Reviews

After researching doors off helicopter tours in Oahu for a month I was ready to select a tour bit when I went to book, the company website was off line due to a recent tragic accident with their helicopter. After discussing with my family, we still wanted to do this once in a lifetime tour if we could find a safe & reputable replacement. We are so fortunate we came across the Magnum doors off 50 min tour with Makani Kai. They were easy to communicate with from Canada, flexible in making some fairly last minute changes & picked us up in time in a comfortable shuttle where we listened to a short video on the way to the helicopter about our upcoming experience. We wanted something intimate & private so the 4 passenger seats on this helicopter were perfect for our family of 4. We could experience this together all with incredible views. There are 3 seats in the front (pilot plus two) & two in the back. I was concerned my daughter might not get the same views fro her middle front but with the large front window & open doors, she said it was excellent!! I was also concerned for my wife as she is deathly afraid of heights but she said she felt safe at all times ' thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our expert pilot Jim was fun, informative & very professional. He expertly guided us down Waikiki beach, around & over Diamond Head mountain/crater, past the rich & famous pointing out Bruce Willis, Keannu Reaves & Jackie Chan's homes, over the Sea Life park & Chiefs Luau where we would be going the next day, past the North Shore & Waimaie falls, stopping to give us a panoramic view of the whole island before finding us a spectacular 360 degree rainbow (first for me) & finally taking us over Pearl Harbour & the fabled Arizona Memorial & Missouri Battleship. We were even fortunate to see a nuclear sub in the port that day. The 50 min flew by way to fast but it was an amazing experience & you get to see the island & its historic attractions from a completely different view & perspective. It was a very warm day & we did the 11AM tour bit it still got a little chilly up there so do plan on wearing a sweatshirt, you will need it! Incredible experience for the whole family, very expensive for 50 min but truly worth every penny to see the looks on your families faces!!! Would recommend to anyone as a must do while in Hawaii & Jim & Makani Kai were very professional & made us feel very safe & welcome!!

Fantastic experience, so helpful too my husband is in a wheelchair but this did not prevent him from taking part in this fabulous trip. The staff were friendly and helpful a massive thank you to our pilot Margot and our bus driver who looked after us so well.

I tool the open door helicopter tour and although it was a little scary the first few minutes it was a great experience. You really feel like flying through the sky and have an awesome view of Hawaii. Tip: make sure to bring a warm vest, it is very windt and cold in the air.

If you're a fan of Magnum PI and love the "Little Bird" Helicopter then this is the tour for you. Being a newlywed couple, this was our first open door helicopter tour and I could not recommend Makani Kai enough - great safety record. They offer both open and closed door however, we wanted something a little special for our Honeymoon. They offer a Hotel pick-up where they take you to the airport and prepare the safety brief along the way in the van. This was where we first heard about Jeff. Jeff was ex-military and only flies Sundays. I recommend to fly with Jeff if you want the best experience and adrenaline rush. He was professional, knowledgable, funny and is one heck of a flyer! For 45 - 50 minutes he took us on a Top Gun mission around Honolulu. We saw everything from Hanauma Bay to sunset beach, to the pine plantations, movie locations and waterfalls. Along with all the associated trivia. If you mention you like the military aspects, he'll show you some of the bases and point out various aircraft, along with the funny stories and call signs. Taking inspiration from Magnum PI, Jeff executed hard banks, drops and climbs with military precision, he even buzzed the tower coming back in. The rush is completely worth it, whilst enjoying some amazing scenery. If you're lucky you'll even spot Whales, Sharks, Turtles and Sting-Rays. Love the ride and certainly makes for great stories to tell. I hope others get to enjoy the experience my wife and I had. Great work Makani! Keep pushing the envelope.

Just returned from a doors off tour. The most amazing experience!! I thought it would be terrifying as I am normally scared of heights, but from takeoff to touchdown I could not take the smile off my face. Friendly staff and accomplished pilot. Just go for it !!

Took a doors off tour with my son on April 17th. Nathan (Nate) was pilot and Pete came to pick us up and strap us in. They were both excellent hosts and knew just everything about the island of Oahu. Another son and grandmother (75 yrs young) rode with us and we all were amazed. Would do it again in a heartbeat. This was not a teen son but choice was limited. I am in my 70's and son in 50's. Amazing scenery.

We took the hour long tour of Oahu with Margot. She is an impressive pilot & great guide. The tour was a great overview of the island and super fun for those that have never been in a helicopter before. We're planning to take the doors off tour next time!

De las mejores atracciones de Hawaii. Nos toco el piloto Jim y además de hacer el viaje mega interesante, lo hizo muy divertido. Lo hicimos con las puerta cerradas, pero para la próxima lo haría sin puertas. Un "Must" del viaje.

I went on the Magnum PI doors off tour over Oahu. Pilot was Margot. The experience was fantastic. The only issue was that it started 20 minutes late with no explanation for the delay. However, in the air everything lived up to the hype. Margot made sure that all passengers received enough clear view of all sights for great photo opportunities. Commentary along the way was informative and provided in a timely manner. If only it was longer.

What a great way to see the Island. Just returned from our flight & I recommend if you want an experience to remember book a flight with these guys. From Pete's advice (shuttle bus driver) & Jim's knowledge & humour during flight it is something you will never forget. Can only be described as a must do when visiting Hawaii.

Wow!! Jim was a fantastic pilot!! He talked us through the entire flight with interesting information about the island. He told us when he was going to turn and if we were gonna feel a "tickle" in our bellies... His voice was very calming and encouraging throughout. This was a wonderful flight and we will always remember it!! Super exciting and worth the small amount we paid :)

This is a must do over this beautiful island! Everyone involved at Makani Kai helicopters were very friendly and professional. Loved the tour and expertise of our pilot! Thank you for a memoriable experience!

What a great experience to do while you are in Hawaii. Make sure you do the open door experience. There is nothing more exciting than flying around Honolulu in the Island Hopper from Magnum P.I. You will get to see more of the island than you can ever think of, and if you are lucky enough to get pilot Margot Taylor, well then you are more in luck. She treats her guests well and makes you feel part of the family. She will go out of her way to make you laugh and ensure that you enjoy and see things on your trip. This experience was well worth its weight in gold.

I had so much fun the pilot was great! The view from a helicopter is wonderful. I have checked another item off my bucket list, but I might have to put it back on since the ride was so much fun!! I took the doors off ride on the Magnum helicopter, so many of my friends and family are jealous :)

My 12 year old son Zach and I just had an amazing time flying around Oahu! Our pilot Jim is an expert pilot who flew the aircraft masterfully! Doors off is the only way to experience the Aloha State! Anyone thinking about visiting Oahu should definitely make their way to Makani Kai Helicopters for an unbeatable experience!