Paradise Helicopters
Soar above the Big Island's dramatic landscapes with Paradise Helicopters, offering unparalleled aerial views of active volcanoes, lush rainforests, and towering waterfalls.
- Scenic helicopter tours
- Views of active volcanoes and lava fields
- Views of waterfalls and lush rainforests
- Doors-off option available
Paradise Helicopters is a Big Island air-tour operator based in Kona, and it earns its place in an itinerary by showing travelers a side of the island that road trips cannot fully reach. From the air, the Big Island’s scale makes sense: volcanic craters, old lava fields, deep green valleys, black sand coastline, and rainforests that seem to change color every few minutes. For travelers using Kailua-Kona as a base, this is one of the clearest ways to turn a single outing into a sweeping look at the island’s geography.
Why the Kona departure stands out
The Kona base makes Paradise Helicopters especially useful for West Side itineraries, including cruise calls and resort stays along the Kohala Coast. It can function as a major half-day activity without demanding a long drive across the island first. That matters here, because helicopter tours are not casual quick stops: check-in, safety briefing, and the flight itself make this a real time block rather than an add-on.
From Kona, the route style leans toward the island-wide overview. Some itineraries are designed to take in the full perimeter of the Big Island, while others focus more tightly on volcanic terrain, waterfalls, and rainforest. That flexibility is the appeal. Instead of committing to one landscape or one region, the flight lets the island’s contrasts do the work.
Volcanoes, waterfalls, and the geometry of the island
The signature experience is the aerial perspective itself. Paradise Helicopters is known for flights over active volcanic areas, old and recent lava flows, remote coastline, and inland valleys that are hard to appreciate from the ground. Depending on the route, the scenery can include Kilauea’s volcanic landscapes, black sand beaches created by past eruptions, and high waterfalls dropping through dense forest.
One important tradeoff: volcanic viewing is never guaranteed in a literal sense. The island’s geology is the draw, but eruptive activity, lava visibility, and weather conditions change. The value of the flight is not just “seeing lava”; it is understanding how fire, water, and elevation shape the Big Island at a scale that land-based sightseeing rarely captures.
Some tours also offer doors-off aircraft, which can improve photography and create a more open, exposed feeling in the air. That option is better suited to travelers who are comfortable with a more adventurous setup and can keep gear secured.
How it fits into a Kona day
This activity works best as the centerpiece of a Kona day rather than something squeezed between errands. It pairs well with a relaxed morning or afternoon in Kailua-Kona, especially if the rest of the day is kept flexible for changing weather or timing. Cruise passengers and resort guests appreciate the convenience of the Kona departure, and the operator also runs from other Big Island bases, which makes it easier to match the flight region to the rest of the trip.
Because the experience is flight-dependent, it is smart to build in buffer time and avoid stacking it with tightly timed reservations elsewhere. Comfortable, dark clothing is a practical choice for reducing reflections in photos, and closed-toe shoes are sensible if a landing is part of the route. A light layer helps, since temperatures can feel cooler at altitude.
Best fit for travelers who want the Big Island at full scale
Paradise Helicopters is best for travelers who want a high-impact overview of the island and are comfortable paying for a premium experience. It is especially strong for first-time visitors, photographers, and anyone who wants to cover a lot of terrain without a long day of driving. Families can find it very accessible as an activity, and the ride is generally approachable for travelers who do not want a strenuous outing.
It is less ideal for budget-focused travelers, anyone uneasy with flying, or visitors who prefer to experience Hawaii entirely from the ground. For those travelers, the island’s lookouts, hikes, and coastal drives may feel more rewarding. But for a single, concentrated look at the Big Island’s volcanic and ecological range, Paradise Helicopters remains one of Kona’s most distinctive itinerary anchors.
