Reviews

Ethan was a great pilot letting everyone on both sides see the interesting things! We actually saw lava squirt up! I do not like heights too much, but the views temporarily made me forget about them. Our pilot gave us a very smooth ride!

The trip we took started on a bumpy path, our original fly date was cancelled due to weather. (They were thinking of our safety, I like that). The team was very helpful in working with us so we could arrange for another date during our stay. Our pilot Nathan was very informative and was concerned about me because I hit my head when I got in. If I hadn't been so excited I probably would not have done that. We did the Echo over the waterfalls and the volcano. My husband and I were both spellbound during this AMAZING journey!!!! We saw waterfalls that were flowing like there was no tomorrow, and we observed bubbling lava and land based flow. I am not going to say it is cheap, especially since we paid time and a half each because we are over the weight limit....even with that it was worth EVERY penny spent!!!!!!!!

You have got to do this helicopter trip! ! Birthday treat arranged by husband as always wanted to do trip over volcano. Thanks to our pilot Shane who was a mine of information about the island itself made the trip very memorable.the views were fantastic,ranging from lava,waterfalls whales & mountains.Even got to land at Hilo airport to pick up extra passenger,listen in on tower control giving us an insight into what goes on behind the scenes,Everything was explained very well and really enjoyed the day,

Blue Hawaii Helicopters runs a great operation. My wife and I flew with them from the airport in Hilo to the lava flows on that side of the island. Our pilot, Colleen, was a fabulous tour guide and flying ace. Everyone on board had a great time, got all their questions answered and were able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime activity. If you're staying on the Kona side of the island, you can choose to fly to the lava flows from a heliport close by or do what we did, and make it a day trip by driving from Kona to Hilo. We stopped along the way and visited beautiful waterfalls and spectacular sights. After our helicopter tour, we wandered around Hilo and had a great lunch at a local restaurant. Don't miss Blue Hawaii Helicopters!

Fabulous trip over the volcanoes then onto Hilo and up the east cost via gorgeous cliffs with waterfalls - stunning landscape!!! Unfortunately not a lot if red lava was to be seen...but we did see some....kids expected more, but kids want it all these days!!! . $500 for a 2 hr flight... long enough just quietly.

We made a reservation a few days in advance. The checkin/briefing is done at Hilo airport terminal 2. Park in the airport parking and walk over to the terminal. The flight is about 45 minutes for 'circle of fire and water falls' tour. The views of the crater and lava flow was spectacular. We were able to see lava boiling / churning in the crater - it soon died down, so i guess we were lucky to see it. There were lava flows and small fires. The waterfalls were great as well. You can take cameras on to the chopper, but use their locker for everything else like hand bags.

great view. Saw the volcano, moutain, waterfalls, cliffs. Saw the lava hitting the ocean. Sunrise over the moutain was great. Beautiful. Expensive but worth it.

We have wanted to fly in a helicopter our whole lives, and we were not disappointed! Pilot Steve was truly fantastic. Not only did we get to see the flowing lava of the volcano, but when he took us to the waterfalls, he maneuvered the heli in a way that we were looking straight down the waterfall! Pilot Steve also was a wealth of information on Hawaiian history. We took the two hour tour and experienced two take offs and landings! WOW!!!! We took the Big Island spectacular and this included Blue Hawaiian staff picking us up from our hotel, prepping us for the ride, and providing for a truly Spectacular experience. This is a must do when you visit Hawaii.

Went with wife, 2 daughters 13 and 12 who got to sit upfront during our trip. The pilot was great and took us very close to the FLOWING lava several times....I could not believe my eyes....I have been to an active volcano before (Pacaya, Guatemala) but the was way cooler from a helicopter. We saw it bubbling in a crater and flowing down the mountain in several spots....If you get a chance to do this, go for it. It was awe inspiring. The waterfalls were pretty, but nothing like the lava flowing mountain. Enjoy it!

Shane treated us especially well. He was very friendly and made sure everyone got a turn at having the best view of all the incredible scenery. Of course we purchased the reasonably priced DVD of our flight so we can remember the experience in detail for years to come.

Our family of four booked the 2 hour Island Spectacular flight on the new eco helicopters. The flight was extremely smooth and the views were awesome. We were very lucky to see lava flowing which does not happen every day. The views into the volcano were an unforgettable experience which can only be seen from a helicopter. The coastal flight north of Hilo showed us valleys and gorges which are not accessible any other way except than by air. The many flowing waterfalls were also an amazing sight. All in all, we felt privileged to see parts of the big island not accessible in any other way. This alone made the flight a 'must do'. Yes, it is expensive but so worth it. Treat yourself...you won't be disappointed.

Most people will make one trip to the Big Island during a lifetime. So if you are going to splurge on one thing while you are there, this is it. Book the Big Island Spectacular in the state-of-the-art EcoStar helicopter. And book it early during you visit so you can get an early glimpse of the places you plan to visit later. Yes, it will cost $500 a person, but it is worth every penny. I was very impressed at how the company operates. They stay on schedule, safety is their first concern, and the staff is friendly and polite. Our pilot, Scott, was terrific. He gave a great narration during the flight, answered questions, and was very friendly and knowledgeable. You will fly from Waikoloa to the volcanoes, then to Hilo (and land there if you need to use the restroom facilities), then to the Hamakua Coast, then Waimea Valley, and then back to Waikoloa. It is a great experience that you will remember for the rest of your life (or regret for the rest of your life if you don't go). The helicopter is equipped with several video cameras, and you can buy a DVD of your flight after you land. Don't let that stop you from taking your own camcorder and recording your own video clips. The cameras in the helicopter provide mediocre to average quality, but I still recommend buying the DVD because it has the pilot's narration. But for video quality, you will do a better job with your own equipment.

Yeah, this is an expensive activity, but well worth every penny. Our pilot Noah isn't a native Hawaiian, but he knew his history, geography, geology, and how to fly! We did the Big Island Spectacular, which gives you 90% of the island covered. We were fortunate to have a very active day with Kilaeau's eruption, so we spent way more time than normal over the crater. Noah didn't scrimp on the waterfalls on the Hamakua Coast, and got us some killer photo opps. We've done multiple helo tours, and Blue Hawaiian is the best.

Ride the Eco star and take the Big Circle tour. It's totally worth the money.This was our second time on Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.The first trip was years ago. It was amazing to see how the island had changed with new lava creations. Great touchdown by John our pilot. He was very knowledgeable and interesting. His stories and insights were exceptional. We were able to see Kilauea from the air as it spewed out an enormous amount of lava. The waterfalls were breathtaking. If you want to grasp the enormity of the island, you must take this tour.

If you are hesitating about spending the extra for the 2 hour trip - stop hesitating and do it! Unbelievable experience and scenery, all incredibly well described by our pilot, Steve. Any initial nerves were quickly dispelled with Steve running through his impressive resume and he really made the trip even better - making sure everyone had a great view of the countless jaw dropping vistas and features. The 2 hours took in the Kilauea caldera, the current eruptions and lava flow, the Hamakua coast and rainforest, dolphin pod searching and of course the stunning waterfalls and valleys of the north east. Steve was very patient answering the 'varied' questions of our 6 and 8 year old who had a fantastic experience. Overall an experience well worth the money and a must-do of the big island.