All Reviews for Waipio

The views were beautiful, the guide was very friendly And the ride was fun! We highly recommend to anyone! Thank you fir a wonderful time!

I have brought my exchange students to the Big Island for 3 years and this was my first tour of Waipio. Kaleho our tour guy, being a life long local in the valley was filled with information about the history, biology and legends of this incredibly beautiful valley. So many stories and a safe comfortable tour. There is no glass in the windows in the 4 wheel drive passenger van so lots of airflow in the van. And he keeps a row empty between passengers. Everyone wears masks and sanitizes.
Also the store where you meet up has amazing art, books, music and incredible ice cream!

The ranch that this tour went through was absolutely breath taking and this experience surpassed any expectations I had. The views and the landscape were so amazing as well as the tour guide and other member on the ranch! The tour was so personable and he catered it so well for us. This was such an amazing adventure that everyone needs to experience!!!

We had a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Daniel was excellent. Informative and witty. We highly recommend this complete island tour. The steam vents at Volcanos National Park highlighted the day!!.

This was my eighth time on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the helicopter tour allowed me to see the entire island, leading to new discoveries!

今回で8回目のハワイ島でしたが、ヘリツアーによりハワイ島全容を観ることができて新しい発見がありました！

For my wife, who has difficulty walking, navigating uneven terrain is challenging, and even short distances can take time for able-bodied individuals. Therefore, instead of sightseeing by car, we chose the helicopter experience for the first time. Although it was disappointing that there was no lava flow, I was moved by the size of the crater when viewed from above. We also saw whales, and I am grateful to the pilot who helped us find them. I had requested a pilot who could speak Japanese, but since there were no other Japanese participants, it couldn't be helped. I was worried the day before due to strong winds that could have taken the steering wheel from me, but the ride was smooth and comfortable. My wife was also in high spirits. It was great to make effective use of our time.

足が不自由な家内にとっては、凸凹したところを歩いたりするのは困難で、健常者にとっては短い距離移動でも時間がかかったりするので、車での観光ではなく、初体験のヘリを選択しました。溶岩が流れていなかったのは残念でしたが、火口を上空から見ることが出来、その大きさに感動しました。また、鯨も見ることが出来ました。捜して下さったパイロットに感謝。日本語の出来るパイロットをリクエストしていましたが、他に日本人参加者がいなかったので仕方ありません。前日の午後は車のハンドルが取られる程の強風だったので心配しましたが揺れもなく快適。家内もハイテンションでした。時間が有効に使え良かったです。

Friendly, knowledgeable, flexible.
Try to sit on the right hand side on the way down!

This tour was fantastic from start to finish - from the quaint shop you meet to get on the shuttle to the informative guide to the incredible views, we couldn’t recommend more. Kolehe aka Douglas was our fearless leader who drove us into Waipio Valley and was just the best! So much fun, tons of passion for the island and specific area, and the perfect sense of humor and charm. It was my first off-roading experience, and needless to say, I’m addicted :) Don’t miss out on this awesome tour!

We had a great time on our tour. Our driver/guide Kaleo, who is from Waipio Valley was very informative and funny. Kaleo stopped to let us out so we could get a better view of Hiilawe waterfall. We also saw several wild horses up close The check-in at the gallery was easy and a great place to browse while waiting (we arrived early) We highly recommend this tour. We felt sorry for the people who decided to walk down because the walk back up is very steep.

I have visited Oahu, Hawaii several times with friends. However, I wanted to see the volcano, so I participated alone for the first time. The flight I booked was canceled, but I was recommended another course and joined that instead. Due to the weather, I couldn't achieve my original goal, but I enjoyed the experience of riding in a helicopter and traveling alone. I was able to participate with peace of mind thanks to the prompt response I received. Thank you very much.

ハワイ、オアフ島は何度か友人と訪れています。
ただ、火山が見たくて一人初めて別行動で参加させて戴きました。申し込んだ便は中止になり別のコースをお勧めして戴き参加しました。天候の為当初の目的は果たせませんでしたが。ヘリコプターに乗れて一人旅を経験できて楽しかったです。敏速な対応をして頂き安心して参加出来ました。ありがとうございました。

This is a great way to see Waipio Valley. This was out first time, so it was a great introduction. Hector, our guide, was very knowledgeable, polite, and really helped make the tour great. We only had a short time to see Waipio Valley, and this was a perfect introduction. The value was great. We got to see a large portion of the valley, made several stops along the way along with some interpretive explanations, and saw a lot. I highly recommend this tour, either as one time to see Waipio Valley, or as an introduction before venturing out on your own.

A trip into Waipi’o Valley with Douglas as your guide is a time travel to another time. His family is of this place so Douglas understands and shares the insiders perspective, with the added bonus of having access to the valley past the “End of Country Road” sign. Also if you aren’t up for the knee pounding descent and lung busting climb in and out of the valley this is the way to go. Worth mentioning this tour does not go to the beach, It instead works it’s way toward the back of the valley. Definitely a worth while event.

Awesome trip. The driver was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained. I would highly recommend booking the tour as you get the history along with the beautiful sights. We were given alfalfa to feed the wild horses as well as some fresh coconut to eat

This tour was fun and informative. Hele, our guide, took the time to explain the history of the valley, what grows there and who lives there. He was friendly and personable. We didn’t feel rushed and enjoyed it very much! We are so glad we did it!

We had a great time on this tour. We were able to see many different places on the island and our tour guide Awana had great knowledge of the island. The tour is a lot of driving but the van is decently comfortable and they have frequent stops to get out and stretch.

Hawaii Island is much larger than I expected. There are many breathtaking views that can only be seen by helicopter. Waipi'o Valley was the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen in my life. It was an experience worth more than the price.

ハワイ島は、思った以上に広い。
ヘリコプターでしか見ることのできない絶景がたくさん。
ワイピオ渓谷は、人生で一番美しい景色でした。
お値段以上の感動です。

We had a wonderful trip, thanks to our terrific tour guide, Gary! There is only one road down to the valley and up. It is narrow, wet, slippery, and so many sharp turns. Traffic were quite busy in both directions on the day of our trip. Gary apparently is very familiar with the road, and he knows where to stop and wait for the incoming traffic, and when to steer ahead. While maneuvering the shuttle smoothly on a very challenging road, he was busy talking to us about the valley’s history, stories, residents, etc. There are stories everywhere from a tree, a sign, a spring, to a pond. He surely made the trip interesting, even drawing the interest from my younger son who has been bored all the way prior to the tour. The valley scenes are definitely beautiful and breathtaking. You can find all different views with every turn of the road. We took millions of photos. Just be careful don’t drop your phone or camera out of the window. Overall we love the views, and we learned quite a lot from our knowledgeable guide, Gary. I think it is a well worthwhile experience that suits everyone who loves nature and story and who doesn’t have time or energy to go down and up the valley on foot.

The tour was nice and Big Island is beautiful, but our tour guide gave an extensive history of Big Island which felt removed and disconnected from what we were seeing. The guide was asked multiple times from other people on the tour about things they had noticed during the tour but the guide was stuck on the historical narrative and refused to talk about "politics", yet the questions being asked were quite simple and relevant to what we were seeing. He was very knowledgeable but it made for a very tiring and boring ride. It would be great if he could break up the historical narrative with some more present-day information about Big Island.

My first time on the Big Island! For our 30th wedding anniversary, my husband chose this tour for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The view of the Big Island from the sky was amazing. The highlight of this tour is landing at a waterfall. The waterfall, which can only be accessed by helicopter, is breathtaking. I highly recommend experiencing the growing beauty of the Big Island.

初めてのハワイ島！結婚30年の記念に一生に一度の体験をってことで主人がこのツアーを選びました。空からのハワイ島は素晴らしかったです。このツアーの目玉は滝への上陸です。ヘリでしか行くことのできない滝は絶景です。成長してるハワイ島をぜひ体験してみて欲しいです。

The Japanese pilot was very entertaining, providing a detailed explanation of the Kilauea volcano's crater. It was cloudy until we reached the town of Hilo, but it was sunny when we arrived at Waipi'o Valley. We had about a 30-minute break for landing at the waterfall. I'm glad I was able to experience something so unique in reality.

日本語パイロットで　とても楽しい機内　キラウエア火山の噴火口を詳しく説明、ヒロの町に行くまで曇ってましたが　ワイピオ渓谷に行くと晴れてて　滝への着陸で３０分位の休憩　なかなか体験出来ないことが　現実に体験出来て良かったです。

It was amazing! Jamie and Elijah were wonderful guides! Such a magical way to experience the beauty of Hawaii! It was the perfect amount of time and the most beautiful scenery. Great for all ages! 10/10 recommend!

I thought I would never ride in a helicopter due to my fear of heights and the fact that it's not cheap, but on the recommendation of a friend who had previously visited the Big Island of Hawaii, I decided to give it a try this time. I participated in a two-hour course that allowed me to see both waterfalls and Kilauea Volcano, and those two hours were truly an emotional experience, filled with goosebumps and tears. The Big Island has many magnificent views that you can't see by car or on foot, so I really want everyone to experience the scenery from the sky at least once. If possible, I would love to join this tour again and again!

高所恐怖症であるかつ、値段も決して安くないのでヘリコプターは一生乗らないと思っていましたが、以前ハワイ島にいった知人の勧めで今回乗ってみることに。私は滝とキラウェア火山の両方が見れる2時間のコースに参加したのですが、この2時間は本当に感動のしっぱなしで、鳥肌と涙の止まらないツアーでした。ハワイ島は車や徒歩では見れない壮大な景色がたくさんあるので、是非皆さんにも空からの景色を一度みていただきたいです。可能ならば何度でもまたこのツアーに参加したいほどです！

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。

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！

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.

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。

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.

This was an amazing excursion for our family! We have visited Hawaii several times, but this was our first horseback riding experience. It definitely did NOT disappoint! The guides were patient and helpful throughout the trip. They gave a detailed safety briefing and Jaime took time with my younger daughter to practice a few commands so she would feel more comfortable. The views during our ride were beautiful and breathtaking at times! We had a great time at the waterfall as well. There was plenty of time to swim, play in the waterfall, kayak and use the paddle boards. They also had life jackets if needed. I could go on forever about how much we loved this trip! I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a fun way to see the beauty of this island.

This was a great experience for the entire family. Our two girls did not have any riding experience and were really nervous. The guides gave a very detailed safety briefing and made sure the girls were comfortable before the trip started. The guides were always close by to help them guide the horses when needed. The scenery on the entire trip was the most beautiful I have seen since being on the island. The stop at the waterfall was incredible. We had plenty of time to enjoy the paddle boards, kayaks and swim under the waterfall. This experience was the highlight of our trip and I highly recommend to those considering it. I recommend wearing pants if you have them.