The video does not specify the total flight duration, but the tour shown covers extensive ground from the West Maui mountains to Haleakala Crater, the Road to Hana, and the eastern coastline.
At a glance
Length
19 min
Channel
TimeFlies Travel Videos
Video from
Mar 2025
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Maui travelers who want to see remote waterfalls, crater views, and volcanic landscapes in a single flight.
What this video answers
How long is the helicopter tour?
Is the helicopter safe?
What if I get motion sickness?
Can you see whales and other wildlife from the helicopter?
Does the tour land on the island?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.
What to Expect on This Maui Helicopter Tour With Blue Hawaiian
This video follows a complete helicopter tour review with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, a scenic flight operator based on Maui. The tour departs from a local airfield and covers the island's major landmarks—from the West Maui mountains and Haleakala Crater to the lush Road to Hana and dramatic coastlines. The pilot narrates throughout, pointing out geological features, cultural sites, and wildlife sightings as the helicopter traces a path over volcanic terrain, waterfalls, and black sand beaches.
This experience suits travelers who want to see Maui's remote valleys, hidden waterfalls, and full scale in a single flight—without driving the winding Road to Hana or hiking to viewpoints. If you're drawn to aerial views, volcanic landscapes, or prefer a faster way to explore the island's eastern and southern coasts, this tour offers that perspective. The video also includes a brief ground stop at a ranch property, so you're not confined to the air the entire time.
Key Moments
Key Sights and Moments During the Flight
Hakala volcano and the West Maui mountains, including views into Wapoo Valley with cascading waterfalls
The summit ridge of Mana Kahala volcano, one of the wettest places on Earth at nearly 6,000 feet and receiving 370 inches of rain annually
Haleakala Crater approach and the Kawo Gap valley system, with the pilot explaining the crater's significance and neighboring valleys
Puka Maui sea arch, a natural hole carved through a lava formation visible from the air near the Road to Hana
Black sand beaches, cinder cone formations, and the Red Sand Beach near Hana, formed by volcanic activity and ground fractures
Native Hawaiian taro and potato farms along the Road to Hana, showing agricultural traditions maintained for centuries
Important Details Before Booking Your Maui Helicopter Flight
Safety briefing: All passengers watch an 8-minute safety video and receive a passenger briefing card before takeoff; the pilot reviews equipment and answers questions
Motion sickness provisions: The helicopter carries "Aloha bags" (emesis bags) with ginger chew to help settle stomachs during bumpy sections; let the pilot know if you feel unwell
Ear pressure: The pilot advises passengers to clear ears by yawning or chewing during descent; report any pain so the pilot can adjust altitude
Ground stop: The tour includes a landing at part of the Al Ulua Ranch, so you'll experience both aerial and terrestrial views
Weather conditions: The video shows rain and rainbows are common, especially on the windward side; this also produces the waterfalls visible from the air
Seasonal highlights: The video was filmed during whale season, and the pilot mentions boats heading to Molokini Crater for snorkeling; timing your trip may reveal different wildlife
Gravel road warning: The pilot notes that some rental car companies warn against driving the Road to Hana due to rough, windy conditions—the helicopter tour avoids this hassle
Common Questions About Blue Hawaiian's Maui Helicopter Tours
How long is the helicopter tour?
The video does not specify the total flight duration, but the tour shown covers extensive ground from the West Maui mountains to Haleakala Crater, the Road to Hana, and the eastern coastline. Most best helicopter tour operators in Hawaii offer tours ranging from 1 to 2.5 hours; contact Blue Hawaiian directly for the exact length of this route.
Is the helicopter safe?
Yes. The video opens with an 8-minute mandatory safety briefing and detailed review of all onboard safety equipment. The pilot is experienced and communicates continuously with air traffic control. All passengers receive a briefing card and can ask questions before departure.
What if I get motion sickness?
The helicopter carries Aloha bags (vomit bags) and ginger chew to help settle your stomach during turbulence. Simply grab a microphone and alert the pilot if you're not feeling well. The pilot can also adjust altitude or flight path if needed. Chewing gum or yawning to clear your ears during descent can also help reduce discomfort.
Can you see whales and other wildlife from the helicopter?
Yes. The video was filmed during whale season and shows whales visible from the air. Molokini Crater is a popular snorkeling destination, and various marine life is present. Wildlife sightings depend on the season and weather, so ask Blue Hawaiian about the best time to book if whale watching or other specific wildlife is important to you.
Does the tour land on the island?
Yes. The tour includes a landing at part of the Al Ulua Ranch, where passengers can explore terrestrial landscapes and see the island's agricultural heritage and volcanic features up close before returning to the air.
This video is genuinely valuable for anyone considering a scenic flight on Maui. The pilot's narration is clear and educational, explaining volcanic geology, native Hawaiian culture, and how to spot key landmarks. You see a realistic, uncut tour from safety briefing through landing, so there are no surprises about what to expect.
What impressed me most was how the pilot weaves together geography and history—explaining why certain valleys exist, how cinder cones form, and which properties have cultural significance—rather than just pointing and saying "look." The variety of views (mountains, crater, waterfalls, beaches, farmland, and even George Harrison's estate) means you're seeing a real cross-section of Maui in one flight. If you're serious about booking a helicopter tour, this will help you decide whether this operator and route are worth it.
Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii
Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.
Welcome to a captivating journey through the skies of Maui! Join us as we embark on an unforgettable helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Valley Isle.
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Maui, the Valley Isle, is a paradise of lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic volcanic landscapes. A helicopter tour offers a unique perspective to explore this stunning island's iconic landmarks like the Road to Hana, Haleakala Crater, and the pristine coastline.
Our adventure begins with a comprehensive safety briefing, ensuring a comfortable and informed experience for all passengers. As we take to the skies, our experienced pilot guides us through the mesmerizing aerial vistas of Maui's geographical marvels.
From the towering Hakala volcano to the bustling Wuku boat harbor and the verdant West Maui mountains, every moment is filled with awe-inspiring scenery.
Our flight path takes us over key landmarks like Eao Valley State Park, Mana Kahala volcano, and the lush Wapoo Valley, adorned with its spectacular waterfalls. We also soar above the vibrant communities of Wuku and Kahului, offering a glimpse into the local culture against a backdrop of natural beauty.
A highlight of our tour is a strategic touchdown at AL ulua Ranch, where we explore the island's terrestrial beauty and rich agricultural tapestry. We navigate along the historic Road to Hana, witnessing the enduring native Hawaiian traditions of taro and potato farming.
The majestic Puka Maui, a striking sea arch, showcases the island's volcanic activity and natural sculpting.
Our journey concludes with a serene glide over black sand beaches and the whispering waterfalls of Kawo Gap, leaving us with a profound appreciation for Maui's ecological diversity and natural beauty. As we descend, the pilot provides guidance on safely disembarking, marking the end of an unforgettable aerial adventure.
Our Maui Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Trip not only reveals the island's diverse landscapes but also offers an intimate view into its cultural and natural heritage, leaving lasting impressions on all who partake.
▶️ 00:00 Exploring Maui From The Skies: Adventures With Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
00:26 Blue Hawaiian Helicopters safety briefing
00:46 Explanation of the "Aloha bag"
01:20 Coordination with air traffic control and starting the flight journey
01:45 Describing key geographical features: Hakala volcano, Wuku boat harbor, and surrounding communities and West Maui mountains
03:07 Highlighting the highest point on the volcano and its significance
03:29 Overview of Launiupoko and nearby valleys
04:04 Insights into nearby islands
04:47 Approaching the shoreline and describing the Halaka volcano and Little beach and, Big beach
06:18 Landing preparation and highlighting the AL ulua Ranch
08:04 Overview of the Big Island of Hawaii and its volcanoes
09:10 Exploration of the large valley known as Kawo Gap
10:03 Advice against driving on certain island parts and features of notable waterfalls and black sand beach
11:03 The unique Red Sand Beach and Hana community
12:47 Final views of large valleys and unique geological features
14:13 Local agriculture and native Hawaiian traditions along the road to Hana
14:55 Showcasing Puka Maui, a notable sea arch
15:48 Guidance on seatbelt removal
15:57 Highlights of our trip with map and still photos
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Video transcript for “Exploring Maui From The Skies: Adventures With Blue Hawaiian Helicopters” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
[Music] [Applause] [Music]
all right so now that uh we've got the video system working I know a few minutes ago you watched an 8 minute safety video that went over all the safety equipment we have on board any of you have any questions over that safety equipment uh if you would like a review in the seatbacks here we have a
passenger briefing card we have one right here also that you can look at underneath those we have what I like to call the Aloha bags and uh this is what an Aloha bag looks like and it's all folded up but if during the flight you're not feeling well because it's a little bumpy please grab in a loha bag
and grab the microphone so you can let me know just say Chris I don't feel well inside of this little tin I've got some ginger chew cuz Ginger will help settle your stomach but if you decide to say aloha to your breakfast we would like it captured in the Aloha bag as opposed to being shared with everybody
else I'm going to be working with air traffic control for the next few minutes and then once we get outside of the airspace we'll start having a nice conversation so you guys ready all all [Music] right all right so as we make our way uh
toward the South right now just to kind of give you an update of where we're at and where we're headed uh on the left this is the hakala volcano which is the largest volcano on the island just to the right we have the wuku boat harbor uh just on the right side and then above the harbor is the communities
of wuku and Kahului and then if you see The Big Valley just up above the town that's called the eow valley and it's a very popular place to visit as they have a really nice State Park in there and uh but that goes into the heart of what we call the West Maui mountains but if you look at this mountain this is actually a
volcano it's not just a mountain and it's called Mana Kahala all right so as we uh make our way up toward this Valley this is called wapoo Valley you can already see uh at the end of the valley there are some waterfalls flowing and uh we should see a number of waterfalls today as we fly
around the [Music] island and if you look on the lower right hand side I you can see the parking lot and that's where the entrance is so you can actually go walking or hiking here in this Valley and if you notice right up in front of us this is the highest point on this volcano it's almost 6,000 ft tall and it
is one of the wetest places on Earth as they get about 370 in of rain a year up on the Summits so it's awesome to be able to see the top of this volcano cuz very rarely do we get to come into the back of theow Valley you'll see coming in front of us we have three valleys that come up from the South Side
starting on the far left we have ukam directly in front of us we have Ola wallu and then on the right this is known as lanop Poco and we're going to head into lanop Poco for just a second [Music] [Applause] [Music]
so welcome to monah [Music] Hal this is known as UK H and we're going to follow this Valley offshore now if you look to the right you can see the two islands from where you're staying you typically see uh there at 1:00 that is l
and then if you look further to your right uh you can see the island of mokai which I'll do a little turn [Music] here yeah we're right at the end of wh watching season they come out here all right now as we uh make our way toward
the shoreline that's halaka volcano directly in front of us so you can see how these uh boats are headed out to the crater there on the right yeah so this very small island on the right is called K LA and out of the eight major Hawaiian islands that is the smallest and it's
the only one that's uninhabited oh we got some whale right here too now looking directly in front of us you can see the mo crater and that's a beautiful Crescent shaped uh Island and they head out there in the mornings to go snorkeling and scuba diving in there now if you look right in
front of us we're going to come on Shore here in just a moment but if you notice that hill right on the shoreline that is known as McKenna and if you see how it looks like a tiny little volcano it's actually known as a cinder cone so that is where the grounds cracked open and lava spewed
up out of it and uh then once that eruption ended the hole where the lava came out sealed up and this is what was left behind now just to the right if you see that white sandy beach that's called Little Beach and then the one behind it is called big beach all right so now we're going to head on Shore and we're
going to go up here and make a landing at uh part of the AL ulua Ranch [Applause] [Music]
w [Music] oh [Music] [Applause]
[Music] [Music]
oh all right as we make a turn here we're going to head up to the crater now but if you look off to the right that's the big island of Hawaii so this is the largest of the Hawaiian islands and uh we can actually see four of its five volcanoes and then if you went all the
way to the top of alaka that Flat Top Hill with the building on it that's the observ area that you look into the crater from now as we descend if you know how to clear your ears by yawning or chewing
please do that and if you start have any uh pain in your ears or your sinuses let me know so I can level off and we can CL back up till we get your ears cleared all right now as we look to the left uh we've got our first large Valley that
we're going to cross over on hakala and this is known as cowo Gap and this is a vault uh Valley that does go back up to the crater [Music] so this Valley is known as monavi directly in front of us and now we are getting quite a bit of rain in it right now look at the rainbow yep on the right
side and you can see how it forms almost a complete circle [Music] some of your rental car companies will recommend you not drive on this part of
the island because of how windy and it's a lot of this is a gravel road here now looking up slope you can see we have some really big uh waterfalls uh we can't fly up this area because that's a part of the national park but this is white Boku Falls uh you can see the big parking lot for it right
there on the right yeah you'll notice on this part of the island even as you make a way around to the north side all the beaches that we typically have are black sand beaches and that's because of the black lava rock you know that comes out into the ocean now coming up right along the
shoreline you can see more of these Cinder cones or these Hills and again each one of these is from where the ground cracked open lava speeded out of the top and that's what formed all of these Hills now one of the things that we have that's very unique on Maui but there's the Red Sand Beach
there directly in front of us so this is the town of Hana and you can see there's not much here it is a nice little Community right on the shoreline on the very Eastern end of the island they get a lot of rain here at Hana now passing the Hana Airport have you heard of the English rock band
The Beatles so you know George Harrison uh one of the band members well when he was alive he had a house out here and it's a beautiful ground it's on about 100 Acre property and when George Harrison passed away it did remain in the family and the property's coming up we're going to do a
little S turn offshore but it's a beautiful property with several homes on it so when we go by we usually like to show off his estate and we're getting ready to come on Shore here and this is uh where we're going to see the road to Hana we're going to fly right beside it uh this is about the halfway point on
the road TOA we call this the white LS so here you can see that big waterfall near the shore is called Rock Falls but if you see all these other kind of creek beds coming down we'll do some turns over the top of these all right now if you look to the left you can see these waterfalls we going to
kind of follow some of these up we're getting ready to cross over the last really large Valley uh that's on the side of halaka if we were able to see up to the left it would take us right back up to the crater but we're going to cross over
this COA Valley yeah if you look in this next Valley here this is called Hanam Manu [Music] [Music]
[Music] [Music] [Music]
and we're going to head off shore again and you'll notice we're going to go right over the road to Hana as everybody that lives here our native Hawaiians and if you'll notice uh on the property here they're continue to grow tarot and potato the way that they've been doing for hundreds
of years here so this is known as k i uh it's about the halfway point if you do the road to Hana again looking down at the series of waterfalls on our left side if you look up just a little bit further there are two I like to call them lava fingers sticking out and if you see the second one has a bunch of
trees growing up on the the end we'll look right below the trees and you're going to see a hole come into view and uh this is known as puka Maui and this is a beautiful sea Arch you can start to see through the lava Ro there and we're going to turn towards it [Music]
[Music] [Music] [Applause] you can remove your seat belts now just by spinning that Circle you can go right up to the blue box up front Chris will meet you there okay
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