Which Maui Helicopter Tour Is The Best?

There are many adventures to experience in Maui including snorkel tours, luaus, zip-lining, and hiking. Many would agree that the best way to truly explore Maui is by air. Maui has more flight options than the other Hawaiian Islands and it can be hard to decide which flight to take because they are all amazing! Here are the three best options for a Maui helicopter tour.

Hana and Haleakala

The Hana and Haleakala helicopter tour features the highlights of East Maui. You will view the valleys and waterfalls of Hana along with Haleakala, the worlds largest series of dormant volcanoes. This helicopter tour is the same flight pattern as the Complete Island, minus the West Maui Mountains. It offers less time in the air, so it is less expensive.

West Maui and Molokai

This tour begins in the West Maui Mountains, home to Pu’u Kukui watershed with lush valleys and waterfalls. The tour continues across the Pailolo channel to the north shore of Molokai which features the tallest sea cliffs in the world and the largest waterfall in Hawaii. During whale season in Maui (December-April) you also have a chance to witness humpback whales as you cross the channel. Air Maui offers an exciting Doors Off option for this flight pattern.

Complete Island of Maui

This is one of the more popular choices to see all of Maui in one hour. It includes the highlights of both East and West Maui and features the Hana rainforest, Haleakala Crater and the West Maui Mountains. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters offers this tour with an added private landing at Ulupalakua on the slopes of Haleakala. It is called the Maui Spectacular and it is 90 minutes total time.

A few more things to consider when choosing your Maui helicopter tour:

There are three types of aircraft to choose from:

• The A-star aircraft is an industry-standard built with sightseeing in mind. It costs less to fly in an A-Star than an Eco-Star.

• The Eco-Star was also built for sightseeing and it also has 23% more space inside with wraparound windows for better viewing.

• Doors Off. There is only one option for a Doors Off helicopter and that is with Air Maui on their West Maui and Molokai flight.

Seating:

• The helicopters hold six guests plus the pilot. Seating is based on the weight and balance of the passengers and is determined by the tour provider. Air Maui and Blue Hawaiian offer a guaranteed front seat upgrade for a fee.

  Experiencing Maui by air is one of the most exciting things you can do on this beautiful island. You will not be disappointed!

Helicopter Tour Prices in Maui

Taking a helicopter tour in Maui is one of the most exciting things to do. Experience scenic and dramatic landscapes only viewed by air. Highlights of a Maui helicopter tour may include the Haleakala National Park, Hana Rainforest, West Maui Mountains and the north shore of Molokai. The price of a Maui helicopter trip varies from about $169.00 - $339.00 plus tax and fuel charge. With all fees included you are looking at $230.00-to $440.00. Prices are per person fee and there are no child rates, although infants 24 months and younger fly for free when they sit on the lap of an adult.

So why do the prices vary for helicopter tours on Maui?

Keep reading to find out why some tours are more expensive than others.

There are three types of aircraft that the tour companies run in Maui. The first is an A- Star, which is considered the industry standard. It is built with viewing in mind and is a great choice for any flight. The second type is an Eco-Star and boasts 23 % more space inside, captain’s chairs and wraparound windows for better viewing. It is quieter than an A Star which cuts down on outside noise pollution. The third aircraft is an A star with Doors Off. Air Maui is the only one who runs this flight and the flight pattern is available in the 45 minute West Maui and Molokai option.

The next thing that may affect the pricing of a helicopter tour is the duration of flight time. Most companies offer 45, 55, and 65-minute tours. The longer you are in the air, the pricier the flight becomes. Some tours such as the Blue Hawaiian Maui Spectacular even offer a bonus private landing mid-flight, which also affects the final price of the tour.

Somethings to Consider:

All of the helicopter tours on Maui depart from Kahului heliport by the main airport.

· They fly multiple times a day with the first flight of the day departing at 8:00 am and the last flight of the day at 4:00 pm.

· The morning flights book up the fastest, especially for the Hana and Haleakala flight patterns. The clouds tend to block the Haleakala Crater visibility in the afternoon.

· It is recommended to wear dark-colored clothing on your tour to avoid reflections from the windows in your pictures.

· Seating in the aircraft is based on weight and balance and is up to the discretion of the helicopter provider. If you want front seats guaranteed, you can pay for the upgrade with Air Maui or Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

· Each company has different weight limits before the passenger must purchase a comfort seat, which may be a half seat to a full seat charge depending on the helicopter company policies. The A star's weight limit is 240 pounds while the Eco-Star can vary between 260-300 pounds.

·         It can be confusing deciding which flight and aircraft to choose that meets your desires and your budget. Need help deciding? Give us a call! Our local concierge has experience all of the Maui helicopter tours first hand and are happy to help you choose the right trip for you. 

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.

Things to Do After Your Maui Helicopter Tour

You have booked your Maui helicopter tour. You are probably wondering where exactly does it depart from and is there anything else to see in the area. All of Maui ‘s helicopter trips depart from the Kahului heliport which is 5 minutes from the airport. While there is not a whole lot to see in do in the town of Kahului, unless you consider the nearby Costco as a great vacation stop, there are many things to do and places to eat in the surrounding area after your Maui helicopter tour.

A vacation to Maui would not be complete without visiting the town of Paia which is only 15 minutes from Kahului heliport. Paia is known for its restaurants, art galleries and local boutiques.  In addition to restaurants near the Maui heliport, there are few parks and attractions that are worth visiting before or after your Maui helicopter tour. Check out all of our recommendations below.

 Mamas Fish House – located on the north end of Paia, Mams Fish House does not disappoint. They have the same menu for lunch and dinner and the view is outstanding. Their menu features fresh fish and Pacific Rim Cuisine. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Flatbreads Pizza – located in the heart of Paia, Flatbreads pizza is known for its all natural, wood fired, clay oven pizzas. Trust us, they have the best pizzas on the island. They use locally sourced ingredients and their menu has a lot of options.

Paia Fish Market – this iconic Maui restaurant is known for its fresh fish tacos and the most delicious fish sandwiches on the island. Reasonably priced and super casual, Paia Fishmarket is a local favorite.

Haleakala Crater National Park – Most people think that the only way to see the crater is going during sunrise but the crater is great to see in the morning and for sunset too. Plus, to see the sunrise you have to get up at 2 am to get to the crater in time. Going in the day avoids the early wake up time! The Haleakala Crater is only 1-1.5 hours from the heliport so it makes a great destination on your Maui helicopter day.

Iao Valley State Park – The site of the famous battle of Kepiniwaia, this valley is abundant in history and culture. It also features Kuka’emoku also known as the Iao Needle which is a natural steep ridge which rises 1200 feet and can be viewed from a short half a mile walk.

Maui Tropical Plantation – Many visitors to Maui like to visit the Maui Tropical Plantation and take a 40 minute tropical fruit tram tour which also features a 15 minute coconut husking demonstration. If you are there more towards the evening you may want to check out the The Mill House for dinner located at the heart of the plantation.

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.