A Helicopter Tour experience by Mauna Loa Helicopters. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: A private full-island loop from Kona for up to four, with a window seat each at parties of three or fewer. When the summit clouds over, the pilot turns north to valleys no road can reach.
The windward Kohala valleys hold many waterfalls that no road reaches, which is why this stretch is the most reliable highlight of the flight. 
Rainbow Falls sits on the Wailuku River in Hilo, one of the first landmarks the route passes on the windward side. When Kīlauea is erupting and skies are clear, the flight can pass over the activity. Both depend on the day. In winter, snow can sit on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea as the route crosses the saddle between them. The windward cliffs between Waipiʻo and Pololū valleys, a stretch reachable only by air or boat. Image adapted from source (by Eric Tessmer). Waipiʻo Valley is the first of seven valleys you pass, carved into the windward side of the Kohala volcano. Image credit: Eric Tessmer, source.
5 Tour Highlights:
- Kohala valleys, their sea cliffs and tall waterfalls, reachable only by air, boat, or a long trail
- Live weather rerouting: when the summit clouds over, the pilot turns north to the valleys instead of flying over cloud
- A full island loop in one flight, from the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa summits to the Hāmākua lava cliffs
- Pilot narration on geology, Hawaiian history, and culture, with some pilots running a playlist timed to the terrain
- Doors-off option available for an extra fee.
Important: Total weight per person cannot exceed 285lbs and total group total cannot exceed 700lbs (weights are taken at check-in)
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult |
|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $639 |
Tour Provider: Mauna Loa Helicopters
Activity: Helicopter Tour
Tour start time: 8 am, 11 am
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Circle Island
Pick-up available? No
Included: Private charter, never shared with strangers (1 to 4 passengers)
Cancellations: Free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to the flight time. Cancellations or delays to the flight are at pilot’s discretion for safety reasons, which may include inclement weather.
Read more: about helicopter tour in our Big Island helicopter tour guide.
Read more about the Big Island Helicopter Experience
No road reaches Waimanu Valley. No road reaches the windward Kohala valleys behind it either: sea cliffs and tall waterfalls you get to only by boat, by a long trail, or from the air. Reviewers single out this stretch of the flight, the least satisfied among them included.
Private flight: the pilot sets the route around the weather
Reviewers mention their pilot by name more than any single view. The pilots narrate geology, history, and Hawaiian culture. The pilots also watch the weather and reroute in the air. Several guests describe a pilot texting ahead to move the flight earlier before the weather turned, or talking through the route on the tarmac before takeoff. When clouds sit on the volcano, they turn north to the valleys instead of spending your 2 hours flying over cloud.
Because the flight is private, with one to four passengers and no strangers aboard, the pilot can change the route to suit your group and the weather. Up to three passengers each get a window. The aircraft seats four across two front seats and a three-person back bench, so with four aboard, one person sits in the center back. The operator’s listing calls this flight three of four window seats. If everyone wants a window, fly with three.
Summits, waterfalls, and valleys: the full loop
The route circles the island: the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa summits, Hilo and the rainforest behind it, the lava cliffs and waterfalls of the Hāmākua Coast, the Kohala valleys, then back down the Kona and Kohala coast. Mauna Loa Helicopters flies Robinson aircraft, four seats, with a doors-off option for an added fee that about fifteen reviewers took and enjoyed. Some pilots run a music playlist timed to the terrain.
Good to know: the active volcano is not guaranteed. Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, but its activity is episodic, and whether there is surface lava on your flight depends on the current eruption and the cloud cover that day. The Robinson flies higher and farther from the crater than the larger aircraft some competitors use, so this is not the tour to book solely for a close volcano pass. The pilot decides whether weather cancels a flight. You can cancel free up to 24 hours out.
Who it suits
This flight is best for travelers who have already driven the island. If you have already driven the Hilo side and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the farmland stretches will look familiar from above, but you can’t reach Waipiʻo, Waimanu, or the windward cliffs by car. It also fits a proposal or an anniversary, which is how the operator markets the private buy-out.
Departures run at 8am and 11am from Kailua-Kona. The morning slot is the safer bet for the volcano, since clouds build over the summits as the day warms. The listed $639 is the per-person rate at three or more passengers, so a couple flying alone pays more each. Bring a light layer for the doors-off option, and before takeoff tell the pilot the one or two things you most want to see. The pilot sets the route and will plan it around them.
About Mauna Loa Helicopters
Mauna Loa Helicopters has flown in the islands since 2006, starting on Kauaʻi, and runs a Robinson fleet capped at four passengers per aircraft. We list them because their private format does something most shared tours cannot: the pilot is free to rework the route around the weather and your group rather than a fixed schedule, and parties of three or fewer each get a window. Their reviewers name their pilots, which is usually a sign the narration and the flying are both worth the seat.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Booking through this page costs you nothing extra and is made directly with Mauna Loa Helicopters. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, and it is what pays for the research that keeps lovebigisland.com free and free of paid placement. We only list operators we would send a friend to. Details on our affiliate links are here.