Bird's-Eye View

Get a glimpse of the big picture on a helicopter tour of Kauai.

- Kristy Alpert

AS THE NORTHERN MOST of the Hawai’ian Islands, Kauai is the middle kid in terms of size, the oldest in terms of age and the poster child for natural beauty in Hawai’i. The island offers rainforests with rushing waterfalls, rivers that cut through stately rock formations and beaches where the sand is as white and soft as powder.

Kauai, often referred to as “The Garden Island,” features dramatic emerald valleys and sharply jagged mountains which set the stage for a number of cinematic moments. Many an opening scene has begun with one of Kauai’s stunning shorelines; the island’s biggest credits include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park and The Descendants.