A Helicopter Tour experience by Paradise Helicopters. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: A Helicopter tour to see lava, rainforest and waterfalls. Discover what Kīlauea Volcano has left behind in the wake of its recent historic eruptive episode.
Important information:
With the retirement of its owners, Paradise Helicopters has gone out of business as of May 2024. Click here for more helicopter tours on the Big Island.
Large photoThe lava lake in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater is also visible during the daytime. Image from October 2021, image credit for Paradise Helicopters and extreme exposure
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If the lava is flowing a helicopter tour is a safe and simple way to see it from a front-row seat
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The Hamakua coast is filled with waterfalls, most of those are very inaccessible and best viewable from the skies
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Many waterfalls on the slopes of Mauna Kea are impossible to reach by road. Hopping in a helicopter (or a small plane) is the only way to see them.
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If there is an ongoing eruption taking a helicopter tour can get you close to the action. Image: Paradise Helicopters.
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If there is an ongoing eruption taking a helicopter tour can get you close to the action. Image: Paradise Helicopters.
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If there is an ongoing eruption taking a helicopter tour can get you close to the action. Image: Paradise Helicopters.
Tour Highlights:
- Called the “hottest helicopter ride on Earth!” by the Travel Channel
- Current activity at Kilauea Volcano
- Tropical rainforests of Puna
- Waterfalls of Hilo (for the Lava and Rainforests Adventure)
- Doors-off or Doors-on experience (for the Lava and Rainforests Adventure)
Important: Warm clothing suggested as flight is cool and windy, all cameras including cell phones must have straps.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult |
|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $250 |
Tour Provider: Paradise Helicopters
Activity: Helicopter Tour
Tour start time: Variable, check-in is 45 minutes prior to tour
Duration: 45 minutes
Departure from: Hilo
Pick-up available? No
Included: Narration by your pilot during the flight
Cancellations: Paradise Helicopters requires 48 hours notice prior to flight time to change or cancel your reservation. Reservations cancelled outside of 48 hours are fully refundable. Tours cancelled with less than 48 hours notice may receive a partial refund based on how far in advance from the flight the cancellation occurs. If you need to change or cancel your reservation please contact Paradise Helicopters directly -- they will be happy to accommodate you.
Read more: about helicopter tour in our Big Island helicopter tour guide.
With the retirement of its owners, Paradise Helicopters has gone out of business as of May 2024. Click here for more helicopter tours on the Big Island.
Why tours out of Hilo are superior to lava helicopter tours from Kona:
Hilo is located on the lush Hamakua coast, close to the volcanically active part of the Big Island. This makes Hilo airport the best place on the Big Island for lava and waterfalls helicopter tours. Kona airport also hosts some of these tours but because Kona is much farther away you spend longer in the air to get to the lava and volcanoes, which makes these tours more expensive.
3 helicopter tours from Hilo
Paradise Helicopters organizes 3 tours that depart from Hilo:
- The “Lava and Rainforest Adventure” (doors on or doors off) and
- The “Power of Pele Volcano Adventure“.
- Doors-Off Waterfall & Coastal Discovery Tour
The first 2 tours cover the current volcanic activity inside the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, but the “Lava and Rainforest” adventure takes you on a longer loop to show you rivers, pools, and waterfalls all over east Hawai’i, as well as Hilo’s lush rainforests, Mauna Loa’s vistas, and the plunging Wai‘ānuenue (Rainbow Falls).
1: Lava & Rainforest Adventure
What you will see during the tour
The Lava & Rainforests Adventure showcases Hawai‘i’s story and its inextricable link to the elements. You will fly over Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes on earth and search out any activity at Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Ahuʻailāʻau, or Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent. The windward side catches enough rain to make Hilo the wettest city in the United States! All this water fills tunnels that once flowed with lava, creating incredible rivers, pools and waterfalls all over east Hawai’i. View Hilo’s lush rainforests, Mauna Loa’s vistas and the plunging Wai‘ānuenue (Rainbow Falls), so named for the rainbows you can see in the mist when the early morning sunshine hits the water.
Quick summary
Cost: $469 per guest, or $499 per guest for the doors-off experience.
Duration: 1 hour, all flight time.
Sights:
- Current activity at Kilauea Volcano
- Tropical rainforests of Puna
- Waterfalls of North Hilo
Route:
Approximate route for the Hilo Lava & Rainforests helicopter tour.
2: The Power of Pele Volcano Adventure
What you will see during the tour
The Power of Pele Volcano Adventure invites you to witness the raw, awe-inspiring beauty of nature’s fury while soaking in panoramic views of the majestic Pacific Ocean.
Book your volcano tour today on our four-seat MD500 helicopter for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Hawaii’s volcanic wonderland. Please note that a full flight (four seats booked) is required to confirm the flight.
Quick summary
Cost: $299 per guest.
Duration: 45 minutes, all flight time.
Sights:
- Current activity at Kilauea Volcano
- Halemaʻumaʻu Crater
- Volcanoes National Park
Route:
From Hilo to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and back again.
3: Doors-Off Waterfall & Coastal Discovery Tour
What you will see during the tour
Soar along Hilo’s lush jungle and discover towering waterfalls, deep gulches, and rugged coastline.
Witness the iconic Rainbow Falls adorned with morning rainbows, discover the tranquil Peʻepeʻe Falls concealed in lush greenery, and be captivated by the majestic ʻAkaka Falls. As you journey along the captivating coastline, where rugged cliffs embrace the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Ocean, immerse yourself in the seamless blend of cascading treasures and coastal marvels. This extraordinary adventure promises an unforgettable odyssey through nature’s captivating wonders, leaving you enchanted by the magic of Hilo.
Quick summary
Cost: starting at $250 per guest.
Duration: 30 minutes, all flight time.
Sights:
- Rainbow falls, ʻAkaka Falls, Peʻepeʻe Falls
- Expansive gulches and valleys
- Tropical rainforest of North Hilo
Route:
From Hilo up the Hamakua coast and back again.
Paradise Helicopters is a locally owned and operated company founded in Hawai‘i in 1997. They Hawaii’s number 1 company regarding 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 and any booking on this page you make is made directly with Paradise Helicopters. We receive a percentage from the activity provider for each successful booking made through our website but this happens without any additional charge to you. (read more on the use of those links on our website here).
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