Makani Kai Helicopters

Specialties

Touring by helicopter is the only way to see many of Oahu’s natural attractions. Our jet turbine helicopters offer passengers superb comfort, first-​class audio, exceptional DVD recording and, most important, outstanding views of the lush scenery of Hawaii.

See Pearl Harbor and the bookends of WWII, the Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri; the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, Aloha Tower and Marketplace, and historic Honolulu Harbor pass beneath in a wave of color. Get a bird’s eye view of Punchbowl, the National Cemetery of the Pacific, as well as Waikiki, Diamond Head and the splendor of Hanauma Bay.

There’s more. How about a dramatic perspective on world renowned surfing spots such as Sunset Beach, Pipeline andWaimea Bay? Or an aerial view of infamous Kolekole Pass, where Japanese warplanes sped on their way to attack Pearl Harbor?

Our pilots are the most experienced flying in the skies today, with average time in the cockpit of over 15 years.

We fly seven days a week and offer you convenient, free shuttle service to and from your Waikiki hotel. Three tours are available as well as combo packages with Atlantis Adventures. Combine your helicopter tour with an ocean adventure, such as a sunset dinner cruise or a submarine dive off Waikiki, and save up to $ 50 per couple.

History

Established in 1987.

Makani Kai Helicopters and Makani Kai Air

Makani Kai Helicopters, founded in 1987, is Oahu’s oldest, largest and best helicopter tour company. The firm started with a single Hughes 500 helicopter and quickly became known for its personalized service and scrupulous attention to safety.

Owner Richard Schuman purchased the firm in 1995 and upgraded the equipment to the Eurocopter AS350 A-​Star, considered the standard of the air tour industry. The sleek jet turbine aircraft offers unparalleled views from its extra large windows, and coddles passengers with Bose CD quality sound, air conditioning and a multi-​camera Hi-​def vDVD recording system. A second A-​Star was added to the fleet in 2003 and an MD-​500 helicopter was added in 2013.

The company now operates four fixed-​wing aircraft in addition to the helicopters, offering regularly scheduled inter-​island service between Oahu, Molokai and Maui.

Meet the Business Owner

Richard S.

Business Owner

Richard’s family has been in the transportation business in Hawaii for more than a hundred years. His great grandfather, Gustav Adolf, emigrated from Germany and began making carriage wheels in Hawaii and founded Schuman Carriage Company in 1893. Richard began flying helicopters in 1992 and, four years later, he bought Makani Kai. A believer in kaizen, the Japanese principal of continuous improvement, Richard upgraded aircraft from the old Bell JetRanger to the modern Eurocopter A-​Stars, moved operations to a more spacious facility, and put the company through the certification process for International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations. Makani Kai is the first such aircraft operator in the country to received that distinction.