Many people take helicopter tours of the Hawaiian Islands. On our first trip, we did as well.
We loved it! The view of sights that would take hours of hiking to reach was incredible! However, we enjoyed even more our tour with Island Hoppers. Up to three people at a time share a tiny, fixed wing airplane with a pilot who also serves as your guide.
On Island Hoppers, unlike on helicopter tours, our headphones were two-way, and we peppered our wonderful pilot with non-stop questions, and she knew the answers to just about all of them!
The best way I can describe the plane on the inside is like it's being in a car that just happens to have wings. There are two bucket seats in the front, and the pilot takes the left one. My husband indicated that he really, REALLY wanted to ride in the front, so I had the back bench seat all to myself. There were only the two of us as passengers, so the experience was tailored entirely to what we wanted to see.
We started out with a roar, up and away from the Kona Airport, after filling out the ubiquitous release forms. Soon we were soaring above the feral coastline, watching waves crash against lava shore.
The plane flies reasonably low, so you don't lose detail. We saw the black sand beach, housing developments decimated by lava flows, sinkholes inland, macadamia nut farms, orchid nurseries, and plumeria groves.
We were headed toward Kilauea in order to see the active lava flows from the Pu'u O'o vent. We had almost reached the destination, but Madame Pele was not feeling hospitable. Vog (a toxic combination of gases released from the volcano that creates a fog-like cloud) that morning obliged us to turn back. Our pilot did manage to find an active flow however, so it wasn't a total wash-out as far as lava viewing was concerned.
Our lovely pilot took us back an alternate route so we could see different sights from the trip out. She showed us several waterfalls. We saw Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument from a panoramic perspective.
I had always wanted to see the green sand beach, but didn't want to have to hike the requisite miles in the heat. No problem! We had a superb view of the sand that incorporates tiny particles of olivine so that the sand really is green--spectacular!
Whereas we loved our helicopter trip, this was far more intimate. Because of the small size of the parties, everyone has a window seat. The scenery is, of course, breathtaking.
I am very prone to motion sickness, but never had so much as a twinge while on this flight.
For couples by themselves or with one other person, this is a thrilling way to see what The Big Island has to offer.