Private Doors-Off Flight

A private, doors-off charter from Ali'i Kauai Air Tours & Charters: the whole cabin belongs to your group for 1 hour 15 minutes of waterfall hunting. Rated 5 stars across 1,794 reviews.

Overview

This is a private charter with Ali'i Kauai Air Tours & Charters: the whole aircraft belongs to your group, with the doors removed for open-air viewing. The flight runs about 1 hour 15 minutes and is built around Kauai's waterfalls. Before boarding there is a ten minute pilot safety briefing and phone lanyards are provided for the flight.

The route passes Nāpali, Waimea Canyon State Park, Hanalei Bay, Mt. Waialeale and Manawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall known from Jurassic Park, all seen from the air rather than landed at. Reviewers repeatedly say the doors-off setup gives views you cannot get any other way, and several mentioned pilots who explained what they were flying over.

It suits groups of two or three who want the aircraft to themselves. It does not suit travellers over the passenger weight limit, anyone who needs wheelchair access, or children under seven. You make your own way to the meeting point at the Lihue Airport commuter terminal, since hotel transport is not included.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Lihue AirportCheck in at 3745 Ahukini Rd, at the commuter terminal of Lihue Airport. All passengers are weighed at check-in under FAA rules.
2. Pilot safety briefingA ten minute safety briefing with the pilot before boarding, covering the open-door setup and flight procedures.
3. Board the helicopterSeat assignment may depend on the weight and balance of the aircraft.
4. Fly over Nāpali and Waimea CanyonThe route passes Nāpali and Waimea Canyon State Park, with the pilot pointing out what you are flying over.
5. Hanalei Bay and Mt. WaialealeThe flight continues past Hanalei Bay and Mt. Waialeale, routes permitting.
6. Manawaiopuna FallsA pass by Manawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall featured in Jurassic Park, viewed from the air.
7. Return to LihueThe tour ends back at the same meeting point at the commuter terminal.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the flight smoother, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report afterwards.

• Open-air viewing. With the doors off, there is nothing between you and the view. Multiple reviewers said the open-door setup is the only way to do this flight and gave unobstructed sightlines across the island.
• Phone lanyards. The operator provides phone lanyards, listed as included with the tour. Use them so devices stay attached during the open-air flight.
• Weigh-in at check-in. Per FAA regulations every passenger is weighed at check-in. Seat assignment can depend on weight and balance, so expect possible seating adjustments for your group.
• Weather risk. All tours can be cancelled or rescheduled for weather, sometimes as little as half an hour before departure, and flight patterns can change. Build some flexibility into your day if the forecast is uncertain.
• Nervous flyers. Multiple reviewers said they were anxious beforehand and that the pilots helped put them at ease and explained everything clearly. Several now call it one of their best travel experiences.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup and drop off are not included, so arrange your own transport to the commuter terminal at Lihue Airport. The listing notes the location is near public transportation.

Common issues. The main risk is weather: tours can be adjusted or cancelled up to 30 minutes before departure, and routes may change on the day. One reviewer reported a delayed departure and eventual cancellation due to equipment issues, though they received a refund, and another mentioned a non-working seatbelt that grounded an aircraft before a replacement was arranged. The listing sets hard limits: passengers must be at least 7 years old, the minimum weight per passenger is 40 pounds, the maximum is 275 lbs, and there are combined weight rules for groups of three. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, gratuities are not included, and there is a minimum of two paying passengers.

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