Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
these guys have been leaders in the Maui helicopter industry since their founding in 1985.
They offer tours on two different types of 6-seat helicopters: the A-Star and the Eco-Star.
The difference is that the Eco-Star provides individual bucket seats, has larger viewing
windows, and can accommodate a greater amount of weight than the A-Star. As you might
expect, flights on the Eco-Star are a little more expensive. Packages run $149/person for
a 30-minute tour of the West Maui Mountains to $440/person for a two hour tour of Maui
and the Big Island (Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park not included). There's also a tour that
touches down at an exclusive landing zone within Ulupalakua Ranch during a stopover of
a full-island tour, offering access to a part of the island you would never visit otherwise.
As with many other operators, DVDs of your experience can be purchased for an addition-
al $25.
The only other tour operator with Eco-Star (referred to as Whisper-Star) helicopters in
their fleet is
Sunshine Helicopters
(1 Kahului Airport Rd., #107, 808/270-3999 or 866/
501-7738,
www.sunshinehelicopters.com
)
, and the seats in the front will cost you more
than those in the back. Prices range from $170/person for a 30-minute West Maui flight
to $350/person for a 55-65 minute West Maui and Moloka'i package. If Mendes Ranch
horseback riding or the Atlantis Submarine are also on your list of activities, you can book
them as a combo package through Sunshine Helicopters and save a little bit on both of the
excursions.
A smaller yet reputable operation is
Air Maui
(1 Kahului Airport Rd, Hangar 110, 808/
877-7005 or 877/238-4942,
www.airmaui.com
)
, a company with prices that are slightly
higher but proudly boasting a perfect safety record. Fees range from $175/person for a
30-minute tour to $307/person for a 60-minute tour of West Maui and Moloka'i (which is
15 minutes longer than the same, albeit cheaper Blue Hawaiian Tour).
If you want to be
that
much closer to the scenery,
Alex Air
(108 Kahului Heliport, 808/
877-4354,
www.helitour.com
,
8am-4pm daily) is the only company that offers flights with
the doors off. That's right: No doors. No window. Just a waterfall or a mountain zipping
past you in real time. Tours with the doors on range from $168/person for a 30-minute
West Maui Mountains tour to $229 for a 50-minute tour of West Maui and Moloka'i.
Doors-off tours cost a little bit more but are well worth it for the added adventure. If you
would rather have a private tour, there are R44 helicopters which can accommodate 1-3
people and range from $450 for a 30-minute tour to $1,200 for a 90-minute East Maui tour
combined with a private beach landing.
