A Hawaii helicopter tour is a sightseeing flight that shows you the parts of an island you cannot reach by road: Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and Mount Waialeale, Oahu’s windward cliffs, or the lava fields of Kilauea on the Big Island. We took the lowest listed price for all eight helicopter tours we sell, so you can see what a flight costs before you book. Prices checked October 26, 2026.
Quick Answer: A helicopter tour in Hawaii costs $191 to $395 per person for an island sightseeing flight in 2026. Four things set the price: the island, the flight length, doors-on or doors-off, and whether the cabin is private. The cheapest is a short doors-off flight on Kauai at $191, and a private flight of about an hour costs $359 on Kauai or $395 on Oahu. Volcano tours on the Big Island that pair a flight with a ground tour cost $630 to $899.99, and a full volcano day from Oahu or Kauai costs $1,190 to $1,499.99.
Fun Fact
- Cheapest flight: doors-off over Kauai’s interior, $191
- Cheapest private flight: Kauai, 50 to 60 minutes, $359 per person
- Oahu: private 60-minute island flight, $395 per person for 2 to 4 guests
- Big Island volcano: helicopter plus ground tour from Hilo $630, from Kona $899.99
- Volcano day from another island: $1,190 to $1,499.99
- Maui: we do not list a Maui helicopter tour right now
How We Got These Prices
We sell all eight of these helicopter tours, and each one is booked through the operator’s FareHarbor calendar on our site. On October 26, 2026 we took the lowest price listed on every tour’s booking page, along with its length, what is included and how the price is quoted.
Most prices are per person. The private Oahu flight is priced per person but needs two to four guests, and the volcano tours that start on Oahu or Kauai include a day on the Big Island, so they are not comparable with a one-hour island flight. We split them out in the tables below.
Hawaii Helicopter Tour Prices: All 8 Tours Compared
This is the table to start with. Every helicopter tour we sell, cheapest first.
| Tour | Island and start | Price from | Length | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doors-Off Helicopter Tour of Kauai Hughes MD500, doors removed | Kauai | $191 | About 15 minutes of flight time | Per adult |
| Private Helicopter Tour of Kauai Route set with the pilot | Kauai | $359 | 50 to 60 minutes | Per adult, private cabin |
| Private VIP Helicopter Tour of Oahu Doors on or off | Oahu, Honolulu Airport | $395 | 60 minutes | Per person, 2 to 4 guests |
| Hilo Volcano Helicopter Tour Ground tour plus 45-minute flight | Big Island, Hilo Airport | $630 | 10.5 hours (45-minute flight) | Adult, child and infant |
| Volcano Helicopter Tour from Kona Flight plus cross-island ground tour | Big Island, Kona airport | $899.99 | 10 hours | Per adult |
| Private Volcano Helicopter Tour from Oahu Kilauea by air and on foot | Oahu to Big Island | $1,190 | Full day | Per guest, ages 3 and up same rate |
| Private Volcano Helicopter Tour from Kauai Kilauea by air and land | Kauai to Big Island | $1,190 | 10 hours | Adult and child |
| Big Island Volcano Tour from Oahu Inter-island flights included | Oahu to Big Island | $1,499.99 | 14 hours | Adult and child |
Two things stand out. First, the price jumps once a volcano is involved, because a volcano tour is a full day with a ground tour, lunch and park entry, not just a flight. Second, the two private island flights cost almost the same on Kauai and Oahu, at $359 and $395 for about an hour.
Helicopter Tour Prices by Island
| Island | Sightseeing flight | Volcano tour | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai | $191 to $359 | $1,190 (day trip to the Big Island) | Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, Mount Waialeale’s crater and waterfalls you cannot reach by land |
| Oahu | $395 | $1,190 to $1,499.99 (day trip to the Big Island) | Waikiki, the windward coast, the North Shore and Pearl Harbor |
| Big Island | None listed | $630 to $899.99 | Kilauea and the lava fields of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, plus a ground tour |
| Maui | None listed | None listed | We do not list a Maui helicopter tour at the moment |
Kauai is the island most people pick for scenery. Much of the interior has no roads, so a flight is the only way to see the crater walls of Mount Waialeale and the waterfalls inside it. Our guide to helicopter tours by island compares the routes in more detail.
Oahu is about the city and the coast: Waikiki and Diamond Head, the windward cliffs, the North Shore and a slow pass over the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
The Big Island is about the volcano. Both of our Big Island tours pair a flight over Kilauea with a full ground tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, so you see the lava fields from above and the craters and lava tubes on foot.
Maui has no helicopter tour on our site at the moment. If you are staying on Maui and want to see the volcano, our guide to volcano helicopter and ground combo tours explains how the Big Island options work.
Doors-Off vs Doors-On: Does It Cost More?
Not on our tours. The cheapest flight we sell, at $191 on Kauai, is a doors-off flight, and the private Oahu flight lets you choose doors on or doors off at no extra cost. Doors off means no glass between you and the view, which is why photographers like it, but it is louder and windier, and you cannot carry loose items in the open cabin.
The Kauai doors-off flight has a minimum age of 10. Read our guide to doors-off helicopter tours in Hawaii before you book if you have never flown with the doors removed.
What Your Money Buys at Each Price Level
| Budget per person | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under $200 | A short doors-off flight over Kauai’s interior, around 15 minutes in the air | Photographers and anyone who wants the open-door feeling on a budget |
| $350 to $400 | A private 50 to 60 minute flight on Kauai or Oahu, with your group alone in the cabin | Couples and families who want a full island loop and a window seat each |
| $600 to $900 | A full volcano day on the Big Island: a helicopter flight over Kilauea plus a guided ground tour of the park | Big Island visitors who want to see the volcano from above and on foot |
| $1,190 and up | A volcano day from Oahu or Kauai, with a flight over Kilauea and a ground tour on the Big Island | Visitors staying on one island who still want to see the volcano |
Costs the Ticket Price Doesn’t Show
- Weight limits. Seats are weight-balanced on every helicopter. The private Oahu flight allows up to 285 lb per seat, the private Kauai flight lists 275 lb per passenger for a group of two, and the volcano day from Kauai allows up to 300 lb. If you are near the limit, check before you book.
- Minimum group size. The private Oahu flight needs at least two people and takes up to four.
- Inter-island flights. The 14-hour volcano tour from Oahu includes round-trip flights to the Big Island. For the other volcano days from Oahu and Kauai, confirm the flight and pickup times with the operator after booking.
- Getting to the heliport. The Hilo volcano tour includes transport from Hilo Airport, and the Kona tour flies round trip from the Kona airport. For island flights, plan your own way to the departure point and arrive early: the private Kauai flight asks you to check in 40 minutes before departure.
- Weather. Every operator can delay or cancel a flight for weather at the pilot’s discretion, so avoid booking on your last day.
Helicopter Tours with Kids: Ages and Prices
Children pay the same as adults on most helicopter tours, because each child takes a seat. The private volcano day from Oahu charges $1,190 for adults and children aged 3 to 11 alike, and the Hilo volcano tour quotes one rate for adults, children and infants.
Age limits vary. The private Oahu flight recommends children aged 6 and over who weigh at least 30 lb, the volcano day from Kauai takes children from age 3, and the doors-off Kauai flight needs passengers to be at least 10.
Can You See Lava from a Helicopter?
Sometimes. All of our volcano tours fly over Kilauea and the lava fields, but visible lava depends on what the volcano is doing on the day, and no operator guarantees it. Flight paths change with volcanic activity and weather. If seeing glowing lava matters most, ask the operator about current activity before you book, and read our guide to volcano tours from Kona vs Hilo to choose your starting point.
Our Take
How to Pick in 30 Seconds
- Lowest price: the doors-off Kauai flight at $191.
- Best full island flight: the private Kauai flight at $359, or the private Oahu flight at $395 if you are staying in Waikiki.
- Seeing the volcano, staying on the Big Island: the Hilo volcano helicopter tour at $630, or the Kona version at $899.99 if you are on the Kona side.
- Seeing the volcano from Oahu or Kauai: a Big Island volcano day trip, from $1,190.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a helicopter tour in Hawaii?
A helicopter tour in Hawaii costs $191 to $395 per person for an island sightseeing flight in 2026, based on the eight tours we sell. Volcano tours on the Big Island that combine a flight with a ground tour cost $630 to $899.99, and a volcano day from Oahu or Kauai costs $1,190 to $1,499.99.
What is the cheapest helicopter tour in Hawaii?
The cheapest helicopter tour we sell is the doors-off flight over Kauai’s interior at $191 per adult, with about 15 minutes of flight time. The cheapest full-length flight is the private Kauai tour at $359 for 50 to 60 minutes.
How much is a helicopter tour on Kauai?
Kauai helicopter tours cost $191 for a short doors-off flight and $359 for a private 50 to 60 minute flight with a custom route over the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon and Mount Waialeale. A private volcano day to the Big Island from Kauai costs $1,190.
How much is a helicopter tour on Oahu?
Our private Oahu helicopter tour costs $395 per person for 60 minutes, for two to four guests, with doors on or off at no extra cost. It covers Waikiki, the windward coast, the North Shore and Pearl Harbor.
How much is a helicopter tour on the Big Island?
Big Island helicopter tours on our site are volcano tours that pair a flight with a guided ground tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They cost $630 from Hilo, with a 45-minute flight, and $899.99 from Kona.
Is there a helicopter tour on Maui?
We do not list a Maui helicopter tour at the moment. Visitors on Maui who want to see the volcano usually choose a Big Island volcano tour, which this guide prices at $630 to $899.99 once you are on the Big Island.
Is a doors-off helicopter tour more expensive?
Not on our tours. The cheapest flight we sell, at $191 on Kauai, is doors-off, and the private Oahu flight offers doors on or off at no extra cost.
Can you see lava on a helicopter tour?
Sometimes. Our volcano tours fly over Kilauea and its lava fields, but visible lava depends on current volcanic activity and is not guaranteed by any operator.
Do kids pay full price on a helicopter tour?
Usually yes, because every child needs a seat. The private volcano day from Oahu charges the same $1,190 for adults and children aged 3 to 11. Age limits vary from 3 to 10 depending on the tour.
Which Hawaiian island is best for a helicopter tour?
Kauai is the usual pick for scenery, because much of the island’s interior can only be seen from the air. The Big Island is the pick if you want to fly over an active volcano.
Using this data?
Bloggers, journalists and travel planners are welcome to quote these prices or reproduce the tables. Please credit Hawaiian Activities and link to this page: https://hawaiian-activities.com/hawaii-helicopter-tour-prices-2026/. We recheck the prices regularly and update the date at the top.
Ready to fly?
See live times and book online, or call and we’ll help you pick the right flight.
Oahu Helicopter Tours · Kauai Helicopter Tours · Big Island Helicopter Tours · (808) 207-9427
Pricing disclaimer: prices are the lowest rates listed on each tour’s booking page on October 26, 2026. Helicopter tour prices, routes and weight limits can change without notice. Final prices, availability and inclusions are confirmed at checkout with the operator.
