Island Helicopters- What it’s like to fly over Kauai

“And if you look over there, you can see Hawaii’s state bird”, said our guide on the Na Pali coast. He was, of course, referring to a helicopter.

Sightseeing helicopters are a very common sight around Hawaii and they are a sensational way to observe the natural beauty of the islands. Seeing a helicopter dart around the rugged and untouched coastline of Kauai was enough to make anyone nervous, but we had booked in with local operator Island Helicopter the next day for a morning flight-fears be damned.

Here’s an overview of what it’s like to go on a scenic helicopter flight on Kauai, a stunning Hawaiian island, straight out of Jurassic Park- literally.

Helicopter ride over Kauai

All of the Hawaiian islands are mind-bogglingly breathtaking, but none more so than Kauai. Referred to as the ‘Garden Island’, Kauai is much less developed and commercial than the popular Oahu, home to Waikiki Beach. However, Kauai is so rugged that the majority of the island in inaccessible by land, and a vast section of the interior is taken up by Waimea Canyon State Park. As an aside on Waimea, it is known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’, and is a pretty unexpected sight, compared to the beaches and coasts Hawaii is known for. I’d recommend dedicating a full day to driving up to the Canyon and exploring it in more detail.

The island is also home to a large military base, which is off-limits to the public. These factors mean the visibility of the island by car or tour bus is really limited, and the best way to see it is from above. This is different than Oahu, which can be easily experienced by car. 

Three of us had made a reservation to go with Island Helicopters. We were drawn to them based on their pristine safety record, and their Jurassic Park Kauai tours- as any JP fanatic knows, parts of Jurassic Park were filmed on the islands, including Kauai. The early scene in the movie in which the crew fly (via helicopter, of course) over an epic waterfall was filmed on the island, and Island Helicopters offer a tour that lands at that waterfall. Although we ended up doing the tour that was solely by air and not including the landing, it is still the best (and only) way to see the famous waterfall.

Island Helicopters, Kauai- Lihue Airport

Arriving about half-hour early for our 9am flight, we checked into the Island Helicopter base at Lihue Airport. (Note: If you are staying on the island’s north, several helicopter companies also leave from Princeville- however Lihue is much closer if you’re staying on the south, such as in Poipu.

The helicopter seats six passengers, and distribution is organised by weight. This means, unfortunately, you aren’t able to select your seat on the flight. It also means you’ll be weighed on arrival- strictly for even weight distribution purposes!

After a bit of a wait (we left about 20 min late), we went through a thorough safety briefing and then boarded the helicopter, where we were strapped in- Island takes safety very seriously. After putting on the provided Bose noise-cancelling headphones (the roar of the propellers drowns out everything else), we were then introduced to our pilot, a Hawaiian local and Vietnam veteran who knew Kauai (and helicopters) like the back of his hand.

The Kauai helicopter experience

Seconds away from take-off, we were all strapped in and ready to go. I was lucky enough to be in the front, next to the pilot. Another passenger was next to me, followed by four in the rear. I do think visibility is more limited for the passengers who are put in the two middle back seats, despite the huge glass windows. My advice would be to be courteous to everyone, and if you’re by the window, allow those in the middle time to get a good look, take their photos, etc.

I must admit, I was incredibly nervous before take off- it was my first time in a helicopter, and it is a little overwhelming at first. However, within seconds of gliding up into the air, my nerves calmed down (slightly.)

To fly in a helicopter literally feels like being inside a drone (the 2018 equivalent of a bird’s eye view?), and it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever done.

Over the course of an hour, we flew over the majestic and imposing Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon, and sparkling beaches. We dipped in and out of crevices, waterfalls, and valleys, getting a near 360 degree view of the island, thanks to the helicopters huge windows, designed for sightseeing. There is no way you could see this much of the island any other way. As we were flying, our pilot put on some sweet Hawaiian tunes (perhaps to relax those with a fear of flying?), and narrated our journey, letting us know what we were looking at, along with some history of the island and its people.

Kauai helicopter ride prices

There’s no avoiding the fact- Kauai helicopter tours are expensive. (We experienced this flight as a full paying guest.) The current prices and tours with Island can be found here, but range from approx. USD $180-300, depending on which tour you select. I completely appreciate this is on the high end of excursion prices, and is a big ask. However, if it is in your budget, I would recommend splashing out on one special experience on the trip, and a helicopter trip is something super unique. It’s a once in a lifetime, or at least once in a while, sort of experience, and I can honestly say the helicopter ride over Kauai is the most incredible travel experience I’ve had this year.

The Na Pali Coast by Helicopter

If you’re weighing up different day trips on Kauai, you’re probably debating a helicopter tour over a boat cruise of the Na Pali coast. The Na Pali coast, which takes up the majority of the island’s west side, is also best viewed by air or water. However, the water can be really choppy at certain times, so if you’re not a boat person, a helicopter is a great alternative to seeing the coast. The Na Pali coast is one of the biggest draws to the island, so whether you experience it by air or sea, I would strongly recommend fitting a Na Pali coast tour into your budget in some shape or form. If possible, both are amazing ways to see it though.

Tips

• To avoid reflection from the glass when taking photos, wear black- it is recommended to all passengers to wear black, even if you don’t plan on photography.
• If you are really concerned about your seat allocation, a private helicopter tour can be booked- however, as you may guess, this will greatly increase the price. That being said, I would encourage joining in with a group, in order to lessen the environmental impact.
• If you’re worried about airsickness, try to eat a light meal before taking off, or consider some seasickness tablets.
• Ask questions- the headsets work both ways, so you are able to communicate back and forth with the pilot.

Although I usually blog predominantly about Australasia, Hawaii has become a hugely popular destination with Australians, so hopefully you will find this blog useful! Sydney to Oahu is about 9-10 hours (check out our long-haul flight gripes, if you’re interested), and from Oahu, it’s only about a 20 minute flight to Kauai, via their main airport at Lihue (also where Island Helicopters arrive and depart).

Have you ever flown in a helicopter? What did you think? 

(The writer flew with Island Helicopters as a full-paying guest.)