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    Paradise Helicopters

    4.0 (135 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Located in the Main Terminal
    Courtney K.

    Bottom: A great tour company and the only choice for a doors-off experience. There are a handful of helicopter operators on the Big Island but I believe Paradise is the only company to offer the "doors off" experience. I couldn't imagine checking out Kilauea any other way so that is the tour we booked. Our pilot for our doors off adventure was Chris. Of course he safely flew the helicopter but he also provided a fun soundtrack for our ride and an informative narration of what we were seeing below us. We cruised out to Volcanoes National Park listening to Magic Carpet Ride and had the sounds of Volcano and Ring of Fire playing as we ooohed and aaahed at the Puu Oo crater and it's molten lava churning within sight. Once the smell of sulfur had burned our nostrils it was off to Hilo Bay while listening to TLC's Chasing Waterfalls. After flying along to Steppenwolf, Jimmy Buffet and Johnny Cash, that didn't really seem like Chris' jam but it was perfectly fitting since the next major sight was the Wai'ale waterfall. In addition to the lava and waterfall, I also enjoyed seeing the old lava flows and the mac nut farms from the air. Our flight was about 45 minutes and that was the perfect amount of time to enjoy myself without using the "lava flow bag" in the seat back pocket. I tied my hair back in a ponytail but I wish I had been more diligent in those efforts because I had the most knotted hair of my entire life! I probably needed a braid, all of the barrettes from the Russian gymnastics team and some "Something About Mary" hair gel to tame my hair for the doors off adventure, but it was worth it. The doors off adventure seats five people total in the Hughes H500, including the pilot. Seating assignments are based on weight so be ready to rub shoulders with strangers. Paradise Helicopters is located at the Hilo Airport within the terminal. Park in the main lot of the airport and then proceed to Lobby 2 with your parking ticket. Look for Paradise Helicopters' counter to get weighed in and briefed. Before returning to your car, pay for parking in "Lobby 2" of the airport. Within my group weights of some passengers were recorded erroneously but luckily that was resolved before takeoff and it was smooth sailing from there! The only thing that would make the experience better is more lava! But, that is understandably at the discretion of Mother Nature and not within Paradise Helicopter's control.

    Alvin Joseph R.

    Everything about this experience was amazing. From calling about a month and a half ago to make a reservation, to today's flight over the volcano to the super smooth landing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Since it's my birthday, I decided to go with the doors off flight! I honestly don't think it would have been as good with the doors on! The rush of wind blowing in your hair (or beard in my case), the smells of the sulphur from the volcanic release, the coldness of the high altitude, and feeling a the majestic heat of the lava from below. You can't beat it! The staff is wonderful and the pilot, Daniel, was superb! Definitely recommended! You gotta do the open door! Quick Tips 1. Located at the airport terminal. 2. Paid parking lot. I paid $7. 3. You can pay a little extra for window seat. However the open door helicopter I was in today only had 4 sears, including the pilot.

    Top of volcano
    Chris L.

    The staff is awesome! They were able to book us same day. The people we were with were friendly and I sat in the middle seat next to my bf so I got to see both sides of the helicopter. I was initially worried but that seat was pretty good. They try to distribute the weight evenly in the helicopter and match people up so the helicopter is even. Marco was awesome and took us close to the lava and we saw real lava up close and person and went to around the top of the volcano. We also saw humpback whales (mom and baby) over the ocean on the way back. 45 minutes is plenty of time in the helicopter. The staff is really awesome. The Asian female at the counter recommended we go to Richardson Park to see the turtles and that was awesome! It became our favorite park on the island!

    Volcano
    Debbie B.

    Matt was our helicopter pilot for our tour today, February 12, 2021. It was a beautiful day in Hilo and we were able to see all of the caldera in the volcano all the way down to the ocean. It was a very smooth flight no issues whatsoever. Thank you Matt at Paradise helicopters for a great adventure.

    Sights from the trip.
    Heather B.

    There are 6 of us who just finished our first helicopter ride with Paradise Helicopter. It was a dream come true. Our piolet was Colin who was passionate and very informative about the island. He had a great sense of humor too! We were so fortunate to have perfect weather of 80°, with complete sunshine and no clouds. We we're blessed to see rainbows, waves on the shore, waterfalls and hot lava! It couldn't have been more perfect! Highly recommend!

    Erica H.

    We checked all the local helicopter tours and decided on Paradise based on reviews and availability. Man, are we glad we did!! Not only did they have accommodations for us the next day but we flew with an amazing pilot by the name of Rob. He was amazing and made the flight all the more enjoyable. Even our 4 year old son had a blast! Absolutely love this place, highly recommended and would go back for tours anytime! Thanks everyone for being so amazing!!

    Checkin desk
    Dale G.

    Very cool way to see the island. We were given some gift certificates from friends and decided on the Volcanos & Waterfalls tour - https://paradisecopters.com/tours/hilo-volcanoes-waterfalls/#.WII1jVUrKpo Our flight was at 3:30 p.m. but we were told to arrive an hour beforehand. When you get there you check and weigh in so they can assign your seat on the helo. Then you have to be in their briefing room 40 minutes before the flight. You sit and watch videos about the lava flow (this was okay, but could have done without it. There were kids in the group and they were antsy waiting to go up and this video was torture.) We were then briefed, given instructions, and led out to the tarmac. You are given a headset and a personal flotation device before boarding. Then they call you by seat number, seat belt you in, and plug in your headset so you can hear the pilot and other passengers talk. We were on a doors on tour (but the windows were still off where the pilot and two passengers were sitting) so it can get a bit chilly & windy in the back so I recommend bringing a light jacket. You fly at elevations between 1100' to 3500' and the views are quite stunning. The trip ends quickly and leaves you wanting for more.

    Vijay S.

    Great experience! Our pilot Matt was amazing, very smooth and felt safe throughout. Got to see volcanoes and briefly waterfalls. Doors off experience was slightly pricey but well worth it. Def recommend them. They're located right next to the airport. It's about 45 minutes in total.

    Jennie M.

    "Woooooo-hoooo!" Followed by a hole heck of a lot of "Holy $&*!", "OMG", "____" (that last one is my dead silence as I try to hold it together!) This was my fist helicopter ride, and it was quite a wild-ride! I totally recommend Paradise Helicopters; they were friendly, informative and fun. The girls that strap you in take the time to take pics of you with the Helicopter, on your phone or camera. If you forgot to bring a jacket, hair tie, camera strap, they will lend you one. And the pilot I had, York, was awesome! Seriously, shout out to the playlist, too funny! Flying over the worlds largest active volcano is definitely a bucket-list experience! However, be warned that the most you may see is smoke. Best to call and inquire as to the level or intensity of lava flow, if that is what you are really after.

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    The ride was amazing! Alan our pilots was so informative, friendly and funny. Go doors off!! It's cold but so with it!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Paradise Helicopters

    Which company is the best to take an off-door helicopter tour on The Big Island of Hawaii? Consider safety, seating, and price...

    I don't think there is a difference. Both seem to be good companies

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Paradise Helicopters

    Off is definitely the way to go; you can feel the heat off the lava and smell the sulfur a little in the air.

    Mentioned in 43 reviews

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    Hawaii Volcanoes Helicopter Tours - Robinson R44 Doors On or Off Tours, Charters, & Photography Flights

    Hawaii Volcanoes Helicopter Tours

    4.6(18 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    It was extremely hard to find decent reviews for this place. So, I am going to write a review that…read moreI would've liked to see: This tour was provided by Polynesian Adventure Tours (land tour) and Paradise Helicopter. My boyfriend and I bought the Oahu to Hilo Volcano w/airfare and land tour and helicopter ride. The guy who picked us up was 20 min late. They called us two days before to confirm our attendance and asked us to wait in front of hotel between 4:45-5AM. Pickup after arrival was smooth. Our tour guide was Captain Rob. Great guide! The itinerary says "breakfast buffet". The menu was terrible so make sure you eat before boarding. The Hawaii Volcano National Park was awesome. After touring around ourselves, the driver drove us around to see everything. The hikes were fun. However, we went on a rainy day and it was extremely slippery. The trail to the steam vents were nice! However, if you enjoy hiking, go head and hike down to Halema'uma'u Crater. I wished I knew this beforehand but the driver did take us the crater with a better view. Lunch was at the macadamia farm. The options were Burgers and hotdogs. PACK YOUR OWN LUNCH. The helicopter tour was beyond amazing, so I won't spoil it for you here. They do a safety briefing and you hop on. It's breathtaking! Bring a raincoat, good walking shoes, and sandals (black sand beach). Had there been better communication about the food options, I would've given it 5 stars. No one likes to be hungry.

    Let me start by saying the booking process was painless and easy, even when we had to change the…read moredate within the month prior. We had a party of six and booked two flights. The helicopter will only hold three passengers. Luka, the owner and pilot was both professional and friendly. He was engaging before, during and after the flight. You have an option for a doors on or doors off tour, one of only two companies that offers this. Flying with the doors off is the best way to experience the feel of the lava flows and the best for photography. Additionally, I chartered the flight for an hour, which provided additional flexibility to fly at lower altitudes and allowed for better photos. Luka did great maneuvering the helicopter so both sides had a great view. We saw the volcanoes/lava flows and the waterfalls. I HIGHLY recommend HVHT and Luka as a MUST DO on your visit to the Big Island. Thank you Luka for helping to make this a memorable vacation!

    Photos
    Hawaii Volcanoes Helicopter Tours - There is no bad seat on this helicopter.  Luka will make sure everyone gets a good view of all points of interest.

    There is no bad seat on this helicopter. Luka will make sure everyone gets a good view of all points of interest.

    Hawaii Volcanoes Helicopter Tours - Luka makes sure you see the waterfalls by approaching them at all angles.

    Luka makes sure you see the waterfalls by approaching them at all angles.

    Hawaii Volcanoes Helicopter Tours - Luka circled closely around the volcano and got us really close to the lava flowing that you can feel the heat!

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    Luka circled closely around the volcano and got us really close to the lava flowing that you can feel the heat!

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopter

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopter

    4.6(363 reviews)
    55.1 mi

    Waterfalls, whales, and windmills, oh my! Kaj knew just how to thrill us locals as we saw our Big…read moreIsland from the air, 1000+ feet above ground, as we flew over the Waimea windblown crest, where the clouds bunched up against the windward side, with a small opening to the stunning blue shades of coastline. The fluffy cloud cover gave way to a slightly misty and broken front, with the Big Island's coastline calling us closer. The long black sand beach of Waipio Valley gave way to cascading waterfalls dropping hundreds of feet down sheer remote cliffs. We were lucky the drought was recently punctured by rain, replenishing the splendorous sight! We ducked into a canyon for a closer look -- everyone was entranced, overjoyed to see such wonders. Lucky for us no one was nervous, we all were relaxed and ecstatic. Whales came to the surface when we returned to the Hapuna area, it truly was magical, a solid check for my bucket list! At the age of 73, I am now using a walker and so this was a treat. (A short ramp leads into the office in Waikoloa, there is a bathroom inside the building, if you have trouble walking, do not rush to use the bathrooms outside to the left of the building, they are harder to navigate. Once inside and everyone heads to the helicopter, the ground crew will open the gate so you can roll back down the ramp to walk level instead of using the steps out back from the porch like everyone else. Crew will assist you getting into the helicopter if you able to stand up but you will need some arm strength to pull yourself into the seat, the overhead grab bar gives the necessary swing point.) We had a great time with Kaj, being locals, we are looking forward to seeing him in the water at Pine Trees, the Kohanaiki Park is great for watching surfers and enjoying some lunch bought from Pine Trees Cafe, nearby (go all the way to the bay for closeness to the showers and restroom). Yeah, I'm gonna plug my favorite spots! The helicopter ride will be loud (they give you headphones to block), and will be like riding a vibration disk. I loved it. So relaxing. There are 3 microphones shared by the six people riding, otherwise you will be reduced to using body language, not hard to decipher arched eyebrows, open mouths. I did not realize that Kilauea had fountained the night before, glad I did not know because maybe we would have taken the option of cancelling when they offered it, due to the buffeting winds and slight mistiness. I know that others did reschedule, perhaps thinking it was going to be disappointing. But we were gungho, why not? They promised that if we had to turn around due to weather, we would be reimbursed. To be fair, a fountaining volcano is not safe to be near and so it means staying far back. We have been here through three eruptions so we did not feel deprived. And, the fiery display was over by daylight. As a surfer I have watched and lived among the island's locals with fascination for two decades, as the aloha spirit transcends everything they do, and Blue Hawaiian has earned its place of honor. The company has donated lifesaving equipment over the years to the various beach parks and the lifeguard department, which is managed by our Fire Department. The staff I met embodies that spirit as well. From the moment we set foot in the door, the prep process for our trip was smooth, swift, and relaxing. I hope you have as much as we did. Its a full 24 hours later and I am still buzzing from the natural high! Grab a friend or two, or five, and take the ride of your life!

    1 star. Absolute bait-and-switch…read more We booked Blue Hawaiian Helicopters directly through their website. Not a waitlist. Not "pending confirmation." The site showed availability. We selected a time. We paid in full. Then, the day before the flight, they casually informed us they wouldn't fly unless they had four people. Let that sink in. If you "need four people to fly," then your website should not allow bookings for fewer than four. Period. Anything else is deceptive. Taking someone's money first and disclosing your internal minimum later is not a policy. It's a cash grab. No proactive call. No warning during checkout. No accountability. Just a shrug and "sorry." This wasn't a weather issue. This wasn't an emergency. This was poor business practice baked into their system. And judging by the volume of similar complaints online, this isn't rare. It's a pattern. Vacation time is limited. Schedules are tight. People plan entire trips around experiences like this. Blue Hawaiian seems perfectly comfortable blowing that up after holding your money hostage. Want amazing views of Hawaii? Plenty of companies can deliver that. Want reliability, transparency, and basic respect for customers? Look elsewhere. Because nothing kills the magic of a helicopter tour faster than realizing the company never intended to honor your reservation unless it worked in their favor. Savage truth: If you book here, you're not a customer. You're a placeholder.

    Photos
    Blue Hawaiian Helicopter
    Blue Hawaiian Helicopter
    Blue Hawaiian Helicopter

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    Sunshine Helicopters - Island view from the copter.

    Sunshine Helicopters

    4.5(98 reviews)
    53.0 mi

    1 star. Absolute bait-and-switch…read more We booked Blue Hawaiian Helicopters directly through their website. Not a waitlist. Not "pending confirmation." The site showed availability. We selected a time. We paid in full. Then, the day before the flight, they casually informed us they wouldn't fly unless they had four people. Let that sink in. If you "need four people to fly," then your website should not allow bookings for fewer than four. Period. Anything else is deceptive. Taking someone's money first and disclosing your internal minimum later is not a policy. It's a cash grab. No proactive call. No warning during checkout. No accountability. Just a shrug and "sorry." This wasn't a weather issue. This wasn't an emergency. This was poor business practice baked into their system. And judging by the volume of similar complaints online, this isn't rare. It's a pattern. Vacation time is limited. Schedules are tight. People plan entire trips around experiences like this. Blue Hawaiian seems perfectly comfortable blowing that up after holding your money hostage. Want amazing views of Hawaii? Plenty of companies can deliver that. Want reliability, transparency, and basic respect for customers? Look elsewhere. Because nothing kills the magic of a helicopter tour faster than realizing the company never intended to honor your reservation unless it worked in their favor. Savage truth: If you book here, you're not a customer. You're a placeholder!

    Awesome!!! Everything from the service to the flight was wonderful! Don, our pilot was great and…read moregave us a great tour. I would highly recommend this experience.

    Photos
    Sunshine Helicopters
    Sunshine Helicopters - The ride was so great and the pilot was so informative!! Will recommend!!

    The ride was so great and the pilot was so informative!! Will recommend!!

    Sunshine Helicopters - Expensive for 30 minutes ride, but it was enough to see many waterfalls and the north shore.

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    Expensive for 30 minutes ride, but it was enough to see many waterfalls and the north shore.

    Paradise Helicopters - Flight pad

    Paradise Helicopters

    4.5(147 reviews)
    65.1 mi

    We enjoyed our trip with Paradise helicopters and glad we chose them. The ground crew was extremely…read morehelpful and informative. The pilot was just playing awesome all the way around, great guy, that caught us up to speed with the cultural side and a great tour guide. Took his Time around Kilauea to make sure both sides of the helicopter got great shots. Flying over the entire island, experiencing the volcanoes, the rainforest, the ranchlands, over 30 waterfalls including some that are 1,000 and 2,000 foot waterfalls. The vantage point to see the entire island, beaches is one of the best things that has ever happened in our lives, this is truly a bucket list that you need to add to your trip. This is the ultimate way to see the island, and we did the big tour that was almost 2 hours. Check your photos and videos as you are taking them. FYI. Depending on the position of the helicopter, sun or overcast will affect on howmuch glare/reflection you get on videos and photos, so you will need to try to take photos from a few different spots and angles near the glass. Practice makes perfect. Add, the soundtrack that plays while he is giving you the history of different spots is a hoot!

    Paige was an exceptional pilot and all the folks at Paradise Helicopters (those answering phones…read moreand greeting you upon check-in) were helpful and professional. The booking process was easy and they kept you informed with all you needed to know for the tour leading up to it. As nervous as I was to go up, they made me feel safe and I had a great time. The flight was unreal and Paige really knew what he was talking about! I'd highly recommend taking a helicopter ride with Paradise to see the amazing sites of The Big Island from overhead! It's an unforgettable experience!

    Photos
    Paradise Helicopters - Coast line

    Coast line

    Paradise Helicopters - Our chariot awaits

    Our chariot awaits

    Paradise Helicopters - Our helicopter

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    Our helicopter

    KapohoKine Adventures - The painted church

    KapohoKine Adventures

    4.8(689 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    What an amazing experience. We booked a tour to see the lava fields and enjoy a snorkeling…read moreadventure and it was a full day of adventure. Keep in mind there is no snorkeling on this excursion and the area around the Hilton is not safe or appropriate for snorkeling. I am writing the review solely on the lava field excursion part. My wife was very dissapointed that there was no snorkeling as we purchased new snorkeling equipment. Roxy was our tour guide and was probably the most knowledgeable and professional tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Roxy was knowledgeable in the history of volcanoes on Hilo and elsewhere, horticulture, bird species, animals, Hawaiian culture, tourist attractions, history of the Hawaiian Islands, tribes and Capt. Cook, beaches, teachings, burial practices and so much more. Roxy told stories of the early days in Hawaii and how it evolved. Also as a noted her driving and safety practices were impeccable. If you are planning to come to Hilo you must make it a point to reach out to Roxy. We spent approximately 8 hours on the tour and it was so enriching although the lack of snorkeling was a dissapointment . Highly recommended Mahalo

    This company did not disappoint! Mac was a phenomenal guide--extremely knowledgeable, professional,…read morecourteous, and accommodating. He didn't just share information about the places we visited; he brought them to life and made the entire experience memorable. I highly recommend this company, and if you can, be sure to ask for Mac.

    Photos
    KapohoKine Adventures
    KapohoKine Adventures
    KapohoKine Adventures - Lava tube

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    Lava tube

    Paradise Helicopters - aerialtours - Updated May 2026

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