Reviewed by: Isaac Kroger
We are thankful for a well-informed guide who made our experience so eventful. Thank you for projecting your love and values for this “Healing Island” of Hawaii .We especially appreciate your preparing us for the beauty that lies ahead in all the other islands…
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2010/06/18 |
Reviewed by: Aimee and John
John and I wanted to send this email thanking everyone at Paradise for a once in a lifetime experience on our vacation. We took one of your newer trips which flew out of Kona, over the valleys, drop off in Hilo for the day (with paid rental car), then over the Volcanoes, and back to Kona. We really enjoyed the entire day. In fact we hadn't originally thought we would get to visit the Hilo area since the drive from Kona is a couple of hours. So not only did we get to see beautiful valleys, waterfalls, and running lava from air but we got to explore the Rain forest national Zoo, The Volcano national Park, Rainbow Falls, and Akaka Falls all by land as well. Also our pilot Steve was so informative and friendly he really helped make our day just that much more special. I'm sure he flies the same routes every day, yet you couldn't tell. His passion for the land, and surroundings was contagious. Thanks again, we included some of our amazing trip photos.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2010/06/10 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Mahalo for your projection of your personal feelings and stories of hawai’i. It was like having the best waiter at a first class restaurant. Your care of us was wonderful. Our tour with you was an invaluable souvenir of the islands of Hawai’i. We learned a great deal on your tour- it was intense. Thanks for sharing your time, your perspective and your love for this corner of the world with us.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2010/05/27 |
Reviewed by: The entire Bennington Fam
To tell you the truth we chose your tour because of your enthusiasm and a beautiful vehicle. We were then transformed, mesmerized and smitten with aloha and awe for Madame Pele and her friends who live at her feet.” Mahalo...
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2010/05/27 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
We took some amazing pictures on this tour. You can tell that the tour operators are artists, because they take you to some very awe inspiring sights. The beauty I witnessed on this tour will stay with me for the rest of my life. The island has such drastic changes in it's beauty and scenery. I believe that everyone should come here and see this at least once in their life.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2010/05/18 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
This is a great activity except if you're prone to motion-sickness then it is not for you. Two hours was way too long for us. I was doing well in the first hour when we were shown the volcanoes and mountains but in the second hour I could not keep my eyes open due to my motion sickness. And that sucked because in the second hour is when he shows you the beautiful valleys and waterfalls! Thank God my husband was able to record it for me but it still wasn't the same. I would recommend a 45-minute-1 hour tour but not the 2 hour tour.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2010/04/22 |
Reviewed by: William
To start off with when we were making reservations transportation aparently wasn't available. Don't let them tell you that. They have vans and make pick-ups from the hotel we stayed in. We took the big island spectacular 2 hour. It was nice. The volcano part wasn't what i thought. I expected to see flowing lava. All you see is the top crust of past lava flows. Even the volcano vent wasn't what I thought it would be. The VOG was so thick thast about all you could see. A little let down. Although the 2nd part was the tropical rain forest. We had a nice ride along the ocean front. Went up the valleys and saw more waterfalls than I could keep track of. Pilot even sighted some whales and circled for us. Wind turbulance in some of the valleys made me tighten my seat belt a bit. Later I learned the pilot is a retired coast guard pilot. Wish I knew that going in, I would have been a bit more relaxed.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2010/04/04 |
Reviewed by: Mary Liz
I flew from Honolulu to Hilo early for trip which was scheduled for 8:30 AM. We were delayed starting by about one hour for other guests who took a later flight. My main reason for this tour was to see the volcano. Because of air quality, the observation area was closed. Because of cloud cover, we could not see the top of the volcano. We were able to visit the National Park Visitors Center which was worthwhile.
The tour guide was just fair. We visited several commercial sites.
He tried to make up for the closing of the observation area by stopping at other volcanoes in the park & a lava tube.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2010/02/03 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
We had a great time on the Big Island tour today. The flight was
awesome. The pilot, Koji, did a terrific job. He made sure folks on
both sides of the helicopter saw the sights-Pu'u O'o, lava flowing
into the ocean, waterfalls, etc. It was our first time in a helicopter
and it was a great experience.
The reservationists were patient and informative. The folks at the
terminal were helpful, supportive and very upbeat-they truly seemed
excited for us.
We will be sure to spread the good word about your outfit.
Thank you for making the experience positive, simple and memorable for
us.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/12/11 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
We did the "Fire & Falls" tour and loved it (although we both got a bit airsick, but that's not the company's fault, that's just because we're prone to it - the other couple with us was fine). I had picked Paradise because it was the cheapest air tour of the volcano (in terms of cost per minute), but I can't imagine why I would pay more for another company because this ride was everything we wanted.
We did the "doors off" tour and it was a 4-person helicopter (not incl. the pilot), so everyone had a fantastic view. I would highly recommend the doors-off experience. My husband is a bit afraid of heights, and even he agreed that doors-off was worth it (but a bit frightening for him). Our pilot was Jesse and he was a lot of fun.
What I loved is that if a passenger spotted lava, our pilot would circle back (as if we were "lava hunting") and make sure that everyone got a view.
The waterfalls portion was brief, and at the end. The main attraction of this tour is the volcano/lava.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/09/29 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Our group of 4 booked a "doors off" helicopter ride through Paradise Helicopters. None of our group had ever been in a helicopter before and this exceeded all of our expectations. The front desk staff was courteous and upbeat. The guy doing the safety briefing was thorough and knowledgeable while infusing some humor into the "speech". Our pilot was Joyce and we could not have asked for a better experience. Because there were 4 of us, we took every seat on the helicopter. We were concerned at first about the view from the front-middle seat, but she could still see everything, though you do miss the experience of sitting right by the window.
Joyce did a great job of going over the different areas multiple times so each side of the helicopter could see what was below. Joyce spoke clearly and slowly and we never had a problem hearing what she was saying and she would repeat the "attractions" for both sides of the helicopter.
If you have the option of choosing your pilot, you want J
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2009/09/29 |
Reviewed by: Robin & Julie O'Neill
Doors Off is the ONLY way to go!!! Mahalo so much for the awesome tour experience over the Kilauea Lava Flow. Dylan was a great pilot and was very knowledgeable about the Hawaiian terrain we were flying over. He definitely provided a great commentary and guide to the beautiful sights below us. We have taken helicopter tours before over such things as Niagara Falls, but we will not want to be flying with doors on ever again. We highly recommend the doors off experience, it is second to none
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/09/17 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
An amazing activity definately recommended to be done on Big Island. You get a narrated tour and see the flowing lava fields and the lava hitting the sea. A once in a life time experience. You see sights that you wouldn't see from ground level. Worth every penny. Very friendly staff.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/09/11 |
Reviewed by: hiro
We participated in a lava and canyon tour with a family of six, including an 83-year-old. Fortunately, the pilot was Japanese, so the explanations were easy to understand, which was great. Honestly, while it was nice to see the lava flowing to the coast, I had imagined something a bit more intense. What exceeded my expectations was the number of waterfalls in the canyon and the breathtaking experience of flying deep into the carved canyon, which is something only a helicopter can offer—absolutely amazing!
Hawaii Island has many areas that are difficult to access from the ground, so I recommend it for those with weaker legs. Although it costs a bit, the view from the sky during the nearly two-hour flight was worth it. I bought a video tape that included scenes from inside the aircraft, which became a fun memory.
83歳を含むファミリー6名で溶岩と渓谷のツアーに参加、
運よく操縦士の方が日本人だったので説明もよくわかりとてもよかった。
正直溶岩は海岸に流れているところが見えよかったが、もう少し激しいものを想像していたので?とおもうこともあった。想像以上だったのは渓谷での滝の多さと深く切り込んだ渓谷の間に入っていくのはヘリコプターならではの圧巻で最高!だった。
ハワイ島は地上からの無理なところも多いので、足が弱い方にもおすすめ、多少値段はかかるが空からの眺めは、あっという間の2時間弱、機内での様子を含んだ景色のビデオテープを買い楽しい思い出になりました。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2009/08/20 |
Reviewed by: Tracey K.
Paradise Helicopters is an excellent company and I would highly recommend the Fire and Falls tour out of Hilo. For three of the four of us, this was our first time in a helicopter and it was amazing. Our pilot Dylan was fantastic and gave us a personal guided tour which was great because the whole ride was very interactive. Definitely the best way to see the Volcano and Water Falls!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2009/07/04 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Our Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tour was fantastic. Our pilot, Chris, was very informative and knowledgeable about the volcano and its surrounding area. His flying was superb as it was a very smooth ride. I would definitely recommend the Circle of Fire tour!!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2009/06/30 |
Reviewed by: Glenn
The "doors off" was everything I had expected.....spectacular!!! Combine this with Jacks Volcano House Landing and you have a fantastic adventure. Jack Thompson met us and was a very cordial tour guide of the devastation that has occured arround his house. The pilot was an obvious experienced professional. The flight was smooth and not "white knuckle" at all. My wife was even pleasantly surprised, and she hates to fly!!!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/06/02 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
We took the open door with landing at Jack's lava house. It was a very neat experience getting to walk on the lava rock. Be prepared for being wind-blown on the open doors, and take a jacket as it can be chilly in the air. Overall a very nice experience, but don't expect big "red lava flows" as that is not realistic. You can't exactly "feel the heat" and the waterfalls are not close up views they are more from a distance and thrown in at the end, But still pretty spectacular scenery!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/05/15 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Overall the tour was enjoyable, but it could have been better. The driver forgot to pick me up at my hotel and I had to call to remind them. The driver/guide gave a great deal of information about everthing, so much so that the constant talk became a blur after a while. The sights we saw were great for a first timer to the island, but if I were to come back, I would stay on the west coast and drive over to see the volcano.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2009/04/11 |
Reviewed by: ひろ
I had considerable hesitation because it was an expensive tour and my first experience on a helicopter, but I decided to book it thinking I might never have the chance to come again. However, once I was on board, the views were amazing, including the inside of the Kilauea volcano crater and the sight of lava flowing into the sea, which I couldn't have seen from a helicopter otherwise. I didn't feel the turbulence at all; it was much more comfortable than riding in a tour bus on the roads. The pilot's explanations were all in English, and honestly, I didn't understand much, but the scenery didn't need any words. I took a taxi from the Royal Kona Resort, and it cost about $100 one way, including the tip, so if the tour is your main purpose, it would be better to stay in the South Kohala area.
高額なツアーであることまた、ヘリコプター初体験であることから相当迷いはありましたが、二度と来れないかもしれないと思い申し込みました。
しかし、乗ってしまえばヘリコプターでし見る事ができないキラウエア火山の火口内部の様子や溶岩が海に流れ込む様子など景色は最高で、心配していた揺れなど観光バスで道路を走るより感じられずとても快適でした。
パイロットの説明は全て英語で正直サッパリ判りませんでしたがあの景色に言葉はいらないです。
私はロイヤル・コナ・リゾートからタクシーで行きましたがチップ込で片道$100もかかったのでこのツアーが主目的であれば宿泊はサウス・コハラ地域がいいでしょう。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2009/04/04 |
Reviewed by: 匿名希望
Previously, when I took a helicopter tour on Kauai, the American guests riding with me seemed to be having a great time chatting with the pilot. We were listening to a Japanese tape during our helicopter tour... even though it was the same price!! So this time, I chose Blue Hawaiian hoping for a Japanese pilot.
It was an experience beyond my imagination. Since I had been staying for a few days, it felt like we were looking down from above at the places we had traveled by car, and the Big Island was incredibly BIG. The vast black land, lava, lush green valleys, waterfalls, and pastures, and finally the coastline... I thought I might get bored after two hours, but the pace was so fast that it was really fun.
The Japanese pilot, Toshi, was the best!!
以前、カウアイ島でヘリコプターツアーに乗った際、
一緒に乗ったアメリカ人のお客さんは、パイロットさんと会話しながら、超楽しそうでした。私達は、日本語のテープを聞きながら・・・のヘリコプターツアー・・・同じ金額なのに!!と思い今度は、日本人パイロット希望でブルーハワイアンを選びました。
創造以上に素晴らしい、体験でした。
数日滞在後でしたので、車での移動をした所を上空より見て回る感じで、BIGアイランドは、超BIGでした。
広大な黒い大地、溶岩・緑あふれる渓谷・滝・牧草地最後は海岸線・・・2時間も飽きるかなあと思いましたが、展開が速いので、すごくたのしかったです。
日本人パイロットのTOSHIさん!!最高です
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/03/29 |
Reviewed by: BuckysGirl
I wavered back and forth with doing a helicopter ride since it is so expensive. My boyfriend and I went on the Falls and Fire tour, which was interesting. I am glad we did it, since much of the volcano viewing area was closed due to the fumes, but I wish we could have gone at night to see the lava flows better. It was a bit inconvenient for us due to the weather (we had to reschedule), luckily we could be a bit flexible. I would recommend a helicopter ride in Hawaii to anyone, since it is a unique experience and the views are phenomenal.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/03/15 |
Reviewed by: Gina
Awesome experience, best pictures I could ever have from the off doors helicopter. The view was spectacular and the staff was awesome. Thank you!!! Cant wait to be back :)
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2009/01/27 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
This is the most amazing ride of the life time. If you have a chance, do this tour. You won't regret it. It's worth every penny.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/11/15 |
Reviewed by: MARUKO
We participated as a family of four (with children aged 2 and 0). The seating is assigned by the pilot based on the weight of all passengers to maintain the stability of the helicopter, so there’s no guarantee you’ll get a window seat. The pilot speaks in English, so you’ll understand the names of the areas, but if you’re not confident in English, just enjoy the scenery. The ride is smooth, with hardly any turbulence.
The lava flow varies in volume and direction depending on the day, so whether you get to see a spectacular lava flow is a matter of luck. The biggest appeal of the helicopter is that it can get very close to areas that are absolutely inaccessible from land, which is a different level of excitement compared to a Cessna.
If you decide to participate, I recommend going in the morning when the weather is relatively stable, as it tends to rain in the afternoon in Hilo. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Mauna Loa up close and Mt. Mauna Kea in the distance.
During the flight, the scenery and our moments are filmed by the helicopter's onboard camera, and you can purchase the DVD afterward as a travel memory (around $25). This is an experience you can't have in Japan, so if you're staying on the Big Island, definitely give it a try. (However, I wouldn’t recommend bringing a 0-year-old along...)
家族4人(子供2歳・0歳の)で参加しました。座席はパイロットがヘリの安定を保つため全搭乗者の体重を考えて指定されるので窓側に座れるとは限りません。
パイロットの話す言語は英語なので、各エリアの名前程度は分かりますが英語が苦手な方は景色を楽しんで下さい。乗り心地は良く、揺れもほとんどありません。
ラバフローは日によって流れ出る量や方角が異なるので、迫力あるラバフローが見られるかどうかは運次第です。
ヘリの最大の魅力は陸上からは絶対に近づけないエリアに低高度でかなり至近距離に迫れるので、セスナ機とでは迫力が違います。
参加するなら天候の比較的安定している午前中のなるべく早い時間帯がおすすめです。ヒロは多雨地帯なので午後は雨に降られる確立が高いとのことです。快晴だと、間近にMt.マウナロアを、遠くにMt.マウナケアを見ることができます。
飛行中の景色や自分達の様子はヘリ搭載のビデをカメラでフルタイム撮影されていて、終了後DVDとして旅の思い出に是非買って下さい($25程度)。
日本では出来ない体験なので、ハワイ島に滞在したら是非体験して下さい。(ただし0歳児を一緒に搭乗させることはさすがにおすすめはできません・・・)
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/08/31 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
There is no word to describe this experience. It's like skydiving. You have to do it to know.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/08/02 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
It was great! We could hear the earth's heart beat here. My five year old wanted to know more about the volcano after the trip, he didn't stop asking me questions!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/07/11 |
Reviewed by: Holly Howell
Tour of a lifetrime. Chose Blue Hawaiian because of their safety and tour awards. Definitely well-earned! Pilot Bob was knowledgable about Hawaii and well-spoken (and charismatic). He included all the passengers in his presentation and used our names. Always nice! Definitely a fun ride - and a view you can only appreciate from a helicopter.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2008/06/27 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
This was the most amazing experience I have ever had. Our pilot, Steve, shared his vast knowledge of the big island with us. Absolutely amazing!! I would do this again in a heartbeat!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2008/06/25 |
Reviewed by: Rene
We had a FANTASTIC experience on the Paradise Helicopter tour!
We would do it again, the next time we travel to Hawai'i.
I've included some of my favorite pictures from the tour.
Had a GREAT time!
Aloha,
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2008/06/19 |
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