A Helicopter Tour experience by Paradise Helicopters. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: Gain a new perspective on the Island of Hawai'i's incredibly diverse terrain, micro-climates, volcanic formations, and seascapes the with only circle island experience that really flies around ALL of the Big Island (including South Point and Green Sand Beach).
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 photoCity of refuge (Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park) on the lush south Kona coast. Image credit: paradise Helicopters
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Circle island tours flying over the south Kona coast let you see postcard-perfect tropical scenery. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters
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A helicopter is perfect to explore the waterfalls that are hidden in the back of the deep Kohala valleys. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters
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Circle island helicopter tours pass by the famous green sand beach (Papakolea). Image credit: Paradise Helicopters
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Rugged and dramatic lava coastlines on the Big Island. The only way to really see this is from the water or the air. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters
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this tour lets you get a Bird's-eye perspective of Hawaii's rugged northern coastline. Image credit: Paradise Helicopters
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Getting to the two most popular Kohala valleys (Waipi'o and Pololu) by car / foot is easy, but all other ones require multiple hours / days of hiking. Or, of course, a helicopter tour :D. Image credit: paradise Helicopters.
Tour Highlights:
- 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 eruptions.
- See 8 of the planet’s 13 climate zones
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) | $795 |
Tour Provider: Paradise Helicopters
Activity: Helicopter Tour
Tour start time: Variable, check-in is 45 minutes prior to tour
Duration: 2 hours
Departure from: Kailua Kona
Pick-up available? No
Included: Narration by your pilot during the flight
Cancellations: Paradise Helicopters requires 48 hour 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.
You flew all the way to Hawai‘i; you should see it all on the only complete helicopter tour around Hawai’i island.
The Island of Hawai’i really is a “Big Island” and this Circle Island Experience is the only helicopter tour in Hawai‘i that ventures south to encompass the entire perimeter, and it happens in just two hours! Starting from the Kona International Airport at the island’s western-most tip, your pilot takes you past the Kona coffee district and the slopes of Mauna Loa to the southernmost town in the United States. You’ll be amazed when viewing one of only four green sand beaches in the world!
Next, your pilot will take you to view the world’s most active volcano, and continue towards Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent. After over 35 years of activity, discover what Kīlauea Volcano has left in the wake of its recent eruptive episode. Witness otherworldly landscapes like the incredible eight-mile river of frozen lava from Ahuʻailāʻau to the Pacific Ocean, the newest black sand beaches on earth, and enormous craters created by these historic events.
Then, turn to the east, the island’s lush windward side and Hilo town. Notice how water now flows where lava once did, gushing out of sheer cliffs through lava tubes, creating hundreds of waterfalls and nourishing the rich vegetation. The grandeur of the Kohala valleys and waterfalls of the north are sure to catch your breath, as are the white sand beaches on your return to Kona.
Quick summary
Cost: $795/person
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 eruptions.
- See 8 of the planet’s 13 climate zones
Route:
Approximate route for the circle island experience helicopter tour. Image: Paradise Helicopters
Video:
The following video gives you a teaser of all the sights you can expect to see during the Circle Island Experience.
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 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).
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!