The Ultimate Hawaii Helicopter Tour
I had the opportunity to fly over to Hilo on the Big Island on Saturday and enjoy a "doors off" helicopter flight with Paradise Helicopters. Helicopter tours are the best way to view Madame Pele's island-building activity.
Volcanoes Are a Safe Distance from the Resorts on the Kona Side
It's important that visitors understand that the Big Island is more than 4,000 sq. miles, and all the sunny resorts and villas on the Kona Coast are 100+ miles away.
Thrilling Ride and Commanding Views
I have been on many helicopter flights, but this was the first "doors off" experience for me. I was in the front of the copter, in what they call the "co-pilot seat" and it was just a sheer drop from me to the ground!
As we got higher, it got more beautiful. It was a little scary at first, but there was a handle toward the top of the helicopter, and, to be honest, I was holding on to it for dear life. For some folks, this is part of the thrill, but I let my friend know that she would need to take most of the photos as there was no way I was letting go!
The sights we saw were incredible - I have a newfound respect for the professional photographers who hang outside of helicopters and snap away! Fissure 8, one of the new volcanic vents, is still bubbling and shooting lava into the air. From the helicopter, you can clearly see the bright red rivers of lava and the fires below.
There is a Geo Thermal plant that was threatened by the flow. For whatever reason, Madame Pele has opted to spare the plant. From the sky, you can see the lava moving on all three sides of the facility but sparing the plant itself. I guess Pele has her reasons!
Dressing for the Flight
During the flight, we wore long pants and jackets as it was chilly up there. We had trade winds that day and were not bothered by any vog (volcanic smog) or CO2 while flying.
Lunch in Hilo Town
After the flight, we went into Hilo Town and had lunch at a favorite spot - Café Pesto (such good food!).
Conducting Business as Usual
There are such friendly people on the Big Island and all the local tour operators that we work with are conducting business as usual. There was no vog, ash or CO2 in town. There were, however, excellent martinis that were much enjoyed after my flight!
Safe Sightseeing
If you have ever wanted to do a Big Island helicopter flight, I would highly recommend it. I can personally attest that our operators work hard to keep everyone safe and respect the fly zones and ground flights if needed.
As far as the air quality is concerned, unless you are right at the hotspot, it's business as usual. Basically, it's perfectly fine when the trades are blowing. When the trades stop, we will get a bit of vog, which is quite typical.
Please don't hesitate to contact the Exotic Estates team if you have any questions about our Big Island vacation homes or activities!
Information and photos provided by Sarah Mater
