We are going to the Big Island and Kauai. Has anyone taken a Blue Hawaiian Helicpter ride? How was it? Since it is so expensive which Island should we fly over, Kauai or the Big Island? and lastly, does anyone know how to find discount coupons.

We flew on Blue Hawaiian on the Big Island in 2000. It was an enjoyable ride, over the lava fields. But to be honest, I enjoyed our Kauai Heli trip more. We saw more diverse landscape than the trip on HI: waterfalls, Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coast, etc. It was a beautiful way to start our week on Kauai, and it really pinpoints where you want to go to explore! FYI, our Kauai trip was in 96, and was on Jack Harter. I would stick with Blue Hawaiian though. I don't know about discount coupons. Maybe Dusty, MelissaHi or others will pipe in.

Nothing to comment on about helicopters, but I was wondering where you decided to stay on Kaua'i.

As of know I am staying at the Hyatt. I purchased four gold certificates for $250 each which as I understand entitles me to one night with tax included. The certificates are good for up to one year from date of purchase and can be used at most Hyatts around the world. It seemed like a very good deal. If I could find a great deal for the Princeville, I would stay 2 nights at the Hyatt and 2 nights at the Princeville.

If you do the BI, be sure to see the WHOLE island, not just the volcano. There are falls (big ones) and gorgeous cliffs on the back side of the island.

Check out www.birdsinparadise.com if you are feeling adventurous. There is also a bi-plane ride in Kauai.

I would love to do the whole island, but it gets expensive over $400 per person. Doesn't anyone have any info on coupons or discounts?

I did an air tour on a Cessna with Mokulele Air out of Kona instead of the helicopter. It cost about half as much!!

Our Maui ride was with Blue Hawaiian and we found them to be completely professional (I am in the aviation industry).

I have taken the Blue Hawaiian full island helicopter ride, and It is an amazing way to see the island, and the volcano, especially. But at $350 (7 years ago) it is expensive, and takes several hours.

A couple of years later, I flew out of Hilo with Safari (I think...it was recommended by the Blue Dophin hotel).

This was a 45 minute ride primarily just over the volcano, but a bit over Hilo as well. The cost was $79 per person with a coupon. It was very easy to arrange by phone.

We made last minute reservations, and the weather was beautiful. The helicopter wasn't as new as the Blue Hawaiian's, but I felt just as confident with the pilot (a woman).

I was very nervous on my first flight, so a shorter flight was actually easier on me, and it was just the 3 people in my family, whereas on Blue Hawaiian there were 5 passengers.

The pilot on Blue Hawaiian was making kind of weird jokes, and later when a friend went, he kept flirting with her.

There are quite a few helicopter companies flying out of Hilo, and they all seemed pretty reputable, although Blue Hawaiian has the top reputation and prices.

If the volcano is active, that would probably be just so amazing to see, rather than Kauai.

There a lots of comments on Blue Hawaiian on here. Put Blue Hawaiian in the search box and see what comes up.

We flew with them in Oct 2006 on their full island tour on BI and we loved it.

Author: DebitNM ([email protected])
Date: 12/09/2006, 09:57 am
We did Blue Hawaiian and had a wonderful pilor and the entire experience was simply put -- amazing! We did the 2 hour whole island tour and we went right over the calderas at VNP and watched the lava flow into the ocean. And we flew into [and I mean into] the valleys up on the eastern side to see waterfalls the likes of which you only see in movies..live and up close in front of you.

The sell a DVD of your flight which while not hollywood quality, it does capture the sights that YOU actually say and what you heard during your flight. as it has sound. We were lucky, because we are both fairly small, light people, DH and I got to sit up front next to pilot and wonderful line of eye sight. I didn't have a digital camera with me, but I was actually able to get pictures right thru the windows with it! Used 800 with no flash disposable camer no less!

I have pictures posted on here somewhere. I can top them for you if you'd like.

Have a great time! East at Harrington's in Hilo for dinner after VNP - great food.

Hope this helps...

Deb

I have flown with Blue Hawaiian when in Maui only. We normally go out with Inter-Island Helicopters when in Kauai. They do not advertise so their prices are a bit lower but the services is first class (they are part of the Kauai Search and Rescue Crew). If you do the Waterfall Adventure Tour ($330) you get a tour of the island and then land at a remote waterfall in the rain forest that is only accessible via helicopter. They feed you lunch and you can swim in the waterfall lagoon. (http://interislandhelicopters.com/)

I used Blue Hawaiian for the Big Island (entire island) tour in 2004 and LOVED it. It is expensive but in my opinion, worth the price to see the diversity of the island from the lava flowing from the volcano to the lush areas of waterfalls.

We flew on Blue Hawaiian during our Maui honeymoon in April 2003. The staff was professional, the pilot was knowledgable, and the landscape was breathtaking. The recording of the flight was cut short on the way back to the airport (their error), so we got the recording for free. We watch that VHS tape all the time. We're going to Kauai this April for our fifth anniversary and we'll fly them again!

I'm just back from the BI and Blue Hawaiian was the one most people I talked to went on and enjoyed.

They don't have discount coupons in any of the magazine literature but their website offers a pre-paid booking discount.