Helicopter tours from Kona

Kona is also called the sunshine (or adventure) capital of the Big Island for good reasons! The Kona coast is home to many spectacular white-sand beaches, and you can find lush tropical and cloud forests towards the south and impressive sea-cliffs belonging to the Kohala volcano towards the north.

Helicopter tours depart from the Kona International Airport close to both Kailua Kona and the Waikoloa resorts, smack in the middle of all this natural beauty.  This makes Kona a great place for helicopter tours that explore the beaches, cliffs and rainforests of Hawaii.

Helicopter Tours departing from Kona:

Paradise helicopters organizes both tours that “only” show you around from the skies and tours that include an in-between landing combined with a tour and/or a self-guided hike so that you can explore the undisturbed and natural beauty of the deepest rainforests in Hawaii.

The following tours organized by Paradise helicopters depart from the Kona airport. Lava and volcano related helicopter tours are more affordable when choosing Hilo as heliport.

1. Helicopter tour only: (shorter, more affordable)
   • Doors-Off Hualalai Volcano & Craters (30 minutes, $285 per guest)
   • Kohala coast and Waterfalls (60 minutes, $345 per guest)
   • Experience Hawaii (1 hour 45 minutes, $615 per guest)
   • Circle Island Experience (2 hours, $685 per guest)
   • Sunset Experience (2 hours 15 minutes, 700$ per guest)
2. Helicopter tour + extra activity / tour (between 3 and 10 hours)
   • Big Island Expedition: includes 8 hours in Hilo and the surrounding area (10 hours, $650 per guest)
   • Volcano Kohala Landing: includes 1 hr landing at private landing zone in Kohala, (3 hours, $725 per guest)
   • Volcano by Air and Land: [currently unavailable] includes exploration of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park region with Hawaii Forest & Trail guide (10 hours, $779 per guest, 5 guest maximum)

Helicopter layout and max. seating

Paradise Helicopters uses the Bell 407 helicopter for all tours departing from Kona. This helicopter has a guest cabin that is divided from the pilot by a clear plastic barrier and a separate air system, meaning they can observe social distancing even in a closed cabin.

Due to the currently adjusted seating arrangements because of the COVID-19 pandemic all tours by Paradise Helicopters are limited to private excursions only (one group per helicopter) with a max. of 5 guests per group. You can see the layout for the Bell 407 helicopter below:

The cabin layout of the Bell 407 helicopter used for tours from Kona. Note the two separate air conditioning systems and the extra separation between the pilot and guest seating.

Doors-Off Hualalai Volcano & Craters (60 minutes / $345 / 5 guests max.)

There’s no better and faster way to see Hualalai Volcano and learn about Kona’s rich and intriguing history than with this 30-minute tour is a great choice for guests wanting to see the beauty of Kohala, without sacrificing beach time for drive time.

Cost: $285/guest, 5 passengers maximum.

Duration: about 30 minutes, all flight time.

Sights:

• Hualālai Volcano & Craters (Puʻu Waʻawaʻa  at 3,967’ and the Luamakami Pit Crater)
• Kona Coffee district & surrounding tropical farms
• Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve
• Captain James Cook Monument
• Keauhou
• Holua Slide at Keauhou
• Historical Kailua Village
• Hulihe’e palace and downtown Kona
• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
• Natural Energy Lab and coastal tech and research facilities

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Doors-Off Hualalai Volcano & Craters.

Back to tour overview.

Kohala Coast and Waterfalls (60 minutes / $345 / 5 guests max.)

Fly to the Kohala Valleys to hover amidst the breathtaking 2500’ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces.  On the way to the valleys you will see “recent” lava flows on the Kona and Kohala coasts from the 1801 Hualalai eruption to the 1859 Mauna Loa eruption on one side, and the pristine white or black sand beaches including Mahai’ula, Kiholo, Anaeho’omalu and Hapuna on the other side.

This 60-minute tour is a great choice for guests wanting to see the beauty of Kohala, without sacrificing beach time for drive time.
Cost: $345/guest, 5 passengers maximum.

Duration: about 60 minutes, all flight time.

Sights:

• 2500′ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces
• Old lava flows
• Shorelines and black sand beaches
• Waterfalls and rugged coastlines
• Lush forests of Kohala

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Kohala coast and Waterfalls adventure.

Fly to the Kohala Valleys to hover amidst the breathtaking 2500’ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters

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Experience Hawaii (1 hour 45 minutes, $615, max. 5 guests)

This tour is similar to the “Volcano and Kohala landing tour” but does not include the landing in the Kohala mountain. That makes this tour about 1 hour shorter *and* more affordable. Paradise Helicopters also offers this tour with an 8-hour stop in Hilo that lets you explore the eastern side of the Big Island for half a day by yourself. Skip to the “Big Island Expedition” if that sounds like something you’d like to do.

Experience Hawaii is a modified circle-island tour that takes you to the other side of the island via the southern Kona coffee district, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, all five Big Island volcanoes, hidden white and black sand beaches, lush waterfalls cascading down 2,000-foot valley walls, and rugged and wild coastlines.

The whole tour is narrated which means that you can communicate with your pilot through a special two-way communication system listen to your pilot narrate the tour, to ask questions, and get to you know them.

Cost: $615/guest, 5 passengers maximum.

Duration: about 1 hour and 45 minutes, all flight time.

Sights:

• Fly over the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
• See all five Big Island volcanoes: Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Kilauea, and Kohala
• See white and black sand beaches, waterfalls, lush rainforests, and deep valleys from above

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Experience Hawai’i tour.

Back to tour overview.

Circle Island Experience (2 hours, $685, up to 5 guests)

This is the most affordable true circle-island helicopter tour that Paradise Helicopters offers.

Starting from Kona you will fly south past the lush Kona coffee district and the slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes to the southern-most town in the United States and green sand beach.

Next you continue circling the island to explore the lava flow activity at the Kīlauea volcano and, if Madame Pele is willing, catch a glimpse of the molten heart of Hawai‘i  in the form of red, hot lava. After the volcano you fly over the the island’s lush windward side and Hilo town.  There falls a lot of rain on this side of the island which means you’ll see plenty of waterfalls and rainforest!

Reaching the northern tip of the Big Island lets you see Mauna Kea and the Kohala volcano. The size of the Kohala valleys and waterfalls are amazing, just like the perfect white sand beaches you get to see on your return to Kona.

Cost: $685/guest, 5 passengers max.
Duration: 2 hours, all flight time.

Sights:

• Circumnavigate the entire island!
• See all five volcanoes, waterfalls, 2,000-foot deep valleys, white, black and GREEN sand beaches, rugged coastlines, dramatic waterfalls, rainforests, and Kohala’s  lush valleys.
• Experience lava flow activity at the Kīlauea volcano (if lava is active on the surface) or see the aftermath of the recent eruption.
• See 8 of the planet’s 13 climate zones

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Circle Island Experience.

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Circle Island Sunset Experience (2 hours 15 minutes, $700, up to 5 guests)

The sunset experience is a complete circle-island tour with as highlight an incredible sunset seen from the helicopter! Image credit: Paradise helicopters

This helicopter tour is very similar to the circle island experience which we describe above. You can read a full description and together with pictures and a video by scrolling up a bit but with a few important differences:

• First of all, sunsets! The departure time for this tour is chosen that the sun swill start setting just as you fly up over the lush south Kona coast. During the golden hour the world this part of Hawai’i gets even more beautiful compared to its “normal” state this is a guarantee for AMAZING views (and pictures).
• Secondly, compared to the circle island experience this tour is $40 more expensive but lasts 15 minutes longer.

Cost: $700 per guest, 5 passengers maximum.

Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes, all flight time.

Sights:

• Circumnavigate the entire island!
• See all five volcanoes, waterfalls, 2,000-foot deep valleys, white, black and GREEN sand beaches, rugged coastlines, dramatic waterfalls, rainforests, and Kohala’s lush valleys.
• Experience lava flow activity at the Kīlauea volcano (if lava is active on the surface) or see the aftermath of the recent eruption.
• See 8 of the planet’s 13 climate zones

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the circle island sunset experience.

Back to tour overview.

Big Island Expedition (10 hours, $650, up to 5 guests)

This is a full day tour that give you ~8 hours to explore Hilo on yourself, and is perfect for people that are only staying on the western side of the Big Island but that still want to explore some of the gems on the lush and tropical eastern side of the Big Island.

This helicopter tour flies over the area of the 2018 LERZ eruption in the Puna district where you can see the aftermath of this destructive episode. Pictures here the dried-up lava river that once transported lava from Fissure 8 with speeds up to 30 mph!

This tour takes you around the island via the southern Kona coffee district, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, all five Big Island volcanoes, hidden white and black sand beaches, lush waterfalls cascading down 2,000-foot valley walls, and rugged and wild coastlines.

The Big Island Expedition is a modified circle-island tour very similar to the “experience Hawaii” tour with as biggest difference the 8-hour stop in Hilo. During this stop you can make use of the complementary transportation between the airport and downtown Hilo to explore for example the farmers market, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Lyman Museum, quirky shops, and other points of interest.

For an extra fee you can also rent a small rental car to explore the many points of interest in Hilo such as scenic drives, huge waterfalls, the Hawaii Volcanoes National park, and/or the Puna district. See our website for a good list of things to do in and around Hilo.

A helicopter is perfect to explore the waterfalls that are hidden in the back of the deep Kohala valleys. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters

After your half day in Hilo you will fly from the Hilo airport to the Kona airport by helicopter over the lush Hamakua coast, the dramatic cliffs of the Kohala volcano, and see beautiful north Kona white sand beaches such as Kua bay and Hapuna.

Cost: $650/guest, 5 passengers max.

Duration: 10 hours, including ~2 hours flight time.

Sights:

• See more of the island in a day than some see on many trips by car!
• Approximately 8 hours in Hilo with optional sub-compact car rental (for an additional fee)
• See the current activity at Kilauea Volcano
• Amazing white and black sand beaches, many waterfalls, 2,000′ valley walls, breathtaking coast lines and 8 different climate zones

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Big Island Expedition.

Back to tour overview.

Volcano  + Kohala Landing tour (3 hours, $725, up to 5 guests)

This tour first takes you to the other side of the Big Island to see the current volcanic activity of Kilauea and then returns past the lush Hamakua coastline to land on a scenic and private overlook of the dramatic Kohala cliffs.

Going east to see the activity of the Kīlauea volcano you overfly the lush Kona coffee district. If Pele is willing, you’ll get a peek into the molten heart of Hawai‘i in the form of hot lava. Then, turn your attention north to Hilo town and the lush rainforests of East Hawai‘i. Notice how the windward side of the island is transformed by the water caught by the mountains.

Unlike any other air adventure here on the Big Island, this tour takes you deep into Kohala for an exclusive landing. This area is normally only accessible by hours of grueling hiking, but you arrive by air. Stay and relax at the scenic overlook for ~ one hour or choose to explore the area during your time on the ground.

On your way back to the airport you see the drastic landscape change from windward to leeward. Try to see all the world-famous white sand beaches en route to back to Kona and choose which one you’ll visit next!

Cost: $725/guest, up to a passengers.

Duration: about 3 hours, including ~2 hours flight time.

Sights:

• See the current activity at Kilauea Volcano
• Fly over amazing white and black sand beaches
• See hundreds of waterfalls on the lush Hamakua coast
• Spot 2,000′ ft. valley cliffs
• Get a bird’s-eye perspective of Hawaii’s rugged western coastline

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Volcano Kohala Landing tour.

See video footage for this tour in the following video:

Back to tour overview.

[Currently unavailable] Volcano by air and land (10 hours, $779, up to 5 guests)

The Volcano by Air and Land tour is made for volcano enthusiasts that want to explore the Hawaii Volcano National Park by air and by foot.

As most of the tours departing from Kona this tour will take you from the airport over the lust south Kona district to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park where you can see lava (if there is lava active on the surface) and/or all intriguing remnants of dozens of recent and ancient lava flows and craters.

After this exploration by air you will land at the Hilo airport where a guide from Hawaii Forest and Trail will pick you up for a 7-hour tour of the rugged landscapes of the Ka‘ū district. This tour is led by an interpretive guide and offers a blend of nature and culture. It includes a picnic lunch and the following highlights:

• Discover the all of the “must see” spots within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including the dramatically changed Halema‘uma‘u Crater
• Breathtaking views of Kilauea and the Ka‘ū coast
• Sample & shop for award-winning farm-fresh coffee at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, along with other Hawai‘i Island grown treats like macadamia nuts, honey, & chocolate
• Walk across the famous Punalu’u black sand beach as you search for basking sea turtles.
• Immerse yourself in stories of Hawaiian legends and mythology with a focus on Pele, Hawaiian goddess of lightning, wind, & volcanoes
• Explore a historic 165-year-old working ranch known for its sprawling view planes, native forest, and wildlife such as cattle, goats, sheep & horses

Explore the volcano with short walks (under 2 miles) of easy to moderate difficulty. Image credit: Hawaii Forest and Trail.

After this part of the tour you will be taken back to Hilo airport for the second helicopter flight back to Kona. You circle the island past the lush Hamakua coast (many waterfalls!), the wild and untamed beauty of the sheer valley walls of the Kohala volcano, and the beautiful white and black sand beaches of north Kona.

Cost: $779 / guest (up to 5 passengers).

Duration: about 10 hours, including ~2 hours flight time and a  7 hour guided walking tour of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Black Sand Beach and a Ka‘ū Coffee plantation.

Sights:

• Hualālai, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa & Kilauea Volcanoes by Air
• Experience a Black Sand Beach
• Local Ranch & Farm Visit
• Native Hawaiian Rainforest Stroll
• Private Gazebo View of Rainbow Falls
• Kohala Valleys & Waterfalls by Air

Go to the Paradise Helicopters website to learn more about the Volcano by air and land tour.

Back to tour overview.

Paradise Helicopters is a locally owned and operated company founded in Hawai‘i in 1997. They focus on safety, quality, and customer service which means they don’t offer the cheapest helicopter tours but in our opinion certainly the best!

Paradise helicopters engages with the community, local Hawaiian businesses, non-profit organizations, and charities, to build and maintain relationships all over the islands. These relationships allow them to “access the inaccessible” in a uniquely Hawaiian way, which no other company can replicate.

They are also a certified member of the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawai’i and use a carbon offset program which is a way to leave a positive ecological footprint from the tours.

We are affiliate partners with Paradise Helicopters meaning that we receive a percentage for each successful booking made through our website. This happens without any additional charge to you! (read more on the use of those links on our website here).

By booking tours through our website you support LoveBigIsland.com and help us to provide you and future visitors with free and high quality information about the Big Island. Thanks, you guys are amazing!