Talk Story with an Advertiser: Big Island Gravity

The most beautiful skydive in the world is located right here on Hawai‘i Island! Big Island Gravity, LLC (Skydive B.I.G.) takes their guests to see well over two dozen massive waterfalls as they fly over Pōlolu, Waimanu, and Waipi‘o valleys. Ūpolu Airport in North Kohala is perched right on the cliffs above the ocean, meaning Skydive B.I.G. offers the only place in the world that includes a scenic flight as a part of the skydive.

Although it is in the most amazingly beautiful spot, the location comes with a dynamic weather pattern that mandates that Skydive B.I.G. has the most skilled and experienced instructors in the industry. Their skydive instructors have over 35,000 combined skydives, and their most experienced instructor has been doing free-falls for more than 19,000 miles! That means he has been in free-fall more than three-quarters of the distance around the entire planet earth—that’s traveling through space at 120mph for more than two weeks worth of time! Owner “Happy” David Rintala humbly boasts, “Despite our challenging location, our safety record is perfect for tandem skydives!”

Happy is a veteran helicopter ski guide from the founding days of the Alaskan “heli-ski” industry. In addition to his background in ski guiding, helicopter logistics, and avalanche forecasting, he has run tour operations and production logistics for film and commercials. Once the culture of aloha grabbed his attention, he found it necessary to find a niche on the island to use his skills, and Happy says, “Skydiving fits that skillset perfectly”.

Happy aspires to have the number one tour operation on Hawai‘i Island so that he can share its excitement and beauty! He says, “We cater to visitors and kama‘āina alike, and find our largest segment of customers to be women and couples, as well as the bookend ages of 18 years old, which is the youngest age to skydive, and seniors who love to check this experience off their bucket list.”

When asked if there are any tips he’d like to share, Happy says, “Morning times are the best time to jump for the views of the waterfalls and the weather, in general. We start daily at sunrise—I think that it is the best way to start your day. Thrill, then chill! The beach will be waiting for you after your skydive!”

Big Island Gravity LLC/Skydive B.I.G
“Happy” David Rintala
Upolu Airport, Hawi Town
808.937.9258
fly@bigairtours.com
skydivebig.com