Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is perhaps the most beautiful coastline in the world, and there’s no better way to see it than from the air.
I’ve always wanted to fly over Kauai in a closed-door helicopter, and it finally happened last week! I joined Jack Harter Helicopters I took a one hour flight around the island and took hundreds of photos.
It was an amazing experience, and I have to say I was impressed with the entire tour from start to finish. It was better than I expected.
In this review, I’ll explain everything you need to know about scenic flights on Kauai, including prices, safety, and what to expect when you’re in the air. I’ll also be sharing some photos I took on my own trip!
Kauai looks amazing from above
Company: Jack Harter Helicopters
I took my flight with Jack Harter Helicopters, a company dating back to 1975 on Kauai.
Today, there are many companies offering helicopter tours on Kauai, but Jack created the first company on the island.
They also pioneered the idea of enclosed tours for better views and photography without any windows in the way.
You can read more about their history here. It’s very interesting.
Disclosure: I was given a free ride from Jack Harter in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and useful to my readers.
Epic views of the Na Pali Coast
Kauai Scenic Cruise: What to Expect
My tour began with a quick check-in at Jack Harter’s office in Lihue, followed by a 5-minute minibus to the airport with a group of other passengers.
There, we had a safety briefing with some tips on how to work seat belts in an emergency, and then we were divided into two groups.
The Jack Harter accommodates four passengers per flight, two passengers in the front with the pilot and two in the back.
The passenger in the front middle seat may have to bend over to take photos, but apart from that, you’ll all have window seats.
Ke’e Beach in Haena State Park
Our tour used the MD500E helicopter
Everyone has a good view of the action, so don’t worry about allocating your seat too much. The helicopter also flies over and hovers over some of the best photography locations, so everyone has a photo opportunity.
Our group flew with Chrissy Marsaglia, a New York City pilot who has flown the tour thousands of times. She communicated well and you could tell she was very comfortable flying. She explained all of the sights as we went.
We circled the island clockwise, and these are some of the things I saw:
- Teresa Portales. The 400-foot waterfall used in one of the opening scenes of the movie Jurassic Park.
- Waimea Canyon. The Grand Canyon is in the Pacific Ocean, and sections are up to 3,000 feet deep. If you go to the state park by car, it’s really fun to see it up close from a different angle.
- Waipo Falls. Multi-level waterfall in Waimea Canyon. This is the same waterfall you may have seen from the pullouts along the trail in the state park.
- Coast coast. This was one of the highlights of the tour. We had plenty of time to see all the major landmarks of the Na Pali Coast, such as Kalalau Valley and Honopu Beach.
- North Beach. We passed some great beaches on the North Shore, including Ke’e Bay and Hanalei Bay.
- This is healing. An extinct volcanic mountain in the heart of the island. It has a “weeping wall” of waterfalls that come alive after rain.
Mountains in Haina State Park
Sometimes, tours also fly over Wailua Falls, a popular double waterfall located on the east side of Kauai.
Overall, the best part of the tour for me was the Na Pali Coast. This is perhaps the most impressive coastline in the world, and seeing those massive cliffs from above was incredible.
If you’ve ever hiked the Kalalau Trail, or have plans to do so, it’s pretty cool to see it from this new angle and know that you hiked along the edge of those mountains and camped on the beach.
The steep spiers and hills of Kalalau
One of the nice things about Jack Harter is that their tours last a full 60-65 minutes, compared to 45-50 minutes with other companies on the island.
I clocked our flight in just over 65 minutes, from the moment we boarded the helicopter, until we exited.
Even with the longer flight time, the whole thing is very exciting and goes by quickly!
Red rock formations in Waimea Canyon
What is the best time to fly?
As a photographer, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best time to take a helicopter ride on Kauai.
In general, the driest and sunniest months are from April to October. This would be the perfect time to take a helicopter tour of the island.
The rainy season runs mainly from November to March, and tends to be particularly wet in January and February. However, these months are still suitable for a helicopter tour.
I’ve visited Kauai in the rainy season several times, and most days tend to have calm, sunny weather. The photos in this article were taken in January, and the weather was exceptional, so don’t write that off.
Closing the doors feels like you’re right in business
Any time of day is good for flying, and there is no “best” time unless you are a photographer. Even then, the differences are very slight from one hour to the next.
In winter, the afternoon or evening is best if you are a photographer who wants to take pictures of the Na Pali Coast by helicopter.
Then you can capture dramatic lighting and shadows in your photos. Otherwise, Na Pali is backlit most of the day during the winter months.
In the summer, it’s a little different. Early morning has some of the best lighting for photos, especially for Na Pali and Waialeale, but honestly any time of day will work great. Midday brings out the most light and colors.
If you keep an eye on the weather forecast just in case, don’t worry about a little rain or wind. This usually won’t affect the tours, and sometimes they make beautiful rainbows and waterfalls.
Waipu Falls in Waimea Canyon
Green valleys and mountains on the north side of the island
What is the cost of the trip?
As of 2026, a 60-minute helicopter tour with Jack Harter costs $399 per person.
They also have shorter tours for about half the price. These tours don’t visit the Na Pali Coast, so you won’t see much, but they still pass some great views of Waialale and the waterfalls in the heart of Kauai.
Either way, their tours are definitely worth what they charge! Where else can you get views like this?
If you are interested in booking, you can check current prices and other conditions at Their website is here.
Not all of Waimea Canyon is barren
Is the helicopter safe?
I’m usually a bit nervous about helicopters, but Jack Harter has a great safety record spanning over 60 years.
They have traveled these roads tens of thousands of times, and they know them well.
If the weather is not good enough to fly, they will reschedule your tour for a better day. Safety is the top priority.
Sure, it’s a little scary when you first get off the ground and the doors are wide open, but you’re firmly secured with your seatbelt and harness.
Closing the doors makes the whole experience more immersive. You’ll almost forget you’re in a helicopter, and feel like you’re flying across the island of Kauai without any barriers.
Jack Harter also offers tours with the doors open if you prefer, but trust me: it’s more fun without them, and much better for taking pictures.
One of the take-off areas at Lihue Airport
Coral walls at Tunnels Beach
Other flying tips
- There are no loose items. For open-door flights, they do not allow loose items such as hats, bags or slippers. Phones and cameras should have a strap, but they can provide this if you don’t have one. You can read more at Their FAQ is here.
- Camera settings. Shutter speeds of at least 1/1000 second are best to avoid motion blur or fans in the frame.
- Lens type. A wide-angle lens is generally best for this purpose, because you’ll be flying up close alongside massive cliffs and canyons. I used a 10-24mm lens On my country Fuji X-T5 cameraMost of my photos were taken at the shortest focal length.
This was a bucket list experience
More travel guides to Kauai
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this review of my trip with Jack Harter Helicopters.
Don’t forget to check out my other Hawaii travel guides before you go!
