If you could take all the other islands in Hawaii and squeeze them together, they’d fit inside the Big Island and there’d be room left over.

That’s how big the Big Island is. If you really want to see the Big Island there’s only two ways—up close and personal; on foot—and via helicopter.

Sorry, there’s no way around it. There’s just too much to see with a simple rent-a-car drive around the island. You can do it in one day but not see much. On the other hand, a few helicopter tours will get you the major highlights—Waipio Valley and the Hamakua Coast. More importantly, Kilauea Volcano.

Up close and personal means you’ll need to devote time. Time to find the many major sites. Time to find your way to those sites. Time to see those sites. Time to get back (or get on to the next site). Even a week isn’t enough.

On the other hand, a helicopter tour covers quite a bit of territory in just an hour or so. Yes, helicopter tours are expensive. But there’s no better way to see a hot flow of lava spill into the sea.

A quick check of Google.com shows there are a dozen or so helicopter companies on the Big Island. Some are in or near Hilo, the major city. Others are on the Kona side, with some near Waikoloa for the north side of the island.

Frankly, more than one helicopter tour is worth it. You may need as many as three to cover the island properly. Fortunately, you’ll never regret it. Never.

Those who’ve gone on helicopter tours usually rave about the view on the Big Island. The lava flow of Kilauea is particularly stunning.

Most tours run about 30-minutes or so to an hour. Official prices range from just less than $100 to nearly $200, but discounts and coupons abound. Some extended tours will cost more.

“It’s difficult to describe just how cool a helicopter tour in Hawaii (any of the islands) can be.”It’s difficult to describe just how cool a helicopter tour in Hawaii (any of the islands) can be. I’ve done the Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour from Flagstaff, AZ. It doesn’t compare.

Only in Hawaii can you get a quick, affordable helicopter tour that will take you from beach to snow capped peaks to huge waterfalls, thousand foot cliffs, and back to volcano lava flowing into the sea.

Awesome.

Do helicopters crash? Yes. More frequently than airplanes. Perhaps one per year in Hawaii; some with fatalities. Hey, you need to know. Now you know.

Will I go again? Yes. It’s just that awesome.

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.