Helicopter tours over the Kilauea volcano (the only erupting volcano in Hawaii). Because Kona is twice as far from the volcano as Hilo, tours that leave from Kona are generally 2 hours long and accordingly more expensive. You may choose to drive 2 1/4-hr to Hilo if money is a consideration. Morning helicopter flights tend to have the least cloud cover, but also book first. If taking photos, wear dark clothing to avoid reflections from windows. A special mention should be made about the "doors off" helicopter tour, which lets you smell the lava and feel its heat. [23]
