Finding Beauty in the Valleys

Flying helicopters on the Big Island comes with its own kind of magic. One of my favorites is what we call a valley rip. The coastline waterfalls are never the same twice.

After a week of steady rain, they roar with power—dozens of them spilling down cliffs you can spot from miles away. On dry days, you’re lucky if you catch a faint silver thread or two shimmering in the sun. Either way, the view never disappoints.

We’ll beach in Waimanu Valley, swing around the keyhole, then climb past the Bomber and skim the ridges back toward Kona. No matter how many times I do it, I’m grinning like it’s the first.

Flight training feels a lot like those waterfalls.

Some days, everything is flowing—you’re sharp, smooth, and connected with the aircraft. Your maneuvers click, your confidence soars, and you leave the flight brimming with energy. Other days… not so much. Your flow is barely a trickle. You manage to pick the helicopter up, but from there it feels like nothing goes right. Frustration sets in, and suddenly graduation feels like it’s light-years away.

Balancing training with full-time night shifts has made that flow even harder to hold onto. There have been stretches—17 days at times—without a single flight. By the time I get back in the cockpit, I’m knocking rust off for the first 15 minutes, wondering if I even remember how to fly. But when I can string together three or four hours a week? That’s when the rain feeds the falls. My inputs smooth, my approaches tighten up, and for a moment, I feel like I could walk straight into a check ride and own it.

Here’s the thing about waterfalls: they’re never exactly the same. Big or small, they’re still beautiful. Sometimes the real gems are tucked deep in the valleys, where the light fades and the air feels heavier. Even there, with just a dribble, you’ll find beauty if you look for it.

Training is no different. On the days when everything feels uphill, search for the little wins. Celebrate them. Slow progress is still progress. Enjoy the journey.

Because at the end of the day, life is all peaks and valleys—and flight training is no exception. Some flights feel like triumphs, others like struggles. But remember this: you’re still flying. And honestly? Even a rough day in the air beats a perfect day stuck on the ground.

🚁 Keep chasing your waterfalls.

Valleys Rip February 2024 the waterfalls were flowing!