There are many natural wonders on Kauai. To name a few, there is the folding cliffs of the dramatic Napali Coast, The deeply carved dry canyons of Waimea, the many gorgeous white sand beaches like Hanalei Bay,and last but certainly not least the mist shrouded Waialeale crater. Many people never really get the opportunity to see the Waialeale crater up close because of a number of factors, such as it is towards the center of the island which is largely inaccessible, but also because it rains almost every day of the year and therefore is shrouded in mist. This is one of the best reasons to take a helicopter tour of Kauai so you can get up into the crater and experience the magic of this bizarre place. Safari Helicopters has been taking passengers in the heart of this mysterious dead volcano for many years. One of the first things you will notice as your helicopter pilot approaches Waialeale is the many ribbon like waterfalls cascading from over the top of the crater. Over the years Waialeale Crater has been eroded away by the ceaseless rainfall and it has shaped not one big waterfall but rather many thin but deeply etched rivulets of water. The result is a sort of dark beauty that stands in contrast to much of the rest of Kauai’s tropical wonders.

Another surprising fact of Waialeale Crater is that it is considered the wettest place on earth. That is right! Not just the wettest place on Kauai but the wettest place on earth. Rainfall measurements have been taken at the top of Waialeale Crater for almost a hundred years so the empirical data is there to prove it. Another surprising factoid is that Waialeale Crater is actually not considered a crater at all. What?! Then why is it called a crater and what the heck is a caldera? Well Waialeale Crater looks like a giant volcanic crater with an enormous crack on one side, presumably where the lava flowed out, so hence everyone assumed it was a crater. Not so, as volcanologist have done their research they have found it to be a caldera which is a sort of giant lava upwelling or bubble that cools like a crater. At any rate it sounds better to call it Waialeale Crater instead of Waialeale Caldera.

 Most people only see a small portion of Kauai and never get to the interior wonders of the island, like Waialeale Crater. Safari Helicopter Tours will take you into this incredible spot and if weather permits also take you to the top of the crater. The Waialeale Crater was an important place to the ancient Hawaiians and still has remains of a sacred Heiau. Now today we follow in the footsteps of these early Hawaiians to make the journey up to this Kauai natural wonder. This is reason enough to climb aboard a Safari Helicopter tour and see first-hand this truly unique place in the Hawaiian Islands and indeed, the world.