Very Expensive and Worth it. It was just an awesome day, ride, pilot and friends we just met. Couldn't have had a better and more beautiful experience. The customer service was heavenly. Pauly, I think was the manager and all those people were super friendly and bent over backwards to ensure we had a good time and were at ease. Felt perfectly comfortable in the sky. Did get a bit naseous at end from taking so many photos. IT was over too quick even after 45 minutes. Talked to locals later who said they were too scared to do it and boy are they missing out because - it's just right there!
This is a great way to see all of the island. The helicopter we were in was very modern and felt very new and well looked after. Mike Thatcher (our pilot) was extremely friendly and made sure we all had a great time. You are all seated according to weight but I think they try to sit all parties together as much as they can. We bought the DVD which cost $25 as it gives you the commentary that you cannot get from taking a video camera (as it's very noisy). It's expensive ($220 per person if not booked 7 days in advance) but it's something that cannot be matched by anything else on the island. They win awards every year and we can see why. Make sure you reserve enough money to do the tour as it's worth it.
Really, why would you consider another company? Blue Hawaiian far and away has the best reputation for safety and equipment. Our pilot, Brian, displayed superior skill and ability with us. I personally recommend the 45 minute tour. We were bumped up to the hour+ tour and it was too long. I know that sounds strange, but it was. Ask for the front seat. They divvy them up based on weight, but we asked and got it. AND, we were the last ones to show up, so ask!
I arranged this tour as a surprise for my husband on Valentine's Day. I requested the front seat for him and "Sandra" at customer service was very kind and accommodated us. The tour was absolutely amazing. The views were breathtaking. We saw whales and a hidden waterfall you can only see from a helicopter. The pilot was friendly and knowledgeable. This is definitely a "must do" on your checklist on Oahu. Thank you Blue Hawaiian Helicopters for an unforgettable experience!
Palani at Blue Hawaiian Helicopters went OUT OF HIS WAY to help us find other sights to see after our ride was cancelled due to the weather. He made several phone calls and helped us get tickets to Pearl Harbor and also rescheduled our flight to later on in the day. AWESOME!!!! Highly recommend Blue Hawaiian!
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters's tour of Oahu is a 50 minute flight. The tour begins at the Honolulu airport, proceeds up the east coast of Oahu, crosses the north shore, and then returns to the airport by following the path of the first wave of Japanese airplanes to attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Highlights include Waikiki, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Waimanalo beach, the Nuuanu Valley rainforest, the Dole Pineapple Plantations, and Pearl Harbor. The flight offers outstanding views of the Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, and the off-limits Utah Memorial. The helicopters are new with stadium seating. The helicopter cabin is spacious, but can get warm on a sunny day. Our pilot's name was Toby, he was outstanding--knowledgeable and skilled. (It was a smooth flight.) The only items allowed onboard are a pair of sunglasses, a bottle of water, and a camera w/o a case. Ask for PALANI VILLANUEVA--he is the base manager. His hospitality is humbling.
My husband and I were first-time helicopter flyers, (so were 2 others on our ride) and my nerves were certainly on edge, particularly during the safety briefing and on the way to the flight office. However, the staff was very cheerful, the 'terminal' clean and professional-looking and made it all about having a fun time -- 'you're on vacation' ; they even strapped us in, and had music playing thru the earphones for take off and during parts of the flight. Once we 'took off' (more like floated up like a balloon) I was too awestruck by the scenery and great visibility from all the windows to be nervous. The flight was smooth - no turbulence and not much noise because of the headphones. The pilot Tobias was very knowledgeable and provided lots of information about the island and answered our questions as we flew along. We had a great time! Also the video of the flight is $25 and well worth it because it is better quality than the video clips I took and a great way to share our flight with the kids when we got home. Didn't realize that they have a free shuttle to and from Waikiki hotels; they gave us a ride back to our hotel afterwards.
The helicopter tour was the most amazing part of our trip to O'ahu. Our pilot was great, he was knowledgeable about the area, and overall it was a fantastic experience. I am also glad we did this early in our vacation, it gave us a chance to see some things from the air and scope out some places that we could go later on our trip. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Our tour guy was funny and knowledgeable. Our flight was on a beautiful day and the view was great. I bought the video of our flight. The quality was okay. The staff was friendly.
We were originally scheduled for the 29th of December, but were canceled due to President Obama's trip. We were able to reschedule for the 2nd of January, and had a superb experience. The Eco-Star copter was quite quiet and smooth, and the 55 minute tour hit all the high points of Oahu. The ground staff were excellent. The pilot was very highly skilled, while at the same time able to provide a running commentary of everything we flew over. Definitely a must do if you are in Honolulu!!
We flew with Blue Hawaiian in Oahu to look at the sites, as well as The Big Island to look at the volcanoes. And it was great each time. You really can't see the volcanoes any other way!
Blue Hawaiian's personnel were friendly and accommodating. We had a friend in a wheelchair and they helped put him on the helicopter and made his day! Thank you Blue Hawaiian! It was my family's first time on a helicopter and we loved it!! It was the highlight of our trip.
Touring Kauai by Helicopter was a tremendous experience! Michael, our pilot, was so knowledgeable and guided us to several places inaccessible by car. An outstanding day!
My husband and I went on a 55 minute Eco adventure trip and it was great! The facility was really comfortable. They had cold lemon water to drink and also really clean washroom facilities. The staff was really friendly and helpful. The helicopter tour was so comfortable and such a great way to see the island! We ended up with a really clear morning to go so the views were excellent. This trip was definitely worth the money and is a must-do on your first trip to Kauai!
Thanks to Pilot Geoffrey and Blue Hawaiian Helicopter for an awesome experience. As former helicopter technicians in the RCAF, we found the ride very comfortable and safe. The island sights are amazing. Geoffrey was very informative, personable, and a great pilot. Mark & Heather Maschio