Reviews

We went on a Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tour over Kauai. It was the first time husband and I had been in a helicopter and it was absolutely amazing. It was very smooth and the views are spectacular. I was literally speechless for the entire hour long ride. It is rather pricy, but you are in Hawaii and trust me it is worth every penny. You can also purchase a video of your actual flight so you can always have it. I highly recommend it. Thanks Brent for a great ride.

Let me preface by saying that I am in the aviation industry and a licensed commercial pilot. I did my homework on this one because it is "on my turf". The accident rates of these types of operations are generally very high. What swayed me to this company was that they received an FAA diamond award for safety in maintenance training. My company won the award and it is very difficult to achieve. The next was my comfort with the pilot. He flew with experience and visible skill. He had considerable cockpit prowess while also knowing quite a bit about the island, sharing many very interesting stories throughout the flight. We were rained out the first day we wanted to go. I strongly recommend making this the first activity you try because of it. The reasonably friendly staff did their best to reschedule and went as far as promising us one of the "good seats" in the front unfortunately this didn't pan out

We were trying to do a week in Hawaii that did not break the bank and this is the one area we "splurged" on and we have no regrets on spending the money ( note: we did save money booking 5 days in advance online). My husband was nervous about the trip and he walked away in awe and the desire to take another ride on a different island. You are flown right next to waterfalls and the Cathedral Cliffs on the Na'pali coast- you are so close at some points you think you are going to be running into the side of the mountain (but are really not that close). We were not able to go to the wettest spot on Earth, Mt. Waialeale, and I was surprised to see the prior poster said he did get to- it sounded like that was a rare treat. The pilot was an excellent tour guide and we learned everything we wanted to know about the island, yet he was quiet at times to allow us to just soak in the beauty of the flight. The tour was set to music that we heard through our Bose headsets and we had a microphone if we wanted to ask questions or talk to the group. I agree with wearing dark colors, but depending on where you are on the island and how the sun is shining it might not even help- I have some great photos but you see my hand in the reflection and other photos have no glare at all. I found my small digital camera took better photos than my fancy Canon Rebel XTi with stock lens. I tried to not obsess about photos and just enjoy the tour, but still have around 100 amazing pics. You can't see the Na'Pali coast unless you fly, boat or hike (11 rugged miles) and it is beautiful. The front seats would have been best, but the right side is better than the left and thant is where I was seated. The weigh you in and seat you based on balancing out the weight on the plane. I don't think there was a bad seat on the helicopter. My husband was in the middle in the back and had no complaints. The only disappointment was that they advertise the tour is approximately 55 minutes and our tour was actually between 45-50 minutes from take off to landing, which was a bit disappointing, because you could have enjoyed even more in those 10 additional minutes. I would have felt like we missed out on so much of this amazing island if we did not do the helicopter ride- highly recommend a helicopter flight, just not sure if this one gives you the bang for your buck, when they short you 10 minutes of flight time.

We checkined in for our flight a few minutes late because we wnt to the airport location instaed of rice street. That was definitely our fault. However, when we checked in, we were told that we had missed our flight and the customer service reprsentative acted like we were an inconvenience. The driver took us, along with another group to the airport. We still waited about 10-15 minutes for our flight. I understand it was a busy day due to the holiday, but when I spend several hundred dollars, I expect a little courtsey. I didn't understand why the customer service rep made such a big deal about the time when we were plenty early. The flight was pretty good. We were assigned 3 and 4, but ended up being 5 and 6 because they must have double assigned numbers. I wasn't about to fight someone over seats, but I thought this should have never happened. I was the lightest person on the flight and ended up in seat 5 (I'm about 5"3" and weigh 100 lbs). From what I've read, the lightest person rides in the front for safety reasons. Mike our pilot was very informative and made the flight. The view from seat 6, the left is not nearly as good as from the right and there were several things I couldn't see. The pilot does his best to fly around to the other side for the Jurassic Falls, Bali Hai, and a few other things, but it definitely makes a difference where you sit. I understand that the the direction the pilot must fly is based on agreements and that's not the company's fault. Mike was very good about letting me know when he would turn the helicopter so I could get a better view. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous though. From the left you see more of the ocean, Princeville, Poipu, etc. Mike was very informative and friendly. He was also very grateful for our business, which was nice to hear. When our flight was finished, there wasn't anyone to really direct us so we sat down in the chairs and waited. The van came about 10 minutes later. When we arrived back at the customer service area, I asked the rep about how they determine who sits where and mentioned that I had read that the lightest person usually sits in the front. She gave me an answer that weight distribution depends on the day, the pilot, the fuel, etc. Interesting since most of what I have read says that for safety issues the lightest person is usually in the front. The answer of because we were late or something more plausible is what I expected. The pilot was great, but the customer service at Blue Hawaiian was either having an off day or needs improvement. Make sure you make a request for your seat!!

Flight was fine but 1 video camera wasn't working so sales rep offered to sell DVD for $15. When asked why not $12.50 since only 50% of cameras were working, answer was he couldn't make that decision. I emphasized that after we had booked all six seats on that particular flight spending more than $1200, it seemed ridiculous he wasn't empowered to make a $2.50 decision. This just blew me away and frankly left a bitter taste in my mouth. I was really shocked at the lack of customer service. I was prepared to purchase multiple DVD's for our group. My brother acquiesed and did buy one of the inferior one-camera. I did not and again, thought it ridiculous to tick off a customer in this puny way. A free video would have been expected given a once in a life time experience ruined due to a lack of equipment on the aircraft....pretty shabby if you ask me...

It's worth the extra money to see the island by helicopter. It was amazing. We also purchased the video of our trip. When you watch it you relive it all over again. One of the most beautiful islands!

Blue Hawaiian helicopter, pilot, and support staff were the very best. Without any reluctance we would easily recommend Blue Hawaiian to anyone desiring a 1st Class helicopter trip over Kauai. The views, history learned, and overall experience will never be forgotten. Also, our pilot was Dean and he was fantastic.

My hubby and I took one of these tours the last time we were on Kauai, and we would certainly do it again. It was a little pricier than some of the others, but it was featured by other travel sites... and even National Geographic (I believe.) Also, I do not fly well, but they were very curteous and their safety record is very good. As most of the island is not easily reached by conventional transportation this really is the only way to see the whole island. The pilot was very knowledgeable on every aspect of the tour and the headphones they give you are superb. You couldn't hear anything but the commentary and music. All of which is recorded and can be purchased for a small fee. The seating is not first come first serve, it is by weight... but if you go through your hotel's activity planner you may be able to get a deal. Our resort offered guaranteed front seats for a higher price, and it was definately worth it. However, the seating is arranged so there is no bad seat. (It will all depend on who you are stuck behind. We're short so everyone had a great view.) Also, wear dark colors when planning to take the tour. If you are in the front your light colored clothing will reflect off the window and make pictures look funny, not just for you but for everyone else on the tour as well.

"Blue Hawaiian, you're my best (Helicopter Tour) friend!" For a few bucks more than average, it was like having my own personal flying chauffeur! Being uniquely sure of their quality, BH shows a wide-screen video in Hi-Def BEFORE the tour, literally sweeping you off your feet from start to finish! If you can create a complaint, they can resolve it! The value of your dollar matters to them, & creating memories is their specialty. The Hi-Quality video of your actual flight leaves you speechless. No shakes, no rattles, while they're rollin' the cameras from multiple angles. Snippets of you in flight appear as a reminder that "Yes, I was actually there!" Tip of the Day: purchase a video & get a NICE discount on a 2nd ( same dvd or stock Blu-ray of the entire Hawaiian Islands!). Photographers will love BH 'cause the Pilot turns back & forth to give all a great view! Suggestion: Put YOUR camera away... that's why they're getting paid! The smoothness of the Pilot's one-hand operation is a show of its own, seeming to let Kaua'i pose as only Kaua'i can(You go, girl!). No major rough spots here, as BH steadies you in comfort, style and expertise. With BH, you can call me, "Miss Daisy" anytime!

I don't normally post negative comments however; we made prior arrangements to fly on Blue Hawaiian Helicopters in Kauai during our Cruise on the NCL Pride of America with for plans a wonderful adventure. We arrived at the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters desk near the port two hours early for check in and we were directed to return closer to our arranged check in time by the Blue Hawaiian rep-an hour later. We returned to the desk and were told last minute that our flight was cancelled and that we would receive credit for the cancellation. We inquired about alternatives and the Blue Hawaiian rep told us that there were no alternatives and there was no backup flight plan. I could not believe this "reputable" company would leave passengers stranded without a backup plan. We and others awaiting a pre-arranged flight were distraught and immediately began making phone calls to secure a flight from another helicopter company for a tour. Our luck and timing could not have been better with Island Helicopters! They exceeeded our expectations! Island Helicpoters sent a van to take us to the heliport and after a brief preflight about safety we were ready to fly! The staff was highly professional and sensitive to our plight. Our pilot-a former military pilot flew us in and out of valleys, shared local customs and language and gave us a memorable tour of the Kauai landscape from the mountains to the pristine beaches. We also received a free DVD with screensaver pictures as part of our flight. Blue Hawaiian would have charged an additional fee for this same benefit.

What an awesome experience this was for my husband and me. This was our first visit to Kauai. If you want to see the beauty of this Island go to Blue Hawaiian Helicopter and take the ride of your life. Our pilot, Kurt was awesome. Very informative. We saw areas of the Island you can only see by air or water. The DVD is worth the money. The staff at the check-in office was terrific. I highly recommend taking this tour.

My husband and I recently took the 55 minute Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tour and it was unbelievable! We are both still talking about it! It is the very best way to see the island! We rode in a very spacious Eco-Star helicopter which held 6 passengers and we had two-way communication with the pilot so that we could easily ask questions. Seeing the Napali coastline from the air was an awesome experience. But when we entered the Wai'ale'ale Crater and were surrounded by the magestic waterfalls, we both just gasped with disbelief! Although I cannot compare this helicopter ride to any others since this was my first, I can tell you that it was an extremely comfortable and smooth ride. I have a tendancy for motion sickness but had no problems whatsoever. Our pilot, Barrett, was very knowledgeable and made the flight fun! You are only allowed to bring a camera with you on board. They will keep your pocketbook and other valuables in a locked closet if you so desire. They also make a video of your helicopter ride which you can purchase if you like. We purchased ours and have already watched it several times and relived the experience. Many of the pictures we took while on the ride had glare in them from the windows since none of the windows would open. But overall, I was still pleased with most of the pictures I took. We have not stopped talking about this experience and we highly recommend the splurge! It is well worth it and something you will never forget!

This is a bit pricey experience for a hour of flight but it is worth it. We had pilot Steve who was very nice and kept us informed on all the areas we flew over. We had nice background music going too. The whole thing takes about 2 hrs and you do get to see this beautiful island from the top. Gives you a different perspective. Free parking and storage.

Earlier review of disgruntled customer speaks for itself. They are obviously inexperienced travelers and their opinion that they know more then the pilots about safe flying conditions is laughable. We called the same day for our flight and luckily they had 2 seats. We were told at least twice during the phone call that we would not be allowed to cancel. Excellent customer service when we arrived and having to wait 10 minutes at the airport is not a big deal. Our pilot, Jimmy, was excellent. No matter what seats you have, the flight is breathtaking and the information Jimmy imparts in his unique, laid-back voice is very interesting and informative. I was so in awe of the Na Pali cliffs that I couldn't speak if I had to! Seats were comfortable and even though it's expensive, we feel it's the best bet for your money for an unforgettable experience on Kauai.

Blue Hawaiian saved my disappointed new wife on our honeymoon. Long story short; we originally booked the trike tour with Birds In Paradise but after rescheduling four times due to weather we never made it up with them. Sunday was our last day on Kauai(flight back home was at 10:20 pm) and we still haven't had our tour of Kauai from the air yet. I scrambled to find a helicopter tour that had open spots for us. Luckly Blue Hawaiian had a couple openings. We got lucky again when we arrived at the tour, we got to sit up front. The view from the front seats was terrific. I assume much better than the back row. Blue Hawaiian excuse themselves from the hassle of people requesting to sit in the front by telling passengers that sitting is all based on weight and balance. It was a wonderful and safe way to see the island from the air. The wife was happy. Thanks guys.