Kauai - Hawaii with Kids - page 375

P.O. Box 819, Waimea, HI 96796 ( & 808/335-6061 ). The park is open daily
year-round. The best time to go is early in the morning, to see the panoramic
view of Kalalau Valley from the lookout at 4,000 feet, before clouds obscure the
valley and peaks.
HELICOPTER RIDES OVER WAIMEA CANYON
& THE NA PALI COAST
Don't leave Kauai without seeing it from a helicopter. It's expensive but worth
the splurge. You can take home memories of the thrilling ride up and over the
Kalalau Valley on Kauai's wild North Shore and into the 5,200-foot vertical tem-
ple of Mount Waialeale, the most sacred place on the island and the wettest spot
on earth. (In some cases, you can even take a video of your ride home.) All
flights leave from Lihue Airport. Even your youngest kids will enjoy this trip.
Allow at least an hour for flying time, plus another hour for check-in and flight
instructions.
Air Kauai Helicopters Since 1988, Chuck DiPiazza has been flying visi-
tors over Kauai without incident. He flies custom-designed, huge-windowed
(37% larger than most helicopter windows), A-STAR helicopters with high-
back leather seats, and has moved the pilot over to the left side of the helicopter
(instead of the usual position on the right), which allows not only a better view,
but more legroom. Another plus: All his helicopters have BOSE Acoustic Noise
Canceling Stereo Headsets, which helps in those noisy birds. If possible, ask for
Captain Chuck; his commentaries are informative and down-to-earth. He wel-
comes questions and loves to show off his multi-CD player, combining the
“right” music with the tour.
3651 Ahukini Rd., Lihue, 96766. & 800/972-4666 or 808/246-4666. www.airkauai.com. 60-min. tour $186
per person.
Jack Harter The pioneer of helicopter flights on Kauai, Jack was the one
who started the sightseeing-via-helicopter trend. On the 60-minute tour, he flies
a four-passenger Bell Jet Ranger Model 204 (with “scenic view” windows), a six-
seater A-star, or a Eurocopter AS350BA A-star. The 90-minute tour (in the Bell
Jet Ranger only) hovers over the sights a bit longer than the 60-minute flight, so
you can get a good look, but we found the shorter tour sufficient.
4231 Ahukini Rd., Lihue. & 888/245-2001 or 808/245-3774. www.helicopters-kauai.com. 60- to 65-min.
tour $199 per person; 90- to 95-min. tour $269 per person. (Book on the Internet and save up to 15%.)
Will Squyres Helicopter Tours The 60-minute flight starts in Lihue and
takes you through Waimea Canyon, along the Na Pali Coast, and over Waialeale
Crater and the two sets of waterfalls that appeared in Fantasy Island. Will's A-
star six-passenger 'copter has side-by-side seats (nobody sits backward and every-
body gets a window seat) and enlarged windows. A veteran pilot, Will has flown
several thousand hours over Kauai since 1984 and knows the island, its ever-
changing weather conditions, and his 'copters.
3222 Kuhio Hwy., Lihue. & 888/245-4354 or 808/245-8881. www.helicopters-hawaii.com. 60-min. Grand
Tour of Kauai $199 per person.
THE COCONUT COAST
Fern Grotto All ages. This is one of Kauai's oldest (“since 1947”) and most
popular tourist attractions. Several times daily, Smith's Motor Boats ( & 808/
821-6892 ) and Waialeale Boat Tours ( & 808/822-4908 ) take 150 people up
and down the river on a 90-minute, 2 1 ⁄ 2 -mile, motorized river trip to a natural