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Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours
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10 reviews for Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours
i have been on a helicopter a few times, and was most excited about kauai bc i had heard so many great things about waimea canyon, napali coast, etc.
what a major disappointment with the weather that day. i really feel like they shouldve cancelled. it was drizzling when we left and rained on and off the entire hour. more rain than not and at some points so hard that you couldnt even see out.
not to mention my stomach and nerves were shot. i couldnt even enjoy the ride.
the pilot was super nice, experienced, and relaxed. but really this was not an enjoyable experience. they shouldve at least given us the dvd of our ride as a gift after the weather basically ruined it!!
the actual helicopter (eco star) was super comfortable and spacious. a major difference from the one we rode on big island (i think a500)
We did this helicopter trip in Kauai but they are a statewide business on three of the other islands. This was my first trip so I can't compare it to any other company/type of helicopter.
The good
1) everyone who works here is VERY friendly.
2) the safety video is very informative
3) they are one of the cheapest helicopter tours
4) you can get a DVD of your trip for $25
Now the bad
1) they are located in Harbor Mall on Rice St in Lihue. If you don't know this you will never find it as I saw no signs on the street.
2) you are placed based on weight. I sat in back right and it was VERY difficult for me to get any decent pics. [more later in the UGLY]. Sitting in the middle you will get NONE.
3) the sound level was low and difficult to hear. I thought it was just me, but after watching our DVD I realized it wasn't me. I would prefer a flight with no music.
The UGLY
I sat behind a guy in a light/bright turqouise shirt and so I could take no pics out the front side window. We were advised by Expedia to wear dark clothing to avoid this, obviously he wasn't informed. While the company can't regulate what a person comes in wearing, consider providing a pullover for customers wearing clothes that will easily reflect. This really ruined the entire ride for me since I went for the pics.
Overall it was a nice way to see the island, but while everyone says the price is worth it I am not sure it is worth $200 for a 50 min ride. Not trying to discourage anyone from doing it, just wanted to let you know my experience.
While I likely would have been scared I really should have done a doors off for better pics. Again everyone at the company was VERY nice.
you can't beat this tour. You have views from this tour that you can't see any other way such as the untouchable na pali coast.
nice dvd and friendly workers. Keoke went out of his way to take pics of us in front of the helicopter. What put this over the top was that we lucked out and got front row seats what!!!!
Every review i read (national geographic, frommers, various online sites) said take Blue Hawaii helicoptor tours and I agree. Five star all the way.
Unfortunately the weather was not as cooperative as I would have liked, but Pilot Andy made this an outstanding experience even with the clouds and the rain.
Their helicopters are mostly glass so the views are fantastic. They are also equipped with pontoons which means they have lower clearance than those that dont, and have a better chance of getting closer to the scenery, and more importantly, getting under the bad weather which allows you to see more. We were able to keep going at some points where other helicopter tours had to turn back.
On an island where one of the points gets over 200 inches of rain a year, weather is almost always an issue, so you want the best chance you can get to see as much as possible.
Our pilot did a great job of making the hour interesting and spending more time in the places that weren't rained in. I didnt feel at all like i missed out (ok maybe a little, i really wanted to go into that crater). The helicopter was very comfortable, the piloting was top notch, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
My "emotional moment" was as we descended down the valley of the Jurassic Park waterfall, just like they did in the movie. I was breathless.
Is it expensive? Yes! Is it well worth it? 100% YES!!! Thanks Blue Hawaii!
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I concur with what everyone else said. They have nice helicopters and good pilots. Ours was Michael and he did a great job of making us feel relaxed especially whenever it got bumpy. He would warn us ahead of time by saying...its gonna get a bit bumpy now but no biggee...nothing to worry about...and he'd just keep on talking through the bumpynees to keep our mind off of it. Very nice.
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Great tour and definitely a highlight of my visit! The staff was very courteous from check in through the ride back. You actually check in at their offices in a shopping mall on Rice Rd where they show you the safety video, assign you a seat and give you your flotation device. They take you by van to the airfield 5 minutes away.
Our pilot Cliff, a lifelong local and a certified tour guide for Kauai, was super knowledgeable about the island. He kept the info coming throughout the entire flight. As we crossed the Na Pali coast he spotted a pod of blue whales and circled a few times so we could all get pictures and a good view. If you're a bit shaky about flying he always warned us where we might expect a few bumps as we crossed certain ridges and along the coast line.
They offer a custom DVD of the flight which costs $25 additional. Each helo has an array of cameras internally and externally so it is all video of your actual flight. I recommend the video as many photos don't turn out so great with the glare and on the glass.
I picked them because of the top notch reviews in all the major travel guides and wasn't disappointed.
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Now if you're gonna be on Kauai for a couple days, do this the first or second day you're there. This way when you fly over the entire island you can see all the beaches and sights you want to visit.
This company was great, the pilot was super friendly, very well rehearsed in the island history.
This had been a dream of mine to fly in a helicopter so it was truly an amazing experience.
probably one of the greatest hours of my entire life.
there is too much to even write down..... flying over kauai is like nothing else. this company was incredible, professional, affordable, and friendly. our pilot mike was AWESOME. the helicopter tour was indescribable... you have to just do it. no excuses.
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Now if you're going to do just one thing on Kauai, a helicopter tour is it. It's a small island, so a one-hour tour will show you Waimea Canyon, Niihau and all of the various mountains, beaches, waterfalls and craters that dot the place. Blue Hawaiian is supposedly the cheapest of the best, and it was a great trip...
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While researching helicopter tours, I found it hard to believe how one lady mentioned that she became emotional on the tour. Well, as we rounded the corner from the Waimea Canyon to the Napali Coast, I too, almost became over come with emotions.
Blue Hawaiian helicopters are beautiful, spacious, and well worth the money.
If you've never flown in a helicopter (I hadn't), rest assured that your flight on Blue Hawaiian will be comfortable and a memory that stays with you forever.
