Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours

How can anyone not give this place five stars?! At first we were hesitant to do the tour because of the price ($ 274 per person for one hour, plus tip), but in the end, I believe it was well worth it.
This company doesn’t have a ton of reviews on Unilocal; we heard about them by word of mouth from an elderly couple who used this company. They told us that this is the only company that flies the smaller helicopters (the R44, if that’s easier to remember), and they give you a private tour for up to 3 people. Like the other reviewers have said, the smaller helicopter ensures that everyone in your party gets a window seat and you’re not sharing a helicopter with strangers.
Our guide/pilot’s name is Guy. He’s really friendly, and went over all the safety procedures prior to our flight. He said he has over 40 years of experience, and that made me feel safer. The takeoff was initially a bit scary, but you get used to it real fast. Throughout the flight, Guy gave us some background of the island and pointed out the major highlights and sights. We saw several waterfalls and were able to get pretty close to the crater. My favorite part was when we flew over the Napali Coast; the view was truly breathtaking (the whole thing was, really).
The hour flew by really fast (no pun intended). One thing to note: this company allows you the option to choose between doors-​on or doors-​off. I know almost all the reviewers here have said that doors-​off is the way to go. I agree with that to a certain extent — doors off allows you to take better videos and pictures. However, note that doors-​off gets REALLY windy. You will have wind slapping you hard the entire hour. This is somewhat uncomfortable, and if you think this will detract from your enjoyment of the ride, you may want to do the doors-​on option (I think I would actually prefer doors-​on if I were to do this tour again). Also, if you do the doors-​off option and you’re just using your smartphone to take videos and pictures, hold on to the phone tight! They do allow you to take your phone onboard without it being strapped to you, but it is very windy up there, so make sure you take pictures/​videos without sticking your hands and phone outside. There is a little compartment under the seat where you can store your personal belongings (handbags, sunglasses, hats, and such).
If you are prone to being cold, wear lots of clothes! I’m always cold, so I wore a T-​shirt, a light sweater, and a light down jacket; I was just fine. My boyfriend, who only wore a T-​shirt and a hoodie, said he was so cold his hands were numb. Also remember to tie your long hair back tight if you’re doing the doors-​off option. My ponytail almost came loose during the flight and my hair was very knotted up afterwards.
Don’t forget to bring cash for gratuity.
Overall, a super worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Kauai is beautiful!

My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a helicopter trip in Kauai. I chose this company because of the doors off option and the private tour with just the 2 of us. I was not disappointed with our spectacular tour!
The office is in a large tour bus in a small shopping center parking lot. This seemed to fit in with the style if the island that was full of numerous food and business trucks. The girls that checked us in were friendly and helpful and drove us to the airport by shuttle.
Our pilot (sorry, I forgot his name but loved his Irish accent), was friendly and knowledgeable. We always felt safe even when flying low into the canyons or over the open water. He was able to tell us lots of interesting facts and history about the island too.
The views were spectacular! The pilot took care to make sure we each got the best views by going over most sights twice from both sides of the copter. I couldn’t imagine doing a tour with another company and trying to lean over strangers to try to catch the view. It was definitely worth the small extra cost for the private tour. And the open doors made it so much better! With no obstructions, you not only get the best pictures, but you get the best experience.
We weren’t too cold up there, shorts and a sweatshirt were fine for us. Just remebered sunblock if you do a midday trip.

This is a long post, but I must share…
I have been fortunate to say that I have been on helicopter tours in Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Hilo, and Alaska. I must say that today’s flight with Guy from Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours was absolutely the BEST helicopter tour I have done! If you ever make it to Kauai, and want to take a PRIVATE helicopter tour, do yourself a favor and look no further than these folks!
I was originally going to book with another company that was being pushed by the timeshare property we were staying at, but when I looked into it, they did not offer a «doors off» tour. I did a couple of Google searches and found only two companies doing the tour I wanted. I admit that I called the «other» company first because they were recommended by the property we were staying at. I was about to give them my credit card number when they said that my partner and I combined, weighed 25 pounds over what they allow and that I would have to buy a 3^rd seat! Well, that was a big turn off and I then called the folks at Mauna Loa.
I was taken care of quickly and professionally on the phone. My concerns were addressed and I booked the 75-​minute extended falls private tour. I instantly received an email confirmation from the young lady who I dealt with.
The directions to the meeting location were accurate. We arrived at the requested time, confirmed our ID, processed our payment, weighed in and signed the liability form. We then watched a short safety video with one of the pilots. He explained things about the aircraft and covered the safety points that you would expect on any other helicopter flight.
We were transported over to the heliport at Lihue Airport in an air conditioned shuttle bus. We waited in a shaded area while the prior party finished up with their pilot. Unlike other companies operating nearby, the helicopter blades were not turning while the pilot and passengers were outside of the craft. This stood out to me as something important — not only for safety, but also the personal attention that followed.
Our pilot — Guy — came over and introduced himself. He was not only cordial and professional, but also happened to be the same pilot we saw in the safety video. You can tell that Guy loves his job and took his time to go over everything we saw in the video earlier. He quizzed us, helped us strap on the safety vests, and made certain we were comfortably seated and in the helicopter before he took his position and fired up the engine.
Unlike other tours I have been on, we were literally in the air for the entire 75 minutes I paid for! Guy was an amazing guide, pointed out everything along the way and was grateful to us for allowing him to fly us on the extended tour. The extra 15 minutes allowed him to take us to places they simply do not have time to cover in a regular 60-​minute tour. Like I said at the beginning, this was by far the best helicopter tour experience I have had to date!

Amazing tour. We each had a window seat. Our pilot Forest was friendly and skilled. My only complaint is that it was too short!

My husband and I took the doors off tour on the first day of our honeymoon. I was terrified, but our pilot Martin was very reassuring and flew gently to minimize my chances of being sick. The views of the island were gorgeous — a great way to see the whole island at the beginning of our trip. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

We really enjoyed this tour. The pilot knew a lot about the island and was fun to talk to. The best part about the flight was that it was just the two of us and the pilot. We saw people getting off a helicopter from a different company and they had 6 people shoved into a small helicopter with little windows. We did the doors off and got to see everything clearly and get great pictures. I’m so glad we decided to use this company and get a private tour.

It was fantastic !!! I jus a little disappointed I did not get any picture because he didn’t let me to take my phone, it was ridicule we payed a lot money and even can’t get pictures, that why I’m giving them two star. The other couples took were aloud to take their phones and they took great pictures. Just our guy didn’t let us.

This is the ONLY company in Kauai that does doors off private helicopter ride! I researched different companies and I’m so happy I went with them. Don’t worry about doors off if you’re scared of heights and/​or get motion sickness. It’s the most incredible experience I’ve ever done. My jaw was completely stopped for the entire hour because I couldn’t believe how beautiful Kauai is.
#1 it’s best for photos
#2 you get a nice fresh air breeze
#3 every chair is a window seat
#4 you’re not squished in the middle or flying with strangers
Thank you Martin our pilot!

Best doors off tour for your money. We came to Kauai for our honeymoon and wanted to do something special. The pilot was nice and very informative. The transportation to and from the helicopter was quick and convenient. I only wish we could’ve went into the crater but the weather did not permit it.

Doors off private helicopter tour is a MUST do in Kauai. My sister and I did it on our first full day there, and I’m glad we did! The pilot gave us a really thorough rundown of the entire island, which was very helpful for the next couple of days. Our pilot did a good job of circling around so both my sister and I got good views of the island. I personally loved this view more than the snorkeling + boat tour that we did later that day. We saw so many more waterfalls and parts of the island than we did through driving, hiking and boating.
I thought I’d be really nervous about the helicopter ride (because I’m such a chicken on airplanes), but it was fine! I felt much safer than on a commercial aircraft for some reason.
A nice touch to the trip was that they played Jurassic Park music… so great.
Don’t forget to tip your pilot (tour guide) at the end!

Doors off private helicopter tour was awesome. We had 3 people in the party and 1 decided to leave the door on. This was no issue.
Forest was our pilot /​guide and did a great job answering questions and making the tour very interesting.
I received a call from MLH they morning before our tour to confirm and everything was very smooth.
After your tour head over to The Feral Pig for breakfast or a beer, maybe both.

If I could give them, 6 stars I would! Excellent customer service. I booked an intro flight/​tour for an hour last minute in their flight school at Honolulu and they were super helpful accommodating me in the schedule. The pilot was very professional yet very humble; he answered all the questions we made and was a great instructor.
The staff was very helpful explaining the different ways to finance the flight hours and tuition and they were not pushy, which a thought was very pleasant. Overall a great experience and a great way to see Oahu!

Wow. It was awesome. Everyone told us we had to go on a doors off helicopter ride, and they were totally right. I chose Mauna Loa because I wanted a guaranteed window seat so that basically left us looking for a private tour. Since my husband and I’s combined weights exceeded the limit per couple set by other helicopter companies (womp womp) that left Mauna Loa. Booking was easy and we got an 11:30am tour on our first day in Kauai.
Trevor was our pilot and he was great. He definitely made us feel comfortable & safe. I enjoyed his commentary about the sites, and he was very personable. When we got close to Manawaiopuna Falls (aka the waterfall from Jurassic Park) I asked if he was going to play the movie’s theme song and he said «You bet I am!». So yeah we flew by the falls listening to song which was so fun. I’m sure he gets asked to play that all the time and it’s probably annoying but he indulged us anyway!
Trevor also made sure to spin around so we could get a 360 view of the Na Pali Coast and the weather was clear enough that we are able to fly into the Mt Waialeale crater which was so cool! He also kept the ride pretty smooth, and although my poor husband looked like might vomit at any moment he kept it together the whole time! If you have any motion sickness issues doors off is the way to go because of the constant airflow, at least that’s what we were told ahead of time and my husband and confirmed afterwards.
I highly recommend Mauna Loa!

We booked Mauna Loa Helicopters for our tour of Kauai two days before we left Kauai. We didn’t book a lot of other tours because we wanted to spend some money and do something special that we would always remember for our honeymoon. We LOVED the doors off option and decided they would be the best company to book with and did so.
We showed up the morning and they run the office out of a bus in a parking lot which sure, was a bit weird at first but said whatever, they make it work and that’s awesome. We filled out all the paperwork and such before we were transported to the airport for the tour. Everyone was really nice and we met our pilot who was really nice as well. She was cleaning all the windows and doing checks before we went to the helicopter to get in. We get seated and ready to go. This is where it all went downhill. THE HELICOPTER WOULDN“T START!!! Are you kidding me… So we sat there as the pilot tried to get the helicopter to start which just didn’t happen. And if it did start there was no way we would be going up in a helicopter that seemed so poorly maintained. We were told it was probably the battery but the tour would be canceled as they didn’t have any there to make a quick swap. We get back to the office/​bus where not one person apologized or even seemed sympathetic to what had just happened, they just automatically refunded money and wanted to send us on our way. They weren’t accommodating in rescheduling our tour and nothing was available. At this point I was so furious we just left. NEVER in a million years would I have thought my wife would cry on our honeymoon but bc the poor quality and attitudes of the staff, they made it happen so thank you for ruining a very special part of our honeymoon. What was supposed to be the high point of Kauai was ruined bc they can’t properly maintain their equipment. I would love to find out what sort of maintenance records they hold on these birds bc instead of cleaning the windows and making sure it looked nice, they should check whats important. I would not recommend them as this is a HUGE red flag for how their equipment is maintained. What would have happened if the battery failed mid flight. Go with a more reputable company like Jack Harter or Blue Hawaiian and trust your life with someone a bit more reputable.

The coolest experience ever! There is no better way to see Kauai. We did a doors off tour and loved it. We went with Mauna Loa after getting the run around with another company because they wanted us to pay for the third seat because we just barely went over the 400 lbs weight allowance per couple. We basically got a private tour with ML as it was just my husband and I. They were super friendly and was worth the price hands down.

A small operation run on the island of Kauai, they are the only company to offer «doors-​off» flights. This in my opinion is the only way to see the island. Maximum of 3 guests per flight, it was just my wife and I with the experienced pilot «Guy».
The helicopters are small, the service high, the experience stellar!
This is the only option for photographers as the are no windows between you and the view.

Doors off is the only way to go.
When my wife booked the flight, I was slightly nervous about the little Robinson R44 that the company flies. At first glance, it looks like it was crafted by hand in someone’s backyard shed. After talking to the pilot and getting a better look at the bird, my worries were put to rest. Our Aussie pilot was quite professional and knowledgeable about the area.
As a fixed wing pilot on Oahu, I’m used to dodging the tourist helicopters that infest the local airspace. After being a passenger in one, I can see why they are so popular. A professional helicopter tour is the best way to view the island. Period. End of story. Roll credits. Extra bonus: my wife was so blown away by the views/​experience, she was silent for 90% of the flight.
Don’t get caught up in the hype the bigger companies try to market. The bigger the helicopter, the more people. Trying to see the views around 6 of your new best friends also trying to cram their heads into the same window is no fun. Go with a small helo with no doors.

Doors off + Private trip = one unforgettable experience! We had Jeff as a pilot and he was great and knowledgeable about Kauai. This was the highlight of the trip for sure! Told everyone we encountered to take this trip! Wish we had time to do it again! 6 stars! :-)

Awesome staff, super friendly and helpful. They need A/​C in their bus though. It was almost 90 degrees in there and those poor ladies had to work in that heat all day. $ 350 at Home Depot for an A/​C would definitely increase productivity guys! Other than that everything was amazing and from all that ive been on I’d definitely rate Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours #1 on island!

Helicopter tour in Kauai is truly a once in a life time experience. It is certainly expensive but there aren’t many places that are as rewarding. The garden island terrain is very diverse and majority of the area are untouched by human. You get to see mountains, canyon, jungle, rivers, beautiful coastline, waterfalls all within an hour. Most of those are out of reach from all other forms of transportation. If you are only going to do a helicopter tour once in your life, Kauai is easily one of the top choice.
Mauna Loa offered a very good tour for the price. My main reason for choosing them over other competitors is that they offer private tour for as few as 2 people. It is great for couples. You can sit wherever you want and not have to worry about not getting a window seat. Going with the doors off option is almost a no brainer. It made things a lot more exciting and the photos turned out awesome. Just be prepared for the most insane amount of wind even on a calm day.
I will fork out $ 259 and do it again in a heart beat next time I am on the island.