At over 4,000 square miles, the Big Island is enormous, with diverse landscapes including the world’s most active and largest volcanoes, lush rainforests, miles-wide lava fields, pristine and recently-formed black sand beaches, and some of the world’s most breathtaking waterfalls. There’s no better way to see it all than from up in the air, soaring from one stunning view to the next, led by professional pilots who will make your in-flight experience smooth, memorable, and entertaining – they are tour guides in addition to being pilots, so you’ll learn all about the fascinating history and geology of the Big Island throughout your flight.
Blue Hawaiian and Paradise fly several Big Island helicopter tours daily from the Hilo airport, just 40 minutes from our Volcano bed and breakfast – so book your expedition in the sky, the thrill of a lifetime, and experience Hawaii how you’ve never seen it before!
Paradise Helicopters
Flying since 1997, Paradise Helicopters is proudly the largest locally-owned helicopter tour company on the Big Island, offering daily tours led by their pilots who bring accolades such as flying several Presidents on Marine One. They have two “Lava and Rainforest” tours departing from Hilo, one in a standard helicopter with windows, while the other raises the adventure factor with its “doors-off” experience.
For only $30 more, “doors-off” is a truly unique flight (they are the only tour company to offer it on the Big Island), with completely unobstructed views of the Kilauea volcanic summit, rainforest valleys throughout the lush eastern “windward” of the Big Island, and Rainbow Falls in Hilo (you may even feel the mist from the falls during your ride!). If you go “doors-off,” wear a light jacket and closed-toe shoes, and bring a strap for your phone and camera. You can securely leave loose items like hats and purses at their airport office, as they can fall out midair and are not allowed on “doors-off” flights.
The crew at Paradise is committed to environmental stewardship – there’s an option to offset the carbon footprint of your tour – and they are raising money to support victims of the devastating 2023 fires on Maui, demonstrating their commitment to ohana alongside aloha. They require 48-hour advance notice to get a refund for cancellations, so let them know as soon as possible if your plans or timing shifts.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
When exploring Hawaii from above, no tour company has more experience or esteem than Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – their crew has been flying tours and winning awards year in and year out since 1985. Their motto is “the tour of a lifetime, every time,” with an endless list of five-star reviews bolstering their stellar reputation. Blue Hawaiian is the only tour operation with outposts on every Hawaiian island, and their pilots have famously captured footage for all of the Jurrasic Park movies, including an on-camera shot of one of their helicopters in Jurassic World. It goes without saying – you’re in good hands when you fly with their outstanding crew.
Just as they helped to film shots for iconic Hollywood blockbusters, Blue Hawaiian’s expert pilots will hover just above massive volcanoes and along miles of jaw-dropping coastline, allowing you to get stunning photos and videos of your own (and they also professionally film your flight, which you can purchase after landing). Their Circle of Fire tour, which is 50 minutes long and departs from nearby Hilo airport, covers the vast east side of the Big Island – you’ll see all of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, from the high-altitude volcanic terrain of Kilauea down through the expansive lava fields and along the gorgeous black sand beaches just miles from Volcano Village.
Blue Hawaiian’s Eco-Star fleet of helicopters is top-of-the-line in terms of comfort and design, providing an exceptionally smooth flight (not as prone to motion sickness), a roomy interior that fits five adults, and less obstruction in the window layout, allowing for the best viewing from every seat. Their cancellation policy requires at least 24-hour advance notice for a refund, so if you have a schedule change, let them know at least a day beforehand. Also, if your schedule is flexible, look out for special deals on early-bird (at 8 a.m.) and late-bird tour options (at 4:30 p.m.), which are $40 cheaper.
Tips For Big Island Helicopter Tours
It may seem strange at first, but do not be surprised when tour providers ask for the height and weight of everyone in your group. They must balance the overall weight distribution on every flight, so expect to be discreetly weighed when you arrive. Also, Blue Hawaiian and Paradise require you to buy an extra seat if your weight is above a certain amount (240 lbs. for Blue Hawaiian and 270 lbs. for Paradise). Show up at least an hour early to go through the pre-flight weighing-in process and safety instructions – if you are late, you will NOT be able to fly, so plan accordingly.
Once you get your Volcano Village lodging and dates squared away, plan your helicopter tour for early in your stay – this will allow for leeway in rescheduling for a later date if the weather doesn’t allow for flights on the initial date you chose. Given the rapidly changing weather patterns on the Hilo side of the Big Island, including rain often in the forecast (Hilo gets 130 inches of precipitation every year), there’s a not-slim chance that you’ll need to reschedule.
If you are doing the Paradise “doors-off” flight, the color of your clothing does not come into the equation, but for all the other standard helicopters with windows, wear dark-colored clothing to avoid reflections. Light-colored clothing reflects off the interior of the windows, getting in the way of the world-class views down below – the last thing you want is to see a reflection of yourself when you’re hovering above the Halema’uma’u crater and trying to snap that perfect picture.
Even if lava is not currently active on Kilauea – check for current USGS lava flow updates before and during your stay – there’s still plenty to see, like volcanic steam vents, always-impressive waterfalls, the lava lake within Kilauea’s crater, and panoramic views of where lava flowed recently during the monthslong sustained 2018 eruption in Puna.
Stay with us, book your helicopter tour, and experience the beauty of the Big Island from the sky!
Update as of December 2023 – recent changes will be forthcoming for the number of helicopter rides over Volcanoes National Park we suggest you book your helicopter tour well in advance.
