Our group absolutely LOVED our first-ever helicopter ride, and Kauai was the perfect location to…read moreexperience it! We have perfect views of Hanalei Bay, Poipu, Waimea Canyon, and the Napali Coast. The entire team at Blue Hawaiian, from check-in, safety briefing, and the flight itself were great. The process moved quickly but efficiently, and we felt safe the whole time. Highly, highly recommend, especially if you only have a short time to spend in Hawaii.

I would give this more than 5 stars if I could! What an absolutely amazing experience from start to…read morefinish. The check in process was well organized, and we got a clear and easy to understand safety briefing. The boarding procedure, based on where we sat, was also well organized. The ride itself was phenomenal. Our pilot, Robby, was very informative about Kauai, its landscapes, and its history. We saw many places that are only visible from air, such as the waterfalls used in Jurassic Park, Mount Waialele's crater, and some lush valleys. The experience of flying through Waimea Canyon was indescribable, as was flying along the Na Pali Coast. The views of both were absolutely priceless, and we got new angles and hidden areas that could never have been possible on the road or from the water. The soundtrack during the ride was also great. Overall, a highly recommended tour if you are in Kauai, especially as the majority of the island can only be viewed by air.

Did NOT appreciate this experience. The pilot first of all wore white pants that showed up on…read morepictures. We were specifically told to wear dark clothing and the PILOT wore white pants. I sat behind the pilot and DID NOT get many photos of the waterfalls as he catered to the front and otherside of the helicopter never flying where we could take a good photo of all the waterfalls, had to reach over people to get 2 pictures of the waterfalls. When we landed I told him and he said "Well do you want to go back?" Isaid yes I do. I called and complained they said they would look into it and get back to me. Also for people with long legs it was SUPER uncomfortable, packed in the helicopter like sardines. Would not recommend at this point. Heard so many great reviews from other people that took helicopter rides from different companies.

I am my wife took the tour in December. Had a great time. I did wear a bright T-shirt. I do regret…read morethat , some of my pictures have my reflection glare my fault sorry I should've known better but other than that, the helicopter was smooth and stable the pilot ( James ) was very knowledgeable and gave good commentary throughout the tour. A big shout out to the staff at Safari took very good care of us and had a great time.

Excellent pro-active staff, quickly respond, pleasant to deal with. The pilot was attentive and…read moreinformative. Just the right amount of narrative. Nice quality helicopter, roomy, with clean windows. They take care of you, safety, seating, strapping in, they cover it. We did the Grand Skies Island Tour. I liked how we dealt directly with the company and received a superior tour. It lasted about an hour. Don't forget to tip your pilot. Considering the prices of other tours, this is a better value and the pilot deserves it.

Absolutely the best part of our Kauai trip! To see the island from the sky, especially with as…read moreclose as we got, was beyond an incredible experience. We did the Jurassic Falls tour and this JP fan definitely shed a tear as we flew through the valley with the theme music playing in our headset, rounding a corner to see that gorgeous waterfall. Evan, our pilot, had us feeling safe the whole time. He was informative, funny, and took great pictures at the falls. Highly recommend!

The whole experience was a once in an lifetime experience. Highly recommend it! Their team is…read morefantastic and very friendly. Great for kids- we took our 4 year old and she had a blast too! Make this apart of your trip. You wont be sorry. Nick, Kim, Liz - thank you guys for a wonderful time. Many blessings!

Had the most amazing ride with Air Ventures Hawaii on Kauai…read more We got lucky to have the best weather for our flight. I would recommend this trip while on Kauai. Great way to see the island and its rich history.

Bill and his guys are excellent. Safe, fun and absolutely stunning to see and experience. My son…read moresaw two whales this week while in the glider. This is a must do when on Oahu!

Great experience!…read more Bill was great, and my pilot Sean was a real pro and very knowledgeable! And it was an absolutely fun ride!

I am a current private pilot and decided to add a glider rating. It has been 20+ years since I…read morefirst flew a glider. Brian and Yuko have a fantastic operation. This is the only winch tow at the airfield and is by far my favorite way to get to release altitude. This is an amazing place to add a rating. I am looking forward to my ongoing training here!

Although I visit one of the islands every year, it's been many, many years since my last visit to…read moreOahu. On this visit, there was one definite item on my list of things to do...and that was to go soaring! As a power and glider pilot, I've been lucky enough to be exposed and get training under various conditions. But the one condition that has always eluded me was ridge soaring. But here on Oahu (in particular, Dillingham Airfield) ridge soaring is fairly predictable and common. On a scouting drive to the airport, I met up with Brian who courteously gave me all the information I needed to set up a lesson in the following days. He stayed in touch with me by phone as minor changes detoured our arrangement slightly. Arriving at the airport a few days later, I got to watch sailplane operations...both winch and aerotow. Brian next introduced me to the flight instructor that would accompany me on my flight..."JJ." After the standard discussion about my piloting experience, JJ and I were buckled in and ready for our winch launch in a Grob103. Now most of my glider experience is through winch launching. But when I was told they typically winch to just 900 ft, I was a little skeptical as that is the altitude I'd usually be at when preparing to land. But this is their turf and I completely trusted in their professionalism and expertise. Releasing at 1100 ft (we got a little extra altitude), JJ had me bee-line directly for the ridge on the south side of the runway...and just like that...lift! So up we went! After just a couple passes up and down the ridge line, we'd gained just over a 1000 ft of altitude. With altitude, we could now extend our soaring range along the ridge. On this particular day, we found some really strong lift and some sink as well. But we worked a couple areas that had really strong lift and eventually made it up to 3800 ft. Besides seeing a few other sailplanes, you get a spectacular view of the coastline that stretches north (AKA North Shore)....waves as far as the eye can see! We also spotted a few whales breaching and making big splashes just off shore. But for me, the real beauty is awesome views in all directions...like the large windmills in the distance and clouds right above you. Even the green treeline on the ridge we soared above was a true sight to see from the air. Seeing everything from the air, is just better in my book! Of all the things I did on my vacation to Oahu, this tops my list of fun things I did! As we flew, I had numerous questions about ridge soaring which JJ promptly answered and explained. It was great to meet and fly with people that knew the game so well. If you are ever on Oahu, I'd strongly suggest you take a ride with HGSA. If you're a pilot too, take a formal lesson...you might be amazed at what you can learn from the unique conditions this area offers. Much thanks...Brian and JJ! If either of you are ever in Prescott, Arizona, come check out our winch operations!

Steve no-called and no-showed for a reservation we booked six weeks in advance. Suzy never bothered…read moreto call or email me about the cancellation - when I managed to track them down, she simply mumbled "something came up, thanks" and hung up on me. I rented a car and drove across the island specifically for this reservation and it's utterly disrespectful and rude to not even bother to call, text or email me that he didn't want to show up. I wasted $100 on the car and 3 hours of my brief vacation. Steve and Suzy are extremely elderly and seem to be struggling with maintaining their operations. This is an unprofessional and unsafe operation.

Steve, our pilot walked up, ready to fly. With fifty-three years of flight experience and a calm…read moredemeanor, I felt at ease. He later revealed that in 1958 his first solo flight took place at the age of fifteen. It was a glider towed behind a car with 400 feet of rope! He walked over to JW and after a brief conversation, we were ready to go.

For my husband's birthday on 7/24 we decided to fly with Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours doors off…read moreadventure over Kauai. While my husband had flown before, it was my first time. I was quite nervous, but more from excitement. I was the one who chose doors off. We checked in at the NEW LOCATION at 3748 Ahukini Rd. Lihue, HI 96766. Kalei welcomed us and gave us our time to come back to get ready for our flight. She then directed us to a lounge with restrooms across the street. Preflight preparation with Kalei. First, we watched a short safety video. Next, we strapped a flotation device around our waists. Kalei had us remove our phones from their cases to properly secure them in a holder with a wrist strap. Then we waited on the front bench for our pilot. Within moments, our pilot WALT, walked over and greeted us with a big smile and a hearty handshake. After chatting with Walt, all my fears vanished. He was happy, friendly, and confident. He truly was a cool guy that you do not mind hanging out with for an hour in helicopter. He shared lots of interesting facts about the island and we had a lot of fun laughs. Walt as a pilot was gentle but effective with necessary safety information. His instructions were clear and easy to follow. Getting in and secure was remarkably easy. The flight itself was smooth. We did have some light rainfall during the flight which made for a spectacular rainbow. The entire experience was magical. If you want to know what we saw on the tour, you will need to book the tour and find out. You will not be disappointed. If you end up with Walt as your pilot, you are in great hands. Have fun! Mahalo nui loa Walt, Kalei, & Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours. We have amazing memories, and photos that will last a lifetime. PS - wear the heavy sweatshirt you brought. You will need it.

First: our pilot, Julian, was incredible!…read more If you are unsure if this island flight is worth the money or not, I can say that it 10000% is! You are going to be able to see perspectives you can't get anywhere else. This is one of the most beautiful islands in the world but, it's hard to see its beauty while you are attached to it! I highly recommend going "doorless". The ability to take photos without the softening glare of a window is what really makes one of these flights worthwhile. It's also such an incredible rush to constantly blasted with fresh tropical air. When we got off the helicopter we felt like boring land people and yearned to get back into the skies.