A helicopter tour of Oahu Island is a fantastic way to get your bearings if you have just arrived in Hawaii.
Most of these air tours take off from Honolulu, which is on the south shore of Oahu island.
During your aerial tour from Honolulu, you are sure to be mesmerized by beautiful beaches, mountains, waterfalls, valleys, and other landmarks such as Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, which surround the capital city of Hawaii.
In this article, we share everything you must know before booking your helicopter tour from Honolulu.
Table of contents
- Cancellation policy
- Open-Door Helicopter Tour from Honolulu
- Complete Island Oahu Helicopter Tour
- Unseen Sights of the Honolulu & Oahu Island
- Path to Pali Passage – the mountains tour
- Honolulu, the City-by-the-Sea Tour
- Sunset Helicopter tour from Honolulu
- Private Helicopter Tour with Romantic Landing
- Additional information
Cancellation policy
You can cancel your helicopter tour of Oahu Island up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.
All air tours over Hawaii require good weather.
If it is canceled due to poor weather (heavy rain, low cloud ceilings, lightning, or extreme winds), you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
Failure to show up for your appointment without notice will result in the cancellation of your tour without a refund.
Open-Door Helicopter Tour from Honolulu
Fly aboard an open-door helicopter over Oahu for unobstructed views of the island on this tour.
You get to see Oahu’s lush valleys, mountains, and waterfalls.
Feel the high-flying wind in your hair even as you fly over sights like Pearl Harbor, Honolulu Harbor, Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Waikiki Beach, Arizona Memorial, etc.
If you prefer, you can purchase a video of your flight at the end of your tour.
On this helicopter tour over Honolulu and Oahu, you can choose between first-class seats and regular seats.
Tour Operator: Magnum Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 50 minutes
Cost of Regular Seats: $311 per person
Cost of First Class Seats: $355 per person
Complete Island Oahu Helicopter Tour
This one-hour air tour taking off from Honolulu is a great way to see Hawaii from the air.
You see unparalleled views of the azure waters, lush greenery, and cascading falls.
You make a complete circle island tour to see all the beautiful natural landmarks, including the extinct volcano of Diamond Head, the coral reefs at Kaneohe Bay, Pearl Harbor, etc.
All through the tour, your pilot, who is a State of Hawaii certified tour guide as well, narrates the island’s history and stories.
At the end of the tour, you can buy a DVD or photos of your flight to keep the memories alive.
Tour Operator: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 60 minutes
Cost of tour: $430
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters also offers a 45-minute Blue Skies of Honolulu ECO Helicopter Tour, which works out better if you are on a budget holiday.
Unseen Sights of the Honolulu & Oahu Island
This 45-minute scenic helicopter ride over Honolulu and Oahu Island is ideal for a special occasion or a romantic moment.
While booking the tour, you can choose if you want it to be a ‘doors on’ or ‘doors off’ flight.
Get bird’s eye views of famous Oahu sights like Sacred Falls, Diamond Head, Maunalua Bay, the Ko’olau Mountains, Ka’a’awa Valley, Pearl Harbor, and more.
The breathtaking helicopter experience ends with emotional moments over the iconic Pearl Harbor site before you head back to the Honolulu airport.
If money is not an issue but experience matters, you can opt to go for the private tour, in which only your group will be in the chopper.
Tour Operator: Rainbow Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 45 minutes
Cost of Shared Tour: $325 per person
Cost of Private Tour: $488 per person
Rainbow Helicopters also offers a 60-minute long heli tour called the Royal Crown of Oahu, which takes off from Honolulu.
Path to Pali Passage – the mountains tour
During this 30 minutes helicopter tour, you explore the Oahu island’s stunning peaks, such as Diamond Head, Mt. Olomana, and Nu’uanu Pali.
Fascinating views of the island’s white-sand beaches, coral reefs, rainforests, and volcanic cliffs will be etched in your memory forever as well.
Just before you circle back to the Honolulu International Airport, you take in spectacular views of the famous USS Arizona Monument.
Tour Operator: Rainbow Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 30 minutes
Cost of Shared Tour: $275 per person
Cost of Private Tour: $410 per person
Honolulu, the City-by-the-Sea Tour
During this short 20-minute helicopter tour over a section of Oahu Island, you see Honolulu city skyline, Waikiki, Diamond Head, Punch Bowl Crater, and Pearl Harbor.
If you want to focus more on the Honolulu city, this is the best aerial tour.
We recommend the doors-off option to get the best possible photos from your guaranteed window seat.
Tour Operator: Rainbow Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 20 minutes
Cost of Shared Tour: $240 per person
Cost of Private Tour: $360 per person
Sunset Helicopter tour from Honolulu
This once-in-a-lifetime sunset experience is perfect for romantic couples and special occasions.
Watch as the sun melts into the Pacific from the perfect vantage point high above the island, soaking up the views of the Honolulu skyline, Pearl Harbor, and Diamond Head.
Long after your holiday is over, the Hawaiian sky painted in a glow of red, pink, and orange light will be etched on your mind forever.
This experience is a complete package because it includes pick up and drop from your hotel in Honolulu.
Tour Operator: Rainbow Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 50 minutes
Cost of Shared Tour: $350 per person
Cost of Private Tour: $525 per person
Private Helicopter Tour with Romantic Landing
During this 1-hour helicopter tour, you get to an exclusive landing spot at a stunning and private valley on the Windward coast of O’ahu.
You take off from the island’s South Shore for a chance to see a birds-eye view of the famous Waikiki skyline and Diamond Head crater.
You land in a private and lush oasis after cruising over Hanauma Bay, the Windward Coast, and Kualoa Ranch.
You and your partner enjoy 15 minutes at your picnic spot with Wailua chocolates, a champagne toast, and leis.
Once in the air again, the chopper takes you close to the lush green forests and emerald cliffs of the Ka’a’awa Valley and Sacred Falls, Oahu’s highest waterfall.
Tour Operator: Rainbow Helicopters
Duration of the experience: 60 minutes
Cost of Tour: $2100 per group (up to 3)
If you want to go one step further, check out the helicopter tour offering a ‘Marry Me’ Banner on the Beach.
Additional information
- The operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are drunk or appear to be intoxicated. Such passengers can’t join the tour, but won’t be refunded.
- If you have booked a doors-off helicopter tour, it is better to wear jackets or sweatshirts, closed-toe shoes, long pants, and hair ties.
- When booking the doors off experience, you may or may not get a seat right next to the open door.
- All passengers two years and older must purchase a full-fare seat. Kids younger than two must sit on an adult’s lap.
- Due to FAA regulations, all passengers will be weighed before take off. Passengers weighing over 113 Kg (250 pounds) must pay a ‘comfort seat’ charge for an additional seat, payable directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour.
- If you plan to take lots of photographs, wear dark colors. Light colors result in reflections in your photos.
- Even though most travelers can join a helicopter tour, they aren’t recommended for pregnant women, travelers with back problems, heart problems, or other severe medical conditions.
- If you have gone scuba diving within 24 hrs of the planned take-off, it can be dangerous for you. Always book an air tour at least a day after a scuba diving session.
Recommended Reading
# Helicopter tours in Kauai
# Helicopter tours in Big Island
# Helicopter tours in Oahu
# Helicopter tours in Maui
# Helicopter tours from Kona
# Helicopter tours from Lihue
# Helicopter tours in Hawaii