Reviews

We're so glad we sprung the big bucks to pay for the 2 hour tour over the volcano and the waterfalls of North Kohala. the weather was excellent and we saw lava gushing out of the vents and oozing out of others. Then our pilot flew us over the ocean to see lava entering the ocean over a black sand beach. A highlight was flying into the deep rainforest ravines, seeing all the waterfalls. it was like flying into Jurassic Park. The lava doesn't flow every day so you may not be as lucky as we were. But you'd see the little islands of trees among a huge expanse of old lava.

We did the tour that went from Waikaloa to volcano to Hilo and up the coast around and over Kohala back to base. The tour was great and pilot was very knowledgeable. We went when the lava was flowing into the ocean and got lots of great pictures. Flying up the east coast we got some good pictures of a whale and baby and going into the valleys was spectacular. There was lots to see. You can purchase your trip on DVD. Unfortunately ours only got half the trip from our stop at Hilo back to the base. We did contact Blue Hawaiian and they did offer to resolve the issue.

Saw the volcanoes. Lava was flowing. Tons of water falls and beautiful coast. Saw a few whales jumping. Our pilot made sure to make several passes on both sides of helicopter so everyone could see. I'd highly suggest this tour! Also, you see everything in two hours and then can be back at the pool before noon. Pilot was impressive!!

The only way to see the volcano and the valleys. Also got to see some whales too! Absolutely breathtaking and so worth it!

I was traveling with family that included mobility restricted parents and a 2y.o. and this was the best way for all of us to be able to do something together. We did the big island spectacular on the second to best helicopter and it was fine for those of us in the back row, but the front row passengers said it was a little cramped for them. So maybe upgrade to the top level copter if you are able to. We did the very early morning tour at 7 a.m. and it really isn't that early if you're visiting from the u.s., especially if you do it on one of your first mornings there because the time difference will be in your favor. Also, visibility was excellent at that time. Our pilot's name was Jason and he was great at explaining the history and geography of the island and it was not a canned presentation at all. And his flying skills are great! His confidence put us all at ease. This is really the only way to see all the valleys and waterfalls on the big island so for us, it was everything we wanted it to be.

We had some trepidation because we wondered if the cost would be worth it. Happy to say it certainly was! We flew over active lava cauldrons and saw breath taking views that we would never have experienced otherwise. Our pilot, Noah, provided a great commentary of the landscape and island history. We left Waikoloa and stopped in Hilo about an hour later to refuel. From there we had the opportunity to stretch our legs and get to know the others on the ride with us. The highlight of the first leg of the journey was seeing the active volcano from above and the second part of the trip yielded absolutely spectacular views of the Kohala coast and valleys. We were able to buy a dvd of the our flight and all the commentary b/w Noah and those on the flight was included. Spend the money. It will be a memory you will cherish. I recommend the dvd also! Thanks Blue Hawaiian!

We were certainly excited to look over the volcano. We went up in the afternoon and it was a very sunny day. Our captain was great, but the light was a little blinding. It was also hard to see the lava with the sun in your eyes. We did go out over the water to see the lava falling into the sea. That was pretty amazing. Try to go earlier in the day or perhaps later in the afternoon. You might see more. Also the waterfalls weren't too active since it was the dry season. No matter what, flying over a smoking volcano and seeing lava is quite an experience.

Flowing red lava, scenic ocean views, arial whale sightings, panoramic valley views, and amazing waterfalls are the highlights of this adventure. We saw a mother whale with her baby from a vantage point that could never be matched. Shane, our pilot was beyond fabulous and safety was always the priority. Flying into the valley, surrounded by the valley walls and waterfalls was the most thrilling part of the ride. Photographs all turned out great.

We did the Big Island Tour. It went over the volcano, circled the craters, followed the lava tunnels then ran up the east coach of island into the waterfall areas. It was really fantastic. And it was also every bit as much "helicoptering" as I wanted to do. It was expensive and worth it!

We were on the Big Island from March 6-15, 2013. The helicopter excursion was the one trip that we debated about the most. In the end, we are both so very, VERY glad we did it and that we went for the two-hour island spectacular trip. I tend to get motion sick and was concerned that two hours would be too much for me, plus it's $990 for two people. But we decided to splurge, looking at the trip as possibly ONCE-in-a-lifetime. We took the 8:30 a.m. flight and it was great. The first hour is traveling from the west side to the east side of the island over the lava fields. If you have a good pilot, you'll learn all kinds of great facts, history and info about the area and what you're looking at. Because the lava wasn't flowing while we were on the island, we wouldn't have seen it at all except by helicopter and there's no where else in the world where you can see it either. So it was worth it. There is a brief stop in Hilo after the volcano tour and that really helped me get my bearings back again. I never got sick on the trip and I was really surprised by that. I did take Dramamine around 7 a.m. I chewed ginger gum the entire time. I wore sea bands on my wrists. And I bought a Quease EASE Motion Sickness Relief smelling thing when I checked in for the helicopter tour. I wanted to be prepared cause I didn't want to get sick. I'm glad I was cautious and that I didn't need all of that. The second half was my favorite part. Leaving Hilo, you travel along the coast over the water. I'm sure everyone else in the helicopter was watching the coastline and the valleys we passed. I was staring straight down into the water counting whales. The weather was great, sun shining and the water so clear that I could see the whales even underwater. I counted 12 pairs, almost all of them were mamas with their calf and I even saw false killer whales. Then the helicopter turned into the valley and WOW. This is where you get breath-taking views of the waterfalls and lush green valleys. Amazing and just gorgeous. Like nothing we've ever seen before, and, again, no other way to see this area besides by helicopter. If you can't do the two-hour tour and have to choose just one of the one-hour tours, I think the waterfalls and valleys were cooler than the volcano, but that's just me. The entire tour is being video-recorded and you can buy the DVD for just $20. Even though I think the DVD should be complimentary when paying $990, it's worth it to buy it and have for a lifetime. The video captures you inside the copter, as well as everything you're seeing while on the tour.

This was the first time in a helicopter for my wife, she absolutely loved it, a great pilot no foolish stuff, but a very informative 50 min. ride, it was good to see how nature can change a landscape in a few short years. We booked thru Expedia price was alright.

My husband and I took this flight for our 10th wedding anniversary vacation on Jan 20, 2013. I have flown in many Air Force aircraft during my military career, but I have never experienced the thrill I did on this helicopter tour! This was my first helicopter experience and it habe been one of the best life experiences I have had so far! Our pilot, Roger, was so kind, knowledgeable, and gave us an excellent air tour of the volcano flows and all around the Big Island! We actually got to see a new lava breakout during our flight! I advise EVERYONE to take this tour....it was AMAZING!

Did the volcano and waterfall tour. Fantastic views of recent eruptions and lava flows into the ocean. Pilot was very knowledgeable and great at making sure both sides got the same views and photo opportunities. Well worth the money, maybe not the cheapest option but do want to cut corners when flying over hot lava?

DH and I just did the Blue Hawaiian tour out of Hilo last Friday afternoon (Jan. 25). We booked the Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls tour on an eco-star. It's a six-seater, but we were only 5 passengers. The seating is determined by the company and is weight-dependent (not 'first-come'). Two seats in the front and four in the back. Each couple is guaranteed one window in the back. I had a middle seat and found the visibility to be very good all around on the eco-star. Our pilot, Jeremy, made sure that each side got at least two passes over the Kilauea's Pu`u O`o Crater and where the lava flowed into the sea. Be aware that helicopter tours are not allowed to overfly the caldera at Kilauea's Halema'uma'u Crater (the one by the Jaggar Museum overlook in Volcanoes National Park). Both DH and I were thrilled with the experience and very glad that we had great weather on that day.

In Hilo it rains most every day,so the views you can get of the volcano weren't nearly as good as you would hope. but the courtesy of the group and the ride itself were very good, and got to see the Lava flow as well as you could hope.