Doors-Off Helicopter Lava & Rainforests Adventure from Hilo in Big Island of Hawaii booking from $494.28

Doors-Off Helicopter Lava & Rainforests Adventure from Hilo

Overview

All guests weighing 270 lbs or more when weighed at check-in, will be required to purchase an additional empty seat less 15% before fuel surcharge to safely balance the aircraft. They will be guaranteed a window seat.
The doors-off Lava & Rainforests Adventure showcases the story of how Hawai‘i is inextricably linked to the elements. You will fly over Kīlauea, what was the most active volcano on earth, and continue towards the crater that was previously Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent. The windward side also catches enough rain to make Hilo the wettest city in the United States. All this water fills tunnels that once flowed with lava, creating incredible rivers, pools and waterfalls all over East Hawai’i. View Hilo’s lush rainforests, Mauna Loa’s vistas and the plunging Wai‘ānuenue (Rainbow Falls), so named for the rainbows you can see in the mist when the early morning sunshine hits the water.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Sun 20 Oct

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Starting at $494.28

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Sun 20 Oct

Starting at $494.28

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Two-way headset communication with your pilot

Live commentary on board

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children 8 yrs and older must sit in the front middle seat. Children 12 yrs and older may sit by an open door.
All pilots and aircraft are FAA-certified
Front seat guests CAN NOT EXCEED 330lbs combined weight.
All guests weighing 270 lbs or more when weighed at check-in, will be required to purchase an additional empty seat less 15% before fuel surcharge to safely balance the aircraft. They will be guaranteed a window seat.
Seating is assigned based on weight and balance following guidelines which have been approved by the FAA. We cannot guarantee seats as the weight of guests must be balanced within the aircraft.
Wheelchair accessible - if assistance is required, passenger must provide their own caregiver
Please notify Paradise Helicopters Reservations Department if travelers have health restrictions or serious medical conditions
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Mask Mandate is no longer in effect after March 26, 2022. However, all guests on state airport property will be required to wear a mask through 18 April 2022 per the TSA guideline. If guests appear to be experiencing any symptoms of illness, they may be asked to wear a mask or fly at another date.

What To Expect

Kilauea

Current activity at Kilauea Volcano

Rainbow Falls

Waterfalls of North Hilo

Pe'epe'e Falls

Waterfalls of North Hilo

Wai'ale falls

Waterfalls of North Hilo

Show 1 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (140)

wildflowergirl

Apr 2019

My first time in a helicopter and this was a ton of fun! We did the doors on option but now that I've been up, I think the doors off would have been great as well. There is not lava flowing on Hawaii right now but we saw the old flows from last year and it was amazing and also tragic to see the destruction. We circled a steaming caldera, saw some waterfalls and the beautiful sea below. Keith our pilot was knowledgable and fun to fly with. The tour was a bit short, but we had a great time! It was worth it to see things that you can't see from the ground. A unique tour for sure.

Response from Host

Jun 2019

Aloha wildflowergirl, We're so happy to hear that you guys enjoyed your time with us. The volcanic features on the Big Island are definitely a sight to behold! There's nothing quite like flying over an active crater and then enjoying the waterfalls in town. Experiencing the regrowth of a "living" island for yourself is an eye opening experience, and one that we're grateful to have shared with you. We hope that on your next trip to Hawai'i, we can help create even more memories for you and your loved ones! Mahalo, Victoria Taomia Front Desk Agent

SuperSal1

Mar 2019

We took this trip with friends to celebrate my partners 60th birthday- a first as we had never taken a helicopter trip before. Arrived at Hilo airport for the weigh/check in and were ushered into the waiting room. After a good 30 minute wait we were then advised we would have to wait another 30 minutes as there had been some refuelling issue earlier in the day. (Free T-shirts were offered to compensate.) We finally headed out to the landing area and were given our "safety briefing" as we ran along. Enjoyed the actual trip-especially the birthday boy who got to sit "up front" with the pilot. Was amazing to see inside the volcano crater (now only smoking) and to realise the full extent of the area impacted by the lava flow. The trip ended with a quick viewing of some waterfalls north of Hilo.Interesting commentary by our pilot during the course of the trip. Once on the ground- things deteriorated again- no one at the check in desk so people could reclaim their bags.They finally showed about 15 mins later- not good customer service- especially as we had already been delayed prior to the trip and had advised them that we had a dinner reservation to make on the other side of the island.

Response from Host

Jun 2019

Aloha SuperSal1, Thank you so much for your review. Reviews like this help us work to improve the services and experiences that we are offering to guests. We are always looking for avenues to improve. We try to allow for enough time for the pre flight process but unfortunately, sometimes we face unexpected obstacles. We will definitely be looking for ways to make unexpected wait times less of a hassle on our guests and to make the overall experience more enjoyable. We're glad that you guys enjoyed the flight, and that your first helicopter flight met your expectations. There's nothing quite like flying in the co pilot seat over a volcano, and in Hawai'i no less! We hope that we helped make some wonderful memories for this milestone year. We hope that on your next adventure to Hawai'i, we can make even better ones together. Mahalo, Victoria Taomia Front Desk Agent

StevieRay1989

Mar 2019

We booked this tour as the highlight of our Hawaii trip and honeymoon. The tour was booked through the resort and we asked for a CLOSED DOOR tour. Upon arrival we were ushered into the safety briefing where we were told that we had a CLOSED DOOR tour but the other couple was going to have an OPEN DOOR tour. I thought we were going to be in a larger helicopter but this was not to be the case. When we took off it was apparent that this was a bad idea. We spent the entire tour getting pelted by wind and rain from the open doors up front. All we could do was keep out heads down below the seats. Not a good experience at all. When we landed we were shocked that the ground crew thought we were joking about the horrible experience. I filed a complaint and asked for a full refund. I waited about two weeks before I finally called and asked about my complaint. The manager called me back a day or two later and said they were looking into the matter. After a few more days, responding via email he said he would refund only half of the tour. He said it was the agency's responsibility to let people know they split tours. I still don't understand how that is even possible but just be warned if you pay for a closed door tour you may spend your money to look at a floorboard.

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Doors-Off Helicopter Lava & Rainforests Adventure from Hilo

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