(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.)
We were beyond excited for our Kauai helicopter tour with Mauna Loa. As the day went on, we were getting nervous that bad weather would interfere with our plans, but as is usually our luck, weather karma was on our side!
When 4 o’clock rolled around, we headed into the bus that was Mauna Loa’s temporary office. We signed our lives away on the consent form, paid the equivalent of a half-month’s rent and got ready for our adventure!
Chris was our pilot who went over the safety protocols with us and before we knew it, we were in flight!
Because we decided to do the doors-off tour, it was super cold and ridiculously windy! Although I pulled my hair back in a ponytail, it got wrecked! (See my ‘after flight’ photo below!) Following our tour, it literally took me hours and lots of conditioner to get all of the knots out!
Despite that, the ride was amazing!
We covered the entire island!
We flew through canyons…
by waterfalls…
over beaches…
over reefs…
through valleys…
in craters…
and along the Na Pali Coast…
We specifically picked the 4:30 pm tour, because they said it would be best for lighting on the Na Pali Coast. The lighting did not disappoint! I took hundreds of photos and videos! Sam had the GoPro, so he took a bunch of videos as well!
Our private tour lasted about an hour and Chris was sure to point out everything as we flew by/over, making our tour informative and exciting! I took Dramamine prior to our flight and felt fine while we were up there, but once we got back on solid ground, I started to feel a little queasy. We decided it was time to grab some dinner to hopefully calm my unsettled stomach, so we headed to the Mermaid Cafe in Kapa’a.
Need help planning your own trip to the Garden Isle? For less than a buck ($1 USD), you can download our printable 4-page Kauai Destination Guide that includes information on: Transportation | Best Time to Visit | Weather | Recommended Lodgings and Restaurants | Suggested Activities Based on Interest | Money Saving Tips | Kauai Facts | Sample 7-Day Itinerary