What Paradise Helicopters does

Paradise Helicopters is a privately held, founder-owned helicopter tour and charter company headquartered at Kona International Airport on Hawaii Island, operating across the Hawaiian Islands. It offers scheduled scenic tours (Kohala Coast & Waterfalls, Experience Hawaii, Volcano Kohala Landing, and the only complete island circumnavigation tour in Hawaii), bespoke romance and cultural experiences, inter-island charter using twin-engine Bell 430 aircraft, commercial utility services delivered in partnership with Vertical Worx (construction lifts, LiDAR/aerial survey, agricultural spraying), a recurring Pua Manu Club membership, the Magnum PI Chopper Experience on Oahu, virtual education tours, and a carbon offset program. The company positions itself as the largest locally owned and operated helicopter touring company in Hawaii and operates a fleet of Bell 407, Bell 429, Bell 430, and Hughes MD 500 aircraft.

Revenue is generated through per-seat tour pricing starting at approximately $500 per person for entry-level tours and rising to $750–$1,000 for premier tours, with bespoke packages beginning at $7,500; charter and commercial utility services are quoted per engagement. Distribution is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer bookings via a FareHarbor-integrated website, a formal travel agent portal with referral and balance-due programs, concierge custom-adventure sales, and a corporate charter desk. Customer segments include individual tourists (primary), romance and special-occasion travelers, corporate and VIP clients, commercial enterprise customers (construction, agriculture, survey), and eco-conscious travelers. The company holds first-in-world HAI-APS accreditation for Air Tour Operations and Corporate/VIP Transportation, first-in-Hawaii IS-BAO Stage Three registration, and is the only twin-engine commercial charter operator in Hawaii.

Name

Paradise Helicopters

Legal name

Paradise Helicopters

Website

https://paradisecopters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Paradise Helicopters is Hawaii's largest locally owned helicopter tour and charter company, operating a Bell and MD 500 fleet across six island stations to deliver scenic tours, inter-island charter, commercial utility services, and a subscription membership for tourists, VIPs, and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Tour Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Helicopter Charter & Sightseeing (TLAFABAH)

Keywords

• Helicopter tour services
• Scenic air tours
• Private charter flights
• Commercial helicopter operations
• Inter-island transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tour Operations: Scenic helicopter tours of Hawaiian islands including Hawaii Island, Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Revenue generated per person with tiered pricing based on tour duration and inclusions.
2. Charter Services: Private charter flights between islands using twin-engine aircraft. Includes inter-island transportation, custom charters, and specialized services for VIP/corporate clients.
3. Commercial/Utility Services: Helicopter utility flights providing commercial services including precision construction support, aerial survey and LiDAR, agricultural spraying, and external load operations. Partnered with Vertical Worx for enhanced utility capabilities.
4. Pua Manu Club Membership: Exclusive aviators club offering luxury services and priority access. Members receive ten hours flight time and five hours standby time on twin-engine helicopters annually, with door-to-door service and exclusive landing access.
5. Carbon Offset Program (Green Your Seat): Optional carbon offset program where guests pay a nominal fee per seat to offset flight emissions through planting of native and endemic trees. All seats on Custom Adventures and Exclusive Experiences are automatically green.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Paradise Helicopters operates scheduled and chartered helicopter tours across the Hawaiian Islands from six stations, using a fleet of Bell 407, Hughes MD 500, and twin-engine Bell 430 aircraft. The company also provides commercial utility services such as aerial survey, LiDAR, precision construction support, and agricultural spraying through a partnership with Vertical Worx, plus bespoke exclusive experiences (cultural, eco, romance, Maui) and a private aviators membership club.

Product overview

Paradise Helicopters is Hawaii's largest locally owned and operated helicopter touring company, offering a diverse portfolio of aerial experiences across multiple Hawaiian islands. The core product consists of scheduled helicopter tours departing from Kona Airport including the Circle Island Experience ($1,000/person, 2 hours), Experience Hawaii Tour ($750/person), Kohala Coast & Waterfalls Tour ($500/person, 1 hour), and Volcano Kohala Landing Tour ($799/person). The company extends its offering through Exclusive Experiences sub-brands including Cultural Adventures (Hawaiian heritage experiences), Malama Eco Adventures (tree planting eco-tours), Maui Adventures, and Romance Adventures (including the $7,500 Hawaii Island Romance Package with private waterfall landing). Supporting services include Utility Helicopter Services for commercial operations, Inter-Island Transportation using twin-engine Bell 430 aircraft, the Pua Manu Club membership program, Green Your Seat carbon offset program, Virtual Education Tours, and the Magnum PI Chopper Experience on Oahu. The company operates a fleet of Bell 407, Hughes MD 500, and twin-engine Bell 430 helicopters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circle Island Experience Tour Two-hour helicopter tour circling the entire Island of Hawaii including South Point, covering all five volcanoes; the only helicopter tour in Hawaii offering full island circumnavigation.
• Experience Hawaii Tour Premier air adventure exploring all five volcanoes, hidden beaches, waterfalls, and 11 climate zones in under two hours, departing from Kona Airport.
• Kohala Coast & Waterfalls Tour 60-minute tour showcasing 2,500-foot waterfalls, rugged coastlines, and the historic Kohala region, departing from Kona Airport.
• Volcano Kohala Landing Tour Combines the Experience Hawaii flight route with a special landing in the Kohala area; 1.75 hours flight plus 1 hour ground activity for total immersion.
• Lanai Circle Island Experience 30-minute air tour of the entire island of Lanai including Manele Bay, Kanepu'u dryland forest preserve, and Garden of the Gods, departing from Lanai Airport.
• Cultural Adventure Custom-curated experience visiting sacred places and Wahi Pana across Hawaii with participation in authentic Hawaiian ceremonial traditions.
• Malama Eco Adventure Eco-adventure in which guests plant endemic trees native to Hawaii at restoration sites (including with Hawaiian Legacy Forest) and learn about the local ecosystem.
• Maui Adventures Helicopter tours over Maui including Haleakala, Road to Hana, Pe'ahi surf break (Jaws), West Maui white sand beaches, and flights to Moloka'i sea cliffs.
• Hawaii Island Romance Package Private helicopter flight to a secluded valley with landing at the base of an 800-foot oceanfront waterfall; includes champagne and chocolate treats, starting at $7,500.
• Inter-Island Transportation Private charter flights between Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai, Hawaii Island) using twin-engine Bell 430 aircraft with seating for up to seven passengers.
• Utility Helicopter Services Commercial helicopter services including precision construction support, aerial survey and LiDAR, agricultural spraying, and external load operations; provided in partnership with Vertical Worx.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only helicopter tour in Hawaii offering complete island circle including South Point
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Phoenix HelipartsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Phoenix Heliparts re-created the iconic Magnum PI MD500D helicopter including using the same airframe, precision re-creation paint job, and identical tail number. Partnered to offer tours from Turtle Bay Resort.
• Turtle Bay ResortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Offering Magnum PI Chopper tours from Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore for hotel guests and visitors.
• Vertical WorxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership through which Paradise provides enhanced utility helicopter solutions combining local aviation experience with Vertical Worx's specialized-lift and precision utility support. Vertical Worx handles aviation logistics for complex aerial operations including rigging and precision placement for construction projects.
• TRACMAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationTRACMAP precision flight mapping technology enables Paradise to catalog precise flight maps and spray exact polygons for agricultural and utility operations, optimizing delivery and flight time while reducing equipment wear.
• Hawaiian Legacy ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for O'ahu Nahele tree planting experiences where guests plant endemic trees with Hawaiian Legacy Forest as part of Malama Eco Adventure program.
• Hawaii Ecotourism AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParadise holds Sustainable Tourism Certification from the nonprofit, recognizing the company's commitment to Hawaii's environment since 2014.
• Tropical Visions Video, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMick & Ann Kalber have documented Kilauea eruptions for 30+ years and provide aerial videography for Paradise's virtual education experiences.
• Extreme ExposurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBruce Omori's photography company provides award-winning aerial photography expertise for virtual education. Bruce is a two-time Windland Smith Rice Award winner.
• Daniel R. Sayre Memorial FoundationminorOthersParadise donates a portion of every tour in December to support the foundation providing life-saving equipment and training for Hawaii Fire Department and first responders.
• County of Hawaii Fire DepartmentminorOthersOngoing agreement with County for emergency response capabilities, including discounted flights for Leilani Estates residents during volcanic activity.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Makani Kai Helicopters: Oahu-based helicopter tour and charter operator offering scenic tours and inter-island transportation. Comparable to Paradise Helicopters in Oahu tour operations, charter services, and shared customer base of leisure and corporate travelers.
• Air Maui Helicopters: Maui-based helicopter tour and charter operator with scenic tours and inter-island service. Comparable to Paradise Helicopters in target market (leisure/VIP travelers), product format (Hana, Haleakala, Molokai cliff tours), and aircraft class (twin-engine Astars and EC130s).
• Sunshine Helicopters: Big Island helicopter tour company offering volcano and waterfall tours out of Kona and Hilo. Direct competitor to Paradise Helicopters on the Big Island, overlapping on tour routes (Kohala, Volcano, Circle Island) and customer segments (tourists and cruise passengers).
• Safari Helicopters: Hawaii-based helicopter tour operator with tours on Big Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, including doors-off experiences. Closely comparable to Paradise Helicopters in fleet composition, tour durations, and emphasis on accessing remote/volus regions of Hawaii.
• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters: Largest helicopter tour operator in Hawaii, offering scenic tours across Big Island, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Directly comparable to Paradise Helicopters across product offerings (scenic tours, inter-island charter, romance packages), target customers (tourists and VIPs), and operating geographies.
• Wings Over Hawaii: Oahu-based helicopter tour operator focused on scenic and doors-off experiences. Comparable to Paradise Helicopters in Oahu operations, doors-off product positioning, and tourist customer base.
• Island Helicopters Kauai: Kauai-based helicopter tour operator offering scenic flights of the Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon. Comparable to Paradise Helicopters in tour format, customer base (leisure visitors), and reliance on accessing geographically restricted landscapes.
• Novictor Aviation Helicopters: Hawaii helicopter tour operator offering tours across multiple islands. Directly comparable to Paradise Helicopters in charter and tour services, including inter-island flights and VIP transport.

Others

• TRACMAP: Precision flight mapping technology provider integrated with Paradise Helicopters for agricultural spraying and survey operations. Comparable as an enabling technology partner whose tooling differentiates Paradise's commercial/utility services.
• Bell Helicopter (Textron Aviation): Manufacturer of the Bell 407, Bell 429, and Bell 430 helicopters flown by Paradise Helicopters. Comparable not as a competitor but as the primary OEM supplier whose product roadmap, support network, and pricing directly shape Paradise's fleet economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Paradisecopters
• Facebookfacebook.com/ParadiseHelicopters
• Instagraminstagram.com/paradisehelicopters/?hl=en

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paradise Helicopters