Maui Helicopter Tours

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Helicopter Activities

... also see Kauai Helicopters
Maui helicopter tours are on the pricier end of the activity spectrum. They can run you hundreds of dollars for over an hour of flight. In saying this, we still recommend going if you can afford the hit. Flying over Maui, and maybe even to Molokai, is something you'll never forget. There are many different vendors offering helicopter flights to multiple areas of Hawaii.

The best trip is to Molokai. You get a chance to see the tallest waterfall in the world nestled in the West Maui Mountains, as well as the dramatic sea cliff waterfalls of Molokai Island. In season, you may even see whales migrating. It takes about an hour and is worth every penny. You can also go to Hana and up to the Haleakala Crater, though you may want to check the weather for cloud cover.


If you choose the Haleakala Crater tour, make sure to dress warmly. Haleakala reaches below 0 temperatures and can get lower when you fly higher. If you plan on taking pictures, wear black. Even if you don't plan on shooting, wear black. The reflection of your bright clothing will shine off of the windows. Also, if you go on a helicopter with middle seats, keep in mind that you will not have a choice of where you sit. Before your flight, you are weighed and arranged in seats for better balance. The middle seats can have a poor view. Take some sea-sickness pills if you're prone. These flights can be turbulent and, depending on whom you get, your pilot may swing you around a bit. If you're even more adventurous, Alex Air is offering Maui's only doors-off helicopter experience. You'll be safely strapped in tightly and will have a much better view. When flying doors off, dress a little more warmly and where a tight hat if you have longer hair. We suggest a beanie or sweatshirt hood to keep you hair from becoming a nuisance.

Some of the main Helicopter tours on Maui are Alex Air, Air Maui, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, and Sunshine Helicopters. Do your research before choosing your tour operator. Some have bigger helicopters than the others and some are far more expensive than the others. As for safety, flying in a helicopter is relatively safe. Accidents rarely happen. Like they often say, you're more likely to be hurt in a car on the way to the flight than hurt during it. If you plan on flying in Kauai, Oahu, or the Big Island, do your research for those carriers as well. Heli USA has had two fatal crashes on Kauai within weeks of each other this last year. Sometimes paying a little more for a better-maintained helicopter is worth the cash. Don't freak out though! We could tell you about shark attacks too, but you're more likely to get hit by lightening than injured in one of these low occurring incidents.

Air Maui 877-238-4942
Alex Air 888-418-8458
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 1-800-786-2583
Sunshine Helicopter 1-800-469-3000



Kauai Helicopter Tours

One of the few places in the world that rivals a helicopter tour on Maui is on the island of Kauai. Kauai has a diverse landscape with everything from lush rainforest with towering waterfalls to enormous lush canyons. Waimea Canyon draws resemblance to the Grand Canyon, only it's red earth is covered with lush green foliage and countless waterfalls.

We suggest Safari Helicopters for your tour guides. They're professional, safe, and extremely knowledgeable about the area. You can visit them at Hawaii Helicopter Tours.

Safari Helicopter Tours 1-800-326-3356

All Maui Photography courtesy Natalie Brown Photography. All Rights Reserved. Kauai Photography courtesy of Safari Helicopters.