The Na Pali coast on Kauai is probably the most beautiful coastline in the world, and there’s no better way to see it than by air.
I’ve always wanted to fly over Kauai in a helicopter with the doors off, and last week it finally happened! I joined Jack Harter Helicopters on a 1 hour scenic flight around the island and took hundreds of photos.
It was an amazing experience, and I have to say I was impressed with the whole tour from start to finish. It was even better than I expected.
In this review, I’ll explain everything you need to know about the Kauai scenic flights, including the prices, safety, and what to expect when you’re in the air. I’ll also share some of the pictures I took on my own flight!
Kauai looks amazing from above
The Company: Jack Harter Helicopters
I did my flight with Jack Harter Helicopters, a company that dates back to 1975 on Kauai.
Today, there are lots of companies offering helicopter tours on Kauai, but Jack started the first company on the island.
They also pioneered the idea of doors-off tours for better views and photography without any windows in the way.
You can read more of their history here. It’s very interesting.
Disclosure: I received a free flight 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 helpful to my readers.
Epic views of the Na Pali coast
Kauai Scenic Flight: What To Expect
My tour started with a quick check-in at the Jack Harter office in Lihue, followed by a 5 minute minivan transfer to the airport with a group of other passengers.
There, we had a safety briefing with some tips about how to work the seatbelts in case of an emergency, and then we were divided into two groups.
Jack Harter seats four passengers on each flight, with two passengers in the front with the pilot, and two in the rear.
The passenger in the front middle seat might have to lean over to take pictures, but aside from that, you’ll all have window seats.
Ke’e Beach at Haena State Park
Our tour used the MD500E helicopter
Everyone has a good view of the action, so don’t worry about your seat assignment too much. The helicopter even circles and hovers over some of the best photo spots, so everyone has a chance to take pictures.
Our group flew with Chrissy Marsaglia, a female pilot from NYC who’s done the tour thousands of times. She was a good communicator and you could tell she’s very comfortable with flying. She explained each of the sights as we went.
We circled the island in a clockwise direction, and here are some of the things I saw:
- Manawaiopuna Falls. The 400-foot waterfall used in one of the opening scenes of Jurassic Park.
- Waimea Canyon. The Grand Canyon of the Pacific, with sections up to 3,000 feet deep. If you’ve been to the state park by car, then it’s really a treat to see it up close from a different angle.
- Waipo’o Falls. A multi-tiered waterfall in Waimea Canyon. This is the same waterfall you may have seen from the pull-off spots along the road in the state park.
- Na Pali Coast. This was one of the tour highlights. We had plenty of time to see all the main landmarks of the Na Pali coast, like the Kalalau Valley and Honopu Beach.
- North Shore. We passed over some great beaches on the North Shore, including Ke’e and Hanalei Bay.
- Mt Waialeale. An extinct volcanic mountain in the heart of the island. It has a ‘weeping wall’ of waterfalls that come alive after rain.
The mountains at Haena State Park
Sometimes the tours also fly over Wailua Falls, a popular twin waterfall on the east side of Kauai.
Overall, the best part of the tour for me was the Na Pali coast. It’s probably the most impressive coastline in the world, and seeing those huge cliffs from above was just incredible.
If you’ve ever hiked the Kalalau Trail, or have plans to do that, then it’s extra special seeing it from this new angle and knowing you’ve hiked along the edge of those mountains and camped at the beach.
Steep spires and ridges at Kalalau
One of the nice things about Jack Harter is that their tours run for a full 60-65 minutes, compared to 45-50 minutes with other companies on the island.
I clocked our flight at a little over 65 minutes, from the moment we climbed into the helicopter, to when we stepped out.
Even with the longer flight time, the whole thing is such a thrill it goes by fast!
Red rock formations at Waimea Canyon
When Is The Best Time To Fly?
As a photographer, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best time to do a helicopter flight on Kauai.
In general, the driest and sunniest months are from April to October. This would be the perfect time to do a helicopter tour of the island.
The rainy season is basically from November to March, and it tends to be especially wet in January and February. However, these months can still be just fine for a helicopter tour.
I’ve visited Kauai in the rainy season several times, and most days tend to have calm and sunny weather. The photos in this article were taken in January, and the weather was phenomenal, so don’t write it off.
Having the doors off feels like you’re right in the action
Any time of day is good for flying, and there’s no ‘best’ time slot unless you’re a photographer. Even then, the differences are pretty minor from hour to hour.
In the winter, afternoon or evening is best if you’re a photographer wanting to capture the Na Pali coast by helicopter.
That’s when you can catch the dramatic lighting and shadows in your pictures. Otherwise, Na Pali is backlit for most of the day during the winter months.
In the summer, it’s a bit 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’re watching the weather forecast in anticipation, don’t worry about a little bit of rain or wind. Those usually won’t affect the tours, and sometimes they make nice rainbows and waterfalls.
Waipo’o Falls in Waimea Canyon
Green valleys & mountains on the north side of the island
What Does The Flight Cost?
As of 2026, the cost of the 60 minute helicopter tour with Jack Harter is $399 USD per person.
They also have shorter tours at roughly half the price. Those tours don’t visit the Na Pali coast, so you won’t see quite as much, but they still pass some great scenery at Waialeale and the waterfalls in the heart of Kauai.
Either way, their tours are certainly worth what they charge! Where else can you get views like this?
If you’re interested in booking, you can check the current prices and other terms on their website here.
Not all of Waimea Canyon is barren
Is The Helicopter Safe?
I’m normally a little nervous about helicopters, but Jack Harter has a great safety record spanning more than 60 years.
They’ve flown these routes tens of thousands of times, and they know them very well.
If the weather isn’t good enough for flying, they’ll reschedule your tour for a better day. Safety is the top priority.
Sure, it’s a little scary when you first lift off the ground and the doors are wide open, but you’re firmly secured with a seatbelt and harness.
Having the doors off makes the whole experience more immersive. You almost forget you’re in a helicopter, and it feels like you’re just flying through Kauai without any barriers.
Jack Harter also has tours with the doors on if you prefer that, but trust me: it’s more fun with them off, and it’s much better for taking photos.
One of the takeoff zones at the airport in Lihue
Coral walls at Tunnels Beach
Other Tips For The Flight
- No Loose Items. For open door flights, they don’t allow loose things like hats, bags, or flip flops. Phones and cameras need to have a strap, but they can provide this if you don’t have one. You can read more in their FAQ here.
- Camera Settings. Shutter speeds of at least 1/1000 sec are best to avoid motion blur or propellers in the frame.
- Lens Type. A wide angle lens is generally best for this, because you’ll be flying at close range alongside huge cliffs and canyons. I used a 10-24mm lens on my Fuji X-T5 camera, and most of my pictures were taken at the shortest focal length.
This was a bucket list experience
More Kauai Travel Guides
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this review of my doors-off flight with Jack Harter Helicopters.
Don’t forget to check out my other travel guides for Hawaii before you go!
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