Hawaii Helicopter tour. Which island?

[19woody19]

DW and I are booked on 15 Day Hawaiian Islands cruise sailing 1/22/18 R/T San Francisco.

We are interested in taking a helicopter tour. Which island do you recommend?

Also, does the tour operator remove the window or door to get better photos and videos?

Thanks.

 

You'll probably get more information by posting on the Hawaii board under "Ports of Call', but there are 2 good choices - Kauai, for the beautiful Na Pali Coast, and the Big Island for Volcanos National Park, plus spectacular other scenery. See which one fits your schedule and budget best. Read reviews on Trip Advisor to see feedback on individual operators. The website for each company should detail what type of equipment they use and how open (or not) the copters are for photography.

 

DW and I are booked on 15 Day Hawaiian Islands cruise sailing 1/22/18 R/T San Francisco.

We are interested in taking a helicopter tour. Which island do you recommend?

Also, does the tour operator remove the window or door to get better photos and videos?

Thanks.

 

The big island has the volcano, so that would be my first choice. Kaua'i is the garden island. That would be my second choice. O'ahu has Pearl Harbor. That would be my third choice.

 

We have done a Maui/Molokai doors off Hele tour. :)

 

For me....

Kauai would be first choice....

Big Island with the Volcanic area would be second.

 

There are videos of both on youtube.

Look at Blue Hawaii Tours.

 

I do know that on Kauai there is (or was in the past) an operator who does a doors-off tour.

Probably not for the faint of heart!!!!

 

On many of these, you will get the video of your tour.

Unless one is really focused and experienced at photography and videos, I would want to focus on the experience, and not my device.

 

Happy Planning!!!!

 

We did the helicopter tour on the big island, so totally worth the price. Sell your children if you have to. Hubby is a photo freak and he FORGOT to take pictures he was so enthralled.

 

For a cheaper but very pleasurable tour, book the airplane, about 1/3 of the price. Doesn't get as close, but still worth it at the price and it's longer!

 

Hands down, Kauai.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

We have taken one on Kauai and the Big Island, both where unbelievable and worth every penny. The Big Island is best out of Kona ( actually the Wiakola area) with circle island tour you see more than just the volcano. The tour out of Hilo tend to focus on the volcano area. Which if you are really wanting to see lava this is the one to take, but Kauai is by far the one for shear unbelievable senery incredible water falls, canyons, beaches, plus this only way you can see about 60 percent of the island which is inaccessible by car. You can hike to some areas but are full day or more longer hikes. If you have seen any of the Jurassic Park movies what you see is Kauai. We have never taken one with the doors off, and not seen one that advertised that until recently on the Big Island which was a short tour over the Volcano area. If this is a once in a life time trip and you do not think you will be back hock the farm and do both.

 

Flying over the big island volcano was on my bucket list for years. Tracked the lava flow every day and couldnt wait to see it in person. First attempt: flew from Oahu for my reservations on the heli...rained sooo hard when we landed, i turned around and flew back to Oahu. Second attempt a few years later...rained again but cleared up so thought YES, here is my chance...beautiful skies..except for all the vog totally covering the volcano..back to the ship. Third attempt 2 years ago...some vog but FINALLY able to fly over and watch the lava flow and see all the destruction it has caused over the years.

OK, what i'm getting at is this...Hilo has rain nearly every day so be prepared. Once I was able to add to my bucket list I happy.

As others have mentioned you cant go wrong no matter which you choose...Hawaii is gorgeous.

 

I'm 2 for 2 on cancelled helicopter tours on the Big Island! First one was supposed to be from Kona as a private tour. It was raining so hard that day, that the tour company called saying the trip was cancelled. Spent the afternoon at the Kona brewery drinking beer and eating Hawaiian pizza instead! ;)

 

Second time was a few years later. Opted for a Princess Tour this time. We chose the Deluxe Helicopter and a Day trip. They ran the trip in reverse and we did the day trip first and then headed to the airport later in the day for the helicopter tour. We got as far as the weigh in and were assigned to a helicopter, when we were informed that the clouds had come down over the volcano and flights were suspended. The morning was fine and if they had run the tour in the right order we would have been OK. It was rather galling to be taken back to the ship, sit out on the balcony with a cocktail and see the clouds lift and flights resume. ;( Still we did get to spot AF1 at the airport whilst we were there as President Obama and the family were on vacation on the island over the holidays.

 

Still, gives us another excuse to take the cruise again and hopefully 3rd time lucky to finally cross this off our bucket list. ;)

 

Agree with Kauai because it is spectacular and there is no other way to see most of the island. We have visited the volcano area via land, but I would like to do an air tour over there as well some day. Since we did Kauai many years ago, it is an easy choice for us now (volcano next time). It is not an easy choice if can only do one. Do you plan on returning to Hawaii in future? If so, then don't fret. You cannot go wrong with Kauai.

 

Thanks to all.

I have reposted my question on the Hawaii forum.

Mahalo! :)

 

DW and I are booked on 15 Day Hawaiian Islands cruise sailing 1/22/18 R/T San Francisco.

We are interested in taking a helicopter tour. Which island do you recommend?

Also, does the tour operator remove the window or door to get better photos and videos?

Thanks.

 

We have lived in Hawaii many years and each island has it's own personality. Doors off tour out of Hilo to see the volcano, feel it and smell it and Kauai to see the incredible vegetation, waterfalls, and Na Pali coast. They both will be memorable!!!

 

I also say Kauai, though it's the only one I've done, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I went through Blue Hawaiian as well, and they are great. It was enclosed, but that's for the best because some of the areas are rather wet.

 

I'm 2 for 2 on cancelled helicopter tours on the Big Island! First one was supposed to be from Kona as a private tour. It was raining so hard that day, that the tour company called saying the trip was cancelled. Spent the afternoon at the Kona brewery drinking beer and eating Hawaiian pizza instead! ;)

 

Second time was a few years later. Opted for a Princess Tour this time. We chose the Deluxe Helicopter and a Day trip. They ran the trip in reverse and we did the day trip first and then headed to the airport later in the day for the helicopter tour. We got as far as the weigh in and were assigned to a helicopter, when we were informed that the clouds had come down over the volcano and flights were suspended. The morning was fine and if they had run the tour in the right order we would have been OK. It was rather galling to be taken back to the ship, sit out on the balcony with a cocktail and see the clouds lift and flights resume. ;( Still we did get to spot AF1 at the airport whilst we were there as President Obama and the family were on vacation on the island over the holidays.

 

Still, gives us another excuse to take the cruise again and hopefully 3rd time lucky to finally cross this off our bucket list. ;)

 

 

Sounds like our luck at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque we have tried 2 times to ride in a balloon, both times canceled due to high winds and in the wrong direction. So looks like another trip to Albuquerque.

 

FYI the picture in my signature is taken from the Princeville Hotel in Kauai.

Edited December 20, 2017 by Host CJSKIDS