Maui Plants and Animals, 2022 FRIDAY, September 1, 2022 2:41:00 AM2:41:00 AM Maui is home to some unique and interesting plants and animals. Since Hawaii is one of the most isolated places in the world, there are some plants and animals that can only be found here. Maui also contains many different biomes, from desert, to rainforest, to aquatic. This is especially amazing when you consider its small size, only 727 square miles! If you have a chance to view Maui from the air, you will be astounded by the diversity and beauty of the island. Below is some more information on some of Maui’s different plants and animals. Native Animals There are only two mammals that are native to Maui, the monk seal and the Hawaiian hoary bat. Both are endangered. Currently there are 44 species of birds that are found only in Hawaii (there used to be 142, but 95 are extinct). 33 of these birds are endangered. The Maui parrotbill is a species that is only found in Maui, on the windward side of Haleakala. The Nene goose, Hawaii’s state bird, is another endangered species that has one of its larger populations in Maui. Hawaii also has many unique fish, in fact, more than 20% of Hawaiian reef fish cannot be found anywhere else in the world! Although the humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaii’s state fish) is native to Hawaii, it can be found in other regions as well. Native Plants Hawaii is home to more than 2,500 unique kinds of plants. The Ōhi’a tree is native Hawaii and is the first tree to grow in a new lava field, about 100 years after the flow. Its flowers, Lehua blossoms, have no petals, but are brush-like, and usually red in color, although they can also be orange, yellow, or white. Silversword are only found on Haleakala between 7,000-10,000 feet. Koa trees are the largest native trees in Hawaii. Koa wood is beautiful and one of the most expensive woods in the world, used to make furniture and other goods, and was the used to make some of the first surfboards. Other Plants and Animals of Interest Some additional animals that are a must see in Maui include whales and sea turtles. Humpback whales migrate to Maui from Alaska, arriving around the beginning of October and staying through mid-May. There are three different types of sea turtles that are native to Hawaii including the Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherback. The Green Sea Turtle is the most common. If you are lucky, you might get the chance to see these animals from the air if you decide to take a helicopter tour. Spinner dolphins, manta rays, and Molokai mountain goats have also been spotted on flights! Some additional plants that are important to Maui include ti leaves and taro, which are used in traditional Hawaiian foods, and orchids, plumeria, and kukui nuts, which are used in traditional lei. Invasive Species Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that cause negative effects to the natural habitat. Some invasive animals on Maui include the mongoose and the axis deer. Mongoose were brought to Hawaii in 1883 in an attempt to get rid of rats. Since rats are nocturnal and mongoose hunt during the day, this didn’t really work. Mongoose threaten the native bird population. Axis deer were brought to Maui in 1959 for hunting. Since they have no natural predators, their large population threatens forests. Eucalyptus trees are also an invasive species. Brought to Maui in 1870, they choke out other native plant life. Here is what some of our guests have to share about seeing the scenery of Maui from the air, including its beautiful rainforests, deserts, coastline and exciting wildlife! “What a ride! Vince, our pilot, was great, showed us so many awesome, untouched areas! We were honeymooners but also had a family of 4 with us, just right amount of people. Great pics. Safety video reviewed prior to flight and instructors were thorough. I took Dramamine Incase but flight was very smooth! Would for sure do again and recommend!” – TravelingRayofSunshine “Very enjoyable! Always felt safe, pilot was great and the views were phenomenal! Would love to go again!” – jrt5550 “Our Air Maui experience was the absolute best. Our pilot was awesome and flight was on time. Be sure to pay extra for front row seats. It’s worth it !!!” – cww3823 “We live in Maui and wanted a special gift for my husband’s birthday and this was it, he loved it, my daughter and i also loved it! Great pilot who gave us insight and overview of what we were seeing every step of the way. We didn’t realize Maui was so vast, it looked so big from above, great to get a different prospective of the island, definitely a worthwhile tour of Haleakala and Hana from above!” – Voyage49220323332 “Seeing Maui from the air is truly a unique experience. It’s not the same as what you see driving or hiking. The pilot was also knowledgeable and interesting in his commentary.” – Jennifer S If you are interested in seeing these sights from the air, visit our tours page or call us directly at 877.238.4942. We look forward to hearing from you!

Haleakala Crater, 2022 MONDAY, August 1, 2022 2:41:00 AM Haleakala Crater is one of the most beautiful locations on Maui. Its surreal, moon-like landscape is amazing to behold, especially when seen from the air. The brilliant colors of the sand and the unique cinder cone formations formed from more recent eruptions are an awe-inspiring sight not to be missed. Haleakala is not a typical crater, but was formed by eons of erosion that eroded away the summit, and continued small eruptions that filled back in the valley. And, although Haleakala is expected to erupt again, don’t worry; it will not do so any time soon! Here are some more interesting facts about Haleakala: House of the Sun 30,000 acres Silversword Considering the beauty and uniqueness of Haleakala, it’s no surprise that there are over 1 million visitors to the park each year. Instead of spending two hours in a car on a winding road (and braving the freezing temperatures in the winter!) to visit Haleakala, why not see the wonders of the crater from the air? Here is what some guests have said about seeing the crater with Air Maui: “This experience was exceptional from start to finish. Safety was emphasized and service was prompt. Our pilot Nathan was awesome and provided points of interest and history. Views were unlike any other. Many waterfalls to be seen as well as valleys, crevices, and dazzling coastlines. Highly recommend the doors off experience. My family sat 4 in the back and we all had great unobstructed views. 2 o the era sat in front with the pilot. It was perfect!” – Noreen P “Wow! What great fun this tour is! The views are spectacular and you’ll see things you can only see from the air” – Sightsee427772 “Loved it! Worth every penny. Took the doors off your, out pilot Captain Vince was amazing, engaging, knowledgeable, relaxed and safe. I’ve recommended this tour to all my friends. My cheeks were hurting for hours after from smiling so much.” – Marko M “Absolutely worth it, definitely recommend this – was an awe inducing experience and despite the hefty price tag, I still think its worth every penny. We had Captain Vince as our pilot who provided us with a calm, engaging and knowledgeable tour.” – Zahra S “Worth every penny. Capt. Kirk was a great pilot and guide. He was informative, and injected humor throughout the flight. The vistas of the valleys, the cliffs, the waterfalls were amazing and that you would otherwise not be able to visit.” – Nicholas Cifelli Take a second to visit our tours page to learn more about our Hana/Haleakala tour, or call us directly at 877-238-4942 and let our dispatchers help you pick the perfect flight for you. We look forward to hearing from you

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS 2022 Monday, March 2, 2022 2:41:00 AM Mother’s Day is coming up quick. Still don’t have a gift picked out? Here are some Mother’s Day gift ideas to help you out. Whether you are looking for a popular gift idea for Mom, or something unique and different, check out the ideas below. But don’t forget, whatever you decide to get your mom, what most moms say they really want is time with the people they love, and that’s you, so don’t forget to spend some time with your mom! Most Common Mother’s Day Gifts Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Mother’s Day Memories that Last a Lifetime Interested in taking your mom on a special Mother’s Day flight? We have a variety of Maui Helicopter tours that each feature unique and beautiful scenery. Any tour you choose is sure to make this the best Mother’s Day your mom has ever had. Some highlights include a Sunset Dinner Landing that includes a tour of West Maui and Molokai or a Hana and Haleakala tour with a Cliff Side Landing. You can even charter your own helicopter and to go wherever you would like, including other islands! Check out our tours page to see all of the different tours that we offer! Interested in taking your mom on a special Mother’s Day flight? We have a variety of Maui Helicopter tours that each feature unique and beautiful scenery. Any tour you choose is sure to make this the best Mother’s Day your mom has ever had. Some highlights include a Sunset Dinner Landing that includes a tour of West Maui and Molokai or a Hana and Haleakala tour with a Cliff Side Landing. You can even charter your own helicopter and to go wherever you would like, including other islands! Check out our tours page to see all of different tours that we offer! We offer great customer service and we will treat your mom like a queen. If she is new to Maui, or if she has lived here for years, or her whole life, there is nothing like seeing Maui from the air. It is an experience that will bring tears to her eyes, and will be even more special if it is something that she can experience with you! We also offer pictures and videos of our flights, so that she can have a wonderful memento of the day to cherish forever! We might be bias when we say that the beauty and excitement of our helicopter tours will blow your mom away, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Here is what some of our guests have to say about their great family experiences with Air Maui. “West Maui Molokai with my family was amazing!!! My 75 year old mom after the flight said “I want to do it again” The whole trip was narrated with Music the pilot was extremely knowledgeable and funny. Beautiful helicopter lots of big windows. I recommend Air Maui 100% definitely worth every dollar !!!” – Megan R “Our family (Mom, Dad, 11mo old daughter) did the West Maui Mountain/Moloka’i tour and it was the best! They made us feel very safe with our baby and she loved the helicopter tour! Dylan was our pilot and he had great commentary and the best playlist for the flight. We saw many waterfalls and amazing cliffs/canyons! We will go back to Air Maui when we return for another flight!” – mikejmattingly “I took my 77 year old Mom with me to Maui, the helicopter tour was the absolute highlight of our trip! Thank you Air Maui for the amazing experience!” – Denise N “Both my mom and I loved it and would love to do it again. Captain Kirk was friendly and knowledgeable. ” – lyo978 “My sister and I took our parents on Air Maui’s Maui Light 30 min tour for my mom’s bday. It was fantastic. The staff were very friendly and reassuring. And the pilot was also very friendly, reassuring and did a great job of pointing out areas of interest in Maui and providing background, without spending the entire time talking.” – redwren38 Book online or call us now at 808-877-7005 to book your Mother’s Day flight. Make this Mother’s Day the best your mom has ever had by experiencing something truly amazing together!

MAUI’S FLOWERS FRIDAY April 1st One of the greatest things about Maui is that the weather is wonderful year-round. Any time of the year you can find beautiful weather to visit the beach or explore the unique natural sights on Maui. Springtime is exceptionally beautiful, especially if you are interested in seeing some of the world’s most exotic and colorful flowers. If you are coming to Maui this spring, make sure to keep your eyes out for our unique local flora. Here are some of our favorites. Hinahina This island shrub, also known as Silver Geranium, will blossom a small cluster of up to 15 pale white and yellow flowers that grow to be around 3 feet tall. It thrives in somewhat arid landscapes along the coast. Ohi’a Lehua The Ohi’a Lehua is from the Myrtaceae family, which grows regionally in the six largest islands of Hawaii. The flowering of this tree blooms out into many long thin red stems with yellow tips. Native Hawaiian tradition holds this flower as sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess. Koʻoloaʻula Part of the mallow family, Malvaceae, this flower can grow up to 10 feet, and is often surrounded by larger leaves. Red is the flowers most common color but the Koʻoloaʻula also has pink, maroon, salmon, blond, red and white, and pale red variants. They grow mostly in the dry forests on the islands but are very rare to find as they are endangered. Ma’o Hau Helea More commonly known as the Hawaiian Hibiscus, this yellow hibiscus is Hawaii’s state flower, even though it is rare to find in the wild. It is commonly seen as an ornamental plant and many variants of the flower are grown. When you need a break for searching out these beautiful flowers consider taking a flight on one of our helicopter tours. Just like these flowers our tours can show you a unique and beautiful side of the island you won’t find any other way. Here are what some of our guests have said about their experience with Air Maui. “If you do nothing else while visiting Maui, do this. Our pilot, Vince, was knowledgeable, amusing, and incredibly skilled. Shortest 1.25 hour I can remember. The views from above were breathtaking. We got to see waterfalls that we never would see from the ground. Totally changed my perception of the Road to Hana!” – bryan suttles “Hands down one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. From the customer service to the actual helicopter ride, this place blew our expectations out of the water. The doors off is absolutely worth the additional cost. The pilot was so professional and friendly. ” – Kaelyn Tarsa “We did the doors off tour and it was great! Worth the money. The pilot/tour guide was great and made everyone feel comfortable. The views were amazing!” – Carissa Lyle “This was awesome. Staff was great, pilot (Nate) was great and of course the flight path and sites were great . Highly recommended!” – Mark Green Please feel free to contact us at (808) 877-7005 if you have any questions or special requests for your Valentine’s Day adventure, or book any of our tours online!

Maui Rainbows Tuesday, March 1, 2016 2:41:00 AM Hawaii is known as the rainbow state, and it is for good reason. Beautiful Maui rainbows can be seen any time of year and are a uniquely beautiful sight when seen from the air. Double rainbows, circular rainbows, rainbows in beautiful cascading waterfalls, pictures can’t capture the breathtaking sights you can see on one of Air Maui’s helicopter tours. Did you know that there are many different types of rainbows? A regular rainbow begins with red on the outer part of the rainbow and then orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. A supernumerary rainbow is a rainbow that contains additional bands of a pale pink or green color inside of the primary rainbow. A twinned rainbow is a rainbow that splits into two arcs but originates from a single base. A double rainbow is created when sunlight is reflected twice inside the same water droplets. The second rainbow is fainter and the order of the colors is reversed. A circle rainbow, or a 360 degree rainbow, can only be seen from the air. This is because from the ground, half of a rainbow actually falls below the horizon, but actually all rainbows are circles! Our guests rave about their experiences flying with Air Maui. Here are some of the things they have said about rainbows and other fantastic sights they have seen on their trip. “I treated my husband to a flight for his 40th birthday. We both enjoyed our air tour of West Maui and Molokai with our pilot Jeanette. She was a fantastic pilot and narrated our flight making sure everyone could have fantastic view of waterfalls and a 360 degree rainbow, among other features.” – Megan R “My son and I absolutely loved this experience. Worth every penny!!!! Helicopter was fantastic and our pilot Troy was the best. Amazing views of the waterfalls and went over a rainbow, would do it again and again.” – travel_dude_73 “Beautiful views of the rainforest, a Double full-circle rainbow below us, the mist, light rain and following the beautiful Maui coastline along the Hana Highway with waterfalls, the seven sacred pools, black and red beaches, famous getaways, Hana airport and the Ocean! Definitely the highlight of our Maui experience!” – Noel M “Born and raised on Maui and never saw the island quite like I did that day… very, very awesome. Rainbows, rain, sun, lots of beautiful sights. WAY COOL! Would totally do it again. ” – Jen G “Best decision to do on while on Maui. Our pilot was great, he was safe and extremely knowledgeable for us when we were navigating our way through the island. We couldn’t have been luckier, we must have flown through 10 rainbows that day. This was the first time my Dad and I were on a helicopter and enjoyed every second of it. We would highly recommend this, especially the travels to Molokai – they are breathtaking. Air Maui was the best and very accommodating!” – Alana B. “I received a one hour helicopter flight with Maui Air as a 50th birthday present and it was one of the best presents that I received! Maui Air did an incredible job. Their facilities are great, everyone was extremely friendly and professional. The trip itself was incredible and I will always remember it. Viewing Maui and Molokai from a helicopter is amazing. We got to see a 360 degree rainbow along with waterfalls, the surrounding islands, reefs, resorts, windmills and sugar cane fields!! Pretty awesome on my birthday!” – Sid K Interested in flying with Air Maui? Please book online through the tours page or feel free to call 808-877-7005 if you have any questions. We would be happy to help you!!