Skydive Hawaii

Skydive Hawaii used to offer fun jumper tickets and AFF, but they closed both of those doors a long time ago. Now they only offer tandems unless you happen to know someone there or you've been jumping with them for a long time. That's probably fine for a money making operation, but provides no value to the local community in terms of allowing locals to jump.

Skydive Hawaii is a seven day a week operation. During my two week vacation, I tried to make my way to the drop zone every morning for at least one jump a day. This drop zone services a lot of tourists and a fair number of local tandem enthusiasts. As a licensed jumper, I had no problem getting “on the next load.” There are a lot of people that work at this drop zone. I found that they were extremely friendly. By the end of my two week vacation, I had spoken to a fair number of them and found them to be genuinely concerned with my having a good experience during my jumps. The winds across the landing area can frequently be high as they come across a tall row of trees, making for a tricky approach and landing. The staff members are experts at their unique location, and will share their knowledge and advice of the area and situation in a friendly professional way. My two weeks of jumping and being around Skydive Hawaii was a highlight of my vacation. I reconnected with old friends and made new ones: And the view from the “Spot,” unbelievable! I can’t wait to get back.

I lost my cherry here. Jumped 3 times in two days and am going back this coming weekend. Super cool people, low key, professional, kind, fun. IT WAS PERFECT.
LZ is fine. A few folks were wingsuiting out of the plane.

I wonder if those people who wrote negative reviews even enjoy jumping anymore? I mean, yes, the facility is a bit rustic, but who cares? It is a very relaxed atmosphere full of warm aloha from everyone. There's no pretense. No one is being disingenuous. If an instructor wants to talk to you, they will. Otherwise, it's pretty much the norm to walk around them and leave them alone so they can repack their chutes. I have spent thousands of dollars on psychotherapy to help me get over some personal issues. I have to thank Skydive Hawaii for being available to provide me some unconventional therapy in a controlled atmosphere. Did I feel safe? Yes, but that still didn't quell that feeling in my stomach before my very first jump. Was there a wait? Yes. The instructors take their time (as they well should) with each student and they focus their attention on their student. Even if I were to visit another dropzone (and I full intend to!) with pristine facilities and instructors that feed me insincere dialogue... it wouldn't change my experience with SkyDive Hawaii. What these folks do is nothing short of lifechanging and the do it in a professional and controlled manner. Thank you to my instructor Jake and my videographer Butters for helping me push past my own fears. You rock.

Beautiful day to jump and the views were spectacular at dillingham airfield with the runway is centered between the beach and the mountains. I couldn't of asked for a better experience for my first jump, Jake my tandem master was great and my videographer butters gave me a memory that will last a lifetime.

Thank you Skydive Hawaii

I had a great time and found the front office people to be awesome, charming, and totally hot! Richard was my wives TI and he was great. Don did the camera work that was a little expensive but worth every penny. The stills were high qualilty and perfectly center...no cropping needed. Everyone was friendly. Richard gave me a great pre jump DZ brief and explained all the dangerous wind issues. Best DZ I have jumped. Thanks!!!

If you jump with these guys, be prepared to deal with their front desk receptionist\cashier, Blossom. She was extremely rude and unprofessional and very much took away from the great experience that the actual skydive jump was. While our intention was to tip our tandem partners after the jump, even before we got suited up in the skydiving equipment, Blossom made it a point to mention to us several times that its a standard practice to tip the staff.

The tandem jump partners were all very friendly and answered any questions we had on the ground and once we were in the air. The jump was great and the views of the various parts of the island were fantastic. All the members of our group agreed that portion of the activity was sooo much fun.

There are a few other skydive companies located at the same airport on the North Shore of Oahu; until Skydive Hawaii gets rid of Blossom, I'd recommend making your plans with someone else.

The staff at SkyDive Hawaii is extremely rude to non-Tandem Customers. They find every reason to bump fun jumpers off a load so they can continue their Tandem Factory. Go next door to Pacific it is a much better experience for any level skydiver! here is a good example, a camera guy ran after a tandem customer and asked him "Why didn't you tip me dude? was there a problem with the photos?" the customer said "I did give a tip to the guy I jumped with" and the camera man responded "so where is my tip?" Really? is that what skydiving is about? I am a student that started with SkyDive Hawaiii and have been "bumped" off a load for every reason you can imagine, I went to Pacific and have never been turned away! GO TO PACIFIC, TRUST ME!!

This time me and my wife were travelling to Hawaii, and it was absolutely clear that we won't miss the chance to do a skydive there. We decided to go to Skydive Hawaii, because a friend of us worked there for a few months some time ago.

The day after our arrival at Honolulu we drove to Skydive Hawaii, which is a one hour ride from Waikiki. On that day it was too windy for us to jump, but the staff took the chance to do all the paperwork with us, so that we would ready when we come back. On that day we were told that they have no rental gear available. Somebody from the staff granted a exception for us, but be aware that this is normally not possible. So, if you go there, BRING YOUR OWN GEAR! And come as early in the morning as possible. The dropzone starts at 8:00 a.m. and at this time normally the wind is calm. Later at afternoon it may become too windy, even if already have a couple hundred of jumps.

One week later we came back, early in the morning this time. We checked in for the first load, which was a caravan of 11, 2 tandems, one video, three local jumpers and the two of us. So we had a very comfortable ride in a small caravan up to 13.000 feet. The caravan provides benches and buckles, and bars inside and outside the door. Thanks to the very good briefing the landing pattern was easily flown, and we were able to identify the outside landing spots from the air. There are a couple of them, so even if you got a bad spot or misjudged the wind, don't worry about the landing. Best would probably the beach, which is 40-50m wide. The landing are itself is sized as larger than a football field.

Food and drinks are provided by a food truck at reasonable prices and quality. Packing is done outside but in the shadow. Packjobs are available for six dollars. The only not so good thing is the number of fun jumpers at Skydive Hawaii. When we were there it was not enough to fill a caravan, so you have to wait fr the next group of tandems to arrive, before the next load gets ready. I don't know if that changes between seasons, maybe you should check this first if you want to do many jumps.

My overall rating is a recommendation, because there are no serious drawbacks, as long as you keep in mind to bring your own gear, and don't consider waiting times a big factor.

I've been to Skydive Hawaii about 7 times now, have not jumped once! I'm a licensed skydiver and I called earlier this week to see if I could get a check dive on Saturday, and they told me to come up. I told a bunch of friends, and talked them into going skydiving. Turns out, even though the weather was perfect and winds were about 5 mph, I would be the only one not able to jump that day. The staff is extremely rude, and couldn't care less about the people or the wait time. One of my friends asked a tandem instructors about how long it would be before he would be jumping, and the tandem instructor told him "I'll call you when its time, if you don't like it you can leave and reschedule".

If you want an idea of what its like to be at this drop zone, imagine being an extremely fat nerd back in high school, and that's the kind of cold shoulder you'll get at this place, until of course its time to jump and there tips are on the line.

Long story short, this place is a Tandem Factory, and the customer is a high paying meat sack!!

I wish I had chosen another day or perhaps another skydive center. Although the experience was amazing (first timer) and I'm looking into skydive training now, I wouldn't recommend that place. I went there because I thought they were the only one on Oahu and this place had been suggested by a friend (who has had a great time there).

I booked online for a Saturday and when my friend and I got there it was crazy, super busy, super loud, very impersonal. We waited 2 h and finally decided to ask when we were going to jump. We had to wait another 2.5 h before getting ready. Had we known, we could have done other things in the meantime. I was supposed to get a photographer for my dive but the (unfortunate) guy had landed badly just before our turn and wasn't able to jump anymore. I finally went for my tandem and the nice guy told me that the photographer had certainly some psychological issues and had been turned down after having asked to do tandems. Very reassuring! Very professional...

Anyway, the skydive experience was great and the tandem guy very friendly, but the structure of the center is messy and not very friendly. I think they should consider their customer like people and not animals and they should tell you when there is a waiting time of 4.5 h so you can go to the beach and come back.

Last but not least, they are very expensive and when you add photos (75$) and video (100$) or both (150$), be ready to tip. They will be very pushy and remind you a great number of times that you're supposed to tip the photo and/or the video guy(s)!

Looking into Pacific for training now.

Tom my TI and Danny my photographer were awesome. Great jump and great organization. Nicely laid out, fun things to buy and can't beat the location.

I went to Hawaii last year in Jan, took my rig with me in hopes of making 20 or 30 jumps. Went into Skydive Hawaii ( I had 9500+ jumps then ) and was met with alot of scarcasm because someone had seen me at Pacific the day before jumping. I was pretty much told that if I started jumping at Pacific that I should stay there. I was also hassled the day before from Skydive Hawaii regulars about my landings ( which are pretty fast ) Anyway, enough drama. If you are a fun jumper or an instructor from the mainland, keep it to yourself and go to Pacific. Guy and his people are friendly and professional, granted, sometimes they are too busy to sit and talk but they don't treat you like an outsider.

I've finally got to do it after years of talking about it. My wife and I finally did it and what can I say!! MAD CRAZY MIND BLOWING!!! she was soo scared we jumped. Knots in the stomach, butterflies feeling sick you name it we had it. We spent 2 hours before the jump and then I was sure the flight was going to be cancelled as the skies were grey over an rain over the dropzone (I was relieved and disappointed) then all of sudden the sky clear up I my heart dropped. I have to say that during all of this my wife was strangely calm and relaxed. We met Tom and Jake who our instructors and they instantly put us at ease. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have to give the guys high credits on their presentation of not only themselves but the thorough schooling we got befor the jump.
then it was time to get in the aircraft on the tarmac. We turned a few heads at the airport and we strolde by the school. Our aircraft was much smaller than any aircraft my wife has bin on. we taxied out for take off. We took off and circled the island dropzone and the views from the air were awesome. after a few minutes we were at 4000ft and over the water. In no time we were over land again and gazing out at some of the most incredible scenery I have ever seen. 8 thousands feet below the land skape was like a photo. Before I got too comfortable it was time for the door to open! If you have ever been in an aircraft with the door open before you will understand my alarm! The wind came rushing in and everything changed. Tom was telling me to do things but I simply wasn’t listening. I felt myself move but looking back wife she had no idea how I felt. I was hanging out of the aircraft at 11000ft! More commands from Tom but I was listening now then we were out! I have no idea how to explain how freefall feels. YES I DO!!!! It’s like floating but at high speed with noise, like you putting your head out a car window at 80 mph. I saw Tom give me the thumbs up. It was without a doubt the most amazing thing I had ever done. The parachute opened and once again everything changed. We were floating over ocean and green fields and life was good. Tom was videoing me the the whole time shook my hand and assured me I'd done a great job and then he came in for an easy landing with both feet firmly on the ground. I have to say a huge thanks to all the team at Skydive Hawaii for helping us fulfill what was for me one of the most amazing time of my life.
my wife Jen is still in awh.

I am relatively new to the sport (about 70 jumps currently) started jumping in 2-07. But, I have jumped at 8 different drop zones. Four in Texas, one in Missouri, Skydive SanDiego, Mile Hi Skydiving in Colorado, and Skydive Hawaii... So far Skydive Hawaii was definitely the funnest experience I have had jumping. The view was unbelievable! I jumped in Hawaii in 8-07 and I am writing this review because some people bad mouthed this dropzone and I wanted to express my opinion....

I got a total of four jumps in at SD Hawaii and wish I could have done more. Before I made it out there I called and talked to both dropzones out there. I ended up picking SDH because they were much more friendly on the phone and I also believe the Caravan to be a better jump plane. The staff at this dropzone is very friendly and it was very easy to get on a load and get packed. Just like every other dropzone they do make money by doing tandems so I expected to be out there a long time waiting. This was not the case at all. I seriously can see no issues jumping there as long as you jump in the morning. The reason I say that is because the winds get a little bit crazier in the afternoon and at this time having only 40 or so jumps I took there advice and got out there early to avoid any potential danger...

At one point I did walk the 50 feet down to the other dropzone and was definitely not welcomed there like I was at SDH. There facility was not near as nice and I just got a bad vibe from it. I am not saying that they don't have a good staff and all that stuff I just wanted to explain the experience from my point of view. Nobody even gave me a "HELLO". They both jump from the same airport and share the same landing zone but the two days I jumped there the Caravan took about 5 times as many loads up as the KingAir. I couldn't figure out why they weren't jumping as much.....

So if you have a chance to go to Hawaii bring your rig cause it will be the best jumping experience of your life. I have the pictures to prove it. I can't wait to get the chance to go back...

Feel free to send me a message if you have questions or if you want to see some amazing pictures!!

I travel to Hawaii from Texas about once a year, and I have brought my rig the last two trips. My first time to Skydive Hawaii, I was well received, and I got a great brief from Jason. The experience was great.
My recent trip (5/07) was even better. After a good re-brief/gear check, I quickly manifested and was on a caravan load within 25 minutes of arriving. I went up on the first load with Ben (a resident videoguy), and the pilot quickly noticed that I was a fun jumper, and offered me the right seat. What a view, and the climb to altitude was almost over to fast (that is a first). The jump was awesome, and I had time for another jump before I had to head to a meeting in Honolulu. Ben is awesome, and I would recommend this DZ to everyone.

Gorgeous scenery... other than that, skydivers are not so easy to find, this business is really mostly for tandems.
Also, the vibe is kinda messed up due to the fact that this place has a ridiculous vendetta thing going on with the other place across the lawn. The Caravan has a familiar size door, and has to be the most awful paint job ever.

Made a reservation for noon, arrived an hour early they were mroe than happy to take me early. Told them it was my third jump and my jump master (name was Jim) said we were going to do something different. Got on the plane, went to 13000 AGL and as were about to exit i was told to lean back and watch the plane. As we exited, the plane did a dive in front of us!! Totally awesome. Also, he had us spining on the freefall. Once we were coming down he toke the time to teach me about braking, turning, and so on. I would recommend this dropzone to anyone. If you wanna see the video www.codyskydive.com

Over the Xmas holidays, I spent 5 days at Skydive Hawaii. I went next door first, as it's regionally known as the "upjumper place." Not one person said "hello" or any other form of greeting, even though it was clear I was an upjumper.
So, went to Skydive Hawaii even though I didn't really want to go there. I had barely set foot in the door before Mary had said "Hello" and then introduced me to manifest and to a couple of others on the DZ. Manifest hooked me up with another upjumper.
With only one exception, everyone there was very friendly and welcoming, both staff and upjumpers. On the weekdays, there were only a couple upjumpers and lots of tandems, but that made it easy to get onto loads.
The one exception is a local upjumper that was overly filled with her own sense of self-importance and skill, and when she had an issue with me pulling in place (I was flying camera slot) she made sure everyone on the DZ knew it on landing. A couple of other jumpers and a staff member all loudly commented that she should go home. After she left, and during the following week, others were quite open about "That's not how we do things around here, she's just a nasty person."
I was told straight up that it was possible that a tandem could potentially take my slot. It never happened.
Packers are out of this world good and fast by comparison to my experiences at several other DZs around the world.
Prices are right.
I wish they had food there at the DZ, but Haleiwa is very close and you can't beat the Kua 'iina Burger joint there.
Thanks to Mary, Frank, Jonny, Noel, Jake, Ben, and others at Skydive Hawaii for a great time over the holidays.

Sure it's a little touristy. What do expect in Hawaii? I spent a couple weeks in Hawaii and only made a couple jumps. Was lucky enough to get there on a weekend with quite a few other fun jumpers so we actually made a few jumps together. Generally, you don't find a lot fun jumpers on the Islands. If you do, they come out for the sunset loads during the week. My kudos goes out to Clarence. He is a great coach. I learned A LOT. If you get on his good side, he'll teach you everything! Didn't really get a "vibe" one way or the other. One day it was great, high energy, "let's jump!" The next..."eh, big deal. No one wants to jump?" The landing area is a little intimidating, with a mountain on one side and the surf on the other. But you'd be surprised how much room there really is to land. Can't say the same for the packing areas. All the space is taken up by the rigger's and packers. I found myself packing in the restroom's!

On the negative side, the Tandem instructors certainly like to showboat. "Hooking-in" a student seems to be their trademark. And "swooping" the buildings is another dangerous trick they excel in. Almost everytime I visit another student gets hurt. Watched a girl break her ankle on a tandem the day I was there. Really takes the thrill out of the dive when sitting in hospital bed.

I'll still bring my parachute the next time I'm in paradise. Although, my time would be better spent wind-surfing.

I can't believe no one has brought this up yet!

May 28th - Engine trouble with their Cessna Caravan at 6K. All jumpers get out and pilot dead-sticks it in uneventfully. Needs new hot section. Down for a month.

June 1st (4 days later)- Cessna 206 experiences catastrophic engine failure at 2,000 feet. Connecting rod punctured engine case.. Jumpers unalbe to get out. Pilot dead-sticks it in uneventfully.

June 3rd (2 days after that) - Their last plane, the Cessna 182, is grounded needing a new alternator.

Skydive Hawaii was closed for the next 3 days.

The mechanic has resigned.

All of the above was witnessed by me and many of the local skydivers here in Hawaii. The FAA is aware of it as well. If you doubt any of it, just ask local jumpers and other pilots at Dillingham Airfield.

I welcome the administrator of dropzone.com to call or email me if you feel you need further explanation or substantiation of any of the above.

If you are a fun jumper, I suggest going to Pacific.

Went to Hawaii for honeymoon, drove over to find a crew of great and friendly people. Camped out nearby in a tent, right on the beach. Got up in the morning and was rewarded with totally amazing view of the ocean! You could see the ocean floor in freefall the water is so clear. Easy to spot, easy to land. A bit windy.

I am new to the sport, I have 4 jumps, this is the second time I have been to this drop zone, my first jump was here, the other two at locations in WA state. As for being new and being very eager to learn all I can. I was very frustrated when I asked my tandem master about skydiving questions such as progression, questions about gear, and control in freefall etc. I can understand that he does this every day and probably gets asked a lot of the same questions but, I am paying good money to jump here, and I would least expect my skydiving related questions to be answered. Other than that, the jump was amazing, I was the most comfortable in freefall I had ever been, the camera person did an excellent job, the dropzone staff were very helpful, I will persue my AFF training there, I give the facility an over all rating of 4.

free-fallin' from 11,000 ft. @ 120 mph...droppin' thru the clouds and emerging to the vision of blu hues and white caped waves of the PAC....and forest green cover of the Waianae mtn. Range...coastline strecthing for miles ...6 min. later ending with a spectacular beach landing ..gotta a little nausated at the end there , but it was certainly worth it ...mahalo to the skilled and friendly jumpers DZO...