The 5 Best Hawaii Airplane Tours
The Hawaiian Islands are special and have a lot to offer visitors from the ground and from the air! There is much more to the islands than what you can reach by car or foot, so getting up in the air offers spectacular views and unmatched access.
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Activity Overview
Helicopter tours are extremely popular in Hawaii, but there are several reasons you may want to opt for a small airplane instead. Whether you’re traveling with little ones or just prefer sticking to more familiar territory while flying, a Hawaii airplane tour could be just what you’re looking for.
Want to skip right to the best Hawaii airplane Tours?
Kauai: Wings Over Kauai’s shared or private tour comes highly recommended by our newsletter readers
Oahu: Hit the skies with flight instructors at Lani Lea Sky Tours
Maui: Check out Maui Plane Rides for a 3-island or 5-island private tour with the option to fly!
Hawaii Airplane Tours FAQ
Which Hawaiian Island is Best for Airplane Tours?
While all of the islands offer spectacular sights from the air, Kauai has the most dramatic airplane views. Because so much of the island is inaccessible by car, you’ll get to see up close some beautiful spots you’d have difficulty seeing otherwise, like parts of Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coast, and Wai’ale’ale Crater.
But if you can’t make it to Kauai, all of the islands offer something a little different in terms of tours, which we cover in our island-by-island review of the best airplane tours below.
Still deciding which island to visit? We have some great articles for you:
Which Hawaiian Island Should I Visit?
Maui vs Kauai, Maui vs Big Island, Maui vs Oahu
Kauai vs Big Island, Kauai vs Oahu
Oahu vs Big Island
How Much Does an Airplane Tour Cost in Hawaii?
Airplane tours start at $145 per person and are a more affordable option compared to helicopter tours, which start at $245 for a 45-minute tour.
Are Hawaii Airplane Tours Worth It?
While it is an expensive activity, it’s one people enthusiastically recommend. While it’s not quite as thrilling as a doors-off helicopter tour, it has much better odds of getting rave reviews for the price point than a luau.
But that’s not to say it’s all positive from airplane tour attendees. Hawaii doesn’t have a great track record with air tour safety (don’t worry, the ones that made our list have excellent safety records). There are some other common complaints that you should take into consideration before booking.
Common drawbacks of airplane tours revolve around cancellations due to weather or minimum seat bookings not being met.
So whether it’s a worthwhile experience for you comes down to whether you pick a great tour (our list can help with that) and your expectations around cancellations.
Looking for more tour options? Check out our Activities Database.
Tips for Picking the Best Hawaii Airplane Tour
Using the criteria below in our research, we selected what we believe are the best airplane tours on each island. These were our criteria, which you may want to consider when picking the right tour for you.
- Safety records include no crashes or injuries: we know past performance can’t predict future performance, but some tour operators that we don’t recommend have safety records we don’t feel comfortable with. Do your research to ensure you feel comfortable with the safety track record of the airplane tour you are booking.
- Good value for the price: An airplane tour is expensive, so we looked for ones that had something to add value. Things like having excellent visibility from all seats or a private charter experience.
- Best tour experience: the flights offered are beautiful parts of the island to explore, and the seating is comfortable
The Best Hawaii Airplane Tours
When we decided to recommend airplane tours, our first criterion was safety. We researched airplane company safety records, FAA fines and penalty records, and FAA certification.
The Best Kauai Airplane Tours
Flying over Kauai, you can look forward to views of the NaPali Coast, Jurassic Falls, Waimea Canyon, Mt. Wai’ale’ale, Hanalei Bay, and more. Kauai’s weather can prove challenging, so try to leave some flexibility in your trip to move your tour if needed.
Wings Over Kauai
Wings Over Kauai is a family-run company that began offering tours in 2004. They grew over the years through word-of-mouth and have since perfected their flight path to offer the ultimate Kauai flying experience.
Tours
- AirVan: Book a shared or private tour for up to 6 passengers. This tour takes the same flight path as the Cessna.
- Cessna (Private): The tour on their small Cessna plane is always private! Two seats must be booked, even if you’re flying solo. This plane can accommodate up to two adults and one child, and children under 2 fly free!
Why we like them
In addition to their excellent safety record, we’ve had newsletter subscribers recommend Wings Over Kauai based on their own great experiences. Plus, there are no middle seats, so everyone gets a great view from the window!
Departure Location: Lihue Airport (LIH)
Price: $149-$169 per person + fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees
Length: 65 minutes
Air Tours Kauai
Air Tours Kauai offers one airplane tour of the island and they partner with other tour companies to offer combo tours. They also offer skydiving which we haven’t found with any other airplane operator.
See the entire island with their 60-70 minute flight for up to 6 passengers. Call (808) 335-5859 to book.
Why we like them
They leave from Port Allen Airport. It’s just a small aircraft airport where there are no commercial flights, so you don’t have to worry about waiting for the runway.
Departure Location: Port Allen Airport (PAK)
Price: $99-$150+ per person + fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees
Length: 60-70 minute tour
AirVentures
AirVentures also goes back to 2004 and pride themselves on having an eco-friendly focus. They operate AirVans and offer shared or private flights.
AirVentures operates one standard-route shared tour and private tours that go anywhere you want around the island. They also run flash sales if there are still flights available within a few days, so if you’re trying to plan an air tour last minute, they may have a good deal for you!
Tours
The Big Kahuna: This is their standard-route 65-minute shared tour.
Private Tours: Their private tours require at least two booked seats. They are also 65 minutes long and will take you wherever you’d like around the island.
Why we like them
AirVentures offers excellent value to begin with, and it gets better. They run flash sales if there are still flights available within a few days. We wouldn’t advise waiting to book, but if you’re trying to plan an air tour last minute, they may have a great deal for you!
They also have top-tier pilots. The founder quite literally wrote the handbook on Weight Shift Controlled Aviation and has been flying since he was a teen.
Departure Location: Lihue Airport (LIH)
Price: $145-$229 per person + fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees
Length: 65 minutes
Check out more things to see in our Kauai Travel Guide.
The Best Airplane Tours on Oahu
There’s just one company on Oahu that meets our safety and recommendation criteria.
Lani Lea Sky Tours
Lani Lea Sky Tours is a tour company and a flight school, so you’re likely to have a pilot who is also a flight instructor. Call (808) 839-6000 to book a tour.
Tours
Hanauma Bay Route: 30-minute flight that takes you over Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Hanauma Bay before returning to the airport.
Ko Olina/Pearl Harbor Route: 45-minute flight that heads north of Pearl Harbor and makes its way to Ko Olina.
Circle Island Route: 60-minute flight to see all of Oahu, all the way up to the famous North Shore.
Why we like them
We like the idea of flight instructors piloting passenger tours as they consistently review the basics, which emphasizes safety. They also provide a variety of routes, which is not the case with our other recommendations.
Departure Location: Honolulu Airport (HNL)
Price: $250 per person for their 60 min flight + fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees
Length: 30-60 minutes
Check out more things to see in our Oahu Travel Guide.
The Best Airplane Tours on Maui
There is also only one company on Maui that meets our safety and recommendation criteria. You can look forward to seeing the tallest sea cliffs in the world, views of Molokai and Lanai, and the Nakalele Blowhole to name a few.
Maui Plane Rides
Maui Plane Rides offers U-Fly tours that allow you to take over the yoke if you’d like to try your hand at flying. Their tours are private, which is great for such a pricey experience. Both tours can be customized to your liking!
Tours
3-Island Tours: See 3 different islands from the sky on this 60-minute tour of Maui.
5-Island Tours: This tour adds 2 islands and up to an extra half our to the 3-island tour.
Why we like them
Guests cannot speak highly enough about the experience, and we love that all of their tours are private. It’s definitely a splurge but it is a great option for a special occasion.
Departure location: Kahului Airport (OGG)
Price: $420+ per person, including fuel surcharges
Length: 60 minutes
Check out more things to see in our Maui Travel Guide.
The Best Airplane Tours on the Big Island
We haven’t found a Big Island airplane tour that meets our safety and enjoyment criteria. We’re still searching and will update this article if we find one. But we have plenty of other Big Island tours and activities that we love and recommend!
Check out more things to see in our full Big Island guide.
Find the Best Tours and Activities
While a helicopter tour might be on your bucket list, we have even more activities and tours to make your vacation as memorable as possible. From sailing to snorkeling to full island tours, you can check out all of our best recommendations in our Tours & Activities section.
We break it down by island and give you a full review of the experience. Plus, for some of them, we even share videos of our experiences, so you can see firsthand what to expect and book with confidence.
