Path to Pali Passage
30 minute Oahu helicopter tour from Honolulu. Fly over Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, and deep into the Nu’uanu Pali cliffs. A dramatic Honolulu helicopter tour with inland route through Oahu’s lush Ko’olau Mountains.
Departure: Oahu, Honolulu
*required Weight and Balance (WB) fee when
guest is over 250 lb./113 kg
*required Weight and Balance (WB) fee for each
guest over 250 lb./113 kg
Path to Pali Passage
$440
per person | 30 minutes
Discover Oahu on Rainbow Helicopters’ “Path to Pali Passage” tour. Soar above the legendary Nuʻuanu Pali corridor and experience the towering Koʻolau Mountains, lush windward valleys, and dramatic coastal cliffs from a breathtaking aerial perspective. This scenic helicopter tour showcases some of Hawaii’s most iconic natural landscapes while revealing remote areas rarely seen from the ground. Fly past the jagged ridges of Mt. Olomana, the historic Nuʻuanu Pali cliffs, Diamond Head, and the famous Waikiki coastline. Along the way, admire white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, lush rainforests, and Oahu’s dramatic mountain ridges. Your flight concludes with panoramic views of Pearl Harbor and the world-famous USS Arizona Memorial..
Experience Oahu’s dramatic Koʻolau cliffs and Nuʻuanu Pali from above
Experience towering mountain ridges, lush windward valleys, and sweeping coastal scenery as you fly through one of Oahu’s most dramatic aerial corridors. Perfect for photographers and first-time visitors alike, the Path to Pali Passage offers unforgettable views of Nuʻuanu Pali, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and Oahu’s iconic windward coastline.
- Take an exciting helicopter tour of Oahu with doors on or off (no extra charge)
- See some of Hawaii’s most iconic sights from above
- Fly over Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Makapu’u Lighthouse, and Waikiki Beaches
- Choose a convenient departure time
Honolulu Harbor
Aloha Tower
Waikiki Beaches
Diamond Head
Maunalua Bay
Hanauma Bay
Makapu’u Lighthouse
Lanikai Beach
Ko’olau Mountains
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout
Pearl Harbor
USS Arizona Memorial
Everything you could want to see on Oahu from a helicopter tour is even more breathtaking with a view from above. The Path to Pali Passage is not just a regular helicopter tour. It’s a Diamond Head Crater tour, a Maunalua Bay helicopter tour, a USS Arizona Memorial helicopter tour – and more – all rolled into an unforgettable Oahu helicopter adventure. This Nu’uanu Pali Lookout tour is one of Oahu’s top 5 traveller rated tours.
Soaring among the green peaks of the Nu’uanu Valley, it can be hard to imagine that these incredible mountains were born from fire. Your Oahu helicopter tour experience begins over the island’s South Shore, starting the Waikiki and Diamond Head helicopter tour part of the flight – for a chance to see the familiar Waikiki skyline and Diamond Head crater as you’ve never seen them before. This adventure is an Oahu excursion you’ll never forget.
You continue on to Hanauma Bay’s beautiful sheltered Hawaiian blue waters and the nearby cliffs and volcanic outcroppings – beautiful remnants of the island’s fiery volcanic past.
Rounding Makapu’u Point, you follow the Windward Coast, and a view of the windward side will reveal and its long stretches of white sand beaches and turquoise waters as they lead you towards the gorgeous mountains beyond. You turn inland to see the three sharp peaks of famous Mt. Olomana, characteristic of its english translation, “divided hill.”
Floating inbound, you experience an absolutely breathtaking expanse as you fly the passage among the Nu’uanu Pali cliffs and lush rainforests that cover their slopes. The flight ends with a helicopter tour over Pearl Harbor where you can see the site of the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri. Enjoy the volcanic origins that created Oahu’s diverse terrain and take in the majestic bliss felt by gliding along the landscape in this unforgettable Nu’uanu Pali Lookout helicopter tour of Oahu.
- Helicopter tour around Oahu
- Live guided tour with commentary
- Straps and cases for cell phones
- Parking Fees
Your tour begins at Honolulu International Airport’s south ramp, where you’ll board your helicopter. As you ascend into the skies, you’ll glide over Oahu’s South Shore, treating yourself to captivating vistas of the iconic Diamond Head crater and the Honolulu skyline.
Your journey continues over Hanauma Bay, where you’ll catch glimpses of the vibrant coral reefs below. Zooming over volcanic cliffs and ancient formations, you’ll be immersed in the island’s natural wonders. The flight takes a graceful turn above Makapu’u Point, tracing an aerial path that reveals the beauty of the island’s pristine white sand beaches.
Venturing further inland, the flight will lead you past the trio of peaks comprising Mt. Olomana, then guiding you through the dramatic Nu’uanu Pali cliffs. Continuing on, you’ll fly over the historic Pearl Harbor site, including a poignant pass above the USS Arizona Memorial, a site of great significance.
After an exhilarating experience of soaring above the island’s splendor, the helicopter will smoothly circle back to Honolulu International Airport, bringing your journey to a satisfying conclusion.
For answers to commonly asked questions visit our FAQ
Q: What will I see during the Path to Pali Passage helicopter tour?
The Path to Pali Passage helicopter tour showcases many of Oahu’s most iconic sights from above, including Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Makapuʻu Lighthouse, Lanikai Beach, the Koʻolau Mountains, Nuʻuanu Pali cliffs, Pearl Harbor, and the USS Arizona Memorial. This scenic Oahu helicopter tour combines breathtaking coastline views with lush volcanic landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery.
Q: What makes the Nuʻuanu Pali helicopter tour unique?
Flying through the Nuʻuanu Pali corridor offers some of the most dramatic aerial scenery on Oahu. Guests experience towering Koʻolau cliffs, deep green valleys, hidden waterfalls, and panoramic windward coastline views that are difficult to access from the ground. The Path to Pali Passage route is one of the most scenic helicopter experiences in Hawaii.
Q: Is the Path to Pali Passage tour good for first-time visitors to Oahu?
Yes. The Path to Pali Passage is one of the best Oahu helicopter tours for first-time visitors because it covers many of the island’s most famous landmarks in a single flight. Guests enjoy aerial views of Waikiki, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Pearl Harbor, and Oahu’s lush windward coast during a compact but unforgettable helicopter adventure.
Q: Does this Oahu helicopter tour fly over Diamond Head and Waikiki?
Absolutely. Your helicopter flight begins above Honolulu’s South Shore with incredible aerial views of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head crater, Honolulu Harbor, and surrounding coastline before continuing along Oahu’s eastern shoreline and mountain ranges.
Q: Can I choose doors-on or doors-off for the Path to Pali Passage helicopter tour?
Yes. Guests may choose either a doors-on or doors-off helicopter experience depending on their comfort level and photography preferences. Doors-off helicopter tours provide unobstructed panoramic views and are especially popular for aerial photography of Oahu’s cliffs, coastlines, and waterfalls.
Q: Is the Path to Pali Passage helicopter ride good for photography?
Yes. This helicopter tour is extremely popular with photographers because it features dramatic mountain ridges, turquoise coastline views, coral reefs, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes throughout the flight. Doors-off flights allow for especially clear aerial photography opportunities over Oahu.
Q: How long is the Path to Pali Passage helicopter tour?
The Path to Pali Passage is approximately a 30-minute helicopter tour departing from Honolulu Airport (HNL). Despite its shorter duration, the route covers many of Oahu’s most iconic landmarks and scenic regions.
Q: Will I see Pearl Harbor during the helicopter flight?
Yes. The tour concludes with sweeping aerial views of Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the surrounding historic landmarks before returning to Honolulu Airport.
Q: What should I wear for a Hawaii helicopter ride?
Dress comfortably for Hawaii weather. For doors-off helicopter tours, jackets or sweatshirts are recommended because temperatures and wind conditions are cooler during flight. Closed-toe shoes are also required for doors-off experiences, and guests with long hair should bring a hair tie.
Q: Is this helicopter tour suitable for families and groups?
Yes. The Path to Pali Passage helicopter tour is popular with couples, families, solo travelers, and groups looking for a unique way to experience Oahu. Private charter upgrades may also be available for guests seeking a more exclusive experience.
+ Private tour
Book the entire aircraft as a personal helicopter for your group. Perfect for special occasions and celebrations.
+ Doors on / off
FREE Doors on or off on your helicopter. Take great pictures! Experience unobstructed views and sights with an open cabin.
+ Flight video & photo packages
Get a shareable digital video of your in-flight experience, available in multiple formats, add fun photos of your experience on the ground and in the air. Customize at checkout.
+ In-flight photographer
Bring aboard a world class photographer to capture every magical detail of your adventure from start to finish.
+ Booking protection
Cancel or reschedule your flight for ANY REASON up to 24 hours prior to scheduled flight for a full refund or no reschedule fees.
Contact our reservations center at (808) 492-8706 to request the change. Coverage excludes Booking Protection Plan Fee. Reschedule and / or canceling one time only. Standard Policies apply to additional rescheduling / cancelations.
ALEXANDER • 2026
Reviews ( 68+ )
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30 minute Oahu helicopter tour from Honolulu. Fly over Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial, and deep into the Nu'uanu Pali cliffs. A dramatic Honolulu helicopter tour with inland route through Oahu's lush Ko'olau Mountains.
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Vanessa –
Super smooth ride! Our pilot did an excellent job pointing out sites and making sure we were able to take awesome pictures. For the major attractions, he circled the helicopter to ensure both sides could get a clear view. If you’re on the island for a short period of time, you can pack in quite a bit of sightseeing in a short flight. Highly recommended – would definitely fly with Novictor again next time I’m in Oahu!
Wei –
We had an amazing time in the air with Nicole and Bastian — highly experienced pilots who were very thoughtful and made sure our entire party felt at ease, including our two older parents. We flew the Path to Pali with doors off, and the sights were absolutely gorgeous — totally worth it! Thank you for flying us and giving us a spectacular ride — we will visit again!
Willis –
Had an awesome time, definitely something that should be checked off on the list of the many things to do in Hawaii. Our Pilot, Bastian was great and informative! Thanks for the amazing ride, will recommend!
Nichole Morgan –
My husband and I had a wonderful overall experience. Bastian was our pilot and offered a safe, exciting and informative ride. My only downside is that I couldn’t hear any audio with my headset (thus the minus 1 star), but my husband used text to share back the information that Bastian was highlighting. We had an extended trip, with doors off and front seat views, which was breathtaking. Strong customer service all around. Thanks again Rainbow team for all of your support.
Lauran Thomson –
This was a first for me and I was very anxious. The whole ground crew was wonderful and put me at ease right away. Andrew was our pilot and did a fantastic job handling the aircraft and pointing out the sites. It was such an incredible experience, I will truly never forget it. I recommend this to anyone thinking about it, was the highlight of my trip here! Thanks all for a fantastic time!!
Rachel D –
I experienced the Door off experience and it did not disappoint. It’s for the fearless and the views was worth the fear that I had. Definitely do it again
Aurora C –
My friend and I took the ride on a semi cloudy day and it was amazing!! No turbulence and great views! Our pilot’s name was Joey and he was so kind! Highly recommended
Dreamer –
My husband and I booked a 30 minute flight around the South end of Honolulu and loved the experience which exceeded our expectations. Our pilot Joe was very informative and the flight was very comfortable. We choose doors off and I highly recommend it. No jacket was required and our hair/clothes did not blow all over the place. The views were amazing between the pristine shore coastline to the green mountains. We even had a small shower which brought a beautiful rainbow we were able to capture in our photos. We also got a great aerial view of Pearl Harbor. The couple we are traveling with also had a great experience. This was our first time doing a helicopter ride and we cannot wait to do it again.
Catherine M –
Best Experience! Cat was our pilot, we had a 5pm tour and I paid for 30 minutes but because I commented on the sunsets beauty she was kind enough to fly around for 25 minutes more , the experience my sister and I had was life changing.
Antonio P –
View from atop is incredibly awesome. Once in a lifetime experience. A tour that covers it all. Definitely a must activity that makes your visit worthwhile. Magnificent scenery of the Island.
Faraway –
Rainbow Helicopters are the best, service is great. It was Breathtaking Experience for us, the Island looks amazing from above.
Andreea O –
Amazing views. Definitely felt extremely safe in the helicopter with the doors off. I opted for the 30 minute tour thinking we would be scared enough for that amount of time however I definitely wish we booked a longer tour! Would go back a million times over.
Shawn W –
Awesome Time, Great Tour Guide and Amazing Views! DOORS OFF!!
Lunelly –
Had an amazing experience. Booked last minute for my family of 5(adults). since we couldn’t fit in one helicopter they split us, three in one and 2 in the other. We did doors off and it was a great experience. The individuals that sat in the back seat thought the wind hitting them was too much. Probably won’t do doors off again in the future just so the experience is calmer and quite.
The staff we encounter were all sweet and friendly. The pilots we had were great too. They pointed out places as were flying and were willing to answer questions.
Queenie Luong –
Excellent helicopter ride. Pilot Sarah is so professional and skillful flying while touring us in the sky. Loved every minute of it. Thanks
uleene –
The view and tour was amazing!
It was such a great experience.
Christine ortega –
The whole family had a blast. I will do this again
Denise C. –
Best experience of our whole Hawaii trip! Our pilot Sarah gave us a great tour from start to finish – would definitely recommend to anyone traveling to Oahu.
Chris adcock –
Definitely a must do.
Angel –
It was Amazing and a fun time. Would highly recommend
Nathan Ose –
Excellent views, our pilot was very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend the doors off tour. The highlight of our trip.
Hazel E. –
It was our first doors off helicopter ride and it was so awesome! We really enjoyed the tour plus Nicole our pilot was so cool. Great experience! Certainly one for the books! Will do it again.
Tomara N –
Ok absolutely NO regrets about trying the doors off flight. We were first timers and it was so cool! The views cannot be beat. Gorgeous the whole time. Super experience!! Mountain View’s were my favorite part. The way the clouds kissed the mountains was spectacular. I’m certainly never going to forget this 🙂
Becky Harrington –
Breathtaking views, awesome pilots, and an overall great experience!