Kona: Kohala Coast & Waterfalls

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.

The Kohala Coast is a hidden gem of the tropics, where graceful 2500′ waterfalls tumble down steep volcanic cliffs covered in lush vegetation before flowing out to sea. Skip the grueling multi-day hike, and take in views of this majestic region from the air.

Upon arriving to the lush landscape of Kohala, your pilot will not only show you its rugged coastline, home to dramatic valleys, but will also educate you about this region’s significance in Hawaiian history. Image: Paradise Helicopters

2 tour options: helicopter only and helicopter tour + landing + remote hike

There are 2 variations possible for this helicopter tour:

• The standard one, in which your tour the breathtaking Kohala Coast be helicopter
• An adjusted one, which includes a landing on a remote ridgetop and a small hike.

Kohala Coast & Waterfalls

Visit this hidden gem of the tropics, where graceful 2500′ waterfalls tumble down steep volcanic cliffs covered in lush vegetation before flowing out to sea. Skip the grueling multi-day hike, and take in views of this majestic region from the air.

Activity Level: Easy (Suitable for Adults, Children & Seniors)

Fly with Paradise to the Kohala valleys to hover amidst the breathtaking 2,500-foot waterfalls and sheer cliff faces. En route, you will witness frozen lava flows on the Kona and Kohala coasts from the 1801 Hualālai eruption and the 1859 Mauna Loa eruption, which traveled over 31 miles before reaching the coastline. Dotting the shoreline along the way, you can pick out pristine white and black sand beaches – including Mahai’ula, Kiholo, Anaeho’omalu and Hāpuna – to visit during your stay!

The Kohala valleys are made out of breathtaking 2500’ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces. Image: Paradise Helicopters

Upon arriving to the lush landscape of Kohala, your pilot will not only show you its rugged coastline, home to dramatic valleys, but will also educate you about this region’s significance in Hawaiian history as the birthplace of Hawai’i’s most famous ali’i (nobility), Kamehameha the Great. Departing from the Kona International Airport, this 60-minute tour is a great choice for guests wanting to see the beauty of Kohala, without sacrificing beach time for drive time.

Quick summary

Cost: $420 per person

Duration: 1 hour, all flight time.

Sights:

• 2500′ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces
• Frozen lava flows, Kona and Kohala
• Shorelines and black sand beaches
• Waterfalls and rugged coastlines
• Lush landscape of Kohala
• Birthplace of Kamehameha the Great

Route:

Approximate route for the Kohala coast & waterfalls helicopter tour. Image: Paradise Helicopters

Kohala Coast & Waterfalls + Remote Hike

The remote and exclusive ridgetop landing and hike will immerse you in the essence of Hawai’i. The perfect backdrop for epic vacation photos.

Activity Level: Moderate (ideal for active adults and active children over the age of eight. We suggest you wear clothes appropriate for moderate physical activity: long pants, closed-toe shoes, and sunblock).

The start of this variant is the same as the standard tour described above, but everything changes halfway your flight.

Remote landing

Mid-flight your aircraft will touch down at a remote location deep in the Kohala mountains to explore and enjoy a moderate half-mile pilot-led hike through a waiwi (guava) forest. The meandering trail immerses you in the flora and fauna of Kohala and surprises you with a dramatic coastline vista, offering views of the Mokupuku island formations and waves crashing along the rugged north shore of Hawai’i Island. All the while you will learn about the culture and diverse natural habitat of this serene location that most people never see. After your refreshing hike, take to the air again, to view the drastic landscape change from windward to leeward, and the world-famous white and black sand beaches and resorts en route back to Kona.

Quick summary

Cost: $560 per person

Duration: 1 hour flight time + 45 to 60 minutes ground tour.

Sights:

• 2500′ waterfalls and sheer cliff faces
• Waterfalls and rugged coastlines
• Birthplace of Kamehameha the Great
• Strawberry guava forest
• Landing and hike to beautiful lookout point

Route:

Approximate route for the Kohala coast & waterfalls + remote hike helicopter tour. Image: Paradise Helicopters

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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