Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Helicopter tours › City by the Sea: 20-Minute Helicopter Tour, Doors Off or On
City by the Sea: 20-Minute Helicopter Tour, Doors Off or On
★ #10 of 10 in our list “Helicopter tours” Picked from the 23 helicopter tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
Rainbow Helicopters' City by the Sea flies you over Honolulu toward Pearl Harbor. The 20-minute flight costs from $405 per person in a group of 6. You meet at 155 Kapalulu Place in Honolulu. Departures start daily at 9 a.m. It's the shortest Rainbow route here with a private doors-off choice for city sights and the Waikiki coastline.
Our check
City by the Sea: 20-Minute Helicopter Tour, Doors Off or On at a glance
| Flight | 20 minutes over Honolulu and Pearl Harbor |
| Price | from $405 per person in a group of 6 |
| Doors | Doors off or on, by option |
| Party | Private option for your party, up to six passenger seats |
| Departures | Daily, hourly from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. HST |
| Meeting point | 155 Kapalulu Place, Honolulu, own transport |
| Open-door minimum | 80 lb in the Robinson R44, 100 lb in the Airbus Astar |
| Main trade-off | No guaranteed outside seat even with a private booking |
| Guide languages | English |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Infants go free.
What's included
- Phone Strap
- Parking fees
What's not included
- Gratuities
Options
Which option to book
Your private or shared cabin can have doors on or off. All four options cover the same 20-minute city route.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Doors OFF Private Tour | 8 start times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily |
| Doors OFF Tour | 8 start times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily |
| Doors ON Tour | 8 start times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily |
| Doors On Private Tour | 8 start times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily |
The catch: Passengers below 80 lb in the R44 or 100 lb in the Astar can't fly with the doors off.
Route
How does the day work?
The city flight follows Honolulu's waterfront to Diamond Head before crossing inland past Punchbowl toward Pearl Harbor.
- pass by
1. Honolulu Harbor
Takeoff from Honolulu leads over the harbor and south shore. You remain above the city for this short route.
- pass by
2. Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center and Magic Island pass beside the skyline. The waterfront park is visible from the helicopter.
- pass by
3. Waikiki
Waikiki's beach and offshore boats come into view. You'll follow the coast above the swimmers and surfers.
- pass by
4. Diamond Head
The flight gives you a view into Diamond Head's crater. Hikers may be visible on the ridge below.
- pass by
5. Punchbowl Crater
Punchbowl Crater and its military cemetery lie on the inland passage. The flight then heads toward Pearl Harbor.
- pass by
6. Pearl Harbor
The USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri are the harbor sights. They're viewed from the helicopter without a ground visit.
Your 20-minute route starts and finishes at HNL, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. All sightseeing takes place from the aircraft. You return to the Castle and Cooke Aviation base after the flight.
Pickup and meeting point
- Meeting location: The Castle and Cooke Aviation building at 155 Kapalulu Place is your meeting point. You need your own transport there.
- Arrival allowance: Arrive 45 minutes before your flight. Late arrivals can miss their scheduled flight.
- Parking and voucher: Free parking is in the large lot across the street on the left. Your voucher can be printed or electronic.
- Doors-off clothing: A jacket or sweatshirt and closed-toe shoes are needed for doors off. Long hair requires a tie, and long pants are recommended.
Before you book
- Choose the private option to keep the cabin for your party. It doesn't guarantee an outside seat.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 20-minute private option suits friends who want Honolulu and Pearl Harbor from the air. Your group gets a short city flight. It's a doors-off choice only if every passenger meets the aircraft's minimum weight. The quoted group rate assumes six paying passengers.
Honolulu Helicopter Tours' private half-hour flight suits a smaller party wanting the south shore from $359 per person in a group of 2. For the North Shore circuit, Royal Crown costs from $540 per person in a group of 6.
Who it's not for
- Travelers who need a guaranteed outside seat
- Anyone wanting a North Shore circuit
- Doors-off passengers below 80 lb in the R44 or 100 lb in the Astar
Good to know
Know before you go
A lap infant under 2 can fly in the enclosed version. Children age 2 and older require a full-price seat. Doors off requires at least 80 lb in the R44 or 100 lb in the Astar.
From 250 lb to under 275 lb, a passenger owes a 50% seat surcharge. An extra seat purchase applies at 275 lb and above. Your private booking doesn't exempt anyone from these charges.
Doors off requires a jacket or sweatshirt and closed-toe shoes. Bring a tie to secure long hair, with long pants recommended. Apparently intoxicated passengers can be denied boarding and charged in full.
Arrive 45 minutes before the flight. Your mobile voucher is accepted at Castle and Cooke Aviation. Free parking is in the large lot across the street.
The 20-minute flight time can change with weather and aircraft weight restrictions. Your departure isn't guaranteed to keep the day on a fixed timetable. Keep some space before your next activity.
The reservation can include up to 15 travelers with an adult, without promising everyone the same aircraft. Each passenger's full name and weight must be provided. Rainbow also needs a contact number for your party.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
A small private party with door choice
30 Minutes Private Helicopter Tour in HonoluluHonolulu Helicopter Tours' private south shore flight lasts 30 minutes. You choose doors on or off from $359 per person in a group of 2.
★ 4.9 · 36 reviews · from $359 per person in a group of 2
A full private island circuit
Oahu: 60-Minute Royal Crown Helicopter Tour, Doors Off or OnRoyal Crown reaches the North Shore. Its private doors-on route lasts 60 minutes from $540 per person in a group of 6.
★ 4.8 · 815 reviews · from $540 per person in a group of 6
A shared flight over Waikiki
18 Minutes Shared Helicopter Tour in HonoluluHonolulu Helicopter Tours' shared option takes 18 minutes. Your flight over Waikiki and Diamond Head costs from $269 per person in a group of 2.
★ 4.9 · 40 reviews · from $269 per person in a group of 2
All 10 tours in the list “Helicopter tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- How much is City by the Sea with Rainbow Helicopters?
City by the Sea starts from $405 per person in a group of 6. Shared and private flights are available, with doors on or off. Your hotel transport is separate from the flight booking.
- Does City by the Sea include a Pearl Harbor visit?
The 20-minute route includes an aerial view of Pearl Harbor. You don't enter the visitor center or board the memorial boat. Plan a separate ground visit if you want time at the memorial sites.
- Does City by the Sea offer doors on?
Yes, doors-on options follow the same 20-minute route. Private and shared cabins are both available. Your chosen format decides who shares the cabin, while the door choice decides exposure to the wind.
- Does City by the Sea guarantee an outside seat?
No, a private 20-minute booking still doesn't reserve a position beside an open door. Your party has the cabin together on the private option. That privacy and an outside seat are separate things.
- Does City by the Sea allow cancellation with a refund?
Yes, a full refund applies when you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Inside that window your voluntary cancellation isn't refundable. Check the deadline before changing the rest of your Honolulu plans.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.