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Big Island · Operators

Best Helicopter Tour Operators on the Big Island

This page answers a different question than our tour rankings: which helicopter company should you book with on Hawaiʻi Island? We compare the operators in our research set by the products they offer, what they are best known for, and when each company is the clearer fit.

Looking for the best tour for a specific need? Start with Best Helicopter Tours on the Big Island or browse doors-off, Kīlauea, or photography.

Big Island helicopter companies at a glance

Big Island helicopter tour operators

Rainbow Helicopters

Best known for: Kona doors-on/off volcano and coastal flights

Rainbow Helicopters is the clearest doors-on/off operator in our Big Island set, with Kona-based products ranging from 45-minute coastal hops to 90- and 105-minute volcano / Kohala circuits, plus a specialty romantic coffee-landing charter.

Choose this operator if:

  • You want doors-on or doors-off flexibility from Kona
  • A dedicated Kīlauea doors-on/off circuit is on your shortlist
  • You are comparing shorter coastal hops against longer volcano flights
Kilauea Volcano Eruption 105 Min Helicopter Tour Doors Off or On

Kilauea Volcano Eruption 105 Min Helicopter Tour Doors Off or On

Doors-on/off volcano deep dive · 105 min · from $1,180

See current price & availability on Viator →
Kohala Coast Volcano Waterfalls-90 Min Heli Tour-Doors Off or On

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

Doors-on/off volcano + Kohala waterfalls · 90 min · from $895

See current price & availability on Viator →
Kona Coast Hualalai Volcano-60Min Helicopter Tour-Door Off or On

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

Mid-length Kona & Hualālai · 60 min · from $640

See current price & availability on Viator →
Kona Coastal Sights Unseen - 45Min Helicopter Tour - Doors Off/On

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

Shorter doors-on/off Kona coast · 45 min · from $590

See current price & availability on Viator →
Romantic Kona Coffee & Landing: Private Helicopter Tour

Romantic Kona Coffee & Landing: Private Helicopter Tour

Private romance / coffee landing · 65 min · 45 min flight · from $4,340/group

See current price & availability on Viator →

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours - Big Island of Hawaii

Best known for: Private Kona circuits including Kīlauea and Kohala waterfalls

Mauna Loa appears in our set with private-focused Kona products: a full ~2-hour Big Island Experience including Kīlauea, a private Magical Waterfall Kohala circuit, and a short all-window Kona Coast hop.

Choose this operator if:

  • You want a private cabin rather than a shared departure
  • Window seating for your group matters
  • You are comparing private volcano vs private waterfall specialties
Private Big Island Experience: 3 of 4 Window Seats

Private Big Island Experience: 3 of 4 Window Seats

Private full-island circuit · 120 min · from $671

See current price & availability on Viator →
Private Magical Waterfall Tour

Private Magical Waterfall Tour

Private Kohala waterfall valleys · 75 min · from $451

See current price & availability on Viator →
Private Kona Coast Helicopter Tour: All Window Seats

Private Kona Coast Helicopter Tour: All Window Seats

Private short Kona intro · 30 min · from $241

See current price & availability on Viator →

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Waikoloa

Best known for: Waikoloa Spectacular, Kohala valleys and exclusive landings

Blue Hawaiian’s Waikoloa base covers the Spectacular island overview, exclusive waterfall landings, and shorter Kohala valleys products — especially convenient for Kohala / Waikoloa resort stays.

Choose this operator if:

  • Waikoloa departure logistics fit your stay
  • You want a large established Eco-Star sightseeing brand
  • Exclusive waterfall landing packages are on your shortlist
Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

Shared island overview from Waikoloa · 105 min flight · from $883

See current price & availability on Viator →
Exclusive Landing with Spectacular Big Island Helicopter Tour

Exclusive Landing with Spectacular Big Island Helicopter Tour

Island overview + waterfall landing · 140 min · from $1,150

See current price & availability on Viator →
Kohala Waterfalls with Exclusive Landing Helicopter Tour

Kohala Waterfalls with Exclusive Landing Helicopter Tour

Kohala landing experience · 70 min · from $766

See current price & availability on Viator →
Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour

Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour

Shorter Kohala valleys from Waikoloa · 45 min · from $499

See current price & availability on Viator →

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters – Hilo

Best known for: Hilo volcano and waterfall Eco-Star flights

Blue Hawaiian’s Hilo products in our set focus on volcano park scenery (Discover Hilo / Circle of Fire) and Hāmākua / Kohala waterfall valleys — useful when you are already on the east side.

Choose this operator if:

  • Hilo departure is more convenient than Kona or Waikoloa
  • You want Blue Hawaiian’s Eco-Star experience on the Hilo side
  • You are comparing Hilo volcano vs Hilo waterfall specialists
Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour

Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour

Hilo volcano & crater scenery · 50 min · from $519

See current price & availability on Viator →
Hilo Waterfalls Experience Helicopter Tour

Hilo Waterfalls Experience Helicopter Tour

Hilo-side waterfall valleys · 60 min · from $563

See current price & availability on Viator →

Safari Helicopters

Best known for: Hilo Volcanoes National Park Safari

Safari Helicopters appears with a Hilo Volcanoes National Park Safari — positioned as a family-run, park-focused flight at a clearer value from-price than many island-crossing products.

Choose this operator if:

  • You specifically want a Hilo park-focused volcano flight
  • A mid-range from-price volcano specialist fits better than Kona crossings
  • You are comparing Safari against Blue Hawaiian Hilo
Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

Hilo volcano value · 55 min · from $406

See current price & availability on Viator →

Operator comparisons

Rainbow Helicopters vs Blue Hawaiian (Waikoloa)

This comparison helps travelers decide between Kona doors-on/off volcano circuits and Waikoloa Eco-Star island overviews with optional landings.

Rainbow Helicopters may be the better fit if:

  • Doors-on or doors-off flexibility matters
  • Kona departure is convenient
  • You want a dedicated Kīlauea doors-on/off listing

Blue Hawaiian Waikoloa may be the better fit if:

  • Waikoloa / Kohala resort departure is convenient
  • You prefer Eco-Star glass sightseeing
  • Exclusive waterfall landing packages appeal

Choose Rainbow when cabin format and Kona doors-on/off volcano depth are the decision; choose Blue Hawaiian Waikoloa when departure base and Spectacular / landing framing matter more.

Rainbow Helicopters vs Mauna Loa

Both can cover Kīlauea from Kona, but Rainbow emphasizes doors-on/off shared products while Mauna Loa emphasizes private cabin experiences.

Rainbow Helicopters may be the better fit if:

  • Shared doors-on/off sightseeing is enough
  • You want multiple duration options in one doors-on/off family
  • Open cabin matters more than private exclusivity

Mauna Loa may be the better fit if:

  • Private cabin use is non-negotiable
  • Window seating for your group matters
  • You want a private volcano or private waterfall specialty

Choose Rainbow for doors-on/off shared volcano value; choose Mauna Loa when private cabin exclusivity is the point.

Blue Hawaiian Hilo vs Safari Helicopters

Both serve Hilo-side volcano seekers, with different brand and product emphasis in our set.

Blue Hawaiian Hilo may be the better fit if:

  • You want Eco-Star Discover Hilo / Circle of Fire framing
  • You may also compare a Hilo waterfall specialist from the same brand
  • A large established brand matters

Safari Helicopters may be the better fit if:

  • You want a park-focused Safari listing at a clear value from-price
  • Family-run operator positioning appeals
  • Volcanoes National Park is the sole goal of the flight

Compare live itineraries and from-prices side by side — both can answer a Hilo volcano search, but product framing and inclusions differ.

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