Hey Gentleben... did you not have to apply to TSA for a training permit to conduct your licence training in the States?
Also, I believe Los Angeles Helicopters out of Long Beach Airport are owned and run by a bunch of Kiwis and Aussies... if nothing else, they'll be able to point you in the right direction.
The outfit in Hawaii that you are talking about is Mauna Loa... bases on all the bigger islands and Hawaii is a great place.
Very nearly took that leap myself but now driving buses for heavily tatooed and dubiously intelligent rig workers... have fun the US is a great place!