*This story was originally published on Nov. 8, 2023, and was updated in November 2025. While traveling in the winter anywhere else in the world may subject visitors to colder weather, snow and darker days, Hawaiʻi sees tropical weather and perfectly sunny weather even in December and January. Sure, it may rain a bit […]
It’s well known that the Hawaiian Islands are dotted with exciting activities and adventures, and seeing these breathtaking islands from high above has always topped my list of can’t-miss experiences. And now that I’ve done it, what can I say? My helicopter adventure took me over the legendary Nāpali Coast, which stretches along the remote
We’re half a mile off Maui’s northern coastline when Nick Moran says the magic words: “My hands aren’t on the controls. You’re flying all by yourself.” I glance to my left, where Moran is seated in the pilot’s chair of the helicopter, and his hands are completely removed from the cyclic, which helps to control
A crackle comes through the two-way headset snug over my ears. “Have you been on a helicopter before?” our pilot, Keith, asks me. “This is my first time,” I say. “How about that,” he answers. “Me, too!” Keith, of course, is joking. He’s a skilled pilot, trained and certified, with Paradise Helicopters. A locally owned
