Reviewed by: なまけたろう
Helicopter ride over the Big Island!!!
I hesitated for several years thinking about the cost, but... it was definitely the right decision to board! It was worth every penny! (Even for someone like me who is extremely afraid of heights, the stability of the helicopter was reassuring.)
After boarding, I was thrilled by the breathtaking views that you can never see from the ground. Waterfalls, Kilauea, lava fields, valleys, the land... everything was absolutely stunning! (I apologize for not having the best shots since I was sitting in the middle seat at the back...)
And our Japanese pilot, TOSHI (I was lucky with the timing!) provided a detailed explanation of the Big Island. (I might have been caught not really listening, though... haha.) Next time I board, I’ll make sure to study a bit more about the Big Island!
So, I definitely want to take this ride again next time!
ハワイ島ヘリコプターに搭乗!!!
金額のことを考え数年躊躇していましたが・・・
搭乗して大正解!金額を払っただけの価値はあります♪
(めちゃめちゃ高所恐怖症の私でも安心できるヘリコプターの安定感です)
搭乗後は地上からは決してみることのできない景色の数々に興奮しきりでした。
滝、キラウェア、溶岩後、渓谷、大地・・・どれをとっても文句なしです!
(後部中央席に座ったいたのでベストショットがなくてすみません・・)
そして日本人パイロットのTOSHIさん(タイミング的にラッキーだったようです!(^^)!)が丁寧にハワイ島の説明をしてくださいました。
(聞いているようで聞いていない?ことがバレてしまいましたが・・(笑))
次回搭乗の際には改めてハワイ島のことをもうちょっと勉強して臨みます!
ということで、次回も必ず搭乗したいと思います!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/12/31 |
Reviewed by: Teresa
Riding in a helicopter and seeing a live volcano checked off two of the entries on my life list. Scott, our pilot, was as excited as we were to see the molten lava gushing out in neon orange waves. It was definitely one of those,"Oh wow!" moments.
None of the retired ladies in our group had ever ridden in a helicopter before, and Scott had just the right combination of confidence and professionalism that reassured everyone. I would definitely fly with him again!
This tour was the highlight of our trip, and I would recommend it to everyone. It was worth every penny!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/12/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/11/25 |
Reviewed by: Silas
Thank you to Jork our pilot for an amazing flight. After breakfast, me and my friends hit up the Volcanoes Winery for some wine tasting and then whipped through the Volcanoes National Park to get an idea of what we'd see from the sky before heading to the airport for our helicopter flight. The check-in was easy (I gained a few pounds from all the Hawaiian food I ate, but it was okay) and the ground crew was super friendly. Make sure you get a phone strap if you want to take pics with doors off, or you can't take your phone with you. I really didn't expect a lot but as soon as we were hovering over small lava ponds I cried a little bit. It was so epic - it looked like we were on another planet. The black lava landscape stretched to the horizon. It was cold up there but whenever we got over the bright orange lava spots you could actually feel the waves of warmth, so soothing! We finished with a fly over bubbling pots waterfalls and some of the towns. All the buildings and cars were so tiny and perfect like a miniature model city. Thanks again to Paradise Helicopters and HawaiiActivities.com. Definitely an unforgettable moment on the Big Island. Ah man!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/10/14 |
Reviewed by: toni turnham
A enjoyable flight, if they can they take you up to the vent, to try and see lava, which may not always be flowing, the staff are very friendly, organised.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/09/09 |
Reviewed by: KJGS
Go for the Eco star! The viewing windows and space provide an excellent ride. Brandt was a great pilot who gave us an informative tour with funny antidotes. It's the closest feeling you can get to literally flying since it such a smooth ride, felt like we floated over billowing volcanoes and gushing waterfalls. Footage from video at the end had great clips inside and outside the helicopter but was too pixeled and fuzzy to want to purchase, hopefully as technology improves so will DVD. Pics and videos we took ourselves turned out good, even with an IPhone 6 and point and low end point and shoot camera. Take the ride, it's worth it!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/09/18 |
Reviewed by: GeeBee
Now being honest the weather was not good at Hilo, very wet and cloudy. But in spite of the weather the flight did go ahead. I do have to say doors off is definitely the way to go! We flew over several areas of coastline and lava flows and then headed up to the Puʻu ʻŌʻō, again the weather wasn't great but you could see the ground pretty well. Heading up the mountain we saw a small area of fresh lava but it was over in a flash and then we were heading back to Hilo.
Now I fully understand that when weather and visibility are not good you might not see everything but at no point did the pilot state what we would or would not see. Obviously the vent or flowing lava is the main part of the "show" and you keep waiting for that to appear. But it wasn't until a guest asked that we were told that we went as far as we could.
Feel the heat? No we certainly did not.
A word of warning for passengers with longer hair wear a beany or make sure your hair is tied back tight, due to the wind it ended up with my wife's hair being badly knotted around the headset.
Two stars - to be honest only for the fun aspect of the doors off.
It would have been so much better if we were kept informed of the visibility and weather (now on Hawai'i this might not be a normal issue) and what we would be able to see as opposed to not being told anything and not experiencing what the flight was all about and coming away with the slightly cheated feeling.
Would I go again - yes - but I would certainly be asking a lot of questions about the weather conditions, visibility and expected viewing. It is a lot of money to pay, and especially if you are not local to not "Feel the Heat" because why else would you fly "doors off"
In additional I have to say the staff at Paradise were very understanding when we raised our points.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/09/18 |
Reviewed by: DWAungst
The flight was amazing, but we did not fly from Hilo. When our scheduled time (from Hilo) arrived, the weather was below minimum at the volcano. This was very disappointing since Hilo weather was nice. But, Hawaii weather is very volatile.
We rescheduled for the next day as a "reserve flight" (needed more people to "confirm" the flight). Before the scheduled time, Paradise Helicopters called to say the flight was still only "reserved", but they had an opening in a different, circle the whole island, flight from Kona. They would upgrade me for no additional cost to take that one. We jumped at it.
The flight was amazing. We got to see the whole island, in addition to the volcano and real, live, flowing lava. Our pilot was Koji and he was awesome. The weather over the volcano was mixed, but he was able to navigate through the clouds enough to maintain the FAA rules for height and get us over the actual volcano caldera. Then, we headed for the current eruption points on the southern slopes and saw even more lava in the second vent. Moving further to the new lava fields, he located some live, flow lava. "WOW!!!" is all I can say.
The rest of the flight was great, too. Flying low up the valley on the north shore was wild. Seeing all the waterfalls was also terrific.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/21 |
Reviewed by: 匿名さん
Riding a helicopter for the first time and being able to see the faint red lava was a rare and interesting experience. The price was a bit high, but I'm glad I decided to participate.
I had heard that some people get motion sickness on helicopters, but my wife, who is prone to motion sickness, was fine, so that might not be something to worry about.
The footage from the ride can be purchased about 20 minutes after returning, so I bought it as a keepsake (though I haven't watched it yet).
However, I found it difficult to see outside from the middle seat in the back, so I wish they would differentiate the prices based on seating.
初めてヘリに乗ったっていうのと、うっすらながら赤い溶岩も見れたっていうのは、貴重で面白い経験だった。
ちょっと値段は高めだけど、思い切って参加してよかったです。
ヘリに酔うって話も聞いていたけど、乗り物酔いしやすい嫁さんでも大丈夫だったので、そのあたりは心配しなくてもいいのかもしれない。
乗った時の映像が、帰還して20分くらいで購入できるので、記念に買ったみた(まだ見てないけど)。
ただ、後ろの真ん中席だと外が見づらいので、座席で値段を分けてほしいと思いました。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/06/28 |
Reviewed by: Miked
First helo ride ever and we had the doors off. It was fantastic! Our pilot Rob was great! Would definitely recommend this if you want a close up view of a volcano!
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/17 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/09/14 |
Reviewed by: DWAungst
Weather cancelled booked flight. They upgraded me to a whole island tour for second flight next day. Bucket list item checked off - I saw real, flowing lava! Amazing flight. I wanna do it again.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/09/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/09/10 |
Reviewed by: りゅうのすけ
I couldn't fly on the reserved day due to the weather, so I rebooked for two days later, but again the weather was not good. It's sunny in Waikoloa, but the Hilo side was not. On both days, I had watched all the emergency evacuation and safety confirmation videos during the flight, but in the end, a staff member came out from the office and said, "I'm sorry."
Since it's nature, these things can happen. In the end, a Japanese pilot named TOSHI came out and said, "I'm really sorry this time. Please come again next time! We're waiting for you," and he handed me his business card with a refreshing greeting. I was very happy with this kind consideration. I hope to ride in TOSHI's helicopter next year for sure.
予約した日にお天気の関係で飛べず、再チャレンジで2日後に予約しましたが、またまたお天気がNGでダメでした。ワイコロアは晴天なんですけどね、ヒロ側がダメで。両日ともフライト中の緊急避難や安全確認のビデオも全部見終わっていたんですが、最後に事務所からスタッフの方が出てこられて「ごめんなさいね」と。
自然相手ですからこういうこともありますね。
最後に日本人パイロットのTOSHIさんが出てこられて「今回は本当に残念です。次の機会に是非来てくださいね!お待ちしています」と名刺を渡してくださって爽やかにご挨拶してくださいました。こういう心遣い、とても嬉しかったです。来年こそTOSHIさんのヘリに乗せていただきたいです。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2015/08/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/01 |
Reviewed by: moo
It's no surprise that the Big Island is called Hawaii Island! Seeing Kilauea Volcano and Waipi'o Valley from the sky, I was overwhelmed by the greatness of nature and the majesty of the land. While the roads weave through the volcanic terrain and renting a car for sightseeing is a good option, I highly recommend taking an aerial tour, even though it may be a bit costly.
Kilauea Volcano, where you can witness the Earth's breath (smoke) up close, along with the green valleys and various waterfalls created by nature, is truly breathtaking.
You too will surely develop a sense of awe for nature and find yourself immersed in the beauty of Hawaii Island.
Unfortunately, I couldn't understand much of the guide's commentary due to the foreign pilot, but just watching the scenery from above made the 40 minutes fly by, and I had a wonderful time.
ハワイ島が、ビッグアイランドと云われるのは当たり前です!!
空からのキラウエア火山とワイピオ渓谷を見て、自然の偉大さ、
大地の雄大さに圧倒されて、大変感激しました。
縦横に道路が火山大地の間を縫ってつなっがていて、レンタカー
で観光するのも良いかと思いますが、多少費用は掛かりますがぜ
ひとも、空からの遊覧観光をお勧めします。
地球の息使い(噴煙)が目の当たりに観えるキラウエア火山、自
然が作った緑の渓谷や流れ落ちる様々な滝とその滝壺。
あなたもキット自然に対する畏敬の念を持ち、ここハワイ島に溶
け込むことになってしまうことでしょう。
惜しくも外人パイロットのため、ガイドの内容はあまり理解出来
ませんでしたが、空からの景色を見ているだけで、40分あまり
がアッと過ぎてしまい、大変楽しみました。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/06/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/05/30 |
Reviewed by: J. Ford
It was worth every penny to get to fly over the lava fields. Grant, our pilot, has over 30 years experience piloting. He knows the area well. "Luxury" flight only allowed for 4 passengers so there was plenty of room and we all had a great view. We were also given the opportunity to ask the pilot all kinds of questions regarding the lava fields and surrounding area. I highly recommend this activity. Very much a highlight of our trip.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/06/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/05/25 |
Reviewed by: ykt
I participated alone. It was about a one-hour aerial walk in a small four-seater helicopter. It was a very valuable experience since it was in a place that you absolutely cannot see from the ground. However, it was a bit disappointing for me since all the explanations were in English and I couldn't understand them. You can take unlimited photos, and they also do a commemorative photo at the end, so it became a great memory.
一人で参加しました。
4人乗りの小さなヘリコプターで約1時間の空中散歩でした。地上からは絶対に見られない場所なので非常に貴重な体験でした。
ただ説明が全て英語なので聞き取れない私には少し残念でした。
写真も撮り放題だし最後に記念撮影もしてくれるので良い思い出になりました。
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| Packages: | キラウエア火山と壮大な自然遊覧(2017年12月14日までのご参加) |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2015/05/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/04/22 |
Reviewed by: K. Hayes
I would definitely recommend the doors off experience to the doors on. You are able to get much better pictures and video, in my opinion. There were only a few active spots for us to view, but our tour guide answered most of the questions we had and explained a lot about the landscape. The waterfalls were beautiful- I would recommend hiking to them if you are staying in Hilo for more than a day.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2015/05/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/04/14 |
Reviewed by: Marsha
We had a great time flying over the volcano and seeing how lava makes an island. A very good way to see the vast flows. As on Kauai, the staff at Blue Hawaiian was great. They know their island and their love of it shows.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/05/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/04/26 |
Reviewed by: Tim and Jan
The helicopter ride and seeing the volcano steam pots was amazing! Wish we could have seen the waterfalls closer though.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/04/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/04/20 |
Reviewed by: Harpers in Texas
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters & former Marine Pilot Greg are the best! Little nervous about 1st time in a helo but there was no need to worry! Ride was smooth , sights were amazing, pilot was very knowledgable & informative.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/04/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/19 |
Reviewed by: ミイー
I have a fear of heights, so I was hesitant at first, but I'm really glad I participated. I was able to enjoy the ocean, islands, volcanoes, and valleys from angles I had never seen before. Especially around the volcano, I could feel the heat from the ground, which I think is a unique experience of the Big Island. I definitely want to participate again!
高所恐怖症でもあるので最初は迷っていたのですが、参加して本当によかったです。見たことのないアングルで海や島、火山や谷を楽しむことができました。特に火山周辺では足もとから熱も感じることができて、これはハワイ島ならではの体験だったとおもいます。また是非とも参加したいです!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/04/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2014/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Bonnie
I had been somewhat apprehensive as had never been on a helicopter before but I loved it!! What a way to see the volcano and surrounding area!! I was accompanied by my sisters and their husbands and it was enjoyed by all!!
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| Packages: | Doors-On Flight [45 mins] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/03/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/03 |
Reviewed by: Dale & Cheryl
We were hesitant to do this because we had never been in a helicopter, but WOW. So glad we did!! Awesome views of the volcano. Pilot (Jeremy) was very knowledgable and made the experience very interesting. He was very professional and skilled with the operation of the helicopter. An experience we will never forget!! Highly recommended!!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/03/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/08 |
Reviewed by: MT Travelers
I did this tour on my 60th birthday. It was the best experience of my life! The helicopter pilot, Marko, was knowledgeable as well as entertaining. We saw the amazingly varied terrain of the Big Island but the best was seeing the Kilauea Caldera and lava pool as well as places where the lava was slowing flowing. The Kohala area was unbelievably beautiful. A bonus - the great coffee made by Marko at the midway stop. I would highly recommend this tour especially if your time in Hawaii is limited and you want to see it all in comfort.
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| Packages: | Big Island Flight with Kohala Landing Package |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/18 |
Reviewed by: graham perth wa
4 of us flew from oahu for this helicopter flight. You need to check what is happening with the volcano first as we were expecting to see some sort of action. The flow had obviously been active for sometime recently but what we saw was not what we were lead to believe was happening. Flight was good but dont take any notice of the pictures in advertising as they are deceptive. I k now this is a nature based activity and the company has no control over the volcano,but to over promise and under deliver is allways a recipe for disaster. The pilot Tim was excellent but the ground crew organinzation was lacking.Had us stand around in the sun for 30 minutes while they organised 5 flights at the same time.So dont expect to leave on the timeyou have booked,doesnt work that way.We hired a car and went to Volcano national park,fantastic and highly recommend that instead of this trip at only a fraction of the cost.The couple we shared with whilst disappointed could not speak more highly of the Maui trip they had with this company, so maybe consider that option
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/18 |
Reviewed by: Barbara
We really enjoyed our recent flight with Tim as our pilot. The sights were spectacular. Everything was organized like clockwork. The equipment is clearly very safety and comfort focused. Tim was entertaining ad a very competent pilot.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/17 |
Reviewed by: Jeanne A
My husband wasn't too excited about coming to Hawaii but his one request was to fly in a helicopter to see the volcanos. His choice was the open door option. Neither having been in a helicopter before I at least had some trepidations. It was a blast! Our pilot, Rhys, a Kiwi, was very knowledgeable and a good pilot. Thank you!
And yes, you can feel the heat from the lava. Good times!
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/01/30 |
Reviewed by: Bill C
I loved that I could upgrade and guarantee a window spot for this tour. I got some great photos. I would recommend this as an exciting way to view the volcanos!
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| Packages: | Experience Hawaii Tour Package |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/10 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/01/18 |
Reviewed by: さちえ
I hesitated because the price was high, but I heard that if the volcanic activity is not active, I wouldn't be able to see a volcano erupting lava even if I took the time to walk there, so I chose to take a helicopter.
In fact, I was able to see the bubbling lava from above the crater.
In the ocean, I also saw a mother whale and her calf.
Flying through the valley of Waipi'o Valley in the helicopter was very mystical and wonderful. It was a unique experience that only a helicopter can provide, and I really enjoyed it.
値段が高いので迷いましたが、火山活動が活発ではなければ、時間をかけて歩いて見に行っても溶岩を噴火する火山を見られないと聞いてヘリコプターを選択しました。
実際火口を上から見て、ボコボコ湧き出る溶岩が見られました。
海では、鯨の親子も見えました。
ワイピオ渓谷の渓谷の谷間をヘリで縫うように飛んでくれて、とても神秘的で素晴らしかったです。ヘリコプターならではの体験ができ、とてもよかったです。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/02/02 |
Reviewed by: Deb Stuckey
This helicopter trip was fabulous! Our pilot, Reese, was very informative, friendly and helpful. Gave us a great view of lava fields, the active Kilauea volcano and waterfalls. He was very attentive to BOTH sides of the helicopter, making sure everyone got a great experience. Well worth the money.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2015/01/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2015/01/21 |
Reviewed by: セサミ
We used it as a family of five and were very impressed. You can experience emotions that exceed the price. I highly recommend it.
家族5人で利用させて頂きましたとても感動しました。価格以上の経験感動を味会えます。是非お勧め致します。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/01/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2014/12/29 |
Reviewed by: Kal J
This was our first ever helicopter ride, so obviously we had goosebumps....our pilot, Nate, was a pro & the entire 50 mins tour was v nice. He went as close to the volcanoes/steam geysers as legally allowed. At the end, since we had spare time, he even took us over the ocean to do whale spotting....and spotted 2 whales too! We even purchased a $30 DVD of all our views & cockpit videos...
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2015/01/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2014/12/27 |
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