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    Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

    4.5 (474 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    ocean view!!
    Monty D.

    Okay put me on the list of greatest fans for Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. I wasn't born with wings and therefore I shouldn't fly - it's not natural. Needless to say I was very apprehensive, and with good reason - nothing holds you up. But this is so worth it! Our flight was smooth and the pilot explained what to expect as we went over various terrains (with a few bumps). His running commentary and answering questions put me at ease. The views were amazing. We flew over areas that we had previously hiked and had a greater appreciation of what we had seen from the ground, and now the air. This isn't cheap, but for the experience: it's a bargain. We videoed a bunch ourselves, but also paid for this trip's helicopter video. It was fun to watch both sets of videos once we got home. You must check out my pics. (But there website videos are fairly representational - except there wasn't any landing other than at the heliport.) A great time, and we'll be hovering again!

    We took the Kauai island tour out of Lihue on May 23. The tour was spooktacular and I cannot think of a better way to see ALL of Kauai's beautiful landscape including the Nāpali Coast and Waimea Canyon. In addition, the recent rains provided dozens of waterfalls that the pilot was surprised to see., Speaking of the pilot he was fantastic and tlaked history of the island and pointed out all the sights and valleys. We always get the USB recording of the flight because they have multiple cameras around the bottom of the helicopter and it includes the audio. We have flown Blue Hawaiian on the Big Island twice and now Kauai. They are by far the best in the business in our opinion. We flew a competitor on Maui and were very disappointed. Blue Hawaiian helicopters are limousines that fly.

    Helicopter tour
    Rachel S.

    What a spectacular way to take in beautiful Kauai! I had a Na Pali Coast Rafting Expedition scheduled for my 1-day island-hopping solo adventure, and when I arrived, I got a text saying it was cancelled due to unfavorable ocean conditions. I still wanted to see the coast and was so happy to pivot and start researching on AI helicopter tours. I looked at a couple of other companies, and their websites were not the best on mobile. When I got to Blue Hawaiian, it was a breeze. Since it was last-minute, I called and talked to Kimmie on Maui. She was friendly and very informative. I was at the airport in the rental car, and she was able to get me in at the airport for a 10:30 am tour. What a great side step to the day. I was super early and was very comfortable hanging out in the space. I got a comfy sweatshirt so I would be in dark clothes, so as not reflect in the video and photos. I love the sweatshirt, the sleeves are long, and it is very soft. The entire process was so well executed from start to finish. They are very mindful of the customer experience while adhering to safety standards. Class act for sure! Robbie, the pilot, was friendly and knowledgeable. He engaged all the passengers. The day was so clear, barely any clouds. I was in the back row, in the left side window seat, behind the pilot. I was unsure about what views I would see, but Robbie made sure to fly around so we all got amazing footage, and even the man in the middle, to my left, had a great view. All seats had a breathtaking view. We even saw a pod of 3 whales breaching, such a treat. I live on Oahu, and this was my first time to Kauai, and wow, what a way to see it! Thank you, Blue Hawaiian, for making the adventure a memorable one!

    Charles C.

    Professional, first class service, attention to detail and safety focused ( a little important ), oh yeah a great ride and views of the secrets of Kauai

    Beautiful views you can experience on the tour. I couldn't tell you the names but the guide does explain it all during the tour.
    Dene S.

    The Yelp site/info when we reviewed the information (11/09/24) was incorrect. One of the front counter reps was not very nice. Even though I showed this to the front counter rep and how it did DIRECTLY link to their website, she was still not very customer service friendly. Everyone else was very pleasant. Our pilot, Robbie, was friendly and awesome. He had his family on our flight, so he had to be, haha. My family recommended this tour company because they prefer their helicopters. I almost didn't go because of the front counter experience. I cannot stand rude service esp when spending $900.00 for less than 1hour flight (for 2 people). I also don't agree with the $120.00 fee per person for the usb copy of your personal flight tour. The usb drive doesn't cost that much and what the company makes per person for flight, esp when you usually have couples or group flying together. So that's kind of steep. You can take your own camera or phone so that's what I did. Other than that, the tour was enjoyable. I've never been, so that was an experience and the island is beautiful. I would only go again to take my grandson

    Marjorie A.

    Blue Hawaiian is the best helicopter tour company in the Hawaiian Islands. I have used other tour companies but they do not compare to Blue Hawaiian. This company is professional and well organized. The helicopters are comfy and spacious. All seats have a good view with the pilot doing a pass for each side so everyone can see. Our pilot was experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable. He pointed out the sites and answered our questions. The tour lasts about an hour and covers the entire island. All the views were impressive but I think my favorite part was flying into the crater and seeing the Na Pali coast from the air. Thank you to the pilot and ground crew for making this an adventure I will never forget!

    Stephanie A.

    It's a great experience looking at the island at a different perspective, but unfortunately I wasn't feeling good after 15 minutes in the air. I got a terrible motion sickness. For me, it's my first and last experience unfortunately......

    Kauai in the middle of nowhere
    Jill W.

    Beautiful flight! Smooth and captivating. We had Barrett as our pilot and he was super funny and very informative. Will definitely be back!

    Nepali Coast
    Joe W.

    Benson was a great pilot. Very funny and informative while providing breathtaking views of the Nepali coast, Waimea canyon, gorgeous waterfalls and beautiful rainforests. Epic views!

    Fontey M.

    One of the best experiences I've had in my life and most definitely a bucket list item to check off! We had Mr. Hollywood as our pilot and our entire ride was smooth. Very informative and gave us great history lesson of Kauai. Breathtaking views and a great way to end our trip in Kauai. It was worth it to do the tour with landing at the "Jurassic" waterfall. A very unique way to see the island. Thank you Blue Hawaiian!

    Gerald L.

    Blue Hawaiian was good! They have the large helicopters with seating for six. I'm not positive, but I think big ones can withstand weather conditions better. Or are more stable. They do a good job regarding safety training, which is clearly good. And the tour was good. Duke was our pilot. He gives commentary throughout. They also play mood music over different areas. You wear the headsets and communicate that way. I took them off during the flight just to see, and it was definitely loud. You start at the airport and go straight west over the mountains. The views ate amazing. Then you go to the north side, then back. I'd say one improvement would be if they could go further out over the ocean on the Napali Coast. You'd be able to see the clubs and ranges from a further out, majestic view. You're close, so seeming closeups is cool in a different way. Pro tip: It costs $100 more for the front seats (there are four seats in the second row), but I think it's new with it. I sat middle back row and it was hard to get good views, pictures, and videos.

    Helicopter
    Jeff M.

    Amazing experience and one of the hi lights of our trip. Professional staff...safety demo was top notch. Our pilot Marshall put us at ease with his attention to safety and comfort. He also was a great tour guide. The aircraft was comfortable and we had great views. Can't wait to go again!

    Front row allows perfect photo ops!!!
    Vickie L.

    Not my first chopper rodeo over Kauai (#11) but BY FAR my favorite. The helicopter is immaculate, smooth and tempterature controlled to perfection. The safety prep was informative without being overboard providing that extra vote of confidence. Our experienced pilot, Robby, was very knowledgeable, providing the perfect narrative without being over-talkative and truly made this an amazing trip for everyone onboard (a small group of 6). STRONGLY RECOMMEND the upgrade to front row. It made all the difference in capturing the perfect photos. Also, for a small fee the video of the experience is well worth it even with our superior front-row photos. Well done, Blue Hawaiian. See you again soon.

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    The most epic views of Kauai! Staff and Pilot Barrett was awesome! I would come back and ride it again!

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    Review Highlights - Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

    What a unique and amazing helicopter tour including a pit stop at a private waterfall that took our breath away!

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    Kauai Plantation Railway

    Kauai Plantation Railway

    4.6
    (476 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Kauai plantation railway is a fun train ride for the whole family!…read more We made reservations online, and the location was easy to find. It's a pretty solid train ride that gives you a view of the whole estate, including a number of the crops that were grown on Kauai, including sugarcane and bananas. Near the end of the tour, there's also an opportunity to feed the farm animals, which was a big hit with the kids! You can feed the horses, cows, and pigs. Boris, the pig, even does tricks on command, which was my daughter's favorite part of the whole tour! Great adventure that we all enjoyed!

    Took my niece and son here for the first time and the train ride itself was a blast -- genuinely…read morefun for kids and adults alike, and I'd recommend it for a family outing. Where things fell short was the dining/happy hour experience beforehand. We arrived on time for happy hour and were told our food would be out before boarding, but it never came. Our server mentioned she'd checked on it a few times and that our ticket had gotten stuck in the queue -- meanwhile we watched tables around us get served. It seemed like she was covering both the bar and the dining section solo, which is a lot to juggle, and I think that stretched her (and our food) too thin. To her credit, she was apologetic and comped our entire food order, which I appreciated. I did ask if we could just get some chips for the kids since we were trying to feed them before the ride, but was pointed toward the gift shop instead -- a small thing, but it would've gone a long way in that moment. We also missed out on the juice that I paid for with the ride but we never got to redeem it in time. Overall, the railway experience itself is worth it, but the food service side needs better staffing support -- maybe a dedicated server for the dining area separate from the bar would help things run smoother for families trying to eat before boarding.

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    Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise

    Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise

    4.0
    (249 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Some friends that we were traveling with, had to come here years ago and wanted to experience it…read moreagain with us newcomers. Take us reasonably priced and bonus for Auto Club discount! We waited for our timeslot at picnic benches under a roofed area. Boarding the boat was easily accessed down a ramp, and helping hands were available to step onto and down into the benched seating area. Along the journey, our narrator was full of interesting information, facts, trivia, and sprinkled it all with fun-loving doses of humor. There was also vibe-setting live music. We watched kayakers paddle down river as we enjoyed the ease of working our way upriver. Once we arrived at the grotto dock, everyone disembarked and took a short walk up along a smooth path. A side path led off to restrooms. The beautiful jungle foliage was all around us. Tall trees, long vines, and bird song surrounded us we walked up to the viewing platform of the grotto. Once there, the ancient and more recent history and cultural significance of the grotto was shared with us. Additionally, we were treated to beautiful traditional music played at weddings, of which they are a venue. Again, the information was fascinating. The grotto itself is a cave opening at the base of a cliff face. A stream of water flows over the top, feeding into a creek, and ferns grow out from all the crevices. It is a very serene place filled with the gentle sound of running water. On the way back, we were again treated to the talented musicians' playing, singing, and hula dancing. A tip jar was available. Disembarkation was very smooth. I really enjoyed the entirety of the trip. I felt like it was a great value for the ticket price. I would certainly recommended this to anyone who enjoys easy-access to nature and traditional and cultural insight.

    We got here on a very rainy day. Nonetheless, the boat tour was good, the driver had interesting…read morestories, they had some live music and some native dance routines. The river cruise to the fern grotto was good and would have been great had the weather cooperated.

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    Wailua Falls

    Wailua Falls

    4.4
    (330 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    I visited the Wailua Falls in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [Maalo Rd; Hwy 583] on Saturday, 01/24/26,…read morearound 3:30 PM. Wailua Falls offered an incredibly close view, which made the experience feel special. I was able to truly appreciate the waterfall's beauty up close. One fun highlight was spotting a rooster sitting right near the edge, which was such a classic Kauaʻi island moment because roosters are everywhere on the island. I also noticed a touching memorial sign dedicated to Kavika Luna, "Mr. Aloha" - The Flying Hawaiian (May 1960 - September 2024). The message spoke about rainbows appearing as he chanted and the magic of Wailua Falls coming alive. It felt meaningful because I actually caught a mini rainbow during my visit, which made the moment even more breathtaking and memorable. Overall, I was very pleased with this stop. Wailua Falls is absolutely worth checking out for its natural beauty and history.

    Located at the end of Maalo Road, this beautiful double waterfall cannot be safely or legally…read moreaccessed due to the notoriously steep, muddy, and very slick unmaintained trail down. But you can however view it safely from the designated roadside lookout. The parking lot here, although free, is very small and often filled to the brim with cars. The lot itself is also in desperate need of maintenance as it is filled with potholes, so getting in and out may be tricky. There are also vendors who fill up the front part of this lot, which further add to the chaos. Located in a sacred royal valley once known as the capital of Kauai, ancient Hawaiian chieftains and warriors use to test their bravery by leaping from the top of this nearly 200ft tall waterfall. There's not a lot to do once you get up to the top of the lookout except to snap a few photos. So it is debatable if it is worth the drive all the way out to here and dealing with the whole parking lot situation.

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    Wailua Falls
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    Kipu Ranch Adventures

    Kipu Ranch Adventures

    4.9
    (1.7k reviews)
    5.4 mi

    What a fun time we had. Joshua Stone headed up the tour and Junior ran support. Both were…read morefantastic. Joshua is a font of knowledge and is an incredible storyteller. He really brought the place to life at the stops along the way. I had to relatively young kids in tow (9 and 11). Joshua and Junior really made it feel like safety was a priority. And the two had a great time. Joshua is also an extremely talented photographer. Thanks to the entire crew!

    Cannot say enough great things about this experience, from start to finish. First, really clear,…read moreeasy to sign up website. Gives lots of information about the ride options, availability, other key info. Once we were signed up, good reminders, easy to complete online paperwork. All the ease was a sign of a well run company and team. Day of, check in was easy, and staff was warm and cheery - especially at 8am. Was impressed by their pre-excursion presentation. Was clear, informative, and helped us know what to expect, how skilled the team is, and how best to enjoy ourselves. The guides for our waterfall trip were fantastic. Ryan and Cousin Giggles are careful but fun. We felt really safe no matter how crazy the ride got, we knew from minute one Ryan knew his stuff, and that let us trust him and ourselves to just have a blast. Both Ryan and Giggles shared tons of great info and personal anecdotes. It added to the adventure even more. Grateful for their sharing bits of themselves with us. The ride itself was epic. Great machines, well cared for, and the planned paths just amazing. Fun, rugged, but safe. We saw amazing sights, had so much fun zipping down some rocky, muddy trails, and covered tons of beautiful acres. Ending at the final waterfall and having a chance to jump in was so special. I cannot say enough how stunning the views were, at the same time the ride was just so much fun. From start to finish, and very minute in between, we just enjoyed ourselves, our other riders, and especially our guides Ryan and Cousin Giggles. If you're considering a trip with Kipu Ranch, consider no more. Book it now before you miss your chance. Will be a trip highlight no matter what else you do!

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    Holoholo Charters

    Holoholo Charters

    4.7
    (1.2k reviews)
    16.5 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    25 years in business

    The sunset cruise with Holo Holo Charters down the Nāpali Coast was an unforgettable experience. We…read morebooked it to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday, and it was perfect from start to finish. Captain Max was incredible--his sense of humor kept us laughing even as the rain and mist rolled in. The two women on the crew (I wish I could remember their names) were fantastic, making sure everyone was comfortable and answering all our questions with a smile. The playlist on board was spot on, setting the perfect vibe. I wish I could find it on Spotify! Despite the weather, the views were breathtaking, and getting a little drenched just added to the adventure. The food was delicious, especially the smoked pork, salad, and fresh fruit, and my husband loved the mai tais. Even without the sunset, the whole experience was magical. After chatting with other travelers, I'm convinced we had one of the best tours available. especially after talking to a couple at our hotel pool who had paid more than we did and only got snacks limited alcohol. I can't recommend Holo Holo Charters enough, and I'm already looking forward to trying their breakfast or snorkel cruise next time. If you're looking for an amazing adventure, this is it!

    My husband and I did the sunset dinner tour to the Na Pali coast with this company a couple weeks…read moreago on 4/1/26 at 2:45pm. Price was $250 per person and we booked a couple days before the tour date. (we went at the end of March - the weather was fantastic and not too hot, also not raining). Although it was pricey, I felt like it was worth the experience and highly recommend anyone do a tour, even if it's not with this company. We got back to shore around 7-7:30pm, so total time was 5 hours ish. Pros: - the Na Pali coast is BEAUTIFUL - the views were truly a once in a life time experience for me and I saw the fullest rainbow I've ever seen - The tour guide was super informative, we learned a lot about whales, and they also taught us a lot about certain mountains and waterfalls that we passed on the Na Pali Coast (like where Kauai kings were buried). - We stopped to watch whales multiple times and it was really cool! - The 3 staff working on board the ship were extremely helpful in answering questions, providing drinks, and instructing people from a safety perspective - Safety - I felt very well taken care of the whole time. It's a barefoot cruise but people can choose to keep their shoes on if they want. They provided bags for people feeling nauseous and gave good advice when people were feeling seasick. - Food provided - it's not fine dining or anything (chicken teriyaki, salad, etc) but it does beat having to pack your own food or go hungry around dinner time. Also unlimited alcohol or nonalcoholic drinks. - The staff helped us take photos and there's a lot of great photo opportunities at the coast - Champagne toast at sunset, which was beautiful to watch out on the water - bathrooms available on board - My husband didn't feel like eating on board due to the motion sickness so they were kind enough to pack a to-go box for us! - Parking was easy and the meet up location was easy to find - we stood outside for most of the ride since it felt better than sitting inside, so we did get a bunch of sea-spray and got super wet from the 10 ft swells, but it felt really fun! Cons: - I think they need to put a huge disclaimer with statistics or something to show people how common it is for people to get seasick and vomit. I think maybe 5 people from our whole boat got really sick and either fell or vomited during the trip (can feel a little weird enjoying the beautiful view while someone smells like vomit next to you lol). They do tell you at the beginning that you can walk away and get a full refund after hearing the captain briefing during the meet up starting spot, but I don't think they really emphasize just how many people get sick. I personally felt fine but I felt really bad for people who had to gut through the five hour round trip feeling terrible. bring Dramamine!! This was definitely a highlight of my first time in Kauai, I wouldn't necessarily do it more than once due to the price, but it was a fantastic experience for the views!

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    Lydgate Farms

    Lydgate Farms

    4.7
    (373 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Spring for the deluxe tour. At the end instead of having to decide what you want you get a great…read morevariety. Our tour guide Sherry was amazing, great energy. Expected to have my husband pass me his dark chocolate as normally it's not his thing but he tried it and I'm sad to say he kept eating all the chocolate. If you're looking for a good intro to fine chocolate and eco tourism this is it.

    a must-stop three hour tour for chocoholics if visiting the island of Kauai…read more Like coffee, the cacao plant grows in the tropical belt with Hawaii being the only state in the Union that can grow it. Thus, taking a chocolate tour (and sampling chocolate) became something my wife wanted to do during our visit to Kauai. I booked it on the first day on the island, with cost being $140 per person via Viator, and was able to reserve spots for the following day at 11:00. It's well set-up with clear signs pointing you to the farm (need to pass by other houses through a small residential area). Guides will tell you where to park your car...we intentionally came only 10 minutes before the start and were some of the last ones to arrive. Our tour was fully filled with a maximum of 25 guests. The property is hilly, and the tour does involve a bit of walking, with 3 separate sitting areas where we sampled different foods. In our initial gathering spot, we met Mason (our primary guide). He later told us that he was going into civics. His charismatic personality and willingness to help others, really serves his guests well during the tour and his future (in politics, I'm assuming). We learned a lot about the farm, and had access to bathrooms, natural bug spray (mosquitos definitely bite here) with a place to wash hands, and distribution of umbrellas (for the occasional shower and protection from the sun). Got to sample an apple banana and cocoa tea while learning about the history of the farm. There was so much information, I had to take notes on my smartphone...apologies if I looked like I was not paying attention. In addition to the 3968 cacao trees on the farm (46 acres), other products are grown and raised to supplement the viability of the main crop: apple bananas whose leaves are used the cacao fermentation process; honey from the 50 hives to pollinate the cacao (the parasitic destructor mites that have devastated honey bee hives across the world have not yet made it to Kauai...makes me appreciate the Hawaiian agricultural controls); the vanilla plant vines that are hand pollinated to produce such rare extract that the public can't buy it. We walked to the second spot, passing by various plants and crops. There we sampled unusual tropical fruit (rambutan, soursop, and white pineapple), chocolate covered macadamia nuts (grown in Hawaii), and different honeys. Made me love mac nuts again. The final spot was to taste the chocolate bars. We sampled 5 of theirs (70% dark, 70% with sea salt, 75% with rum, 78% reserve, 50% milk with coffee/nibs), 3 Valrhona, and 1 Hershey. Mason gave a demonstration by hand of how cocoa liquor is made from the fermented seeds (this part is done by machine at a plant in Oahu...their plan is to do future expansion in Kauai so they can emphatically state that it is a completely Kauai product). The 70% dark 1/8 lb bars are $18, and I ended up buying quite a few to give as gifts (Mason didn't buy this explanation). We tried one bar when we got home, and can confirm how creamy and sweet they are (no bitterness). Other tidbits: -- chocolate is a fruit, not a bean or vegetable. -- Only Hawaii can grow it in U.S. -- Grafting is common for consistency -- Chocolate is purple. Black means there were moldy shells. No mold here, so discarded shells can be made into tea -- Most macadamia nuts sold in Hawaii are grown in Australia, and only packaged in Hawaii. -- White chocolate is real chocolate, just using cocoa butter only. -- AI will tell you dark chocolate is bitter cause raw cocoa is earthy (i.e. bitter). Instead, Mason proposed that it was because mass production causes uneven, incomplete fermentation. Smaller batches = careful watching = less bitterness. This was a revelation to me. -- the owner is a fifth generation farmer in Kauai, with him recently changing the name of his farm to his family name. -- At the 2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards held in Europe, Lydgate won the top prize (gold medal) for the Asia & Pacific region, along with six others in the same region, including 2 others from Hawaii. They had previously been named Top 50 in the world multiple times. -- Because they are such a popular tour, there are multiple time slots and days available. The most important thing to note about the quality of the chocolate: cacao plants bear fruit all year round, with Lydgate farms picking and fermenting by hand when it is the right time (as opposed to bigger operations where they combine ripe and unripe fruit all together for the sake of efficiency). Even for a layman like me, it was a convincing argument on why their dark chocolate is premium, costly, and has no bitterness (even at 70%). The major awards that they have received is just confirmation of this fact. And the tour being 3 hours long in such a small area...the time went by really fast.

    Photos
    Hubs opening up a cocoa pod our guide grabbed right off a tree. They're harvested year-round so you don't have to worry about missing out.
    Hubs opening up a cocoa pod our guide grabbed right off a tree. They're harvested year-round so you don't have to worry about missing out.
    Last stop on the tasting tour. Nice seating area shaded with water.
    Last stop on the tasting tour. Nice seating area shaded with water.
    Henry

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    Henry

    Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - aerialtours - Updated August 2026

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