All Reviews for Waipio

Awana, our guide was absolutely wondetful. He was so courteous, professional and accommodating. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I think we best part besides the scenery, was the Hawaii Botanical Garden. It wasn’t user friendly, due to some health conditions, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and could have spent a lot more time there. Awana got us back to the airport to catch our flight in record time, after a long day.

It was early in the morning, but it was fun. The flight was at 7 AM. The price is high, but it is satisfying. You can experience the magnificent scenery of the Big Island. Mr. Mochizuki's guidance is wonderful! You can regain a pure feeling.

朝早かったけど、楽しかったです。7時のフライトでした。値段が高いけど、満足感あります。ハワイ島の雄大な景色を体感できます。望月さんのガイドが素晴らしい！ピュアな気持ちが取り戻せます。

I took a helicopter from Waikoloa. It was my first time on a helicopter, and just watching the helicopters return from the morning tour got me so excited! I was given an emergency life jacket, boarded the helicopter, and was handed a headset and intercom—wow, so cool!! At first, I was nervous and a bit scared during takeoff, but it didn't shake at all, and the views were amazing, so I was able to enjoy it. Due to the active activity of Kilauea volcano, we couldn't get close to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, but entering the bays of the Hamakua Coast and getting close to the waterfall was an experience unique to the helicopter. I was so excited that I forgot to take motion sickness medication before getting on, so I ended up looking down the whole time and got a little nauseous along the way. Next time, I plan to take motion sickness medicine and definitely want to see Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

ワイコロア発のヘリコプターに乗りました。
人生初のヘリコプターで、朝一番のツアーから戻ってくるヘリコプターを見ているだけで、大興奮!　緊急用の救命胴衣を着けてもらって、乗り込み、ヘッドセットとインカムを渡されて、うわっ、カッコいい!!　最初は緊張していて、離陸も少し怖かったけど、全然揺れないし、景色は良く見えるしで、楽しむことができました。キラウエア火山の活動が活発だったため、ハレマウマウ火口には近寄れませんでしたが、ハマクアコーストの入り江に入って、滝に接近したのはヘリコプターならではの体験でした。興奮していて、乗る前に乗り物酔いを飲み忘れてしまったので、下ばかり見ていて、途中少し酔ってしまいました。次回は酔い止め薬を飲んで、是非ハレマウマウ火口を見たいと思います。

Mr. Mochizuki is the best! 1) He created a group just for Japanese people.
Mr. Mochizuki is the best! 2) This was my 12th time on the Big Island, while others were visiting for the first time, but the explanations satisfied both groups.
Mr. Mochizuki is the best! 3) He showed us the waterfall deep in Waipi'o Valley, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
I want to ride in Mr. Mochizuki's helicopter next time!

望月さん最高１）日本人だけのグループにしてくれた。
望月さん最高２）私は、ハワイ島１２回目、他の方は初めてでしたが、両方が満足できる説明でした。
望月さん最高３）ワイピオ渓谷の奥の滝を見せてくれて十分満喫しました。
次回も望月さんのヘリコプターに乗りたい！

We participated in a tour from Kona with two adults and three children (6th grade, 3rd grade, and kindergarten) that included a visit to Waipi'o Valley and Kīlauea Volcano with a waterfall landing option. Our pilot was Toshi, a Japanese pilot (Mochizuki). We had informed them during the booking process that we preferred a Japanese pilot. There were two American couples and our family of five, making a total of seven people, so Toshi kindly explained everything in both English and Japanese. Since the children understood English, he switched to primarily English explanations partway through. Toshi is usually off on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

As for the tour itself, I was surprised at how stable the helicopter was; it didn't shake or make much noise. Just in case, the children took motion sickness medication, but it seemed unnecessary. In fact, the younger two got sleepy from the medication and almost fell asleep. Of course, individual experiences may vary, but I think it's much less likely to cause motion sickness than a boat. As of August, Kīlauea Volcano's activity has decreased, and we couldn't see any lava flows. However, we could see magma bubbling near the crater. More than that, the scenery around the valley was absolutely stunning. Personally, I recommend the views here even more. Additionally, we opted for the landing near the waterfall, and I highly recommend this. You can enjoy a waterfall that can only be accessed by helicopter all to yourself.

After the tour, you can purchase a video of the helicopter ride for $40, which includes footage from both inside and outside the helicopter. They save the video on a USB stick for you. The music played through the headphones during the tour matched the visuals perfectly, and I’m glad we made the purchase.

The price isn't cheap, but I believe it's worth it. Definitely enjoy the breathtaking views with the waterfall landing option.

大人2名と子供3名（小6、小3、年長）でコナ発、ワイピオ渓谷とキラウエア火山遊覧にWaterfall landing のオプション付きで参加しました。パイロットは日本人パイロットのToshiさん（望月さん）でした。申し込み段階で、一応「日本人パイロット希望」の旨は連絡していました。アメリカ人夫婦2名と我が家5名の計7名だったので、Toshiさんは英語と日本語を織り交ぜて丁寧に説明してくれました。子供達も英語は理解できることがわかったので、途中からは英語メインに切り替えて説明してくれました。Toshiさんは確か金土日曜日はお休みのはずです。
ツアー内容ですが、まず、ヘリコプターがとても安定しており、揺れない、うるさくないことにびっくり。念のため子供達は酔い止めを飲んでいましたが、必要なかったようです。逆に下2人は酔い止めで眠くなり、ほぼ寝ていました。。もちろん個人差はあると思いますが、船よりは全然酔いにくいと思います。キラウエア火山は8月現在活動が低下しており、溶岩流は見えませんでした。火口付近にマグマがボコボコしている様子は見えました。それよりも、渓谷付近の景色が最高でした。個人的にはこちらの景色の方がおススメです。あと、滝の近くに着陸するオプションを申し込んだのですが、これは絶対おススメです。ヘリコプターでしかアプローチできない滝を独り占めできます。
ツアーが終わると、オフィスにてツアー中のヘリ内外を撮影したビデオを$40で購入できます。USBスティックにビデオを保存して渡してくれます。こちらもツアー中にヘッドホンから流れてくる音楽と映像がマッチしており、購入して良かったです。
お値段は安くはないですが、それだけの価値はあると思います。是非、滝への着陸オプションで絶景を堪能ください。

A wonderful way to experience the diversity of the island. There were frequent stops with ample time to enjoy the site and/or walk the trails. Many foods to sample along the way and delicious lunch! Awana was an informed and entertaining guide who was flexible throughout the day to make sure we could get the best experience.

I was very satisfied, not realizing that the time spent on the helicopter was 2 hours (I thought it would be around 2 hours including orientation). In fact, I was picked up from the hotel at 11:20 and returned before 3:00.

We were able to see the northern and eastern parts of the Big Island (so many waterfalls!), flying over Hilo and all the way to the ocean entry in the southern part. I also got to see the currently erupting crater of Kilauea and the flowing lava in abundance.

ヘリに乗っている時間が2時間とは思わず（オリエンテーション含めて2時間くらいと思ってました）、大満足です。実際11時20分にホテルピックアップでホテルに帰ったのは3時前でした。
ハワイ島北部から東側（滝が多い！）、ヒロ上空を経由して南部のオーシャンエントリーまで、見ることができましたし、キラウエアの現在噴火している火口と現在流れている溶岩流も思う存分見ることができました。

I had a wonderful experience. It was my first time in a helicopter, so I was honestly a bit worried at first, but I found it to be a stable ride. The kids were so comfortable with the vibrations that they even fell asleep... haha. It seems that the number of Japanese guests is still quite low, as we were among the few on that day, but there is a Japanese pilot on staff, so I recommend it even if you're not good at English. The volcano is impressive, but the Waipi'o Valley is simply breathtaking.

素晴らしい体験が出来ました。ヘリコプターは初めてだったので、最初正直心配だったのですが、安定した乗り物だと知りました。子供達は振動が心地よく寝てしまったくらいです…笑日本人客の割合はまだまだ少ないらしく、当日は私達位だったようですが、日本人パイロットの方も在籍されているので、英語が苦手でもお勧めです。火山もですが、とにかくワイピオ渓谷は圧巻です。

I participated hoping to see the magma of Kilauea Volcano, but due to weather conditions, the "Waipi'o Valley and Kilauea Volcano Tour" was canceled, and instead, we had the "Kohala Mountains and Hamakua Coast Tour." It was disappointing, but I look forward to the next opportunity. The female pilot was very skilled, and I felt safe while sightseeing.

キラウエアの火山のマグマを期待して参加しましたが、今回は気象状況により、「 ワイピオ渓谷とキラウエア火山遊覧」が不催行となり、「コハラ山脈とハマクアコースト遊覧」となりました。残念でしたが次回に期待したいと思います。女性パイロットのかたの操縦はとても上手で、安心して観光できました。

Could one really say they came to the Big Island without seeing this breathtaking view...? It was such a magnificent sight. I was able to take my time and enjoy it for two hours.

この絶景を見ずにしてビッグアイランドに来たと言えるだろうか。。。というくらいの壮大な景色。2時間かけてゆっくりとみることができました。

This time, we participated as a couple. Originally, we planned to walk on the lava, but due to the incredible force of the eruption, it has been canceled. It’s quite expensive, but I felt sorry for the residents of Hawaii for this rare situation that happens once every few hundred years, and I wanted to see it with my own eyes.

I was very satisfied with the actual participation. We were the only Japanese people there, but since I mentioned that we couldn't speak English, we weren't approached for conversation, and we were able to enjoy ourselves together.

今回夫婦で参加しました。本当は溶岩の上を歩く予定でしたが、噴火の勢いがすごく今中止になってるため、いいお値段しますが、何百年に1回のこの惨状をハワイの住人には申し訳ないけどこの目でしっかり見ておきたかったです。
実際参加させてもらい大満足でした。日本人は私どもだけでしたが、英語できないと言っておいたので話を振られることもなく、2人で楽しめました。

We participated as a family of three, including our 6-year-old son, starting from Hilo. We drove from our accommodation in Waikoloa to Hilo with a rental car. The roads were good, and we enjoyed the journey!

Since this was a rare opportunity, we booked a tour to see volcanic activity, and we were able to see the crater up close, even more than we had imagined.

The guidance was in English, but the pilot provided detailed explanations about the local area and its features. The piloting was impressive and gave us a sense of security.

There was a one-hour delay due to a mechanical issue, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Thank you very much.

6歳男児を含めた家族３人で、ヒロ発で参加しました。※宿泊先のワイコロアからヒロにレンタカーで移動しました。道もよく、道中も楽しめました♪

滅多にない機会なので、火山活動が見られるコースを予約しましたが、想像以上に間近で噴火口がみることができました。

英語での案内でしたが、操縦士の方が現地の方の様子など丁寧に説明して下さいました。また、その操縦も見事で、安心感のあるものでした。

機体故障で1時間の遅延となりましたが、とても良い体験となりました。ありがとうございました。

We only had one day on the big island and wanted to see as much as possible. This tour takes you all the way around with multiple, although brief stops and several locations. Could omit the coffee tasting and spend more time on the black beach or at the falls.

Our guide, Keith, was full of history, folk lore and traditional information which was a big bonus.
If you want history and a good whirlwind tour of the island, this tour is for you.
Of note, lunch was provided and this service has its own chef who prepares the meals. Very healthy sampling of the typical fare at area restaurants, however, when it’s served in lieu of a cold sandwich and a picturesque park, it suddenly becomes one of the best meals of the vacation.

When we reached the canyon I had been most looking forward to, I was moved by the guide's thoughtful gesture of lowering his voice to let us soak in the scenery quietly. Watching the pilot from behind the cockpit made me think how wonderful it is to be a pilot! It was a very rare experience to actually see the lava's gooey texture. I'm glad my mother, who was scared of helicopters, was able to ride comfortably. Above all, Toshi's love for the Big Island really came through. I want to work hard in Tokyo and return to the Big Island! Thank you very much for this experience.

一番見たかった渓谷に差し掛かった時に、ガイドの声を落として静かに景色に浸らせてくれる心配りに、景色と共に感動でした。操縦席を後ろから見ていてパイロットて素敵だなぁと思いましたw溶岩のドロドロさも目視出来てとても貴重な体験でした。ヘリコプターを怖がっていた母も安心して乗っていられたようで良かったです。何よりbig Island へのtoshiさんの愛がとてもよく伝わりました。又東京で頑張って働いてbig islandに帰りたいです！この度はありがとうございました。

This was perfect to see the whole island. We were very fortunate to see lava. However,
We feel by 8 hrs we were ready to get off the bus and feel that the first hour or so could have been cut out

I made a reservation a week before the participation date, and it was for my second choice of time. The 9 AM slot is quite popular, so we participated at 7 AM. However, departing during the dim light of dawn allowed us to be moved by the changing scenery of the Big Island of Hawaii!

If you're staying at the Waikoloa Resort and have rented a car, I think it's better to go directly rather than waiting for the hotel pickup. It saves time and is smoother.

Fortunately, our guide was Toshi, a Japanese staff member, who was very friendly and, despite the early hour, guided us with high energy. (According to another guide in Hawaii, this person's helicopter tour is the most luxurious Japanese-language tour on the Big Island...) He provided guidance in English for the American couple we rode with and in Japanese for us, showing great consideration, even offering cool air to me when I felt nauseous. When there are foreign participants, the main guidance will be in English, so having a basic understanding of English can make the tour more enjoyable.

Of course, the volcano is a must-see, but I highly recommend the canyon as well. It's difficult to access the canyon on ground tours, so seeing it from the air in this tour really changes your image of the Big Island.

I tend to get seasick, and I forgot about that when I joined the tour, which significantly affected my enjoyment due to helicopter motion sickness... The volcano and canyon involve several turns and significant shaking, so I recommend taking motion sickness medication if you're prone to it. They sell motion sickness medication at the reception, but since you might not know if it suits you, it's best to bring your own. They do provide etiquette bags and wet tissues inside the helicopter. There is a break at Hilo Airport, so you won't be on the helicopter for two hours straight.

I ended up feeling quite groggy from motion sickness, but even so, I was very satisfied with this tour!

コナ発で参加日の一週間前の予約、第2希望の時間帯でした。やはり9時からは人気で私達は7時からの参加でした。ですが、夜明けの薄暗い時間帯に出発することで時間によるハワイ島の景色の変化に感動させられました！
ワイコロアリゾートに宿泊していてレンタカーを借りている方はホテルのピックアップを待つより直接行ったほうがいいかなと思います。時間かからないのでスムーズです。
スタッフは運良く日本人スタッフのToshiさんで、非常に気さくで早朝にもかかわらずハイテンションでガイドしてしていただきました。（別のハワイのガイドさん曰くこの人のヘリコプターツアーがハワイ島で一番贅沢な日本語ツアーだとか…）一緒に乗ったアメリカ人夫婦には英語、私達には日本語でガイドしてくださり、酔ってしまった私にも冷風を当ててくれたりと気遣いがとてもよかったです。外国人参加者と同席になると当たり前ですか、英語がメインのガイドになりますので多少の英語が理解できるとより楽しいツアーになるかと思います。
火山はもちろんのことおすすめは渓谷です。渓谷は地上のツアーでは入ることが入ることが難しいので空から見られるこのツアーで、ハワイ島のイメージがかなり変わります。
私は船酔いが激しくそのことを忘れてツアーに参加してしまったためかなりヘリコプター酔いに楽しい時間が邪魔されてしまいました…火山と渓谷は旋回が何回も揺れも大きいので船酔いが激しい方は酔い止めを飲んで参加することをおすすめします。受付で酔い止めも販売されていますが体に合うかわからないので持参した酔い止めがおすすめです。一応エチケット袋とウエットティシュはヘリコプター内に常備されています。ヒロ空港で休憩がありますので2時間乗りっぱなしということではないです。
乗り物酔いでかなりグロッキーになってしまいましたが、そんな私でも今回のツアーはかなり満足できるものになりました！

This was my second time on the Big Island of Hawaii, and I finally got to ride in a helicopter. The pilot was Japanese and navigated kindly and carefully, which was very impressive. I also got to see waterfalls and landscapes that can only be viewed from the helicopter, and I was able to see three whales! I highly recommend it to everyone!

今回二回目のハワイ島でしたが、やっとヘリに乗ることが出来ました(^｡^)
パイロットも日本人の方で親切丁寧にナビしていただき大変感動しました(^｡^)
あとヘリからしか見れない滝や風景
そしてクジラとも三頭も見ることが出来ました！
皆様にもオススメですよ！

Our tour was AMAZING!! Our tour driver was Nathan or Nate. He was awsome!!
They pick you up at your hotel, which is super convenient! The tour group can fit up to 12 people. So it is nice and small. Our group was super fun and Nate was very informative and talked to us about everything and anything he could! The van is nice and clean and not to mention Eco friendly! It rained alittle, and they had raincoats for everyone just in case.They provide bento lunch for everyone. We actually had 2 vegans in our group and Nate was very caring and took them to a nearby grocery store, so they could pick up a few things to eat since they could not eat much from the bento. Nate not only took us to the places mentioned, but he also drove by a few other places he thought our group would like! He was AMAZING!! This tour was so much fun, the sights were beautiful and very informative!

Fortunately, the weather was favorable, and I was able to achieve my goal of visiting the Big Island of Hawaii. Additionally, I was pleased to have a Japanese pilot as I had hoped, who provided explanations at key points in Japanese. The magma at the Kilauea volcano's crater can only be seen by helicopter!

幸い天候にも恵まれてハワイ島へ行った目的が叶いました。
又、希望どうり日本人パイロットでしたので要所要所日本で説明いただき
良かったです。キラウエア火山噴火口のマグマはヘリでなければ見れません！

I was disappointed that there wasn't a Japanese pilot. Also, the two people sitting in front of me were wearing beige and red tops with shorts, which caused those colors to reflect on the glass. It was the worst because I couldn't take a photo with my smartphone without those colors showing up. For those participating, it's best to wear longer pants, at least knee-length, in black, and also a black top.

日本語パイロットでなかったのが残念でした。
あと、前に座った２人が、ベージュ、赤色のトップスにショートパンツの洋服を着ていたせいで、ガラスにその色が反射して、スマホで写真撮ろうとしても映り込んで、最悪でした。
参加される方は長めの、せめて膝下丈のパンツで色は黒色、そしてトップスも黒色を必ず着ていくほうがベストですよ。

This tour was life changing for me! Such an awesome experience to really see the island and have someone guide you through it so you really understand what you're seeing and the history behind it.

Tour guide was Chris who was excellent. He has a real gift for this, and you can tell he is truly passionate and loves what he does. Makes the tour feel more real and less like show and tell or reading from a script. 10/10 highly recommended tour.

Tour provides you with all the comforts you need for the day so you're never hungry, cold, or unsure of where a clean bathroom is. Even had plugs for you to charge your phone although I had a portable charger with me that day which I recommend for any trip.

This tour is very informative. You get to see black sand, volcanoes, waterfalls, and more. Our driver/guide was excellent.
There was more walking than indicated on the website, including climbing lots of stairs. Therefore I was not able to see some of the sites. But if you don't have any mobility issues, I recommend this tour.

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。

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。

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。

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。

Excellent. Chris was exceptional. Had passion for his job and loves Hawaii

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

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!

The pilot who spoke Japanese was on vacation in Japan, and the commentary was in English. However, even though I couldn't understand much of the English commentary, the overwhelming power of the steam from the lava flowing into the sea and the crater was enough to enjoy the experience. The tour was quite expensive, but it provided an experience that was worth more. The day before, I was able to confirm the route to Mauna Kea from the air. In less than two hours, I was able to enjoy everything: Mauna Kea, the Kilauea volcano crater, the steam at the shoreline, the beauty of the valleys, and the waterfalls, which can only be experienced through a helicopter tour. For those who easily get motion sickness on planes, the constant G-force is reassuring. It feels like riding on a swing, making it enjoyable.

日本語の出来るパイロットはバカンスで日本に行っており解説は英語だった。しかし英語の解説は余り理解出来なくても火口や海に流れ込む溶岩からの水蒸気は圧倒的な迫力が有り十分楽しめた。遊覧の費用は結構高かったがそれ以上の体験が出来た。前日に行ったマウナケア山やそこへ続き道を上空から改めて確認する事が出来た。マウナケア山、キラウエア火山の火口、波打際の蒸気、渓谷美と滝を2時間弱で全て楽しむ事が出来るのはヘリでの遊覧でしか出来ない。飛行機に酔い易い人もGがずーと掛かっているの安心です。それはブランコに乗っている様な感覚で楽しめます。