Reviewed by: Ben E.
Ian (pilot) was a fantastic tour guide and pilot - lots of treats, was able to see active eruptions and fly up the polulu valley - even better!
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Packages: | Big Island Spectacular [A-Star] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/03/28 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/21 |
Reviewed by: Alan L
Our tour guide Mike was fantastic. After a bit of confusion on picking up passengers, we started heading east across the Big Island on Saddle Road in a very comfortable Mercedes van. Mike has a wealth of knowledge, both cultural and local, so he made the tour feel almost personalized for everyone. We stopped at the Mauna Kea Recreation Area for a tasty, fresh lunch. Weather was perfect to see both volcanoes. We stopped along the highway to walk on the lava and see and he explained the different types. We continued to Hilo and watched a video about the volcanes, and then we stopped at Rainbow Falls. Mike knew the best places for nice pictures. After taking the scenic route and getting downtown Hilo, we learned more history about various buildings and the Kamehameha statues around the islands and stopped at Big Island Candies for some tasty samples and quick shopping. Time for the main event!
We went into the Volcanoes National Park. We stopped by some active steam vents and then the Jaggar Museum to see the active crater. Mike tooks us to see other craters and lava flows and stopped to let us walk around and see various formations created by the flow. We went deeper and deeper into the park, making our way almost to the ocean, and then stopped at the Thurston lava tube. Very unique!
From there, we headed for dinner at the Kilauea Lodge. Great atmosphere, great food, great service! Definitely try the soups! After dinner and after dark, Mike took us back to the Jaggar Museum to view the lava glow. Mike must have called on Pele to part the fog, because we were able to see and take pictures of the glow. He provide binoculars and jackets to those who needed it.
Now, heading back to the Kona side at night, we finished the volcano video and watched an "update" video that showed all the eruptions since 1983. We stopped across from the Mauna Kea Rec Area for stargazing. Mike point out constellations, planets, galaxies, stars. BEAUTIFUL!
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/23 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Reviewed by: Chris
As someone who grew up in new york and then relocated to seattle, I'm used to big city living and never learned how to drive. This was my first trip out to ANY Hawaiian Island so you can imagine my dismay when I realized how limited I was in terms of car service so this tour was a god send when it came to actually being able to see a lot of the big island which I never would have managed on my own. The coach itself was spacious and comfortable and even thought the tour itself was carefully constructed to have a lot of walking breaks I don't think I would have gotten stir crazy even once if we'd done just a complete driving circuit of the island.
Our driver, Jim, was just a fountain of knowledge of not just the sites we visited but also the history/mythos behind a lot of them them and their importance to the indigenous peoples, but also of local attractions that I've totally added to my "to do" list whenever I make it back to the island. Jim was warm and accommodating and the embodiment of 'aloha' . The more in depth stargazing portion of our tour ended up getting rained out which was a disappointment (it was the part I was looking forward to most!) but I did manage to get in a little constellation viewing with Jim while waiting for the rest of the tour group to complete their night viewing of Halemaumau.
It's definitely a tour I would recommend to all of my family and friends, mahalo!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Jim. He truly is a wealth of knowledge, helping our guests to really connect with our island while on tour. It's always nice to just sit back, relax, and let our guides show you some of our favorite spots. Our Mercedes Sprinter Vans are the best way to do just that! We can also customize private tours for guests who would like to see more of our beautiful island with our amazing guides! Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/21 |
Reviewed by: jdgriffin23
This is one of the best tours to take while on the Big Island of Hawaii. We were picked up from our hotel in Waikoloa Beach in a very nice and comfortable van. The first stop was at Mauna Kea park where we had a delicious lunch. Our tour guide (Mike - awesome!) even brought placemats for us to use at the picnic tables! We then went along saddle road while he told us very interesting information about Hawaii and the volcanoes. We saw a beautiful waterfall at Rainbow Falls. We stopped at several locations to see the various types of lava produced by the volcanoes. We went to the Jagger museum and saw Kilauea crater, the Thurston lava tube, steam vents, and enjoyed samples of Kona coffee, cookies, and candy at the Big Island Candy factory. Delicious! We had a wonderful dinner at Kilauea Lodge and then went back to the Jagger museum to see the lava flow at night. It was amazing! Mike had binocular, warm coats, hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snack for us. After that, we went stargazing. It was cold at night, so having the coats was great. We had plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the tour and the 12 hours went by quickly. We also watched some incredible videos about the volcanoes on the trip on a large screen in the van. I would definitely recommend this tour! The tour guide was great, food was great, and we met some new friends along the way!
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Mike. It's incredible how fast 12 hours can go by when you're having so much fun! Most people don't realize how cold parts of our island can get, especially in the evening, and we are glad that our parkas helped keep you comfortable while watching the glow from the lava lake in Halema'uma'u and also while stargazing. Mahalo for your wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/20 |
Reviewed by: Randy C.
WOW! We totally enjoyed our 11 am to 11 pm volcano trip on the Big Island, learning about the island's history, Hawaiian stories and the beautiful and amazing sights! Our passionate, energetic tour guide Jim Carey was extremely knowledgeable and prepared for everything (umbrellas, warm jackets, water, hot chocolate and so much more). Jim prioritized in our safety, comfort and having great fun! He hit many of the items on our Hawaii "bucket list" from lava tubes, volcano sights both day and night stargazing, waterfalls, stream vents and so many more stops. I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the whole trip without worrying about directions or driving. As we drove home in the dark in the comfortable Mercedes van, Jim played a wonderful video with the history footage of volcanos eruptions on the island.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is a wonderfully knowledgeable guide whose hospitality really helps our guests connect with our island while on tour. It's always great to hear that we are helping people check off items from their "bucket list"! That's why we love what we do. Mahalo for your glowing review and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano & Stargazing Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/22 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
Reviewed by: L. Estrada
From the pick-up to the drop off 11 hours later, this was an absolutely fantastic tour! Our guide and driver, Jim Carey was so considerate of everyone from kids to seniors, he was totally accommodating and made excellent use of every minute. The van was clean and comfortable and he had anticipated every scenario. He was prepared with umbrellas, binoculars, flashlights, warm coats, hot chocolate and cookies and warm towels to freshen up after a day of adventures and beautiful sights. Jim was so knowledgeable about all things Kona, plants, birds, stars and he even played the Ukuele for us. Volcano National Park was truly awesome and especially at night. I really can't say enough about this tour from reservation to follow up - I could not ask for more. The lunch and dinner were great! So much thought and effort has obviously gone into this tour and Jim's enthusiasm was the icing on the cake. The concierge at the hotel said she could not even touch this tour and highly recommended Kailani Tours. This is a 10 star for sure!
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an awesome day with Jim. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable guide with so much Aloha to share! His Hawaiiana stories and ukulele playing have quickly become a favorite amongst our guests. We love hearing that you enjoyed all of our stops and treats along the way! Mahalo for the fantastic recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/21 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/15 |
Reviewed by: Kate
What a wonderful tour experience to Kilauea Volcano with Kailani Tours and Chris. My husband and I greatly enjoyed the entire day and would recommend the tour to anyone seeking a rewarding day with Volcano viewing! From start to finish, the tour was very well-planned and enjoyable. Chris was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about sites, plants and the best times and places to enjoy Kilauea. The food, both at lunch and dinner, was first-rate and could accommodate any dietary preference. All the little touches -- like hot cocoa and cookies and an evening tour of the Thurston’s Lava Tube – made the day even more special. Our group was lucky enough to see a great view of the glow at the Volcano on a misty night and stars on the trip home. The van is quite comfortable and we were never more than 45 minutes between bathroom opportunities. Count on Chris and Kailani for a tour to exceed your expectations on the Big Island.
Aloha and Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience! We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful day with Chris. We'd agree that he is a wealth of knowledge whose attention to detail and hospitality are truly Top-Notch! To hear our tour even exceeded your expectations is so incredible to us. Mahalo for your excellent review and recommendation! We hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island.
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/20 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/16 |
Reviewed by: Barry Zeve
Our tour started at 11:00 AM and ended at 11:00 PM. Our guide, Jim, gathered us together into what felt like a family outing, not a tour with strangers. He sang to us, played the ukulele, chanted and prayed in Hawaiian. He told stories he learned directly from “kahunas,” the gurus of the Hawaiian culture. And his stories had messages beneath the messages that elucidated the world the ancient Hawaiians inhabited when they reached the Hawaiian Islands in 1200 AD that mysteriously still affected me this day. When we arrived at Rainbow Falls, which is more than 75 feet high, I didn’t expect to react that way I did. The falls and turquoise pools beneath them were so majestic that they didn’t seem quite real. I kept looking for the frame around the picture.
“Pele,” the goddess of the volcano, has shimmering black hair that sometimes looks like smooth volcanic rock that oozes out of the craters. Her fiery eyes smoke by day, but they become visible at night. When we returned to the craters to meet her on her terms, at night, suddenly, modern science merged with ancient magic and mysticism, and Jim’s stories took on a haunting inference I hadn’t heard in the light. After several short excursions to the perimeter of Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park that even included a walk through a lava tube, Nahuku, we stopped for a scrumptious dinner in an inn reminiscent of a European, mountain lodge. As the sun set on a day filled with new information that caressed my mind and opened my imagination, I was ready to return to the smoking, lava flows to see Pele’s fiery eyes shooting glances back at me at night, asking me to question the beauty and truth of this world we live in – asking me to quietly contemplate the meaning of my life and whether paradise could actually be something real – whether promises do get fulfilled for those who learn to make a difference.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Jim. He is such a wonderfully knowledgeable guide who truly exudes the Aloha spirit and helps our guests connect with our beautiful island home! His Hawaiiana stories have quickly become a guest favorite and it is so humbling to hear how deeply it all resonated with you. That's exactly why we LOVE what we are able to do! Mahalo for the incredible recommendation and we truly hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/15 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/14 |
Reviewed by: SMTP
今、キラウエアの活動は小康状態のようで、オレンジ色の火口はなかなか見ることができないのですが、パイロット(この日はアメリカ人)はヘリコプターを右旋回、左旋回と操り、左右いずれの席からもよく見えるよう、丁寧な操縦をしてくれました。添付した写真は拡大してみるとオレンジ色の火口が見えます。
ワイピオ渓谷では緑の森をバックにした落差が大きい、いくつもの滝を見ることができ、火口以上に圧巻でした。
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Packages: | ワイピオ渓谷とキラウエア火山遊覧(コナ、ワイコロア地区プラン) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/12 |
Activity Date: | 2016/02/19 |
Reviewed by: Diane Viands
I ended up with some great pictures. Wasn't sure if I was getting any because it was so windy. Not complaining as I knew that it was going to be windy. I did think that we were going to fly near the volcanoes, but perhaps I read the description wrong. It was a great tour and I am glad I did the doors off tour. Collin was great! Thanks so much for the great tour!
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Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2016/03/12 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/07 |
Reviewed by: 東京の星から
ツアーの企画も大変良かったんですが、夕食の食事と満天の星空最高で、感激しました。スーさんのお陰様で楽しく過ごせました。また来ます。
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Packages: | ワイピオ渓谷とキラウエア火山遊覧(コナ、ワイコロア地区プラン) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/08 |
Activity Date: | 2016/03/05 |
Reviewed by: Casey
My husband and I recently took a Kailani Tours Hawaii trip to Kilauea Volcano. It was a very pleasant experience and probably one of the best tours we’ve ever done.
After driving about 90 minutes, we stopped to have a very nice box lunch at a rest stop near the military base. The lunches were prepared by a nice restaurant in Kona. Place mats were even provided to put on the picnic tables!
This was a tour in itself, as we were able to sample many different treats. We were even able to watch the employees preparing the cookies through a large glass wall. Everything we tasted was delicious except for the chocolate dipped squid that we thought was coconut!! I think one needs to develop a taste for the combination of chocolate and squid.
As we got closer to the volcano, the weather got progressively worse. Chris, our driver, was very adept at adjusting our schedule so that we took best advantage of the time we had. We stopped at the Rainbow falls lookout and took a short walk along the falls til we got to the huge banyan tree.
We went to the Kilauea Lodge for dinner. This looked to me to be a five star hotel and restaurant just outside the park. We were allowed to choose between a New York steak, fresh catch of the day, or a vegetarian dish.
After dinner we went back to the volcano to see it after dark. Thankfully, Kailani Tours provided very comfortable and warm Lands End parkas. Even though we were told to bring jackets, the ones we took were not warm enough as the winds were blustery, making the 45 degree weather seem much colder. We went to the lip of the Calderra where the view of the glowing lava was awe-inspiring.
As a final treat, we were given a short stargazing opportunity when we were about halfway home. The entire experience lasted from approximately 10:00 am to midnight. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about everything on the island, the volcano, and constellations and was very good at passing that knowledge along to us.
Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful time with Chris. He is an awesome guide whose attention to detail really allows our guests to just indulge in the experience! He always makes sure that everyone has the best time possible. What an experience the chocolate squid must have been! I don't believe I've quite developed a taste for that either, but what a story to tell! Hopefully, the amazing dinner at Kilauea Lodge made your taste buds happier. Mahalo for the excellent review and we hope to see you next time you visit the Big Island!
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Packages: | 2-for-1 Review Rebate Special |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/03/01 |
Activity Date: | 2016/02/18 |
Reviewed by: Going back to Hawaii
Very professional pilot. Incredibly smooth ride without stunts or surprises. However, the doors off was wonderful with nothing between us and the lava. We were high enough to not be at risk but the views of the lava flows, vents, as well as the area waterfalls and scenery were superb. Securely strapped in. Noise dampening headphones with mics allows two way communication, and the pilot was a knowledgeable and helpful tour guide. Worth the time and money.
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Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/02/19 |
Activity Date: | 2016/02/06 |
Reviewed by: Tomo
朝一番の7:00のフライトでした。マウナラニに泊まっていたので、少々高いのですがワイコロアからのツアーにしました。朝日が丁度昇る頃の出発だったので、マウナケアから昇る朝日が見事でした。パイロットの方がとても親切で、どの座席からも溶岩や滝を間近で見ることができました。ガイドも英語でしたが、とても分かりやすく話してくれました。1時間40分があっという間でした。朝一番は大変ですが、ホテルまで送迎がありますし、その日を有意義ぬ使えるので、とてもオススメだと思います。チョットお高いですが、思い切って参加してよかったです。大満足でした。
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Packages: | ワイピオ渓谷とキラウエア火山遊覧(コナ、ワイコロア地区プラン) |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2016/02/06 |
Activity Date: | 2016/01/14 |
Reviewed by: G from GA
An unforgettable experience! Viewing flowing lava burning trees, the spots where the lava begins to flow, the breathtaking coastline of the Big Island with its many waterfalls, humpback whales from overhead, and the wonders of the island with the unbelievable views of every hue in the ocean's water= memories that will last a lifetime! Add a fabulous staff and the best pilot ever, and that's what you can expect.
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Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2016/02/06 |
Activity Date: | 2016/02/03 |
Reviewed by: Alan
The doors off tour was incredible and well worth the price! I highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to get a real helicopter volcano tour!
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Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/02/02 |
Activity Date: | 2016/01/09 |
Reviewed by: Steve
For a group of six, this is the best way to do the Volcano tour. Our guide was awesome! Gave us an excellent, most informative and comfortable trip.
Mahalo for a wonderful time together!
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Packages: | 6-Hour Private Van (8 to 14 passengers) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/01/17 |
Activity Date: | 2015/12/23 |
Reviewed by: Mike
Dominik was a great ambassador for his tour company and Hawaii. He was very knowledgable and his local knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history was amazing. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Dominik!
Mike & Cheryl S.
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2016/01/16 |
Activity Date: | 2016/01/14 |
Reviewed by: Maruxa
The experience was really great!
The views were amaizing!
I recomend this experience!
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Packages: | Circle of Fire [Eco-Star] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/01/16 |
Activity Date: | 2015/12/23 |
Reviewed by: Cameron
Very professional staff and felt very safe. I would just say that this experience had a lot for me to compare to for me and my daughter on this trip to Hawaii. We did ziplining, Parasailing, horse back riding and went from high-octane outdoor activities to passenger sightseeing. However, if I were to rank this tour as a stand-alone activity I would give it very high marks. To see the volcanic areas from the air is really interesting since you are seeing a "live" mass in motion (can't see it move but it is moving). Trees are burning from the lava, smoke and craters really lets you know who is in charge, nature.
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Packages: | Circle of Fire [Eco-Star] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2016/01/02 |
Activity Date: | 2015/12/30 |
Reviewed by: なまけたろう
ハワイ島ヘリコプターに搭乗!!!
金額のことを考え数年躊躇していましたが・・・
搭乗して大正解!金額を払っただけの価値はあります♪
(めちゃめちゃ高所恐怖症の私でも安心できるヘリコプターの安定感です)
搭乗後は地上からは決してみることのできない景色の数々に興奮しきりでした。
滝、キラウェア、溶岩後、渓谷、大地・・・どれをとっても文句なしです!
(後部中央席に座ったいたのでベストショットがなくてすみません・・)
そして日本人パイロットのTOSHIさん(タイミング的にラッキーだったようです!(^^)!)が丁寧にハワイ島の説明をしてくださいました。
(聞いているようで聞いていない?ことがバレてしまいましたが・・(笑))
次回搭乗の際には改めてハワイ島のことをもうちょっと勉強して臨みます!
ということで、次回も必ず搭乗したいと思います!
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/12/31 |
Reviewed by: Teresa
Riding in a helicopter and seeing a live volcano checked off two of the entries on my life list. Scott, our pilot, was as excited as we were to see the molten lava gushing out in neon orange waves. It was definitely one of those,"Oh wow!" moments.
None of the retired ladies in our group had ever ridden in a helicopter before, and Scott had just the right combination of confidence and professionalism that reassured everyone. I would definitely fly with him again!
This tour was the highlight of our trip, and I would recommend it to everyone. It was worth every penny!
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Packages: | Circle of Fire [Eco-Star] |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/12/01 |
Activity Date: | 2015/11/25 |
Reviewed by: Fi & Guy, Nov 2015
We booked a Private Volcano Tour in Oct 2015 and experienced so much more than just 'a tour'. Our guide, Lee, was friendly, knowledgeable, listened to our interests and tailored our afternoon/evening accordingly. We'll never forget the beautiful scenery, sights and our volcano experience - particularly the added pleasures of owls above steam vents and the Milky Way above glowing Kilauea. Truly outstanding visit to Hawaii.
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Packages: | 6-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/11/28 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/08 |
Reviewed by: Renee H.
We had an amazing time! There is no way we could have seen or learned as much as we did without this private tour! Our guide Lee was fantastic. He was a wealth of knowledge from history to current events and even local legends. Our group consisted of 4 adults who wanted to go and see it all and we did. I highly recommend this tour.
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Packages: | 12-Hour Private SUV (Up to 7 passengers) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/10/27 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/24 |
Reviewed by: Jim P
Very high quality experience. The pilot was knowledgeable of the area and very experienced in flying making it a comfortable and interesting tour. The day before the weather was very rainy so we were afraid we would not see much but we lucked out and actually had very good viewing. But if we had flown with them when we were there in 2013 it would have been totally clear, even the tops of Moana Kea and Moana Loa. So, don't put it off!
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Packages: | Big Island Spectacular [A-Star] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/10/20 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/11 |
Reviewed by: Silas
Thank you to Jork our pilot for an amazing flight. After breakfast, me and my friends hit up the Volcanoes Winery for some wine tasting and then whipped through the Volcanoes National Park to get an idea of what we'd see from the sky before heading to the airport for our helicopter flight. The check-in was easy (I gained a few pounds from all the Hawaiian food I ate, but it was okay) and the ground crew was super friendly. Make sure you get a phone strap if you want to take pics with doors off, or you can't take your phone with you. I really didn't expect a lot but as soon as we were hovering over small lava ponds I cried a little bit. It was so epic - it looked like we were on another planet. The black lava landscape stretched to the horizon. It was cold up there but whenever we got over the bright orange lava spots you could actually feel the waves of warmth, so soothing! We finished with a fly over bubbling pots waterfalls and some of the towns. All the buildings and cars were so tiny and perfect like a miniature model city. Thanks again to Paradise Helicopters and HawaiiActivities.com. Definitely an unforgettable moment on the Big Island. Ah man!
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2015/10/14 |
Reviewed by: Samantha
Amanda was our tour guide and she was full of information about the island. She told us stories such as, Captain Cook's story and many facts about the land that we would have never learned on our own. Before we entered the park, we had lunch at the Punalu'u bakery. They have the BEST bread we have ever had!! My husband exclaimed that it was the best tuna sandwich he's ever had and it takes a lot for him to say something like that. We also tried the malasadas (we purchased..fairly cheap around ~3 for 2) and they were very good. When we entered the park, Amanda talked about the different kinds of lava flow and gave us many other facts. She was extremely knowledgeable which is what makes it worth booking this trip. Yes, we could have driven to the park on our own. But, I am thankful we had a guide that was so knowledgeable in such a small group (group of 8 total). She also talked about different trees and plants that we may have never even noticed! The only thing that was a pain was everyone in our group got picked up and dropped off individually, which made for a late night especially when the different driver taking us back did not seem to know the area at all. Our dinner was a buffet but there were not a lot of choices. However, they did have ice cream!
We are so glad you enjoyed the day with us! Amanda is certainly a gem! We do apologize that our evening driver was not as familiar with the entire island as we would like her to be. She is a new member of our team and is doing her best to learn about the various drop offs on this Big Island of ours, but we trust her safe driving and courteous manner. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review.
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Packages: | From Kona & Waikoloa |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/10/04 |
Activity Date: | 2015/10/02 |
Reviewed by: toni turnham
A enjoyable flight, if they can they take you up to the vent, to try and see lava, which may not always be flowing, the staff are very friendly, organised.
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Packages: | Circle of Fire [A-Star] |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2015/09/28 |
Activity Date: | 2015/09/09 |
Reviewed by: KJGS
Go for the Eco star! The viewing windows and space provide an excellent ride. Brandt was a great pilot who gave us an informative tour with funny antidotes. It's the closest feeling you can get to literally flying since it such a smooth ride, felt like we floated over billowing volcanoes and gushing waterfalls. Footage from video at the end had great clips inside and outside the helicopter but was too pixeled and fuzzy to want to purchase, hopefully as technology improves so will DVD. Pics and videos we took ourselves turned out good, even with an IPhone 6 and point and low end point and shoot camera. Take the ride, it's worth it!
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Packages: | Circle of Fire [Eco-Star] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/09/23 |
Activity Date: | 2015/09/18 |
Reviewed by: GeeBee
Now being honest the weather was not good at Hilo, very wet and cloudy. But in spite of the weather the flight did go ahead. I do have to say doors off is definitely the way to go! We flew over several areas of coastline and lava flows and then headed up to the Puʻu ʻŌʻō, again the weather wasn't great but you could see the ground pretty well. Heading up the mountain we saw a small area of fresh lava but it was over in a flash and then we were heading back to Hilo.
Now I fully understand that when weather and visibility are not good you might not see everything but at no point did the pilot state what we would or would not see. Obviously the vent or flowing lava is the main part of the "show" and you keep waiting for that to appear. But it wasn't until a guest asked that we were told that we went as far as we could.
Feel the heat? No we certainly did not.
A word of warning for passengers with longer hair wear a beany or make sure your hair is tied back tight, due to the wind it ended up with my wife's hair being badly knotted around the headset.
Two stars - to be honest only for the fun aspect of the doors off.
It would have been so much better if we were kept informed of the visibility and weather (now on Hawai'i this might not be a normal issue) and what we would be able to see as opposed to not being told anything and not experiencing what the flight was all about and coming away with the slightly cheated feeling.
Would I go again - yes - but I would certainly be asking a lot of questions about the weather conditions, visibility and expected viewing. It is a lot of money to pay, and especially if you are not local to not "Feel the Heat" because why else would you fly "doors off"
In additional I have to say the staff at Paradise were very understanding when we raised our points.
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Popular! Shared Doors-Off Flight [40 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2015/09/22 |
Activity Date: | 2015/09/18 |
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Aloha! Mahalo for joining us on our Deluxe Volcano Experience. We are so happy to hear you had such a fantastic day with Mike! Dinner at the Kilauea Lodge is such a special treat, and we agree that their soups are a must try to help warm up on those cold Volcano nights. We love when the fog parts and our guests get to enjoy that magnificent glow so clearly. Those clear skies also make for some amazing stargazing as well and we're glad to hear you enjoyed it! Mahalo for the wonderful recommendation and we hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!