Helicopter Tour Over Kauai: Dangling outside the chopper with no doors!

We took an unforgettable, bucket-list helicopter tour across the gorgeous island of Kauai.

This is not for the fainthearted – Lisa sat in the middle by the pilot, but Bob spent the whole ride hanging off the outside. His GoPro was firmly tethered to his wrist as we were bounced around in pouring rain, then swooped so close to canyon walls that we could practically touch them. The heart-pounding cliffs, rugged mountains framing endless waterfalls, lush greenery, followed by a swing above the turquoise water of the majestic Na Pali Coast, filled us with wonder.

The ride we took was the Doors-Off MD500 Tour, from Jack Harter Heli Tours. The cost was $400 apiece plus tax and a tip for a one-hour flight across the island with our capable and knowledgeable pilot Chris. It was worth every penny for the ride of a lifetime!

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Jack Harter Helicopters
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Snorkeling–and Napping–with Turtles in Hawaii

We were fortunate to experience sea turtles, on land and under the sea, in both Kauai and Maui. How magical!

On Kauai, we discovered that green sea turtles, called “honu,” nap on the sand on Poipu Beach on the south coast every afternoon. At sunset, scores of them haul themselves up onto the beach to spend the night. We saw at least 40 there, though darkness obscured our view. The area is cordoned off to prevent humans from getting too close, and a couple of naturalists informed us about the turtles, which were once endangered and have been upgraded to “threatened” status.

On Maui, there’s a similar beach on the Road to Hana that also attracts sea turtles napping.

And in West Maui, at Black Rock at the north end of Ka’anapali Beach, you can walk into the water in your snorkel gear and spend an afternoon floating while watching sea turtles eat. We also say spotted rays and a huge variety of other fish.

This video is long. The first five minutes are enough to give you an idea of the experience. But if you really want to immerse yourself in the sea with the turtles, watch the whole thing!

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Ka’anapali Beach, Maui
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Poipu Beach, Kauai
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