Reviews

Couldn't have been a better experience from booking to end of flight! These people still know the meaning of "customer service". Daughter and granddaughter rode and loved it! If you are going to try this, use this company.

I recently stayed in Waikiki and felt a helicopter tour over Oahu was a must. I looked at a few options but settled on Makani Kai helicopter because they were competitively priced online and they had availability to do it immediately. My only knock is that our pilot didn't get very close to anything. I didn't want him flying dangerously close to anything but he barely got us in the sight of the falls, one of the main attractions for the helicopter tour. I watched dozens of helicopter tours flying around the island in my couple weeks there and many seem to be flying a little lower and getting better views of everything. Also, if I were to do another one I'd fly with the doors off. You would have amazing photograph opportunities but it is difficult shooting through the windows on the helicopter. The service at Makani Kai helicopters was on par but there video they offer for approx. $40.00 is worse quality than old VHS tapes so I couldn't purchase it. If you're in Waikiki don't be scared to give this place a try if they are the better deal!

What a wonderful way to view Honululu & the Sacred Falls. We got picked up at our hotel, were taken back afterward, and between got the ride of a lifetime! The crew was OVER THE TOP friendly, very informative about local sites, experienced (you kinda want that!), and really made our flight truely one to remember! I am so happy our daughter who had taken this tour advised us to take it! It was worth every penny! We did learn they are one of the few people who will accommodate handicapped individuals, nice to know if you need it.

My family took the 45 min tour over Oahu and it was great. All the employees were friendly and helpful. The pilot was great. He knew all the history and made the ride very smooth and comfortable. They were able to extend our original flight of 30 min. to 45. And we also booked a dinner cruise on a boat with them which was very entertaining, food was pretty good too. I would recommend to everyone. Thanks Fred C

We have done drive around trips around Oahu on previous trips to Hawaii so thouight this time a helicopter tour would be another great way to see the island. We did the 45 min Hidden Oahu tour and it was fantastic. We were picked up from our Hotel for the trip and the staff were friendly and helpful. Can recommend taking the first class options as the front seats give an extra amazing view.

Great experience! 1 hour tour. I would do it again

My son, daughter and I went on the one hour tour and had a great time. Beautiful helicopter, well organized company. Extremely well-trained pilot, exciting flight, great knowledge of island and good sense of humor. Would recommend!!!!!

This was the first time that we had flown in a helicopter and the staff were very friendly and helpful from the pick up to the drop off again. We managed to sit in the front and the views were amazing we chose the 45 min trip and it was worth the money the only down side is the dvd of the trip was a bit expensive at $50 to say that all it involves is burning a disc but it arrived back in England within 2 weeks so it was there for when we got home.

It can come across as pricey at first, but the sights were amazing. From seeing Hollywood sets, to sharks and dolphins swimming freely in the ocean, and even a shot of Pearl Harbor at the end is unforgettable. The guide, Kevin, was friendly and the pilot, Jeff, was experienced, friendly, and very knowledgeable as we took the hour long tour. Overall, it was money well spent.

Amazing flight and service. Would fully recommend to anyone!

My daughter and I enjoyed a flight over your beautiful Island. We looked forward to this part of our vacation all week, were not disappointed. A expericence I intend to repeat next year.our pilot was the best. So much to see and learn. thank you for this service, we enjoyed our flight.

Highly professional, well trained, informative, witty, and FUN!! My first time in a helicopter so chose the 45 minute tour. Glad I didn't go for longer as my tummy was feeling a bit queasy for the final 10-15 minutes. But made it on the ground and back to Waikiki with no ill effects. Took some ginger capsules upon returning to the hotel and was 100% within a couple hours. Should have taken the ginger before the flight! If you are vacationing in Oahu and want to see the island from a different perspective (and see places you would otherwise never see), give Makani Kai Helicopters a call. Or check with your concierge at your hotel. It is well worth the investment! There was pick up right from my hotel and i felt I was completely cared for from that time on until drop off. Everyone was very friendly. Also, we were offered the opportunity to purchase a DVD after the flight but I wasn't prepared for the additional $50 so I declined. I regret that decision now, as it would have been great to show friends and family back home just what I experienced. I plan to call to see if it's still possible for me to get a copy before leaving Honolulu. Happy Helicoptering!!

Aloha Schuman Aviation Company; I recently enjoyed your Hidden Oahu Tour on May 24th, 2012 during a 3pm flight. I purchased the gorgeous photo book available in the lounge and gift shoppe area, and the DVD tour video, which was great to see our tour all over again. Mahalo again for the awesome helicopter tour around Oahu. It was my first time in a helo, but the ride was so smooth at times, it felt like a video game. This is an EASY recommendation for anyone vacationing in Hawaii as I noticed you have tours on several of the islands. Aloha from Virginia Beach, -James

My husband surprised me when he ought us a 1 hr. helicopter ride over Oahu as a treat. Despite having lived in HI for many years in the past and knowing the island fairly well, I never had the opportunity to see it from above. It was fabulous! Our pilot, Jeff, was very personable and funny. He knew how to give us some thrills as well as share more of this beautiful state's history. Particularly memorable was when he hovered over a 12 ft. hammerhead shark in Kaneohe Bay. I highly recommend it.

We added this tour to our trip while we were on the island and booked through our hotel. The process of getting the reservation was simple and only took a few minutes. Makani Kai was contacted to find out if they had enough open seats for the tour we wanted and what dates where available. Additionally, we wanted to book one first class seat and two open seats. This request was denied and we were told that you had to book both first class seats together... disappointing! We decided to go ahead and pay the extra money so that we could have the first class seats and take more pictures from different angles. I am glad we did because the views were great. The tour starts by a small tour bus picking you up at your hotel and driving you to the airport location. Once there, you are fitted with a belt containing an inflatable safety life vest and given instructions for the flight. From there, you move onto the flight deck and are taken one by one to the chopper and assisted into your seat. Once everyone is secured in their seats the pilot will take off. The flight will take you over the edge of the airport then over the Honolulu Harbor to Waikiki Beach. From there you will pass by Diamond Head crater then up the coastline viewing the Scared Falls waterfall, fishpond, Chinaman’s Hat, and north shore. Finally, you will round the shoreline and go over the central plains viewing the Dole Pineapple Plantation and maze then over the top of Pearl Harbor and the war memorials and finally back to the airport. Upon landing, you will exit the chopper and a company employee will assist you off the tarmac but will offer to snap a picture of you before you go. Once inside, you can remove your safety equipment belt and they offer you a viewing of your tour that can be purchased before you are shuttled back to the hotel. The DVD of the tour is nice because it includes commentary from the pilot (which you will hear while on the tour) throughout and music in the background. The cost was around $40.00 USD and they also offer other souvenirs for purchase. We were happy with the entire experience and purchased the DVD. It arrived at our home address about a week after we completed the tour and appears to be reasonable quality for a tour DVD… worth the purchase if you want to relive your tour!