Volcanoes, Waterfalls, And More! Aboard The Best Helicopter Tour On The Big Island Of Hawaii!

Wind, Surf, & Sun · 3 years ago

At a glance

Length
26 min
Channel
Wind, Surf, & Sun
Video from
Sep 2022
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Nature lovers and volcano enthusiasts planning a Big Island visit.

Overview of This Big Island Helicopter Adventure

This video documents a scenic Big Island helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours, specifically their "Big Island Spectacular" package. The creator joins pilot Toshi—nicknamed "Iceman"—for an aerial journey that showcases the island's most dramatic geological and natural features. The tour departs from the Blue Hawaiian Waikoloa base and covers multiple volcanic peaks, verdant valleys, and culminates in a landing near a major waterfall.

Throughout the flight, viewers experience perspectives of the island that are impossible from the ground, moving from high-altitude volcano flybys to intimate valley passages and a waterfall touchdown. The video captures the full arc of the experience, from takeoff through landing, giving potential tourists a realistic sense of what the tour entails and the variety of landscapes encountered during the roughly 25-minute adventure.

Key Moments

Key Highlights of the Big Island Tour Route

  • Departure from Blue Hawaiian's Waikoloa base with an experienced pilot
  • Flyby of Mauna Kea, one of the world's tallest mountains when measured from seafloor to peak
  • Views of Mauna Loa, the massive shield volcano dominating the island's interior
  • Extended aerial coverage of Kilauea volcano and its surrounding slopes
  • Flight through the lush, dramatic valleys of the Kohala region
  • Helicopter landing adjacent to a substantial waterfall, allowing for closer inspection
Featured image for the guide to Volcanoes, Waterfalls, And More! Aboard The Best Helicopter Tour On The Big Island Of Hawaii! by Wind, Surf, & Sun

Why This Helicopter Experience Matters

Hawaii's Big Island is one of Earth's most geologically active regions, and a helicopter tour offers access to landscapes and elevations that most visitors never reach on foot or by car. Seeing active volcanic terrain, pristine waterfalls, and remote valley systems from the air provides both a sense of scale and a scientific perspective on how the island was formed and continues to change. For travelers interested in geology, natural beauty, or simply experiencing Hawaii beyond standard resort activities, this type of tour bridges the gap between tourism and genuine exploration of the island's most remarkable features.

Common Questions About Big Island Helicopter Tours

What is included in the Blue Hawaiian "Big Island Spectacular" tour?

The tour includes flights over Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, passage through Kohala valleys, views of Kilauea volcano, and a landing near a waterfall. The entire experience operates from the Waikoloa base and is guided by an experienced pilot.

How long does the helicopter tour last?

Based on the video's chapter timeline, the complete experience from takeoff to landing spans approximately 25 minutes of flight and ground time combined.

Is this tour suitable for first-time helicopter riders?

The video presents the tour as a thrilling but standard commercial helicopter experience. Safety briefing and professional operation by Blue Hawaiian suggest it is designed for general tourism audiences, though individual comfort with flying and heights varies by person.

What makes the waterfall landing special?

The tour includes an actual landing near an enormous waterfall rather than only aerial views, allowing passengers to exit the helicopter and experience the location more directly and closely than would be possible from the air alone.

How does the pilot navigate through valleys and near volcanoes?

The video demonstrates that professional helicopter pilots employed by established tour operators like Blue Hawaiian are trained and licensed to fly safely through challenging terrain, including steep valleys and around active volcanic areas, using their expertise and knowledge of safe flight corridors.

A still from the video Volcanoes, Waterfalls, And More! Aboard The Best Helicopter Tour On The Big Island Of Hawaii! by Wind, Surf, & Sun
Check Tour Availability

Key Terms

Mauna Kea
A dormant volcano on the Big Island that ranks among the world's tallest mountains when measured from its base on the seafloor.
Mauna Loa
One of Earth's largest active shield volcanoes, located on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kilauea
An active volcano on the Big Island known for frequent eruptions and dynamic geological activity.
Shield volcano
A broad, gently sloped volcano formed by the eruption of low-viscosity lava that flows across wide areas.
Kohala
The oldest volcano on the Big Island, now known for its lush valleys and dramatic terrain.

Sources: Mauna Kea · Mauna Loa · Kilauea · Shield volcano · Kohala — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video is genuinely useful if you're considering a Big Island helicopter tour, because it shows the actual sequence of sites you'll see and gives you a real sense of pacing and visual variety throughout the flight. The creator's enthusiasm and the pilot's obvious expertise come through clearly, making the entire experience feel both exciting and professionally managed.

What stands out most is how the video balances the big-picture moments—flying over massive volcanoes—with intimate details like the waterfall landing, showing that the tour isn't just about altitude and scale but also about tangible, memorable experiences. This is a tour worth experiencing if you have the budget and interest in geology or aerial photography.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

I started Helicopterstour.com because I genuinely believe there’s no better way to see the world than from the sky. I used to work on the Pride of America cruise ship in Hawaii, helping guests book shore excursions all over the islands. Two Vacation Hero Awards 2,000+ Guests/Week Pride of America · NCL Hawaii Shore Excursions 1000+ Tours Reviewed

Video by Wind, Surf, & Sun on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.

Description

Join me on this thrilling adventure as we take to the skies on the big island of Hawaii! On this episode we'll be flying with Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours and doing the "Big Island Spectacular" tour. Together we'll get a whole new perspective of the Big Island from above! Our amazing pilot Toshi aka "Iceman" will fly us through lush jungle valleys, over the top of active volcanoes, and land us right next to an enormous waterfall! So buckle up and prepare yourself because this adventure will take you right into the Danger Zone!

===============Patreon Link===============
https://www.patreon.com/windsurfandsun

===============Social Media Link===============
https://linktr.ee/JordanRaven


00:00 Introduction
01:17 Takeoff from Blue Hawaiian Waikoloa Base
03:12 Mauna Kea Flyby
06:16 Mauna Loa Flyby
09:31 Kilauea Volcano
14:11 The Slopes of Kilauea
17:57 The Valleys of Kohala
20:30 Waterfall Landing
21:46 Landing at Blue Hawaiian Waikoloa base
24:10 Patreon
25:02 Next Episode Sneak Peak

Latest Helicopter News

How videos are chosen here

Every video on Helicopterstour.com is hand-picked and reviewed by Justin — nothing is added automatically. Each one gets an original written guide and an honest rating: ⭐ 1 out of 2 means a good video worth your time, and ⭐⭐ 2 out of 2 means a great one we would recommend to anyone. The videos belong to their creators — every page links back to the original channel so you can subscribe and support them.

Contact us