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Seeing °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± from the air is a thrilling and singular experience that may just define your trip to the Garden Island.

While expensive, it’s the only way to see much of the island, the majority of which is privately owned. Helicopter tours are by far the most popular option: while planes can fly no lower than 1000–1500ft, helicopters are allowed to fly as low as 500ft and can hover, too. The tours are popular with honeymooners – and with everyone who loves the romance of nature.

Here’s our guide to the best plane tours and helicopter tours in °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾±.

How much is a helicopter tour?

The most popular way to see °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± from the air is to take a helicopter ride. Most helicopter tour companies depart from the airport in ³¢¾±³ó³ÜÊ»±ð; trips generally last 60 to 90 minutes, and start at around $229. Tip: make reservations online ahead of time to save a bit of money.

The rugged coast of Kauai as seen from a helicopter above
Helicopters can descend as low as 500ft on °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± and are allowed to hover so that passengers can take in all the gorgeous scenery ©Tec Petaja/Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±

How to choose a helicopter tour

It’s worth doing some careful research before choosing an operator. You’ll have to decide what kind of aircraft and tour you want (some land in neat places), and whether you want the doors on or off (some passengers like the visibility, others don’t like the exposure to wind and possibly rain).

Doors-off helicopters are the way to go if you are an avid photographer (and don't suffer from vertigo). But expect conditions that are noisy and windy – and maybe just a little bit scary. Keep in mind that on a six-seater helicopter, two people may be stuck in the middle. While you can request a window seat, it’s the captain has discretion to move people around for weight balance.

You also get to choose from big-window, little-window and bubble helicopters (the last like the ones seen on M*A*S*H). The big differences will always be visibility and noise. More-modern helicopters are quieter and generally have big windows. You always wear headphones so you can talk with fellow passengers with a lower din, but even a slight reduction in sound can make your trip more pleasant. Then again, some of the older, louder helicopters have a sweet, retro, Magnum P.I.–esque vibe that makes for a thrilling ride.

Make sure to check your operator’s weather policy before booking. Rain delays do happen, and tour routes will vary depending on rain and winds. Cancellations or postponements by operators may happen on short notice. Consider booking early during your stay, so you can reschedule for later if need be.

To check any tour company’s comprehensive safety record, consult the .

Safety and apparel recommendations

Ideally, strap everything down (hats, phones, cameras, etc.). It can get a little cold, so bring a jacket and long pants, plus decent shoes in case your tour includes a landing.

Always approach a helicopter from the front (never the back). The captain will generally indicate which side you should board. Put your head down, and hold onto your hat, just like they do in the movies – then relax and look outward as you listen to ongoing narration from the knowledgeable pilots. You can feel free to tip them afterward, but it’s not required.

An aerial shot of cliffs plunging to the lush Nualolo Valley in °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾±
Your helicopter pilot will follow lush valleys inland as you explore °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± from above © Brandon Verdoorn / 500px

Where do helicopter tours go?

From ³¢¾±³ó³ÜÊ»±ð, expect to see the Nawiliwili Harbor and the Menehune Fishpond, Kipu Kai and the Tunnel of Trees, Manawaiopuna Falls in Hanapepe Valley, Olokele Canyon, Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, North Shore beaches like KeÊ»e and Hanalei, and Mt WaiÊ»aleÊ»ale. While the rips up impossibly steep canyons are an adrenaline junkie’s dream, it’s really the close proximity to waterfalls – many of which can only be seen from the air – that makes these trips amazing.

The tours generally follow pretty standardized routes, but you can talk with your pilot to customize your tour experience, especially if it’s just you and your family or sweetheart taking the flight. This means getting closer to (or further away from) the ground, making more acrobatic banking turns or going with a more easy-breezy approach – however way you wish to fly.

For a really unique trip, consider a tour with Niʻihau Helicopters ($465 per person), which flies over much of Niʻihau island (avoiding the population center of Puʻuwai), then ends with snorkeling off one of the island’s beaches. Lunch, snacks and drinks are included (with a five-person minimum required).

Best helicopter operators in Kaua‘i

A woman laughs as she flies in a biplane over Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i
Flights over Kaua‘i in a historic biplane are a popular option for honeymooners © Paul Souders / Getty Images

Fixed-wing scenic flights

When you can take a helicopter right to the cone of Mt WaiÊ»aleÊ»ale and hover there to your heart’s content, there seems to be little point in choosing a fixed-wing aircraft to tour °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾±. There is one exception, however: a tour in an open-cockpit biplane, which flies so slowly it may as well be hovering.

The combination of the romance of early aviation, the sensation of the wind and roaring engine, and the emerald tropical island sliding below – not to mention sitting so close to your cabin-mate you may as well be in an embrace – makes this many a honeymooner’s first choice.

In fact, if it were up to passengers, biplanes would probably be as popular as helicopters on °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾±, but there’s currently only one company that offers these scenic flights: AirVentures Hawaii, based in ³¢¾±³ó³ÜÊ»±ð. The tour leaves from ³¢¾±³ó³ÜÊ»±ð Airport and takes you north past the Wailua River and Kilauea Lighthouse. From there, you travel up the lush Hanalei Valley, continuing over the ridge to see cascading waterfalls and 4000ft cliffs. The flight then continues north past Hanalei to the Na Pali Coast, soaring past waterfalls and canyon drops through Waimea Canyon, and back to the South Shore, where you might just spot your hotel. The company even lets you keep the cool throwback hat and goggles as a souvenir of your only-in-°­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± adventure.

You might also like:
10 essential hiking trails on °­²¹³Ü²¹Ê»¾± for exploring the Garden Island
How to visit Hawaii without totally destroying it
How to choose the best Hawaiian island for your trip

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