MD500 Doors-Off, 60 Minutes

A full hour doors-off over Kauai with Jack Harter Helicopters, a doors-off operator based in Lihue, seated with nothing between you and the cliffs. Rated 4.8 across 425 reviews, from $460 per person.

Overview

One hour in a doors-off MD500 is enough to circle nearly all of Kauai, and this flight from Lihue covers the island's biggest names in a single loop. Jack Harter Helicopters runs the tour with a maximum of four passengers plus the pilot, and the pilot narrates the scenery throughout. The route leaves Lihue and passes Nawiliwili Harbor before heading inland to Olokele Canyon and Waimea Canyon, including Waipo'o Falls and Manawaiopuna Falls, better known as the Jurassic Park falls. It then tracks the Na Pali Coast past Nualolo Kai, Ke'e Beach, Tunnels Beach and Hanalei Bay, swings by Mount Waialeale, and finishes over Wailua Falls on the way back.

With the doors removed, every seat gets open air rather than glass, which changes both the photos and the feel of the flight. Reviewers describe wind, cooler temperatures and light turbulence, and several say the pilot makes sure passengers on both sides get to see the views.

It suits confident travellers aged ten and up who want the whole island in one flight. The tour is not recommended for people with back problems, and the weight and seating rules should be read carefully before booking. Hotel transport is not included; everyone makes their own way to the office on Ahukini Road in Lihue.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in LihueCheck in at 4231 Ahukini Rd, Lihue, between Walmart and the Lihue Airport intersection; look for the white company sign near an American flag and park to the left of the office. Transportation to and from the heliport is included from there.
2. Lihue and harborThe flight begins with a pass by Nawiliwili Harbor near Lihue.
3. Jurassic Park fallsManawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall from Jurassic Park, passes by on the route.
4. Waimea CanyonThe helicopter passes Olokele Canyon, Waimea Canyon State Park and Waipo'o Falls.
5. Na Pali CoastThe route follows the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park past Nualolo Kai, Ke'e Beach, Tunnels Beach and Hanalei Bay.
6. Mount WaialealeThe flight passes Mount Waialeale before turning back.
7. Wailua Falls and returnWailua Falls passes by on the way back, and the activity ends at the same meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

Doors-off flying comes with specific rules on clothing, weight and seating, and the conditions aloft are cooler and windier than on the ground. Here is what to plan for.

• Bring a jacket. Multiple reviewers say the air aloft is cold and windy and recommend a light jacket or sweater. A secure layer makes the hour far more comfortable.
• Strict item rules. Hats, beanies and scarves are prohibited, along with iPads, bags, loose pocket items, selfie or GoPro sticks, magnetic gimbals and unsecured footwear like flip flops. A handheld camera or phone is allowed only with a neck or wrist strap, and the operator lends out wrist straps for phones.
• Weight and seating. The limit is 250 lbs per passenger or 400 lbs combined per pair; anyone over needs to buy an adjacent comfort seat. For groups of three or four, one passenger must weigh 150 lbs or less and be no taller than 5'10" to fit the front middle seat.
• Open-air ride. Several say it felt safe thanks to the harnesses and the crew's focus on safety, but anyone with back problems is advised against it.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Travellers drive themselves to the office on Ahukini Road in Lihue, park on site, and are shuttled from there.
• Food and tips. No meals are provided, so eat beforehand. Gratuities are not included in the booking.

Common issues. One reviewer describes the front middle seat as a little cramped. Weather matters: the flight requires good conditions, and it can be cancelled or rescheduled for poor weather or if a minimum number of travellers is not met.

What To Know Before Flying