Big Island Helicopter Tour Compared: Volcano Flights or Kohala Valleys?
We earn a commission when you book through our links on Viator, at no extra cost to you. This is how we keep the site free. Learn more →
Two choices decide a Big Island helicopter tour. One is which coast the flight leaves from, and the other is whether the route points at Kīlauea or at the Kohala valleys.
Departure Side Decides the Day
Kona-side and Hilo-side departures are far apart, so if you book a flight on the other coast, the drive across the island becomes part of your day. None of the four listing descriptions on this page names its heliport, which is why I treat the heliport as the first thing to confirm before paying.
Skip any listing on this page if you cannot confirm that its heliport works for the side of the island you are staying on.
Kohala and Volcano Country in One Long Flight
The Kohala and volcano helicopter tour from the same operator's range is the long option here. The listing says it covers volcanic areas, rainforest, the Hāmākua Coast and the Kohala Mountain valleys. I would pick this listing for a traveller who has room for only one flight this trip and wants both route types in it. Skip this listing if your week is tight and one coast holds all your priority stops, since a shorter flight from your own side fits that kind of day more easily.
Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour
From $883 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Travellers wanting one long flight covering volcanic landscapes, the Hamakua Coast and Kohala valleys in an Airbus EC130.
Not for: Anyone prone to motion sickness or short on time, as this is a two-hour flight.
A two-hour helicopter tour in an Airbus EC130 covering volcanic areas, rainforest, the Hamakua Coast and Kohala Mountain valleys. Confirm the departure heliport, whether lava viewing is likely on your date, and weight limits.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
Volcano Flights and Kohala Valley Flights Compared
The volcano listings here aim at Kīlauea, rainforest and waterfalls. The Kohala listing aims at the Kohala Mountains, sea cliffs and Waipiʻo Valley.
The Kīlauea entry on Wikipedia sums up the volcano side: "Kīlauea is the most active of the five volcanoes that form Hawaiʻi Island and among the most active volcanoes on Earth." The northern end of the island is older ground. According to the Pololū Valley reference, "Kohala is the oldest of the five volcanoes that make up Hawaiʻi Island; Pololū Valley at its northern end is reached by a short graded trail to the valley floor."
I know the Kohala end from the ground. In March 2023, from the Pololū Valley lookout at the end of the road in Kohala, I watched rain squalls march down the green cliffs toward the sea. The wind smelled of salt and wet grass, and below me the waves broke white on the boulder beach, with their boom rolling up the valley walls a moment after each one landed. What I took from that: wear sturdy shoes if you go down the valley trail, because the rocks stay slick after the frequent showers. To me, that weather is part of the Kohala picture, and it is why I weigh the cancellation terms on any Kohala flight.
Waipiʻo is the other valley on these routes. According to the Waipiʻo Valley entry on Wikipedia, "The road into Waipiʻo Valley rises 800 feet in 0.6 miles at a 25% average grade; valley-floor access by road is limited to Big Island residents, county-permitted tour operators and those practicing Native Hawaiian customary rights." A flight is one way to see the valley without that road. I set out the full trade-off in Kohala vs volcano helicopter.
Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour for Hilo-Side Stays
The listing says this flight goes over Kīlauea, rainforest and waterfalls, and it mentions black-sand beaches too. The listing is aimed at travellers based near Hilo, and I steer Hilo-side guests who want a shorter flight with a free afternoon after it to Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour. Skip this listing if you are staying on the Kona side and have nothing else planned on the Hilo coast that day.
Big Island: Discover Hilo Helicopter Tour
From $519 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Travellers based near Hilo wanting a short helicopter flight over Kilauea, rainforest, waterfalls and black-sand beaches.
Not for: Anyone set on seeing lava, as the listing notes that volcanic activity varies hourly.
A 50-minute helicopter tour in an Airbus Eco-Star over Kilauea, rainforest and waterfalls, with flight video available to buy afterwards. Confirm the departure heliport, seating allocation and weight limits.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour for Valley-Only Days
The listing says it covers the Kohala Mountains, sea cliffs and Waipiʻo Valley, with pilot commentary through noise-cancelling headsets. I steer travellers whose priority stops are the northern valleys to Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour. The listing asks you to confirm its weather cancellation policy, and given what I saw from the Pololū lookout, I would read that policy before anything else. Skip this listing if Kīlauea is your reason for flying, because its description does not mention the volcano.
Kohala Waterfalls & Valleys Helicopter Tour
From $499 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Travellers wanting a shorter helicopter flight over Kohala waterfalls, sea cliffs and Waipi'o Valley with pilot narration.
Not for: Anyone hoping to see volcanic activity, as this route covers Kohala and Waipi'o Valley rather than Kilauea.
A 45-minute helicopter flight over the Kohala Mountains, sea cliffs and Waipi'o Valley, with pilot commentary through noise-cancelling headsets. Confirm the departure heliport, weight limits and the policy for weather cancellations.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
Kīlauea's Eruption and What a Flight Can Promise
None of the flights on this page can promise lava. According to the Kīlauea reference, "Kīlauea's current eruption began in December 2024 inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with episodic lava fountains that come and go rather than a constant lava lake." Before booking a volcano route for the lava, check the National Park Service updates for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
My own picture of that crater comes from the ground. In January 2025, at an overlook on the rim of Kīlauea's summit crater, I wrapped my hands around a thermos while the night settled in. A faint smell of sulfur drifted past on the wind. Down inside Halemaʻumaʻu, the glow pulsed orange against the steam, brighter than I had seen in years, and the crowd along the rail spoke in whispers. What I took from that: check the park's eruption updates before you drive up, since the fountains come and go and some nights show only steam.
The long Kohala and volcano listing tells you to confirm whether lava viewing is likely on your date, and I read that line as a fair warning. Skip a volcano route if lava is your only reason to fly and the park and observatory updates show a pause around your date. If you are still deciding between the air and the road, I compare them in volcano helicopter vs ground tour, and my volcano tours page covers the ground options.
Doors, Seats and Weight Limits Before You Pay
Before you compare two listings, name the variable that drives the price. On this page, that means route and flight length, seating, and whether the doors stay on or come off.
All four descriptions ask you to confirm the departure heliport and weight limits, so I would treat both as standard questions for any booking.
Kona Coast and Hualālai Flight With a Door Choice
The listing says this flight covers Kona coastline sites, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Hualālai Volcano, with doors off or on. I would pick the Kona Coast Hualālai listing for a Kona-side stay where the west coast is your priority. Skip this listing if Kīlauea or the Kohala valleys are your priority stops, because its description does not mention either one.
Kona Coast Hualalai Volcano-60Min Helicopter Tour-Door Off or On
From $640 · Price checked: Oct 2026
Best for: Travellers wanting a one-hour Kona Coast and Hualalai flight, with the option of doors off for open views.
Not for: Anyone hoping to see Kilauea or active lava, as this route stays on the Kona Coast and Hualalai.
A 60-minute helicopter tour over Kona coastline sites, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Hualalai Volcano, with doors off or on. Confirm which door option you are booking, the departure heliport and weight limits.
Check availabilityExternal booking on Viator · pricing and cancellations handled by Viator
The four product descriptions on this page do not mention pickup, park entry or a landing stop.
What to Check Before Booking a Big Island Helicopter Tour
Check four things before you pay: the departure heliport, the route against your priority stops, the cancellation terms, and how many days you leave for a reschedule. Weather can move air tours, so a flight booked for your last day leaves you no night to try again.
Similar names can mislead you. Two listings with close titles may cover different sites or leave from different places, so I compare the route line in each description and treat the title as a label.
My advice: put the flight early in your stay, on a day with nothing booked on the other coast, and read the cancellation terms with weather in mind.
Explore More
Related comparisons and guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which side of the Big Island do these helicopter tours leave from?
The descriptions here do not name the heliports, so ask the operator for the exact departure point before you pay.
Will I see lava from a Big Island helicopter tour?
A sighting cannot be promised, because the eruption runs in episodes that start and stop. Look at the National Park Service and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory updates in the days close to your flight.
Do any of these flights land somewhere?
The four product descriptions on this page do not mention a landing. If you care about a landing, ask the operator directly and get the answer in writing.
Which listing offers a doors-off flight?
On this page, only the Kona Coast and Hualālai listing mentions doors off, and it sells a doors-on version as well.
Is a flight the only way to see Waipiʻo Valley?
No, but road access to the valley floor is restricted under the rules described in the Waipiʻo Valley reference. A ground visit means going with a county-permitted tour operator, unless you qualify under one of the other exceptions.
Written from Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi. Check the National Park Service, state park and operator pages for current conditions before you go.
Keoni writes Big Island Tour Guide's tour comparisons using published tour details and official park and state sources. About Keoni.