There’s plenty of beautiful sites to see around the Hawaiian Islands with lush jungles, tropical coastlines, world-class beaches, majestic mountain ranges, and stunning waterfalls. One of the most thrilling ways to see the unique landscapes of the islands is from a bird’s eye view on a helicopter ride. You’ll witness famous landmarks by air as well as the hidden landscapes tucked away in valleys and rugged mountain ranges. Here at Discover Hawaii Tours, we decided sightseeing in a helicopter is so amazing that we had to offer it as one of our tours. I recently had the pleasure to experience a ride around Oahu with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

Sacred Falls

My Experience

It was a beautiful day to take flight with minimal clouds in the sky. Anticipation set in as we strapped into our seats and put our head sets on. The pilot introduced himself as Kimo, an island local whose helicopter experience goes back to the Vietnam War. We had a short briefing on using our headsets then took off east towards Honolulu. The first thing I noticed was how surprisingly smooth the flight was as we glided off the coastline with ease. We flew past Waikiki and approached the famous landmark Diamond Head, where Kimo spent a short time hovering over allowing everyone to get panoramic views of the extinct volcanic crater. Continuing east, we ended up at Hanauma Bay, a gorgeous state park with a beautiful beach and a giant multicolored bed of reef. Similar to Diamond Head, I learned from Kimo that the bay was also an extinct volcano crater and formed from lava spewing over the side into the ocean. As we continued onto the east side, we flew by the massive Ko’olau Mountain Range witnessing several hidden valleys away from society. Further north and tucked away in the mountains was Sacred Falls, the largest waterfall on Oahu. This incredible waterfall plummeted over 1000ft down the Ko’olau Mountain Range, falling into a series of tranquil pools that sat on the ledge of the summit. We hovered over with a smooth 360 and felt lucky when we learned the falls is only accessible by air

Arizona Memorial

(trail to to falls closed due to landslides). Next we continued north passing shrimp farms, Polynesian Cultural Center, and Turtle Bay Resort. We looped around  the north shore witnessing massive breaking waves on famous surf spots and down the west mountain range heading south back towards Honolulu. Approaching Pearl Harbor, I got a whole new perspective on the site of the Arizona Memorial. It was a moving experience looking down at the USS Arizona sunken at the bottom of the ocean. Shortly past Pearl Harbor we landed back on the airfield and watched the amazing footage recorded from our flight. The thrill of riding around Oahu ina helicopter was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had in my life.

What We Offer

Discover Hawaii Tours offers a 45-50 minute helicopter tour around Oahu with round-trip transportation from any hotel in Waikiki. We chose to book for Blue Hawaiian for their expert tour pilots, best reviews, outstanding safety record, and high tech touring helicopters. It is the largest helicopter tour company on the islands and #1 recommended by National Geographic. I give touring Oahu in a helicopter two thumbs way up. Seeing the island by air is an awe-inspiring experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Read more: Awesome Helicopter Ride Around Oahu

If you’re staying on Oahu this weekend, then get ready for a fun-filled eventful time. The 17th annual Honolulu Festival is going off all weekend with activities and events being held throughout the city. The festival celebrates the cultural diversity that makes up Hawaii and the rest of the Pacific Rim.

People of the festival hope to promote world peace and cultural understanding to everyone who joins in on the festivity. Live entertainment will be held all weekend for this 3 day extravaganza with musical performances, dance, local cuisine, and traditional art demonstrations. Just about all the events are free to the public, and the festival welcomes everyone to come experience the diverse culture Hawaii has to offer. The festival culminates Sunday with a grand parade through Waikiki and an incredible display of fireworks in the evening.

Main Events for Honolulu Festival:

Saturday, March 12th

Live Musical and Dance Performances, Art Shows
10:00am – 5:00pm
Venue: Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk
FREE

Sunday, March 13th

Live Musical and Dance Performances, Art Shows
10:00am – 3:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, DFS Galleria Waikiki
FREE

Grand Parade
4:30pm
Venue: Waikiki, Kalakaua Avenue
FREE

Nagaoka Fireworks Show
8:30pm
Venue:Waikiki Beach

For information on scheduled events visit the Honolulu Festival’s website

Read more: 2011 Honolulu Festival This Weekend

There has been a lot of action on the Big Island  lately from the world’s most active volcano, Mt Kilauea. In fact the notorious volcano has created so much buzz, it made international news the past few days. Recent eruptions, right on the Volcanoes National Park, have onlookers mesmerized with an amazing show being put on by Pele, goddess of fire. For a 28 year continuously erupting volcano, this is the most action seen in years.

Pu'u'o'o Crater Collapsing

Last Sunday, the massive crater floor of the P’u'u’o'o vent collapsed into the ground resulting in hundreds of small earthquakes around the volcano. The collapse, heard miles away, sounded like a demolition crew exploding a sky scraper. Millions of pounds of rock fell into the Earth and volcanic ash sky rocketed into the air. Shock waves from the earthquakes then caused a fissure to crack open 2 miles away, in a remote area of Volcanoes National Park. Like a water pipe bursting, lava started gushing out of the ground with lava spewing over 65ft in the air. The fountains engulfed nearby forests with a lava lake flooding the surrounding area. Scientists say the area could collapse without warning , forming a new volcanic crater on the summit. The lava flow has been ongoing for the last 2 days, as it’s the biggest eruption from Mt. Kilauea in 14 years.

New Fissure Eruption

The newest volcanic activity has scientists and onlookers amazed at the wonder and beauty produced by Mt. Kilauea. Though the area of eruptions is off-limits to hikers, there’s still plenty of action to see from nearby attractions. The Halema’uma’u Crater lookout is still open where you can see smoke coming from fiery underground magma. At dusk, you can check out where the lava meets the ocean, witnessing the lava glow as the sun starts to set. All of these awe-inspiring attractions can be seen on our Big Island Volcano Tour, along with incredible waterfalls, lava tubes, and much more. It’s an exciting time to visit the Big Island, and witnessing the volcano activity is a must-see attraction.

Read more: New Big Island Volcano Eruptions

The Hawaiian Islands have some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the world. From large sea cliffs, vertical mountain ranges, and amazing coastlines there is just so much to see.

Mark Twain described the islands as, “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” Along with many other famous authors, the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands is admired around the globe.

Throughout the islands there’s a panorama of viewpoints that can easily be seen from public lookout areas.

Here are our 5 favorite scenic lookouts we see on several of our tours.

Waimea Canyon

Located on the island of Kauai, Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon of the Pacific, stretching 10 miles long and 1 mile wide. From a glimpse, it closely resembles the Grand Canyon with dramatic cliff drops and massive carved out valleys. The canyon walls display a long history of flooding rivers and volcanic eruptions that sculpted the 3,500 ft gorge. We enjoy the canyon so much, we made it the theme of our Kauai Tour, the Waimea Eco Adventure Tour.

Insider Tip: Keep your eyes out for the Waimea Canyon Waterfall that flows during the rainy season

Makapu’u Lookout

On the most eastern point of Oahu, Makapu’u lookout offers terrific views of the beautiful windward coastline. The steep cliff drops below you lead to the pristine bay of Makapu’u Beach, where you can get aerial views of body boarders surfing a fierce shore break. Perfect wind conditions offer a premiere ridge soaring site where hang gliders fly above you’re head. Smaller rocky islands hug the coastline that serve as bird sanctuaries. In the winter months, you can see whales leaping out of the ocean all over the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful picturesque Makapu’u Lookout is a stop on several of our Oahu Island Tours.

Insider Tip: Have your camera ready in case whales start surfacing.

Kilauea Iki Crater Overlook

Not too long ago, the mile wide Kilauea Iki Crater was a massive lake of hot lava. In 1959, the largest of eruptions in the area occurred with lava spewing over 400 meters into the air. Today the scenic area is tranquil with dried lava fields and high viewpoints that allow you to see the Big Island coastline from miles away. The Kilauea Iki Crater sits on the Mt Kilauea summit, part of the Volcanoes National Park, and is a highlight on our Big Island Volcano Tour.

Insider Tip: You can see smoke rising in the air from where Mt. Kilauea’s stream of lava meets the ocean off in the distance.

Keanae Lookout

On the world-famous Road to Hana of Maui, the Keanae Lookout gives you fantastic views of the Maui coastline and Keanae Peninsula. Beneath you are taro patch farms making a checkered landscape in the distance. Waves violently crash into the black lava rock coastline with steep sea cliffs and lush tropical foliage. Gaze back and you’ll see the windy coastal road above the sea cliffs that you just rode up on. You can see this magnificent lookout on our own Road to Hana Tour.

Insider Tip: The small structures you see in the distance are old Hawaiian villages on the Keanae Peninsula.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

The Nuuanu Pali, meaning “cool height cliff,” is rich in history and considered the best scenic lookout on Oahu. It was here in 1795, where King Kamehameha defeated the Oahu Army pushing them over the cliff sides, thus resulting in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Today you can stand on the same area of the historical battle while witnessing breath-taking views of Oahu’s east coast. Looking out you’ll see the jagged edged Koolau Mountain Range, lush tropical rainforests, and the pristine Kaneohe Bay. You’ll feel the cool trade winds blowing hard as wind tunnels form around the steep mountain sides. Witnessing the awe-inspiring  Pali Lookout is a great experience and can be seen on several of our island tours on Oahu.

Insider Tip: The trade winds can be chilly at times, so bring something warm in case you get cold.

All these lookouts make up the the incredibly diverse landscape of Hawaii. From steep mountain ranges, volcanic craters, massive canyons, to sparkling blue waters, the scenery around you is amazing. Every island has different landscapes to see that’s unique from the rest of the world. The lookouts, owned by the state, offer fantastic views around the islands, with little to no hiking necessary. Come experience these stunning view points with us and see the natural highlights of the Islands.

Read more: What Are the Best Scenic Lookouts Around the Islands?

The beautiful landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and tropical climate of Hawaii draws millions of visitors to the islands every year making it a world-renowned vacation destination.

But we all know there’s a pretty price to pay for traveling to paradise. As one of the most isolated island chains in the world, airfares can be relatively expensive whether you’re coming from the US mainland or East Asia and beyond.

The remoteness and immense popularity of the islands also adds to food and gas expenses, and can make accommodations pricey as well. But not to worry, there are always deals to find, and we have some insider tips to get you to travel to Hawaii on a budget.

Avoid Peak Season Travel

Fly to Hawaii

You can save hundreds even thousands of dollars on airfare if you avoid the busiest months of travel in Hawaii. Typically the holiday season is the most expensive time from December 15^th to April, especially over Christmas and New Years. Summertime means higher gas prices and more traveling nation-wide, causing a spike in airfare prices from June 15^th to September. Last time I visited the US mainland was last May, and I paid only $500 for a round trip flight from Honolulu to Boston. Not bad for a destination that’s over 5000 miles away from Hawaii. My friends from LA or San Francisco often find flights to here for about $300 round trip during the off-season travel months. These deals can easily be found when searching on any travel site like Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, or Priceline. You can also set up low fare alerts automatically sent to your email as prices drop for your requested dates of travel. Saving is simple, just search multiple travel sites during the off-season months, and you can’t go wrong.

Insider Tip: Check the airline’s direct website for special fares and lower rates.

Avoid Luxury Resorts

Lots of hotels to choose from in Waikiki.

The beach front luxury resorts are nice, but will cost you $200 a night and up. Mid-range hotels are still located blocks from the pristine Hawaiian beaches, and are often under $100 a night. You may not have the best pool, but with the beautiful Hawaiian beaches a short walk away, you don’t need one. Similar to airfare prices, hotels will also drop in price during the off-season months. Also check reviews of the hotels on Tripadviser or Frommer’s to find the best accommodations for the cheapest price.

Insider Tip: Call the hotel directly to check for specials or try to negotiate lower rates.

Where to Eat?

Plate Lunch

Restaurants inside resorts and around the busy tourist districts are typically more expensive. Avoid up-scale restaurants because they will consume your funds in a hurry. Instead, try asking a local where the cheap, but tasty places to eat are around town. The locals working at your hotel would be more than willing to guide you to nice inexpensive restaurants. Also, hotels often carry coupon books that offer up to 50% off on several different restaurants. I like to use the ever popular Groupon website to get the best coupons for restaurants all over the islands.

Insider Tip: For lunch, try the inexpensive local cuisine “plate lunch,” which consists of marinated meat, rice, and side salad.

Remember traveling during the off-season is key for saving the most on your vacation. You’ll still catch the perfect island weather, and also will be blessed with less crowds of people around the islands. Use these three simple travel tips, and Hawaii will turn into a dream you can afford.

Read more: What’s the Best Way to Travel to Hawaii On a Budget?