Experiencing Hawaii by Air on Helicopter Tours

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most remote, most rugged island chains on the planet, and significant portions are only accessible via foot, horseback or aircraft. Here are a few tips for selecting a tour and exploring Hawaii by air. All photos in this slideshow were taken on tours of Maui (Blue Hawaiian Helicopters) and Kaua'i (Safari Helicopters).

Helicopters are a great way to explore parts of each island that aren't otherwise accessible. A good example is Manawaiopuna Falls on Kauai, which sits on private land only accessible by permit. The falls were made famous in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, and remain a popular feature of Kauai helicopter tours.

Many of the helicopter tours follow set paths which may vary due to weather, so don't be disappointed with last-minute changes. Don't expect to island-hop either: state law requires helicopter tours take place entirely within the same county-only tours departing from Maui County, which also comprises Molokai and Lanai, offer more than one island.

Don't expect to pick your seat on your tour. Weight and balance calculations (passengers are discreetly weighed at check-in) on helicopters are an exacting science vital to safety. Pilots generally pass the most popular scenery on both sides of the craft so that both sides can enjoy optimal views and photo opportunities.

Kauai's Na Pali Coast is one of the most scenic in the state. Boat tours must often navigate rough waters, while helicopter tours can typically offer the most dramatic vistas, which due to the island's spectacularly dynamic weather, are almost never the same from moment to moment or tour to tour.

While it's not possible to get rid of all the glare on the windows of a helicopter, wearing dark clothing prevents huge reflective glare from covering the windows of the helicopter, allowing for optimal video and photography conditions in the cabin. Zoom lens, cropping and photo editing can also reduce the effects of glare.

Helicopter pilots also provide narration during tours, which covers topics ranging from Hawaiian mythology and politics to the geologic origins of the islands. Most narratives also cover the history of the flora and fauna visible from the helicopter during the tour. It's often surprising to note how much Hawaii's topography has changed in the last two centuries.

Most Hawaii helicopter tours feature air-conditioned cabins, noise-canceling headsets with microphones for two-way narration with the pilot and picture windows for optimal viewing. Most tour helicopters seat around six passengers, and passengers over 250 pounds typically require an extra seat, often sold at a discount.

Many helicopter tour companies have made arrangements with private landowners to land in spots otherwise not accessible to the general public. On Maui, some Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tours land on the foothills of Haleakala for a glass of champagne or juice and picture-perfect views of Maui, Kahoolawe, and Lanai.

Many helicopter tours get up close with sheer cliffs, waterfalls and deep valleys, but don't expect them to get too close to the ground-there's a minimum height for safety and environmental reasons. Camera zoom is helpful in some situations, but most of the vistas are vast and striking fully zoomed out.

Geologically around five million years old, Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, and those five million years of rainfall have carved out the island's dramatic deep valleys. The wrinkled appearance of the Na Pali Coast, coupled with the bright color contrasts, make it a favorite among visitors.

Many visitors think of Hawaii as sunny beaches or cool mountains, but these volcanic islands are rich in biodiversity-Kauai and Hawaii Island notably run almost the entire gamut of Koppen climate classifications, from subtropical to near arctic tundra at higher elevations.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters operates tours on Maui (including Lanai and Molokai), Hawaii Island, Oahu, and Kauai. Most tours are onboard the larger Airbus EcoStar heliopters which are comfortably roomy. On my recent journey, our pilot had been flying helicopters on Hawaii for over a decade and had a vast knowledge of the island and its history.

Safari Helicopters operates tours on Kauai and Hawaii Island with Airbus A-Star helicopters with large windows and plenty of opportunity for photos. On Kauai, 60- and 90-minute tours (the longer tour includes a preserve landing) cover island highlights including the Na Pali coast and the island's wealth of lush waterfalls.