Planning a Hawaiian vacation? Make sure to include a helicopter flight to your list of things to do. Only from the air will you be able to thoroughly see and experience such things as fiery volcanoes, plunging waterfalls, sheer sea cliffs, spouting whales, and lush rainforests. And you’ll do it in less than 60 minutes.

Sound too good to be true? Here’s a short list of island helicopter tours that break the hour mark:

Kauai – Includes Poipu (southern coast), Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, North Shore, and Wailua Falls. (Estimated time: 55 minutes)

Maui – Haleakala Crater, Manawainui, Oheo Gulch (Seven Pools), and the Hana Rainforest Preserve. (Estimated time: 50 minutes)

Hawaii – Kilauea volcano (continuously erupting since 1983), lava flows, black-sand beaches, tropical rain forests, and cascading waterfalls. (Estimated time: 50 minutes)

Oahu – Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, coral gardens, Pearl Harbor, and the Dole Pineapple Plantations. (Estimated time: 45 minutes)

Each major Hawaiian island is packed with natural wonders. It would take you weeks to see it all by foot, car, bike, and kayak to explore it all. By helicopter, you’ve “been there, done that” it the time it takes to mow the lawn. No other form of sightseeing can match this.

Picking the tour that’s right for you depends on the island you visit. For instance, most operators offer one standard tour on Kaua’i, Oahu, and Molokai, with plenty of opportunities to customize it (be prepared to pay more). It’s Maui and Hawaii where you need to do your research as each islands boasts a number of tours that focus on a specific area.

Flying in a helicopter is safe. Hawaii is part of the United States and is subject to the air-safety guidelines, regulations, and inspections followed on the Mainland. In addition, helicopter tourism is a booming industry in Hawaii and has allowed many operators to build some of the newest and most hi-tech fleets in the world.

Purchasing a helicopter trip is not as expensive as you think. The cost of a 50-minute tour is about $160 at the time of this writing. Prices increase the longer you are in the air and the more area you cover. The best way to save money and get the best deal is to book your trip online. It’s not secret that visitors just like you have saved up to 35% by using the Internet.

There are plenty of tours and attractions clamoring for attention in Hawaii. Most are a great value. However, none come close to delivering the type of all-encompassing experience that a Hawaiian helicopter tour does. Take one, and you’ll return home with a real understanding of the Aloha spirit.

Travel writer Mandy Metzger lists her favorite island heli tours at http://www.hawaiianhelicopters.net