Paradise Helicopters

Amazing experience. Touring the island by helicopter gives you a whole new perspective on the beauty and diversity of this island. Paradise Helicopters and the pilot, Koji, provided a great experience.

Terrible experience. Drove 6 hrs round trip across 2 attempts. Weather cancelations both times. They do an extremely poor job of calibrating customer expectations. — the first time they canceled after the safety briefing! My kids thought they were ready to go and were utterly disappointed. They are so overbooked they cannot reschedule on same day flights. Would not attempt again.

Just did a custom tour landed at waterfalls and then the zip line. Darren is a great pilot! It’s worth every penny! ! Spend the money — you won’t regret it!

Went here for the volcano and waterfall extreme with doors off. Was very disappointed. Weather was not nice yet we still flew out. All clouds and slight rain. Barely saw any lava (yes that is hit or miss) but don’t say we are seeing a waterfall when it’s something you can drive too. In tiny font you will find that the bigger waterfall is the Kona side. Rather have spent the money on a different activity.

We took a sunset tour with these guys. It was amazing. Everything from the booking, preflight info, the flight itself was amazing.
Chris was our pilot and he made the tour very special. Not only flying but also the tour info that he gave, fielded many questions, and made it really fun. It was meant to be just over 2 hours but he spent even more time in the air.
And at the end, there was a cloud blocking the sunset so he zoomed up so we could see the sun go down behind the clouds. I highly recommend this company.

Wow! Unbelievable experience! I took my husband on a heli/​waterfall tour with Paradise for his birthday. Our pilot, Darren (sp?) was fantastic. Very informative. He made sure all passengers were able to see what he was talking about. We even had the opportunity to go doors open on a couple of different locations. I was very nervous as I’ve never been in a helicopter before and not knowing if I would get motion sick. The entire Paradise staff from booking to check-​in and safety instruction, were friendly reassuring and knowledgeable. Since we did the waterfall tour, we landed and were dropped off with an experienced guide who led us on a moderate hike to see some amazing waterfalls. We even had the opportunity to swim in one, my husband’s birthday wish. I would do this again in a heartbeat and highly recommend to anyone.

Incredible experience, worth every dollar. Our pilot could not have been any better. Our 3 hour heli tour around Kona was the highlight of our trip. Thank you Paradise Helicopters.

What a fantastic experience we had today with Paradise Helicopter! This was our 1^st time and they definitely made it the best. We got to see the beautiful waterfalls and active flowing lava volcanoes! It was such an amazing sight to see. Our pilot did an awesome job at finding those lava spots for us. We were able to capture spectacular pictures and had such a scenic ride. This is a must do when you’re in Kona. To top it off, we received a free tank top and tshirt for checking in. Great souvenir to remember our trip.

My wife and I did the 3 hour complete island tour with a stop in the Waipio and Waimanu valleys a couple of Wednesdays ago. Even though everyone always says that you have to take the helicopter tour of the Big Island, I wasn’t really planning on doing it during my trip there. However my in-​laws planned on doing it and even though I can be cheap at times, I eventually got talked into it. I am really glad that I did as I think it was my favorite part of the vacation. Our helicopter tour started in Kona and flew up the through the saddle area between Mauna Kea and Muana Loa. From there we headed towards Volcanoes National Park where we got a glimpse of both the lava fountain in the crater as well as some of the slower lava flows heading down the mountain. Our pilot made sure that both sides of the helicopter got great views of everything. From there we headed up past rainy Hilo and into the Waipio and Waimanu valleys. This was my favorite part of the tour as the valley was super lush and the many waterfalls coming off of the cliffs were simply amazing. Our pilot showed off his skill here as he took us pretty far into a couple of different valleys before eventually taking us back out. There was rain in the normal landing spot on the day that we did the tour and so he ended up taking us to their alternate landing spot on the point just outside one of the valleys instead. Once on the ground we were able to hike up to a waterfall and our pilot brewed us some coffee. After spending around an hour on the ground we all headed back into the helicopter and set off for the Kona airport. During the whole trip our pilot was giving us very detailed information about where we were, the history of Hawaii, etc.
The bottom line for me is that I would do this tour again in the future. While it certainly is pricey, I feel like it was well worth it. You get an experience on this tour that you just can’t get at ground level and also get a ton information from the pilot.

We did the volcano and waterfall tours with Paradise and loved it! They are a great tour operator and everything was smooth and professional from the front desk all the way to end of debriefing. The total time in the air was roughly 45 – 50 mins and we got to see some spectacular scenery, stuff that you cannot see without a helicopter. We got to see a few areas of actual lava flow.
We chose to do the Doors Off and loved it! Would highly recommend Doors Off option. Paradise is the only operator doing the doors off. It’s a little noisier but you can actually feel the air and the heat from the lava flow when you fly over it.
Our pilot, Peter, was great. He made sure everyone on both sides of the helicopter got to see all the attractions.
At the check-​in counter, we met LeiLani and Carlos, who were both great and answered all our questions/​concerns.

Absolutely FIVE STARS PLUS!!! Joyce, our pilot, gave us a fabulous tour of lava and waterfalls. This activity was a highlight of our trip. This is a must do. The staff are very, very kind and helpful. They were helpful in getting us to the proper location also. I highly recommend Paradise Helicopters!

What an incredible experience! This is a must do and a great company. We did the doors off ride and hands down that is THE way to go!!! Feeling the wind up high, being able to see the lava flow with no window obstructions!!! Rob was our pilot and he was fantastic! He made sure both the right and left side of the helicopter got to see the breathtaking sights! We saw a lot of lava flowing, even felt the heat as we flew over! He pointed things out as we flew over!
Booking was super easy and we got a little discount! Check in was easy and the staff was friendly. The movie in the waiting room was awesome! All around a fantastic experience. So glad we booked our trip with them! Smallest helicopters! My fiancé and I had the 2 seats in the back, so nobody sits in the middle, which is a huge plus! The other couple sat in the front with the pilot who also had great views!

Waterfall Heli-​Trek:
Day of flight operations were excellent. We arrived and were quickly checked-​in, offered coffee and water, and briefed on seating arrangements. The ground staff was quick and efficient. Dan our pilot (and US Army veteran) ran through our flight plan with a topo map describing Hawaii itself and how the weather here works, volcano layout, and what we should expect to see.
Boarding was quick and we were in the air after the usual checks. We had EXCELLENT weather on both sides of the island so can’t promise you the same but our flight gave great views of the Kīlauea vent and the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō flow where we saw decent action. Clear weather was great and for that a morning flight like ours is apparently better.
We next travelled past Hilo while Dan described the hows and whys of the land. We travelled up the coast entering some beautiful valleys to view waterfalls which were epic. We had good enough weather to get further up country than normal.
Finally we landed and met Joe from Hawaii Forest & Trail in a serious back country vehicle with other hikers. We enjoyed a nice loop through the North Kohala hills visiting waterfalls, flumes used to send water down country for cane production before the sugar collapse, and even a terraced farm used by Hawaiians some time in the distant past (restored by HF&T). We took a swim under a waterfall and had lunch at a great spot along the coast. The hike is not for you if you have bad knees, are wearing flip-​flops, or are mostly sedentary. You don’t need ropes but stairs, slopes and wet ground are certain.
Paradise met us again in Hāwī apologizing profusely for email communications problems with our booking. They clearly want to be the best and fix any issues affecting customer service. Much appreciated and very impressive.
This is an perfect tour with a little of everything Big Island and a must for the volcano/​waterfall lover.

Flew the Circle Island sunset tour with Koji. Very good tour. Koji was awesome. Saw waterfalls, a crashed bomber from WWII, flowing lava from the Puu Ōō vent and lava in Kilauea itself, at about 8200 feet. There is a fair amount of monotonous time spent between the high points, so be prepared. The best seats are the two outside rear seats facing forward and the co-pilot’s seat. Fair warning: Those prone to motion sickness or claustrophobia may want to take remedies prior to take off.

Today was absolutely amazing!
It started with Cedrick (ground crew) who made me feel completely at ease and welcomed when I arrived to check in.
It continued through his safety overview where I felt safe and cared for.
Our pilot, Joel, made the flight smooth and effortless.
I normally suffer from motion sickness and yet I NEVER ONCE felt at ease or uncomfortable.
His communication skills are comforting, knowledgeable and reassuring.
The views from the air were astounding, the rest stop was refreshing and the entire experience was FANTASTIC!!!
I would recommend Paradise Helicopters to EVERYONE I know!!!
Thank you Paradise Helicopters for a wonderful experience!

Wow, talk about customer service. I took a total chance on using this company to book a special trip for my husband’s birthday and they literally blew us both away in terms of ease of booking and the whole experience entirely.
I recommend booking the full day tour if you are thinking about booking the helicopter trip to Hilo. For a $ 100 bucks more Paradise will arrange an 8 hour tour of Volcano’s park so you don’t have to worry about renting a car and figuring it out yourself.
The helicopter was amazing. Our pilot Danny took us super close to the Lava on the mountain and we were able to see multiple areas of devastation and Lava waterfalls. On the way back he took us to amazing spots on to see waterfalls.
The helicopter is spacious and you get to wear headsets to talk to each other and the pilot. Danny was well versed in the area and was a great tour guide. He was funny and super nice.
Bring a bag if you need to because there is storage in the rear of the helicopter.
I cannot wait to book another tour with this company and I highly recommend you do the same if you are questioning what helicopter company to go with for your tour.

The staff is awesome! They were able to book us same day. The people we were with were friendly and I sat in the middle seat next to my bf so I got to see both sides of the helicopter. I was initially worried but that seat was pretty good. They try to distribute the weight evenly in the helicopter and match people up so the helicopter is even. Marco was awesome and took us close to the lava and we saw real lava up close and person and went to around the top of the volcano. We also saw humpback whales (mom and baby) over the ocean on the way back. 45 minutes is plenty of time in the helicopter.
The staff is really awesome. The Asian female at the counter recommended we go to Richardson Park to see the turtles and that was awesome! It became our favorite park on the island!

AWESOME!
So, this was my first helicopter ride.
I’ve always been leery of these things since «way back when» they used to crash a lot. And by «a lot» … I mean, I heard they did… as in rumors and second hand knowledge.
Anyways… I’m a convert and BIG Fan thanks to Paradise Helicopters and Marco!
So… the day started out windy and only got windier. So my nerves were pretty thin by the time we got in the bird, but I was playing it cool.
They do the safety briefing prior to going out to the tarmac. It’s like a 20 minute affair. It’s much more in depth than the one you get on the plane. They warn you of possible motion sickness and give you ginger candy. I’m not prone to this, but wasn’t taking any chances so definitely grabbed some ginger candy just in case.
The helicopter seating is a pretty tight fit. You don’t get to pick your seats. They have to balance the craft so you sit where they tell you.
On their helicopters, there are 3 forward seats in the back (2 windows and 1 middle), 2 backward facing seats (both window seats) and 1 seat next to the pilot. I think that’s the best seat in the house, and my FIL lucked out and got that seat.
Like I said, it’s a snug fit. So, I highly recommend you do NOT bring extra stuff like purses or backpacks. Bring your camera and that’s all.
Our tour was the 2 hour excursion that covered the perimeter of the island.
We lifted off and you could barely feel the movement of take-​off. (Mind you… it was super windy outside so Marco did an amazing job of keeping it steady and smooth.)
While Marco is piloting, he is also your tour guide telling you stories and bits of history. Ask him lots of questions, he’s got lots of info to share.
We saw whales and lava! Tour was a success! They don’t guarantee either, but Marco was determined to find both for us. We circled and zig zagged the lava area for a little bit in pursuit of some lava. And while it was a bit hard to find and see, we found it and he did a few figure 8s over the area so that everyone could see it a couple times. I wanted to do more figure 8s, but I think some of the passengers were getting queasy. I loved it!
The waterfalls and coastline are so much different from the air and so much different when you can get up close and personal with a cliffside. Wow! Totally majestic!
If I get a chance to do another helicopter tour, I’m totally doing it.
Thanks, Marco and Paradise Helicopter for an Amazing tour and experience!

What an experience!
We stayed at the Big Island for 6 nights, and I planned this as the first activity on our first full day on the island. What a way to start things off!
We were picked up by Paradise Helicopters at our hotel in Kona and driven to the airport by an amiable gentlemen at 6:45 in the morning.
We checked in, and after a quick safety talk, review of the route, handing out of ginger candies (for nausea) and a potty break, we boarded the 6-​seater helicopter around 8:00. They let you know where to sit, probably based on your weight and if you opted for preferred seating (we did), but there’s really no bad seat in the heli since it’s so small. We were on the flight with an Asian couple and a couple from Australia, who had done it before but loved it so much they decided to do it again. We chose the Hawaii Experience, and it was nearly 2 hours of awesomeness.
Marco, our pilot, was extremely knowledgeable about Hawaii’s history and the landscape that we were flying over. He was as excited about the wonderful weather as we were — not a cloud in the sky! We were truly lucky. Based on what I observed from the big island’s weather pattern, I’d recommend doing this flight as early as possible, as it can get quite cloudy in the afternoons.
One important note: be sure to heed their advice regarding wearing dark clothing — if you don’t, all of your pictures will just be of your light clothing reflecting on the helicopter’s glass! Thankfully, we didn’t have to worry about that on our flight.
Marco was happy to answer questions during the flight, and gave us so many interesting tidbits about what we were seeing, it was awesome! When we got to the summit of Kilauea, my mind was blow. A flow of lava had just begun 2 days before our flight, and it was amazing to see the quickly flowing lava. Unfortunately that same flow is now threatening to devastate parts of Hawaii :-\ but at the time, it was just incredible to see.
Marco is cognizant of the two sides of the plane and always made sure to fly around 360 at good points of interest so that everyone could get a good look and snap some pictures. I began to feel a little nauseated thanks to my stupid self putting my ginger candies in my camera bag, which was then put in the cargo hold of the helicopter before the flight, but no one on my flight got actually sick. It was a relatively smooth ride — except when Marco picked up the pace big time to show us a crashed B-​52 bomber in the forest before the clouds rolled in and covered it – which he did amazingly, with seconds to spare before there were clouds! It was awesome to see and we all appreciated the effort.
The views are breathtaking — the lava, the volcanoes, the landscape, the waterfalls, the ocean, everything — Hawaii is beautiful (although the Big Island is not all that lush) and this is the PERFECT way to see it all. Worth every penny.

Fantastic experience, fantastic company!
We did the «doors off» tour, which is one of the shorter, more affordable trips. It’s also one of the most exciting, as you fly in a helicopter with the doors off. It’s exhilarating!!! You pass over volcanos and waterfalls, and also see dried lava flows and some amazing costal views.
One thing I like about Paradise is they have more reasonable rates concerning heavier passengers. My husband was 260, and some places wanted to charge him 2 tickets! I can understand a fuel surcharge, but that’s a bit overkill. Paradise charges $ 25 for the 250 range, and it guarantees you a window seat. (The seats by the windows are larger). Not only is that totally reasonable, but with the doors off, I decided I wanted to be by the window too, and also paid for the upcharge. It was well worth it.
The pilot was very knowledgeable and shared a lot with us. He answered all our questions, and banked around so that each person got great photo ops of all the different views. At the end of the flight you get a pic (with your camera) with your pilot and helicopter.
Paradise was very easy to work with, but we worked through an Expedia concierge, which may have made it easier.