Paradise Helicopter Newsletter: Spring 2008

3 Top Eating Restaurants on The Big Island

• Merriman's
  
  Chef Peter Merriman, one of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, displays his creativity at this Waimea eatery, a premier Hawaii attraction. Dishes include his signature wok-charred ahi, kung pao shrimp, or lamb from nearby Kahua Ranch. His famous platters of seafood and meats are among the many reasons this is still the best, and busiest, dining spots.
• Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid
  
  This waterfront wonder is well worth the splurge. The menu is inventive and the wine list-excellent. The crab-crusted ono is a slice of heaven, sitting on clouds of wasabi mashed potatoes. Leave room for dessert; it's always worth the indulgence. Local musicians play nightly on the grassy knoll outside.
• Pahu i'a at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
  
  Pahu i'a means "aquarium," so it's fitting that a 9- by 4-ft aquarium in the entrance casts a dreamy light through this exquisite restaurant. Presentation is paramount -- tables are beautifully set, with hand blown glassware -- and the food tastes as good as it looks. Don't miss the three sashimi and three caviar appetizers, or the crispy whole moi served with Asian slaw, black beans, and sweet chili-lime vinaigrette. Breakfast is also superb; there's a buffet, as well as a menu. Their lemon ricotta pancakes are so good they should be illegal.

Paradise Celebrates 10 Years!

Over the past decade K&S Helicopters has epitomized the philosophy that a company cannot stand still; it is either improving or falling behind. What began as a single pilot tour company operating a lone ranger, a lone Bell Jet Ranger that is, has grown to a modest fleet of six helicopters staffing 35 Hawai`i based employees. Although we've expanded in size, the heart of the company is still committed to providing each customer with personalized and uncompromising service. From small beginnings where a pilot single-handedly ran a full day operation, booking and dispatching their own flights to the competent, well trained staff of today, we.ve always focused on our guests with the understanding that it is through their satisfaction that we can continue to exist and grow.

With an ethical business structure, we strive to ensure longevity of the company and to date have accumulated over 30,000 total flight hours. Along the way we.ve been able to combine our resources with some outstanding corporations allowing us the opportunity to make a positive impact in our community. The Kids Wish Network, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, County Fire Department and the Rebuilding of the Kohala Ditch System on the Big Island are just a few of these corporations.

Similar to the word `ohana, which translated today means family, our company has grown and flourished as the `oha (shoot) from the kalo (taro) plant. In the Hawaiian culture the kalo (taro) plant was a life source for the people. From the long stalk of the plant, or the haloa, new life and growth forms through these `oha shoots. The root of the word `ohana lies in this plant and the basis of our company follows suit. With K&S Helicopters we planted roots and out of the stalk that grew came Tropical and Paradise Helicopters. For ten years we have had a role in the lives of our employees, the vendors we do business with and the community we live and work in. We value and recognize the importance of these individuals as Hawaiians valued the importance of the kalo plant understanding that if we nurture and care for our company it will in turn provide for us for years to come.

Employee Corner

Outstanding Employees
Laura Keeble says, "What an honor! I was very excited to hear the news (I even called my parents!)" I'm from Austin, Texas (Hook 'em Horns!) and am a new comer to Oahu. When I'm not selling helicopter tours, I practice a Brazilian martial art called Capoeira. While in Hawai'i, I would like to learn how to surf. I'm so fortunate to work for/with such wonderful people and to be doing a job I enjoy so much! Working on the beach isn.'t so bad either!.

Thanks Laura! We are happy to have you part of our team! Jill Cobile has been one of our top reservationists for a couple of years. If you've come by the Hilo office, you may have met Jill. She's the one who greeted you with her warm smile and great personality. She always takes the time to greet each passenger when they arrive for their flight and when they return from their tour. She is always willing to help out and is positive and upbeat when dealing with tough situations and passengers, and maintains high level of professionalism.

Thank you, Jill, for always keeping a positive attitude each and every day!

Top Sales of the Quarter

When an employee is hired for Hilo, a strong attribute to look for is versatility and it is definitely present in Lindsey Smith. She was hired for night reservations and her mature personality and problem solving skills came through on several occasions when she had to rearrange the next day's schedule or fill seats for the early morning flights. Those same skills, combined with a witty sense of humor and a charming demeanor, makes it fun and easy for the rest of the staff to work with her.

She's recently shown interest and initiative in dispatching which increases her value as a proficient, well rounded employee. She is a true asset to the team.

Profile: Koji Sato

A true renaissance man of the new millennium, Japanese-speaking Koji Sato is a man of many talents. Koji is an outstanding pilot, setting standards high in a well- honed craft. If you have flown with Koji, you have experienced the care and expertise with which he conducts each flight. Attention to detail, customer service, and of course safety, are Koji's top priority. He also provides the same top notch care and service at his new restaurant, KOZO, located in the King Kamehameha mall in Kailua Kona. Providing a memorable and special experience for all patrons, whether flying or cooking, Koji is a gifted and unique member of our family!

New Addition to the Fleet

This past October, we added an additional 407 to our fleet. The 407WH has already proven itself a valuable addition to the Paradise Helicopters fleet of three Bell 407s. This helicopter has one distinct feature, setting itself apart from the others: sliding doors. This allows greater ease and diversity when the doors-off flight is desired. Film crews like this feature as it allows protection in transit, yet once on location, either side or both sides can be opened for maximum espouser to the scene. Like our other 407s, the 407WH is equipped with a cargo hook, large windows, and other features that make it truly versatile to handle just about any job!

In April 2008, we took delivery of our first factory new MD530FF! This helicopter will be the perfect addition to our fleet providing more power and capabilities to jobs requiring a 500. It will aid in utility work as well as providing a luxurious fell to our tour operations.

We've Got Mail!

I cannot thank you enough for the Volcano and Valley Experience. Victor was an excellent, knowledgeable pilot. He did a fantastic job of sharing culture, history, current island issues, geography, and kept us all smiling. He was an exceptional pilot, narrator, and customer service provider.

I liked the fact that a serious safety briefing was done in your office along with a summary outlining the tour. The teamwork and professionalism your crew displayed in loading us into the helicopter was reassuring. The flight itself was astounding. Having never taken a helicopter ride before, I was expecting the beauty to be a special experience; it was nothing short of magnificent. The helicopter turned at the attractions allowing total viewing pleasure for all; whether they sat on the left or right. I did not at any time feel the tour was rushed, nor did I feel it was prolonged.

Entering into the valley felt as if you were gifted a golden ticket allowing you into a sacred sanctuary. It was spiritual, adventurous, and mesmerizing. I could not think of anything that evoked so much emotion and have such an impact.

The landing was spectacular. I was overcome by the sheer height of the valley walls. The drifting overhead clouds created the feel of earthly movement. The mountain stream brought back endearing memories of wading in the cool waters as a child, catching crayfish and opai. To have relived that history with my mother was very emotional. I was touched as I watched her drink in the beauty of the exclusive location. One of the other passengers had stated .Now this is the definition of awe-inspiring!. I couldn.t have agreed with him more. It didn't matter if you were local or visiting, this tour did not discriminate who it touched.

Your web site or brochure don't do this tour justice. It has created a lifetime memory for me that I will cherish. It was a class-act from the beginning to end. You should all be extremely proud of yourselves. I am personally thrilled and professionally honored to recommend your company to all of our clients. Mahalo, Wendee

Winter 2007-08 Statistics

Turtle Bay: 539 passengers

Our most popular tour is our Oahu Experience, a 60 minute flight showing all of Oahu.

Hilo: 2644 passengers

Hilo features an exciting tour option called Doors Off Experience. You can feel the heat as you fly over the volcano!

Kona: 1998 passengers

See the whole island; even land in a private valley for a picnic lunch.

A Note From Our President

In 2008, Paradise Helicopters acquired two new helicopters, a Hughes 530 (similar to the Hughes 500) and a third Bell 407, rounding up our fleet to six. These additions allow the Hilo base to have a long awaited second aircraft which we designate for the popular "Doors Off" tour. With the rising cost of fuel, the tourism industry as a whole has seen a decline in visitors to Hawai`i. In previous summers, our tours have been sold out three to five days in advance. Although it's a little slower this year, it's been nice to give those last minute planners a chance to fly; and there's always utility and charter work to keep us busy. Our reservations and marketing staff sees this as the perfect opportunity to sharpen up on sales skills and are working on new products to keep people excited about flying in Hawai`i. For instance, a few months ago we teamed up with Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channels hit show "No Reservations". We landed at Jack Thompson's Lava House in Kalapana. There, the world renowned chef enjoyed a local plate lunch in the middle of a lava field. What a great experience it was to be able to feature such an amazing landing site and the superior filming capabilities of the Bell 407.

Throughout the 10 years we've been in business, we've repeatedly achieved our goal of providing customers with memories to last a lifetime. We plan to continue to do so for decades to come.

-Calvin Dorn

Older Issues

Fall 2007
Summer 2007