All Reviews for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The flight time passed in the blink of an eye!
It was my first experience in a helicopter, and I really enjoyed it.
I think it would be great to take more rides and land near volcanoes and waterfalls.
We chose this option due to budget constraints, but we are still satisfied!
I was worried about my English not being very strong, but I felt connected to nature, and the time flew by, so I think it won't matter for those who are anxious about language.
We gathered early in the morning at Hilo Airport, and since we were staying on the Kona side, we drove there in the morning.
I have a bitter memory of getting pulled over by the police for speeding on the way, so for those who might be thinking the same, please be careful with the change of speed limit signs...

フライト時間があっという間に過ぎました！
ヘリコプター自体始めての体験でしたが楽しめました。
もっとのって、火山や滝やらで降りるほうも良さそうだなと、改めて思います。
我が家は予算の都合で
こちらにしましたがそれでも満足しています！
英語そこまで強くないのも心配でしたが、自然を感じていて、あっという間でしたので語学が不安な方でも関係ないと思います。
朝早くにヒロ空港集合で、コナ側に宿泊していましたので車で朝のドライブがてら向かいました。
道中で警察にはられていて、スピード違反になった苦い思い出がありますので、同じように考えられてる方は標識の変わり目運転ご注意ください。。。

We participated as a family of five. The pilot was not Japanese, but he provided polite guidance, which made us satisfied. The explanations about the shapes and colors of the lava were also easy to understand.

家族５人でさんかしました。パイロットは、日本語ではありませんでしたが、丁寧に案内して下さり満足でした。
溶岩の形や色の違いの説明も分かり易かったです。

I participated in a helicopter tour from Hilo 20 years ago. At that time, I got motion sickness and remember feeling pale when I got off the helicopter. So this time, I recommended my daughter take motion sickness medication before we joined. However, the helicopters nowadays don't shake at all! Or maybe this particular helicopter was just superior. In any case, it was incredibly comfortable. Our pilot was Mr. Mochizuki, who is Japanese. The amount of information we could understand compared to an English-speaking pilot was completely different! It seems that it's not always possible to have a Japanese-speaking pilot, but we were lucky. By the way, applying through Mr. Mochizuki's homepage seems to increase your chances. Mr. Mochizuki, who has lived in Hawaii for a long time, impressively conveys the true state of volcanic activity. The highlight was the Kohala Falls. It felt like I had become a drone myself... The scenery was truly indescribable. The grass and trees swayed in the wind created by the helicopter's propeller as we landed right next to the waterfall. The black and brown lava was not the only color; there was also the green of the Big Island. This tour certainly costs a lot. However, it is an experience that far exceeds its value, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Lastly, please prepare a tip for the pilot. You might think, "Isn't the tour price high enough without a tip?" But when you get off, you'll want to give one. Especially if the pilot, like Mr. Mochizuki, makes sure that all passengers can enjoy the wonderful views by circling around.

20年前にヒロからのヘリコプターツアーに参加したことがありました。そのときは乗り物酔いし、降りたときには真っ青になっていた記憶が…。だから、今回は、娘に酔い止め服用を勧め、いざ参加。ところが、いまのヘリコプターってまったく揺れないんですね！それとも今回のヘリコプターが優れているのかしら。とにかくものすごく快適です。そして、パイロットは日本人の望月さん。英語スピーカーの操縦士さんと比べると理解できる情報量が違う！日本語スピーカーのパイロットを希望しても、常にかなうわけではないようですが、私たちはラッキーでした。ちなみに、望月さんのホームページから申込むと確率アップのようです。ハワイ在住歴が長い望月さん、火山活動のほんとうの様子を伝えようとする真摯な姿が印象的です。極めつきはコハラの滝。自身がドローンになったよう…。ほんとうに筆舌尽くし難い情景でした。滝つぼのすぐそばに着陸する際のヘリのプロペラが巻き起こす風に揺さぶられる草木。溶岩の黒色、茶色だけではない緑色のハワイ島の姿。このツアー、確かに費用はかかります。が、その価値をはるかに上回る、ぜひみなさんに強烈にお勧めしたいツアーです。最後に、パイロットさんにお渡しするチップをご用意ください。こんなにツアー料金が高いのに、さらにチップ？と思うかもしれません。でも、降りるときはお渡ししたくなります。もしパイロットが、搭乗者全員が素晴らしい景色を満喫できるよう旋回を繰り返してくれる望月さんなら、なおさらです。

Outstanding outing discovering the island, its mysteries, its volcanoes, the life of its people. Thank you Uncle Jim to have made this day so lively and personalized to our group.

The flight departed at 7:00 AM, allowing us to see the sunrise. I was seated next to American passengers, but our Japanese pilot, Toshi, passionately spoke about the nature of the Big Island in both English and Japanese. Since it was the day after we arrived on the island and I didn't know much about it yet, it was great to see the overall landscape from the air! Toshi not only had a lighthearted way of speaking but was also an excellent pilot, making the flight very stable, so I could enjoy the scenery without feeling nauseous. We saw valleys and waterfalls that can only be accessed by helicopter, making it a very satisfying flight! The price is high, but I believe it was worth it! Thank you very much, Toshi!

7:00からのフライトで朝日を見ながらの出発でした。アメリカ人のお客さんと同席の機内でしたが、日本人パイロットのトシさんが英語と日本語を使い分けながらハワイ島の自然について熱く語ってくれました。ハワイ島に着いた翌日でまだ島のことをよくわかっていない状況だったので空から全貌を見ることができてとてもよかったです！トシさんは軽妙なトークはもちろん操縦も上手くて機内はとても安定していて酔うこともなく安心して景色を楽しむことができました！ヘリコプターでしか入っていくことのできない渓谷や滝の風景もあり、大満足のフライトでした！値段は高いですが、その価値は十分にあったと思います！トシさんどうもありがとうございました！

Sarah was the Most informative pilot ever out of our 6 helicopter experiences in Hawaii. The views of the craters at Volcano National Park we’re amazing and the number and size of the waterfalls at the end was unexpected and spectacular. All in 45 minutes! We drove the saddle road from Waikoloa for an hour and forty minutes to take the helicopter out of Hilo for a much lower cost than from the Kona side.

My husband and I moved to Kailua-Kona last year and are still in discovery mode, so we were happy to play tourist for a day to join this tour. Although the rides were long (it is a big island), the stops were all interesting and worthwhile, the other guests were friendly and engaged, and - notwithstanding all of our pre-move diligence and studying - we learned a ton from our fabulous tour guide, Kent. Kent was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, engaged, warm, and courteous - we thoroughly appreciated the positive impact he had on the day's adventures.

Verry good tour. Our guide was a geologist and provided a lot of information on the formation of the island chain and the volcanic activity and its aftermath.

The beauty of big island speaks for itself, and it only gets better with an awesome tour guide! Brett was an exceptional tour guide. He is extremely knowledgeable, loves what he does, and it shows. I had a great time learning so much about the islands and volcanoes from him, and he's a great storyteller too! The black sand beach is beautiful, and the sunset from the volcano house is unforgettable. Probably the highlight of the tour was stargazing at the end. We got lucky with a gorgeous clear sky! There's a lot of driving so just relaxing in the van listening to Brett tell us about the islands while staring out at the scenery made for a great and laid back day. Just what I needed to end my vacation with before getting back to school. Thanks for teaching me so much! I highly recommend this tour, and will hopefully do it again when I come back with my family!

Our tour guide knew so much about the island - history, weather, plants, animals, local favorite spots for food and fun, beaches, etc. I wish we had reserved the tour earlier in our stay so that we could take advantage of the tips he gave! We had plenty of time at each stop to really experience each of them - Kona coffee, lava tubes, black sand beaches, turtles, volcanoes, waterfalls and more! We had beautiful weather everywhere except Akaka Falls and the driver was equipped with rain jackets for everyone. I highly recommend this tour!

I could see the magnificent history of volcanoes from the past known only to the creator of the Earth up to today, June 27, 2019. The overlapping rivers created by the old and new lava flows from Kilauea, swallowing everything—human activities, roads, and fields—what incredible power. I could see how the lava flows that poured into the sea expanded this island. The awe of nature's power is evident. And the black sand beach that formed is perhaps a joke-filled gift from the gods to humanity. Next, at Kobaruyama, time transformed the lava into fertile soil that nurtures lush trees, and erosion created breathtaking canyons and waterfalls that drop 400 meters—these stunning views were experienced by the helicopter guests. Finally, the awareness and proactivity of the island's people in coexisting with the volcanoes, as shared by pilot Mochizuki, will likely stay with me for life, as I lead a rather ordinary existence. Moreover, this first helicopter tour of my life allowed me to witness the Earth's activities from a bird's-eye view. It may sound a bit exaggerated, but it changed my perspective on life.

地球の創造者しか知り得ない過去から2019.06.27の今日に至るまでの火山が織り成す壮大な歴史が見えた。キラウエアから生まれた新旧の溶岩流が作り出す重なり合った川、人の営み、道路、畑、すべてを呑み込んで流れた様子、なんという偉力。そして海に流れ込んだ溶岩流がこの島を広げていった様子が一望できる。自然の力の凄さが見える。そしてとったんに出来た黒砂海岸は神さまから人へのジョーク交じりのプレゼントか。次に小原山、時間は溶岩を緑豊かな木々を育む土へと変え、また浸食によって絶景を織り成す渓谷や400mから落ちる滝、これら身震いをしてしまう景色をヘリのゲストは味わった。最後に望月パイロットが語れたこの島の人達の火山との共存意識とその積極性は平凡な日常しか無い私の耳から生涯離れそうもない。それどころかこの人生初のヘリコプター遊覧は地球の営みを鳥の目線で目の当たりに出来た。少し大袈裟かもしれないが人生観を変えた。

Professionals at work!
Booked the eco star helicopter and had a grwat quiet flight with very good views from the back window and middle seat.
Weather was good so we had a clear view.
The pilot expained everything well and I felt safe at all time

My wife and I did not have a car for the week but wanted to see the Island for what it had to offer. This tour came to our Hotel and picked us up as well as brought us back and gave a view of the Island most people would not be able to see. Our driver Nathan was excellent and gave us a relaxed and informed trip and even gave us some extra insights that a book would not give. The views were amazing and gave you an option if you wanted to come back and stay for more indepth viewing. I would recommend going with a tour to really get the flavor of the Island.

It was my first time riding in a helicopter, and I was very moved to see the Big Island from above. Since the pilot was not Japanese, it was a bit disappointing that there were many parts of the pilot's explanations that we couldn't understand, as we are not very good at English.

ヘリコプターに乗るのは初めてでしたがハワイ島を上空から観れてとても感動しました。日本人パイロットではなっかたので、英語があまり得意ではない私達はパイロットの説明が理解出来ない部分が多かったのが少し残念でした。

Not only did I get to see the full view of the Big Island, but I also felt the vibrant life of the island, as if I were watching a movie. The music added to the atmosphere and drew me in even more. It was wonderful how the pilot made sure that everyone could see well from either side. I would love to experience it again if I have the chance.

BIG islandの全貌がわかるだけでなく、島自体の生きている感じが脈々と伝わってきて、まさに映画を観ているようでした。
演出の音楽も気分を盛り上げ、さらに引き込まれました。
どちらのサイドに座ってもちゃんと見れるようにパイロットの細やかな配慮もステキでした。
機会があればまた体験したいです。

This was purchased as a birthday gift for my sister. She has always been fascinated by volcanoes and it's been her lifelong dream to come to the island and see the volcano for herself. She was incredibly excited to have this tour. However, the day before it was scheduled, she received a call and was told that there had been a mistake when recording her reservation and they no longer had room for her on her scheduled date. They offered to move her reservation to a different day or to schedule her for the same day as her initial reservation for instead for the Epic Circle Island Volcano Journey. She chose to keep her originally scheduled day and do the Epic Circle Island Volcano Journey.

The woman who called was very apologetic and kind, let's face it, humans make mistakes sometimes, we've all done it. They did their very best to make it right. In the end, my sister said her experience was incredible and she was glad there had been a little bit of a mix up, because she thought the tour she went on was better (granted, that is based purely on the description of the originally scheduled tour).

Her guide was knowledgeable and told all kinds of stories about Pele and the island and recounted the history of the volcano. The lava tube they visited was unique and interesting and fascinated her.

Overall, it was a huge win and even in spite of the little problem I would definitely book again!

My niece and I where visiting the Big Island during a very active period for Fissure 8 and our experience of an 'so up close you could feel it' was amazing!

The tour and the crew where fantastic and we really experienced what Mother Nature was throwing at the Big Island during that time. Was a once in a lifetime experience and one I highly recommend.

Our driver Brett was amazing! He was very knowledgeable about the island history, very personable and really funny. We enjoyed all of the stops along the way. It was just an enjoyable day!

The scenery was wonderful.
However, the explanations were in English, so I couldn't understand anything at all.
If I had understood the explanations, I might have been even more impressed.
I applied because I saw the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters on Japanese television, but since there are many Japanese people, I hope they could provide support in Japanese.

景色が素晴らしいかったです。
でも英語での説明でしたので全くわかりませんでした。
説明がわかればもっと感動したかもしれません。
日本のテレビでブルーハワイアンヘリコプターをやっていたので申し込みましたが、日本人も多いと思いますので日本語対応があればいいなと思いました。

Excellent organised tour.From time of pick up until drop off. The driver/guide was very informative . Enough time for all activities. Highly recommended.

I was a bit nervous on my first helicopter ride, but with the guidance of the Japanese pilot, I was able to relax and enjoy the journey through the skies. The time spent flying from the ocean to Waipi'o Valley felt like a transition from reality to a divine world, and I found myself in tears from the beauty of nature. Landing at the base of the waterfall, I was overwhelmed with emotion once again, feeling a deep gratitude for being alive. I have become an even bigger fan of the Big Island of Hawaii. I want to tell my friends that they should experience this at least once in their lifetime! Of course, my children and grandchildren will join me next time.

初ヘリコプター搭乗でいくらか緊張していましたが、日本語のパイロットの方のガイドでとてもリラックスして空の旅をたのしめました。
海上からワイピオ渓谷へ進んでいく時間は現実から神の世界への移動、自然に涙が出てきました。
興奮のまま滝壺に着陸、またまた涙があふれてきて大袈裟ですが生きてる！事への感謝の気持ちで一杯になりました。
ますますハワイ島のファンになりました。
友人にも生きている間に一度はこの経験を味って！と伝えたいとおもっています。
勿論子供孫は次回同行します。

Taking a helicopter ride around half of the Big Island offers a rare experience where you can witness "the Earth being alive." Driving this route by car takes over eight hours. The last time I visited, I drove around in a rental car, but it took a long time, and I ended up driving in complete darkness. I decided that next time, I would definitely take a helicopter.

With a helicopter, you can see the Haleakalā crater from above in just two hours, and you can land in valleys that are inaccessible by car, allowing you to enjoy waterfalls all to yourself.

Pilot TOSHI, who is Japanese, provides thorough explanations, so there's no need to worry about the language barrier. I highly recommend experiencing your first helicopter flight on the Big Island!

ヘリに乗ってハワイ島を半周すると、「地球が生きていること」を目の当たりにすることができる貴重な経験ができます。
このコースをクルマでドライブすると8時間以上かかります。前回来た時にレンタカーで回りましたが、時間がかかり、真っ暗な中を運転するはめになり、次回は絶対、ヘリでと、決めていました。
ヘリであれば、たった2時間で、しかもクルマでは見られないハレアカラの火口を上空から見ることができ、クルマではいけない渓谷に着陸して、滝を独り占めすることもできます。
日本人パイロットのTOSHIさんが、丁寧に解説してくれるので、言葉の心配はありません。
ヘリ飛行の初体験をぜひハワイ島で！おススメします。

I had heard that I could request a Japanese pilot, but from pick-up to boarding, everything was in English, which was quite confusing for us as a couple who are not proficient in English. Fortunately, the pilot was a veteran Japanese pilot, and there were Japanese announcements at key points, plus he spoke English slowly, which was helpful. After takeoff, I was continuously moved to the point of forgetting the passage of time. Although we couldn't see the red lava flowing due to the activity of Kilauea Volcano calming down, I was amazed by the pilot's skill in landing effortlessly in a narrow area that was hardly different from the rotor's rotation range. It was a valuable experience that cannot be fully expressed just through personal accounts and images. While it's not a price that can be easily afforded, if you have the financial means, this is definitely a tour you should try.

日本人パイロットをリクエスト出来るとのことだったが、ピックアップも含めて、搭乗までは全て英語で「英語が不得手な夫婦」としては、大いに戸惑いました。幸い、パイロットは日本人ベテランパイロットで、要所要所は日本語の案内があり、また、英語もゆっくり話してくれて助かりました。離陸後は、とにかく感動の連続で時の経つのを忘れるほどでした。キラウエア火山の活動が沈静化して、赤い溶岩が流れるのを見ることは出来ませんでしたが、それ以上に、ヘリのローター回転範囲と大して変わらない狭い場所にピンポイントで楽々と着陸するパイロットの腕に驚嘆しました。体験談とその画像だけでは語り尽くせない貴重な体験でした。気軽に体験出来る料金ではありませんが、経済的余裕があれば、是非トライしてみるべきツアーです。

It was my first helicopter tour on the Big Island, and the weather was great. We flew into the valleys and enjoyed views that are usually not seen. It was less scary than I expected, and I was able to enjoy it without getting motion sickness!

はじめてのハワイ島ヘリツアーでしたが、天気も良く渓谷の中にも入り、普段見られない景色を満喫できました。思ったより怖くなく、酔わずに楽しめました！

I was worried that the helicopter might be canceled due to an unexpected eruption until the day of the flight. I'm glad we were able to fly safely. The view from the powerful helicopter and the sight of the eruption were breathtaking. However, I wished I could have seen the volcano up close a bit more. Well, I suppose safety reasons prevent that.

まず今回思わぬところで噴火していてヘリコプターがキャンセルにならないか当日まで不安でした
無事飛ぶことが出来て良かったです
迫力あるヘリコプターからの景色と噴火の様子圧巻でした
ただもう少し火山の様子を近くで見たかったです
まぁーこれも安全上出来ないのでしょうが

It was so lucky to sit next to the pilot! The best view and nice weather. Kind and well-experienced pilot. It was expensive but worth trying.

Just the recording of the flight for US$40 was too high. And the conflict with the USB being ready and the bus schedule was too tight.

NB: Check my pick-up time on the voucher!!! It was actually the flight schedule. I was about to miss the biggest event of the trip!!!

That was your Veltra mistake.

It was so lucky to sit next to the pilot!
The best view and nice weather. Kind and well experienced Pilot. It was expensive but worth to try.

Just the recording the flight US$40 was too high. And the confliction of USB to be ready and bus schedule was too tight.

NB: Check my pick up time on the Vaucher !!! It was actually the flight schedule. I　was about miss the beggest event of the trip!!!

That was your Veltra mistake.

The view from above was great, it felt like watching drone footage.
I wanted to see the lava that flowed from the recent eruptions up close.
I couldn't get close enough with the rental car.

It was cold up there, so I recommend bringing a raincoat.

　上空からの眺めは良かった、ドローンの映像をみてるようでした。
　近年噴火して流れ出た溶岩がまじかで見たかった。
　レンタカーでは近くまで行けなかったため。

　上空は寒く、カッパを持参することをお勧めします。
　

This tour provided a great overview of the island. The stops were timed well for bathroom/stretch purposes. We made a couple unscheduled fun stops/detours which was great. Nate had a lot of info to share amd was very knowledgable. Food was very yummy and Nate even found an orchid shopnfor us to eat at while it was pouring outside. Overall great experience.

My first helicopter experience was enjoyable. I requested a Japanese pilot, but when my reservation was confirmed, I was informed that it would be an English-speaking pilot, so I was glad I could participate with that understanding in advance. Although I'm not a native speaker, I was able to understand, and it turned out to be a very good experience! Unfortunately, the Kilauea volcano was calm, so it wasn't what I had hoped for, but I was able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Big Island of Hawaii, and it was worth the price!

はじめてのヘリコプター体験、楽しかったです。
日本語パイロットリクエストしましたが、予約確定時、英語パイロットと、お知らせが来ましたのであらかじめ理解の上参加できたのが良かったです。
ネイティブではありませんが、理解出来、とてもよい体験になりました！
残念ながら、キラウエア火山は沈静化していましたので期待したものではありませんでしたが、雄大なハワイ島の景色を眺めることが出来、お値段の価値はありました！

Jim Carey is an outstanding and knowledgeable guide who wove Hawaiian folklore, geology and local current events into an experience that we (ages 12 to 72) all enjoyed. We had a nice small group (just seven of us) which allowed Jim to go a little off script and pack a lot of experiences into our day. The transportation van was comfortable but be ready for a long drive because Jim really covers the Big Island. From the lava flows in Kona to Hilo to Kilauea, there was a lot of ground covered. The gourmet dinner of organic and locally grown steaks, fish and produce was exceptional. Don't even get me started on the dessert. We are still talking about it. The stargazing was a spectacular finish to the day.
Thank you Jim for an unforgettable experience.