Maui Helicopter Blog
What Maui Helicopter Tours Leave from Kapalua airport?
Maui has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and it said that 70% of the island can only be seen by air. We offer 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90-minute helicopter tours. They have different flight patterns and some of the highlights include Hana waterfalls, Haleakala Crater, West Maui Mountains and the island of Molokai. You will also choose from different types of aircrafts including A-Star, Eco-Star and even a doors-off option!
The one thing you cannot choose is what part of the island your helicopter departs from.
There are no helicopter flights that leave out of Kapalua or the west side of Maui. All of the helicopter tours in Maui depart from the Kahului heliport just 5 minutes from the main airport. The drive time to the Kahului heliport from the west side of Maui is 45-60 minutes and from the south side it is 20-30 minutes. If you are traveling inter-island, Kapalua airport offers commuter flights to Oahu and Molokai. Mokulele airlines also offers a Father Damien Kalaupapa tour out of Kapalua several days a week. This tour begins with a flight across the Pailolo Channel where you will experience the tallest sea cliffs in the world and some of Hawaii’s tallest waterfalls. After landing, you will be taken on a guided tour of Kalaupapa Settlement and learn about the rich history and the life of Father Damien.
You may be thinking “Is it worth driving back to the airport to do a Maui helicopter tour?
The answer is YES! A tour of Maui by air may be the most exciting thing you do on your Maui vacation. Plus, there are a lot of fun things to do in the Kahului area before or after your tour. Looking for ideas? You can check out some things to do on this Maui helicopter tour blog post.
Jurassic Park Scenes on A Maui Helicopter Tour
Jurassic Rock
Many scenes in Hawaii were made famous by the Jurassic Park movie franchise. On Maui, when you fly in a helicopter, you can see Keopuka rock also known as Jurassic Rock off of the Road to Hana near the Garden of Eden. Jurassic rock was featured in the beginning scenes of the original 1993 Jurassic Park blockbuster film.
If you want to see Jurassic Rock, choose one of these flights:
There are also some amazing waterfalls on Maui and Molokai that are not featured in the Jurassic Park movies. You can see waterfalls on any Maui helicopter tour that you choose although some of the most dramatic waterfalls are located in the interior of the West Maui Mountains and the Northshore of Molokai. The West Maui Mountains are one of the wettest locations in the world and receive between 400-500 inches of rain annually. This area is estimated to be 1.7 million years old. The valleys which have been carved out from erosion are breathtaking. The West Maui Mountains is home to the largest waterfall in Maui, rising just above 1100 feet.
To see experience the Wall of Tears, choose one of these tours:
The Northshore of Molokai has the tallest sea cliffs in the world and some of the largest waterfalls in Hawaii. Papalaua Falls towers at 1200 feet and is one of the most photographed waterfalls you will see on your Maui helicopter tour to Molokai.
If you love waterfalls we recommend the West Maui Mountains and Molokai flight:
The History of the Island of Molokai
When visitors arrive on Maui, the question many ask when they are staying in West Maui is “what is that island over there?”
The northern island you can see from the shores of West Maui is the island of Molokai. Molokai is known for both its dramatic landscape and its interesting history. Many visitors choose to take a Maui helicopter tour to experience the north shore of Molokai which boasts the tallest sea cliffs in the world, some of the largest waterfalls in Hawaii and world famous Kalaupapa peninsula.
The Geology of Kalaupapa and the north shore of Molokai is a unique one and is one of the most remote places in Hawaii. The sea cliffs of Molokai reach over 3,000 feet high and are said to be formed roughly 1.5 million years ago when 1/3 of the island collapsed into the ocean. The Kalaupapa peninsula is thought to be formed roughly 250,000 years ago when an off shore shield volcano erupted from the oceans floor.
During the mid to late 1800’s Hansen's Disease was running rampant in the islands and the disease was thought to be incurable and very contagious. Later it was discovered most people are resistant to the disease and effective treatment was developed in the 20th century. In 1865 the Hawaiian King Kamehameha V passed the "Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy". The law required the most serious cases of Hansen’s disease to be moved to a settlement colony on the eastern end of the peninsula. Kalaupapa was chosen due to its isolation and remote location. In 1866 the first twelve patients were dropped off and over the next 100 years more than 8,000 people would live their lives out at the peninsula. In 1873 Father Damien arrived at the peninsula and assisted patients until he eventually contracted the disease and passed away in 1889. There have been numerous books written about these times. The novel Molokai written by Alana Brennert is a great place to start for those interested in learning about the history of Hansen’s disease in Hawaii from a historical fiction point of view.
Today Kalaupapa is a national park. There are still a few people remaining who have Hansen’s disease but they are not required to live there and choose to do so to live out the rest of their lives in peace. You can experience Molokai’s sea cliffs, waterfalls and Kalaupapa peninsula when you join a Maui helicopter tour which features West Maui and Molokai. To see this area by air is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
