See detailed information about seeing Hawaii by air. Click Here

You probably want to see many areas of the Big Island while you are here; you may even feel inundated with too many choices. Since this island is so big, how do you absorb everything without having to sacrifice part of your itinerary? The answer--take to the air!

In a helicopter or airplane you will be able to survey most of what the Big Island has to offer in about two hours. The best thing about attaining a bird's eye view is it increases your understanding of this immense land mass, along with allowing you to see areas you could not reach by car, or even on foot.

While the volcano remains the most popular destination by air, it is by no means the only one that's worthwhile. Don't forget there are incredible valleys stretching miles inland, breathtaking waterfalls, and lava fields meeting the ocean at isolated and pristine black sand beaches.

Almost all of the helicopter touring companies fly the state-of-the-art Astar. These six- passenger, million-dollar aircraft are commonly referred to as the "Cadillacs of the skies." Able to fly low and slow, they are the most popular way to flight-see. Tours by airplane afford much the same experience as those by helicopter, yet can be less expensive due to lower maintenance costs and better gas mileage.

Big Island pilots are often military-trained, and all have been flying for many years. You will find their knowledge fascinating as well as educational, often laced with interesting local history and personal experiences. Many tours include two-way intercom systems allowing passengers to ask questions, and some even offer musical accompaniment to the flight.

Don't forget to ask if your tour company offers a free video. Some do, and they are either prerecorded (nice because they are recordings of the most spectacular lava flows and beautiful weather) or of your actual flight (nice because it has you in it and will remind you of what you actually saw).

The popularity of air activities makes it wise to plan 24 to 48 hours in advance when placing reservations. And despite what you might hear while you're here, no specific time of the day is best for flights. Wind and weather are unpredictable, changing hour to hour, so occasionally a flight may have to be rescheduled. With this in mind, try to avoid waiting until the last day you're here to book.

See detailed information about seeing Hawaii by air. Click Here