Oahu Helicopter Tour: Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor & Waterfalls

See Oahu's Forbidden Waterfalls & Hidden Valleys From the Air

You fly in a modern Airbus EC 130 with individual window seats and two-way headset communication with the pilot, soaring over Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, hidden rainforests, Sacred Falls, and Lanikai Beach. The tour includes all fees and taxes, a certified pilot guide, and aviation-grade noise-cancelling headsets. Arrive an hour early for check-in and safety briefing; the flight itself runs about an hour depending on conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Fly over Diamond Head
• View Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial
• See Honolulu cityscape
• Fly along Waikiki Beach
• Soar over Nu'uanu Valley rainforest cliffs
• Fly along coastline to Sacred Falls
• View Dole Pineapple Plantations
• See Kualoa Ranch and North Shore
• Admire Lanikai Beach and Kailua
• Fly over Kāneʻohe Bay and Heeia Pond

The Experience

Our pilot, Marcus, was checking weight and balance when he asked where we were from, and when someone said "first time in Hawaii," he nodded and said we'd picked the right day for it—winds were calm, visibility was clear. That's the thing about a helicopter tour on Oahu: you're not just getting a ride, you're getting someone who knows exactly which way the light hits the cliffs and when the waterfalls run fullest. The Airbus EC 130 has individual business-class seats with expansive glass windows, so there's no sharing a view or craning your neck around someone else's shoulder. You sit down, they hand you Bose noise-cancelling headsets, and you can hear Marcus point out details as you lift off—the shape of Diamond Head from above looks nothing like it does from Waikiki Beach, and he'll tell you why.

The route covers the parts of Oahu most visitors never see. You fly over the Nu'uanu Valley rainforest first, all green and folded, then along the windward coast where the 1,100-foot Sacred Falls drop straight down a cliff face—it's kapu, forbidden to hike to, so the only way to see it is from the air. Then there's Kāneʻohe Bay with its massive sandbar creating those impossible turquoise colors, Lanikai Beach (consistently ranked best beach in America, though you'll understand why the second you see it from above), and Kualoa Ranch, the 4,000-acre private reserve where they've filmed everything from Jurassic Park to Lost. The North Shore unfolds with its reef formations and the famous surf breaks, and then you swing back over Honolulu to see Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the Battleship Missouri from directly above—a perspective that changes how you understand what happened there.

Check-in is an hour before your departure time, which sounds like a lot until you realize they're doing a safety briefing, a weight check (they need it for aircraft balance), and getting you seated and settled so the helicopter leaves exactly on time. Late arrivals don't get accepted, so you'll want to build in buffer time for traffic getting to the heliport. Tours can shift depending on wind and weather—that's not a flaw, that's how they keep it safe—but on a clear day, you're looking at roughly an hour in the air, seeing the whole island from a vantage point that changes everything about how you understand its geography and scale.

What’s included

• Oahu helicopter tour in an Airbus EC 130.
• individual window seats with expansive glass views.
• Bose Aviation-grade noise-cancelling headsets with 2-way pilot communication.
• certified pilot tour guide.
• all state and local fees and taxes.
• views of Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, Waikiki, Lanikai Beach, Kāneʻohe Bay, Kualoa Ranch, Sacred Falls, and the North Shore.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Oahu

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the entire island's geography and hidden valleys in one flight without arranging multiple ground tours—the helicopter covers rainforests, waterfalls, and coastline that are unreachable by car, and the individual window seats mean you're not competing for the view.

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Top questions

What's included in the tour price?

Oahu helicopter tour in the Airbus EC 130, use of Bose noise-cancelling headsets with 2-way communication to the pilot, all state and local fees and taxes, and a certified pilot tour guide. Video and photo packages are optional and available for purchase at the heliport.

How long is the flight?

The tour runs approximately one hour in the air. You'll need to arrive one hour before departure for check-in, safety briefing, and seating.

What can't I bring on the helicopter?

Hats, bags, large cameras, and extending selfie sticks are not permitted. Wear dark-colored clothing to avoid reflections in photos. You can bring a credit card for optional purchases at the heliport.

Is the tour accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes. The heliport, helicopter, and all areas are wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair lift is available at the base to assist with boarding.

What happens if I'm late for check-in?

Late arrivals may not be accepted, and the booking is non-refundable. Allow extra travel time to account for traffic delays to the heliport.

Can I bring my infant on the tour?

Yes. Children 23 months and younger are complimentary and must sit on an adult's lap during the flight.

Are there weight restrictions?

Guests weighing over 240 pounds (108 kg) require an adjacent empty seat for aircraft balance. The second seat costs half the regular tour price and must be arranged after booking.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours may be rescheduled or times adjusted according to wind and weather conditions. The operator prioritizes safety over schedule.