Ali'i Kauai Air Tours & Charters — Attraction in Kauai

It was our first trip to Kauai. We were told by several people to take the helicopter tour. We chose Ali'i Kauai Air Tours based on the reviewes. Though very expensive by our standards, we thought it was well worth it and it was definitely the highlight of our week long trip.

We first booked the tour for a Thursday at 3:30 pm. A few hours before our tour, we were informed that it was canceled due to the cloudy and rainy weather. We were disappointed but understood. Ali'i was able to reschedule us for the following Monday at 10:30 am.

When we arrived, we were met by Mei. She was very nice and put us at ease with her friendly demeanor and reassuring attitude. We watched an 8 minute video that instructed us on how to enter and exit the aircraft, how to put on the life jacket, and how to don the headset and how to work it. After check-in, we were instructed to drive across the street to the helipads. Our pilot was Clay. He was young but confident. He gave us our preliminary instruction, assisted us in putting on our life vests, and took our photo. One situated, off we went. Magnificent views, commentary from Clay, and we covered Waimea Canyon State Park, NaPali Coast, the dormant volcano, Hanalei Bay, and back to the airport. A 50-55 minute tour. I highly recommend long pants and a light jacket. It does get cold up in the air, despite the heat and humidity below.

My wife was fearless and did not hang on and was snapping photos and taking videos. I was much more anxious and help on withi at least one hand the entire time. I'm more spooked at heights and it was an open doors tour. Still, I'm so glad that we went.

My only suggestion is that Clay might have shared more information with us about what we were seeing and some of the background on how many helicopters in the air at any given time and more of the history of the island. My wife is a retired teacher and was asking Clay questions, and that was fortunate. But Clay knew a lot and I think he should share more for his future tours. However, we liked and...

What an absolutely amazing experience! My wife and I were on the fence about whether or not to do a helicopter tour but we are so glad that we decided to give it a try and Ali'i Kauai Air Tours & Charters made our experience one that we will never forget. First off, they were able to accommodate us for a relatively last minute booking due to our hemming and hawing and we were fortunate to be able to squeeze in a tour the morning of our departure from the island... And what a send-off it was! It was absolutely amazing and a completely different experience being able to see all the places we had driven to, hiked to, boated to, etc. from the air like that and in such a private way given that it was just the pilot, my wife, and me in a doors off helicopter. In so many ways, visiting a place like Kauai makes you feel small because of the beautiful enormity of the natural world around you. This tour truly cements that feeling that we are just tiny specks on this planet of ours and it is a feeling that I think more of us could afford to experience. The people associated with this outfitter--from the woman who checked us in, to our pilot, and all the way to the owner were top notch. A special shout out to our pilot, Felipe, though. He was incredible at putting us at ease, communicating with us throughout the tour and giving us so much information as a born and raised Kauaian. All in all, I couldn't recommend this tour any more....

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing a helicopter tour with Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters, with our pilot Guy at the helm. From the moment we stepped on board, Guy's friendly demeanor and expertise put us at ease, making the whole experience truly enjoyable.

The doors-off tour offered a thrilling perspective of the landscape, and while my wife initially had reservations about the lack of doors, Guy's professionalism and the breathtaking views quickly won her over. His knowledge of the area added depth to the tour, as he guided us not only over the terrain but also into it, providing a unique and immersive experience.

A highlight of the tour was when Guy spotted a whale just as we were approaching the Napali Coast. Without hesitation, he skillfully maneuvered the helicopter over the ocean for a closer look, giving us a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with these magnificent creatures.

Additionally, we appreciated the design of the small helicopter, which allowed both my wife and me to enjoy unobstructed views from our window seats without a middle passenger. This thoughtful detail enhanced our overall enjoyment of the tour.

Overall, our experience with Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters exceeded our expectations, thanks to Guy's exceptional piloting skills, knowledge, and the unforgettable moments we shared during the tour. We highly recommend this tour for anyone seeking a unique and memorable...