Best Helicopter Tours on the Big Island: Compared & Ranked

Ranked #1 in our featured comparison

Kilauea Volcano Eruption 105 Min Helicopter Tour Doors Off or On

Supplied by Rainbow Helicopters

Best for: doors-on/off volcano deep dive

Rainbow’s 105-minute Kīlauea eruption flight is positioned as a front-row volcano circuit from Kailua-Kona, continuing along the Hāmākua and Kohala coasts. Based on published duration and format flexibility, it is the clearest doors-on/off deep-dive when active-volcano viewing is the primary goal.

Why it ranks here: Ranks first for travelers who want maximum published airtime to Kīlauea with a doors-on or doors-off choice — plus Hāmākua / Kohala waterfall valleys on the return — from Kona.

• Doors-on or doors-off format
• Published flight time about 105 minutes
• Kīlauea, Mauna Loa / Mauna Kea and Kohala valleys
• From $1,180 per person

Ranked #2 in our featured comparison

Private Big Island Experience: 3 of 4 Window Seats

Supplied by Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

Best for: private full-island circuit

Mauna Loa’s private Big Island Experience is published with 3-of-4 window seating and pilot narration covering volcanoes, coastline and waterfall valleys. Based on listed duration and private format, it suits small groups who want cabin exclusivity without the romantic coffee-landing price tier.

Why it ranks here: Ranks as the strongest private comprehensive pick: about two hours from Kona via the Mauna Kea–Mauna Loa saddle to Kīlauea, then Hilo / Hāmākua and Kohala valleys — at a clearer per-person from-price than ultra-premium romance packages.

• Private helicopter experience · window seats
• Published flight time about 2 hours
• Departs Kona International Airport area
• From about $671 per person

Ranked #3 in our featured comparison

Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Waikoloa

Best for: shared island overview from waikoloa

Blue Hawaiian’s Spectacular product is the classic Waikoloa-based “see the Big Island” Eco-Star circuit. Based on published route and traveler review volume in our research snapshot, it suits visitors staying on the Kohala / Waikoloa side who want volcano plus waterfall geography in one shared flight.

Why it ranks here: Ranks as the clearest shared Waikoloa island overview: published ~105 minutes covering Kīlauea / Volcanoes National Park, Hāmākua rainforest and Kohala waterfall valleys without requiring a private charter.

• Shared Eco-Star sightseeing from Waikoloa
• Published flight time about 105 minutes
• Kīlauea, Hāmākua Coast and Kohala valleys
• From $883 per person

Ranked #4 in our featured comparison

Kohala Coast Volcano Waterfalls-90 Min Heli Tour-Doors Off or On

Supplied by Rainbow Helicopters

Best for: doors-on/off volcano + kohala waterfalls

Rainbow’s Kohala Coast volcano and waterfalls flight is positioned as a Pele-and-Kamehameha narrative circuit from Kona. Based on published landmarks and format choice, it is a clear mid-premium doors-on/off alternative between shorter coastal hops and the longest Kīlauea eruption listing.

Why it ranks here: Ranks for doors-on/off flexibility with a published 90-minute route linking Mauna Loa / Mauna Kea / Hualālai geography to Pololū, Waimanu and Waipiʻo waterfall valleys — strong when open cabin matters but the full 105-minute Kīlauea product is more than you need.

• Doors-on or doors-off format
• Published flight time about 90 minutes
• Volcano summits plus Kohala / Waipiʻo valleys
• From $895 per person

Ranked #5 in our featured comparison

Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

Supplied by Safari Helicopters

Best for: hilo volcano value

Safari Helicopters’ Volcanoes National Park Safari is published as a family-run Hilo departure focused on park volcanoes, lava flows and nearby forest. Based on meeting point and duration, choose it when you are already on the Hilo side and volcano park scenery — not a full Kohala waterfall circuit — is the goal.

Why it ranks here: Ranks as the strongest Hilo-side volcano value in our set: about 55 minutes into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from Hilo Airport at a lower from-price than Kona-based island-wide circuits.

• Hilo Airport departure
• Published flight time about 55 minutes
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park focus
• From about $406 per person

Exclusive Landing with Spectacular Big Island Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Waikoloa

Best for: island overview + waterfall landing

Blue Hawaiian’s exclusive-landing Spectacular pairs the island overview route with a published waterfall landing stop. Based on total duration and from-price, it is a celebration upgrade over the standard Spectacular rather than a budget volcano play.

Why it ranks here: Premium Waikoloa Spectacular with published Laupāhoehoe Nui waterfall landing — choose when ground time at a remote falls matters as much as the volcano circuit.

• Exclusive waterfall landing included
• Published duration about 2 hours 20 minutes
• Departs Waikoloa
• From about $1,150 per person

Kona Coastal Sights Unseen - 45Min Helicopter Tour - Doors Off/On

Supplied by Rainbow Helicopters

Best for: shorter doors-on/off kona coast

Rainbow’s 45-minute Coastal Sights Unseen flight covers Kaloko fishponds, Kailua Bay, Kealakekua / Captain Cook, Hualālai and Makalawena. Based on published itinerary, treat it as a Kona-side overview when time is limited.

Why it ranks here: Useful shorter doors-on/off Kona Coast and Hualālai circuit — not a substitute for Kīlauea or Kohala valley deep dives.

• Doors-on or doors-off format
• Published flight time about 45 minutes
• Kona Coast and Hualālai focus
• From $590 per person

Kona Coast Hualalai Volcano-60Min Helicopter Tour-Door Off or On

Supplied by Rainbow Helicopters

Best for: mid-length kona & hualālai

Rainbow’s 60-minute Kona Coast / Hualālai tour extends coastal and coffee-farm scenery with Place of Refuge and north-coast bays. Based on duration, it sits between the short coastal hop and Rainbow’s longer volcano / Kohala circuits.

Why it ranks here: Mid-length doors-on/off Kona Coast and Hualālai flight — compare against the 45-minute coastal hop and longer Kohala / Kīlauea products.

• Doors-on or doors-off format
• Published flight time about 60 minutes
• Kona Coast, Hualālai and north-coast bays
• From $640 per person

Hilo Waterfalls Experience Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Hilo

Best for: hilo-side waterfall valleys

Blue Hawaiian’s Hilo Waterfalls Experience flies historic Hilo to the Hāmākua Coast and Kohala valleys including Waipiʻo and Waimanu. Based on published focus, it is a waterfall specialist rather than a volcano-park deep dive.

Why it ranks here: Strong Hilo departure for Hāmākua and Kohala waterfall valleys — choose when waterfalls matter more than a Kīlauea-first routing.

• Hilo departure
• Published flight time about 60 minutes
• Hāmākua Coast and Kohala waterfall valleys
• From $563 per person

Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Hilo

Best for: hilo volcano & crater scenery

Blue Hawaiian’s Discover Hilo (Circle of Fire) product is published as a ~50-minute Eco-Star flight above Volcanoes National Park scenery from Hilo. Based on itinerary language, active glow viewing is conditions-dependent.

Why it ranks here: Classic Hilo Eco-Star volcano circuit toward Kīlauea and Mauna Loa landscapes — compare against Safari’s park-focused value product.

• Hilo Eco-Star departure
• Published flight time about 50 minutes
• Kīlauea / Mauna Loa park landscapes
• From $519 per person

Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Waikoloa

Best for: shorter kohala valleys from waikoloa

Blue Hawaiian’s Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys tour is a ~45-minute Waikoloa departure focused on Kohala Mountains, Pololū and Waipiʻo. Based on published scope, choose it when waterfall valleys — not active volcano park time — are the priority.

Why it ranks here: Accessible Waikoloa short flight for Kohala cliffs and Waipiʻo — not a Kīlauea island-crossing product.

• Waikoloa departure
• Published flight time about 45 minutes
• Kohala Coast valleys and waterfalls
• From $499 per person

Kohala Waterfalls with Exclusive Landing Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Waikoloa

Best for: kohala landing experience

Blue Hawaiian’s Kohala landing product adds 20–25 minutes on the ground near a ~1,200-ft waterfall after flying Kohala valleys. Based on format, it suits travelers who want exclusive landing thrills without booking the longer Spectacular + landing package.

Why it ranks here: Kohala circuit with published Laupāhoehoe Nui waterfall landing — a landing specialty without the full Spectacular island-crossing price.

• Exclusive waterfall landing
• Published duration about 70 minutes
• Departs Waikoloa
• From about $766 per person

Private Kona Coast Helicopter Tour: All Window Seats

Supplied by Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

Best for: private short kona intro

Mauna Loa’s private 30-minute Kona Coast flight is published with all-window seats for a quick coastal overview (south toward Captain Cook or north toward Kua / Kiholo / Hapuna). Based on duration, treat it as an intro or whale-season coastal hop.

Why it ranks here: Lowest from-price private option in our set for a short Kona Coast hop — not a volcano or Kohala valley substitute.

• Private · all window seats
• Published flight time about 30 minutes
• Kona Coast focus
• From about $241 per person

Private Magical Waterfall Tour

Supplied by Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

Best for: private kohala waterfall valleys

Mauna Loa’s Private Magical Waterfall Tour is published as a doors-on-only flight covering Kohala’s windward valleys including Waipiʻo and Waimanu. Based on format notes, it is a private waterfall specialty rather than a doors-off or volcano-park product.

Why it ranks here: Private doors-on Kohala seven-valley waterfall circuit from Kona — strong when private cabin and Waipiʻo / Waimanu matter more than Kīlauea.

• Private · doors-on only
• Published flight time about 75 minutes
• Seven Kohala windward valleys
• From about $451 per person

Romantic Kona Coffee & Landing: Private Helicopter Tour

Supplied by Rainbow Helicopters

Best for: private romance / coffee landing

Rainbow’s Romantic Kona Coffee & Landing pairs a private Kona Coast scenic with a published ~20-minute coffee-farm landing, tasting and optional leis/chocolates. Based on format and group pricing, it is a proposal or celebration product — not a substitute for standard volcano sightseeing.

Why it ranks here: Specialty private romance charter with coffee-farm landing — priced per group (up to 3), not comparable to shared per-person sightseeing from-prices.

• Private charter with coffee-farm landing
• Published flight segment about 45 minutes
• From $4,340 per group (up to 3)
• Departs Rainbow Helicopters, Kona area