Private Air Tour Maui: Fly 3 Islands with Hands on the Yoke

You take the yoke and fly the plane across three islands.

A private air tour of Maui seats up to five in a metal cabin with panoramic windows, flying over Molokini Crater, Honolua Bay, Kaʻanapali Beach, lava fields and a restricted island with World War II history. The pilot guides you through the route in English or Spanish, and you can take control of the aircraft during the flight. The tour runs 60 minutes and includes headsets, live commentary, bottled water and soda.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private Maui Air Tour Highlights

• Board private plane
• Fly over Kahului Harbor
• Soar above Waihee valley cliffs
• View Nakalele Blowhole from above
• Overfly Honolua Bay
• See Kapalua coral reefs
• Fly over Kaʻanapali Beach
• Spot famous two-finger rock formation
• Marvel at Lahaina town
• View aquamarine coral reefs
• Enjoy aerial view of Molokini Crater
• See forbidden island and WWII craters
• Fly over Makena State Park
• View Maui lava fields and flows
• See La Perouse Bay lava textures
• Overfly Wailea Beach resorts
• Fly along Kihei coast and beaches
• Final magic carpet ride over Maui valley

The experience

Sixty minutes aloft in a metal plane with non-tinted windows means you see the entire west and south coast of Maui without tint or glare. The cabin holds up to five people, so your group flies together in one aircraft instead of splitting across shared tours. You sit in a private space, and the pilot, your guide for the route, shares the history and geography as you pass over each landmark.

The flight path takes you over Kahului Harbor and the Waihee cliffs where Maui's warriors once proved their bravery, then north to Honolua Bay and Kapalua's coral reefs. From there you cross to a restricted island few people ever see from the air, where World War II bombing craters scar the landscape. The pilot will tell you the story. You then head south over Molokini Crater (the turquoise water and coral visible from above), and follow the lava fields of La Perouse Bay, where the rock flowed from the earth roughly 300 years ago. The route ends over Wailea and Kihei's beaches and the Maui Valley itself.

You can place your hands on the yoke and fly the plane. The aircraft is stable and responsive, and the pilot remains in control of the flight path and safety. You experience what it feels like to pilot an aircraft without the responsibility. Headsets let you hear the guide clearly over the engine noise. Bottled water and soda are on board. The tour departs from a local airfield, and parking is included.

What’s included

• Headsets for clear communication with the pilot.
• live commentary in English or Spanish.
• bottled water and soda.
• fuel surcharge, landing fees and parking all covered in the price.

Information

Lasts 1h, runs every day, 7 start times, from US$ 380 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 90

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by MAUI PLANE RIDES

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your group wants to fly together without splitting across shared aircraft, and if you want the chance to take the controls yourself. The private cabin and the option to pilot the plane are what set this apart from group air tours on Maui.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I actually fly the plane myself on this tour?

Yes. You can place your hands on the yoke and experience piloting the aircraft during the flight. The pilot remains in command of the aircraft and handles takeoff, landing and all safety decisions, but you get to feel what it is like to control the plane in the air.

What islands and landmarks do I see on the 60-minute flight?

The route covers the west and south coasts of Maui, including Honolua Bay, Kapalua, Kaʻanapali Beach, Molokini Crater, the lava fields of La Perouse Bay, and Wailea. You also fly close to a restricted island with World War II history that most visitors never see from above.

How many people fit in the plane?

The private cabin seats up to five passengers, so your entire group flies together in one aircraft. You get the intimate space without sharing the plane with strangers.

Is the pilot also the guide who explains what we're seeing?

Yes. The pilot provides live commentary throughout the flight in English or Spanish, explaining the landmarks, history and geography as you fly over each site. You hear everything clearly through headsets.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the 60-minute flight, headsets, live commentary from the pilot, bottled water, soda, fuel surcharge, landing and facility fees, and parking. Gratuities are not included.