PRE-FLIGHT: One of my best travel ideas was to add a Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tour of Oahu between our morning arrival from Lanai and our afternoon United flight to Newark. The plan depended on precise timing: our Hawaiian Airlines flight landed in Honolulu at 10:32 a.m., and our United flight departed at 3:10 p.m. The heliport is only about two miles from the airport, so we planned to take an Uber or taxi to check in for the noon tour. The flight returned to the heliport at 1:05 p.m., leaving plenty of time to get back. Everything looked good on paper, and it worked smoothly in practice.
The Uber driver had a little trouble finding the exact drop-off, but the Blue Hawaiian choppers are unmistakable as they take off and land. Check-in included showing government-issued ID, weighing each passenger, and watching a complete safety video. When it was time to board, staff guided us to marked circles on the tarmac, then escorted everyone two-by-two to the helicopter for seating and seatbelt checks. Our group included six passengers and one pilot, Lorne, who introduced himself and reviewed the safety procedures. He pointed out the “comfort bags,” joking that they were there to be used—and that we could keep them if we did. His dry humor set a relaxed, friendly tone for the flight.
IN-FLIGHT: I had the prime seat next to the pilot, which made for unbeatable viewing. Taking off near a busy airport like Honolulu requires skill and calm, and Lorne—an ex-military helicopter pilot—handled it confidently. As we banked away from the airport, the Hawaii Five-O theme music kicked in, a fun and fitting start to the tour. Lorne chatted with the group throughout, asking where we were from, whether we had visited Hawai‘i before, and if this was our first helicopter ride. He narrated the scenery and history as we passed notable sites.
PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
Our route carried us over Honolulu and Waikiki, past the iconic outline of Diamond Head, and along the coral formations of Kaneohe Bay. Lorne pointed out locations used in well-known films, including areas featured in Jurassic Park. We hovered over the cliffs near Nuuanu Rainforest and Sacred Falls, then continued to the North Shore for sweeping aerial views of surf-breaks and coastline. One of the most memorable portions was our flyover of the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor—an impressive and solemn sight—before returning to the heliport near the bustling airport.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
We enjoyed excellent hotels on both Honolulu and Lanai during this trip and had many memorable experiences, but the helicopter tour stood out as a highlight.
This tour is highly recommended for anyone visiting Hawai‘i who wants a unique perspective on the island’s landscapes and history.
BLUE HAWAIIAN HELICOPTERS
bluehawaiian.com