Reviews

This is a 100% fantastic tour. Everything from hotel pick up to our return was perfect. The staff are friendly and enjoy their work. The helicopter was in excellent condition and the pilot was very capable and had extensive local knowledge, which he shared with the passengers. At the base there is a replica of the Magnum Chopper as flown by TC. As we showed an interest in the chopper. The staff were most helpful and assisted us with photos etc. Even used my camera and took really fine photos of us at the chopper. The staff really seem to like Aussies. So if you are an Aussie, please use this tour operator. One down side is that a video is made of the flight. One internal camera and one external camera. The images from the external camera are really bad in quality. Time for a new camera boys. We purchased a video for US$50. It was so bad that we only watched 15 minutes and turned it off. However putting the video aside. It is a great tour and we highly recommend it.

We saved a bit by booking in tandem with the Atlantis submarine tour: Hawai'i from above and below! Pilot was ex military with many, many hours and local. All good to ensure that even the squemish and skeptics are satisfied. Weather was misty so view could have been a bit better and this also made for poorer photos. The video that we bought suffered, too, but clearly nothing that they can do about that. A great way to see the whole island and enjoy a different perspective of the landscape.

Being in a helicopter for the first time was great. Saw pearl harbour from the air. Saw whales blowing just off shore and went in the vallies between volcanoes. Great trip. Down side was traveling to local airport and then waiting 30 minutes passed our flight time because they only had one chopper. Group before us only got 20 minutes flying but when we questioned the attendant we got the full 30 minutes advertised time. Downside was also being able to understand the Pilots commentary through the ear phones and he spoke in an uninteresting mono tonal drawl of seemingly mixed accents .

This was our third flight with Makani Kai and as usual, breathtaking. The weather was beautiful and we were able to take a lot of great pictures. Our pilot was a young lady, sorry I don't remember her name, and she was very friendly and made sure no matter where you were seated, you were able to see everything. She would hover and turn the helicopter in each direction for the best views. Excellent pilot and her comments were full of interesting info. Hope to return to Hawaii again next year and Makani Kai will be our first booking. Thanks again for an incredible experience.

We took our 3 young daughters this afternoon for their first helicopter ride. We took the 45min Hidden Oahu Tour. Wow. Absolutely amazing. Maggie was a terrific pilot, showed us all the sights of Oahu and she even had us following 3 different pods of whales. We can't speak highly enough of this tour & of Maggie. Recommend it to everyone.

Having flown in both Australia and New Zealand previously we were really keen to take to the skies over your beautiful island and view Oahu by helicopter. Makani Kai did not disappoint us. The scenery was spectacular, the commentary informative and the service was very professional. We took the full hour tour and with the weather gods also being kind to us, we were blessed to be able to fly over both mountain ranges and even saw a family of three whales playing just off the coast from Waimea Bay. I think they call this paradise :-) Thanx Makani Kai. Robyn & Gottlieb - Byron Bay NSW Australia

We took a tour by helicopter this past Tuesday noon. Our pilot, a lovely young black woman, she was very experienced, did a great job explaining what was what and the history behind everything. I enjoyed how she flew around the valleys and above the various beaches and pearl harbour. The small waterfall was lovely too. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! I just wish expedia had of suggested for people who have difficulty with motion sickness to prepare by taking gravel before hand. That would have made the entire experience perfect. But, all in all, it was pretty darn amazing!

Ever since I watched Hawaii 50 and Magnum PI as a young child I've wanted to visit Hawaii. Everything we did was excellent and topped off by the Makani Kai Hidden Oahu Special tour. Our pilot was very knowledgeable and the ground staff more than helpful and pleasant starting from our hotel pickup right down to posting the DVD of our flight home to us. Highly recommended and don't forget to take your camera. Thank you Makani Kai.

Me and a friend we're lucky to book a tour at the last minute and it's definately worth doing if you are visiting Hawaii. We had an ex-army pilot named Jeff and he was really knowledgable about the area, terrain and interesting photo ops. He was obviously a good and experienced pilot and found the flight very enjoyable and interesting despite the rainy weather conditions. I absoluely recommend Makani Kai helicopters!!

Everyone was wonderful. The tour was great. Made several passes so everyone could see the whales. Showed us a waterfall. Pilot was very informative.

If you feel like Hawaii is not exactly what you expected and doesn't look like on TV, you have to see it from above. Makani Kai take you to your hotel, anyone. The pilot was really nice and described a lot. She didn't stop talking (which is good). The views were amazing. Bring your camera, it makes really nice videos. I chose Hidden Oahu, the 45 minutes tour.

Had never been to Hawaii but had been on a helicopter ride. Not only did being in Hawaii, coming from ND in March, the trip of a life time but to have Magie as the pilot make the experience truly memorable. Can still remember her telling us she had "whale eyes!!!" Thank you to Makani Kai Helicopters for everything. Definitely recommend this helicopter ride to anyone going to Oahu!!!!

Spent a week in Hawaii and went on a helicopter tour with Jeff. I don't like flying and had never been in a helicopter, but what an awesome experience. Went on the hour Sacred Fall tour. What a beautiful place. I always know Ohau was a beautiful place but truly can't wait to go back again. Thank you Makani Kai... Will send my friends.....

We chartered Makani Kai Helicopters for a photo-shoot for the second time. If anything, this was better than the first. Our pilot was the owner, Richard Schuman, and he knows his stuff! (I was flying with my wife and a couple who are vacationing with us.) As a former resident and now semi-professional photographer, I wanted to see some specific sites and from some specific perspectives. I wanted doors-off to optimize the photography. Richard and his staff were very responsive, and we jointly worked out our itinerary. Much of what we saw was what you would get in a standard tour, but we hit a few unique sites, and modified the run as time marched on. Doors off is a great benefit for photography ... no annoying reflections. Having flown in a Russian military helicopter, the lack of doors was of no consequence for me! But to reassure others who do not share my absence of a fear gene, I will tell you that my wife and the other couple had no problems either, and 2 of them are seriously afraid of heights. I should also add, we are not care-free youth with no appreciation of danger. I am retired, and I didn't retire early! Richard and his staff were incredibly attuned to our diverse needs. My wife, who is undergoing knee replacement surgery soon, had some difficulties getting in, and when we landed they had anticipated the need for a ladder and a woman helper (probably the pilot mentioned by other reviewers). The taxi and take off were incredibly smooth, almost no sense of motion, which was just what the two acrophobes needed. (On my previous trip with Makani Kai, the pilot correctly judged that I and my daughter and son-in-law were all about the adventure.) My wife was all about the waterfalls, and before moving on he checked to see if she had seen enough. The other couple was all about Diamond Head, and he made sure that they had their expectations met. And I was all about the far side of the Mokulua Islands and Olomana. Not being particularly shy, I was engaged in extensive conversation with him about preferred angles and such. We had the added experience of listening in on the communications with air traffic control, as Rich provided relay services between a plane and ATC. ATC could not understand their message and we were close enough that Richard could.

This was the first time my girlfriend and I have ever flown on a helicopter and it was wonderful. Our pilot, Maggie, was great and professional. The staff and management were very welcoming. We didn't know we weren't going to be able to take our phones, which is what we use to take pictures, and they offered their camera for us to use. Our tour was 45 minutes and we enjoyed every second of it. Once we landed we were able to take pictures and I chose that moment right next to the helicopter to propose to my girlfriend. It was amazing and so unexpected. Everyone congratulated us and on our way out we were given two nice wedding gifts. I recommend Makani Kai Helicopters to everyone!