There are lots of options for heli rides in Kauai, ranging from plush interiors with AC and noise canceling headphones, to deeply discounted, crowded rides, but my personal recommendation is to find a company that offers a doors off option (there are two options as of winter 2015/16). Not only will this let you get much better photos from above, but there is something pretty exhilarating about flying over an island with nothing but wide open ocean, canyon walls and mountains below you. Bring your wide angle lens on this one as you will get very close to all the sites and want to be able to fit in as much as possible, and shoot on sports mode or action mode of your camera with a high shutter speed to avoid any blur in your images. Lastly, take the latest flight of the day as the afternoon light is best on the Na Pali Coast.

All of the companies leave from Lihue Airport, with a meeting location TBD nearby. Be sure to book in advance to get the company and flight you want. Happy flying!