Big island Experience
Prices
$1,917 1 Person Buy Out Price
$958.50 2 People Buy Out Price | Price Per Person
$639 Groups of 3 or 4 Per Person Rate
Duration: 2 hours
Occupancy: The Private Big Island Experience is only conducted in the R66 aircraft. Requires minimum of 1 passenger and the maximum of 4 passengers.
Age Requirements: The minimum age is 7 years old. You must be 12 years or older to sit next to an open door.
DOORS-OFF: Upgrade your flight to Doors-Off for $250
For those of you who want it all, the full island VIP adventure tour is for you! It’s all of our helicopter tours of the Big Island rolled into one, plus an active volcano!
Departing from Kona International Airport, we head straight to Kilauea by way of the saddle running between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii’s tallest mountains.
Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth and has been continuously erupting since 1974. Here, we explore the East Rift Zone of Kilauea, including Kilauea Crater, Pu’u O’o Vent, and its lava flows that are currently entering the Pacific Ocean.
The tour then flies north up the windward side of the island passing Hilo town, the wettest town on earth, and the heavenly Hamakua Coast. Then we whisk you up north to explore the seven windward valleys of Kohala. The first stop is the windward side of the Kohala Mountains, where we fly the coastline of Waipio Valley and then move westward to Waimanu Valley. Waimanu can experience annual rainfall of up to 200 inches, fueling 1500-foot waterfalls, some of the tallest in all of Hawaii.
Following the valleys west, we fly over Honopue, Honokea, Honokane Iki, and the historic valley of Honokane Nui or Big Valley and Pololu. We climb and cross over the summit of Kohala, the oldest of the five volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii.
Your tour concludes with a beautiful coastline flight over sparkling ocean waters, ancient lava flows, and the spectacular luxury resorts that make their homes on the island’s leeward shores.
Helicopter Tour Highlights:
Fly over the most active volcano in the world, Kilauea, which has been continuously flowing for over 30 years and inspires awe every day.
While on the east side of the island, you are treated to views of Hawai’i Island’s largest city, Hilo.
Your private journey continues along the Hamakua Coastline with wave-swept shorelines, tropical rainforest, and hundreds of waterfalls.
Upon reaching the Kohala Coast, there are several majestic and sacred valleys to explore.
Deep in the back of the valleys, where only helicopters can reach, are over 2000-foot waterfalls that you can hover right next to as you gaze at their power and beauty.
As you cross over the Kohala Mountain, you cruise over the Gold Coast.
COVID-19 Information
Please provide your vaccination card or a negative test that was taken no more than 48 hours prior to your tour.
We have taken enhanced health and safety measures—for you, our other guests, and our staff. You must follow all posted instructions while visiting Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours which includes the mandatory use of PPE equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no short answer. Although Hawai’i enjoys plentiful sunshine year-round, we do experience summer and winter seasons. Precise flying weather conditions are often impossible to predict, especially in winter, because of the interplay of dynamic weather patterns and the island’s unique topography. Due to the combination of high mountainous peaks and shoreline throughout the islands, each hour of the day shows each island, literally, in a different light. Wind speeds and cloud formation also change throughout the day, resulting from variations in temperature. Ultimately, the time of day you book depends on your preference and itinerary, but we recommend choosing a tour date early on in your stay. This allows you more opportunities to find a different tour time with us should the weather not cooperate for the original flight.
Yes, the requirement is to pay for the minimum seat requirement of the specific tour looking to book. You would have the entire aircraft to yourself as all tours are private and different parties are not combined.
Both options allow for optimal viewing, as each window seat has wide windows extending from the top of your head to your waist. The choice to fly with or without doors depends on your priorities and comfort level. In a closed aircraft, you are shielded from wind exposure and you will hear music and narration clearly. It is a very serene way of taking in the scenery through the large windows. If you are game for a more visceral experience or photography is important to you, our doors-off adventure is for you. Floor-to-ceiling openings allow you to look straight down into waterfalls and sea caves, and glare from windows in your photos is no factor. Because the helicopter is open to the elements, you will be exposed to wind and cooler temperatures caused by airspeed and altitude. For your comfort, please follow our recommendations on how to dress appropriately for your doors-off helicopter flight. The airframe does protect you and your camera equipment well during light showers or mist. If some members of your party would like the extra comfort of a door, we can remove some doors and leave others on. However, all seating arrangements are subject to weight and balance calculations. For doors-on and doors-off tours, please abide by our recommendations on how to prepare for your flight so you can make the most of it. We don’t charge any more either way you choose.
On these magnificent islands, there is much to be discovered by air. Certain of the countless remarkable features have, deservedly, garnered special interest and are most popular for aerial viewing. Weather permitting, our pilots will explore with you all of each island’s most famous geological features as outlined in our tour descriptions. Sometimes, wind and weather conditions necessitate a deviation from the usual tour route. In these instances, our pilots will attempt to show off other spectacular scenery not normally included on the tours, as all islands offer more hidden wonders to please the eye than can possibly be covered on a single flight. We guarantee to showcase spectacular scenery and breathtaking views that are not obtainable by car or trail.
Along with ample sunshine, the islands are also blessed with abundant daily rainfall, which nourishes the lushness and creates the erosive force that continues to shape all the fascinating geology. Most of the island’s waterfalls are sustained only by rainfall, and misty showers often delight passengers with rainbows along the tour. Usually, our typical high cumulus clouds and precipitation do not diminish the quality of your tour, but instead give it dimension and add other exciting facets to your experience. However, if the pilot determines that prevailing visibility, cloud cover, or wind speeds do not allow for a good air tour, or if it is not safe to fly, we will of course cancel the flight. Because weather conditions can change dramatically day to day and hour by hour, we often cannot make a determination about your flight prior to your check‐in time.
If you purchase your reservation online, full payment is collected at the time of the booking. If we cancel a flight due to weather, there is naturally no fee for you whatsoever, your payment will be returned, and you are not required to rebook your tour. We are happy to reschedule your flight based on availability.
Tours may be canceled or changed up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled flight time without incurring a fee. Tours canceled less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, or passengers who fail to show up or are 15 minutes late for check in, will be billed the full price for the tour.
Total weight per seat is restricted to 275 pounds. We do not impose any weight surcharges for individual or combined passenger weights. Per FAA regulations, all passengers plus carry-on items will be weighed at check-in.
You are most welcome to fly with us through the seventh month of your pregnancy, providing you feel comfortable with the motion of the helicopter in the air, as well as wearing a regular (three-point) seatbelt across your body.
In terms of seating arrangements, our first priority is safety, meaning we seat people in the best spot for the weight and balance of the aircraft. Our next consideration is where passengers would like to sit and what seat will be the best for their experience. We will be happy to accommodate your individual preferences, weight and balance permitting. Most couples like to sit together in the back of the helicopter so they can better share the experience, lean over and see out both sides, and point things out to one another. There is emotional value to sitting together, which for most people is higher than any added viewing value obtained from the front left seat. The open cabin design also allows rear passengers viewing ahead through the cockpit window.
Your check-in time is 35 minutes prior to your flight time. Per FAA regulations, we need to determine each passenger’s exact weight including shoes, all clothing, and personal belongings such as camera equipment and purses. It is therefore necessary that you bring to your check-in everything that you would like to wear and have with you on your tour. You do not need to actually wear your warm layers at check-in, but you do need to hold them when stepping onto our scale. On a doors-on flight, we recommend that you wear dark outer layers to minimize reflection in the windows during photography. Because you are not exposed to the elements, whatever clothing you are comfortable with at sea level is adequate for your flight. An open-door experience is exciting and fun and we want you to enjoy your flight without being distracted by wind or chill. A warm outer layer that you can zip up, such as a windproof jacket, is ideal. We strongly advise against wind-susceptible clothing such as dresses and hooded items. In winter, long pants are highly recommended. To keep you and your belongings safe, we cannot permit any loose objects on your doors-off flight. This includes hats, visors, scarves, hair clips, and strapless sandals. Eyeglasses are permissible. Hair that is long enough should be tied tightly with an elastic band. Any equipment must be secured to you via a strap.
Flight safety is our principal concern, and we are proud of our impeccable safety record. We have a zero-tolerance maintenance policy, meaning any issue, regardless of its effect on airworthiness of the aircraft, is checked out promptly and thoroughly. With extensive training and flying experience, each of our pilots has acquired expert knowledge on the island’s unique weather and terrain considerations, and this knowledge is a key factor in making sound decisions and navigating the skies safely. For your added safety, we do not practice “hot-loading.” We shut down our aircraft in between all tours to allow for a thorough pre-flight inspection prior to each and every tour.
On our aircraft, other than the R66 on the Big Island and O’ahu, there are no middle seats, so each passenger can enjoy the scenery to the fullest from his or her guaranteed window seat. Your pilot sits in the front right seat, which leaves the front left and a rear left and right seat for passengers.
Our pilots are skillful in selecting a flight path that affords passengers on both sides of the aircraft the same amazing views.
My wife and I did not take a helicopter tour on our visit in 2003 and swore we'd take one next time. Sixteen years later, we made it back on a cruise. Looking at cruise line offerings, we found them marked way up. We did the math and found they did a longer, comprehensive flight and was just a bit more expensive, but we'd have the helicopter to ourselves.
The taxi ride was about 10 minutes from the Kailua waterfront. There were no issues finding their buildings.
Our pilot/guide went over safety procedures and showed us on a map where we'd be going. He asked if we had anything specific we wanted to see and besides the volcanoes (which were already on the itinerary) we left it to him. He was personable, professional, and laid-back in the island style. He was also a native and life-long resident of Hawai'i, so he knew the island. His enthusiasm was actually palpable; he said the weather was great and he was excited to fly on such a great day.
I was slightly hesitant about the equipment - a Robinson R44, which I'd say is like a Corolla, compared to the flashy Cadillacs flown by other outfits. However, it did the job just fine and any reservations I had were forgotten once we left the ground. The aircraft gave us plenty of room; I'm 6'5" and found the front seat roomy enough for my legs. My wife is 5'9" and said she had knee room in the back.
Our flight went "over the Saddle" between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, over Hawaii Volcanoes NP and its assorted craters (no lava to be seen this day), to the south of Hilo, up the NE coast to the Kohala Coast, up one of the massive valleys to see amazing waterfalls, then around the west end of the island, and back down the Waikoloa coast to the airport. A request to fly back over Kilauea so we could both look down I to the crater was met with quick agreement.
Hands-down, this tour was the highlight of our visit to Hawaii. If you're on the fence about booking, let me assure you you'll be satisfied. Chartering a helicopter is not cheap, but if you can afford it, I doubt you'd be disappointed. Don't let the small size of the outfit put you off. They're not as widely-known, their equipment isn't as flashy as Blue Hawaiian, et al, but the benefit is a personalized experience.
Had a very good experience with this company in Kauai Island so didn't look elsewhere for this tour. The tour happens right after another helicopter crash in Kauai in Dec 2019 (not by this company, of course) so we were worried about the safety in general a little. Turns out they has been a flight school and some pilots are professional trainers as well. We can hear the tower communications during the tour and understand the safety is good hands here!
Our guide Page (Or Paige?) was a great guy! Due to the weather we can not see the volcano itself but to make up the time we flew around some other good places including the newest beach on earth (formed in 2018 eruption). He flew well and it was a smooth 2 hour ride as well. It was definitely time well spent!
