Reviewed by: Michelle Jarrett
Deluxe is the word! As if the natural awesomeness of a live volcano,a national park and stars was not enough this trip also includes a tasty picnic lunch and a 5 star dining experience for dinner. Add to this an extremely knowledgeable guide who serenades you with ukulele, tells amazing Hawaiian myths, provides astronomical binoculars to improve photographs taken on your phones and cameras of a live volcano at night and leads a sing-along on the way home.
This was a long day but easily the best tour our family has ever taken. Booking via Veltra tours was easy, even from overseas.
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| Packages: | Route #1 - Rainbow Falls, Hilo Town & Volcano |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/06 |
Reviewed by: mcavalheiro
Let me start saying one thing - Kilauea Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and it's definitely a MUST SEE & DO if you are visiting Hawaii. I think everyone should explore the Volcanoes National Park as much as they can, and since I've hiked hiked the most popular sights before, this time I decided to get the bird's eye view from Kilauea.
From start to finish Blue Hawaiian Helicopters was very professional and delivered a great service. After the check-in we watched a video about safety and what to expect on the tour. Due to the weather conditions my original flight was cancelled, however I was able to reschedule to a later time. It was worthy the wait! The aircraft was modern, very comfortable, large windows and the pilot was excelled and very experienced. He not only made us feel safe, but also shared a lot of interest facts about Hawaiian geology and history.
We flew over dozens of waterfalls and over the most recent lava flows and it was crazy to see how close the lava got to some houses couple of years ago. The most incredible part thou was for sure seeing the lava flowing into the ocean and watching the bubbling lava lake inside the Pu'u 'O'o Crater (which you can only see if you are doing an air tour).
I will never stop sharing these incredible memories with everyone around me.
Thank you VELTRA & Blue Hawaiian Helicopters for the amazing experience. I highly recommend this tour, whether you are visiting the island just for a day or more, make sure to include a helicopter flight on your wish list.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/27 |
Reviewed by: P and B
The guide was outstanding. He is a geologist with a lot of experience. He provide
a lot of information on the volcano as well as information about the the big island in general. He helped us take pictures as well as provided answers to questions we asked. This was a great tour.
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| Packages: | Route #1 - Rainbow Falls, Hilo Town & Volcano |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/20 |
Reviewed by: Dona
The trip took too long time for nothing, visiting some stores which mean wasting time & money! also you can't see that much Lava in the morning!!! only the smoke! The guide was too knowledge but talking a lot which cause me headache! Since the tour started till finished he was talking no relaxing! after we finish the park he took us to the mall for 45 min!! It's totally wasting time, I prefer to go by car alone and see a lot of sight rather than this tour!!
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| Packages: | Volcano Adventure |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/31 |
Reviewed by: AZSKY
This is an absolutely terrific tour and worth every penny. Our family has visited the Big Island many times but we learned so much from our energetic and knowledgable tour guide, Kevin. Absolutely adored the gorgeous candy facility stop on the way to the volcano. This store is beautiful and we ended up purchasing client gifts which were efficiently ordered and shipped back to the mainland. The dinner stop at the Kilauea Lodge was amazing. I ordered a Cosmopolitan cocktail which was presented just as chic and lovely as any found in a Five Star hotel bar. Good meal enjoyed in a cozy spot among new friends. Back to the night lava viewing at the volcano which was utterly amazing. The warm coats and flashlights provided by Veltra made the experience even more enjoyable.
Last but not least I must give kudlos to Kevin, our tour guide. This man has truly done his homework and is passionate about educating his guests about the gorgeous Island of Hawaii. Thank you, Kevin for making each and every one of us feel important.
GREAT TOUR!
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| Packages: | Route #1 - Rainbow Falls, Hilo Town & Volcano |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/20 |
Reviewed by: Rena
Everyone should do this at least once! You get to see all the volcano has to offer.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/16 |
Reviewed by: Terry from Texas
The Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour was easily the best event our group had while on the Big Island. Everyone loved it. BH uses very high quality helicopters and our pilot was well trained and very skilled. We all agreed that at no time did we feel unsafe. Our pilot was also very well informed and told us a lot of interesting things about the volcano and the Hilo side of the island. But, the views were the most memorable part of the trip. Don't forget your camera or you'll hate yourself.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/16 |
Reviewed by: Ken
I name of this tour says it all! Live lava flows and incredible waterfalls. Our pilot, Peter, was fantastic and informative. I highly recommend the store to everyone.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/16 |
Reviewed by: 副操縦士
I requested a pickup service. Even after the scheduled pickup time had passed, I waited for a long time. The receptionist at Royal Cliff was considerate and made an inquiry (they were Japanese). They mentioned that they were running late due to making rounds, but a taxi arrived 30 minutes late. The driver seemed very apologetic.
However, it was such a wonderful sightseeing flight that I didn't mind at all. Thank you, pilot TOSHI. I would definitely like to request this again on another island.
送迎付きでお願いしました。お迎えの時間を過ぎてもずっと待っていました。ロイヤルシークリフのレセプションの方が気を利かせて問い合わせしてくださいました(日本の方でした)。あちこち廻ってるので遅れているとのことでしたが、30分遅れでやって来たのはタクシーでした。凄く申し訳なさそうに謝ってました。
そんなことも全く気にならないほどの素晴らしい遊覧飛行でした。パイロットのTOSHIさん、ありがとうございました。他の島でもまた是非お願いしたいと思います。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/24 |
Reviewed by: Stacey
I absolutely loved this tour! It was perfect! Each guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The van was clean, cool and they drove safely. All the food, drinks and snacks were very tasty and fresh. We got to see, do and learn so much and it was never grueling or boring. Each stop was so exciting and breathtaking. Taking this tour sheds 2 miles each way of walking out to the lava flow which is a huge bonus. Seeing the lava hitting the sea is amazing! Bringing binoculars will help you see it better. I have no suggestions for making this tour better because I truly think it's perfect the way it is and you will walk away very happy and satisfied. Thank you for a great 40th Birthday!
**Wanted to share with you guys that I did the Chain of Craters drive down to the Holei Sea Arch and on my way back up I saw 2 Nene's!! I was so excited! (pic below)**
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| Packages: | From Hilo |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/09 |
Reviewed by: D&H
The trip was initially cancelled due to poor weather, but the Blue Hawaiian staff were all extraordinarily friendly and helpful, and rebooked us for later that day. The flight was gorgeous, and the pilot (Patrick) was both professional and very entertaining. I'd happily recommend it to anyone.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/08 |
Reviewed by: Kerilyn
Very clean and comfortable helicopter. Pilot had a great soundtrack and was very good at making sure we all got a good view of everything. Staff was efficient and knowledgeable.
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| Packages: | Doors-On Flight [45 mins] |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/06 |
Reviewed by: Rene and Pattatiya
We enjoyed the flight a lot. The flight without doors is realy special. The pilot flight direct over the crater with magna and we can made beautiful pictures and feel the cold wind and the hot magna!
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/10 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/07 |
Reviewed by: Marverick
After watching Miho Kanno on television, I really wanted to join a doorless helicopter tour. Before the tour, we received a thorough briefing, which made me feel secure about getting on the helicopter. Since it was my first time in a helicopter, I expected some turbulence, but it felt smooth as if gliding over the water, so I had no anxiety. I was able to see the lava flowing into the ocean and the steam rising, as well as feel the hot winds. Additionally, we had a bird's-eye view of waterfalls like Rainbow Falls, and my family of three is thrilled to have had the best experience of our lives. After the tour, my wife thanked me for giving her the front seat. According to her, the front seat was the best. Next time, I want to let my daughter sit there. I definitely want to recommend this tour to my friends. Thank you very much.
菅野美穂さんのテレビを見て、どうしても扉なしのヘリツアーに参加したくなりました。ツアー前に丁寧にブリーフィングしていただき、安心してヘリに乗ることができました。初めてのヘリでしたので、揺れることを予想していましたが、水面を滑るような感じで不安はありませんでした。期待していた海に溶岩が流れ込み水蒸気が立ち上るところや溶岩の流れ、その熱風を肌で感じることができました。さらに、レインボーフォールなどの滝を俯瞰することができ、人生最高の体験をできたと家族3人喜んでいます。ツアー後、妻から前の席を譲ってくれてありがとうと感謝されました。妻曰く、前の席は最高だったよとのことです。今度は娘に座らせてあげたいです。友人にも是非紹介したいツアーです。ありがとうございました。
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| Packages: | 2017年12月14日までのご参加 |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/27 |
Reviewed by: Maggie
Really great ride. Beautiful scenery. Saw some lava and waterfalls but we were not very close to either. Worth the trip but don't expect to get close
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/09/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/08 |
Reviewed by: Redmond
Saw volcano with bubbling lava and lava glowing into the sea. Friendly and informative pilot. Highly recommended.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/27 |
Reviewed by: Davinci
Thank you very much for all your help this time. Thanks to you, the weather was great, and I was able to see the vast Big Island of Hawaii and the long-desired Kilauea Volcano from the sky. If I had to say, it would have been perfect to see a bit more volcanic activity, but I suppose we can't go against nature (laughs). However, I was satisfied as I could clearly see the lava flowing.
I was a bit concerned about the budget, but considering it as a once-in-a-lifetime memory, I don't think it was expensive at all.
このたびはいろいろお世話になりありがとうございました。おかげさまで天気もよく、広大なハワイ島と念願のキラウエア火山を空から観ることができました。敢えて言うならばもう少し活発な火山活動が観られたら最高でしたが、さすがに自然には逆らえませんね(苦笑)。でも溶岩が流れ出ている様子などはハッキリ見えたので満足しています。
予算的にはどうかなと思いましたが、一生の思い出と考えれば決して高くはないと思いますよ。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/26 |
Reviewed by: TMD
I was able to see the rarely seen bright red magma and a rainbow over the valley, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was an absolutely amazing flight.
なかなか見る事の出来ない真っ赤なマグマや谷にかかる虹などを見ることができ、一生に一度の体験ができました。とっても最高なフライトでした。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/17 |
Reviewed by: おてつ
I was hesitant to participate because the price was high, but I really wanted to see the red lava, so I decided to join.
The helicopter with doors had a pilot plus six passengers, while the doorless helicopter had a pilot plus four passengers.
Check-in time is one hour before departure. I parked my rental car in the airport parking lot and paid about $7 at the parking lot exit on my way back. Luggage is generally left at the reception. If you want to bring items like cameras or smartphones, they must have a strap, so be careful. A short strap can be purchased for $2. I brought my smartphone in a waterproof cover with a strap since it couldn't have a strap attached. Long hair needs to be tied up.
Forty minutes before departure, we watched a video about lava and volcanoes, followed by a safety briefing from the staff regarding seat belts and other instructions.
It was my first time on a helicopter, so I was scared at first, but the view of the Big Island from above was wonderful. It rained on and off that day, and there were moments of heavy rain on the ground, but we were able to depart without any issues, and I didn't get wet inside the doorless helicopter. On the way to the volcano, we saw vast macadamia nut fields. I could easily spot the ocean entry from the smoke rising, but I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't see the red lava. Along the way, we circled above the area where the red lava was visible among the black lava fields, allowing us to take photos. They circled so that both sides could take pictures, which made me a little nauseous.
At the crater, most of the surface was black, but I was very moved to see some red lava bubbling. (It was something I personally really wanted to see.)
After that, we returned to Hilo through breaks in the clouds. Along the way, we saw several waterfalls and the streets of Hilo. The pilot provided explanations in English throughout.
The flight lasted just under an hour, but I was very satisfied to see the red lava, adding to the extraordinary experience of being in a helicopter. I also considered a boat tour to see the ocean entry, but based on the activity in August 2017, it seemed that the ocean entry wasn't flowing with a lot of red lava, so I felt glad to have participated in this tour where I could directly see the red lava inside the crater.
値段も高いので参加を迷っていましたが、赤い溶岩をどうしても見てみたくて参加しました。
ドアありがパイロットプラス6人乗りのヘリコプターでドアなしはパイロットプラス4人乗りのヘリコプターでした。
チェックイン時間は出発時間の1時間前。
レンタカーは空港の駐車場に停めて帰りに駐車場の出口で7ドル?くらい払いました。
荷物は基本受付に預けて置いていきます。
カメラやスマホなど持ち込みたいものはストラップ付きでないと不可なので気をつけて。
短いストラップが2ドルで買えます。
ストラップのつけられないスマホはストラップ付きの防水カバーに入れて持ち込みました。
長い髪は束ねる必要があります。
出発時間の40分前から溶岩・火山に関するビデオを見た後に係員によるシートベルトなどの説明がありました。
ヘリコプターが初めてだったので最初は怖かったけど上空から見るハワイ島の景色はとても素敵でした。
この日は雨が降ったり止んだりで、地上では一瞬強い雨の時もあったけど問題なく出発できましたし、ドアなしでも機内で濡れることはなかったです。
ボルケーノに向かう途中では広大なマカダミアナッツ畑が見れました。
オーシャンエントリーは立ち上る煙で遠くからすぐわかりましたが赤い溶岩は見えなくて少しがっかり。
途中、黒い溶岩の大地の中で赤い溶岩が見えているところの上空を旋回して写真を撮らせてくれたりしました。左右どちらに乗っても撮れるように旋回してくれたので若干酔いました。
火口では表面の大部分が黒いですが、一部赤い溶岩がふつふつと動いているのが見れてとても感動しました。
(個人的にとても見たかったものなので)
その後は雲の切れ間を通りヒロへと帰還。
途中いくつかの滝を見たりヒロの街並みが見れます。
パイロットが英語でひたすら説明してくれます。
合計1時間弱のフライトでしたがヘリコプターという非日常に加えて念願の赤い溶岩が見れて大満足でした。
オーシャンエントリーが見られる船のツアーとも迷いましたが2017年8月の活動の様子だとオーシャンエントリーではがっつり赤い溶岩が流れてくるというわけではなさそうな感じがしたので火口の内部の赤い溶岩を直接見ることができたこのツアーに参加して良かったと思いました。
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| Packages: | 2017年12月14日までのご参加 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/12 |
Reviewed by: Cain
Had a wonderful time flying over the volcano's. Ticked something off my bucket list. Would recommend to everyone
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| Packages: | Doors-On Flight [45 mins] |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/06/15 |
Reviewed by: Shannon
My husband and I loved this experience! It allowed us to see the other side of the island, which we would not have seen otherwise, and we got the best views of the volcano!
I highly recommend this excursion with Circle Island Helicopter Tours.
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| Packages: | Experience Hawaii Tour Package |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/23 |
Reviewed by: りゅうのすけ
Last year, I couldn't fly due to two cancellations caused by the weather. This year, it was a success on the first try. This tour allows you to enjoy both the volcanic side and the canyon side of the Big Island, giving you a real sense of the richness of nature. This time, we were taken care of by a Japanese pilot named TOSHI, and I was very satisfied as I got to see wonderful scenery while listening to various stories. My 9-year-old child was with us, and TOSHI explained things in a way that was easy for the child to understand at various points, so it seems my child enjoyed it as well. The air conditioning inside the helicopter was well-functioning, making for a comfortable environment in short sleeves and shorts. I would love to do this again.
昨年、天候のせいで2回のキャンセルの結果、飛ぶことが出来ませんでした。
今年は1発OKでした。
このツアーはハワイ島の火山サイドと渓谷サイドを両方楽しむことができ、自然の豊かさを実感できるツアーです。今回は日本人パイロットのTOSHIさんにお世話になりましたが、色々なお話を伺いながら素敵な景色を見られて大満足でした。9歳の子供も一緒でしたが、TOSHIさんが色々な場面で子供にもわかりやすく説明して下さり、子供も堪能していたようです。
ヘリコプター内は空調がしっかり聞いていて半袖短パンで快適な環境です。
またお世話になりたいです。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/31 |
Reviewed by: Simone
Would use Blue Hawaiian if visiting again on another island
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/09 |
Reviewed by: Bengisu
It was an amazing experience to see the beautiful view of big island from above and observing the bubbling lava inside the crater of an active volcano together with a great crew before during and after the flight.
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| Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/30 |
Reviewed by: Daryl Mitchell
Great ride in all aspects! Weather was excellent for viewing, even up at the crater.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/08/05 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/10 |
Reviewed by: ATSUKO
Tourguide was very kind for me.and interesting guide.
volcano house lunch is awesome located.meal was nice.I had special time .thank you
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| Packages: | Gold Package with Lunch |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2017/07/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/06 |
Reviewed by: Kenneth Kacenga
Excellent. Chris was exceptional. Had passion for his job and loves Hawaii
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/07/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/25 |
Reviewed by: Shari
Had a great time Kevin the tour guild was great ,
We even had great weather
If you only can do one tour this would be the one and must have kevin
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2017/07/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/25 |
Reviewed by: Lava Seeker
I was really looking forward to this tour, being the first time on the big island. I was not disappointed by the tour. Amanda, our first half tour guide was terrific! So nice and informative, had a great time with her. Deric, (I hope I spelled his name correctly) was also great, gave us a lot of information regarding the previous lava flows and the area. The two mile walk didn't seem like two miles on gravel, it seemed like it took forever. Walking back to the van in the dark and trying to avoid the bikes was also an experience. It was so dark out there, we spotted the Hubble Space Telescope in the sky! All of the sites the tour took us to were interesting and fun. I have to admit, it was a long day. We got picked up at 8:30 from Kona, but didn't get back to our car till 11:30 pm! We really went driving around the island. Would do it again, but the money spent is worth it.
Aloha, Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review! Amanda and Deric are terrific and really enjoy what they do. We are so glad you enjoyed your day. It's called the Big Island for a reason...it is BIG! :) But as you said, as long as you are coming over to the east side to see the volcanic activity, you might as well see it all! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to the team. Mahalo for spending the day with us!
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| Packages: | From Kona & Waikoloa - delete |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/07/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/21 |
Reviewed by: Linda
Our driver and tour host presented us with a very interesting and colorful history of the Big Island. He had a great sense of humor too! He paced the trip on the attendees, when there was an obvious interest in an area. This tour is a good for those wanting to get a broad acquaintance with the Big Island and it's various areas and interests. It was our springboard for other activities!
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| Packages: | Grand Circle Island & Volcanoes National Park |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/07/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/24 |
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Mahalo Stacey for taking the time to write such a lovely review! We are so glad you enjoyed your day and especially glad that you came at a time when the volcano is very active! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to the guides - they will appreciate them! We hope to see you for another birthday in the future!! Mahalo!