Mauna Loa Helicopter Private Big Island Tour - Doors On & Off Flights from Kona

Strap yourself into a ride of a lifetime, up in the clouds, starting from Kona International Airport to admire the striking imagery of Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world in the last 30 years. Head towards the north to see Hilo, Big Island's largest city and the wettest region in the U.S. Then fly on to Hamakua Coastline’s wind-swept shorelines, tropical rainforests, and towering waterfalls. Float above Kohala Coast’s sacred valleys where only helicopters have access to over 2000-foot waterfalls. Your pilot will then wrap up your tour by gliding across the Kohala Mountain next to Gold Coast beach amidst ancient lava flows, lush greens, and sparkling oceans. Don’t miss out and reserve your spot now!

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Why do travelers choose this tour?

• Nature’s masterpiece - Soar above active volcanos, ancient valleys, tropical rainforests, the tallest waterfalls next to towering mountains, white sand beaches, and other iconic landmarks of Big Island.
• Doors-on or Doors-off - You have the option to upgrade to a doors-off flight and marvel at unobstructed views up in the skies. Children ages 7 to 11 years old should be in a doors-on flight. Kids who are 12 years old and above can join the doors-off tour.
• Morning tour - Choose between 8:00AM and 10:30AM to see the coastline revealing itself against the abundance of sunshine, ensuring you have plenty of time to explore the rest of Big Island.
• Maximum of 4 passengers - You can bring more people with you to the sightseeing adventure, compared to other tours that allow only 2 to 3 people onboard.
• Safe adventure - Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours has been operating since 2006 with trained and experienced pilots who are also flight instructors or work with EMS teams. They perform safety checks and orientation each time before departure. They are local experts who will answer any questions you might have during the tour.

What is the difference between the packages?

Doors-ON Flight Experience Hover above the most beautiful locations in Big Island including the most active volcanoes and ancient valleys on a 2-hour flight. All flights take place on a R66 helicopter with space for up to four passengers, with three guaranteed window seating.

• Availability: Daily
• Departure time: 8:00AM and 10:30AM
• Duration: 2 hours
• Capacity: Maximum of 4 passengers
• Minimum age: 7 years old
• Guaranteed window seats
• Kilauea, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hilo, Hamakua Coast, Kohala Valley, Pololu, Kohala volcano, white sand beaches, and historic temples

Doors-OFF Flight Experience Get a bird’s eye view of Big Island like never before starting from the East, heading to the North to West then back to your starting point.

Availability: Daily

Departure time: 8:00AM and 10:30AM

Duration: 2 hours

Capacity: Maximum of 4 passengers

Minimum Age: 12 years old

Guaranteed window seats

Upgrade for $250

Kilauea, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hilo, Hamakua Coast, Kohala Valley, Pololu, Kohala volcano, white sand beaches, and historic temples

Local expert tips

• Please check in 40 minutes prior to your flight time. Each passenger’s exact weight includes shoes, all clothing, personal belongings including camera equipment and purses.
• What to wear: On a doors-on flight, please wear dark outer layers to minimize reflection in the windows when you take photos. For doors-off flights, please wear a windproof jacket or any warm outer layer that has zippers. Avoid wind-susceptible clothing such as dresses and hooded items. In the winter, please wear long pants. Eyeglasses are permissible on the flight, but accessories like earrings should be taken off for maximum comfort while wearing headsets.
• Best time of the day to fly: Typically, the morning conditions are more favorable than in the afternoon for the best viewing experience.
• Best time to visit: Spring and summer offer the best climate for an aerial tour as Hawaii has plenty of sunshine at this time.
• The Big Island Experience sells out fast and accommodates last-minute booking.
• Take your medicine at least 1 hour before the flight if you’re prone to motion sickness.

Aircraft information

An R66 Robinson helicopter is equipped with the latest in navigation and surveillance technology. It has WESCAM MX-10, powered by Rolls Royce RR300 Turbine, with a horsepower of 300 for its turboshaft; 270-shaft horsepower for takeoff, and 224-shaft horsepower during flight.

Seating arrangement

Big Island flights are flown in an R66 helicopter, either doors-on or doors-off. Children ages 7 to 11 years old need to sit next to a closed door, while kids who are 12 years or older may sit next to an open door.

One passenger sits right next to the pilot at the front of the aircraft and there passenger will sit in the back. The are two window seats and one middle seat in the back for your family and friends. Whichever side you are seated on, your pilot will ensure you get all the best views possible.

For your safety, the tour does not permit lap seating. Each passenger, including your child, must be secured with a regular-sized seatbelt in his or her individual seat.

Restrictions

• Total weight per person cannot exceed 285lbs and total weight group cannot exceed 700lbs. All passengers plus carry-on items will be weighed at check-in. If the total group weight limit is exceeded, you will be subject to a $200 refueling fee.
• You may bring your personal belongings on the aircraft as long as they are lightweight and can be stored under the seat. Cell phones must be set to airplane mode.
• For doors-off flights, cameras and all other gadgets must be secured to a wrist strap or neck strap. Cell phones are permitted for picture-taking but must be set to airplane mode.

How to get there?

The tour departs from Kona International Airport, just a few minutes away from Uu St. and Kupipi St. towards Keahole Rd. along Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. There are parking spots in the area but are often limited, so please arrive early.