Tour Company Paradise Helicopters launched a Carbon Offset Program to support the reforestation of native trees in Hawaiʻi.
Under the new program, launched at the end of 2016, guests can opt to purchase carbon credits that will offset the environmental impact of their flight.
This option is offered on most Paradise flights on Hawaiʻi Island, O‘ahu, Maui and Lana‘i. The carbon offset cost is $6 per seat on tours under 90 minutes and $8 per seat on tours lasting 90 minutes or more.
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Carbon offsets are standard on select flights, including the Volcano-Eco Landing on Hawaiʻi Island that offers service to the Hawaiian Legacy Forest, where many of the trees are reforested, as well as all charter experiences. The entire environmental impact of these flights is offset for no additional fee as a special mahalo to guests.
Paradise is the first air tour company to offer carbon-neutral flights for the replanting of Native Hawaiian trees. These efforts are part of the company’s Ho‘omaluo Program, which supports its longstanding commitment to environmental and community stewardship.
“This new option allows our guests to help re-establish a vital native ecosystem while offsetting the environmental impact of their flight,” said Calvin Dorn, chief executive officer of Paradise Helicopters. “It fits seamlessly into our existing preservation and conservation efforts, which include the operation of flights for invasive species identification and eradication, watershed rehabilitation, firefighting and tree planting.”
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The carbon credits, which are purchased through the Legacy Carbon program, directly support the reforestation of endemic trees in the 1,000-acre Hawaiian Legacy Forest on Hawaiʻi Island, managed by the nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative. Launched in 2015, Legacy Carbon is the only certified carbon-credit program of any kind in Hawaiʻi, with credits certified by the Gold Standard Foundation in Switzerland.
Legacy Carbon uses a proprietary radio-frequency identification (RFID) geo-tagging technology that accurately verifies ongoing growth, maintenance, genealogy, and carbon-sequestration data. This technology has helped create the most intricately mapped forest in the world. More than 340,000 indigenous trees, including koa, ‘ōhi‘a, māmane, naio, ko‘oko‘olau, kūkaenēnē and ‘iliahi, have been planted in the Legacy Forest.

To book a Paradise Helicopters tour and participate in the new Carbon Offset Program, visit paradisecopters.com or call 1-866-876-7422.
About Paradise Helicopters
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Founded in 1997, Paradise Helicopters is a leading provider of unique air tours and bespoke charters in Hawai‘i. The award-winning company is widely recognized for its industry-leading safety practices and exclusive tours. A selection of tours and charter flights are offered from the Ko Olina resort area and Turtle Bay Resort on O‘ahu, through the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, and from Hilo and Kona on the Island of Hawai‘i; specialty flights on an authentic WWII aircraft are available through Pacific Warbirds on O‘ahu. Visit paradisecopters.com or pacificwarbirds.com.
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