Sunshine Helicopters

Big Island Helicopter Tours

Unforgetabble helicopter rides over the big island.

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey over the dramatic wonders of Hawaii’s Big Island with our exhilarating helicopter tours. From cascading lava flows to lush valleys, our tours will take you on a sky-high rollercoaster ride through nature’s own amusement park, where every twist and turn reveals a new chapter of volcanic excitement! Book online now!

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The Island of Hawaii is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain and is also by far the biggest, providing a vast canvas of environments to discover a variety of unrivaled natural wonders. This is the home of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Kea, the tallest sea mountain in the world at more than 33,000 feet, Mauna Loa, the most massive mountain in the world, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the largest park in the state. All but two of the world’s climate zones generate everything from lush rain forests to volcanic deserts and snow-capped mountaintops to beautiful black sand beaches.

flight route map of big island

  • Map Marker Big Island
  • Hour Glass 1 hour 45 minutes

Volcano Deluxe Tour

Experience the fiery lava vents of the Big Island’s active volcano, Kilauea. The intensity of the live volcanic landscape will surely take your breath away as you fly above the impressive peaks.

  • Hour Glass 40-45 minutes

Kohala Hamakua Coast Tour

Fly high over Waimea, en route to the vast tropical rainforest of Hamakua on a Sunshine Helicopters tour. Glide past the sweeping pasture lands of the Ponoholo and Kahua Ranches.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

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helicopter tours hawaii big island

The tour of a lifetime, every time.

Hawaii's air-tour leader for 35 years.

  • All Islands

The Big Island Experience

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago—almost as large as all the other islands combined—and bursting with life. Within 4,000 square miles of land, you’ll experience dense tropical rainforests, black-sand beaches, snow-capped peaks, remnants of ancient Hawaiian settlements, and the incredible Kilauea volcano.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Discover the Big Island's magnificent beauty and its volcanic fury on this all-in-one Big Island helicopter tour. Get an up-close look at the famous Kilauea volcano, which has been continuously erupting since 1983; the results of its historic 2018 eruption provide phenomenal views. From t...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Experience Kilauea and Hawaii Volcano National Park! The massive eruptions of the world’s most active and unpredictable volcano have changed the face of the Big Island in spectacular ways. On the Circle of Fire helicopter tour, you’ll embark on a breathtaking adventure, seeking out the isl...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Witness the stunning Kohala coast of Big Island’s North Shore, where the towering sea cliffs of Waipi’o Valley open into the dramatically deep and meandering valleys of the Kohala Mountains. On this helicopter ride, you’ll experience beautiful waterfalls cascade thousands of feet into t...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Pele, the Hawaiian volcano deity is said to embody the lava and natural forces of the volcano. She has made her home on Hawaii Island (the Big Island) and continues to make her majesty known from mountain to sea. Embark on a breathtaking adventure seeking out the island’s unique and newly formed l...

The Maui Experience

Maui is renowned for its unimaginable beauty. Alpine-like forests cover the upcountry slopes of Mt. Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano. The famed “Road to Hana” hugs the coast, white sandy beaches line the shores, and magnificent sea cliffs hover over the blue Pacific. An aerial tour of Maui will quickly reveal why it’s continually been voted “The World’s Best Island.”

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Want the best of both worlds? This unique helicopter tour unites the best of East and West Maui to create an action-packed aerial view of the whole island. From the lush valleys of the West Maui Mountains to the rugged shoreline of Northeast Maui, you’ll have a panoramic view of it all....

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Discover some of East Maui’s most unique sights on the Hana and Haleakala helicopter tour. Soar thousands of feet above the immense, moon-like crater of Mt. Haleakala—the world's largest dormant volcano! Gaze down at the beautiful Hana Rainforest Preserve on your way to the famous Seven...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

A combination of our West Maui and Hana/Haleakala helicopter tours, featuring an exciting bonus! This comprehensive tour of the island begins with a flight exploration of the most magnificent West Maui valleys, rainforest, and waterfalls. Then comes the bonus: we land at the our exclusive...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

The West Maui and Molokai helicopter tour takes you on an aerial adventure into some of the most remote and beautiful places in the world. Soar above 88 miles of untouched coastline, where towering waterfalls plunge from sea cliffs into the turquoise sea on Molokai’s north shore. Explore...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Explore deep, meandering valleys set in the rainforest of the ancient West Maui Mountains. Knife-edged ridges with mist-shrouded peaks separate the spectacular valleys that give Maui its nickname, "The Valley Isle." See the famous Iao valley and learn about the history and culture of the sights fro...

The Oahu Experience

Oahu is the cultural heart of the Hawaiian Islands, offering an eclectic mix of tradition, Hawaiian history, and stunning natural beauty. Beyond Waikiki Beach, the historic sights of Pearl Harbor and the cosmopolitan city of Honolulu, you’ll discover gorgeous shorelines, hidden valleys, cascading waterfalls, and the famed North Shore.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Oahu is full of so much surprising beauty, the only way to experience it all is from the air! In this one amazing tour, you'll see the phenomenal scenery of this Island's hidden rainforests, lush valleys, and stunning historic sights. You'll glide over the vivid turquoise coral reefs of W...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

On this 65-minute Complete Island tour of Oahu, you’ll experience all the spectacular sights that make Oahu so unique. You’ll take off from Honolulu airport and fly above the the powerful historic sights of Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Then, just beyond the modern metropolis o...

The Kauai Experience

Six million years of powerful natural forces have sculpted Kauai into what it is today, a natural masterpiece. The incomparable Na Pali Coast, Waimea Valley (the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”), and stunning Mount Waiʻaleʻale (the second wettest place on earth), are among Kauai’s incredible wonders that are so remote, they are only accessible by helicopter.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

On this awe-inspiring helicopter tour of Kauai, you’ll experience the legendary natural views that encompass the Garden Isle. Explore stunning Manawaiopuna Falls, often called “Jurassic Park” falls, surrounded by rich native flora in the gorgeous Hanapepe Valley. Fly over the spectacula...

helicopter tours hawaii big island

With over 70% of the island being inaccessible by land, Kauai is truly best seen from the sky. On this incredible helicopter tour of Kauai, you’ll experience views so beautiful they will take your breath away. Explore the stunning Manawaiopuna Falls, also known as “Jurassic...

live reviews and counting.

The world is talking about Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. See why!

Superb experience! Felt safe, efficient and professional. The views of Molokai were unbelievable. We have lived on Maui for 10plus years and this morning saw the island from a completely new perspective. Splurge but worth it!

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Was a great time and informative about the area, kids had a great time.

Benjamin was very nice and informational during our tour. Definitely would recommend

Very beautiful!

Wonderful flight!! Matt was great and informative. Added plus was the most beautiful rainbow!

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Blue Hawaiian is Hawaii‘s #1 helicopter tour company. Since 1985, it‘s been our mission to offer our guests a truly authentic experience of Aloha. From the moment you book your helicopter tour, we strive to create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. And for us, good enough is never enough. That‘s the Blue Hawaiian difference.

All Blue Hawaiian pilots are high-time experts, and State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guides

The world's finest fleet of state-of-the-art helicopters

Multiple award-winning customer service, sharing the true spirit of Aloha

helicopter tours hawaii big island

The helicopter you fly in has a huge impact on the quality of your air-tour experience. Compare Blue Hawaiian's state-of-the-art Eco-Stars and A-Stars with some other tour helicopters used in Hawaii. Check out these 360° rotatable views of the various helicopter interiors and exteriors.

  • Airbus EC130 Eco-Star
  • Airbus AS350 A-Star

Every seat offers greater personal space, first-class individual seats, and expansive glass for exceptional visibility. This is the world's newest and most expensive model of touring helicopter, and the first specifically designed for air tours. It is utilized by only three companies in Hawaii: Blue Hawaiian, Sunshine, and Maverick.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

The Airbus A-Star AS350B2 offers excellent performance, long-range capabilities, a smooth ride for up to six guests, and an open cabin designed for 180º views from every seat. Featuring a climate-controlled cockpit and great air-conditioning, Blue Hawaiian's A-Stars also provide Bose® noise-cancelling headsets and two-way communication between guests and their pilot.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

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Safari Helicopters

Our Big Island Helicopter Tour

Book your Big Island Helicopter tour

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK & WATERFALLS SAFARI

Temporary sale $299.

  • Aprox. 55 Minute Tour
  • National Park Points of Interest.
  • Private Tour:  $1,700  (Better Value Per Seat)
  • Lava activity may vary from pictures shown. Check with USGS for current activity at [ https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo ]

GROUP DISCOUNTS

Have a group of 12 or more? We offer discount rates for groups so feel free to contact us or click book to receive these special rates !

CHARTERED FLIGHTS

Looking to rent the entire helicopter? We offer charter flights enabling you to have the entire helicopter to yourself. Contact us or click book to get more information.

helicopter tours hawaii big island

Big Island HELICOPTER TOURS

Take a flight to the World’s most active volcano. The Big Island has been erupting almost continuously since 1983, pouring red-hot molten earth into the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean.

All Hawaiian volcanoes are produced by a plume of lava known as the Hawaiian magmatic hot spot. This plume of lava rises up from deep within Earth’s mantle and burns through the seafloor crust to form volcanic mountains that eventually rise above the surface of the sea to form Hawaiian Islands.

The Hawaiian Islands are actually just the summits of these massive volcanoes that grew up from the ocean floor as much as 18,000 feet below the water’s surface.

The Big Island is the youngest Hawaiian Island, less than a half a million years old, and its two major volcanoes are Mauna Loa (which includes Kilauea Volcano) and Mauna Kea. These massive volcanoes are a sight to behold from the vantage point of a helicopter (when clouds do not interfere). Mauna Kea rises to 13,796 feet above sea level. Mauna Kea is considered the tallest mountain on Earth if measured from base to summit, towering up more than 6 miles from the ocean bottom.

The volcanic activity of the Hawaiian hot spot continues today on the Big Island at Kiluaea Volcano, and the East Rift Zone. Safari Helicopters tours survey the diverse array of volcanic formations throughout the whole area where this activity has recently occurred and also where it is happening right now!

The aptly named Chain of Craters Road descends 3,700 feet from the summit of Kilauea Volcano to the sea, and has repeatedly been blocked by lava flows with more than 9 miles of the road covered since 1986. The Pu’u O’O Vent flows off and on into the ocean (fluctuating between Chain of Crater Rd and Kalapan Black Sands Beach) and at times sends up plumes of volcanic gas and smoke. From a helicopter this is a most impressive sight to behold.

There are four main districts in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; However we mainly tour the East Rift Zone, Which is sub-categorized into 3 different zones:  The Upper East Rift Zone, the Middle East Rift Zone, and the Lower East Rift Zone.  Typically we tour along the coastline to the Lower East Rift Zone where the most recent eruption event happened in Leilani Estates, to show the devastation and new black-sand beach.  Next, we head upslope to the Middle East Rift Zone to explore the Pu’u O’o Vent.  Finally, weather permitting, we move to the Upper East Rift Zone along several craters including Napau and Mauna Ulu to Halemaumau Crater at the summit of the world famous Kilauea Volcano.

Expect to be absolutely amazed at the incredible sights you will see from a Hawaii volcano helicopter tour. There are so many unique land formations and visible volcano history before your eyes that it is difficult to encapsulate it all in words.

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helicopter tours hawaii big island

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VIDEO

  1. Big Helicopter Testing 🚁🚁 #shorts

  2. Big Helicopter Testing

  3. Unbelievable Pilot! Helicopter Crash on Kaua’i. All 5 onboard lived

  4. Kauai Helicopter Tour with Airborne Aviation

  5. "Island Helicopter Tours: Aerial Views of Tropical Paradise"

COMMENTS

  1. Big Island Helicopter Tours - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters">Big Island Helicopter Tours - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

    Discover the Big Island's magnificent beauty and its volcanic fury on this all-in-one Big Island helicopter tour. Get an up-close look at the famous Kilauea volcano, which has been continuously erupting since 1983; the results of its historic 2018 eruption provide phenomenal views. From t...

  2. Big Island Helicopter Tours Compared (2024)">All Big Island Helicopter Tours Compared (2024)

    Are you thinking about booking a Helicopter Tour on the Big Island of Hawai'i? Our helicopter guide is a great resource! 3 different helicopter tours (lava, waterfalls, circle-island), most trusted helicopter tour providers, Helicopter Tour Checklist, helicopter FAQ.

  3. Big Island Helicopter Tours | Volcano Helicopter Tour">Big Island Helicopter Tours | Volcano Helicopter Tour

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    Big Island Helicopter Tours. Choose to start your exploration of the island by air with a helicopter tour. We feature all the best routes so you will find one that best suits your desires. Fly over the volcano, check out waterfalls or see almost everything. Check out the choices now.

  5. Big Island Helicopter Tours - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters">Big Island Helicopter Tours - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

    Experience Kilauea and Hawaii Volcano National Park! The massive eruptions of the world’s most active and unpredictable volcano have changed the face of the Big Island in spectacular ways. On the Circle of Fire helicopter tour, you’ll embark on a breathtaking adventure, seeking out the isl...

  6. Big Island Helicopter Tours | Volcano Tours">Big Island Helicopter Tours | Volcano Tours

    Explore Hawaii’s Big Island from above with our helicopter tours, where volcanic marvels and lush landscapes await. Embark on an extraordinary adventure with Big Island Helicopter Tours, where the captivating beauty of Hawaii’s largest island unfolds before your eyes.

  7. Big Island Helicopter Tours | Sunshine Helicopters">Big Island Helicopter Tours | Sunshine Helicopters

    Fly high over Waimea, en route to the vast tropical rainforest of Hamakua on a Sunshine Helicopters tour. Glide past the sweeping pasture lands of the Ponoholo and Kahua Ranches. Explore the Big Island of Hawaii aboard a helicopter. Witness the diverse landscape from beaches to volcanoes.

  8. Helicopters - Best Helicopter Tours in Hawaii">Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Best Helicopter Tours in Hawaii

    Discover the Big Island's magnificent beauty and its volcanic fury on this all-in-one Big Island helicopter tour. Get an up-close look at the famous Kilauea volcano, which has been continuously erupting since 1983; the results of its historic 2018 eruption provide phenomenal views.

  9. Big Island Helicopter Tours | Best Hawaii Helicopter Tours">Big Island Helicopter Tours | Best Hawaii Helicopter Tours

    Helicopter Tours. Elevate your exploration of the Big Island as molten lava meets turquoise seas from a bird’s-eye view. Witness nature’s powerful contrasts – from the fiery heart of volcanoes to serene cascading waterfalls and lush valleys. The Hawaiian experience truly takes flight from this vantage point. FLY NOW. Click for sound. 0:34.

  10. Big Island Helicopters Tours | Hawaii Waterfall & Volcano Helicopter Tour">Big Island Helicopters Tours | Hawaii Waterfall & Volcano ...

    Big Island Helicopter Tours. Join us on the Hawaiian big island and tour from the sky. See Below for Detail s. Our Big Island Helicopter Tour. Book your Big Island Helicopter tour. VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK & WATERFALLS SAFARI. Temporary Sale $299. Aprox. 55 Minute Tour. National Park Points of Interest. Private Tour: $1,700 (Better Value Per Seat)