1 star. Absolute bait-and-switch…read more We booked Blue Hawaiian Helicopters directly through their website. Not a waitlist. Not "pending confirmation." The site showed availability. We selected a time. We paid in full. Then, the day before the flight, they casually informed us they wouldn't fly unless they had four people. Let that sink in. If you "need four people to fly," then your website should not allow bookings for fewer than four. Period. Anything else is deceptive. Taking someone's money first and disclosing your internal minimum later is not a policy. It's a cash grab. No proactive call. No warning during checkout. No accountability. Just a shrug and "sorry." This wasn't a weather issue. This wasn't an emergency. This was poor business practice baked into their system. And judging by the volume of similar complaints online, this isn't rare. It's a pattern. Vacation time is limited. Schedules are tight. People plan entire trips around experiences like this. Blue Hawaiian seems perfectly comfortable blowing that up after holding your money hostage. Want amazing views of Hawaii? Plenty of companies can deliver that. Want reliability, transparency, and basic respect for customers? Look elsewhere. Because nothing kills the magic of a helicopter tour faster than realizing the company never intended to honor your reservation unless it worked in their favor. Savage truth: If you book here, you're not a customer. You're a placeholder!

Awesome!!! Everything from the service to the flight was wonderful! Don, our pilot was great and…read moregave us a great tour. I would highly recommend this experience.

We had a great experience with Blue Hawaiian helicopters this week. My wife and I enjoyed an hour…read moreflight with our Pilot Kaj Loken-Kim from their Waikoloa heliport. The whole crew was very friendly and knowledgeable, but more importantly everyone made us feel safe during the whole trip. We got a breathtaking view of the Kohala Coast and landed on a secluded clearing near a spectacular waterfall. The entire experience was amazing and the video we took with us captured the whole thing for us to review and enjoy again. I hope to visit them again here or on another island for a future flight and recommend them to anyone who wants to make their visit to Hawaii amazing and memorable!

Waterfalls, whales, and windmills, oh my! Kaj knew just how to thrill us locals as we saw our Big…read moreIsland from the air, 1000+ feet above ground, as we flew over the Waimea windblown crest, where the clouds bunched up against the windward side, with a small opening to the stunning blue shades of coastline. The fluffy cloud cover gave way to a slightly misty and broken front, with the Big Island's coastline calling us closer. The long black sand beach of Waipio Valley gave way to cascading waterfalls dropping hundreds of feet down sheer remote cliffs. We were lucky the drought was recently punctured by rain, replenishing the splendorous sight! We ducked into a canyon for a closer look -- everyone was entranced, overjoyed to see such wonders. Lucky for us no one was nervous, we all were relaxed and ecstatic. Whales came to the surface when we returned to the Hapuna area, it truly was magical, a solid check for my bucket list! At the age of 73, I am now using a walker and so this was a treat. (A short ramp leads into the office in Waikoloa, there is a bathroom inside the building, if you have trouble walking, do not rush to use the bathrooms outside to the left of the building, they are harder to navigate. Once inside and everyone heads to the helicopter, the ground crew will open the gate so you can roll back down the ramp to walk level instead of using the steps out back from the porch like everyone else. Crew will assist you getting into the helicopter if you able to stand up but you will need some arm strength to pull yourself into the seat, the overhead grab bar gives the necessary swing point.) We had a great time with Kaj, being locals, we are looking forward to seeing him in the water at Pine Trees, the Kohanaiki Park is great for watching surfers and enjoying some lunch bought from Pine Trees Cafe, nearby (go all the way to the bay for closeness to the showers and restroom). Yeah, I'm gonna plug my favorite spots! The helicopter ride will be loud (they give you headphones to block), and will be like riding a vibration disk. I loved it. So relaxing. There are 3 microphones shared by the six people riding, otherwise you will be reduced to using body language, not hard to decipher arched eyebrows, open mouths. I did not realize that Kilauea had fountained the night before, glad I did not know because maybe we would have taken the option of cancelling when they offered it, due to the buffeting winds and slight mistiness. I know that others did reschedule, perhaps thinking it was going to be disappointing. But we were gungho, why not? They promised that if we had to turn around due to weather, we would be reimbursed. To be fair, a fountaining volcano is not safe to be near and so it means staying far back. We have been here through three eruptions so we did not feel deprived. And, the fiery display was over by daylight. As a surfer I have watched and lived among the island's locals with fascination for two decades, as the aloha spirit transcends everything they do, and Blue Hawaiian has earned its place of honor. The company has donated lifesaving equipment over the years to the various beach parks and the lifeguard department, which is managed by our Fire Department. The staff I met embodies that spirit as well. From the moment we set foot in the door, the prep process for our trip was smooth, swift, and relaxing. I hope you have as much as we did. Its a full 24 hours later and I am still buzzing from the natural high! Grab a friend or two, or five, and take the ride of your life!

Skydive Big Island is an absolute must do if you want to experience one of those life altering,…read moresoulfully nourishing things that will keep a grin plastered to your face for weeks after. Bring a tether to pull your essence back into the 3rd dimension;) Do it;)

An amazing adventure/experience. This was my first jump (age 52) and also for my daughter (age 18)…read more The operation was safe, beautiful and exhilarating. I will go again with my other daughter when she turns 18.

Although we weren't able to do the full tour due to it being a little cloudy, James and Dylan made…read morethe experience worth it. James was very communicative about updates about weather and the different locations. When we got to the spot, Dylan was very friendly and pretty honest about the sky being unfortunate and that we may not get clear skies. He told us we could wait or just leave now and reschedule or get a refund. At our tour start time he decided to cancel the tour but offered a mini tour for free instead. Since we weren't able to rebook, we opted for this option instead. Dylan was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. He was able to show us some cool stuff they saw last night. It was for sure a bummer that we had our tour canceled, but everyone made up for it and we still got a full refund. We knew it was a gamble, but we chose this company since they gave full refunds if it was cloudy and they fulfilled that promise and then some. We still walked away with a very cool experience. Highly recommend! If we come back, we will for sure try again.

Would not recommend this tour. Save yourself the money and drive up to Mauna Kea on your own…read more To be fair, the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and did a good job getting everyone safely to the viewing location. We also lucked out with excellent weather. Unfortunately, those were the highlights. The experience itself was surprisingly chaotic. While the lead astronomer, Dylan, was trying to give his presentation, the photographer was constantly lining groups up for Milky Way photos just a few feet away. Between the photography, people talking, and others getting up for pictures, it was difficult to hear or stay engaged. If you're expecting a peaceful evening learning about the night sky, this isn't it. Dylan was clearly knowledgeable, but his presentation felt more like a stand-up comedy routine with astronomy mixed in than an actual guided stargazing experience. Instead of focusing on the stars and constellations we were actually looking at, much of the discussion revolved around black holes, nebulas, and other astronomy topics that had little connection to what was visible in the sky that night. It was entertaining at times, but not what we signed up for. The telescope felt especially misleading. The website advertises that one is provided, but guests never actually get to use it. Instead, we were shown images on an iPhone that were presented as if they had just been captured, only to later discover they had been taken weeks earlier. That left a bad taste and felt unnecessarily deceptive. By the end of the night, we genuinely couldn't figure out what our nearly $300 had paid for. The viewing location was on public land just minutes off the highway with no special access, we never looked through the telescope, and the astronomy portion rarely focused on the sky above us. In the end, it felt like we paid hundreds of dollars for hot chocolate, a folding chair, and two professionally taken Milky Way photos. Mauna Kea is breathtaking and absolutely worth experiencing. This tour, however, added very little value and actually detracted from what should have been a memorable, peaceful night under the stars.

Attended a lunch thru dinner (corporate) event for 150 at the ranch. They did an excellent job for…read morethe 7+ hour event. ATV, horseback, Pinzgauer (jeep) and helicopter rides. This pilot liked the (Paradise Helicopters) operation; good equip, plenty of safety staff, flown by former Marine Corp aviators. Pinzgauer drivers were exceptionally knowledgeable about plants, birds, geology and Pacific island history. Other entertainment included roping, saddle making and branding demos. Lunch buffet was salad, BBQ pork ribs, BBQ chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie, soft drinks and water. After returning from our events, appetizers included shrimp, sushi, sashimi, fruit, Italian meat roll-ups, beer, wine and water. John (Ranch owner/manager) had a good patter about Ranch ops and history. Staff was knowledgeable, attentive, helpful and focused on fun (with appropriate safety) ops. Band was good. They have a wide ranging repertoire. A bit too loud, as it was difficult to chat with co-workers and spouses that we only see once per year.

Sunset, Food, Relaxing! Way up north of Kona in the rolling green hills of Waimea/Kohala, there is…read morea hidden gem, the Evening at the Ranch. This is a true Hawaiian experience most people don't know about. Hawaii, especially Big Island, is known for a rich ranching background. A working ranch by day and every Wednesday night, they turn it into a BBQ Dinner experience. It kind of reminds me a bit like a Luau, but country style. Rolling green hills and pasture lands. Open bar, all you can eat feast and those slabs of macadamia nut pie are delightful! A great activity for all ages. Very relaxing and low key. If you have done a Luau then try this next.

We had a great time on the Hawaii Forest & Trail Secret Waterfalls of Kona Excursion! Our guide,…read moreMark, was incredible--he kept everyone talking and he was genuinely interested in hearing everyone's travel stories. He was very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of fascinating information about the island. After a comfortable van ride, we hiked a beautiful trail that led us to a series of truly stunning, pristine waterfalls. We were treated to a delicious lunch from a local deli, and we loved that it was served in eco-friendly, completely reusable containers. On the way back, we made a perfect final stop at a local macadamia nut store. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we recommend it!

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

What an amazing time my family and I had zip lining with Kohala Zipline. Everything from the moment…read morewe got there was well organized and extremely safe. Our Tour guides Jake and Kodie, were so knowledgeable and so very friendly and reassuring for this a just a little scared 61 year old. It was a great time and we all would highly recommend. Can't wait to come back and try a different tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail.

This was one of the coolest experiences I have ever done before. From the pick up to the drop off…read moreat the end, this was hands down one of the best tours I have ever been on. Our guide was knowledgeable, and the scenery and grounds we walked were absolutely stunning. This tour really celebrates the beauty and culture of the Big Island and our guide was the best to make sure we all understood what he was saying. Even though the zipline was fun, learning about the nature on the island and walking around was one of my favorite parts. The zipline was so cool though! It is a mix of starter and long runs. Having had been on zipline before, it was a good course with plenty of great runs where you got to see everything around you for a good period of time before slowing down and stopping. Between the zipline, waterfalls, hiking views, and all of the knowledge we were taught about the nature and beauty of the island, this tour was absolutely worth it. Next time we are on the big island, we will have to go again. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the island.

My friend recommended this trip as it was the highlight of her Hawaii cruise. I was so happy to…read morehave been able to book this excursion as not many sights were available on Christmas day. This is right on the cruise terminal port and quite easy to walk to. The check in area is in a hotel called Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. I would recommend to check in early as 15 minutes before your tour departs, they guide you to the water shuttle. Once you get on the water shuttle, it takes you to the submarine. You need to be able to climb a ladder to get into the submarine. The space is a little on the tight side and there are no backs to the seats so work on your abs before the trip! The air inside was cool and constantly recirculating so it did not feel stuffy. Everyone gets their own porthole to look into the ocean and there are fish identification cards in front of you. The submarine can get to 100 ft pretty quickly and I was surprised that my ears did not get plugged up. We saw lots of fish that day. Some get really close to the submarine. We even saw a school of fish! My only disappointment is color. At those depths, everything has a blue tinge so sometimes it was hard to identify the fish. The operators and tour guides were so nice and informative. This was one of the best tours I've had on this trip. Thanks again for a great excursion!

We went on the Atlantis submarine 20 years ago on our honeymoon, and again yesterday with our kids…read more The whole operation is smooth, impressive, and full of lovely people. We went down over 100 feet, and we saw so many different types of fish as well as two shipwrecks! Our guide, Eden, was full of helpful information about the sea life and local culture and history, and she was unendingly patient with one of my kids who had a million questions for her. She didn't mention tips, but at the end, she got a lot of cash from all of us because she absolutely crushed the tour. My only nits were 1) finding the meeting place was not obvious because it's inside the neighboring hotel-- not sure if we missed those instructions somewhere. And 2) we donked our heads twice when looking out the viewports when we were looking at some fish-- not because the submarine was moving too fast, we just got excited looking at fish hah. Anyway, some padding would have gone far. Anyway, I know it seems touristy, but this one is actually worth it-- so much that we've done it twice over a couple decades!

WOW.....What an incredible experience...only regret was not reserving the whole day instead of just…read more4 hours. Owners are super friendly and helpful Easy location to find them in Kona and easy check in and checkout

One of the best things to do in Kona! This is our third time…read morerenting from Big Island Buggy over the years and it is just as fun now as the first time. Aaron and Debi, the owners, make everything quick and easy and before you know it you are cruising the coast with the wind in your hair and everyone turning their heads to check out your ride. They really take the time to guide you on great places to go based on your interests, which makes the experience even better. This trip we rented three buggies, an automatic and two manuals. The two seater "Tang" is a zippy, fun manual to drive and its bright yellow color really grabs people's attention. It is also one of the most affordable / cheap excursions in Kona. You get hours of exploring, total freedom to go where you want, and a ride that makes the whole trip more memorable. If you are new to the island, they even have a QR code you can scan that pulls up a map with great local recommendations, which is a nice touch. After three visits I can say this is one of those experiences that never gets old. We will keep coming back every time we visit.

Natalie was absolutely amazing for my girlfriend and I's recent trip to Hawaii!…read moreShe went above and beyond organizing trips, excursions,rental cars, local advice and before and throughout our stay. Would highly recommend her services for anyone visiting Big Island and she also holds a wealth of knowledge of other islands too.

Nathalie Whitfield and Big Island Vacation Services were instrumental in planning our family…read moregathering of 23 people in March of 2022. Nathalie was very responsive and extremely helpful. She provided recommendations for a photographer, caterer, charter sailboat, baby rental gear, and airport transfers--all of which turned out to be wonderful. Nathalie was invaluable in helping us have such a special time celebrating our family. Ours was a vacation of a lifetime, due in large part to the efforts of Nathalie.