3 Best Helicopter ToursYou will be flying on an Astar helicopter. It can accommodate 6 passengers (two seats to the left of pilot, and four seats directly behind). The weight and balance of the helicopter is computer generated and insures proper seat assignment. Astar helicopters are made for touring, so you don’t have to worry where to sit - each seat provides an excellent view. As you soar through the clouds, absorbing Maui's scenic terrain, your pilot will tell you some curious facts the island's flora, fauna, history, and culture. It is a good idea to schedule a helicopter tour in the beginning of your Maui vacation for two reasons – first, if the weather is bad, you will have plenty of time left to re-schedule, and second, a bird-eye view of the island will give you a good idea of where things are, so getting around Maui will be easier afterwards.
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1) Hana/Haleakala Tour (45 min)
The helicopter will climb above central Maui and ascend the world's largest dormant volcano, Haleakala (“House of the Sun”). An immense moonlike crater will be spread out in front of you, with many interesting eye-catchers like pure iron oxide cinder cones towering over 1,100 feet tall. You will fly over the huge old lava flows from the crater to the sea, known as Kaupo and Ko’olau Gaps. Next, you will see Hana, the nearly uninhabited “back side” of Maui where largest tropical rainforest in the US extends for over 180 square miles. It looks absolutely perfect – intense green, pristine, and dense. The tour also includes views of Old Hana Town, Kipahulu, the taro field of Ke'anae, fabulous coastline waterfalls, and the world famous Ho'okipa windsurfing beach on the return. If you are traveling during winter, you will likely see the whales frolicking in the ocean. 2) Circle Island Tour (60-65 min) This tour will point out the most interesting sights of Maui that look even more interesting from a bird’s-eye view. You will see “Wall of Tears” (weather-permitting), one of the wettest places on earth, with 17 long streaming waterfalls flow side-to-side, including Maui’s tallest waterfall, Honokohau Falls, with over 1,100-ft drop. It is fun to see the resorts of Kaanapali and Kapalua, and Lahaina town from the sky. You will soar above central Maui’s sugarcane and pineapple fields. As you get closer to Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano, the helicopter will ascend so you can take in the enormous moonlike crater in its entirety. Afterwards, you will head to Hana, home to the largest tropical rainforest in the US. It looks absolutely breathtaking, just like Amazon jungle. Other highlights of the tour include Old Hana Town, the taro field of Ke'anae, fabulous coastline waterfalls, and the world famous Ho'okipa windsurfing beach on the return. 3) Molokai Tour (60-65 min) Your helicopter will streak low over razor-thin cliffs, then flutter past sparkling waterfalls and down into the canyons and valleys of the inaccessible West Maui Mountains. You will see the "Wall of Tears" with over 17 waterfalls flowing at once, and Maui's tallest waterfall, Honokohau Falls, with over 1,100 foot drop. There's so much beauty to absorb that it all goes by in a rush. You'll never want to stop flying over this spectacular, surreal landscape - and it's the only way to see the dazzling beauty of the prehistoric area of Maui. Next, you will cross narrow Pailolo channel between Maui and Molokai. As soon as you reach Molokai, you will be mesmerized by the gigantic sea cliffs, the tallest in the world. The helicopter will soar above Hawaii's tallest waterfalls (including the 1,750 foot Kahiwa Falls) along Molokai's isolated north shore, then fly over two more large and beautiful waterfalls flowing down the mountains in Halawa Valley. Molokai’s Kalaupapa Peninsula is another must-see. For years, it has been home to people suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy), who were led by the courageous Father Damien. After you see Molokai, you can easily imagine how Hawaiian islands were centuries ago – untouched, uninhabited, breathtaking in their raw tropical beauty.
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What each tour includes: Ground safety briefing, complimentary coffee or tea, pilot personal narration recorded on the live video, pilot personally choreographed music recorded on the live video, David Clark stereo aviator headsets with individual volume control, 5-camera custom built video recording system, polarized bubble windows, and air-conditioned climate control. If you’d like to take pictures: Bring lots of film (35mm with ASA 400 or higher with a wide-angle lens works best) and wear a dark colored shirt to reduce glare on the plexiglass windows.
TIME: Departure times depend on the weather
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