is the best way to explore the differences in island's terrain in one hour. Even if it was a windy day, our pilot Scott tried hard not to shake us a lot!!! He was very informative about the island, the volcanoes and the waterfalls and he did his best for us to feel comfortable. We were very impressed with the professionalism of all the staff of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. Tour is highly recommended during your trip to Hawaii !!!