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    Honolulu Soaring

    4.9 (35 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Honolulu Soaring Photos

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    Air field
    Alison C.

    On vacation in Waikīkī and my son wanted to take a glider flight. I was not sure I would like it, neither of us had ever been, but I am really glad we went. It's an hour away and the owner recommended we use his driver, Tom, because an Uber would be more expensive (1 hour from our hotel). Tom was great and gave us lots of information on the pilots and flights which helped put some of my fears to rest and got my son more excited about going. When we got to the air field, the weather was perfect for flying and we were introduced to Colin, our pilot. He was excellent about talking us through the process and explaining everything that was going to happen in flight. Once we were towed up we had 30 minutes in the air!! It was amazing! The views were gorgeous. Still can't get over the colors of the ocean and mountains. We were able to see so much. And the ride itself was very smooth and gentle, Colin did a great job !!

    Picture
    Jenna G.

    I bought the Aerobatic ride for my husband as an anniversary gift. We had 2 prior dates but one was cancelled due to weather the other due to POTUS being in the area. Finally we set it up on New Years Day and the weather couldn't have been nicer. The place is out in North Shore by Dilingham field it is the 2nd gate. When we arrived there were a few others there but since our flight was just one person he was able to go right away. He got fitted for a parachute and met his pilot. We all walked out to the glider where he got a safety brief. They went over the parts of the glider and the emergency handle. He got in the front of the glider and was ready to go. The plane came around and hooked up to the glider. They took off and made their way up to altitude. Once they reached it, their tow line was released and they were on their own. They did flips and turns up in the air. His ride was for 15 minutes and when he came down he had a smile on his face! It was fun watching them in the air and he said it was fun inside. They also offer other rides so if you want a nice flight over the north shore, this is the one for you!

    waving goodbye
    Katie F.

    My sister and I squeezed into the back seat of a glider and did our very own 20 minute scenic glide ride. We got to see beautiful mountain, beaches, and even Lost locations! Pretty sweeeet! I would have loved to try the aerobatic flight!! Maybe next time!

    Taking off!
    Jim Y.

    This is one of those things you have to do at least once in your life. I can say it's well under the anxiety scale of a tandem skydive or a scuba dive, and I finally was in Honolulu when the weather was great and the ceiling was unlimited. The cockpit seems small when you get in and when it's time to close the canopy, but then you realize it's no different from a 2-seater sports car. The pilot and ground crew are very personable, friendly, safety conscious and procedurally disciplined, and very cool. I didn't go for the aerobatic flight for my first, and the pilot let me fly the stick for a while to get a real feel for soaring, explaining the instruments, how to feel up and down drafts, and we even saw whales offshore of Mokuleia. Take your camera, get comfortable with taking video and still shots with it, and be sure you have room on your storage card and a good battery charge because you'll get outstanding views and photo ops in the air without any distraction from the ride itself. Just do it!

    Me posing with my glider before boarding
    Chew L.

    It was my very first time on the glider. I learned a little bit about the history of the glider by my pilot. I didn't know that glider has such a long and interesting history. My pilot was great!! He has such a great sense of humor. Overall I had an awesome time and I would recommend this activity to anyone that interested and not afraid of height.

    Monique N.

    AMAZING!! From the reservations to the actual ride it was really smooth! I love how they provide exceptional customer service and the view was expectacular! I will definitely recommend to all my friends and family! We will be back to try the acrobatic ride next time! shout out to our pilot John!

    Chris K.

    Great tour. Bill was exceptionally helpful. Kim professional and honest. Captain Sean amazing. Great way to spend my wife's birthday. Will recommend and be back soon I hope. 100 percent recommend. 20 minutes of flying.

    Here we are being pulled up off the runway
    Jeffrey N.

    Let me just say; OMG! What an amazing experience. Shawn was our pilot and he was absolutely nothing short of AWESOME. Very personable, knowledgeable and accommodating. I cannot express loudly enough how pleased I am that we had this experience. Thanks

    Getting In
    Shauna C.

    On May 30, 2017 we get into the glider "Sky Surfer." David is the pilot. The towplane gives the glider a gentle tug. We go down the runway. In a few seconds the glider gets up momentarily before the towplane does. In a few minutes, after climbing in giant circular loops, David releases the towing cable. We drop a little before gliding in the air. The ride is smooth. You can see awesome views of the North Shore, Kaena Point, Dillingham Air Field, and the ocean. David is a confident, experienced pilot. He answers our glider questions. Before landing, he performs the "wiggle" and lands expertly on the runway near where we have started. We will definitely try Honolulu Soaring again ! ! !

    Beautiful planes and mountains.
    RD T.

    The staff, equipment and pilots are top notch. They've mastered providing a once in a life memory to visitors to Hawaii. All of the pilots treat foreign and domestic tourists with Aloha!!!

    My glider plane for 20 minute scenic ride.
    andrea c.

    Loved the 20 minute scenic tour! The instructors were great and were very attentive to your needs. They explained everything and made the flight as smooth as possible. I would definitely recommend this as a tour.

    This was my first time in a glider, or even any small aircraft. I purchased the half an hour flight with the "mini lesson". Michael, the pilot, was very friendly and instructive, showing me the best way to control the aircraft and where to fly it to get the best ridge lift off of the mountains. I let him know that I am an Aeronautical Engineer and that I was interested in every aspect of flying. The whole half hour he was teaching me about the glider, history of the activity, and how to control flying. I am now very interested in more soaring and actually taking flight lessons on the way to getting my private license. Mr. Bill was super charismatic and funny, telling all sorts of stories to us as we waited out turn and even cleaning my sunglasses for me before I went up. Can't spread the word quick enough about this place. Can't wait to go back! Thank you Bill!

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    7 years ago

    Highly recommend Honolulu Soaring! I had a fantastic acrobatic flight and loved every twist & turn, thank you everyone!!

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    10 years ago

    I went soaring yesterday. It was awesome. Larry was my pilot and we did some acrobatics rolls and a dive or two. It was a great experience.

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    11 years ago

    Nice view and a great adventure. It's a different experience being on a plane without powered propulsion. Very unique and fun.

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    Ask the Community - Honolulu Soaring

    Review Highlights - Honolulu Soaring

    We had paid for the 10min ride but our pilot was so generous and we were actually soaring for a good 20mins.

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    Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy - Pilots

    Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy

    4.0(4 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    I am a current private pilot and decided to add a glider rating. It has been 20+ years since I…read morefirst flew a glider. Brian and Yuko have a fantastic operation. This is the only winch tow at the airfield and is by far my favorite way to get to release altitude. This is an amazing place to add a rating. I am looking forward to my ongoing training here!

    Although I visit one of the islands every year, it's been many, many years since my last visit to…read moreOahu. On this visit, there was one definite item on my list of things to do...and that was to go soaring! As a power and glider pilot, I've been lucky enough to be exposed and get training under various conditions. But the one condition that has always eluded me was ridge soaring. But here on Oahu (in particular, Dillingham Airfield) ridge soaring is fairly predictable and common. On a scouting drive to the airport, I met up with Brian who courteously gave me all the information I needed to set up a lesson in the following days. He stayed in touch with me by phone as minor changes detoured our arrangement slightly. Arriving at the airport a few days later, I got to watch sailplane operations...both winch and aerotow. Brian next introduced me to the flight instructor that would accompany me on my flight..."JJ." After the standard discussion about my piloting experience, JJ and I were buckled in and ready for our winch launch in a Grob103. Now most of my glider experience is through winch launching. But when I was told they typically winch to just 900 ft, I was a little skeptical as that is the altitude I'd usually be at when preparing to land. But this is their turf and I completely trusted in their professionalism and expertise. Releasing at 1100 ft (we got a little extra altitude), JJ had me bee-line directly for the ridge on the south side of the runway...and just like that...lift! So up we went! After just a couple passes up and down the ridge line, we'd gained just over a 1000 ft of altitude. With altitude, we could now extend our soaring range along the ridge. On this particular day, we found some really strong lift and some sink as well. But we worked a couple areas that had really strong lift and eventually made it up to 3800 ft. Besides seeing a few other sailplanes, you get a spectacular view of the coastline that stretches north (AKA North Shore)....waves as far as the eye can see! We also spotted a few whales breaching and making big splashes just off shore. But for me, the real beauty is awesome views in all directions...like the large windmills in the distance and clouds right above you. Even the green treeline on the ridge we soared above was a true sight to see from the air. Seeing everything from the air, is just better in my book! Of all the things I did on my vacation to Oahu, this tops my list of fun things I did! As we flew, I had numerous questions about ridge soaring which JJ promptly answered and explained. It was great to meet and fly with people that knew the game so well. If you are ever on Oahu, I'd strongly suggest you take a ride with HGSA. If you're a pilot too, take a formal lesson...you might be amazed at what you can learn from the unique conditions this area offers. Much thanks...Brian and JJ! If either of you are ever in Prescott, Arizona, come check out our winch operations!

    Photos
    Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy
    Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy
    Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy

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    Pacific Flight Academy - The newest airplane in Hawaii! Powered by a 100 hp Continental O-200-D. Featuring an all glass cockpit and 5 hours of endurance!

    Pacific Flight Academy

    4.7(6 reviews)
    26.1 mi

    Our son has earned is private pilot's license and is currently working on his instrument rating…read morewith PFA and has had a good experience with the school overall. The instructors are top notch - reliable, knowledgeable, and friendly. The school itself is growing and has expanded into multiple hangers with a variety of small aircraft. We've been pleased with his experience and have enjoyed the benefits of being his passenger.

    I bought the Discovery Intro Flight as a gift for my dad who has co-piloted several times before at…read moreother flight schools (Dilligham airfield, Torrance California, Van Nuys California). Pilot Kai spent so long getting the plane ready for take off, the planes at this academy are older than at other flight schools so they need more maintenance and checking. Pilot spent a long time on the runway trying to close the door shut. That extra time waiting right before take off is billed to you. Pilot flew to the west side of Oahu, which is not that scenic. We would have liked to see the Eastern or Windward side, which my dad mentioned. Pilot was only able to let my dad pilot the plane for a very short time because the older plane is more difficult to control (not as automated with more advanced newer planes). My dad wasn't allowed to co-pilot take off or landing. At least the front desk staff is friendly, helpful and accommodating. My dad also gave the pilot a good tip. Unfortunately, because of those reasons my dad didn't enjoy his flight and I didn't feel that we got a good value for the experience.

    Photos
    Pacific Flight Academy - Honolulu area

    Honolulu area

    Pacific Flight Academy - Kaena Point

    Kaena Point

    Pacific Flight Academy - North Shore West side

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    North Shore West side

    George's Aviation Services - Cutting my shirt tail after my first Solo

    George's Aviation Services

    3.9(40 reviews)
    26.2 mi

    George's aviation took me from .9 hours (I had previously had a discovery flight with a different…read morecompany) to private pilot in less than 50 days and that includes the check-ride. I was in Hawaii for work on a 50 day temporary assignment. I wanted to get in a flight or two while in Hawaii just to see the sights. Once I went up, I was hooked. George mentioned that he thought I could solo in Hawaii if I worked hard. Well, I got to solo at around three weeks. When that happened, George mentioned that I might be able to finish my PPL before I left the island. I thought he was crazy, but HE made it happen! George along with the rest of the team at George's Aviation treated me like family. I spent a lot of time with these folks and it never felt transactional. As a matter of fact, I'd have to ask them to pay so my bill wouldn't be so large at any given time! I got to know them very well and they got to know me. They all had a vested interest in my future as a pilot and I spent time outside the hanger with several of them going to dinner, sporting events and other local places having a great time! I was able to make some great friends while in Honolulu - especially at George's Aviation. George has several planes to choose from. He has everything from a six pack Cessna 150 for the budget conscious pilot all the way up to a nearly new Cirrus SR-20. I chose to fly in the newer Cessna 172S equipped with the G1000. He has three to choose from, so I never had to wait on a plane to be available. His maintenance staff is on-site and are constantly working to keep each plane airworthy and safe. Again, I never had to wait for a plane while in maintenance. I made several trips to check out his maintenance shop over the 50 days I was there and I can say that I trust the planes being worked on by George's Aviation to be safe and dependable. Now, back to the instructors. I had about five instructors helping me along the way, with two main instructors ensuring I was able to fly as often as my schedule allowed. These people worked day and night to ensure that I was safe and proficient. I had three instructors with me the night before my check-ride to make sure I was fully prepared. I was also able to knock out my high performance endorsement while I was in town also. I can't recommend George's Aviation enough. Thanks so much to George and Donna, along with Bianca and Spencer for making my dreams a reality. Also, a special thanks to Elan, Brandon, Dane, Jasmine and Jimmy for helping me throughout my journey to becoming a private pilot! And thanks to all those who I didn't mention specifically as there are many I connected with at George's and everyone there made me feel like a long time friend and welcomed me into their Ohana. Next stop instrument training!

    One of the flight instructors, Keoni Rivera is truly top-notch - patient, knowledgeable, and…read moreincredibly supportive towards his students. His attitude and personality toward students make you feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. The quality of instruction and overall service is easily a 10 out of 10! I recommend this place to be the start of anyone's aviation journey, and Keoni Rivera is the best model to exemplify what an outstanding flight instructor should be like as an instructor and representative of George's Aviation Services.

    Photos
    George's Aviation Services - George's Aviation makes you part of their Ohana!

    George's Aviation makes you part of their Ohana!

    George's Aviation Services - Passed the Private Pilot Check Ride!

    Passed the Private Pilot Check Ride!

    George's Aviation Services - First Solo Flight

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    First Solo Flight

    Lani Lea Flight School & Sky Tours - Snacks after the flight

    Lani Lea Flight School & Sky Tours

    4.0(9 reviews)
    26.3 mi

    For my husband's birthday while we were on Oahu, I purchased a 1 hour Discovery Flight from Lani…read moreLea Flight School. While it was the most expensive discovery flight service I found, it was the only one that had openings last minure (I had only started looking for a flight a week before our trip) so we went with it. We had a great time! The Lani Lea offices are very nice. Prior and after our flight we were served drinks in the waiting area, and after the flight we got snacks too. The team was very hospitable, and also took photos of us on the plane before our flight. We did the 1 hour island tour, and since it was at the end of our trip it was cool to see all the places we had visited, but from the sky! We flew on a Cessna 172P with instructor Matt, and would recommend the experience again. It was a little bit windy and rocky, but I brought ginger candies so I wouldn't feel as sick. My husband got to fly the plane, and I sat in the back and watched. Matt said that it is up to us - my husband could decide to fly as much as possible, or take a break just to take photos. Even if you don't want to fly the plane yourself, it's still a neat experience.

    Had a horrible time with Lani lea flight school, they told me i had an appointment with them on…read moresunday the day they told me they were open but saw they were closes and i asked twice to make sure if they open on that day 3 months in advance for a lesson out here while im on vacation, the day comes i get no calls and i try calling and no answer, i show up in person and like i expected the store was closed and walked around for an hour asking other stores if they had another meeting spot which i went to and no one was also there, they are super unprofessional and i wouldn't recommend anyone to try flying out with this school

    Photos
    Lani Lea Flight School & Sky Tours - Inspecting Lani Lea's blue Cessna 172. One of my favorite to fly.

    Inspecting Lani Lea's blue Cessna 172. One of my favorite to fly.

    Lani Lea Flight School & Sky Tours - Flying

    Flying

    Lani Lea Flight School & Sky Tours - On the plane

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    On the plane

    Honolulu Soaring - flightinstruction - Updated May 2026

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