--- title: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters Discover Hilo Tour slug: blue-hawaiian-hilo-helicopter-tours type: attraction sub_type: helicopter tours source_url: https://www.tripster.com/detail/blue-hawaiian-hilo-helicopter-tours city: Hilo state: HI country: US address: 2650 Kekuanaoa Street geo: lat: 19.71993 lng: -155.04105 duration: up to 0.8 hrs cancellation_policy: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience. extracted_at: 2026-06-16T17:10:16.948Z price_from: amount: 449 currency: USD unit: per_adult availability: InStock rating: value: 4.5 count: 1681 scale: 5 ticket_options: - group: Other Options options: - name: Helicopter Tour price: 449 regular_price: 459 savings: 10 ticket_types: - name: General Passenger - Weigh up to 240lbs (2+ yrs) min_age: 2 - name: First Class Seat Passenger up to 470lbs (2+ yrs) min_age: 2 - name: Mandatory Comfort Seat - Over 240lbs (2+ yrs) min_age: 2 --- ## Overview Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers a stunning 50-minute aerial tour over Hilo’s breathtaking landscapes, including Kilauea volcano, lush rainforests, and cascading waterfalls. Soar above black-sand beaches and volcanic terrain in a state-of-the-art helicopter guided by experienced pilots, capturing unforgettable views of Hawaii’s natural beauty. ## What's Included - 50-minute helicopter tour over Hilo and surrounding landscapes - Flight in an ECO-Star helicopter with spacious cabin and superior comfort - Noise-canceling headsets and two-way communication with the pilot - Informative narration by a State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guide ## What's Not Included - USB video/photo packages available for purchase ## Ticket Options - **Helicopter Tour** — $449.00 (regularly $459.00, save $10.00) Ticket includes a 50-minute helicopter tour of Hilo's volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, and rainforests. Features live commentary, Bose noise-canceling headsets, and two-way pilot communication. Excludes photo packages and transport. Departs from Hilo Airport. - General Passenger - Weigh up to 240lbs (2+ yrs) - First Class Seat Passenger up to 470lbs (2+ yrs) - Mandatory Comfort Seat - Over 240lbs (2+ yrs) ## Good to Know - Tour duration is approximately 50 minutes. - Departs from Hilo International Airport. - Passengers over 240 lbs must purchase an extra seat. - Noise-canceling headsets are provided. - Two-way communication with the pilot is included. - Dark clothing is recommended to reduce reflections. - Avoid scuba diving 24 hours before the tour. - Flight routes may change due to weather. - USB video/photo packages are available for purchase. - Hats, bags, and extending camera handles are not allowed on board. ## Cancellation Policy Free Changes & Cancellations. See details upon selection. ## FAQs ### Where does Blue Hawaiian Helicopters Discover Hilo Tour depart? The Discover Hilo helicopter tour departs from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters' Big Island location at the Hilo International Airport, located at 2650 Kekuanaoa St, Hilo, HI 96720. ### What time should I check-in for the tour? Check-in is 45 minutes prior to your tour time. ### How long is this Big Island helicopter tour? The Discover Hilo volcano helicopter tour lasts approximately 50 minutes. ### What should we wear? Blue Hawaiian Helicopters' aircraft are temperature controlled, so dress comfortably. Wear solid dark-colored clothing to minimize your clothing reflection in your photos. Hats are not allowed around the helicopters as they can fly up into the rotors and damage the aircraft. ### Can I bring my camera? Yes. Even if you plan to buy the inflight video, you will not want to miss an opportunity to save these memories. ### Is anti-motion sickness medication recommended? Taking a precautionary anti-motion sickness medication is a good idea if you are particularly prone to motion sickness. However, Blue Hawaiian's flights are very smooth, and turns are slow and gentle. Most people do not experience motion sickness and do not need an anti-motion sickness medication. ### How much experience do the pilots have? All Blue Hawaiian Helicopters pilots are highly experienced. Each is required to obtain certification as a State of Hawaii Tour Guide. Blue Hawaiian is the only helicopter tour company in Hawaii with its state-of-the-art Flight Simulator. It is the only one that puts its pilots through annual factory and FAA recurrent training. ### Will we be the only ones in the helicopter? How is seating arranged? You will be sharing the flight with other guests. Couples and families are seated side-by-side as much as possible. They cannot guarantee particular seating as the FAA-approved “weight and balance” program often dictates it. However, visibility from every seat is excellent in both their A-Star and Eco-Star helicopters since there are no cabin partitions that would block part of the view, as in other types of helicopters. ### Does this tour have any weight restrictions? An adjacent, empty seat purchase is required for each guest weighing more than 240lbs. The charge for an adjacent empty seat is 50% off the regular tour price. This open seat ensures comfort for you and all of the guests on your flight. ### Will they make a video of our actual tour? Every flight is captured on a high-quality DVD. Each helicopter has four cameras; three external and one in the cabin. The video recording begins during the boarding process. You'll likely first see yourself on the video as you approach the aircraft for boarding. To orchestrate the most interesting video, the pilot chooses between the forward, side, or internal camera as the flight progresses. The cabin camera, for example, usually shows you right after lift-off. The recording is continuous until landing and includes digital quality music chosen to complement the changing scenery and the pilot's narration. The video is available for purchase right after you return from your flight. ## Reviews > Trip of a couple of firsts... Tip: 1) Helicopter company employees are trained to say that all seats have great views. That is true for the most part, but there really is nothing like sitting next to the pilot in the front! 2) Don't be afraid of doing your tour when it's rainy or cloudy. These types of conditions produce abundant waterfalls and the likelihood of seeing full circle rainbows from the sky. > — Tripster Customer, February 2025