Helicopter Tour News

The oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands, Kaua'i is best known for its nickname of "The Garden Isle". It's a title that's well deserved when you consider the island's abundant tropical foliage, year round sunshine, emerald green cliffs and legendary rainbows. It's easy to see why Kaua`i offers its visitors a virtual garden of delights. Two popular attractions for garden lovers are the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawa`i, and Smith's Tropical Paradise on the banks of the Wailua River.

Since only about ten percent of Kaua`i's amazing scenery can be seen from the road, exploring the island on foot, or from the sea or air, can be extremely rewarding. No trip to Kaua`i would be complete without viewing the spectacular Na Pali cliffs rising a majestic 3,000 feet from the island's North Shore. Hikers can get an awe-inspiring view of the cliffs by traveling part, or all of the challenging 10.8 mile Kalalau Trail. For a more relaxing tour of the area, visitors can book a charter on a Zodiac raft or catamaran. Another popular way to experience Kaua`i's incomparable beauty is by taking a "flightseeing" helicopter tour. It's an excellent way to take in some of the island's breathtaking scenery that would otherwise be inaccessible. Once visitors get an overview of this paradise, they're not surprised to discover that it has been the setting for many major motion pictures such as South Pacific, Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In fact, guided tours are available to many of the sites where movies have been filmed.

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In my opinion, a helicopter tour is much more thrilling than any amusement park ride I’ve ridden. The views are beyond description and there is so much to see. A helicopter tour in Hawaii is an ideal way to see the islands’ cliffs, forests, volcanic shape, beaches and craters. One of the reasons I love Hawaii is the diversity of terrain and by taking a helicopter tour, you can really see that. Before you take a helicopter tour, you should spend some time researching your options online. Here are tips to help you choose the best tour and enjoy it.

1. Make a Safe Choice - Choose a tour that advertises that they are certified as a FAA Part 135 Air Carrier, which means that the operator is subject to higher standards than general aviation operators. It might also be helpful to look at the list of accidents by tour company at this site. I hope this doesn’t scare you off, but it is important to know that there are risks in riding a helicopter.

2. Know the Seating Arrangement - Most helicopters used for touring have six passengers with a seating arrangement of two passengers in front and four in the back. That means that two people are going to be stuck in the middle seats in the back and with limited view. A-Star and Eco-Star type helicopters carry six passengers. The Eco-Stars are nicer than the A-Stars because they offer a little more room, less noise, and more window space.

One helicopter that I particularly liked is the Hughes 500 which seats two passengers in the back and two in the front. I flew with Inter-Island Helicopters on Kauai in a Hughes 500 and it was tremendous.

When booking, request the front seats as they are the best, but bear in mind that seating will be based on the weight of you and your friend/partner. If you are taking a helicopter tour in Kauai, request the right side because most tours circle the island clockwise and you will be able to get the best view of the Na Pali Coast from the right side.

3. Shop online for pricing. Most companies offer a big discount for booking directly with them.

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The island of Kauai has been featured in many Hollywood movies, and even on television, including the musical "South Pacific" and Disney's 2002 animated feature film and television series Lilo & Stitch. Waimea Canyon was used in the filming of the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Parts of the island were also used for the opening scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other movies filmed here include 6 Days and 7 Nights and the remake of King Kong. Coco Palms Resort is a famous resort located on this island and many of Elvis' films including Blue Hawaii where filmed here.

Kauai is a paradise for nature lovers. Hiking, kayaking, camping, a helicopter tour (~$180) and/or a boat tour (~$115) are the only ways one can see the true beauty of the island. There is one main highway, which does not circle the entire island. The highway goes along the coast from the north at Keʻe Beach, goes around the east side where the town of Līhuʻe and the airport are located, continues along the south shore and then west, ending at the remains of a town called Mana and Polihale State Park.

The northwest part of the island contains the Nā Pali Coast State Park, a range of breathtaking, rugged cliffs that are inaccessible by car. A view of this spectacular vista, either by hiking, helicopter or boat, should not be missed when visiting Kauaʻi.
Image of the Nā Pali Coast]]
Nā Pali coast from helicopter

In the northwest interior of the island are the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and the high altitude Alakaʻi Swamp. In the center of the island is the top of the inactive Waiʻaleʻale volcano. The summit is shrouded by clouds 300 days a year and gets an average of 1.5 inches of rain everyday, making it is the wettest place on Earth.

Almost the entire island is lush green wilderness, perfect for hikers and campers. Some of the hiking trails along the cliffs are very steep and are not for beginners. There are streams and rivers at the bottom of the Waimea Canyon and throughout the island. Kayaking on these rivers is a popular activity. Ocean kayaking is also popular.

One way to see the scenery is by taking a helicopter tour. Tours leave from Līhuʻe Airport and fly over the shorelines, the valleys where the ancient Hawaiians used to live, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the swamp at 2000 feet elevation. Some helicopters fly into the shaft of an old volcano. Half of the crater had fallen off due to erosion. The remaining half forms a semi-cylindrical opening. When a helicopter is in the opening, the passengers are surrounded by a vertical wall 270° around. The cliff walls are covered with plants and numerous threads of tiny waterfalls. The Hawaiians called it the Wall of Tears. The ceiling of the shaft is always covered by clouds. On the rare occasion when the mountain clouds clear up, the helicopter can fly up the shaft vertically and it feels like you're looking up from the bottom of a well. Even most seasoned pilots have seen the sky from the shaft only a few times.

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If you've booked a helicopter tour of Nā Pali, you might start wondering what you've gotten yourself into on the way to the airport. Will it feel like being on a small airplane? Will there be turbulence? Will it be worth all the money you just plunked down? Your concerns will be assuaged on the helipad, once you see the faces of those who've just returned from their journeys. They're totally blissed out, and now it's your turn.

Climb on board, strap on your headphones, and the next thing you know the helicopter gently lifts up, hovers for a moment, and floats away like a spider on the wind -- no roaring engines, no rumbling down a runway. If you've chosen a flight with music, you'll feel as if you're inside your very own IMAX movie. Pinch yourself if you must, because this is the real thing. Your pilot shares history, legend, and lore. If you miss something, speak up: pilots love to show off their island knowledge.

Good to Know:

1. Helicopter companies depart from the north, east, and west shores. Choose your departure location based on its proximity to where you're staying.

2. If you want more adventure -- and air -- choose one of the helicopter companies that flies aircraft without doors.

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I was told that Napali has many originally spectacular feature for visitors. Napali is not like what we think. If you never come to this place, maybe you will feel different because it's not like a Miami beach or other Hawaii beach as what you think. Napali is stand narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. It's truly a land of paradise. There are no roads in or along the Na Pali Coast, but it is accessible by hiking, boating, kayaking or from a helicopter. It's full of thrill!

But there's something that you will never forget about Napali. If I have a chance to stay here, I bet this will be the best holiday I have ever had. Napali also offers many beautiful activities around the Kauai itself. Just get out from your chalet and go for a Kauai whale watching. You will sea the big mammals on earth in front of your eyes. The whales journey across vast oceans, navigating by instinct alone. What an incredible experience.

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We have been having a great time here at Po’Ipu beach, the southernmost tip of Kauai. The Hyatt is beautiful with flowing pools, lagoons and amazing surf. Yesterday we had our helicopter tour with Inter-Island Helicopters. Heather was not really too excited about the idea. Our flight was in an open door Hughes 500 Helicopter capable of speeds up to 140 mph! In the 2 hour trip we covered the entire island and landed at a remote waterfall for lunch. Fortunately we had a great pilot who flew two tours in Iraq. Heather and I sat up front with the pilot and he made it very smooth and informative the entire trip. The time was amazing and Heather really loved it- especially swimming in the waterfall.

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If I am given the opportunity of spend a month long getaway, I would go for a hawaiian vacation. I’ve heard so much about Kauai and I think that’s where I want to go to. I’d like to see the beautiful scenery while hiking the Napali Coast and just enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. And while walking down the coastline, i’ll be able to snap a picture of the awesome cliffs towering into the sky, the waterfalls in between the valleys would be a sight to behold. There’s so much views to see in the Napali Coast, and if you are not into hiking and stuff, there are boat tours and kayaking trips and even helicopter tours, so you won’t miss the amazing scenery.

Poipu Beach would also be a wonderful experience. This is considered as one of America’s best beaches. Large green sea turtles swimming in the waters of Poipu is something new for me, and also seeing the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals sunbathing in the shore. I know you will agree with me that this is a one of a kind vacation experience. Snorkelling is also one thing I want to experience. I have not done that yet, and I want to do it at some point in my life. I think that would be one experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

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