Maui & Molokai helicopter tour with Ulupalakua Ranch landing

Land on a remote ranch between two oceans after flying Maui's hidden cliffs and Molokai's sea walls.

A 90-minute helicopter tour of Maui and Molokai that includes an exclusive landing at Ulupalakua Ranch, where you spend 20 minutes taking in pastoral views and ocean vistas. The flight covers West Maui's rainforests and waterfalls, crosses the channel to see Molokai's world's tallest sea cliffs, and returns along the resort coastlines of Kapalua and Kaanapali. A State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guide pilots the aircraft and communicates with you throughout via two-way headsets; Bose noise-cancelling headsets and all fees and taxes are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour over Maui and Molokai

• Tour West Maui valleys and rainforests
• Learn history of Maui's mountain ranges
• View Iao Valley State Monument
• See highest peak of West Maui Mountains
• Fly over Molokai's sea cliffs
• Admire Ka'anapali coastline resorts
• Enjoy views of Kapalua beaches and golf courses
• Land at Ulupalakua Ranch for scenery

The Experience

If you have a free afternoon on Maui and want to see the island from the air without spending a full day, this tour fits a 90-minute window. You'll arrive at the heliport 45 minutes before departure for a safety briefing and weight check-in, then board a helicopter with a pilot who is also a certified tour guide. The flight starts over West Maui's valleys, rainforests and waterfalls—the geography that earned Maui the name "The Valley Isle"—and you'll see Iao Valley State Monument's towering emerald peaks guarding the lush valley floor below.

The helicopter crosses the channel to Molokai, where the world's tallest sea cliffs rise from the ocean and most sights are only visible from the air. You'll follow the west coast back toward Maui, watching the landscape shift as you pass over Kapalua and Kaanapali's resort areas and their golden beaches. Throughout the flight, you communicate with the pilot through two-way headsets, so you can ask about what you're seeing and hear the history and geography explained in real time.

Before returning to the heliport, the helicopter lands at Ulupalakua Ranch, a remote location on the slopes of Mt. Haleakala. You'll have 20 minutes on the ground to walk around the pastoral setting and take in the sweeping views of what locals call "both oceans"—the vistas that make this landing exclusive to this tour. The exact sights depend on weather, and you'll need to wear dark clothing so it doesn't reflect in the helicopter windows during the flight.

What’s included

• Helicopter flight with a State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guide pilot.
• two-way headset communication with the pilot.
• Bose Aviation-grade noise-cancelling headsets.
• exclusive landing at Ulupalakua Ranch with 20 minutes on the ground.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Maui

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon and want to see both Maui and Molokai from the air without committing a full day; the 90-minute flight and exclusive ranch landing fit a short window and show you sights only visible from above. Arrive 45 minutes early for check-in, and plan for dark clothing so it doesn't reflect in the helicopter windows during the flight.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the views on the Molokai side and the Maui side of this flight?

Molokai features the world's tallest sea cliffs and landscapes that can only be seen from the air, while the return route over Maui shows the resort coastlines of Kapalua and Kaanapali with their golden beaches and the West Maui Mountains from a different angle, so you see how dramatically the landscape changes across the channel.

How much time do I actually spend on the ground at Ulupalakua Ranch?

You have 20 minutes at the exclusive landing site to walk around, take photos and enjoy the pastoral views and ocean vistas before the helicopter returns to the heliport.

Will I be able to hear the pilot and ask questions during the flight?

Yes, you'll use two-way headsets with electronic noise-cancelling to communicate with the pilot throughout the tour; the pilot is a State of Hawaii Certified Tour Guide, so you can ask about what you're seeing as you fly.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

Tour sights vary depending on weather conditions, so the specific route and views may change, but the flight will operate as long as it is safe to do so; check-in is 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Can I bring a camera or phone to take photos?

You can bring a phone or small camera, but large cameras and extending selfie sticks are not allowed in the helicopter; video and photo packages are available for purchase at the heliport after your flight.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Maui for the first time?

Yes, the tour covers major landmarks and geography across both islands—Iao Valley, the West Maui Mountains, Molokai's sea cliffs, and the resort areas—so you'll see the diversity of the islands in a single flight; the pilot guide explains the history and landscape as you go.