Maui is an incredible island with more scenic beauty than you could possibly imagine. However, a lot of this beauty is hidden away. The Dense Rainforest and mountainous terrain mean huge parts of the island are completely incessable. Huge Valleys, Plunging waterfalls, and endless volcanic craters are all lost in the wilderness of the Island. However, there is one way to make these treasures available to all: A Maui helicopter tour. But with so many tour providers available it’s hard to know what the best Tours for you are.

With Our Best Maui Helicopter Tours Review Page, we take a look at all the different tours and operators available on the island in 2023 to bring you the best experience for your budget and tastes. First, we take a look at a typical tour then, look at which tours are available, then a quick review of the different tour operators. Flying over Maui is a really incredible experience and our review guide should help you find the BEST tour for your vacation.

Best Maui Helicopter Tour – Two Questions in ONE!

To start off with, the very question of what is the best Maui Helicopter tour has two meanings and two range of answers. Do you mean the Best ROUTE or the Best OPERATOR? Both of these are really important questions and both need answering to get you on the right tour.

So this Guide to the best Helicopter tours on Maui will help you decide what Route to take to suit your interests, and which company to trust to safely and comfortably guide you around Maui’s hidden secrets for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. As Maui is the Honeymoon Isle these tours are very popular as a wonderful Memory Maker for your perfect Maui Honeymoon…We know we did one of these tours on our own honeymoon 10 years ago now!

Experience – Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours, Maui, and Molokai

First, we will run you through the actual experience before looking at the available tours and options before taking a look at the different operators. Finally, we will give you some tips and address any fears and safety issues you may have.

All operators on Maui operate out of Kahului Airport. The Heliport is located away from the main Terminal Handily shown on this Map. Heading to Kahului on the 380 head down the new Airport road but take the exit signposted “heliport” before you get to the main Airport. Then just follow Kala Rd around until you see the signs for the Heliport. Then simply locate your provider before Parking up and heading inside.

First, you will sign in where you confirm your booking and sign any waivers and documentation before getting a brief safety briefing. You will be shown how to use your personal Life jacket and familiarised with the aircraft’s safety features and procedures. Think of this like the Airline presentations you ignore … err we mean, pay close attention to… every time you fly.

You will then be weighed. Not to humiliate you, or shame you, but the weights are needed for the flight calculations to ensure even weight distribution and confirm the maximum take-off weight is not exceeded. Believe me, the companies would love to forgo this embarrassing procedure but it’s an FAA requirement that all Weights and Balance forms are properly filed!

You will then be assigned seats based on the computer’s weights and balances calculations, there is no bagging the front*, despite it being a far and away better experience. Then you will be provided with your Personal Life vests and headsets before being taken out to the Helicopter (Ours was the newer ECO-Star (EC-130)) with your Pilot.

*Blue Hawaiian and Sunshine Helicopters do actually allow you to book the front seats for a hefty fee (First Class)

This process is pretty much the same for all Operators and All tours but from here on we will talk about the West Maui and Molokai Tour we took with Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tours Maui.

After our pilot acquired our flight clearance from Air Traffic control we Air Taxied away from the apron before heading for the Sky. The Flight took us North over the coast before turning west to track along the coast. As we flew along with the West Maui Mountains to our left we were treated to fantastic views of the rugged coast, deep Mountain Valleys, and the Cloud Forest. The pilot then began to take us deep into the mountain where few people venture. Remote prehistoric waterfalls plunged into the valley depths and the whole place had an air of the Jurassic about it.

The Mountains cause quite a bit of turbulence to the Pacific trade winds so the Chopper bounces around a bit in the Valleys but overall it was pretty stable. The calm relaxed voice of the Pilot made everyone perfectly aware this was normal. After a while of exploring the valleys, we headed for the tourist areas of West Maui, which is where we were staying. And then we headed out across the Pailolo Channel heading for Molokai. Unfortunately, we were out of Whale season, but during the months of November to May this channel is chock full of humpbacks and you get a fantastic view from a chopper

As we approached the Island we passed over the Mokuho’Oniki Rock. My tales of diving with hammerhead sharks their days before didn’t go down too well! Heading inland the remoteness was even more evident than in West Maui. There were remote settlements that have very little contact with the outside world, or so our Pilot said. This adds to the feeling of a lost world.

The Waterfalls here are incredible and some of the world’s tallest as they plunge from pool to pool in complete isolation. Finally, as we flew low over the landscape the horizon revealed the flight’s feature presentation, The world’s tallest sea cliffs. We barreled over the edge of the Sea Cliffs, the tallest in the world, as the ground fell over 1000 meters to the ocean below. A dramatic and fitting introduction to the Northside of Molokai. These cliffs plunge straight down into the Abyssal plain and the water is a deep dark blue, very different from the azure blue of most waters found off Maui.

From here the Tour heads back over the island taking a look at the now ex-leper colony of Kalaupapa, then over to the shallow reef and fish ponds of the south side of the Island. Before crossing back over the channel where we spent some time exploring the West Maui Condo complexes, where we were staying. It was nice to get a shot of our honeymoon home and the beautiful Napili Bay where we were staying.

We then followed the coast back to Kahului Airport and back to the helipad. If the weather is right the Helicopters can fly through the Olowalu Gap with stunning mountain views. But not today as the wind was pretty high. A few snaps with the helicopter back at the pad and we were done.

Routes

Most of the Operators offer very similar tours of slightly different lengths and costs here we highlight the most popular and talk about the pros and cons of each. We also list the durations and highest and lowest costs available.

West Maui Waterfalls

• Cost – $399
• Duration – 45 Mins

This used to be offered by more operators but has been dropped in recent years as it didn’t really represent great value and some of the routes became more restricted. The premise is pretty simple the tour heads into the valleys of the West Maui Mountains to explore the hidden gems and lost waterfalls in the area. An area that is not even accessible to Hikers as the delicate nature of the ancient cloud forest has meant hiking is forbidden.

While this is a great tour, you get to see a lot of it plus more with the next tour. This is why few operators still offer this route and we would always suggest just paying the extra to upgrade to the Molokai Tour

The Blue Hawaiian Tour Below includes a Landing in Upcountry Maui along with a stunning tour of West Maui.

Blue Hawaiian – Pau Hana Helicopter Tour With Landing – $399 – Front Seats – $549

West Maui Mountains And Molokai

Our Favourite Tour Option!

• Cost –  $234 – $399
• Duration – 45 -65 Mins

We have explained our Blue Hawaiian experience of this tour above so we won’t get into it too deeply here. But it is our Favourite Option and really showcases the best of Maui County. You get great views up Haleakala, the Central plains, and Kahului including the windward coast, right into the stunning West Maui Mountains with deep-cut valleys and waterfalls, then past the tourist centers of West Maui’s stunning beaches. Over the Channel with possible whale sightings during Whale season. The stunning Sea Cliffs and waterfalls of Molokai.

The Sea Cliffs of Molokai are genuinely staggering and a really unique experience. After all, they are the tallest sea cliffs in the world and the sight of the lush green forest plunging into the deep blue Pacific is genuinely mid-blowing

Heading back you get the Fish ponds and stunning reefs of Molokai before a final descent back into Kahului. These 45-60 minute tours have everything. And for us is the BEST ROUTE for you to choose as they just have so much variation.

This very popular tour is offered by all operators. Air Maui is the cheapest at $262 for their Express Tour but this is in the older A-Star with poorer views. Blue Hawaiian offers a longer more comprehensive tour for only $399 in a modern ECO-Star Helicopter. Sunshine offers first-class seating in an ECO-Star for $519, which is a lot of money! Maverick offers fantastic Value tours in their Eco-Star Helicopter for a very reasonable $389

Air Maui is now offering an amazing Doors-Off option as well. We have done multiple Doors off trips and they are seriously amazing, with far better views without the scratched and reflective Poly Glass used in Helicopter windows. This is a must-do trip for thrill seekers but are not for everyone as the vulnerable feeling of 1000ft of space below your feet is pretty unnerving…to put it very mildly!

Maverick Helicopters – Molokai Voyage – Eco-Star $389

Blue Hawaiian – West Maui and Molokai – Eco-Star $399 – Front Seats – $549

Air Maui – West Maui and Molokai (45Min) – A-Star $262

Air Maui – West Maui and Molokai (DOORS-OFF) – A-Star $340

Air Maui – West Maui and Molokai (60Min) – A-Star $341

Sunshine Helicopters – Molokai Deluxe – Whisper-Star $424

Sunshine Helicopters – Molokai Express (40min)- FX-Star $379

Pacific Helicopter Tours – closed

Hana/Haleakala

• Cost –  $262 – $399
• Duration – 40 -60 Mins

The Hana/Haleakala Tours take you up to the alien landscape of the Haleakala crater where you will explore the incredible Martian-like vistas and stunning volcanic scenery.

The tour then takes you over to Hana and the dense remote rainforest with deep valleys and thousands of waterfalls. Anyone who has driven to Hana would be amazed by the number of waterfalls that the road passes but the amount of falls that are beyond the reach of earthbound folks is truly breathtaking. The tour takes in large parts of Maui’s rugged coastline. This tour really shows off Maui’s diverse ecosystems as you travel through almost every imaginable climate zone.

HOWEVER, we find these tours just a touch misleading…

In the Blurb and the Promotional photos, the imagery shows the helicopters flying right over the crater and the summit, giving you the impression the flights operate right into the Crater. However, in practice, they don’t. The 10,000+ ft of Haleakala makes that a pretty daunting operation and highly restricted by the National Park Service. Instead, the flights stay around the outside of the volcano and offer the passengers glimpses into the crater. There are various Gaps in the Crater where the entry elevation really drops and the Helicopters can peer into the Crater.

It is still a really impressive flight, and you get to see a lot of the Crater, but do no expect to be flying right into the volcano as the promo suggests. And remember Haleakala is very much dormant, so any mention of Lava Flows means solidified flows from hundreds of years ago. You will not see RED lava anywhere on Maui, at least for now or the last 2-300 years.

Blue Hawaiian are our pick for this tour. They only fly in the Eco Star offering far better viewing opportunities. Air Maui is still a really good budget option though offering a flight for nearly $100 less.

Blue Hawaiian – Hana and Haleakala – Eco-Star $344

Air Maui – Hana and Haleakala – A-Star $262

Sunshine Helicopters – Hana and Haleakala Whisper Star $379

Complete Island

• Cost –  $341 – $539
• Duration – 60 -75 Mins

As the name suggests this route takes in the Whole of the Island. This is basically a mix of the West Maui Waterfalls Tour and the Haleakala/Hana Tour. These long tours offer the full range of Maui’s beauty. They are not much more expensive than the Hana/Haleakala Tours

You do miss Molokai’s incredible Sea cliffs, however, and these are such an incredible sight it’s hard to recommend ignoring them. This makes the Circle Island Tours our Second favorite option. However, if the remote rugged coastline of Molokai is not of interest to you nad you prefer the ever-changing beauty and variety of Maui itself then Circle Island Tours are a great option.

Blue Hawaiian – Complete Circle Island – Eco-Star $479

Air Maui – Complete Circle Island – A-Star $341

Sunshine Helicopters – Complete Circle Island – Eco-Star $449

Add a Landing

Both Air Maui and Blue Hawaiian offer a Landing Option on these tours. This adds a really nice extra element to the trip and a touch of refinement as you take on some refreshments in a stunning setting before continuing your flight.

The Blue Hawaiian Landing is on the slopes of Haleakala in Upcountry Maui with stunning views of West Maui, the Central Valley, and beyond, whereas Air Maui stops in a remote part of West Maui on an oceanfront landing spot with stunning Views

Blue Hawaiian – Maui Spectacular – Complete Circle Island + Landing – Eco-Star $424 – Front Seats – $333

Air Maui – West Maui and Molokai + Oceanfront Landing – A-Star $375

Others

Some of the operators offer other routes that do not quite fit into the above main categories.

Maverick Helicopters – Hana Rainforest Experience and Landing – $359

Eco-Star

This is a short flight time but offers a really nice landing site deep in the rainforest on a remote fruit plantation. This is really unique and offers an experience most people will never get. You do not get to see much of Maui, but the parts you do are stunningly beautiful as you follow the road to Hana deep into the jungle past towering waterfalls and stunning Sea cliffs.

Maverick Helicopters – Hawaiian Odyssey – 3 Islands – Maui, Molokai, & Lanai – $479

Eco-Star

Another unique tour and as far as we know the only helicopter flight over Lanai. This trip is essentially the West Maui and Molokai tour with Lanai added on for completeness taking in almost all of the Maui County Islands. This is well worth considering if you really want complete uniqueness.

Who Needs Doors?

Some Operators offer a Doors off experience. This is a truly novel way to experience a flight as the safety bubble that is provided by the cabin is shattered. The increased vision and exposure to the elements really amps up the excitement but can also add to the fear factor if that is a worry for you.

Photographers will get MUCH better shooting opportunities by choosing a doors-off experience, as the Lack of glass ensures a much better photo opportunity. The only issue is unlike EVERY doors-off tour we have done before, Air Maui prohibits you from taking a “big” camera and limits you to Phones only. We find this deeply disappointing. On for the thrill seekers only then!

Air Maui – West Maui and Molokai (DOORS-OFF) – A-Star $340

First Class Seating – Front Seats

Finally we have the question of paying for Up-Front Seats or First Class Seating. On the whole we shy away from this. Is it better upfront…absolutely, however it’s pretty incerdible in the back too, especially in the Eco-Star Helicopters.

This is FOMO pricing. Some people feel they need to have the best so will pay whatever is needed to get that. The truth is, not that many people actually bag these seats and if not you may well be placed up front for free anyway! It is usually a 2 in the frint (+Pilot) an 4 in the back so you have pretty good odds without paying for the upgrade.

If you are unlucky. You still get stunning views the entire time. Every shot on the this page was taken from the Back of an EC-130 Helicopter.

Best Tour

We are big fans of the West Maui and Molokai tours. Not only is it one of the cheapest tours it also allows access to views and locations that are simply unavailable without a helicopter. While the Views of Haleakala are incredible you can visit the crater by car (and get better views), again the Rainforests of Hana can be seen on a drive down the Hana Highway. Yes, we know the Views are far superior from the air but still, you get a taste.

With the Trip over to Molokai, you are witnessing the incredible sea cliffs that are just not realistically accessible by any other means. There are no boat tours this was and trails are non-existent in this part of Molokai. Also in Whale Season, this is your best chance of seeing whales from the air!

The Circle Island Tours are great options for those wanting to explore the whole of Maui Island. These really take in the best of the island and show off the incredible diversity of landscapes of the Island. If you really want to focus on Maui and only Maui, then these are probably the best options…and adding a Landing really makes it special.

Of course for Thrill Seekers Air Maui’s Doors off is unbeatable!

Helicopters

There are 3 main Aircraft used by Maui’s Helicopter tour operators. The A-Star (AS-350) the ECO-Star (EC-130) and the Robinson R44

A-Star – AS-350

• Operators – Air Maui, Sunshine (FX-Star).

The A-Star Helicopter is a true workhorse of an aircraft. As a type, it has clocked up millions of air miles and has served faithfully for years. This is a 7-seater helicopter including a Pilot. So there are six passengers 2 in the front and 4 in the back. The Choppers are aging a bit but they are still great aircraft. If you are looking for a budget tour they will serve you very well.

ECO-Star – EC-130

• Operators – Blue Hawaiian, Sunshine (Whisper-Star), Maverick.

The ECO-Star is the A-Stars replacement. It’s essentially the same aircraft only more modern. From a passenger’s point of view expect a slightly roomier cabin, better seats, and a less obstructed view. They are quieter, but with headsets on this won’t matter really. We feel the ECO-Star is an upgrade worth taking. There are considerable technical upgrades that make for a more stable flight and the whole purpose of a helicopter tour is the view so it makes sense to get the best available.

Robinson R44

• Operators – Pacific Helicopter Tours

The R44 is completely different from the Star aircraft. Smaller, lighter, and more nimble with the opportunity for doors-off experiences. It’s also a 4 seater so if you are a couple there will be only you and the Pilot. This is a big plus for us. Again this is a very popular helicopter that has a long proven track record of safety and reliability.

Pachelitours.com Robinson R-44 – Not currently advertising tours

Who are the BEST Operators?

Blue Hawaiian

Blue Hawaiian has been operating Helicopter tours on the Hawaiian Islands for Decades. They have a fantastic safety record and are renowned for their rigorous safety-minded operation. They have excellently maintained helicopters and their tours and prices are very competitive.

Maverick Helicopters

Maverick is another national company operating in a number of states and locations. Again this is no bad thing. and Maverick offers a good service. They are ECO-Star only so appear expensive but are almost on par when compared like for like with other ECO-Star tours. Their tours all have unique sounding names but they are just the usual offerings as per the other operators.

Air Maui

Air Maui is a budget operator and only has a fleet of A-Star helicopters. They only operate on Maui and know the islands very well. They also are the only operator to offer A-Star doors off tours.

Sunshine Helicopters

This is a National operator with Tour companies in a number of States. This leads to a very slick well-run operation with top-rate Helicopters and competitive prices. We dislike the practice of charging extra for the front seats. However, if front seats are a MUST paying the extra will guarantee that!

Pacific Helicopter Tours

Not Currently offering tours

The first four operators mentioned are all fairly similar. The same helicopters, similar tours, etc. Pacific Helicopter tours are significantly different. For one the R-55 helicopters are completely different. being 4-seat lightweight aircraft with the ability to have the doors off. They also offer a couple of tours the others don’t such as 3 islands (Maui, Molokai, and Lanai) and West Maui Mountains.

Their prices are higher but so much considering you are essentially booking a private tour!

Preferred Operator

We have always chosen Maverick Helicopters. Mainly due to the reputation and safety record. You just feel in very safe hands. But it’s a close call. The Big 4 are very similar and you can book confidently knowing you will receive a great service. There are just no cowboys in this sort of industry as it is just so heavily regulated by the FAA that any dodgy operation will be quickly exposed and shut down.

Air Maui is the only firm still using A-Star Helicopters and this means their prices are much cheaper than most. There is nothing wrong with this fantastic work-horse of a Helicopter, it’s just the windows and seating layout are a little worse than the newer ECO-Star.

Overall the deciding factor is not really the Operator, but the different tours they each offer. Maverick have really reduced their options recently and while they have a couple of wildcards, they only really offer the Molokai Tour. Blue Hawaiian offers a really good range and their tours are some of the best.

Really we would say choose the tour first then just choose the operator that offers the best price and your preferred helicopter option.

Tips

The biggest tip is to wear dark colors. The windows have a terrible habit of reflecting light colors and obscuring the View. Especially a problem for photographers. Darker colors limit this problem.

Try and book in the morning if possible. Cloud and wind increase as the day goes on making the flight, less comfortable and less enjoyable. Very early morning is not recommended though due to higher amounts of cloud. Somewhere around mid-late morning and mid-day is the sweet spot between any cloud burning off but the winds not yet picking up…but remember where the weather is concerned it’s always a gamble!

Apart from Sunshine and Blue Hawaiian who charge for front seating your choice of seats is always a gamble. Obviously, couples and groups are seated together. But the Front or back is down to a computer. It’s supposed to be for weights and balances but the reality is it’s often just potluck. No amount of complaining will elicit a change as that would obviously be unfair to the swapped passengers. Yes, the Front seats are better, but the back seats are still really good. The elevated position means you are still looking out the front end and you have a large side window to look out of too. The left or right side is pretty irrelevant as any impressive sight or vista the pilot will ensure both sides get a good look…Remember every shot on this page is from the back seat!

Fears

I have a bit of a fear of heights and flying. I have spent a lot of time in light aircraft and large aircraft for that matter even flying them solo. I have never really got over the fear of being in the air. In the ECO-Star it wasn’t an issue, certainly no more than being in a large commercial airline. A helicopter feels very different from an airplane which feels like you are flying a Helicopter is more like a floating platform. and personally, I find that far less fear-provoking.

If you have a severe fear of flying or heights then this is probably not the experience for you. But if you are only moderately nervous then the Helicopters’ stable platform provides a quite relaxing experience. While there is a little bumping caused by turbulence it’s not severe and the pilot will tend to avoid bad areas. If flying on a commercial just causes you no issues then you should be fine with a helicopter tour. Seeing as nearly everyone arrives on Maui by plane, you should be OK.

Safety

All Helicopter operations out of Maui are subject to very strict safety concerns and accidents are incredibly rare. These operations fly hundreds of thousands of tourists every year-round Maui and the Helicopters themselves as a type have millions of safe hours of operation. We have read in guidebooks and online about how these can be dangerous, pointing to the odd incident a year. The reality is these Aircraft are used all over the world with a fantastic record and are subject to the most stringent of safety checks and inspections.

You are far more likely to be killed on the drive to the heliport than you are on your tour. And FAR FAR more likely to have an accident driving to Hana. The Ocean in Maui Kills Scores every year but the beaches are still packed. No activity is 100% safe but Helicopter tours seem to cop for more flack than they deserve.

Have Your Say

Let us know if you have taken a Helicopter tour of Maui. Or anywhere else for that matter? We love hearing about different activities all over the world to see how they compare. Or if you have any questions or comments at all on our post please just leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you or recommend a tour for you personally.

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