Hawaii Hotels & Resorts

This helicopter flight is a fast, comprehensive way to see Kauaʻi’s most dramatic landscapes in one go. You’ll fly over remote valleys, waterfalls, deep canyons and the Nā Pali Coast, covering areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by road. It’s a short but wide-ranging experience, designed for anyone who wants a clear sense of the island’s scale and scenery without spending days travelling around it.

Lift off by helicopter and watch Kauaʻi turn cinematic. You’ll glide into the Hanapēpē Valley to see Manawaiopuna Falls, better known as the Jurassic Park waterfalls. From there, it’s on to Olokele Canyon and the vast, rust-red folds of Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, where waterfalls spill down the cliffs. Then comes the north shore, and this is where things get even more dramatic. You’ll trace the Nā Pali Coast’s towering sea cliffs, rising thousands of feet straight out of the ocean, sweep over the turquoise waters of Hanalei Bay, and spot the Princeville area tucked neatly into the greenery.

If the weather’s playing nicely, your pilot will finish strong with Mount Waiʻaleʻale, a dormant volcano and one of the wettest places on Earth. All that rain has a point. It feeds a riot of waterfalls and deep green ridges that feel almost unreal. It’s scenic, immersive, and adventurous enough to brag about later. Kauaʻi from the ground is lovely. From the air, it’s unforgettable.

• Duration: 50 minutes
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

This helicopter tour covers much of Maui in a single flight, combining West Maui’s valleys and waterfalls with East Maui’s rainforest and volcanic landscapes. You’ll also land at Ulupalakua Ranch on the slopes of Haleakalā for a short stop with refreshments and views. It’s a varied, mid-length flight perfect if you want both aerial sightseeing and a brief on-the-ground, away-from-it-all experience.

You’ll start by flying over West Maui, where deep valleys, dense rainforest, and long ribbons of waterfalls set the tone. It’s the side of the island that feels wild and cinematic, the sort of scenery that makes you forget about your camera for a moment because you’re too busy looking. Then comes the unexpected part. Your pilot lands at a private spot on Ulupalakua Ranch, high on the slopes of Mount Haleakalā. You’ll have around 20 minutes on the ground to stretch your legs, enjoy light refreshments, and take in wide-open views across rolling pastureland. On a clear day, you’ll catch views stretching all the way to the sea on both sides of the island.

Back in the air, the flight continues over East Maui for an extended look at the lush Hana region and the vast volcanic landscape of Haleakalā. From this angle, the island’s scale becomes clearer, and the contrast between the rainforest, the coastline, and the crater becomes clear. It’s adventurous without being intense, visually rich, and varied enough to feel like you’ve really seen Maui rather than just skimmed over it.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience

If you’re going to splurge on one unforgettable experience in Oʻahu, make it a complete island helicopter flight. In around 65 minutes, you’ll see the entire island unfold beneath you, from pivotal historical landmarks to postcard-perfect coastline, all in one flight.

You’ll lift off from Honolulu and fly over Pearl Harbour and the USS Arizona Memorial, a powerful moment that sets the tone before the scenery shifts gears. Minutes later, the city thins out, and Oʻahu’s natural side takes centre stage. You’ll sweep past Diamond Head, the island’s instantly recognisable volcanic crater, then glide over the clear reefs and electric blues of Kāneʻohe Bay. Inland, the landscape turns lush and dramatic as you pass through the Nuʻuanu Rainforest and over Sacred Falls, Oʻahu’s tallest waterfall, hidden deep in the jungle.

Then it’s north, where the coastline opens up into the North Shore, home to legendary surf breaks and long, wild beaches that feel a world away from Waikiki. You’ll also spot the vast green stretches of the Dole Plantation and follow the rugged Waiʻanae mountain range along the island’s western edge, where Oʻahu looks raw and almost untouched. By the time you touch back down, Oʻahu feels less like a collection of highlights and more like a complete, connected island.

• Duration: 65 minutes
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

This evening tour combines a scenic drive up Mauna Kea, sunset views from high above the clouds, and guided stargazing under one of the clearest night skies on Earth. You’ll climb from sea level into the mountain’s high-altitude landscape, stop for sunset, then descend to a more comfortable elevation for an after-dark look at the stars.

You leave earlier in the evening and begin the gradual climb up Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that rises well above the rest of the island. During the drive, your guide fills in the background, from the mountain’s geological story to the way Hawaiians once used the stars to navigate across the Pacific. There’s a hot picnic-style dinner along the way, timed for when the temperature starts to drop and sitting down feels particularly welcome.

Sunset is the main event. From near the summit, you watch the sun sink with clouds often spread out below you and the colours changing quickly as the light fades. It’s a quiet, unhurried moment, helped by the fact that very little else competes for attention at this altitude. After dark, you head back down to a lower elevation for stargazing. Wrapped up against the cold, you take part in a guided star show using a powerful 11-inch Celestron telescope. With minimal light pollution, the night sky here is clear and expansive.

• Duration: full day 
• Departs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
• Operates year round
• Group experience

This full-day experience on Hawaiʻi Island brings together three very different sides of the island. You’ll explore an active volcanic landscape with a guide, visit a working cacao farm to see how chocolate is made from the ground up, and finish the day at one of Hilo’s best-known waterfalls. It’s a varied itinerary that works well if you want contrast rather than a single-focus tour.

The day begins at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where you explore a landscape shaped by eruptions, collapses and cooling lava. Travelling through the park with a guide, you see how volcanic activity continues to reshape the terrain. One of the key stops focuses on the dramatic collapse of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which significantly altered Kīlauea and changed how this part of the park looks and feels.

From molten geology, the focus shifts to something much sweeter. You visit a tropical cacao farm, set across a large working property, where you follow chocolate from tree to finished product. The visit is hands-on and practical, breaking down the process in a way that makes the result more interesting than you might expect. The day finishes in Hilo at Rainbow Falls. Surrounded by lush greenery, the waterfall is an easy, unrushed stop and a good way to wind things down. 

• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience