Inter-Island Helicopters: The only way to experience paradise!
Written: Sep 03 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: They remove the doors to provide spectacular views, great safety record, exclusive waterfall trips. Amazing!
Cons: A bit expensive, but well worth it.
The Bottom Line: The only company on Kauai flying the Hughes 500 helicopter with the doors off, for an amazing open air tour. They have an excellent safety record and friendly staff.
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| diverpam's Full Review: Inter-Island Helicopters, Kauai |
Having visited Kauai once before, my husband and I decided the only way to truly experience the beauty of Kauai was from a helicopter.
We visited several helicopter tour companies before deciding on Inter-Island.
Why We Chose Inter-Island
Our decision was based on two primary factors that made them unique among the island helicopter charters:
* They were the only company that flew Hughes 500 helicopters with no doors. The other companies all had doors and passengers were enclosed in a glass cocoon while flying over the mountains and waterfalls listening to music.
My first experience in a helicopter was in the Philippines, where we flew in an "open air" helicopter. I loved the experience and wanted to feel the air and have a completely unobstructed view of the beautiful island of Kauai.
* They offered a special flight that landed next to a private waterfall where a picnic lunch was served and the passengers were given time to swim in the pool fed by the waterfall.
What a Valentine's Day Treat!
We had planned our flight for Valentine's Day. My husband knew this would get him off the hook for any Valentine's Day in which he slacked for the conceivable near future.
The regular flight was $180. The special waterfall flight was $250. We went for it! How often do you get to spend Valentine's Day flying over Kauai?
Getting Prepared
We stopped by the day before to weigh in and pay for our flight. The weight and balance on a helicopter is important, so they plan which passenger will sit in which seats.
We spent a lot of time asking questions and looking at one of the helicopters in the hanger. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They gave us the very good advice of bringing along a sweater or a jacket, and wearing jeans.
I didn't think about it actually getting cold in Hawaii, but up in the air, with the open doors it could get pretty cool.
Take a Jacket with You!
Our biggest challenge was finding anything on Kauai that resembled a jacket. Finally, we came up with a couple of long-sleeved sweatshirts in Wal-Mart. Luckily, we had brought along our jeans.
Our Flight
The morning of our flight was clear and gorgeous. There was another couple joining us for the flight. They were young and neither had ever been on a helicopter.
In fact, the pilot and I were the only onces who had flown on one before. That didn't keep me from being a little nervous while very excited at the same time.
We flew out of Burns Field in Hanapepe, on the other side of the island from the other tours. This gave us more time flying over the beautiful parts of the island and less time being over the highway. This was also a plus for us.
The Pilot
The pilot had been trained in the military (as all their pilots are). He was also quite gorgeous and had a great sense of humor. Bonus for me and the other lady on the tour!
He gave us a briefing and told us about safety precautions before boarding. We could communicate with him through the earphones and headsets we would each wear.
As soon as we were safely buckled into our seats and gave him the thumbs up, he deftly lifted the helicopter and we were off on a magical flight.
Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon was amazing, with waterfalls, lush greenery, and the smell of tropical air. I was glad I had my sweatshirt because it did get pretty cool. As we soared over the mountaintops and peered down into the canyon, our pilot briefed us through the two-way radio.
I didn't realize how high we were until we flew directly over the canyon. We had two cameras going simultaneously, trying to catch everything.
Hanapepe Valley
I've never seen so many waterfalls, including the one made famous by "Fantasy Island" in the show's opening sequence. We also saw where there were literally hundreds of tiny waterfalls trickling down the sides of the mountains. Some areas near the waterfall were misty and occasionally we could see a rainbow.
Na Pali Coastline
The most breath-taking part of the trip for me was the Na Pali coastline. We flew out over the ocean a pretty good distance before turning around for a magnificent view of the coastline.
I felt like I was in "Jurassic Park" as we approached. The ocean was so blue and the craggy mountains along the coastline were covered in greenery. We flew close enough to see the details of the trees and crevices on the mountains. They are simply incredible with their uniquely craggy shapes. I expected to see a dinosaur appear any minute.
The pilot pointed out the spot on the shoreline where "Seven Days and Six Nights" was filmed and we also got a good view of the "Queen's Bath" formation, an open area in the rocks where you can see down into into the ocean.
I have many wonderful pictures of this coastline and even more wonderful memories that will live with me forever.
There's More?
Just when I thought nothing could be any better, we left the coastline and landed in a very small clearing next to a waterfall.
There we swam in the fresh water lagoon under a beautiful waterfall. The water was pretty cool, but it was amazing to be able to swim under the waterfall. We were the only people for miles around, enjoying the warm sun and the cool water with the gentle pounding of the waterfall in the background.
After playing for a while and then drying in the sun, we had a picnic lunch where our pilot entertained us with stories and answered all our questions. The company is involved in many search and rescue missions for hikers that get lost and they also help put out fires when needed. The Hughes 500 helicopters are very fast (up to 140 mph) and maneuverable so they are in demand during such emergencies.
The waterfall is on private property owned by a friend of the owner of Inter-Island Helicopters. There is a picnic area there with table and wooden walkway for guests to use. They are the only company that can offer this "Waterfall Landing" tour.
The End of a Perfect Adventure
It was really hard to tear ourselves away, since we knew our 2-hour tour was almost at an end. We made everyone pose for pictures before we boarded for the flight back to the landing field.
We lifted up once again and headed for a ridge just over the treetops. We zoomed over the line of the trees up,up, up, then suddenly the ground dropped below us and we were soaring over a deep valley. It was almost like being on a roller coaster.
It was quite an adrenaline rush! After squealing loud enough for everyone to hear me without the radio on, all I could say was, "Yahoo, ride 'em, cowboy!" as everyone laughed at our final adventure of the day.
We couldn't have asked for a better outing or a friendlier, more helpful pilot. I would definitely take the tour again the next time we visit Kauai.
I highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to really see this beautiful island. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 351 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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