All Reviews for Waipio

The Volcano Helicopter Tour with Blue Hawaiian was outstanding! One of the highlights of our trip. We were not only fortunate enough to see lava in the crater and flowing into the ocean but saw many other great sites and learned a great deal about the region. Our guide (Thanks, Kemo!) was fun, knowledgable and a great pilot. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone.

I am very satisfied.
Even though I couldn't communicate in Japanese, I was still very satisfied.
It was the most enjoyable time during my trip to Hawaii.
If I have the opportunity, I would like to use it again.
The driving was safe and comfortable.

大満足です。
日本語が通じませんでしたが、それでも大満足でした。
ハワイの旅行で１番楽しい時間でした。
機会があれば、また利用したいと思います。
運転も安全で、快適でした。

Absolutely fantastic!! Great care taken by the staff. Great attention to detail. Saftey always the first priority and concern. The staff is not only knowledgeable but absolutely incredibly fun to travel with. We would never go anywhere else and we will most certainly return. Keep up the great work! Aloha and Maholo!!

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.

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。

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!!

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。

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

excellent tour for first time travellers to big island.our pilot bob was excellent.

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・・・）
　

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.

It was amazing to experience the unique thrill of flying deep into Waipi'o Valley by helicopter.

ワイピオ渓谷を奥深く入っていくなどヘリならではの醍醐味を感じることができ最高でした。

Enjoyed seeing the coast, valleys and mountains from above. Would love to go again!

This was an awesome tour. We took the entire family (3 generations) and all had a blast. I'm sure timing is everything, but we had some really incredible views of flowing lava through "skylights", surface movement, and great views entering the ocean. Our pilot (Marty) was great! Very knowledgable and wanted to make sure everyone on the flight was able to get the best views of lava, waterfalls, and other points of interest. We bought the DVD of our flight afterwards and love it! Thanks Blue Hawaiian for a memorable event that we will cherish forever.

Excellent experience, the best way to see all the island. Made all the better by the excellent guide.
This was our favorite activity of the eight we participated in on the islands of Kauai and the big island of Hawaii.
Office personell were very helpful in rescheduling and with time problems we had on another islands flight.

I was really looking forward to this helicopter tour since it was my first time, and it did not disappoint; it was incredibly fun.

This trip to Hawaii was specifically for this experience, so I made sure to splurge on a helicopter tour that allowed us to peek into the crater from above. It was truly amazing to see.

The two-hour course included views of Waipi'o Valley, and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique perspective that only a helicopter can provide. Later, we also drove to see it from the ground, and that offered a different kind of emotional experience compared to the aerial view.

The helicopter seats were spacious and clean, and I didn't feel much vibration at all; I had no fear whatsoever. Even those who dislike roller coasters should be fine. I even thought it could have been a bit more thrilling.

As a note, if you're planning to take photos, you should wear dark clothing. In my case, the bright clothes of the person sitting in front of me reflected on the windshield, which was a bit of a hassle. I think it's considerate to wear dark clothes for the sake of others as well.

初めてヘリコプターに乗るツアーということで、とても楽しみにしていましたが、期待は裏切られることなくとても楽しいものでした。

今回は、これが目的で父親を連れてきたハワイでしたので、なんとしても赤いものを見せようと思い、上から火口を覗けるヘリツアーを奮発しました。凄いものを見たなとの思いがしました。

２時間コースなのでワイピオ渓谷も見られ、ヘリならではの舐めるような眺め方を堪能出来ました。
この後地上からも車で見に行ったんですが、これはまたこれで高空からと違いを感じる感動がありましたよ。

ヘリのシートは広くて奇麗で、振動も思ったより感じられず、全く恐怖心も起きませんでした。ジェットコースター嫌いな人もまず大丈夫でしょう。もっとスリルがあっても良いと思った位です。

注意点にもありますが、写真を撮る人は暗い服を着て行くべきです。私の場合、前に座っていた人の明るい服が風防ガラスに写り込んでしまい困りました。
他の人のことも考えて暗い服にするべきだと思います。

Awsome! Our pilot, Mike Mulhern was a great pilot and guide

Currently, there are no visible lava flows on the Big Island of Hawaii from the ground, so I splurged and took a helicopter ride. The waterfalls and coastlines seen from the air are beautiful, but the bright red crater and lava flows were truly magnificent. I purchased a DVD of the flight, and it occasionally shows the inside of the cabin, capturing my comical expression as I stared in awe at the lava flows, glued to the window.

　今のハワイ島では地上から溶岩流がみられるところはないとのことで、奮発してヘリに乗りました。
　空中から見る滝や海岸線も美しいですが、やはり真っ赤な火口や溶岩流は見事でした。
　フライトを撮ったＤＶＤを購入したのですが、時々機内の様子も写っており、窓にかぶりつきで呆然と溶岩流を眺める自分の姿が滑稽でした。

I was amazed by the completely different scenery compared to what I saw from the ground at Volcanoes National Park a few years ago. According to the pilot, whether you can see the lava varies by day, but fortunately, we were able to see the lava flowing like a river from above.

The price is a bit on the higher side, but there’s no other place where you can get so close to such an active volcano, so I highly recommend the helicopter tour here.

Not only can you see the lava, but you can also experience the natural wonders by viewing the pure white steam rising from the crater that erupted 20 years ago and the vast land covered in lava from the sky.

It was also fun to be guided over jungles and waterfalls before reaching the lava.

The pilot's narration is all in English. For those who understand, the cheerful explanations with jokes are very entertaining, and you can also ask the pilot questions through the microphone during the flight. I think even those who don’t understand can enjoy just watching.

There were also elderly passengers using canes, but the staff provided good support, such as transporting them by cart to the helicopter and guiding them to seats that made getting on and off easier.

I definitely want to recommend this to friends visiting the Big Island.

数年前に火山国立公園で地上から観た時とは全く違う風景に驚きました。 パイロットの方によると溶岩を観れるかどうかは日によって違うそうですが、幸い私達はドロドロと川のように流れ出る溶岩を上空から観る事が出来ました。

値段は少々高めですが、あそこまで活発な活火山を間近で観る事ができる場所は他にはないので、ここでのヘリコプターツアーはお勧めです。

溶岩だけでなく20年前に噴火した火口から吹き上げる真っ白な蒸気や、溶岩に覆われた広大な大地を空から観る事で自然の驚異を実感することができます。

溶岩に行くまでにジャングルや滝を上空から案内してくれるのも楽しかったです。

パイロットの方の案内は全て英語。 解る方はジョークを交えた陽気な説明がとても面白いと思いますし、飛行中に手元のマイクからパイロットの方に質問をする事も出来ます。 解らない方も観ているだけで楽しめると思います。

同乗者には杖をついたご老人の方もいらっしゃいましたが、ヘリコプターに乗るところまでカートで送迎したり、優先的に乗り降りのしやすい席に案内したりと、スタッフのサポートにも好感が持てました。

ハワイ島を訪れる友人にも是非進めたいと思います。　

I participated in this helicopter tour with a Japanese pilot, which was a bit pricey. Previously, when I rode a helicopter in Kauai, the pilot was a foreigner, and the other guests were from the mainland (United States). Of course, we were listening to a Japanese explanation tape, but I really wanted to hear a live explanation! So, I chose Blue Hawaiian, hoping to have a chance to have a Japanese pilot.

As a result, I had the most satisfying flight experience. The vast black land seen from above, the red, bubbling lava, the valleys, waterfalls, and expansive pastures... the beautiful coastline. It was a two-hour experience full of surprises.

日本人パイロットのヘリということで、少々高額ですが参加しました。
以前、カウアイ等でへりに乗った際、外国人のパイロットの方で、お客さんは、私達と、本土（アメリカ）かた来た方でした。もちろん私達は、日本語の説明のテープを聞いていたので、やはり生の説明が聞きたい！と思い、できれば、日本人の方にあたる可能性もあるブルーハワイアンを選びました。
結果、最高の満足できるフライト体験をさせて頂きました。
上空からみる広大な黒い大地、赤々と煮えたぎるような溶岩
そして渓谷や滝そして広大な牧草地帯・・・美しい海岸線
驚きがいっぱいの2時間でした。

It was an awesome experience. Tim, our pilot, was a pleasure to fly with ,and his knowledge and love for the island was incredibly impressive. This is a must do while visiting the Big Island.

Our Helicopter ride over the Big Island was the highlight of our trip. Seeing lava so close was once in a life time! Joel our pilot was awsome and had a great knowledge of the island. He put us at ease with his profesionalism and personality. What a great time!

This was an activity I had wanted to experience for the past two or three years, and I finally got to fulfill my wish.

I wanted to see the scene of lava flowing into the sea, but since it's a natural phenomenon, it can't be helped.

The helicopter noise I had imagined was not bothersome, so it was an enjoyable experience.

２,３年前から一度体験したかったアクティビティでしたがやっと念願かないました。

溶岩が海に流れ落ちる場面を見たかったですが、自然現象なのでやむを得ないですね。

想像をしていたヘリの騒音は気にならなかったので楽しい体験でした。

The helicopter was safer and more comfortable than I expected. It was fine even with a little wind.

The staff's service was very kind, allowing me to enjoy the experience with peace of mind.

Throughout the journey, there was a detailed explanation by the pilot, Jason, but unfortunately, it was only in English, and I could only understand parts of it. Since conversations could only be done through the microphone, even if I said, "Wow, the volcano is amazing," the person next to me couldn't hear it.

That aside, the scenery was magnificent, dynamic, and beautiful. You can see the main points of the Big Island in about two hours, so even if you don't fully understand the explanations, I think it's a very worthwhile attraction.

　
　へりは思ったより安全で、快適でした。ちょっとくらい風が吹いても大丈夫。

　スタッフのサービスはとても親切で、安心して楽しむ事ができました。

　全行程でパイロットのジェイソンさんによる丁寧な解説がありましたが、残念ながら英語のみで私は部分的に分かる程度でした。マイクを通してしか会話ができないので、「わ~火山がすごいね~」とか言っても、隣の人に聞こえないのでした。

　そんなことはさておき、風景は壮大で、躍動的で、美しいハワイ島の主要なポイントを約２時間で見れるため、解説があまり分からなくても、参加する価値がある、とてもいいアトラクションだと思いました。
　

Our pilot was friendly, very personable with each one of us. I loved how he used our names as if we already had knowledge of what he was about to share with us. That was a fun way to learn. Amazing how large this volcano is!! Later in the day we drove from Hilo down to the area so we could touch the lava in person. Felt like we were on another planet. Lava and desolation for as far as we could see. Thanks for this experience. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters are the BEST!!! Awesome pilot and staff!!

I was picked up from the hotel in Waikoloa, and although I was told that a confirmation couldn't be made, I was able to ride in a helicopter piloted by the only Japanese pilot (Mr. Mochizuki) whom I had requested via email in advance. Mr. Mochizuki provided explanations in both languages to the American couple accompanying us and to us, which made it very enjoyable.

It was my first experience in a helicopter, and there was no vibration, with glass all the way to the floor. I was able to see the lava flowing into the ocean at Kilauea Volcano, and it was amusing to see the cows grazing on the vast Parker Ranch appearing as tiny dots. I was surprised to hear about the elementary school that was affected by a tsunami, located on top of an 800-meter cliff in Waipi'o Valley, and we got very close to a waterfall that has a drop of 1,000 meters, allowing us to fully enjoy the majestic nature.

Waikoloa is a dry area with brown lava land, but as we got closer to Hilo, we experienced sudden rain and saw much greenery, making for a wonderful experience of the vastness and climate differences of the Big Island in a short time! (Driving around takes a whole day, right?) Additionally, on the way back, although we had to wait for a few minutes, we could purchase the video from that day that was on board the helicopter.

ワイコロアのホテルからピックアップしてもらい、確約は出来ないと言われていましたが事前に直接メールでお願いしていた唯一の日本人パイロット（望月さん）の操縦するヘリコプターに乗せていただき、望月氏が同乗のアメリカ人カップルと我々に2カ国語で交互に説明して下さったのでとても楽しかったです。
ヘリコプターは初体験でしたが、震動もなく足下までガラス張りなので、キラウエア火山では海に流れ落ちる溶岩を見ることが出来、広大なパーカー牧場では放牧されている牛たちがまるで点のように小さいのがおかしく、ワイピオバレーでは800ｍの絶壁の上にあった小学校が津波の被害にあった話に驚き、落差1000ｍもあるという滝のすぐ近くまで寄ってくださるなど雄大な自然を堪能できました。
ワイコロアは乾燥地帯で溶岩の茶色い土地ばかりですが、ヒロに近くなると突然の雨で緑も多くハワイ島の広さと気候の違いなど素晴らしい体験を短時間で出来ました！（車で周遊するのは1日掛かりですよね）
また、帰りには数十分待ちますが、ヘリコプターに搭載されていた当日のビデオを購入することも出来ます。