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Kailua-Kona Air & helicopter tours

Our most recommended Kailua-Kona Air & helicopter tours

Big Island: Kona Experience Hawaii Helicopter Tour

1. Big Island: Kona Experience Hawaii Helicopter Tour

Enjoy a true Hawaii experience with a premier helicopter adventure. You can explore all five volcanoes, hidden white and black sand beaches, lush waterfalls which cascade down 2,000-foot valley walls, breathtaking coastlines and 11 different climate zones. Hawaii is the largest of the islands, and thanks to Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, it’s still growing. Upon departure from Kona Airport, you will fly over the world-famous Kona coffee district and the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa. You can learn about the unique history, geology, and culture of the "big island" through a special two-way communication system that lets you ask questions and get to you know your pilot. Arriving over Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll start the hunt for red-hot lava at Kīlauea, the world’s most active volcano, and continue around the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent. In winter, you’ll see snow atop Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. You can also watch for the sun glinting off the handful of astronomical observatories positioned on Mauna Kea, where scientists have the best earthbound views of the universe. Afterwards, you will head toward toward East Hawaii’s lush rainforests and the incomparable Kohala valleys. The views here are so spectacular that even the pilots, who see them on a daily basis, often say this area is their favorite hidden gem to share with visitors and guests. Rounding out your trip, you’ll enjoy a birds-eye view of iconic beaches, including Hāpuna Beach and Kua Bay, consistently voted as some of the best beaches in the world.

Kailua-Kona: Volcano and Kohala Landing Helicopter Tour

2. Kailua-Kona: Volcano and Kohala Landing Helicopter Tour

See the immense beauty of Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. Depart from Kona International Airport for a helicopter tour over the Kona coffee district and towards Kohala. Explore the mountains with a special landing after skirting 3 towering volcanoes: Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa. Venture into the area surrounding Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to hunt out any current lava activity and see historic flows frozen in time. Sweep north to Hilo town and the lush rainforests of the east. Notice how the windward side of the island is transformed by the water caught by the mountains. Next, disembark deep in Kohala and walk the same fertile valleys that Hawaii’s King Kamehameha the Great did as a child. Learn about local legends, culture, and diverse wildlife in an area normally only accessible by hours of hiking. After exploring on the ground, take to the air again to view the drastic landscape change from windward to leeward, and see world-famous white-sand beaches and resorts on the route back to Kona.

Kailua-Kona: Kohala Coast & Waterfalls

3. Kailua-Kona: Kohala Coast & Waterfalls

Fly with Paradise to the Kohala valleys to hover amidst the breathtaking 2,500-foot waterfalls and sheer cliff faces. En route, you will witness frozen lava flows on the Kona and Kohala coasts from the 1801 Hualālai eruption and the 1859 Mauna Loa eruption, which traveled over 31 miles before reaching the coastline. Dotting the shoreline along the way, you can pick out pristine white and black sand beaches - including Mahai’ula, Kiholo, Anaeho’omalu and Hāpuna – to visit during your stay! Upon arriving to the lush landscape of Kohala, your pilot will not only show you its rugged coastline, home to dramatic valleys, but will also educate you about this region’s significance in Hawaiian history as the birthplace of Hawai’i’s most famous ali’i (nobility), Kamehameha the Great. Departing from the Kona International Airport, this 60-minute tour is a great choice for guests wanting to see the beauty of Kohala, without sacrificing beach time for drive time.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Kailua-Kona

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What people are saying about Kailua-Kona

Very nice sightseeing flight, we had a super nice day, but it wasn't a hike, it was a walk through the jungle with a sensational view of the cliffs. Everything was just perfect, the pilot told us a lot about his homeland and the lava and volcanoes! Class!

Darren, the pilot, was very knowledgeable and brought us through some of the most beautiful areas, turning so people on both sides of the helicopter were able to see and get some amazing pictures. The highlight of my vacation!