Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers one helicopter tour out of Hilo, but provides a choice of two different types of helicopters.

Circle of Fire + Waterfalls Helicopter Tour

Time: 50 minutes
A-Star Helicopter Price: $196.02
Eco-Star Helicopter Price: $240.90

This Blue Hawaiian tour departs from Hilo Airport and takes you on a 50 minute helicopter adventure to see volcanic activity at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the dazzling waterfalls of Hilo. You will see the most geologically active region of Hawaii and perhaps the world in Kilauea which has been erupting from 1983. You will see lush rain forests, devastating lava flows, crashing waterfalls and even learn about Hawaii’s culture and history.

If you have the budget, spend a little more and take their Eco-Star helicopter as it gives you a better view, 180 degree view of all that Hawaii has to offer.

About Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

Blue Hawaiian was started by Patti Chevalier, her brother and her husband back in 1985 with a single 4 seat helicopter. Her husband flew the tours, while she and her brother handled the business.

Over the years their company has grown and now they operate tours in four locations: Maui, Kauai, Hilo and Waikoloa.

 

Roseanne Barr wasn’t born in Hilo, Hawaii, but she lives in Hawaii now. Roseanne lives on a macadamia nut farm outside of Hilo, in Honoka’a, and is quoted as saying that she always knew that she would end of living on a nut farm. She even starred in a short lived reality show called “Roseanne’s Nuts” which was set on her farm, which is located on the Hamakua region outside of Hilo.

Roseanne Barr’s Macadamia Farm: Honokaa, Hawaii

Rosanne bought the Hidden Hamakua Farm back in 2007 for a grand total of $1.8 million, sight unseen. (I guess $1.8 million is pocket change to her.) The farm consists of 46 acres of macadamia nut trees and a 2,200 square foot house.

Roseanne’s Nuts Reality Show

Roseanne’s show consisted of episodes depicting life on her Hamakua macnut farm. As you can imagine having Roseanne as a farmer, instead of a comedienne can lead to funny situations.  Especially when she let’s her friend Greg live on her farm in a tent.

William Herbert or W. H. Shipman was a wealthy businessman who once owned the W. H. Shipman House in Hilo, Hawaii. In addition to the Shipman house on Reed’s Island, Shipman also owned almost the entire town of Keaau and the Ainahou Ranch in Volcano.

Shipman was born to missionary parents on December 17, 1854 at Lahaina, Maui. But later his parents were invited to Hilo by Titus Coan, a well known minister of the Historic Haili Church. Shipman lived in Hilo for a time and then attended Punahou on Oahu and later Knox College in Illinois.

How W. H. Shipman Built His Fortune

• He came from humble beginnings, a child of missionaries
• His father died and his mother remarried a wealthy businessman
• When his stepfather died, Shipman inherited his landholdings
• With two partners he bought the entire 70,000 acre region of Keaau
• He leased much of the of the land to the Ola’a Sugar Company