Kauaʻi Helicopter Tours

If you can find something that will fit your budget, I think a Kauaʻi helicopter tour is worth it to be able to see all those spots you can’t get to by car. There is no trail or road access to the summit of Mount Waiʻaleʻale crater, one of the wettest spots on Earth. There is a multi-day hike via the Kalalau Trail, but no road access to the Nā Pali Coast. Manawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall made famous in "Jurassic Park," nicknamed Jurassic Falls is on private land with no public access. You can view Waimea Canyon from a scenic overlook you can drive to, but this only allows you to see a sliver of the canyon. From the air, you can see the whole gorge.

If you are a photographer, you’ll get incredible birds-eye shots of the island’s geography.

However, if you are someone who has a severe fear of heights or gets claustrophobic or bad motion sickness, even with medication, I would definitely skip it. It is not worth getting sick over.

The following comparison analysis is based on verified operator information. Tours generally leave either from Līhue or Princeville.

If you prefer a private experience, choose: Aliʻi Air Tours or Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours.

If you want doors off, choose: Ali'i Air Tours, Jack Harter Helicopters and Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours all offer doors-off flying for unobstructed photos and views.

For the most budget-friendly, choose: Jack Harter Helicopters.

Ali'i Air Tours & Charters — Private Kauai Helicopter Tour

• Best for first-timers. Family-owned and operated with over 32 years of flying experience. Comes with a free video to remember your flight.
• Departure airport: Līhue
• Aircraft type: Robinson R44 Helicopter
• Flight duration: 1 hour
• Sights include: Napali coastline seacliffs, Waimea Canyon, Wai’ale’ale Crater, Hanalei Valley and its waterfalls, Alakai Swamp (the highest swamp in North America) and Manawaiopuna Falls ("Jurassic Falls").
• Doors-on or doors-off both available
• Party size: Up to 3 people
• Window seats: Every seat is a window seat
• Price: $389 per person
• Age and weight restrictions: Must be age 7 or older; 285 lb per person weight limit
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies: From the booking page: “All tours are weather dependent. Routes and flight patterns are subject to change due to wind and weather. If a flight is delayed or canceled for weather, the operator will attempt to reschedule; if rescheduling is not possible, a full refund will be issued.”
• FAA operating certification: Yes

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Jack Harter Helicopters - Doors-Off Heart of the Island Kauai Tour

• Best price. Pricing starts at $221 per person, which is often half the price of other tour operators.
• Departure airport: Līhue
• Aircraft type: MD500 and Airbus AStar
• Flight duration: 60-65 minutes
• Sights include: Ancient volcano of Waialeale ("rippling water"), valleys, cliffs, and waterfalls plus movie sites used for Blue Hawaii, Fantasy Island, Tropic Thunder and Jurassic Park.
• Doors-on and doors-off options: Both options available
• Party size: Up to 4 people
• Window-seat policies: None
• Price: $221 per person
• Age and weight restrictions: Must be 10 or older (children must be accompanied by an adult); individuals weighing more than 250 lbs or pairs exceeding a combined weight of 400 lbs must purchase an additional seat.
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies: From the booking page: “You may cancel or make changes to your booking with no obligations by notifying us at least 48 hours before your tour is scheduled to depart. “No-shows” and reservations canceled or changed within the 48-hour period before the scheduled flight time are subject to full charges.”
• FAA operating certification: Yes

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Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours — Private Kauai Experience

• Departure airport: Līhue, Waimea and Princeville
• Aircraft type: Robinson R44 helicopter
• Flight duration: 1 hour
• Sights include: Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Manawaiopuna Falls (“Jurassic Falls”), Mt. Waiale’ale Crater
• Doors-on and doors-off options: Doors off
• Party size: Up to 3 people
• Window-seat policies: All window seats
• Price: $359 per person
• Age and weight restrictions: Must be age 7 or older; Weight cannot exceed 275 pounds per person or 650 pounds per group.
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies: From the website: “Tours may be canceled or changed up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled flight time without incurring a fee. Tours canceled less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, or passengers who fail to show up or are 15 minutes late for check in, will be billed the full price for the tour. Tours rescheduled past the 24 hours will be subject to a $100 rescheduling fee.”
• FAA operating certification: Yes

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Blue Hawaiian Helicopters / Kauai Hiking Adventures – Helicopter Tour / Hike Combo

• Best for the ultimate Kauaʻi adventure and a quiet, luxury flight. Not recommended for children as there are portions of strenuous hiking.
• Departure airport: Princeville
• Aircraft type: Airbus H130 (Eco-Star)
• Duration: 9.5 hours
• Sights include: Hanalei Valley, Waiʻaleʻale Crater, and “Jurassic Falls.” 30-minute morning flightseeing tour + 7.5 hours of hiking and driving through Waimea Canyon and Kokeʻe State Park with an expert guide to viewpoints + lunch at Kōkeʻe Lodge.
• Doors-on and doors-off options: Doors on
• Window-seat policies: Back row is raised in order to see better view
• Price: $8615.00 for group of 6
• Age and weight restrictions: Passengers must weigh under 240 lbs
• Weather: From the booking page: “If sudden inclement weather makes it unsafe to fly (Blue Hawaiian’s call), the morning flight may be delayed or cancelled. In these situations, guests will be transported by vehicle instead.”
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies: From website: “All cancellations must be made through Kauaʻi Hiking Adventures more than 72 hours before tour for a full refund. No-shows or late arrivals are non-refundable. Weather cancellations by Blue Hawaiian are fully refunded or rescheduled.”
• FAA operating certification: Yes
• Accessibility: One of the only ADA wheelchair accessible helicopter tours on Kauaʻi

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Blue Hawaiian Helicopters — Kauai Eco Adventure Helicopter Tour

• Best for large groups (up to 7 people) and adults with young children. This is one of the only helicopter tours that will allow kids of any age on Kauaʻi.
• Departure airport: Līhue
• Aircraft type: Eurocopter Eco-Star
• Flight duration: 50 minutes
• Sights include: Mt. Waialeale, Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali Coast, Kapaʻa, Princeville, Olokele Canyon, Hanalei, Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Park Falls), Hanapepe, Eleele
• Doors-on and doors-off options: Doors on
• Party size: Up to 7 people
• Window-seat policies: Back row is raised to have a good view
• Price: $489 per person
• Age and weight restrictions: No minimum age; passengers must weigh under 240 lbs
• Cancellation and rescheduling policies: According to website: “If the pilot cancels the tour due to unsafe flying conditions, you will receive a 100% refund or the option to reschedule at no additional cost. The company monitors the microclimates constantly, and the pilot can make a weather call up to 15 minutes before departure. You must give at least 24 hours' notice prior to your flight time to cancel or make changes for a full refund. No-shows, late check-ins, or cancellations within that 24-hour window are non-refundable and charged at the full amount.”
• FAA operating certification: Yes, awarded the FAA’s Certificate of Excellence “Diamond Award” every year since 1998.

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What landmarks will I see during a typical flight?

The most common sites Kaua’i helicopter tours fly over are the Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Mount Waiʻaleʻale, “Jurassic Falls,” Hanalei and the North Shore. Some of these locations cannot be reached by car, making a helicopter tour the best way to see them. Not every tour will be the same. It is never a guarantee you will see all of these sites, since routes vary by operator and weather can be a factor, but it is likely. If you are booking a helicopter tour to see something in particular, check with the operator that they include it in their itinerary before booking.

Pricing

Kaua’i helicopter tours typically range from about $220 to $500 per person before tax and tip. Booking a private tour increases the price.

Doors on vs. off

For unobstructed views and the best photographs, choose doors off. The tradeoff is a more intense, louder, cooler and windier ride. Doors-on rides are calmer and better for anyone nervous about flying or gets motion sickness. For photographers, choose doors-off or press your lens flush with the glass. For doors-off youʻll need a good camera strap or harness to secure the camera to your body. Remove the lens hood, so it doesnʻt fly off.

Weather Considerations

There isn't strong evidence that one time of day is better for helicopter tours. Trust your operator. They are constantly watching the weather and will route your flight toward whatever is clearest that day.

If the weather isn’t up to the pilots standards, creating poor visibility, they will not go up at all and either cancel or reschedule your flight. I read on Reddit that someone had to reschedule their Kauaʻi helicopter tour three times because of weather before they finally flew. Book your tour early in the week in case you have to reschedule due to poor weather conditions.

Helicopter Tour vs. Nā Pali Coast Boat Tour

What’s nice about a boat tour, is you see the Nā Pali cliffs at eye level, from the water you get close enough to see sea caves, dolphins, sea turtles and (during the winter months) whales. Many boat tours include snorkeling and a meal, and the pace is slow so you can linger a bit longer on the view.

From a helicopter, you see the Nā Pali Cliffs as one continuous coast, plus the interior spots a boat can’t reach — Waimea Canyon, the Waiʻaleʻale crater, and numerous waterfalls behind the cliffs. However, it is a quicker stop versus a boat cruise.

Boat tours are less expensive than helicopter tours, but if you want to see those impossible to reach places only a helicopter will give you that. If your budget and schedule allow it, do both. The two experiences show you different things and neither fully substitutes for the other.

Airplane Tours

The advantage of choosing a helicopter tour over an airplane tour is how close up you can get in a helicopter. Helicopters can access narrow valleys, fly at lower altitudes and hover in spots you want to linger over for photographs.

What to Know Before Flying

• What to wear: Comfortable, close-fitting clothes and closed-toe shoes. Avoid loose scarves, hats or anything that could blow around.
• What to bring: A valid photo ID and your confirmation details. Leave bags and other loose objects behind.
• Camera and phone restrictions: Most operators allow cameras and phones but require a lanyard or wrist strap on doors-off flights so nothing can slip out of your hands mid-flight.
• Motion sickness: One thing I strongly recommend is taking motion sickness medicine, just in case. Although I enjoyed my helicopter ride over Kauaʻi immensely, I was very close to grabbing those little white paper bags multiple times.
• Fear of heights: Interestingly, most people who are uneasy with heights on the ground report that it feels different in a helicopter, since there's no edge to look over the way there is on a cliff or balcony. That said, I recommend being honest with yourself about whether an hour in the sky, especially if it is a doors-off tour, will make you uncomfortable or not.
• Pregnancy restrictions: Pregnant women in their third trimester will need to consult with their doctor prior to booking. Some operators require a doctor's note.
• Children's age requirements: Age minimums vary by operator and by tour type — doors-off tours in particular often set a higher minimum age (commonly around 10 and up). Confirm the specific age policy with your chosen operator before booking, especially if you're traveling with younger kids.
• Passenger weight limits: Helicopters have strict total weight limits for safety, and most operators ask for your weight at booking (it is important you are honest). Passengers above a certain per-person or per-couple weight threshold may be required to purchase an additional seat.
• Seat assignments and weight balancing: Seating isn't first-come, first-served. Pilots assign seats based on passenger weights to keep the aircraft properly balanced.

Safety and FAA Regulations

Hawaiʻi air tours came under scrutiny after three separate air tour helicopter crashes killed 21 people in 2019. The NTSB's investigation into that crash concluded that FAA oversight of Hawaiʻi air tours had been inadequate and issued recommendations the agency had been slow to implement, including an out-of-date Procedures Manual. In the years since, the FAA has replaced that outdated manual and established a revised authorization process for operators seeking to fly lower than 1,500 feet.

Most Kauaʻi helicopter tour companies state on their websites that they are FAA certified and operate under Part 135. Part 135 governs commercial on-demand air carriers — including virtually all commercial helicopter tour operators — and requires FAA-approved maintenance programs, structured pilot training and regulated rest time. Operators must abide by rules involving weather requirements for takeoff and an FAA-mandated Safety Management System. However, the only reliable way to confirm an operator's current certification status is directly through the FAA rather than from a company's website.