The ultimate reason in my return to Oahu is to visit a friend of mine whom I’ve known for several
years. She’s getting sent off to Iraq in a few more weeks and I thought I would swing through
and do a ton of catch up and hanging out before she deploys. However, there is a ton of down time between the time she
is at work and home which provides me with some extra time for exploring. With that in mind I’ll spare you of
every grueling heartfelt moment and keep to the highlights of the day.
After my body figured out which time zone I was in and my limbs decided they wanted to function, I prepared myself
to do something I had never done before – a helicopter tour. My mind had been set on doing one for quite awhile. I had
never been in a helicopter, but imagined seeing the island in one would be a lot like the view you get from a plane
except closer. Before booking with the first company I came across (I tend to be an impulse buyer), I did a little
shopping around to find the best package covering the points on the island that interested me most, which is how
Makani Kai made my selected tour provider. Incredible on all counts and far
from being a let down, I couldn’t have made a better choice. The staff was friendly, extremely safe and the views
spectacular.
Tours can range anywhere from 15 minutes to a full hour making
different stops along the island and custom helicopter rides can also be made if your heart feels the need to fly over
Maui, Kona or any of the other islands. The Pali Makani tour ended up being the best fit for my needs and sites I
wanted to capture around Oahu. Thirty minutes in the air allows you to see many of Honolulu’s historic sites such
as Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl, and National Cemetery of the Pacific. In addition to Waikiki’s beautiful coastline the
southern and eastern end are both covered in the aerial tour. Sites include Diamond Head, Hunauma Bay, Makapuu
Point, Gold Coast and Sea Life Park. If you’re a Magnum P.I. fan you’ll want to pay close attention when your pilot
points out the estate where it was filmed. Wasn’t exactly a fav show of mine, but the tour is amazing. Highly
recommended if you’re ready to see the island from a closer view while in-flight.