An Oahu helicopter tour lifts off from Honolulu and within minutes has Waikiki beach and Diamond Head below you. Stay up longer and you cross to the green cliffs of the Nuʻuanu Pali, the windward coast with Sacred Falls, and on the longest flight the North Shore.
Every flight on the Oahu hub goes with Rainbow Helicopters from Honolulu, and you choose doors on or doors off at the same price. None of them lands. The five tickets differ in how far around the island you go and what time of day you fly.
Five Oahu helicopter tours, from 20 to 60 minutes
- Waikiki 20-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off), from USD 405 per person. Honolulu Harbor, Ala Moana, Magic Island, Waikiki, Diamond Head and Punchbowl, then Pearl Harbor on the way home. Private is an option on the listing.
- Path to Pali 30-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off), from USD 440 per person. The south shore with Waikiki, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Makapuʻu, then inland to the Nuʻuanu Pali cliffs, and home over Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, seen from the air.
- Oahu 45-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off), from USD 490 per person. The windward side most visitors never see: Sacred Falls, Lanikai Beach, Kaʻaʻawa Valley and Makapuʻu.
- Waikiki Sunset 50-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off), from USD 515 per person. A seasonal evening flight: Diamond Head and the south shore in evening light, Punchbowl, and a finish over Pearl Harbor.
- Oahu 60-Minute Helicopter (Doors On/Off), from USD 540 per person. The full ring: Waikiki and Diamond Head, Makapuʻu, Lanikai, the Koʻolau, Kaʻaʻawa, Sacred Falls, the North Shore with Pipeline and Waimea, Dole Plantation country, and home over Pearl Harbor.
Which Oahu helicopter tour to pick
If you mainly want Waikiki and Diamond Head, the 20-minute flight covers them. Path to Pali adds Hanauma Bay and the Pali cliffs for USD 35 more. The 45-minute flight is the one for the windward coast and Sacred Falls, and the 60-minute flight is the only one that reaches the North Shore.
Doors off costs the same as doors on, but you need suitable clothing, and at dusk it gets cold, so bring a jacket and closed-toe shoes on the sunset flight. Named beaches and falls depend on the weather, and window or open-door seats are not guaranteed.
Before you go
- Where: Rainbow Helicopters is inside the Castle & Cooke Aviation building at Honolulu International Airport, 155 Kapalulu Place, Suite 197, Honolulu, HI 96819. Come in from Lagoon Drive, not the main terminal. Park in the left-hand lot, go through the large glass doors and follow the Rainbow Helicopters signs to the end of the hall.
- Check-in: 60 minutes before your flight. There is no hotel pickup, and the shuttle is not running. Arriving late can shorten or cancel your flight.
- Seats: shared seats are balanced with other passengers, so a single-seat time can move. If they cannot match your time, you get another slot or a refund.
- Weight: give accurate dressed weights when you book. From 260 to 279 lbs a 50% extra-seat fee is charged after booking; from 280 lbs you need a second full seat. Doors off has minimums of 80 lbs (36 kg) in the Robinson R44 and 100 lbs (45 kg) in the Airbus Astar.
- Children and diving: under 24 months can sit on an adult’s lap at no charge; from 24 months they need their own full-fare seat. No scuba diving in the 24 hours before you fly.
- Cancellation: currently free up to 2 days before departure. No-shows and missed check-in can be charged in full. If weather cancels, you are offered another time or a refund.
Torn between the 30-minute and the 45-minute flight? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll help you pick.