Kauai, or “The Garden Isle” is a true gem of the Hawaiian Islands. It may be the state’s fourth largest island, but it hosts more beaches and hiking trails than any of the others. Known for its lush flora and fauna, it has set the scene for iconic movies such as Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Raiders of the Lost Ark and even Lilo & Stitch. Yet it’s also one of the quietest places to escape to in the state. To put it mildly, Kauai contains multitudes.
While you can get around many of the 1,430 square kilometres of Kauai by foot, bike or car, if you want to truly envelop yourself in its stunning vistas, there’s few better options than by helicopter. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters is one company offering such an experience, with two heliports around the island.
For our own flight last month, we picked up our rental Tesla, courtesy of Discount Hawaii Car Rental, and headed to their location right next to the island’s main airport in Lihue. Our “Eco Adventure” tour would take us from coast to coast on the island, exploring everything in between.
We began our adventure checking in with their wonderful staff, who went over the safety features of our aircraft, accompanied by an instructional video. This was helpful for me, as a first-time helicopter passenger, to feel safe and in good hands before takeoff. I felt completely at ease with the thorough explanation of everything we were to expect during our flight. And pre-flight, the staff even took photos of us in front of the helicopter to commemorate the voyage. They’ll use your phone or camera for this, and also take their own, that becomes part of a package of video and photos you can purchase after the flight.
From the moment we began our ascent, a diverse and thoughtful playlist was broadcasted through our headsets, along with our pilot’s narration and instructions. Things kicked off with the iconic Hawaii Five-O theme. Pairing the tour with music was a magical touch, creating the perfect ambience for the voyage, making the trip memorable, and even at times emotional, as you take everything in. To top it off, our tour guide also gave us a thorough history of Kauai in addition to the wonderful soundtrack. And if you missed anything, don’t worry because they film the entire journey from the interior of the vessel, which you can watch in the lobby once the tour is over. You can also purchase the footage as a keepsake!
Across about 50 minutes, we were wisped away to aerial views of immense greenery, rugged mountains, pristine coastlines and tremendous beauty.
We flew over Manawaiopuna Falls, also known as “Jurassic Falls” where we saw the 400-foot waterfall that gained infamy by being featured in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. And as you probably would guess, John Williams’ iconic theme for the movie played through our headsets as we took in the view. We also passed over the second rainiest place on earth, Mount Wai-ale-ale, a shield volcano that sees upwards of 452 inches of rainfall each year.
A highlight for me was flying through Honopū Valley, or, the Valley of Kings, an ancient burial ground where the bones of Hawaiian chiefs were laid to rest in secret locations within the surrounding cliffs. Those who were tasked with laying the chiefs to rest, would then jump to their death to ensure the security of the burial site. The vast landscape of peaks and valleys was breathtaking, and being paired with local Hawaiian music created core memory for me almost instantly.
Another awe-inspiring view featured in this eco adventure was flying over Waimea Canyon, also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” (seen above). The vast, jaw-dropping canyon was a marvel to look at from above. As were the great hiking trails in the region we flew past. Some of these – such as those along the Nāpali Coast (seen below) – require permits that sell out almost instantly, with Kauai being a destination for hikers from all over the world.
With their island tours, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offer a one-of-a-kind experience that is the perfect way to experience the unique beauty of Kauai. The team do an excellent job at ensuring you have a safe and memorable journey, that no bucket list would be complete without. I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting this breathtaking island.
**Pro Tip! Wear dark clothing to ensure you get the best photos. White/light clothing will reflect on the windows.**
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Blue Hawaiian Helicopters departs from two locations in Kauai – our tour, the “Kauai Eco Adventure” departed from the Island’s primary airport, Lihue.
This heliport’s address is 3730 Ahukini Rd, Lihue Heliport #8, Lihue, HI 96766.
You can book this bucket list worthy experience here: https://www.bluehawaiian.com/en/kauai/tours/kauai-eco-adventure
Photos by Larry Heath unless otherwise credited, who also contributed to this article. The author and photographer travelled as guests of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
While in Kaua’i we stayed as guests of the Royal Sonesta Kauai. Our car rental was courtesy of Discount Hawaii Car Rental, who offer inclusive rates with insurance, no booking fees, no prepayment, free cancellation and a reduced young driver fee.
