Helicopter Tour of Kauai with Jack Harter Helicopters

• Bring just your camera (with neck strap) and a light jacket (if it's a cool day). You won't be able to bring backpacks, camera bags or anything else onto the helicopter due to safety and weight requirements.
  
  
• Wear comfortable and fairly loose clothing so that you'll be comfortable and can easily turn left and right while strapped in your seat. Wear dark colored clothes. Light colors cause reflections in the windows.
  
  
• Arrive early for your flight. You'll need to check-in, get weighed (yep, they weigh you), and receive your safety briefing. Ask any questions that you have and let them know of any special requests.
  
  
• Relax and enjoy the experience. There is no reason to be tense or worry.
  
  
• If the weather is poor see if you can reschedule your trip for a better day. If conditions are really poor, they won't fly anyway.
  
  
• Bring money to tip your pilot. He's no different that any driver on a tour. He deserves to receive a gratuity.

• Arrive early and ask if you can get a seat next to the window. There are no guarantees that they can accommodate you since they need to balance the load, but if possible, they will.
  
  
• Use a camera with a circular polarizer filter. This will eliminate much of the reflections from the window. A rubber lens hood allows you to place the lens right up against the window.
  
  
• If you're seated in the rear, try to shoot directly out of the back window to your side. Shooting out the front windows guarantees that you'll get glare or reflections in your photos.
  
  
• Take many photos. Many will not turn out due to glare, movement or other unexpected reasons.
  
  
• Use as short a lens as possible. It will be hard to maneuver a long lens between you and the window to your side, Remember, you are strapped in and your ability to move is limited. My 28-80mm zoom lens was a bit too long. Get your lens as close to the window as possible.
  
  

I'd be remiss if I didn't briefly address the issue of safety. It's a question I get several times a year by email. It's a difficult question. Almost all of the helicopter companies operating in Hawaii have had accidents. Jack Harter Helicopters operated for 28 years without an accident, until one of their Bell 206B's crashed on Mt. Waiʻaleʻale in 2003.

Just as with buses, cars, planes and trains, accidents happen. The difference is that when a helicopter or plane crashes it makes front page news. All of the helicopter tour companies in Hawaii are closely monitored for maintenance and safety violations. They all understand the negative impact of one company's accident on all companies.

Personally I'm convinced that the vast majority of helicopter tours in Hawaii are safe. I would not agree to fly in bad weather or with a company that just game me bad vibes. If you're preoccupied with the chances of an accident, don't take a helicopter tour. It will preoccupy you and you won't enjoy the tour. Helicopter tours aren't cheap.

That being said, I had no concerns at all flying with Jack Harter Helicopters. In fact, when I met and spoke with their General Manager, Casey Riemer, several days before my flight, the subject of safety never came up. We talked mostly about the art of taking photos from a moving helicopter.

View our Gallery of 84 Aerial Photos of Kauai.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary tour for the purpose of reviewing Jack Harter Helicopters. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.