Aerial Photographs of Oahu, Hawai'i - (horizontal format)

After finishing her work on DreamWorks "Shark Tale", my daughter, Rhiannon, and her husband, Michael, flew to Hawai'i to celebrate Shark Tale 'Brunch on the Beach" at Waikiki, on September 26, 2004.

During the festivities, Rhiannon couldn't help but hear the tour helicopters flying over Waikiki, decided a helicopter tour was a great way to see the Island of Oahu, and booked a four-seater helicopter tour so she, her husband, and I, would each have a window view.

When we arrived at the airport, the tour company changed the flight to a six-seater helicopter to accommodate another couple. That couple were given the front seats, I was assigned the left rear window seat, my daughter the middle seat, and her husband, the right rear window seat. Both rear windows were filthy, making it impossible to take photos, so the photos on this and the following page were taken by shooting through the left front seat window, but that was not always possible because the front seat passenger decided that window made a perfect arm rest, so, for most of the trip, all I could see was the reflection of his arm and wrist watch in the window. That was more than my daughter got to see; her one-hour tour consisted of looking at the back of my head, the back of her husband's head, or seeing the back of the pilot's head, or those of the two passengers in the front seat!

Based on our experience, if you can't book the front seats, don't go, and if you intend to take photos, make certain the windows are clean before you take off!

Helicopter flight patterns all head to Waikiki, so the best position for taking photos is from the left-side front seat. On the one-hour tour, the passenger in the left front seat will see all the sights until the North Shore, after which other passengers will finally be able to see land! Mostly fallow sugar cane fields, pineapple fields, the Dole Pineapple Fields Maze, and Navy war ships and memorials at Pearl Harbor, then its back to looking at the ocean until the helicopter land at the airport.

Young people seem to be quite deaf, but elderly folks should keep in mind that helicopters are VERY noisy, so it is pointless turning on your camera's microphone, as it will only record the roar of the engine, rotors, etc.

Hopefully, the photos on this and the Vertical page will help you decide whether an helicopter tour of Oahu is worth the money to you!

View from Honolulu Harbor to Point Panic, Magic Island, and Diamond Head	The distinctive Rainbow Tower locates the Hawaiian Hilton Village complex in Waikiki

Waikiki East, where a statute honoring the "father of surfing", Duke Kahanamoku, marks the spot where most tourists get their feet wet surfing. Stretching into the ocean at the lower right corner is "Kapahulu Groin" where children - and adults - test their knowledge and courage by leaping off the wall into the surf. The shady area marks Honolulu Zoo, a welcome retreat for beach goers!

The most recognized landmark in the world Diamond Head	The interior of Diamond Head Crater looks inviting, but it is an hot, steep climb best accomplished in EARLY morning hours!

Henry J's vision of "Venice in Hawai'i" outlasted his vision of an automobile!	Hanauma Bay, a snorkeller's Paradise!

Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay & Koko Crater are all extinct volcano craters. The interior of Koko Crater is now a Botonical Garden, famous for its fragrant plumeria orchard.	Are you surprised to see that Sea Life Park forms the shape of a fish?

Among the "Best Beaches" of Dr. Beach is this one leading to Kaneohe Marine Base.	Oahu's world-famous North Shore famous for wicked waves and TV stars