Aerial Photos

One of my favorite by-products of being able to fly for free is the many chances it gives me to marvel at how beautiful Hawaii is from the air. For people thinking about visiting Oahu, the best views are often from the left side of the aircraft as the prevailing tradewind patterns usually necessitate takeoffs and landings in only one direction.

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Here's the view just a minute or two after takeoff from Honolulu International Airport.
The entire city of Honolulu spreads out below.

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Closer shot of the beautiful coastline.

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A couple minutes later the plane banks to the right to avoid flying directly over famed Waikiki Beach, but the hotel strip remains clearly visible. Below is a shot of the most photographed volcano in the world, Diamond Head, which anchors Waikiki to the east.

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The Koolau Mountains divide Oahu into windward and leeward halves.
Below are three breathtaking views of this dramatic backbone of the island.

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Directly over Makapuu Lighthouse at the eastern tip of the island.

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Skirting the southeastern portion of the island towards Koko Head crater.

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Closer and but more dramatic view of Koko Head.

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Hanauma Bay, one of the island's most famous snorkeling spots.

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A real rare treat: only once in all of my travels to the island of Maui did we fly directly over the West Maui Mountains. Flights usually steer well clear of these mountains because of the violent wind currents they generate. Many of these steep gorges and high valleys have never known the footprints of man.

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At nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, the two massive volcanoes on the Big Island tower way above the cloud line. Mauna Kea fills the foreground in this view while Mauna Loa looms behind.

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Two of Hawaii's major islands are off limits to tourists. Below, the island of Kahoolawe, which for many years was used by the US military for training exercises, is still said to be littered with unexploded bombs.

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The forbidden island of Niihau, privately owned and the only island left in Hawaii
where Hawaiian remains the principal language.