The 5 Best Hawaiian Helicopter Tours to Book on Your Next Vacation

No matter if you enjoy the white sand beaches, the turquoise waters, or the refreshing trade winds you will find something to love about Hawaii.

However, the true beauty of the islands lies in the geography from the mountain ranges to the beaches and the waterfalls, rain forests, and craters in between.

The views you see from the beach or a car ride around the island are just the tip of the iceberg of beauty that awaits from the sky. This is because these features are so massive, that to experience them in their full glory, you have to see it from an aerial view.

No matter if you want to visit Hawai’i, Kaua’i, Maui, Moloka’i or O’ahu there is a helicopter tour just for you.

A Complete Guide to Hawaii’s Best Helicopter Tours

Below is a comparison of my experience on five different helicopter tours of the islands:

1. Oahu Island Helicopter Tour

O’ahu has so much to offer from the towering buildings of the city to the countryside and from waterfalls to sandy white beaches and turquoise waters.

This is the island that houses state’s largest city. It has a lot to offer in terms of purely natural features such as mountains, rainforests, and bays to man-made historical monuments such as the Pearl Harbor.

The tour starts from the airport and proceeds to explore the island in a counterclockwise fashion.

Depending on which tour you will then travel along the Ka Iwa Shoreline to view various beaches and well-known surfing spots.

This tour takes you over the majestic Ko’olau Mountain range before flying over to the Windward side which, due to the annual rainfall, showcases some of the most lush greenery you will see on all the island.

As you will come back across the mountains and back to town you will experience the history of Pearl Harbor and view additional landmarks of O’ahu including USS Arizona and Punchbowl Memorial.

I am quite passionate about military work, so I really appreciated this part. Punchbowl Memorial is another incredible sight.

“See what Hawaii is all about from the best seat in the house when you book a helicopter tour in Hawaii!”

2. Maui Island Helicopter Tour

Maui, the second largest island in the Hawaiian island chain, has dense rain forests, steep valleys, and countless miles of beaches.

You may choose to experience the west side of the island, the east side of the island, or the entire island. So many tours to choose from made it even more difficult to write about just one.

3. Kauai Islands Helicopter Tour

Kauai or the Garden Isle is known for its annual rainfall and lush mountain ranges with waterfalls that are visible all year long.

Magnificent beauty untouched by humans contributes to the amazing views only visibly from the air.

I really got a kick out of this one. Finally you will experience the beauty of the Na Pali Coast and Bali Hai Cliffs. As you round out the end of the tour you will fly past Hanalei Bay and the Princeville Resort located on the north shore.

4. The Big Island Circle of Fire plus Waterfalls

This tour departs from Hilo, Hawaii and covers the eastern side of the island, which is the world’s most active volcanic area.

Mt. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983 and is currently extremely active. Explore the Coastal East Rift Zone – a zone located at the Pacific shore where the mountains meet the oceans. Hot lava freely flows from vents and fissures, slowly making its way down the slopes to pour into the sea. The aerial view is amazing as you get to see all the stages of the lava flow.

5. Kohala Coast Adventure Tour

This tour departs from Waikoloa, Hawaii and covers the calm and beautiful northern part of Hawai’i Island.

Some of its highlights include: Mookini Heiau – one of the oldest sites on the island. It is a spiritual temple that pays homage to the many lineages that have lived on the island, including the first natives to arrive on the island.

The northern part of the island boasts of having the largest number of valleys than any island in the world, and Kohala is the best of them. It is home to one of the greatest waterfalls in Hawaii; the Kohala Falls. The waterfall is over 1400 feet high, and thousands of gallons of water fall over by the minute. Waipio Valley is located right at the sea coast.

The bed of the valley is a small offshore town that was the home of most Hawaiian kings. The walls of the valley are quite steep, with a narrow passage connecting its bed to the inner land.

The choice of which tour to take should mostly be influenced by your taste and preference. Do you like to see erupting volcanoes and canyons, or prefer serene valleys covered with rainforests and waterfalls?