Imagine floating aboard a helicopter into the center of an ancient, inactive volcano, surrounded by 5,000-foot walls of rock and a waterfall that cascades more than 3,000 feet down the side. This enthralling journey inside Mt. Waialeale serves as the culmination of the Kauai ECO Adventure from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. The trip begins with a flight to Hanapepe Valley, then continues on to Mana Waiapuna, also known as "Jurassic Park Falls." The awe-inspiring view from the six-passenger, eco-star helicopter is unobstructed thanks to the expansive cockpit glass. Passengers see the wonder of Olokele Canyon before moving on to Waimea Canyon, affectionately referred to by locals as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." The flight then skirts the edge of the ocean, highlighting the spectacular beauty of the Pacific as it crashes into the immense, seaside walls of the Na Pali Coast and the Bali Hai Cliffs. Before moving onward to the volcano, the chopper will fly over the clear waters of Hanalei Bay, followed by a visit to another gorgeous collection of water dropping from a cliff at Wailua Falls.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
105 Kahului Heliport
Kahului, HI 96732
(808) 871-1107
bluehawaiian.com
Inter-island Helicopters utilizes a Hughes 500 machine with no middle back seats, which guarantees every passenger a window seat. Additionally, the helicopter flies with the doors off, offering both a unique thrill for the truly adventurous and excellent photo-taking opportunities. Departing from Port Allen Airport, the first destination of the "Deluxe Island Tour" is Waimea Canyon. Jaunts through some of the smaller, exterior canyons take visitors through the area before heading to the tropical rainforest that makes up Kokee State Park, followed by the airborne beauty of the Na Pali Coast.
"We'll bring you into view of one of the most famous movie peaks--Mt. Makana or 'Bali Hai' made famous in Rogers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific,'" says the tour company. The flight also makes its way to the volcanic Mt. Wai'ale'ale, Hanapepe Valley and Jurassic Park Falls and ends with a dash over the 3,000-acre Kauai Coffee Plantation, the largest coffee plantation in the state.
Inter-Island Helicopters
3441 Kuiloko Road
Hanapepe, HI 96716
800-656-5009
interislandhelicopters.com
Visitors to the island may indulge themselves with one of two excursions offered by Safari Helicopters. The company's "Deluxe Waterfall Safari Tour" spans 100 miles of Kauai landscape over a 60-minute trip and includes visits to all of the major attractions offered by the other companies in this article. But vacationers with a desire to enjoy both a helicopter tour and an adventure on the ground may wish to reserve a seat of the Kauai Refuge Eco Tour, an experience that includes all the attractions of the Deluxe Waterfall Safari Tour coupled with a 40-minute stopover at the Kauai Wildlife Refuge overlooking Olokele Canyon.
"This site over looks the Olokele Canyon owned by the Robinson Family and is totally inaccessible to the public otherwise. You will be able to view the vastness of this particular canyon and the wonders of possible rainbows and waterfalls in the distance," according to the Safari website.
Safari Helicopters
3225 Akahi St.
Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766
808-246-0136
safarihelicopters.com
