The ultimate reason in my return to Oahu is to visit a friend of mine whom I've known for several  years. She's getting sent off to Iraq in a few more weeks and I thought I would swing through and do a ton of catch up and hanging out before she deploys. However, there is a ton of down time between the time she is at work and home which provides me with some extra time for exploring. With that in mind I'll spare you of every grueling heartfelt moment and keep to the highlights of the day.

After my body figured out which time zone I was in and my limbs decided they wanted to function, I prepared myself to do something I had never done before - a helicopter tour. My mind had been set on doing one for quite awhile. I had never been in a helicopter, but imagined seeing the island in one would be a lot like the view you get from a plane except closer. Before booking with the first company I came across (I tend to be an impulse buyer), I did a little shopping around to find the best package covering the points on the island that interested me most, which is how Makani Kai made my selected tour provider. Incredible on all counts and far from being a let down, I couldn't have made a better choice. The staff was friendly, extremely safe and the views spectacular.

Tours can range anywhere from 15 minutes to a full hour making different stops along the island and custom helicopter rides can also be made if your heart feels the need to fly over Maui, Kona or any of the other islands. The Pali Makani tour ended up being the best fit for my needs and sites I wanted to capture around Oahu. Thirty minutes in the air allows you to see many of Honolulu's historic sites such as Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl, and National Cemetery of the Pacific. In addition to Waikiki's beautiful coastline the southern and eastern end are both covered in the aerial tour. Sites include Diamond Head, Hunauma Bay, Makapuu Point, Gold Coast and Sea Life Park. If you're a Magnum P.I. fan you'll want to pay close attention when your pilot points out the estate where it was filmed. Wasn't exactly a fav show of mine, but the tour is amazing. Highly recommended if you're ready to see the island from a closer view while in-flight.

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