Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours – A Complete Review

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours is one of the premier helicopter tour companies in Hawaii offering private sightseeing tours over Kauai since 2006. One of the very best private helicopter tours in the Hawaiian Islands to offer a full Kaua’i experience, the Mauna Loa Helicopters Tours is known for its impeccable safety record, highly professional certified instructors and pilots, ultra-reliable Robinson helicopters, and giving customers an incredible, magical experience during their Hawaiian vacation.

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours began as a helicopter flight training school over 20 years ago. It’s certified flight instructors have been producing some of the best helicopter tour pilots in Hawaii ever since. Mauna Loa Helicopters pilots are highly skilled and prioritize operational safety. They are also very knowledgeable about the natural terrain, local landmarks, natural wonders, and other unique aspects of Kauai, as well as Oahu and the Big Island (two other island tours offered by Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours).

There are so many amazing places to see across Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. Mauna Loa Helicopter Tour offers up to 12 chartered tours across these three islands, giving you the chance to see many of the sites mentioned thus far.

Comparison Table

To make things easy, we’ve selected a single unique tour from each of the three islands, giving you a complete experience (including the Kauai Experience). Check out the listings below for more details:

TOUR 

DETAILS

The Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours Experience

Though they have been operating for just 13 years, their commitment to customer satisfaction is unparalleled. The staff at Mauna Loa are friendly and affectionate.

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours are known for providing a luxury experience to their customers. Their highly reliable and energy-efficient helicopters are designed in such a way that each flyer is assured to get a window seat.

Mauna Loa Helicopters is proud to make each helicopter tour (from one of their three island bases) a spectacular and personalized experience for the whole family. During each helicopter flight, the certified flight instructors / pilot provide an informative narration of the journey accompanied by music of your choice.

This is possible because they have small and energy-efficient VIP helicopters that can accommodate a maximum of four passengers. This creates a private and cordial atmosphere. You can choose to go solo, couple or with a small group (see detailed listings above).

The price range for their flights are very reasonable (see detailed listings above). Each chartered tour has specific customizable options. Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours is located at Lihue airport in Kauai (with island bases in Oahu and Hawaii). They offer flights from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday – Saturday).

You can choose to go early in the morning and enjoy the cool breeze along with the beautiful scenery or just ride in the afternoon to catch a glimpse of the island under the bright sunlight. Both times will provide an incredible experience. Motion sickness not included.

Now let’s check out the three main islands that this spectacular tour company operates chartered flights from:

Kaua’i

Kauai (The Garden Isle), fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, is a 560 square mile slice of heaven on Earth. Its majestic beauty and incredible topography are unlike anything on the planet – a perfect backdrop for offering private sightseeing tours that will change your perspective of the world. This is the place where Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours has earned their reputation.

The island of Kauai is the picture-perfect presentation of a secluded prehistoric landscape, practically untouched by man, and teeming with biodiversity and lush landscapes. In fact, Kauai is the oldest landmass in Hawaii, having been formed by volcanic activity over the “Hawaiian hotspot” about five million years ago.

Ancient folklore has it that the island was named after the son of the legendary Hawai’iloa, the fisherman and navigator who discovered Hawaii long ago.

Kauai is shaped by two flank calderas alongside a wide summit caldera. The island is so old that Cenozoic fossils have been discovered on Kauai. There’s no wonder that the film Jurassic Park was shot through Kauai’s Waimea Canyon.

Being a tropical island, the Garden Isle is mostly humid with stable weather conditions throughout the year. Average annual precipitation is very high (ranging from 20 to 50 inches across). A temperate climate means average annual temperatures are from the low-70’s to low-80’s Fahrenheit. At higher elevations, temperatures go from the 40’s to 60’s (and 30’s to 40’s in the winter).

Here are some of the magnificent locations across Kauai that you can experience with a private helicopter ride through Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours:

Waimea Canyon State Park

Exclusive helicopter tours that fly you through the “Grand Canyon of The Pacific”. Waimea Canyon is situated on the western side of Kauai and was formed by deep incision of the Waimea River from the accumulated rainfall coming off Mount Waialeale.

Waimea Canyon is known for its reddish soil overlapped by lush greenery, scenic hiking trails, and gorgeous waterfalls.

Mount Waialeale

Waiʻaleʻale means “rippling” or “overflowing water”. This is because the peak of this shield volcano (the second highest point in Kauai) is one of the wettest spots on Earth.

This remarkable volcano is known for being lush and filled with waterfalls around its caldera. Inside the crater of Mt. Waialeale is the famous “Wall of Tears” – very narrow streams of water cascading vertically down the steep sides of the mountain side. Of course, you can only witness this truly unique natural phenomenon from one of the private helicopter tours offered by a great pilot for Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours.

Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali Coast extends for about 16 miles along the northwest shore of Kauai. It is home to the majestic Na Pali Coast State Park at the foot of the Kalalau Valley. ‘Nā pali’ stands for “high cliffs” and not without reason. The sharp and rugged high cliffs along the Na Pali shoreline are among the most incredible on the planet (reaching up to 4,000 ft. above sea level).

The unbroken formation of rugged cliffs look down on the ocean like giant cathedrals, with dozens of sharp and shadowy ridges, making the Na Pali Coast one of the greatest locations for professional landscape photographers in the world.

Imagine taking in the entire Na Pali coastline on one of these exclusive private helicopter tours! It’s totally worth it.

Kauai is truly one of the greatest islands in Hawaii to go on a helicopter tour. Whether it’s the Waimea Canyon, Mount Waialeale, or the Na Pali Coast, you will have a magical personalized experience that you’ll never forget.

Let’s check out two other locations for which Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours has recently opened up private charter tour operations on island bases in O’ahu and Hawai’i:

O’ahu

Oahu, also known as the Gathering Place, is considered the heart and soul of the Hawaiian Islands. Oahu is Hawaii’s melting pot and where East meets West. It is the ancestral homeland of the Kingdom of Oahu and has been inhabited for over 1,700 years. Today, Oahu is home to the state’s capital Honolulu, a major commercial hub of Hawaii.

There are all sorts of places to see by flight in Oahu.

The North Shore includes the coast between Ka’ena Point and Kahuku Point. The legendary North Shore is known for its world-class surfing waves at Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach.

Oahu is also where the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is located. Kualoa Ranch, Waikiki Beach, Hanauma Bay, Iolani Palace, and Diamond Head are just some of the dozens of exciting locations found around the entire island.

Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours now offers private chartered flights so you can capture these breathtaking views of some of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches and landscapes, while taking amazing pictures you will cherish forever.

Hawai’i

The “Big Island” of Hawaii was formed by the eruption of five distinct shield volcanoes. Mauna Loa and Kilauea are still active volcanoes. Hawaii is the largest island in the United States and Polynesia.

Hawaii is a geographically diverse landmass with eleven recognized climate zones. Popular for it’s amazing beaches (e.g. black sand), volcanism, natural reserves, tropical rainforests, parks, and cascading waterfalls, Hawaii is truly a sight to behold from a bird’s eye view.

One of the most popular hotspots in Hawaii is the Kona Coast (divided by the North and South Kona Districts) on the leeward side of the Big Island. Kona Coast is where the Ironman World Championship is held each year. It also features three state and national historic parks: Kealakekua Bay, Honaunau, and Kaloko-Honokohau.

Now let’s dive deeper into what each chartered tour has to offer:

The Kaua’i Experience

This is what makes a Mauna Loa helicopter tour operations so unique! They specialize in bringing the majesty of Kauai to anyone willing to go on an adventure of a lifetime. You will get to witness the grandeur of Waimea Canyon, Mount Waiale’ale, and the Na Pali Coast from the clear blue skies.

The Kauai Experience helicopter tour is one of the most amazing sightseeing journeys you will ever partake in. Get swept away for around an hour over the rugged coastline of Na Pali, the vivid gorges of Waimea, and the prehistoric landscape that made ‘Jurassic Park’ come to life on the big screens.

Let a Mauna Loa Helicopters tour allow you to experience the Garden Isle in the most perfect way: privately and personally.

Oahu Pro Photography Flight

Calling all professional nature and landscape photographers! This is your chance to partake in a magnificent aerial photo helicopter tour of all the best landmarks on the island of Oahu.

Even if you aren’t a professional photographer, this tour is guaranteed to give you some of the best views (and photos) of Hawaii in the world. You will be taking dozens of photos of the fabled North Shore, black sand beaches, breathtaking cascades of water, and lush forests.

First you visit Honolulu where you will board the small and ultra-reliable Robinson helicopter before taking flight to see famous landmarks like the Sacred Falls, Stairway to Heaven, Three Peaks, and Jurassic Valley.

Put on your favorite individually selected soundtrack, bring your sunglasses, and immerse yourself in one of the highest quality photographic experiences in the world (without distractions).

Kona Sunset Experience

A journey is never complete without an amazing sunset. Get a chance to witness one of the most majestic sunsets on the planet as you soar in a small helicopter across the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i during “golden hour”.

People all over the world picture amazing sunsets when they dream of Hawaii. Witness this dream come to life over the Kona coast. The Kona Sunset Experience helicopters tours are truly remarkable (and affordable)!

You begin your 30 minute flights from Kona Airport near the coastline during the famed “Golden Hour”. Be mesmerized by an incredible array of colors gradually permeating the sky as you end your day with an unforgettable image of beauty.

Final Thoughts

You won’t find many other companies that can offer such a completely unique experience across the most alluring topography of Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. With an impeccable safety record, Mauna Loa Helicopters and their top-notch pilots will elevate you to unbelievable remote locations untouched by man.

There are so many things to do in Kauai. Discover the incredible beauty that is waiting for adventure seekers like you. Guaranteed window seats (for amazing photo opportunities) and an included doors-off option for many of the chartered tours are available.

Mauna Loa Helicopter tours are completely private if you desire. At your choice, you can fly with up to 2-3 other passengers with our without doors. Window seats are always guaranteed at no additional cost. Professional pilots offer personal narration and intimate knowledge of the surroundings as you listen to your own selected music on a journey of awe-inspiring beauty.

Find out why a Mauna Loa Helicopter Tour has been highly recommended by Lonely Planet Hawaii and TripAdvisor.

Mauna Loa Helicopters offers flight departures from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Monday – Saturday).