| You haven't been to Kauai, and you haven't taken | | | | Once aboard, settle in, put your headset on, listen |
| a helicopter tour? What in blue blazes are you | | | | to the pilot's instructions and enjoy your trip. At |
| waiting for? This needs to be at the top of | | | | various times the pilot may ask you not to speak. |
| everyone's bucket list. No fooling, you simply must | | | | He'll have access to radio chatter that you can't |
| get out to the island, book your tour, and take a | | | | hear, and he'll have to respond to it. Some pilots |
| helicopter trip around the most beautiful, | | | | may allow you to listen in on the air traffic control |
| enchanting, awe inspiring place on earth. Stop | | | | frequency. Ask them if you'd like to hear it. Your |
| reading this and call your travel agent, now! | | | | fellow passengers may not, however. |
| Okay, I'm a bit biased; I actually flew Kauai tours | | | | Leaving Lihue, you'll visit the various spots that |
| for several years, and in the interest of full | | | | make the tour what it is--one of the most |
| disclosure, I flew for a company called Air Kauai. | | | | fascinating, beautiful, awe-inspiring experiences of |
| So of course I have a different perspective on | | | | your life. You'll see waterfalls, rainbows, canyons |
| helicopters, and flying around islands in them. I'm | | | | carved from natural erosive forces, pristine |
| going to attempt to share with you, dear reader, | | | | beaches inaccessible except by air. You'll visit |
| why it is that you simply must drop whatever | | | | Mauna Wai Puna, so-called Jurassic Falls, WaiMea |
| other vacation plans you may have, get a ticket | | | | Canyon, the misnamed Grand Canyon of the |
| to Lihue, and hop aboard a tour helicopter. You | | | | Pacific. I say misnamed because, in spite of what |
| can go to Orlando, or Branson, or the Catskills | | | | you may hear, Mark Twain never called it that. |
| next year. | | | | You'll fly along the face of the astonishing NaPali |
| Here's why you need to do this, what helicopter | | | | coast. NaPali means the cliffs. This razor sharp |
| company you should consider, how much it might | | | | ridgeline on Kauai's northwest coast is quite |
| cost, what to take along, and what time of year | | | | possibly the most beautiful place on earth. Once |
| and time of day to go. Plus a few extras: what to | | | | you've seen NaPali you'll understand why the road |
| expect on the helicopter tour, what you might | | | | around Kauai doesn't connect. On the north shore |
| see, a safety overview, and other odds and ends | | | | you'll see Haena where many of the very wealthy |
| to make your life-altering experience even more | | | | live, Hanalei (bay shaped like a lei), mount |
| gratifying. Let's start with getting to Kauai, and a | | | | Namolokama with the highest waterfall in Hawaii, |
| bit of the island's mystique, beginning, as they say, | | | | and finally mount WaiAleAle. |
| at the beginning, the origin of Kauai. | | | | Here's the thing about WaiAleAe. It's the volcano |
| Kauai, or the Garden Island, is the furthest | | | | that created Kauai, and you can fly around inside |
| (exposed) northwest island in the Hawaiian chain. I | | | | it. (!) That's right. Three million years ago the flying |
| say exposed because the Hawaiian Islands are | | | | god anticipated helicopter tours, and She made |
| slowly disappearing. No, this isn't a reason to | | | | provisions for them, bless her heart. In a massive, |
| move your trip up a few weeks, relax. Here's a | | | | literally earth shaking explosion, the entire east |
| bit of Hawaiian trivia that some of your tour | | | | face of WaiAleAle blew open, exposing the |
| mates likely won't know. There are in fact 127 | | | | interior of the volcano, and essentially putting its |
| islands in the Hawaiian chain, not just the seven | | | | fire out. Geologists have found shards of volcanic |
| you see on a map today--Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, | | | | matter from WaiAleAle five miles out in the |
| Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The Hawaiian chain | | | | ocean. Now the volcano, not just dormant but |
| stretches across the Pacific for 1,200 miles, | | | | long dead, has a gaping hole into which helicopters |
| ending in a little coral atoll called Kure, which is, in | | | | can fly in, make a nice turn, and fly back out. |
| fact, the very first Hawaiian Island, dating back | | | | And you will do this, weather permitting. Your pilot |
| nearly 100 million years. As a reference, one of | | | | will enter the volcano from the east, slow the |
| the Hawaiian Islands is a little place called Midway | | | | aircraft, and slip inside the cavernous interior of |
| which is located, well, mid way across the chain, | | | | the seven million year old father of Kauai. Inside |
| about 600 miles Northwest of Oahu. | | | | the volcano you'll witness one of the most |
| All the islands are volcanic in origin. Their source is | | | | astonishing sights of your life. Because of its |
| a volcanic rift in the ocean floor called the | | | | location, and the general weather trend on the |
| Hawaiian Emperor vent, which lies deep under | | | | island, the top crest of WaiAleAle receives an |
| water seventy miles south and east of Hawaii, | | | | average of 500 inches of rainfall each year. That's |
| the so-called 'Big Island'. Over the last 100 million | | | | five feet of rain! All that water has to go |
| years this volcanic vent has created all 127 | | | | somewhere, and guess where it goes? That's |
| islands*. The islands break the surface, develop | | | | right, it gushes in sheets and rivers down the |
| into a land mass, cool sufficiently to support life | | | | sides of the interior of the volcano, like lava in |
| forms, and then, due to wind, water and natural | | | | reverse, a cascading, tumbling mass of waterfalls |
| corrosive factors, they slowly erode away, sinking | | | | draping the lush, green sides of the scarred |
| back below the waves. The islands are also | | | | volcanic rock. If that vision doesn't give you full |
| located directly on a tectonic plate with a | | | | body goose bumps you need to check your pulse. |
| northwesterly drift, which takes them off toward | | | | That sight alone is worth the price of admission. |
| Japan and Asia over their lifetimes. Each Hawaiian | | | | Following your exit from the volcano you'll be |
| island actually moves Northwest about half an inch | | | | nearing the end of your tour, heading back in to |
| per year. Geologists claim that Kure, for instance, | | | | Lihue. |
| will, in a few dozen million years end up parked | | | | Here are a few particulars: |
| near the Kamchatka peninsula. | | | | What to take, and not take. The camera, if you |
| Kauai itself is about 7 million years old. Its specific | | | | must. But keep in mind that the best camera is |
| origin, the volcano that created the land mass | | | | the one inside your head. When I flew tours, it |
| called Kauai, is today called Mount WaiAleAle | | | | was always a source of concern to me that |
| (Why-Olly-Olly). WaiAleAle sits in the middle of the | | | | passengers missed so much with the camera in |
| island. Go to Google Earth and type that in, and | | | | front of their face half the time. Sit back, listen to |
| see where it takes you. More about this mountain | | | | the music, and soak in the beauty. If you take |
| later, during your tour. | | | | pictures, keep the camera from touching the |
| Speaking of the tour, let's get on with it. Book | | | | airframe or the vibration will blur your shots. As |
| your flight into Lihue, the main town on Kauai. | | | | for reflections, almost unavoidable, but wearing |
| There are direct flights from the west coast. | | | | dark clothes helps. If you missed a shot most |
| Most of the helicopter tour operators fly from | | | | pilots will swing back around for you, but they're |
| Lihue airport. Here's a list of those companies, and | | | | on a tight schedule, so maybe not. |
| an overview of each: | | | | The inevitable airsick bag. The helicopter will have |
| Blue Hawaiian: Good company, good safety | | | | them, but you really shouldn't need one. If you're |
| record, not the cheapest, but possibly the best, | | | | prone to airsickness, chew on ginger candy |
| and this is no time to scrimp. 'Blue' flies from Lihue | | | | before and during the tour. It really works. This is |
| year round, offering a comprehensive, | | | | another reason not to plant a camera in front of |
| knowledgeable tour of about an hour. Not nearly | | | | your face all the time; it can make you woozy. |
| enough time to see it all, but enough to drop your | | | | Wear walking shoes just in case. Sunglasses are a |
| jaw to the floor. contact Blue Hawaiian Helicopters | | | | good idea. Leave the big bags in the hotel room. |
| Safari: Good company with a long history on | | | | There's not a lot of room inside the cabin, so |
| Kauai. Good safety record, and highly | | | | anything bigger than a waist bag is too big. No |
| knowledgeable pilots. Safari offers some perks | | | | need for earplugs. The cabin isn't pressurized, and |
| other tour companies do not such as a video of | | | | the flight won't take you higher than about three |
| your trip, available for a nominal fee. Safari | | | | thousand feet anyway. If your ears plug easily, |
| Helicopters Inc. | | | | gum might help. Oh, and leave the kids at home; |
| Island Helicopters: Island is the bargain tour, the no | | | | they won't appreciate what they're seeing, and |
| frills, hop aboard and see the island helicopter tour. | | | | there are no discounts for little people. Don't be |
| Good but not great, and, as I said, this is no time | | | | afraid to ask questions, but don't be a chatterbox, |
| to scrimp. Call Island Helicopters. | | | | either. There will be five other passengers along |
| Jack Harter Helicopters: Jack Harter himself was | | | | with you. |
| the original helicopter tour guy on Kauai. Jack is | | | | When to go? My favorite time of the year on |
| the old man of helicoptering on island, having once | | | | Kauai was March, April and May when the whales |
| flown Frank Sinatra and other Hollywood types | | | | were still there, and weather was perfect for |
| around various movie locations when 'ol blue eyes | | | | tour flying. Many people travel to Hawaii to escape |
| was filming on Kauai many moons ago. Jack | | | | summer's heat in the Midwest. Winter months |
| Harter Helicopters is the original. That said, the | | | | tend to be a bit rainier, which is okay, but offers |
| company is good, not great, highly knowledgeable, | | | | a few more canceled flights due to weather. Go |
| safe, with competitive prices and a good tour. | | | | any time of day. Late afternoon was my personal |
| Harter offers two different aircraft depending on | | | | favorite, since the misting rain and setting sun |
| your interest--the AStar for a standard, comfy, | | | | made for a spectacular trip across NaPali. |
| tour, and a little bird flown without doors for | | | | Indescribable. One other thing. Fly early in your |
| those who tote expensive cameras and are, by | | | | trip, that way if the tour is canceled you can |
| God, going to use them. Jack Harter Helicopters | | | | reschedule. DO NOT wait till the last day and be |
| Inc. | | | | disappointed when you can't go. |
| There are other companies to choose from, but | | | | Speaking of weather, no rain; no rainbows. Many |
| those above are the ones I recommend. Here's | | | | passengers asked me, with some trepidation, |
| the rest of the story: what to expect, what to | | | | about flying in the rain. Well, they don't call Kauai |
| take (and not take), pricing, weather, safety, | | | | the Garden Island for nothing. It rains there. A lot. |
| when to go, and various other considerations. | | | | Then the sun shines. A lot. Kauai is known for her |
| When you arrive for your tour you'll be given a | | | | intermittent rains--five minutes, then an hour of |
| safety briefing per FAA regulations, just like on | | | | sun--five minutes of rain, an hour of sun, you get |
| the airplane. You'll learn about using various safety | | | | the picture. The bottom line is this. Rain makes for |
| items, and be given a brief overview of your tour. | | | | a truly great tour. It pumps up all the waterfalls, |
| Then you'll have to step on a scale. Sorry, folks, | | | | gives WaiMea Canyon a slick, rain-moist sheen, |
| the airlines are allowed to use standard weights, | | | | brings the mountain goats out for a drink, makes |
| helicopter operators must use actual. And yes, | | | | the foliage sparkle, and creates the most dazzling |
| some companies do charge extra above a certain | | | | array of rainbows you'll ever see, marvelous |
| weight. It's for aircraft operating parameters, thus | | | | swaths of brilliant color across an already |
| for your safety and others'. You'll have to pay of | | | | gorgeous landscape. Afraid of flying in the rain? |
| course, and the fee structure is dependent on so | | | | Don't be. Instead, pray for rain. No rain; no |
| many variables I won't get into details. Suffice to | | | | rainbows. |
| say that a tour will cost anywhere from $175.00 | | | | As for the safety of a helicopter tour, I've saved |
| apiece up to $300,00, as I say, depending on | | | | this for last for a reason. There have been |
| booking arrangements, company, discounts etc. | | | | accidents on Kauai involving tour helicopters. Here's |
| Pay it, you'll never regret it. After the office visit | | | | a bit of perspective. There are approximately 140 |
| you'll be taken to the helicopter where you'll meet | | | | tours per day flown on Kauai, carrying nearly |
| your pilot and ground crew. | | | | 300,000 passengers a year. Since their inception |
| At the flight line you'll receive an extensive safety | | | | 40 years ago, there have been nearly 70,000 |
| briefing from the pilot on exiting the aircraft, use | | | | tours flown, with roughly twelve fatal accidents. |
| of flotation devices, intercom system, headsets | | | | That's an accident every 5,500 tours. I always |
| and various other safety and nice to know items. | | | | told my passengers that the dangerous part of |
| Depending on the company you choose, you'll | | | | their trip was driving to the airport. Pilots know |
| likely board the aircraft 'hot', that is with the | | | | the island inside and out, but they also want you |
| engine in operation, blades turning. Just pay | | | | to be comfortable. If something appears unsafe |
| attention to your ground crew, and no worries. | | | | to you, speak up. Otherwise, relax, sit back, and |
| One note of caution--do not go near the tail of | | | | mark off your bucket list one of life's truly |
| the helicopter, ever. Always stay within the pilot's | | | | astonishing experiences. |
| line of vision. The tail rotor is NOT your friend. | | | | |