Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes & Helicopter Tour

Fly over Kilauea's recent lava fountains, then walk through the steam vents and lava tubes where the volcano still breathes.

A 12-hour day trip from Oahu to Hilo combines interisland roundtrip airfare, ground transport, a guided sightseeing tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a 45-minute helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, all in one booking. Your driver-guide narrates the route through Kilauea and Mauna Loa, both active volcanoes; lunch is included. The helicopter flies over recent volcanic activity and waterfalls (weather permitting). Kilauea last erupted in June 2023, with lava fountains reaching 50 feet high from vents in Halema'uma'u crater. A mandatory 45-minute safety briefing precedes the flight; weight restrictions apply for the helicopter due to FAA regulations.

Step-by-step itinerary

Volcanoes and Helicopter Tour

• Fly from Oahu to Hilo
• Roundtrip transportation from Hilo Airport
• Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• See Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes
• Drive Chain of Craters Road
• Explore Kilauea Volcano summit
• Visit steam vents
• Walk through Thurston Lava Tube
• View Akaka Falls waterfall
• Drive through Banyan Drive in Hilo
• Attend 45-minute helicopter safety briefing
• Take 45-minute helicopter tour
• Fly back to Oahu

The Experience

Twelve hours sounds long until you realize it covers two islands, two volcanoes and a helicopter ride. The day starts with interisland airfare from Oahu to Hilo, then ground transport to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Your driver-guide handles the narration—the legends behind the sites, the cultural weight of what you're standing in front of, the details most visitors miss. The park itself is 19 miles of Chain of Craters Road winding through the East Rift zone, with stops at steam vents where groundwater seeps into volcanic rock and you feel the heat rising from the earth.

The Thurston Lava Tube is a subterranean cave carved by ancient lava flow, now surrounded by tropical forest. Akaka Falls drops from a jungle lookout nearby. Banyan Drive, Hilo's tree-lined coastal street, closes out the ground portion before lunch. Then comes the helicopter: a 45-minute flight with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters that circles Kilauea's summit caldera, Halema'uma'u crater and the recent eruption sites—weather permitting. Lava sightings are not guaranteed, and a mandatory safety briefing happens before you board. The return flight to Oahu gets you back the same day.

The helicopter tour carries weight restrictions under FAA rules; passengers over 240 pounds are assessed a comfort seat surcharge for an additional seat. Interisland airfare can fluctuate based on availability, and overage charges may apply. If weather cancels the helicopter portion, you'll get a refund for that part and an extended ground tour instead. A valid government-issued ID is required for all passengers, and the name on your booking must match your ID exactly—a TSA and FAA requirement with no exceptions.

What’s included

• Interisland roundtrip airfare from Oahu to Hilo.
• roundtrip ground transport from Hilo Airport.
• guided sightseeing tour through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with narration by a professional driver-guide.
• lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• 45-minute helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Polynesian Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want interisland airfare and ground transport bundled in one package; choose the helicopter add-on if you want an aerial view of the volcanoes rather than seeing them only from the ground.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the ground tour and the helicopter portion of this day trip?

The ground tour covers Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by vehicle with your driver-guide, including Chain of Craters Road, steam vents, Thurston Lava Tube, Akaka Falls and Banyan Drive in Hilo, with lunch included. The helicopter tour is a separate 45-minute flight that circles Kilauea's summit and recent eruption sites from the air, offering a birds-eye view of volcanic activity and waterfalls (weather permitting).

Can I see where Kilauea erupted recently?

Kilauea last erupted in June 2023, with lava fountains reaching 50 feet high from vents within Halema'uma'u crater at the volcano's summit. The helicopter tour flies over these recent eruption sites, though lava sightings are not guaranteed and depend on weather and current volcanic conditions.

What happens if bad weather cancels the helicopter tour?

If the helicopter tour is cancelled by the provider, you'll receive a refund for the helicopter portion and be welcomed on an extended sightseeing tour of the park instead. If you choose to leave the tour early and return to Honolulu before your scheduled return flight, you're responsible for all airline change fees, and a refund for the sightseeing portion is not guaranteed.

Do I need to bring anything specific for the helicopter tour?

A valid government-issued ID is required for all passengers—a passport for non-US citizens. Your name at booking must match your ID exactly per TSA and FAA requirements. You'll attend a mandatory 45-minute safety briefing before the flight. Due to FAA weight restrictions, all passengers and bags are weighed at check-in; passengers over 240 pounds are assessed a comfort seat surcharge for an additional seat.

What's included in the price for this day trip?

Interisland roundtrip airfare from Oahu to Hilo, ground transport from Hilo Airport, the guided sightseeing tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, lunch, and the 45-minute helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters are all included. Gratuities are not included. Interisland airfare may fluctuate based on flight availability, and overage charges may apply in those cases.

How long does the entire day take from start to finish?

The full day trip is 12 hours, covering interisland flights, ground transport, the guided sightseeing tour with lunch and the 45-minute helicopter flight, plus a mandatory 45-minute safety briefing before the helicopter departs.