Which Hawaiian Island is Best for a Helicopter Tour?

Which Hawaiian Island is best for a helicopter tour–it isn’t a question easily answered. Because, spoiler alert: all of them are good. Like, jaw-on-the-floor, tear-in-your-eye good. But they’re not the same good. And the kind of awe you’re looking for—the kind that rearranges your sense of scale and makes you rethink your day job—depends entirely on what you want to see from 3,000 feet above sea level.

Let’s break down which Hawaiian Island is best for a helicopter tour together.

 

Which Hawaiian Island is Best for a Helicopter Tour: Are the Hawaiian Islands Really That Different from the Sky?

In short? Yes. One hundred times, yes.

From the air, the Hawaiian Islands are like different characters.

Each island brings something different to the table—or the cockpit, rather—and your choice should come down to what you’re dying to see. Lava rivers? Lush valleys? Coastal cliffs that defy physics? You’ve got options.

Helicopter Touring 101: Pick Your Island Personality

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to get you started on deciding which Hawaiian Island is best for a helicopter tour.

Big Island: For the Lava Lovers and Volcano Chasers

If your idea of paradise involves heat, fire, and earth in its most dramatic form, the Big Island is your girl. Home to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the iconic (and sometimes still bubbling) Kīlauea volcano, the Big Island is all about contrast. You’ll hover over black sand beaches one minute, then pivot to green rainforests and jaw-dropping waterfalls the next.

The cherry on top? If Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, is in a generous mood, you might see molten lava glowing like embers beneath you. A once-in-a-lifetime moment if there ever was one.

Kauai: For the Nature Documentary Devotees

Kauai didn’t come to play. This is the island where you’ll feel like you accidentally wandered into a BBC Earth special. The famed Nā Pali Coast is almost entirely unreachable by car, and the best way to witness its serrated cliffs, tucked-away beaches, and emerald-green folds is from a helicopter.

Add in Waimea Canyon—affectionately nicknamed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”—and waterfalls so absurdly perfect they’ve starred in movies (hi, Manawaiopuna Falls) and it’s no wonder Kauai helicopter tours are the most popular.

TL;DR: If you want to spend the whole flight gasping into your headset mic, this is the one.

Maui: For the One Who Wants a Little Bit of Everything

Maui is like the sampler platter of Hawaiian helicopter tours. You get the deep green jungles of Hana, the rocky coastlines, the white-sand beaches, and the barren, otherworldly terrain of Haleakalā Crater—which, depending on the time of day, can look like Mars, the moon, or some lost planet waiting for its sci-fi moment.

You can even add on waterfalls and maybe a few whales if you're lucky (and in the right season). If you like variety and don’t want to commit to just one kind of beauty, Maui delivers a little bit of everything—without making you choose.

Oahu: For the Culture Buffs and History Nerds

Don’t sleep on Oahu. Yes, it’s home to Honolulu, traffic, and lots of resorts, but it also offers an incredibly cool blend of urban buzz and natural drama. From the air, you’ll glide past the iconic crater of Diamond Head, swoop over Waikīkī Beach, and maybe even take in a bird’s-eye view of Pearl Harbor—a deeply moving experience that blends history and beauty in a way few places can.

Oahu might not be the wildest or most remote of the islands, but it’s a satisfying mix of everything: ocean, city, cliffs, craters, and culture. Ideal for the traveler who wants it all and doesn’t mind a side of skyline with their sea.

Still Torn? Consider a Private Air Charter

Here’s the thing—if you’re staying on one island but your helicopter tour FOMO is pulling you toward another, don’t panic. It’s hard choosing which Hawaiian Island is best for a helicopter tour. But that’s where private helicopter charters and private airplane charters come in.

Think of them like Uber Black, but for sky travel. You can hop from Oahu to Kauai, or Maui to the Big Island, and get a two-islands-in-one-day experience. Sure, it’s a bit of a splurge, but if you’re celebrating something special—or just want to live your Beyoncé-on-vacation fantasy—it’s totally worth it.

Private charters also give you more flexibility with routes and timing. Translation: less stress, more views.

Why Kauai Gets All the Helicopter Glory (and Deserves It)

Let’s address the coconut in the room: Kauai helicopter tours are the most popular for a reason.

More than 70% of the island is inaccessible by car, which means if you’re not flying, you’re missing a whole lot of what makes Kauai special. From the waterfalls tucked into its deep valleys to the raw edges of the Nā Pali Coast, this place was basically made to be seen from above.

There’s a reason filmmakers keep coming back here. It’s cinematic. It’s wild. It’s untamed. And while all the islands have their share of “wow,” Kauai’s flavor of jaw-dropping feels a little more exclusive—like you’re being let in on a secret that not everyone gets to see.

 

So, The Best Island in Hawaii For Helicopter Tours is…

Which Hawaiian Island is best for a helicopter tour? Let’s be honest: You can’t go wrong. You’re flying over paradise.

Every island is unique and each draws travelers for different reasons. Whether you choose Kauai for its rugged cliffs, the Big Island for its lava show, Maui for its sampler of dreamscapes, or Oahu for its cultural punch, you’ll have at least one moment where you forget to blink. Probably several. 

That being said, you came here for an answer. And if we’re hard pressed to pick the best island for a helicopter, we would say Kauai. 

But why choose one? Do a custom tour, hop between islands, and really go full aerial explorer.

Whatever you pick, pack your sense of wonder and a good camera. You’re about to see Hawaii from the best seat in the house.