Tee.Gee.Eye.EFFFFF.
I don’t know if it’s because of daylight savings or jet lag, but sleep has been a nightmare for me since I got back from Hawaii. Not only am I nowhere near tired by the time my regular bedtime rolls around (jet lag), but I’ve also been waking up before the crack of dawn (noooo idea about this one)… Pretty soon I’ll be needing a coffee IV just to be able to function at the most basic level. But life is good! The sun is shining, the weather is gorgeous [for us… in March], and I get to spend one more day talking about my trip to Hawaii 😀
Sorry to bombard you guys with recaps, but I promise this is the last one… I just had to give this a post of its own because I seriously loved it that much. So what was “it?” A helicopter tour over the entire island…
We saved this for the end of our trip, but it’s something that I really wish we did at the beginning, since seeing the entire island in one go gave us a great idea of the places we might want to visit later. Either way, I’m still glad it happened.
There are several helicopter tours to choose from on Kauai, but we went with Jack Harter Helicopters…
Not only do they have a stellar safety record and great reviews, but they guarantee a full 60-65 minutes in the air, whereas a lot of other companies count loading times, so you only spend around 45 minutes up in the sky.
Jack Harter offers two different flight options — the AStar (a 6 passenger heli with floor-to-ceiling windows), and the Hughes 500 (a 4 passenger heli with no doors). We chose to go with the Hughes 500…
Having no glass separating you from the gorgeous landscape that you’re looking at not only makes it easier to take better pictures, but it also makes for a great rush — which the adrenaline junkie in me loved. It was my first time in a helicopter, and I was smitten.
The tour starts at the Lihue heliport and goes counter-clockwise around the entire island. You see things like Hanapepe Valley, Manawaiopuna Falls, Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali Coast, Hanalei Bay, Mt. Wai’ale’ale, and Wailua Falls.
Seeing the island from the air is probably the best way to experience Kauai because only about the outer 20% of the island is habitable and readily accessible — leaving 80% that you can only get to by air.
There’s honestly no way I can accurately convey how awesome of an experience this was, so I hope you don’t mind if I sit this one out and let the pictures do the talking…
And that wraps up the recaps of Spoons in Hawaii 2014. Despite the rain, roosters, and rashes, it was still an amazing trip and I would go back in a heartbeat. For now, though, I need to catch up on some sleep… either that or look into that coffee IV. Happy Friday, friends! Stay safe if you’re celebrating this weekend!
Have you ever been in a helicopter? Would you go on one?
Are you an adrenaline junkie?
What’s your favourite part of visiting some place new? The food? The culture? Outdoorsy stuff?
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Ohhhhh.Emmmm.Geeeeeee. Amazing!!!! I’ve never been on a helicopter but definitely on my list of things to do! Gorgeous photos!
Amazing pictures! I did a helicopter tour in Maui once and it was great. I would love to go to Kauai some time.
Wow! These photos are beautiful. I can’t get over the rainbow shot. I’ve never been in a helicopter and I don’t know that I ever will. I’m a nervous flyer! I’m glad you had such an amazing trip!
I guess what was one good thing about the rain — wouldn’t have seen the rainbows otherwise 😀
The one thing I wish I had done on my Hawaii trip that I didn’t was go on a helicopter – I’ve never been on one! I used to be so terrified but now I’m an adrenaline junkie so I would be totally into it. Your photos look like a travel website for Hawaii!!
Your trip looks AMAZING! What good photos! My dad is helicopter pilot but I haven’t actually ever been in one (weird). I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, but I could handle a helicopter ride 🙂
My favorite part of someplace new is just new experiences that I wouldn’t be able to get at home. That can be anything from food to people to landscapes. I love it all!
Your pictures are breath taking !! Everything looks so beautiful from that high up ! I have always wanted to go to Hawaii but its a REALLY LONG flight!!
Those pictures are incredible! Let me know if you get any info on that coffee IV. I’m willing to be a test patient. Haha. Glad you had fun on your trip!!
So pretty!
Wow, the Earth is beautiful. But when I see this I realize, we live in such an ugly World.
These pictures are Amazing!! Now I want to go to Hawaii again even more, I can’t believe those views.
It’s. So. Fucking. Beautifully.
I never was on Hawaii so I like your posts about it 😉 I think, it is impossible to call me the adrenalinic addict. The truth that I don’t jump at all from towers in the pool 😀 But I think that by helicopter I wouldn’t refuse flight.
WOW! You captured some fabulous shots!
Hope you have an amazing time on your trip! 😀
I am a major adrenaline junkie. If I were given the opportunity to do ANYTHING (sky diving, cliff jumping, etc.), I would do it in a heartbeat! These pictures are absolutely BREATHTAKING. Gorgeous. I’m definitely one who likes to look for the native “foods” and coffees, but I love to really experience the culture’s city life too! I love to people watch, so it’s even better in a different country!
OH. MY. GOSH.
That is amazing. Wow. What an awesome experience!
Those pictures are gorgeous! I really want to go to Hawaii at some point for vacation.
GORGEOUS! I bet you had the most amazing time! Boo to jet lag, I had that when I got back from Maui. It sucked!
Rest up and happy weekend! Miss you love!
I’d absolutely love to go on a heli tour! I’ve always wanted to do a Hawaiian tour but it’s so expensive. I hope you get some sleep soon, friend. Maybe you need some fresh rocky mountain air – from Canmore. You can come visit me anytime!! 🙂
…. hate you. But still love you.
Oh wow–amazing photos!! I’ve always wanted to take a helicopter tour like that…hopefully someday! And how cool that you were able to see a rainbow? Beautiful.
I can not get enough of these beautiful pics lady!! Stunning.
I never did a helicopter flight, but I would love to. I am just scared that I get sick – the older I get the easier I get sick! And yes, I am an adrenaline junkie. I did everything from bungee to skydiving and all.
I hope you will get some good sleep this weekend lady – you know I feel you right now!! 🙂
Those pictures don’t even look real! I am so jealous of your trip!
These views are honestly some of the most amazing I have ever seen. I am so inspired by such beautiful scenery because it evokes such a spiritual connection for me and reminds me of all the beauty in this life.
Oh girl I know EXACTLY what you mean — it literally brought tears to my eyes.
Oh my gosh those pictures are unbelievable! I love the idea of a helicopter ride. It’s such a great idea to see the whole island!!
i’ve never been in a helicopter, but it’s definitely on my list of things to do at some point in my life. You got some incredibly photos! I’m an adrenaline junkie to certain degree – I love roller coasters, I want to do a Tough Mudder sometime, love zip lining, that kinda thing….but I think I’d have issues with things like bungee-jumping or skydiving. So I like adrenaline, but I have a limit.
I don’t know what I like most about visiting new places…probably the culture/history. Whenever I do an all-inclusive resort or whatever, I can only do a few days poolside before I get antsy and need to explore. I can’t wait until Eric and I actually vacation together, because he’s a huge history buff so he’d be as interested in exploring as I am.
Wow. Absolutely beautiful views. I would like to go in a helicopter because you get to see things you would never be able to access by road, but they scare me.
gorgeoussss.what a way to visit Hawaii.
Incredible views and photos! I’ve never been on a helicopter ride but would love to do it one day. We were going to take a helicopter ride when we were in Kauai, but we ended up choosing zip lining instead (which was also amazing!).
We wanted to do that too! I have no idea why it didn’t end up happening 😯
What a great way to explore the island. I would have probably peed my pants with the open doors, but then your pictures where totally worth it. I got goosebumps scrolling through them and cannot imagine how amazing this must have been to see with your own eyes!
Jee willikers! This is incredible LCP (I’m sorry I had to 😉 . Once at least!) But seriously..you’re right. The pictures convoy the beauty that words cannot. And it must have been thrilling in a helicopter! I haven’t been in one of those machines yet.
I’m all about the outdoorsy stuff on my travels..hiking = <3. And visiting the malls of course!
Get some sleep girl!
You’re straight up crazy for doing the one with no glass…although your pictures turned out way better than mine! Pretty much the coolest experience of my life though. Once in a lifetime my guess! Gahhhh take me back. I am SO jealous!
Gorgeous! Nice handiwork God. Hawaii is my number one American destination choice. Thanks for sharing these photos.
I’ve never been in a helicopter but I have been in a very small private plane. When I was twelve I stayed at the house of a friend from summer camp. We went to the Washington coast for a few days and her father flew me back while the rest of her family stayed at the cabin. This was a teeny, tiny plane and most of my previous travel experience consisted of long drives packed tightly in our spitfire orange station wagon. (Oh yeah, I know you’re all jealous!) As we took off, her father asked me if I was nervous. “A little,” I replied. “Oh don’t worry,” he said, “if you die, you die.” This man was a doctor. Obviously, I did not die but I remain unimpressed by his bedside manner.
It’s tough to select my favorite thing about visiting new places. If I had to name one I suppose it would be learning through exploration. I am fascinated by people and the way they interact with their environment. I love seeing how the culture, both physical and social, influence feelings and behavior. That being said, British Columbia, Canada and about 45 minutes in Tijuana are the extent of my foreign travels so I have much yet to see.
Hope your weekend is swell (Gah! I sound as though I’m a member of the Brady Bunch.) I’m with you on the sleep. So tired but not the least bit sleepy. I tried taking melatonin but experienced abdominal discomfort. I’d rather be tired. I figure I’ll get to sleep one of these days…or nights.
Is it strange that I kind of like his bedside manner? 😆 I guess maybe because it’s the way I think about life, although I usually try not to let it slip out…
WOW!! This helicopter ride sounds like an absolutely amazing experience. The scenery is just breathtaking! I bet it really takes your breath away! GORGEOUS!
WOW. Honestly that’s all I can say about those pictures. So beautiful. I’m fully convinced I need to go there if I wasn’t already. I am not an adrenaline junkie… I like thrills but I have my limits. Like, I would go in that helicopter but I would choose the one that has windows (afraid of heights!). My parents once took a helicopter over Niagara Falls… they said it was a crazy idea.
I’m a huge adrenaline junkie! And this looks like so much fun!! I thought that I would never go back to Hawaii, you know since I’ve already been there (although that was 13 years ago) and that I would just want to travel to new places. But nope, after seeing those pictures, I know I need to go back. It’s been way too long. And it’s way to beautiful to not go back!
Gorgeous pics my dear! Simply stunning.. makes me want to book a trip ASAP. I flew in a helicopter through the glaciers in Alaska a few years ago. It was ammmmmazing.. and at the end we got dropped off on top of one of the glaciers to go dog sledding and play with husky puppies. best. trip. ever.
OMG! That sounds amazing! Alaska is on my travel bucket list, and I’m definitely going to look into those things you mentioned when I do end up going.
Those photos are absolutely stunning. I bet it was absolutely magical 🙂
I went in a helicopter on my 21st birthday. My Dad took me to New York for the best birthday treat ever – was pretty epic! I got to sit up front with the Pilot 🙂
Best part of seeing a new place is all the things you have mentioned. Food (goes without saying ;), culture and seeing the beautiful outdoors. Getting back into nature while we can – love it!
Please don’t start a coffee IV after me saying I need to limit my cups – I will get jealous….Hawaii looks gorgeous but I will admit I am afraid of those helicopters.
Absolutely stunning photos! I love all the tropical greenery there – can’t wait to get to Hawaii again. Truly a paradise 🙂
I’ve been in a Helicopter once, isn’t it an awesome experience?!?!?!! It is sooo sweet you were in air for 60 minutes, my ride was 10 mins lol! Such a fun experience though. Your pictures are soooo amazing, you have some beautiful shots and I love the picture with the rainbow!
Have a great weekend, sleep tight!
I have never been in a helicopter and only flew twice. Flying terrifies me. I have already had flying nightmares in anticipation of our Hawaii trip this summer. I loved reading your helicopter re cap. We are going a tour of The Big Island. I am no an adrenaline junkie and I’m just going to have to get over my fear so we can have this once in a lifetime experience. I used to love rollercoasters but even those scare me now! Don’t apologize for recapping Hawaii. I was looking forward to hearing all about it!
That’s so awesome that you’re facing your fear! You’re going to love Hawaii, girl! It’s definitely worth it 😀 I want to visit The Big Island at some point because that’s where all the volcano action is!
WOWWWWWW!!!!
Sorry that this is your final recap – I don’t think I could get tired of looking at pictures like these!!!
Simply GORGEOUS! I love love love the outdoorsy stuff – walking around (or flying around) sightseeing – I could do it ALL day – so these pictures are like manna for me!
I have not been in a helicopter yet – but would LOVE to! Specially with scenery like this! WOW!