Helicopter Tours from Hilo

Ask a QuestionReserve Now!!!

Kilauea Volcano is the most active volcano in the world and it has been continuously erupting from 1983 to 2018, paused for 2019, and erupted again in December of 2020! The Hilo airport is just minutes away from the devestating flows of 2018 that forever changed the Puna area landscape. An aerial perspective of the volcano will give you an appreciation for how Hawaiian shield volcanoes create and sculpt the land. And with the new eruption at Kilauea’s Summit, once again it is possible to see active lava on these helicopter tours.

Kilauea Lava and Rainforest – 60 min.

Your adventure begins with checkin and a safety briefing at the Hilo Airport general aviation tour area in Terminal 2. Your flight departs from the airport en route to the Kilauea crater and offers views of Hilo Bay, tropical rainforests of Puna, and the world famous Mauna Loa Macademia Nut Farm. You’ll fly on a 6 passenger Bell Ranger, a luxurious climate-controlled aircraft with 5 out of 6 passenger seats along the window (and the one that isn’t along a window has the advantage of an equally good view out of both sides of the helicopter).

Shortly after leaving the Hilo Airport you’ll see recent areas of activity including the devastating flows of 2018 where rivers of new lava flowed into the ocean from new vents that opened in the Puna area. You’ll see Pu‘u O‘o, the volcanic vent that was the focus of nonstop volcanic activity from 1983 to 2018. And with the new eruption at Kilauea’s Summit, the length and range of this flight has been extended by 10 minutes so that you can witness the active vent inside the Halemaumau fire pit at the Summit Caldera area of Volcanoes National Park. On your return to Hilo you’ll see beautiful Rainbow Falls and other cascades of northern Hilo. This is approximately  a 60 minute flight.

Schedule: Daily (every hour starting from 8am to 4pm)

Capacity: One passenger sits in the front seat with the pilot, two passengers sit in the second row facing rearward, and three passengers sit in the third row facing forward.

What to Bring & Wear: Passengers should wear comfortable clothing including a sweater/jacket and long pants.  Dark colored clothing causes less glare on the windows and improves photography.

General Information

GPS: 1363 Mokuea St, Hilo, HI 96720 Click to view map

Covid-19 Protocol: Weights and heights for each guest are required at the time of check-in. Staff may ask to check your temperature to ensure you are not exhibiting symptoms. Learn about their elevated health & safety protocol to help observe the COVID-related requirements of social distancing and sanitization: https://paradisecopters.com/health-and-safety/.

A word about children flying on these tours.  There are no age restrictions at all on the Bell 407. Child policy is the same on this helicopter as it is on a commercial airliner. Children 2 and older will require their own seat and will pay the same fare as an adult. Infants under the age of 2 are seated in the lap of a parent and fly for free. Be aware that if you push your child to do the tour and then they back out at the last minute, you will not get refunded because your child is afraid to do the tour.

Guests are required to wear a protective face mask (covering the nose and mouth) before, during and after the flight. Please let us know if you have a medical condition preventing you from wearing a mask.

Weight Restrictions: Due to spatial and weight limitations of the helicopter, guests who weight between 265 and 300 pounds are charged a $100 “Capacity Surcharge” and guaranteed a window seat/ Guests who weigh over 300 pounds must purchase an additional seat.

Cruise Ship Passengers

Hilo Cruise ship passengers are able to do any of these helicopter tours from Hilo but availability is very limited when ships are in port and your reservation should be made weeks in advance of your date! A short cab ride of less than 5 minutes is required, or you can ride a rental car shuttle if you are renting a car for use before and after your flight.

Save

Save